Childhood Stranger

No Exit: Part 3

The hunter was in the apartment alone looking over the floor plans, the vent system ran throughout the whole apartment complex along with gaps in the wall. Whatever this spirit was it had access to everyone and everything in the apartment complex as long as it used the walls and vent as an access point. Danny began to make notes marking on the map different points on the floor plan the different points that could be used, by the time he was done it was getting dark. Not really caring that much he went over to the large bed curling up under the covers after kicking off his shoes, it took him a while for sleep to over take him but he embraced it once it came. 

However, like always his sleep didn't last long waking up within an hour of falling a sleep skin and sheets drenched with sweat breathing hard as he remembered everything. Ever since that day it had been playing on a loop whenever he went to sleep, the hunter had gotten over the death of his father physically embracing it after grieving but mentally he couldn't get over it. The sight of his own father being killed in front of his very own eyes  by the very thing he spent his whole life hunting still shook him to the core. Getting out of the bed slowly skin still wet with sweat as he went through into the living room seeing Jo and Dean but Sam was no where in sight, they both looked up when he came in looking confused. However, the hunter just ignored them both going straight through to the kitchen getting himself a glass of water to try and ease himself a bit hands shaking as he downed the glass jumping slightly when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking over Dean was standing next to the shorter man staring down at him with concern, quickly he turned his attention back to the glass. 

"Everything okay, Danny?" Dean asked still staring him down trying to look for any reason he would be acting this way in the first place. However, Danny just continued to stare at the counter he was leaning against placing the glass back down onto it. 

"Yeah just remembered something I didn't want to," The other hunter told him with a forced smile Dean began to open his mouth to talk again, but was cut off by Danny before he could say anything. "I found out something when we searched the building," He said making his way from the kitchen to the table where Jo was playing with her knife again, arranging the papers to show the marked up floor plan. "Whatever this thing is its using the vents when I looked at the floor plan that means it will have access to every apartment meaning any blonde that takes his fancy is an easy target."

"We searched the vents too found this." Jo said unwrapping a cloth to reveal a clump of long blonde hair still attached to some skin, Danny looked on at the disgusting hair. 

"There are also gaps in the walls I think we should check them out next in the morning till then you two should get some sleep." He told them taking out the different papers he had piled up starting to try and find a reason this could happen. 

"What about you?" Dean asked looking down at him as the hunter began to work again. 

"I'll be fine I slept." He tried to reassure the other however Dean wasn't having it as he grabbed the other by the arm dragging him into the bedroom as Jo stared at the two questioningly, Danny struggled to get out of the grip several times as he was dragged but couldn't release the tight grip. The door was slammed shut by the older once the two were in the room as the shorter hunter turned to him with a glare. 

"What is your problem?" He shouted at the other confused as to what was happening and why Dean was acting this way.

"You're acting weird you come out of the bathroom shaking drenched in sweat and then lie to me about it, tell me whats happening." Dean demanded voice serious staring the other down trying to pry whatever was bothering him back, under the pressure of the others gaze Danny turned away only to be turned back around to face him again. "Danny I know you something is bothering you and I can't help you till you tell me what's wrong." This time his voice was soft and that was what broken him, he hadn't spoken once to any one about his Dad's death not Bobby or John when they asked just dealt with it in silence not shedding a single tear just like his Father raised him to act in situations like this. 

"It was about my Dad," Danny got out with a shaky sigh moving to sit down on the bed, Dean came to sit by him patiently waiting for him to continue. "We were on a case a few years ago I was doing my own case by that point but when he needed me I would come help. When I got there he told me that it was a werewolf case simple just in and out we waited till night then went after it and we got to it quick killing it just like always it was easy." Memories of that night began flooding back to him remembering how easy it was till it all went to hell. "We didn't realise that we were dealing with more than one it ambushed us when we got back to the motel I was the bathroom and I heard screams so I went into the bedroom i-it ripped him a part D." At this point the hunter was on the brink of tears stuttering through his words. "I froze up I couldn't move or do anything he kept screaming at me for help but I couldn't move and when I did it was too late, its all my fault." Tears were freely falling down his face at this point, as soon as he began to blame himself Dean's head shot towards him as he moved wrapping an arm around him so he rested against him letting the broken hunter sob into his shoulder. 

"What happened wasn't your fault you need to stop blaming yourself," Dean spoke softly rubbing the others back reassuringly as he continued to sob. "You see it don't you every time you go to sleep." The other hunter nodded at wondering how he knew and as if reading the others mind Dean delivered a response. "I was the same after the fire." Danny knew all about Dean and Sam's mother they had told him once the three became close, the older hunter unwrapped his arm from around the other man manoeuvring the other to lie down in bed before going to the other side sitting against the head board. The hunter stared down at the black haired guy who was staring up at him with confusion. 

"What are you doing?" Danny asked whipping the tear tracks from his face tears now all dried up, Dean smiled down at him. 

"You think that I trust you'll actually go to sleep." He laughed it off the other chuckled lightly turning over onto his side so he could look at him easier. "Remember when Sammy said he was afraid of the dark," Danny smiled at the memory everything was so much simpler then, Sam was oblivious and shielded from the truths of the world the way he wished he was at that age. "Our Dad didn't give a shit but you did I remember you slept in the bed with him every night till you managed to convince him otherwise, it took you a month he was stubborn even back then." Dean had his own smile while the two relived a rare happy memory. "I also remember trying to convince you that it would never work and he'd grow out of it at some point but you were right he got over it all because of you." Dean chuckled lightly stopping when he looked down seeing Danny asleep peacefully a soft smile formed on his face at how peaceful he seemed. The other hunter didn't want to leave, he couldn't explain why but he knew that he couldn't bring himself to leave the other alone so he moved to lie down on the other side of the bed. Slowly, he managed to drift of to sleep himself next to his newly reunited childhood friend.