INITIUM - Supernarural Season One [Dean Winchester x Reader]

XXI - Salvation

"So, this is it," John announces, gesturing at the mess of papers scattered around Sam's laptop. Among the clippings are pages from your notebooks, research of demons you compiled a few years back. "This is everything I know."

Terror; it scrambles around in your gut hand-in-hand with dread. The combo festers, and a sharp ringing pierces your right ear like a siren whispering to you.

"Our whole lives we've been searching for this demon, right? Not a trace, just nothing, until about a year ago. For the first time, I picked up a trail," John says.

"That's when you took off," Dean notes.

"Yeah," John replies softy, "that's right. The demon must have come out of hiding or hibernation."

Dean glances at you and Sam who stand across the room. You gaze at the pages of your notebook, mulling over what you'd be doing if Dean hadn't asked you to join on the hunt for his father. A small sigh escapes your lips, and your eyes shift up to meet Dean's stare. You smile reassuringly before turning your attention to John.

"All right, so what's this trail you found?" Dean asks the hunter.

"It starts in Arizona, then New Jersey, California." John looks at Sammy. "House burn down to the ground. It's going after families, just like it went after us," John says, tone serious and heavy.

"Families with infants?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, the night of the kid's six-month birthday."

Sam's eyebrows raise and he shifts, uncertain. "I was six months old that night?"

"Exactly six months," John confirms.

"So, basically, this demon is going after these kids for some reason," Sammy chuckles dryly, humorlessly, "the same way it came for me?"

John adverts his eyes, scratching his chin.

"So Mom's death, Jessica--it's all 'cause of me?" Sam asks, already making up his mind on the matter.

"We don't know that, Sam," Dean replies.

"Oh really, 'cause I'd say that we're pretty damn sure, Dean!" Sam snaps back.

You frown and hug your core, rocking back on your heels.

"For the last time, what happened to them is not your fault," Dean replies, turning to face his brother.

"Yeah, you're right; it's not my fault, but it's my problem!" Sam retorts, craning his neck so much so that the veins start to bulge under his skin.

John glances at you and meets your pleading eyes.

"No, it's not your problem. It's our problem!" Dean argues, brow creasing in anger.

"Okay," John stand from his chair and looks at his two boys, "that's enough,"

Both of the brothers immediately stand down, stepping backwards subconsciously. You wait for everyone to release their breath before you ask the next logical question on your mind.

What are we doing for diner?

"So, what's the demon's motive--what is it getting out of all of this?" you ask, crossing your arms.

"I wish I had more answers," John says. He narrows his eyes on Sam's impatient and frustrated face. "I do. I've always been one step behind it."

You glance at the floor and then at Dean who skims through the mess on the coffee table.

"Look, I've never gotten there in time to save..." John looks away and doesn't finish his sentence--not that he needs to. Sam shifts his weight, averting his eyes from his flustered father.