PROLOGUE — WE'RE ALL MAD HERE

"John's staying with me." — john winchester

JJ WINCHESTER WAS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL AN ORDINARY CHILD. He spent his days cooped up in a motel room, scribbling cartoon drawings and strange symbols across his stack of paper. Him and his twin brother — Sam — would wait for their Father to return all the while being looked after by their older brother: Dean. Dean was only eight, but he cared for his little brothers more than their Father did.

The Winchester lifestyle wasn't normal either, but the twins didn't know about that just yet. They just thought their Father was a simple travelling salesman, having no idea that their Father was really a hunter who fought the creatures of the night. Dean knew though. And he wouldn't tell his brothers, his Dad had forbidden it.

Sam was sat in front of the television, watching an episode of Scooby Doo that Dean had put on. But JJ, he was once again scrawling strange symbols no one could decipher — not even his Father. John Winchester first believed the symbols to be nonsense, but when JJ's consistent drawings began to show some sort of logical pattern, John started to reconsider. But he hadn't yet figured out what they meant or why his son seemed to be the only one who knew about them.

Whispers echoed in the four-year-old's head as he scratched down the symbols. It was like he was a conduit for the whispers, because even though he was scribbling down their words into symbols, he couldn't understand what they were saying. This had been happening for as long as the child could remember. Dean glanced at his younger brother with concern as he seemed to go into some sort of trance.

It may have been a common occurrence for JJ, but that didn't mean Dean wasn't worried. Because he was, every time.

"Hey, JJ." He spoke up, trying to gain his attention. But JJ didn't tear hid gaze from his paper. "Hey, you've gotta eat something." Still JJ made no sign of response and just kept scribbling away. Alarm rised up inside Dean as panic flared in his eyes. He rushed over to JJ's side making Sam look away from Scooby Doo to watch Dean crouch down beside his twin. Dean peered over JJ's shoulder to find the exact same thing he always did. He placed a hand upon the boy's shoulder and tried to shake him from his trance. "JJ, come on." Nothing. "Junior, snap out of it!"

JJ dropped his pencil. Dean sighed in relief.

"You okay?" The big brother asked in concern. JJ nodded as a distant expression crossed his face. "Here, eat something." Dean said and then passed the middle child a poptart.

A smile broadened on JJ's young face as he accepted the plate. "Thanks Deanie."

"Just glad you're okay, Junior." Dean nodded before reaching over to take the papers and pencils from his brother. He knew his Dad was collecting the scribbled symbols, to try and make sense of it all, so Dean gathered them up in a small pile and placed them on top of a cabinet only him and his Father could reach. "Why don't you go and watch Scooby Doo with Sammy?"

JJ grinned widely. "Okay."

The young boy pushed himself out from the table before rushing over to Sam who was still on the bed. He clambered onto the mattress and pulled himself right up beside his twin, poptart in hand. Both boys smiled at each other before focusing their gaze on the TV where Scooby and the gang were solving a mystery together. The boys liked to try and guess who was the bad guy behind the mask and would celebrate when they got it right. When JJ noticed Sam glancing at his poptart, the boy broke his snack in half and handed one piece to his younger twin.

"Thank you." Said Sam, mouthful of poptart and JJ just smiled with his own cheeks full of the tasty treat.

From the kitchen, Dean watched his younger brothers share a poptart as they watched one of their favourite shows together. It was peaceful. His Dad had left him in charge of the two whilst he was out hunting a vampire nest, or something like that, and he had been instructed to keep a closer eye on JJ and to ensure he was never trapped in those trances for long. And Dean always followed his orders.

He was about to make himself something to eat, when their Dad suddenly burst through the motel door. "Dad!" Cried Sam and JJ who leapt from the bed and into their Father's arms.

"John, Sam." Greeted their Father with his gruff voice. There were a few blood splatters on his jacket, but neither twin noticed. Dean did though. It seemed their Father had cleaned up as best as he could before returning, but he missed a spot. "Have you two been good for your brother?"

"Yes!" Both brothers replied.

John turned to Dean who was still standing in the kitchen. "Dean?"

"They were good, sir." Nodded the eldest before he glanced down and smiled at the two boys. "Listened real well. They've eaten, had water and have been watching Scooby Doo."

"Good." That was all John said. No gratitude to Dean for caring for his brothers all day when their Father should have. No words. No smile. No hug. But that was the way it was between them. "Any more drawings?"

Dean cast a look to the cabinet where he had stashed the papers. "Yes, sir." He nodded. "Just now. Managed to snap him out of it. But he drew some pages before I got him out." Both JJ and Sam were oblivious to the conversation Dean and their Father were having as they returned to sit in front of the television as Scooby and the gang unmasked the villain. They both cheered as they got it right. "Here." Dean walked over to the cabinet and then handed the sheets to his Father.

"Why didn't you stop him sooner?" John questioned when he saw the amount of pages in his hand.

Dean's entire body froze in fear. "I—I couldn't." He tried, trying to keep a brave face. "I tried. It took me a while to snap him out of it."

"I don't want to hear excuses, Dean." The eight‐year-old closed his mouth and said nothing. So, John just sighed heavily. "Pack up the twins' things, I'm dropping you and Sam off at Bobby's. Me and John are going on a trip."

Dean was too frightened to argue.

So he quickly packed his and the twins' things before they left the motel behind and jumped into the Impala. None of the boys had any idea what was happening or why their Father seemed it vital that him and JJ go alone. Dean, who was in the front, kept glancing back at the twins with concern clear on his face. He wanted to protect them with everything he had, but he didn't stand a chance against his Father.

They arrived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by the end of the day. Dean hopped out of the Impala and headed straight for Sam's side to retrieve him before his Dad could order him too. John just got out of the car and met Bobby where he was waiting in the creaky old doorframe of his even older house. "Hey, Bobby."

"John."

Bobby was always cold and blunt with John Winchester, so he was used to it by this point. Casting a look back to the car, he then said. "We won't be long, a day max." Both men watched as JJ reached for his own seatbelt — having noticed his twin being removed from his seat — only for Dean to stop him. Hearing the news that he was going with their Father, alone, it made the young boy tear up. He wanted his brothers. "John's staying with me. It'll just be Dean and Sam this time."

A raised brow appeared on Bobby's face. "So you finally gonna take that poor boy to see a doctor?" He queried and watched the sad middle Winchester child with a sympathetic look. For as long as Bobby had known the boys, he knew about JJ's issue with the drawings and the whispers. He kept on telling John to take the boy to see a doctor, but John refused. It didn't take a genius to release that he was in denial that something was wrong with his son.

"Of sorts." Grumbled the hunter.

Folding his arms over his chest, Bobby gave the man in front of him a stern look. "What do you mean 'of sorts'?" John didn't reply. But he didn't need to. The look on his face said it all. "You're taking that boy to see a psychic? John, he needs an actual doctor, or a shrink, I don't know. A medical professional."

If there was one thing (other than the thing that killed this wife) that John Winchester hated, it was someone questioning his parenting. "Don't tell me what to do with my son, Bobby. I'm his Father, not you. The voices, the symbols. I think he may be psychic."

"Not everything is supernatural, John!"

John's frustration quickly turned to anger. "I'm taking that boy to Missouri, Bobby. Whether you like it or not." An exasperated sign toppled from Bobby's lips because he knew John would not let anyone talk him out of it.

Behind John, Bobby spotted Dean and Sam approaching them. The latter carrying both their bags whilst Sam stood there with empty hands. He would have had one of his toys clutched between his fingers if he hadn't given it to JJ when started to get upset about leaving his twin and his big brother.

"Dean, Sam." Smiled Bobby as he walked past John to greet them. He reached down and picked up Sam, placing the four-year-old on his hip. "It's good to see you."

One of the bags was then removed from Dean's hands as Bobby used his free one to carry it. "It's good to see you too." Dean said. The Winchester boys really liked staying at Bobby's place. Definitely more than the motel rooms their Dad dragged them around to.

"See you tomorrow then, John." Bobby dismissed the other hunter as he led the two boys inside. "Don't get your hopes up." And that was the last thing he said before he disappeared into his home with the two boys at his side.

An annoyed grunt passed John's lips and then he headed back to the Impala where JJ was waiting. His cheeks were stained with tears and he hugged Sam's toy truck tight to his chest. They had been gone mere minutes and JJ already missed his brothers.

John got into the driver's seat and then stared at his upset son in the rear view mirror. "Man up, John." He ordered and instantly the boy raised his hands to wipe away hid tears. "Good. Now we're going on a little trip."

Nothing more was said between the Father and the son as he started the car and drove off into night. He wanted to find out the truth about JJ and there was only one person who could give that to him. Missouri Mosely.

LAWRENCE, KANSAS

IT WAS MORNING WHEN THE WINCHESTER FATHER AND SON DUO ARRIVED IN THEIR HOME TOWN. JJ hadn't been back there since he was six months old so he couldn't remember a thing about it. Yet as he stared out of the window, at the houses and trees, it was like a sense of familiarity washed over him. Some part of him must have remembered the place he was born.

John Winchester didn't like returning to Lawrence as it just reminded him of what he had lost. But hid son needed to see a person who still lived here, so he had to come back. Of course, on the way, he had informed JJ of where they were going when the boy was still awake. And he may have just been four years old, but knowing that he was going home just made him curious about what he was going to find.

Pulling the Impala up to the side of the road, John brought them to a stop. He switched off the engine and sighed as he stared at the house before him.

JJ tightened his grip on Sam's toy truck. "Dad, is this where we lived?" Asked the boy as he looked out of the window at the home.

Shaking his head, his Father answered. "No, John. It's not. This home belongs to a friend. She's why we've come."

"Oh. Okay."

The boy was disheartened slightly at the news. Part of him had wanted it to be their old home as if he could find remnants of his lost Mother to fill the hole in his heart. JJ had no idea why they were there — his Father had left out that detail. Then, John Winchester sighed before opening the car door. "Let's go, John."

Reaching for his seatbelt, the four year old unclipped himself and reached for the side door. He pulled it open and slipped off the leather seats to stand on the concrete beneath. Then he turned back to grab the toy truck because the boy did not want to be without his brother for long.

"Leave it." Grunted John impatiently.

JJ's eyes widened. "But—"

"No, John. Leave it." He demanded with a harsh glare as he walked over to the other side of the road. Sadly JJ released his hold on Sam's toy truck and then closed the door and rushed over to the other side of the road to join his Father. "This way."

He led his son up the old wooden steps and towards an even older front door. JJ hung back behind his Father out of habit but the man kept beckoning him to come closer. Once they reached the top, John stood there for a moment as if contemplating his decision. A heavy sigh passed his lips then John knocked against the wood.

JJ didn't know what to expect. But a short Black woman greeting them with a kind smile was certainly not it. As soon as she set her eyes on his Father, the woman chuckled. "John Winchester! It's been too long!"

Much to JJ's surprise, a rare smile tugged at his Father's lips. "Hi, Missouri."

Her face faltered slightly as she stared at the man. His thoughts invaded her own and they caused her to frown. "You've been busy, John." The man in question just hummed in response. Once she reached a particular thought, her eyes widened in realisation and she cast them down to JJ who was hiding behind his Father's large legs. "Oh my goodness, is that John Junior?" JJ nodded. "My, I haven't seen you since you were a baby. And look at you, you've grown."

Turning to his son, John grunted. "Say hello, John. This is Missouri, she's a friend."

"Hi."

The meek hello from the small boy caused the woman to smile sweetly. Then she looked back up at his Father. "You want me to look into the boy's mind, why?"

"You're the only one I trust to do it." Shrugged John.

That didn't particularly answer Missouri question, but she knew it wouldn't be too hard to find the answer in the hunter's mind. Smiling down at the four-year-old, she stepped out of the way of the door and gestured for them to enter. "Come inside, sweetie. I think I still have some cheesecake in the fridge you can have." Perking up slightly, JJ followed his Father into the woman's home and he still had no idea why they were there. She led the Father and son into her living room before taking off into the kitchen.

JJ placed himself down onto the comfortable sofa and smiled happily at how soft it was. "Why are we here, Dad?" Asked the boy as he moved to look up at his Father.

"You'll find out in a minute."

Nothing else was said. Then Missouri reentered the room, a plate of cheesecake in her hand. She placed the desert and fork down in front of the boy whose eyes widened in delight at the sight of it. Missouri chuckled at his expression. Then she moved over to take her sear opposite the two Winchesters and waited patiently for John to tell her why he was there.

Sighing, John began. "I think John may be psychic. Or connected to something, somehow." Missouri raised her eyebrow at the man, looking for him to continue. Meanwhile, JJ had started to eat Missouri's delicious cheesecake and accidentally blocked out his Father's conversation. It was good cheesecake. "He keeps hearing these whispers. Then he goes into this weird state where he just draws these symbols." Reaching into his pocket, the hunter withdrew a folded wad of paper and handed it to the psychic.

Tentatively she took the sheets from John Winchester's hands and unfolded them. She had never seen drawings like these before. "I don't know what these are John." She informed him. "But he's just a boy. Kids his age are doodling till their heart's content."

"—But these have some sort of pattern. Like they're a code." Interjected John.

Missouri sighed. "I don't know what to tell you, John. I don't know what these mean." Hanging his head in disappointment, John looked to his son who was happily eating his cheesecake. Then Missiouri said. "But if he's psychically connected to something, I could look into his mind for that connection. But if I don't find—"

"Thank you." John cut her off which just made the woman glare at him. "John." He called out, gaining his son's attention. "Missouri is gonna talk to you for a bit."

Reluctantly, the boy put down his fork and moved away from the cheesecake. He stared up at the woman curiously as he wondered why he was there. Why was she important?

A chuckle bubbled in Missouri's throat and she smiled at young JJ. "I'm a psychic, sweetie. I can read minds." A wide grin instantly appeared on his face.

"Really? That's so cool!"

His excitement caused the woman to grin widely. "Yes. And your Daddy has brought you to see me today so I can read your mind." She told him.

JJ frowned. "Why?"

He turned to look at his Father for an answer, but John Winchester didn't even spare his son a glance. "He tells me you've been drawing weird symbols." She said and cast a look down to the papers in her hands.

As JJ stared at the sheets, he scrunched up his face in confusion. "I did that?" It seemed JJ didn't recall a thing.

"Yes." A worried expression crossed the woman's face. Then she added. "He also told me about the voices."

Now those JJ could remember. "Yeah, I hear them sometimes." He shrugged as he went to play with his fork. "They come and go."

"Do they come and go often?"

JJ just shrugged again.

Glaring down at his son, John scolded the boy. "Answer the woman, John."

"It's okay." Missouri quickly reassured the hunter and raised up her hand to stop him. She turned to JJ again. "JJ, sweetie, I want you to tell me when you hear them again, okay? And then I can help you by finding out where they come from. How does that sound?"

Blinking, JJ queried. "You can make them stop?"

"I don't know." She sighed. "But I can promise you that I'll do everything I can to help you. Okay?"

Fearing the same reaction from his Father, JJ replied instead of nodding. "Yeah."

And so they waited. JJ spent his time finishing off his cheesecake before playing with some of the toys the psychic had laying around from her own son. He built up houses out of colourful bricks and when they fell down, he rushed in an ambulance to help. John just sat there in silence as he waited impatiently for the inevitable episode JJ would have. And Missouri, she was planning the lecture she would give to John about his boys which he wouldn't take on board.

An hour passed. Then two. And still nothing.

John was growing increasingly impatient. But when the hour marker rounded to three, JJ felt the familiar sensation in the back of his mind. He dropped the action figure he had been holding. Eyes wide, he spoke up. "I can hear them."

Lurching up from his seat, John went into battle mode. He kept flickering his gaze between Missouri and his son as JJ went into a quiet state. The boy didn't say his word but his eyes said it all. He had a distant look in his eye as he felt the whispers crawl into his head and take root there. John looked at Missouri expectantly. "I'm going to go into his mind now, John." She informed him. "But I do not know what I'll find."

"Just do it."

Missouri did not respond and instead closed her own eyes. 

Reaching out to the boy in front of her, Missouri felt herself edging towards his head. For one so young, his mind was well guarded. Normally reading minds was as easy as breathing for her, but not with JJ Winchester. With him it was... different. 

Once she managed to get past his walls, she too could hear the whispers and voices that infected the boy's mind. She couldn't make out what they were saying. Not because they were inaudible mumbles but they seemed to be in a language she couldn't understand. "JJ, can you hear me?" She asked aloud.

Still with a blank expression across his face, the four-year-old replied. "Yes."

"Do you understand what these voices are telling you?"

"Yes."

That caused Missouri to frown in concern. He could understand these ramblings and strange words but she could not. So she dug deeper. If JJ was as John suspected — a psychic — then he had to be tapping into something and that would leave a trace for her to follow. But as she swam around inside the mysterious voices within the boy's head, she could find no rope, no link. She couldn't find anything that would tie his voices to an external source. It was all in his head. 

Oh dear.

Missouri pulled herself from the Winchester boy's head and opened her eyes to face his Father. There was nothing she could do. Hanging her head, the psychic sighed. "I'm sorry, John. I could hear what he was hearing, but all of it is just in his head." She turned to look at JJ who finally broke from his trance and immediately went back to playing with the action figure. A small smile tugged at her lips as she watched the innocence on his face.

"I don't understand, Missouri." John knew fully well what she was saying but denial was a powerful thing. "There's gotta be a reason for all of this."

The psychic moved her head to face John again with a sad expression on her face. "There is, John. You have to take that boy to see a Doctor. A real Doctor. This isn't a supernatural problem." 

John Winchester sat there for a moment, in pure silence, as he contemplated his options. Then he grabbed his son by his wrist and yanked him up and towards the door. JJ tried to say goodbye to the kind woman, but John didn't stop so the boy just waved his farewells. Missouri's heart broke for the poor boy as she watched his Father drag him outside. There was so much kindness and innocence in this child, but with a Father like John Winchester and a life like he had, the boy was pretty much cursed.

And after putting JJ into the car, he did just as Missouri suggested. Bobby had been begging him for as long as they had known each other to seek out medical help for his Middle child and it seemed the old salvage yard owner was finally getting his wish. All it took was a psychic to tell him that his son needed a Doctor for him to take him to one. And it wasn't long after he first started to get JJ assessed that the diagnosis was made: schizophrenia. 

He was a hunter's son and he had schizophrenia. That wasn't something you heard every day.









 

Here is the prologue!!! 

Please excuse the rushed ending, I really wanted to publish something considering the next month is going to be really hectic for me. I have 2 presentations, 3 lots of public speaking and a week of mock exams coming up. So here's something now.

Screw John Winchester. He didn't take his son to see a Doctor until a psychic told him so. Just because JJ is different, he shouldn't automatically assume it's supernatural. Well....

Bobby >>> John

Bobby is the boy's Dad and no one can say otherwise. JJ is definitely going to be more open about the fact that Bobby was a better Dad than John. Just because he was given his name, it doesn't mean JJ will be his Dad's little boy because screw John.

My Winchester bros are so cute!!!! Dean is such a good big brother (even though he's basically also a parent to the twins) and I love them. The twins are so cute too. I love them.

And we got to see Missouri Mosely, the icon. I love her. 

Thank you for reading!!!

Sincerely Rosie aka Winter326