Playing for Keeps

A/N: This is the last chapter of this fic. Look out for the sequel Fraternal to be posted by rerickson, my writing buddy for this one.

Warnings and Disclaimers: See chapter 1

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Sam and Lucas spent another hour talking about college and literature, discussing their favorite authors while Nathan slept. It was Dean’s constant sighing that finally caught Sam’s attention and forced him to cut the conversation short and leave with Dean.

The minute they got back to their room, Dean flipped on the television, got undressed and proceeded to extract every weapon from his duffel bag and inspect them. Sam took this as a sign of trouble. He walked to the bed they’d shared and sat on the side facing Dean.

“So are we just going to ignore it?” Sam asked after a long while.

“What do you want me to say Sammy?” Dean barely glanced up.

“That this means something. I don’t know, maybe we were meant to meet them. Maybe our destinies lie together?”

“You mean maybe you can have friendships outside of ours,” Dean answered coldly.

“I don’t exactly consider us to be friends.”

Dean’s eyes flickered up for a moment and Sam wished for once he had the ability to think before he spoke.

“That’s great,” Dean replied.

“You know what I meant Dean. Besides, even dad had friends, people he can count on.”

“The difference being they had some expertise in the occult and the supernatural and unless one of them is the werewolf, they have absolutely nothing to contribute to what we do. Or...I know, maybe you feel less like a freak around them.”

Sam rubbed his temples lightly. He didn’t want to argue with Dean. He watched his brother polishing the same spot on his gun over and over. “I’m not ashamed to be in love with you.”

Dean’s hand stilled but he still refused to look at Sam.

“It’s just nice knowing that we’re not alone but it doesn’t change a thing.”

Dean pushed the gun he’d been needlessly cleaning aside and moved to sit next to his brother on the bed.

“I know this is not the life you wanted and I realize that you made a choice to stay with me even after the Deva was killed but sometimes I...I still feel like...”

Sam pulled his brother into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere Dean. I just can’t help feeling that meeting Nathan and Lucas is no coincidence. You of all people should understand that.”

Dean nodded, resting his head against his brother’s shoulder.

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Dan having parked his car in the brush a ways off, hid in the thicket surrounding the parking lot of the seedy motel his sons were hiding in. He wasn’t sure what exactly he was waiting for, but he knew when the opportunity presented itself, he’d know exactly what to do. He felt his pocket for the handgun he always carried around. He was prepared to use force if he had to. He’d see both his offspring dead before he’d let them humiliate him and tarnish his name.

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Nathan awoke in the still of the night to find his brother fully dressed, curled up on the bed opposite his, book lying open beside him. He slid his legs over the side of his bed as quietly as possible. He was still feeling a bit groggy from the pills Sam and Dean had given him. He reached over for the pants Lucas had tried to cover him with when Sam and Dean burst into the room. He wanted to get some air and clear his head just a little.

He found the room key on the nightstand and slipped out barefoot and shirtless. Something cold pressed against his neck and he reached up and touched the chain Lucas had been wearing when he returned. He smiled, twisting the ring that dangled from the edge between his fingers. Somehow he knew Lucas had slipped it on his neck for protection. He looked back at his brother sleeping and blew him a silent kiss before easing out the door.

He stood barefoot on the concrete taking in deep breaths of air. His head was feeling better already. Nathan stared up at the stars contemplating he and Lucas’s next move. He thought about places they could go and settle down. Lucas worked with their uncle as a mechanic so finding work would probably be easier for his older brother he supposed. He himself had no particular skills other than playing basketball. He laughed at the notion of Lucas supporting him while he finished college and perhaps got a job as a coach for junior or senior high school.

His mind drifted to the brothers next door to them and the secret they had in common. He couldn’t get the sight of Sam kissing Dean out of his mind. He’d only heard bits and pieces of their conversation with Lucas as he drifted in and out of sleep. He still wasn’t sure about those two and wanted to get as far away from them as possible. They seemed nice enough to him but they were always lurking around and the way they barged into he and Lucas’s room bugged him. Nathan decided that no matter how hard Lucas argued, he was going to insist that they move on.

Nathan was so lost in thought that he hadn’t heard the sound of footsteps creeping up along side him until it was too late. The thick muscular arm was around his throat cutting off his air and the gun was pointed at his temple. His father whispered in his ear not to make a sound and proceeded to drag him towards the bushes that lined the parking area.

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Sam heard the noises first. He opened his eyes and found his brother still pressed against him. He hated to admit that the best part of reassuring Dean that he wouldn’t leave him was the sex. Dean was so vulnerable and needy at these times and gave himself so completely to Sam that Sam knew he could never leave nor did he want to. This was his life lying beside him. If being with Dean meant not having other friends, he could live with it.

“Dean,” he said, nudging the man still nestled against him.

“Sammy?”

“I heard a noise.”

Dean was up in a flash, dressing and gathering his weapons. Sam hadn’t completely undressed so he was ready with equal speed. Dean carefully opened the door and the both slipped out, weapons ready, checking around for signs of the creature they were hunting. A loud growl followed by blood curdling screams sent Sam and Dean running towards the trees.

Lucas heard the screams and sat up. He’d fallen asleep reading and the light was still on. The first thing he noticed was Nathan missing. He sprang off the bed and checked the bathroom. Another chilling scream and Lucas flung open the door just in time to see Sam and Dean heading beyond the parking lot and into the surrounding woods. Realizing he was fully dressed, Lucas took off after them. The screams were horrific and all Lucas could think was please don’t let it be Nathan.

He heard shouting and several gunshots that momentarily had him frozen in place. The sound of Dean calling to Sam spurred him on. He ran into the bushes calling their names. Between the thick bushes and the darkness lighted only by the night sky, Lucas felt disoriented. The screaming had stopped and Lucas called for his brother. Behind him he heard the rustling of branches and froze. He turned slowly and saw something moving quickly toward him. Every instinct told him to run but his feet disobeyed him. His heart was racing from fear as he was able to make out the features of the shadowy creature approaching. It was tall and hairy and looked like some sort of animal; only it was standing, bearing its long sharp teeth. The eyes glowed a greenish gold and it growled nastily at him.

Lucas didn’t know what to do. He doubted he could outrun whatever it was and the sheer terror of seeing such a creature rendered him immobile. The creature lunged and Lucas felt his body smashed to ground by something hitting him from behind. Shots rang out over his head and a strangled cry emanated from in front of him. He was pressed face down into the ground and he heard a voice whispering in his ear, asking him if he was okay. It was Sam.

Sam pulled him up, checking him for injuries.

“I got him,” he heard Dean say.

When he was up and able to focus, he saw Dean moving cautiously over to the thing that was moments ago about to attack.

“Is it dead?” Sam asked, pushing Lucas behind him and pointing his gun at the thing.

“Yeah,” Dean said.

“Where’s Nathan?” Lucas asked when he finally found his voice.

Sam took him by the hand, “he’s over here. He’s not hurt. The other man wasn’t so lucky.”

Sam looked back at Dean who nodded to him, indicating it was safe to leave. Lucas broke from Sam’s grip when he saw Nathan laying halfway out of a car parked in a clearing. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the other figure lying face up, eyes wide open. Even in the moonlight, Lucas could see the man’s throat ripped open, his clothes shredded, and gaping wounds across his chest and abdomen.

Lucas side stepped the body and pulled his brother out of the car. He ran his hands over Nathan’s frame, checking him for injuries much the way Sam had done to him moments ago. Nathan groaned and to Lucas it was the loveliest sound he ever heard. He held him tight and kissed him over and over again. Tears streamed down his face as his brother became more alert.

Nathan panicked and tried to pull away. “It’s okay. It’s me. You’re safe,” Lucas assured.

He felt his brother relax in his arms and continued to reassure him with kisses and words. Dean appeared in the clearing.

“Sammy, we gotta go.”

“What about them?” Sam asked, nodding back at the two brothers huddled beside the car.

“Help them up.” Dean turned and was already moving back through the thicket.

“Guys, let’s go.” Sam said, pulling the two up.

Nathan stumbled past the figure lying still on the ground. By the time they made it back to the motel, they could hear police sirens in the distance.

“Let’s go Sammy,” Dean called from the car. He had their belongings already packed.

“He was my father,” Nathan said absently. Lucas held him tighter.

“You’d better go. Your brother is waiting.”

“Not without you. Hurry and pack.”

Sam heard the car door slam and the hurried footsteps of Dean approaching.

“We don’t have time for this Sammy.”

“That guy that got killed was their father. They can’t stay here.” Sam insisted.

“Their father was killed by a werewolf. They can’t possibly be connected to his death.”

“I thought our job was to help people. They need our help.” Sam looked at his brother with pleading eyes and as always, Dean caved.

“Get their asses out here and in their car now Sam or I’ll leave all of you behind.”

Dean stalked to his car and started the engine. Sam ran inside Lucas and Nathan’s room and helped them dump their belongings into their bags. “Follow us,” he said, helping Nathan into the passenger seat and throwing a jacket over him.

He ran back to the Impala and slid in. “Let’s go.”

Dean shot him one last angry glare before starting the car. He watched his rearview to make sure that Lucas was behind him. They peeled out the parking lot and onto the road. From the opposite direction, police cars approached and turned into the road leading to the motel.

Sam sat silently not wishing to push Dean any further. He knew his brother wasn’t happy with Lucas and Nathan tagging along but he hoped he would warm up to the idea. In the other car Nathan stared out the passenger side window. Lucas drove staring straight ahead, keeping the black car in his view. So many questions were running through his head. How did they know about the creature? Who were the Winchester’s?

“It killed Dad,” Nathan spoke sullenly. “I saw it kill him.”

Lucas reached over and took his brother’s hand.

“I think your chain saved me.”

Lucas frowned, believing his brother was still in shock.

“It came near me but when it saw the chain, it...it backed off.”

“Haley said it was a good luck charm,” Lucas tried to smile.

“It killed Dad,” Nathan sighed again before falling silent and staring out the window.

Lucas had no idea where they were going but he knew whatever happened next, there was no turning back.

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A/N: This is the final chapter of Playing for Keeps. Look for the aftermath of what happened in this chapter and more Winchester and Scott adventures in the sequel Fraternal which will be posted under my writing partner for this story’s penname Rerickson.