ThanK you AImee
Taylor Swift
2:33 —————•———————
𝑰 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒄𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 1 : 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 20
𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅

☆

2006

Sam had found a case in Colorado that involved a man named Daniel Elkins, a name that Dean recognised from John journal which lead them to the recently deceased man's home which was a old, haunted looking house in the middle of nowhere where. It gave Jovi the creeps just looking at it. She stood behind her dad who'd just picked the lock for the house gently pushing the door open aiming his flashlight inside, Dean had originally told Jovi to wait in the car but she threw a tantrum not wanting to stay by herself in this particular spot, the darkness combined with fog and large trees made her uncomfortable so Dean agreed as long as she stayed with him the whole time

So she held his hand letting her dad pull her along inside of the house with Sam behind them. They walked into a study like room where there was mess everywhere, it looked like a fight had broken out "looks like the made didn't come today" Dean commented his eyes darting over the desk, Jovi looked back at Sam who was crouched by the door examining white power he'd found "hey, there's salt over here, right inside the door"

"You mean like protection against demons salt or uh oops I spilled the popcorn salt?" Dean said flipping through a book as Jovi stood ok her tip toes trying to see what he was reading "it's clearly a ring" Sam responded "you think this guy Elkins was a player?"

"Definitely" Dean said looking through the guys journal as Sam walked over looking over deans shoulder "that looks a hell of a lot like dads"

"Except this dates back to the 60s"

"That's so old" Jovi commented her eyes darting around the room curiously. They walked into another room, the sky roof had been broken, glass, books and wood was scattered all along the floor. Dean lifted Jovi into his arms to prevent her from walking on the glass "whatever attacked him, looks like there was more than one" Sam told them head pointed to the ceiling "looks like he put up one hell of a fight too" Dean added as they walked into the room and over to the island that was also scattered with books, papers and glass. Dean eyed a wooden box that seemed to have held some sort of weapon due to the bullet holders, he kept moving Jovi's eyes found scratches in the floor. She tapped her dads shoulder pointing to the scratched "look" Dean followed her gaze finding what she was looking at, he readjusted her in his arms as he crouched down to look at them "nice work, princess" he told his daughter gaining a happy smile in return "you got something?" Sam asked them

"I don't know, some scratches on the floor" Dean told him his eyes darting around looking for something "death throes maybe?"

"Maybe" Dean gently out Jovi down ok a patch of floor that wasn't covered in glass before he grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil laying it over the scratches before shading over them imprinting the marks into the paper. He lifted the paper looking it over "or maybe a message" he handed it to Sam "look familiar?" He asked Sam who looked over the letters and numbers "3 letters, 6 digits, the location and combination of a post office box. It's a Mail Drop"

Jovi tilted her head confused "Mail Drop?" She questioned looking up at her uncle for answers "it's a address so we can pick up whatever this guy sent" Sam told her earning a 'oh' from the child "that's just the way dad does it".

They'd found their way to the post office where Dean had broken into the lock box finding a letter with J. W. Written on it, they now sat in the Impala, Jovi leant over the seat in between the two brothers so she could see the letter "J. W. you think John Winchester?" Sam asked Dean who gently shook his head "I don't know, should we open it?"

The three then jumped when banging cam from the window, there stood John Winchester himself. Jovi's happy mood slightly diminishing as she sat back in her seat shrinking into herself as John climbed into the back with her. The brothers both turned around with shocked expressions "dad, what're you doing here? Are you alright?" Sam asked him, John sent his granddaughter a small nod in acknowledgment but Jovi kept her frown. John wasn't someone she ever got excited to see, it was his own fault, he'd scared the child into being frightened of him. The amount of arguments, yelling at her and hunting training John had made her do gave the girl anxiety whenever she was around him, if it wasn't for Dean Jovi was sure John would've caused her worse mental damage "yeah, I'm ok. I read the news about Daniel, I got here as fast as I could. I saw you three up at his place" John told the three

"Why didn't you coming, dad?"

"You know why. Because I had to make sure you wasn't followed by anyone or anything" John spoke looking between his two sons "nice job of covering your tracks by the way"

"Yeah, well, we learned from the best" Dean said with a small smile looking at his father, Jovi avoided their eyes grabbing her blanket and playing with the end of it "so you came all the way out here for this Elkins guy?" Sam questioned eyeing his father "he was — he was a good man. He taught me a hell of a lot about hunting" John told them "well, you never mentioned him to us?"

"We had — we had kind of a falling out. I hadn't seen him in years" John told them honestly before his eyes landed on the envelope in deans hand "I should look at that" Dean handed it over which gained Jovi's attention, she was curious as to what exactly was written in that envelope. Her small green eyes watched as John opened it up raising it to his eyes "if you're reading this, I'm already dead — that son of a bitch"

"What is it?" Dean asked his eyes locked onto his father

"he had it the whole time" her eyes widened in understanding "dad, what?" Sam asked his eyes darting between the two in the backseat "when you searched the place, did you see a gun? An antique, a cult revolver, did you see it?"

"There was an old case, but it was empty" Dean explained "they have it" John said his turning his head to the window a troubled look coming over his face, Dean furrowed his brows looking to his dad "you mean whatever killed Elkins?"

"We've got to pick up the trail" John abruptly got out of the car "wait, you want us to come with you?" Sam asked looking up at his dad through the window "if Elkins is telling the truth we've got to find this gun" John said leaning down to look at his two sons through the window "the gun, why?"

"Because it's important, that's why" John said in a snappier tone, Jovi flinched slightly at his tone and cold eyes. She averted her gaze looking out of her own window

"Dad, we don't even know what these things are yet"

"They are what Daniel Elkins killed best, vampires"

Jovi's attention was brought back to the conversation, her eyes wide in surprise as her lips parted on a 'o'. "Vampires are real?" She asked her grandfather leaning forward in her seat so she could see him, johns eyes softened slightly as he met the stunned child's eyes. Dean then added "vampires? I thought there was no such thing?"

"you never even mentioned them, dad" Sam said with a furrowed brow

"I thought they were extinct, I thought Elkins and others had wiped them out...I was wrong. Most vampire lore is crap, the cross won't repel them, sunlight won't kill them, and neither will stake to the heart. But the blood lost, that parts true. They need fresh human blood to survive, they were once people, so you won't know it's a vampire until it's too late" John told them making Sam and Dean share a look "woah" Jovi muttered now more interested in the case even though she knew her dad wouldn't let her anywhere near the creatures, still it didn't hurt to learn something knew.

☆

It was the next day and John was the only one awake sat listening to the police scanner, Sam, Dean and Jovi all fast asleep on their designated beds, Jovi cuddled up to her dads chest, Dean's arm protectively around her. What john was listening for came over the radio making him jump up grabbing his coat before he went over to the beds "Sam, Dean. Let's go" he shook both his son's legs, the two both groaning slowly walking up "I picked up a police call"

Sam sat up while Dean rubbed his eyes tiredly looking down at his daughter who was still sleeping peacefully, he felt bad having to wake her "what happened?" Sam asked

"Couple called 911, found a body in the street, cops got there everyone was missing. It's the vampires" John said putting his jacket on while Dean gently shook Jovi awake, the girl only wrapping her arms around him tighter "how do you know?" Sam questioned as John walked towards the door sending Sam a sarcastic smile "I just know, okay?" John then left the room while Sam stood up "vampires, gets funnier every time I hear it" Dean commented while lifting his daughter his arms, Jovi groaning quietly not wanting to leave the bed just yet.

John took the three younger Winchesters to a crime scene which was on a lonely road a bit further out of town. Sam and Dean stood a good few meters down the road while John spoke to the police, Jovi was playing with a stick she found the 6 year old whacking other bushes with it letting her intrusive thoughts win. Dean let her get her energy out, whenever he had a chance to let her wear herself out he encouraged it - it made the long car journeys easier for him and her. Though, he was keeping a close eye on her making sure she wasn't about to hurt herself

"I don't see why we couldn't have gone over with him" Sam said eyeing his dad, Dean rolled his eyes "don't tell me it's already starting"

"What's starting?" Sam asked raising a brow but Dean didn't respond he just turned to John who stopped in front of them "what do you got?"

"It was them. Looks like they're heading west, we're gonna have to double back to get around that detour" John told them putting his hands in his pockets, Sam narrowed his eyes at his father "how can you be so sure?"

Dean snapped his head to his brother "Sam"

"I just want to know we're going in the right direction" Sam told his brother before looking back at John who just stared blankly at Sam "we are"

"How do you know?"

"I found this" John pulled a fang from his pocket handing it to Dean who looked it over "it's a vampire fang"

"No fangs, teeth. The second set descends when they attack" John corrected his eyes shifting over to Jovi who was waving the large pointy stick around recklessly "Dean, control her before she hurts herself" John said sternly making Dean turn his eyes finding his daughter who moved a branch from a thorn bush with her stick "Jov, come here" he said his tone soft unlike Johns who's was just spiteful, the small girl turned the stick moving with her which made the branch of thorns fly back hitting her arm which was currently uncovered as she'd already refused to put her jacket on claiming she'd been too hot in the car - another thing John wanted to lecture Dean on. Jovi yelped feeling stinging sensation in her arm, she dropped the stick cradling her arm which had a small thorn in it from where the branch had just hit her a little too hard

When her innocent, teary, forest green eyes met her fathers. Dean could see that she was trying to stop herself from crying by the way she pressed her lips together "i told you" John muttered earning a glare from both brothers, Dean quickly rushed over to her "hey, you okay? Let me see it" he gently took her arm in his hands looking over the thorn was that sticking out of her skin "I-I'm okay" Jovi uttered her voice cracking, Deans heart clenched a little. He didn't like that she was trying to hold herself together because when he looked at her in this moment he saw himself and one thing he never wanted for her was to have to 1. Handle her feelings the same way he did - by ignoring them 2. have to grow up too fast, he wants her to be a normal kid and any normal kid would've burst out crying and ran to their parent, he could tell that this was his fathers doing

"Good news is we're not gonna have to chop your arm off, but we do need to get the thorn out okay?" he told her with a comforting smile trying to get her to laugh or smile but when his eyes met hers he could see her lip trembled "You want a hug?" He asked her, the girl nodded practically throwing herself into his arms letting small sniffles escape her lips. Dean picked her up rubbing comforting circles on her back to try and calm her while shushing her as he walked back over to his brother and dad who was both watching the incident "just pull the damn thing out" John told his son no hint of empathy on his face at all "I don't need parenting advice from you thanks" Dean responded his eyes dark with annoyance, he didn't need to take parenting advice from John of all people. He couldn't stand when his father tried to tell him how to raise his kid, Jovi wasn't him or Sam. She had feelings and was a lot more sensitive than he ever was and he wouldn't let her grow up thinking she had to be a soldier...over his dead body.

John looked between them ignoring the crying child and his pissed off son as well as deans last comment "any more questions?" Neither of the younger hunters said anything making John nod "all right, let's get out of here. We're losing daylight and Dean, why don't you touch up your car before you get rust? I wouldn't have given you the damn thing if I thought you were going to ruin it" John said nastily as he walked to his truck, Sam turned to Dean "she okay?" He nodded "you mind getting me the lighter, some tweezers, whiskey and a plaster?" Sam offered a small smile going to the truck of Baby and to their first aid box, Dean was glad someone else cared enough to help him out.

Jovi sat in Sam's lap in the backseat of the impala sniffling while Dean heated up the pair of tweezers with his lighter, he turned to Jovi crouched in front of her. He gently took her arm, her face scrunched up as she turned away not wanting to see it "just a sharp pinch" he looked up at her anxious anticipation face before he cracked a smirk "hey jov?"

"Yeah?" The small girl responded still not opening her eyes "why is Peter Pan always flying?" Jovi opened an eye raising a brow in confusion towards her father "why?" Dean chuckled his eyes darting down to the thorn that his tweezers were positioned over "because he Neverlands..." she let a small giggle escape her lips but that soon turned into a small cry as Dean pulled the thorn out while she was distracted, Sam comfortingly rubbed her other arm trying his best to keep her calm while Dean picked up the whiskey flask "hey, I got another one" he said pouring some onto some gauze they said in their first aid kit "oh no" the child mumbled not knowing what was worse, her dads jokes or the stinging in her arm "no, come on, you'll like this one"

"I think you're jokes are making it worse" Sam commented with a smirk, Dean scoffed "well that's a shame 'cause I was going to tell a time travelling joke but-" he put the gauze to Jovi's arm making her hiss more tears pooling in her eyes "you guys didn't like it" Sam and Jovi both pulled the same unamused expressions as they looked at Dean who was grinning proud of himself "no" Jovi muttered shaking her head a frown on her face unimpressed with the dad jokes, Dean took the pad off her arm grabbing a bandaid "what? I was really proud of that one" Sam chuckled in amusement, he was glad to see Dean properly stepping into the roll of her father. Not that he was ever bad at it, but after spending the last year with him and seeing how much he truly loved and cherished his daughter - the dad jokes were just the cherry on top. He was proud of his brother to say the least

Dean put the bandaid over the small wound before placing a gentle kiss to it "there, kissed it better. I think that'll heal over night now" he told Jovi lifting her off of Sam's lap and into his arms where she buried her head into his neck "you did so good, angel" he reassured her placing a kiss to her hair.

☆

One Winchester brother argument later, the three were still following Johns truck. Jovi who'd been watching the scenery out of the window of Baby was completely zoned out missing the conversation Dean was having with John over the phone but the second the impalas engine roared and they swerved in front of johns truck coming to a swift stop, Jovi's once tired expression had changed to a wide awake one. Her eyes wide as she gripped the arm rest on the door of the impala

Sam quickly exited the drivers side "oh crap. Here we go, Sam!" Dean called out before he turned in his seat looking at his daughter who was startled "it's okay, just stay here" he told her his voice calm and caring
before climbing out of the car. John stomped his way over to an angry Sam "what the hell was that?"

"We need to talk" Sam said staring his father down "about what?" John hissed back "about everything. Where are we going, dad? What's the big deal about this gun?" Sam demanded answers, Dean stood to the side of the two looking between the staring competition that was going on "Sammy, come on. We can Q and A after we kill all the vampires" Dean told his brother wanting to get back to his daughter who he knew was watching the interaction from the window

"Your brothers right. We don't have time for this"

"Last time we saw you, you said it was too dangerous to be together and now out of the blue you need our help? Now obviously something big is going down and we want to know what!" Sam yelled at his father "get back in the car" John spoke in a heart racingly calm tone "no" Sam hissed back, Dean's eyes widened as John took a step closer to his youngest boy "I said get back in the damn car"

"Yeah, and I said no"

"All right, you made your point, tough guy. Look, we're all tired, we can talk about this later" Dean spoke trying to calm the situation down as he put a hand to Sam's chest shoving him back gently "Sammy, I mean it. Come on"

They began walking away as Sam muttered "this is why I left in the first place" John's stern voice came from behind them "what'd you say?"

"You heard me" Sam snapped

"Yeah, you left. Your brother, niece and me, we needed you. You walked away, Sam" John said getting back in Sam's face as he grabbed his jacket "you walked away!"

"Okay, stop it!" Dean yelled taking a step towards them but both men ignored him, he didn't want Jovi witnessing a fight break out between her family

"You're the one who said don't come back, dad. You're the one who closed that door not me! You were just pissed off you're couldn't control me anymore!" Sam yelled as John gripped his jacket tighter, Dean quickly intervened putting himself between the two "I said stop it, stop it, that's enough!" Dean then looked at his dad "that means you too!"