Adam glanced once again at the man beside him in the car and then at his own reflection in the side mirror. He really didn't see much resemblance but his mother assured him that he had inherited his dad's stubborn nature as well as his charm. Adam wasn't sure exactly what charm his mother was referring to but she had just winked at him when he had made this observation. She assured him with an "oh you will, once you find the right girl, my love" and had laughed at his frown of disgust.
Adam turned to once again look at his father.
His father.
His dad.
It sounded strange to him, yet right. He of course, knew he had a father, I mean everyone had a father but it wasn't till last year when his mom had gotten so sick and had called his dad, asking him to come and meet Adam that he had begun to really think of his father. His mom had always been enough for him. Of course he had wondered at times who his father was or even where he was but his mom always changed the subject and Adam learned quickly to avoid the topic all together. He had his mom and she had him and it was enough for them both.
Yet, now it wasn't, cause all that had changed the night his father answered that call from his mom. She had been scared and Adam had been more scared and his father had promised to come as quickly as he could. To say their first meeting had been awkward would be an understatement. John Winchester looked nothing like what Adam had imagined. He had a presence that demanded attention and an authority that others naturally deferred to, but there was tiredness and perhaps a bit of sadness in his eyes as well. Adam had been a little disappointed to learn his father was simply a mechanic but he supposed it could be worse.
John had stayed for two weeks with Adam, taking him to school and to the hospital to see his mom and even cooking him dinner and doing the laundry. Even after his mom had made a full recovery and could come home, John stuck around. And when he did leave, he promised to visit again soon and left his number for Adam to call anytime.
And he had returned, several times in fact, taking Adam to ballgames, the movies, and once even an arcade where he grumbled about spending too much money on ridiculous games. And Adam had hoped each visit his mom would ask his dad to stay the night, that maybe somehow they could figure out how to make this work and be the family he suddenly desired. Not that everything with his dad was lollipops and ponies. He quickly learned his dad expected immediate obedience and wouldn't tolerate what he called 'lip' from his 12 year old son. He had even grounded Adam his last visit for arguing with his mom. And Adam didn't even question if his father had that kind of authority over him. That was just the way it was with his dad, you just naturally did as he said.
Adam glanced in the side mirror again, wishing he could see more of John Winchester staring back at him. He sighed. Nope just Adam and his mother's eyes.
"You hungry, son?" his father asked startling him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, a little." Adam replied. His father frowned slightly and Adam quickly realized his mistake. "I mean yes, Dad, I am a little hungry." His dad positively hated that 'yeah'.
His father smiled at him, "Well I see a diner up ahead, why don't we stop for a bite and then see if we can maybe find a decent hotel around this place?"
Adam smiled back. "Sounds great, Dad."
They had been driving for what seemed like days. Adam's mom was at a 2 week conference, in Thailand of all places, and after Adam's pleading she had called John to see if he could stay a few weeks with him. John had agreed if Adam didn't mind coming with him on a road trip of sorts. Adam didn't realize mechanics traveled so often, but wasn't about to argue. It was stay with his dad or stay with old Ms. Crumwick and her 12 cats. Easy choice!
After getting a quick bite to eat and checking into a nearby hotel, Adam and his dad settled in and caught the end of a Cardinals' game on the ancient TV. Obviously mechanics did not make that much money, Adam thought, as the TV flickered for the third time. Each hotel they had stayed in had been clean but definitely not 5 star quality. But money had never really mattered to Adam.
"Well kiddo, why don't you go ahead and hit the shower while I make a few phone calls. I will be meeting with a few mechanic friends tomorrow and we will have to be getting up pretty early."
"Sure Dad." Adam replied easily, gathering his sleep clothes. His dad had been making several phone calls on this trip to his "mechanic friends" and each time Adam had been sent on some type of errand. Adam got the feeling his dad was hiding something and he was determined to find out, but knew some craftiness would have to come into play. He quickly jumped in the shower, lathered up, and rinsed. Then jumped out of the shower, dried off, and cracked the door open just a tiny bit. He could hear his dad talking quietly. He threw on his sleep pants and pressed his ear near the crack in the door.
"I am sure I will not need your help on this, Dean. Stay with your brother. Just have Sam do the research and I will call you in the morning to get some answers….no, no, a week at the most. Take care and keep Sam out of trouble….you too, boy! Bye." As John hung up the phone, Adam quickly backed up and pulled on his shirt. Just who is this Dean and his brother Sam and what on earth would a mechanic have to research?
"You fall asleep in there boy?" John asked from his seat on the bed.
"No, I am finished now." Adam replied coming out of the bathroom, while drying his hair with the towel causing it to stand up.
His father smiled as he took the towel from Adam and smoothed his hair down.
"Why don't you hit the sack, Son? I am going to grab a shower and do the same." He then pulled Adam into a quick side hug and Adam couldn't help but linger there. It felt right and safe, but of course he was a 12 year old boy, practically a man, so after a few seconds he pulled away.
"Night Dad." He said jumping into the bed and within seconds of closing his eyes he was out. He never did hear his Dad climbing into the extra bed beside him.
Adam woke with a start. He took a second to get orientated and remember why he was not waking up in his own bed at home. Glancing around the hotel room he suddenly realized his father was not sleeping in the bed beside him. He sat up and squinted in the dark. No, his father wasn't sitting in the lone chair in the room nor did he hear him in the bathroom. Adam slipped out of bed and walked to the window, peeking out he could see the Impala among a few other cars but no father. He quietly eased the door open, and peeked around the corner to see if perhaps his dad was making a phone call. Adam's heart began to beat in his chest when he realized no one was outside at all.
It was the middle of the night, where could his father be? He pushed the door open a little more and took a step outside and that's when he noticed the strange substance on the threshold of the door. He squat down to get a better look. It looked like..salt..he rubbed his finger through it. It was salt. What on earth? Adam took a tentative step over the salt and looked around one more time. Seeing nothing, he ventured down the walkway. Just as he was turning the corner someone grabbed him from behind. Adam screamed but it was quickly cut off by a hand covering his mouth. He was roughly pulled from behind, back to his hotel room despite his efforts to break free. He was then unceremoniously thrown onto the bed as his attacker quickly shut the door. Adam stood up ready to fight when he came face to face with one pissed off John Winchester.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" his father bellowed at him.
"I..I was just..looking for you." Adam stammered, licking his lips nervously. He had never seen his father this angry before.
"You do NOT go outside this hotel room without my permission. Do you hear me, boy?" his father hissed.
Adam quickly nodded his head.
"I can't hear you!" his dad roared.
"Yes, Yes sir. I won't go outside." Adam said quickly, backing away from his Dad's anger.
"You are damn right you won't. If you disobey me on this Adam you will regret it."
"I won't, I promise." Adam quickly reassured his dad, looking at the ground. He then added, while peeking up at his father through his bangs, "I was just a little worried, Dad. Where did you go?"
"I was simply making a phone call, Adam and I didn't want to wake you. Now, get your butt in that bed." His dad replied turning him in the direction of his bed and landing a couple of firm swats to his backside.
"Ow, Dad!" Adam yelped.
"humph, you disobey me, boy and then see how your butt feels! Go back to sleep."
"Yes sir" Adam replied climbing into the bed and quickly laying on his back incase his dad wanted to add a few more swats to get his point across.
His dad made a tsking sound, then slipped off his shoes and climbed in the other bed. Adam lay there trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. He knew his dad was lying, for his phone set on the stand between the beds. And why was there that salt? And why was his dad so angry with him? Nothing was making sense. Adam sighed. Something was going on here and he was determined to find out. Just not tonight. No, now was a good time to do exactly as his father ordered. No sense in angering him more.