Written for the Supernatural Quote Prompt Commentfic Meme at LJ. Sam: "Hey - everything's gonna be okay. I will be back in time, I promise." Pilot.
Just Like Arnold
The first time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone with strangers, he promised to be back the next day. He was. He stumbled in just before midnight, drunk as a sailor, and puked all over Dean's Batman footie pajamas.
The second time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone with strangers, he promised to be back in two days. He was. He came back with a black eye and a bloody nose, and the smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol all over him.
The third time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone with strangers, he promised to be back in three days. He wasn't. It took him four days to get back to them with tears in his eyes and apologies on his lips. Dean stayed up to watch for him. Sammy gurgled from the tight hold Dean had on him in his lap.
The seventh time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone with strangers, he promised to be back in a week, tops. He wasn't. He was three days late. He came back with gunpowder on his hands and blood on his face. He smiled sadly at his boys in apology.
The fourteenth time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone with strangers, he promised to be back in two weeks. He wasn't. He was a week and a half late. CPS came calling that day. John got there just in time to sneak out of town with his boys in tow.
The thirtieth time Dad left Dean and Sammy alone, it wasn't with strangers (Dean was old enough to be in charge), and he promised to be back in a month. He didn't come home at all. Pastor Jim was called out to drive the boys to the hospital where John had been laid up in a coma.
The hundredth time Dad left Dean and Sam alone, he promised to be back in two months. He was delayed, and wanted them to meet up with him in Delaware. Dean drove. Sam complained himself into a fit.
The hundred and fiftieth time Dad left Dean alone, Sam had just stormed off to college. A look promised Dean he'd be back later that night. Dad was, drunker than he'd been in a while. Sam wasn't.
The two hundredth time Dad left Dean alone, he promised to meet up in two weeks in Sucksass (that was totally the name of the town), Missouri. He was a week late. That was okay. Dean had plenty of things (willing women) to do. Damn it, Dad.
The two hundred and fiftieth time Dad left Dean alone, he promised to meet up in two weeks, give or take a few days, in Nevada. He didn't come. Dean went to get Sam from school. He got Sam back home in time for his Joe College life to burn to a crisp before his eyes.
The two hundred and fifty-first time Dad left Dean and Sam alone, he and Sam both wanted to stick together. Dean thought they should stay apart; it was harder for damned evil creatures to target them that way. Dad left.
The two hundred and fifty-second time Dad left Dean and Sam alone, he promised to get out of dodge if things went south with Meg. He came back possessed.
The last time Dad left Dean and Sam alone, it was in a hospital full of strangers, and he didn't promise to be back.