Chapter One

August 2003 - Ohio

Dean Winchester is tired. Standing outside, resting his head on the door of yet another run down motel room, he listens to his father and brother having an all out 'who-cares-what-the-neighbors-think' screaming match. Building his resolve to go into the room and try to defuse the situation is taking more effort than he cares to admit. He hates taking sides between his dad and brother, as ultimately he is the one that comes out the loser. By either angering John or disappointing Sam, Dean can't help thinking that sometimes it sucks to be him.

The bottom line; Sammy is leaving. He'd been accepted into Stanford and this is the ticket out that Dean knows that Sam has been praying for. It's killing him to think the Sam will soon be gone; he's spent most of his life caring for the kid and now for the first time Dean is left with the very real prospect of life without his brother.

Whilst he doesn't understand Sam's desire for an apple pie life, he respects that it is Sam's choice to make. Something John Winchester just can't grasp. Ever since their mother was murdered they'd been raised as soldiers, preparing for the final showdown with the demon that killed her, but as Sam can't even remember their mom he doesn't feel the same need for vengeance that John and Dean feel.

The voices in the room continued to rise and gritting his teeth Dean, pushes open the door and enters the fray.

October 2005- New Orleans

God damn it, Dean thinks to himself. Staring at his cell phone, he's yet again playing another round of the 'Should I call Sammy?' game. So far he'd resisted, knowing that has much as it hurt, Sam was living a better life without him. Not just better, safer as well. Dean misses his brother fiercely and can't decide whether hearing Sammy's voice would make him feel better or worse.

Growling to himself, he angrily stands and moves away from the phone. Why is this so frigging difficult to decide – call him or don't call him, make a choice and get on with it. Dragging a hand through his hair he asks himself for what feels like the hundredth time – Where the hell is Dad?

Grabbing the phone off his unmade bed, Dean angrily punches the number for John's other, other cell. After a few rings the call gets diverted to that all too familiar voice message, instructing the caller to ring Dean. How the hell is that supposed to help him!

Stalking around the unkempt motel room Dean finally makes a decision. Sam is better where he is, and Dad is probably just knee-deep in a hunt. He knows the last place John was headed and quickly grabbing his belongings, makes the choice to follow his Dad.

Once he's checked out of the motel Dean dumps his crap in the back of the Impala and roars out of the parking lot. Next stop Jericho.

October 2005 - Stanford University, California

Sitting in a dark and crowded bar Sam Winchester feels good. When he'd first arrived at Stanford two years ago, he couldn't walk into a bar without feeling utterly depressed. Every time someone raised their voice or he heard laughter, Sam had half expected to turn around and see Dean leaning over the pool table, face deep in concentration hustling some poor sap of their hard earned cash.

Now sitting here, surrounded by friends and sitting next to the most amazing woman he's ever met. It strikes him often how lucky he is to have met Jess; she's patient, intelligent, beautiful and by some miracle, his.

It had taken a long time but he's finally happy with his new life. He's doing well in his classes, has a great circle of friends and is in love. Still, he misses his brother every day, always worrying if Dean is alright. Too many times to count Sam had dialled Dean's number and then chickened out, convincing himself that Dean is fine and that hearing his voice would just send him straight back to how he felt in the beginning.

Even now, with his friends speaking enthusiastically around him, his thoughts linger with Dean; what is he doing, is he on a hunt, and is he happy? Grumbling to himself internally, Sam tries to tear his thoughts away from his older brother.

Looking over at Jess, he realised she is looking back at him with a troubled frown. Damn, How long have I been spaced out?

"Are you okay?" Jess asks quietly, concern evident in her tone.

Just as Sam is about to reply that's he's fine, the most intense pain he's ever felt in his life stops him in his tracks. His head feels like it's about to explode and he can feel his body sliding back off the bar stall, but he can't do anything to stop his fall.

Images flash through his mind; Dean standing on a bridge looking at a woman in the distance. Dean driving down a dark highway with the same woman in the passenger seat. Then finally the woman attacking Dean, revealing herself to be a ghost and shoving her fingers deep into his chest, whilst he screams out in agony.

Sam can barely breathe as the images start to recede, but the panic and fear reverberating around his body only intensifies. Jess is standing over him frantically repeating his name and his friends have formed a semi-circle around where he's fallen, but Sam doesn't notice.

Only one thought is repeating itself over and over again; Dean is in serious trouble.

Author's Note - Ok so this is the first fan-fiction I have ever written, so please - if anyone out there reads this, reviews would be appreciated