AN: So this is the first fic I've written with Bobby and John in it, and the first that's not exclusively about Sam, Dean or Cas. It was kind of hard, but I'm going to try to do more, although it won't be a series. This was written in response to all the times Dean's mentioned having a GED, even though we see him in high school. Not slash, because John and Bobby together equals squick for me.


"John Winchester, you are one sorry sonofabitch, you know that?" Bobby Singer asked as he slammed the door to his kitchen.

John glared at Bobby for a moment before turning to his sons. "Go upstairs, boys," he said forcefully. Dean nodded before grabbing Sam by his jacket and hauling him up the stairs.

"What's your problem Bobby?" John asked as he pulled a beer from Bobby's fridge. He turned back to the older man as he twisted it open.

"Oh hell no," Bobby said, grabbing the bottle out of John's hand and taking a swig. "You're not getting my beer. And you're my problem you idgit."

John crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter. "Care to elaborate?"

"What the hell are you doing with your boys, John?" Bobby said, choosing to get straight to the point.

"I'm keeping them alive."

"That ain't what this is about. Why the hell did you let Dean quit school?" Bobby asked, kicking a chair out from his table and sitting in it.

John pulled out a chair across from him and sat. "That's what you're pissed about?"

"Yeah you idgit. And as the boy's father you ought to be pissed."

"You questioning my parenting skills?" John asked, getting angry.

"Don't get your panties in a wad. I'm just trying to understand why you let him quit his senior year."

John shrugged. "He'll get his GED. Besides, the kid just turned 18, it's not up to me."

"The hell it ain't! You're the boy's father!"

"Look Bobby, I got the kid through 18 years without getting him killed, I don't suddenly need you telling me how to raise him," John said, pushing away from the table to pace around the kitchen.

"John, those boys could have futures. I know Sam wants one, and if you weren't so damn hard on him, trying to make him your perfect little soldier I'd bet Dean would too."

John let out a hollow laugh. "They can't have normal, Bobby. Jesus Christ, you know that."

"They can sure as hell try. Just because you've dedicated your life to a lost cause doesn't mean they got to." Bobby regretted his words almost as soon as they were out of his mouth but he wasn't going to take it back.

"A lost cause? That's what you think this is? I'm avenging Mary's death!"

"John, there's a difference between avenge and revenge and it ain't just a few letters. Besides, we both know there ain't no way to kill a demon. Best you can do is send him on vacation for a while."

"There's the Colt…" John said, refusing to meet Bobby's eyes.

"The Colt's a fairytale. You're chasing after a damn pipe dream."

John looked up then, eyes locking onto Bobby with a cold gaze. "I'm glad to know my life's work is a pipe dream," he said, turning to stomp into the den. He stopped at the foot of the stairs. "Get back down here boys, we're leaving!"

"John…"

"We've overstayed our welcome. Goodbye Bobby," John said, leaving the house and slamming the door behind him.

Bobby drained the last of his beer before getting up and peering into the fridge. He was going to need more beer.