Chapter Text
Sam was sequestered in his room at Pastor Jim’s farm working on homework for a summer school program he was taking.
John had agreed to it because Sam explained he wouldn’t actually have to attend classes; he could complete the booklets from home, and if he did well enough he could graduate a semester early.
Sam knew exactly what was expected of him once school ended.
He was supposed to join the family business full-time and help hunt down the thing that had killed his mother.
And while Sam didn’t want that life, he also knew there was no real way out for him.
This was his family.
It was all he had.
A knock sounded against the bedroom door before Caleb pushed it open and flopped down onto Dean’s bed.
Sam made a point of ignoring him at first.
Caleb was Dean’s best friend and basically another older brother, but there was a twelve-year age gap between them, and sometimes the two of them struggled to understand each other.
“You know the whole point of knocking is waiting for somebody to say come in,” Sam muttered without looking up from his work.
“Yeah, well, I was trying to be semi-polite.” Caleb shrugged. “But I was gonna ignore the snarky teenage ‘fuck off’ you were about to throw at me anyway, so I figured I’d save us both time.”
Sam snorted and closed the booklet in front of him before leaning back in the uncomfortable desk chair.
“What’s up, Caleb?”
“Nothing.” Caleb stretched out across the bed. “I was bored, so I figured I’d come see what you were doing.”
Sam smirked faintly.
Sometimes Caleb acted twelve instead of twenty-nine.
“I’m afraid I won’t help much with the boredom.” Sam gestured toward the stack of workbooks. “I’ve got AP Algebra and Psychology to finish.”
Caleb raised an eyebrow.
“Psychology, huh?” He grinned. “I gotta ask — what does your textbook say about us?”
Sam didn’t even hesitate.
“That we’re somewhere between serial killers and paranoid military survivalists living underground like mole people.”
Caleb barked out a laugh.
“Well, we may do military drills constantly, but at least we live on a farm instead of underground.” He tilted his head. “Why’re you doing schoolwork all summer anyway? Isn’t this usually the time seventeen-year-old boys get drunk and try to get laid?”
“Why not?” Sam shrugged. “If I finish this stuff I can shave five months off high school.” He smirked dryly. “And meeting girls is kinda difficult when you spend every summer hidden on a farm in the middle of Kentucky.”
“Yeah…” Caleb sighed dramatically. “We seriously need to get you out more.” He looked back at the workbooks. “So you’re trying to finish school early?” He frowned slightly. “Why? I thought you were one of those weird nerds who actually likes school.”
Sam shrugged again.
“I don’t wanna drag this out longer than I have to.”
Caleb sat up straighter at that.
“So what? Once high school’s done, that’s it?” He studied Sam carefully. “You’re just gonna hunt?”
Sam looked up at him incredulously.
“What exactly did you expect me to do?”
“I dunno…” Caleb shrugged awkwardly. “You’ve been talking about college for years.”
Sam snorted.
“Please. Dad would lose his fucking mind.”
“Since when do you care what your dad thinks?”
“Since always,” Sam answered quietly. “He’s still my dad.”
Caleb studied him for a second.
“What about Deuce?”
“What about him?”
“Do you think Dean would want you to go?”
Sam looked down at the desk for a moment before speaking.
“Did you know Dean got a baseball scholarship to LSU?”
Caleb blinked.
“He never told me that.”
And honestly?
That shocked him.
Dean and Caleb rarely kept things from each other.
“He never told anybody,” Sam admitted. “I found the letter while we were packing once.” He swallowed. “I never asked him about it. Didn’t wanna make him relive it.”
Caleb leaned forward slightly.
“So you think because Dean stayed, you should stay too?”
“Caleb, I’m not stupid.” Sam looked up at him sharply. “I know I’m part of the reason he stayed.” His voice softened slightly. “Maybe not all of it. But part.”
Caleb stayed quiet.
“Dad and I would’ve killed each other if Dean hadn’t been there all those years,” Sam continued. “So after everything Dean’s sacrificed for me?” He shook his head slowly. “What kind of brother would I be if I just walked away now?” His jaw tightened. “He shouldn’t be the only one sacrificing things.”
Caleb opened his mouth to answer—
Then the front door downstairs slammed hard enough to shake the walls.
John Winchester’s voice echoed through the farmhouse.
“I couldn’t find him! I had no backup! What the hell was I supposed to do?”
Caleb stood immediately.
“That can’t be good.”
Sam was already moving before Caleb finished speaking.
The two of them hurried downstairs into the kitchen where Jim and Bobby stood facing John.
“You were supposed to find a damn phone and call for help, you jackass!” Bobby shouted back.
“What’s going on?” Caleb asked sharply.
All three older men turned toward them.
Sam immediately knew.
He stepped directly into John’s space until only inches separated them.
“What did you do?” Sam asked coldly.
John kept his face hard.
“The witch got the drop on us.” He crossed his arms tightly. “I couldn’t get us both out.”
Something inside Sam snapped.
He slammed John backward into the wall hard enough to rattle the dishes in the cupboards.
The entire room froze.
“You left my brother alone in the woods?” Sam growled.
He shoved John against the wall again.
John could’ve taken Sam down easily under normal circumstances.
But shock held him still.
Sam and John fought constantly, but physical violence between them was rare.
“I didn’t have a choice!” John shouted back. “Either I left him or we both died!”
Caleb grabbed Sam by the back of his shirt and hauled him backward.
Surprisingly, Sam let himself be pulled away.
But he never took his eyes off John.
“Dad, I swear to God,” Sam hissed, “if anything happens to him, I’m taking it outta your ass.”
John’s fist connected with Sam’s cheek before anyone could react.
The room went dead silent.
Then, uncharacteristically, Jim stepped forward and shoved John backward against the wall.
Jim was a man of words, not violence.
But John had crossed a line.
“You will not strike your child on my property,” Jim said sharply.
John glared but didn’t argue.
“Now,” Jim continued, “you go wait in your truck.” He pointed toward the door. “Samuel, Bobby, and Caleb will meet you outside.” His expression darkened. “And you will bring Dean home.”
John shoved away from the wall and headed for the screen door before pausing to look back at Sam one last time.
“Be pissed at me all you want,” John said coldly. “But remember who’s in charge here.” He pointed toward the woods beyond the farmhouse. “If you’re coming, you’re fighting for me. Leave the attitude behind.”
Sam stared at him with a look so cold it made everyone else in the room uncomfortable.
Usually Sam was the soft one.
The reminder there was still good left in the world.
But right then?
He looked like a hunter through and through.
“I know exactly who I’m fighting for,” Sam answered evenly.
“And it sure as hell isn’t you.”
Sam turned and headed upstairs while John slammed the screen door behind him.
Jim looked back toward the others.
“Bobby, you ride with John.” He sighed heavily. “I think Sam should go with Caleb.”
“Yeah,” Caleb muttered. “Good call.”
“And on the hunt,” Jim added, “keep the Winchesters separated.” He looked directly at Caleb. “You stay with Sam the entire time.”
“Yes, sir.” Caleb nodded once. “Now I gotta go pack. My best friend’s alone in the woods and I’m bringing him home before sunrise.”
“Bring all of them home,” Jim replied quietly.
“We will,” Bobby promised.
A few minutes later Caleb slid behind the wheel of the Jeep while Sam climbed silently into the passenger seat.
His bruised cheek stayed mostly hidden behind his hair.
Caleb followed John’s truck through the darkness, glancing over at Sam every so often.
The kid still had that same frighteningly blank expression on his face.
Sam was a hunter.
A Brotherhood kid through and through.
But there was always something different about him too.
He didn’t remember life before hunting.
Didn’t remember innocence being taken from him.
And unlike the others, Sam never carried the same hatred inside himself.
That was why everybody loved him.
For most of the Brotherhood, Sam was proof there was still good left in the world.
But right now?
Caleb couldn’t see that kid.
All he saw was fear and fury.
And it scared the hell out of him.
“Hey, Sammy?” Caleb asked quietly.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
“I’m not the one trapped in the woods with a pissed-off witch.” Sam kept staring out the windshield. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, but…” Caleb hesitated. “Your dad hit you pretty hard back there.”
Sam snorted.
“I’ve been hit harder by schoolyard bullies.”
Caleb swallowed hard.
“Sammy—”
“Don’t.” Sam’s voice sharpened immediately. “Whatever lecture you’re about to give me can wait until we find my brother.” His jaw tightened. “That’s what matters right now.”
Caleb couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped him.
Sam glared over immediately.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing.” Caleb shook his head. “I’m just realizing you can give Dean a serious run for his money with all the overprotective mama-bear bullshit.”
Sam just shrugged.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
Eventually the trucks pulled off onto the side of a deserted road and the hunters climbed out.
John pointed deeper into the woods.
“The cabin’s about a mile northeast.” He checked his gun. “Hopefully she brought Dean there.” He looked between them. “If you get a chance to pull Dean out, take it. I’ll deal with the witch afterward if I have to.”
“Got it,” Caleb answered.
John’s eyes settled on Sam.
“Crystal clear, Sam?”
“Yeah,” Sam replied evenly. “Crystal.”
Caleb led Sam off through the trees while Bobby stayed with John.
After several minutes of walking, Caleb finally spoke again.
“Hey, Sammy?”
“Yeah?”
“I need you behind me, okay?” Caleb adjusted his grip on the shotgun. “Don’t take a shot at the witch unless you absolutely have to.”
Sam stopped walking.
“Why?”
Caleb hesitated carefully.
“Because no matter how crazy she is…” He looked over at Sam. “She’s still human.” His voice softened slightly. “I don’t want you having to take that kill shot.”
Sam laughed coldly.
“She kidnapped my brother and dragged him into the woods.” He looked Caleb dead in the eye. “She’s a monster.”
The words came out with terrifying certainty.
“She’s worse than most things we hunt,” Sam continued. “At least monsters can’t help what they are.” He raised the gun slightly. “She chose this.” His voice dropped lower. “So no, I won’t feel guilty putting a bullet through her fucking head.”
Then Sam turned and kept walking toward the cabin.
Caleb stood frozen for half a second before hurrying after him.
It was going to be a very long night.