What if Family Remains took place pre-series?
John was driving back from their latest hunt behind Dean. Two weeks ago, he had given Dean the Impala and got himself a truck. He was glad that he had something of himself to give to Dean, but he was going to miss owning the car. It had seen him through a lot of tough times.
Sam had just finished up his last week of high school while John and Dean were on their hunt. That was good because now Sam could hunt full time. He had almost insisted that Sam drop out when he was 17 like Dean did, but just couldn't quite bring himself to do it. But now school was over, Sam would be forced to hunt full time.
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Sam sat in the hotel room his father had left him at. He had graduated from his latest high school today, and there had been nobody there to see him graduate. He knew his father didn't care about anything but hunting, but it still hurt. He had also received his acceptance and notification of a full-ride scholarship to Stanford. He was going to have to find a way to tell his dad…and Dean. He was actually dreading Dean more. His father probably wouldn't even notice if he was gone.
He heard the Impala pull up. Sam smiled. For people who tried to keep a low profile they sure drove a noisy car. Behind that, he heard his dad's new truck. Still pretty noisy, but slightly less so. "I'm going to college," Sam said. Maybe if he said it before they came in, it would be easier to say when they were actually there.
"Congratulations, Sammy," Dean said when he came in. He didn't really see the value of a diploma for a hunter, but he knew that Sam had always worked hard in school and it was important to him. Maybe their dad would let them splurge on a night out as a celebration.
"Thanks," Sam said. At least Dean had acknowledged his achievement.
"Got another job lined up," John said with no preamble as he walked into the room.
"Dad, we just got back from a job," Dean whined.
"Should be an easy salt and burn," John said. "Man was killed in his house. No forced entry, no prints."
"Sounds like a ghost," Dean said.
"Yes. We just need to find out who it is and do a quick salt and burn. It's two states over. We leave in the morning."
"OK, so let's go out tonight. Celebrate Sammy's graduation," Dean suggested.
"No, I don't want us to be tired tomorrow. It's a long drive and it's never a good idea to be tired on a hunt. Get to bed," John said and headed out to grab the rest of the gear from the car.
Sam wasn't surprised. He hadn't expected anything else. "Dean, I…," Sam began, wanting to tell him about Stanford, but it stuck in his throat.
"We'll celebrate after the next job. I promise, Sammy," Dean said and headed into the bathroom.
Sam got into bed so he wouldn't have to deal with anyone else until tomorrow. This was going to be hard.
John walked back in with the stuff and was surprised to see Sam in bed. He tried to remember the last time he had actually done what he had been told. Dean came out. "Good night, Dad," he said a little coldly. He thought living in one place all the time, manicured lawn, 9 to 5 job, all that would be boring and get real old, real fast. But once in a while, he wished they could do something like a regular family, something like celebrating Sam's graduation.
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"Sam, you ride with me," John said, when they were packing up in the morning. He needed to have a talk with Sam. Let him know that now he was out of school, he would be expected to shape up.
Dean wanted to protest. He liked it when Sam rode with him, but his father seemed pretty adamant. Sam just shrugged. He would not tell his father about Stanford now, if he was going to be stuck in the car with him all day. That was for sure.
"Sam, now that you're out of school, I expect you to pull your weight with the hunting," John said as they pulled out into traffic.
"OK," Sam said. At least until I leave for school, he added mentally.
"I mean it. Your head hasn't been in the game for a while now." John continued lecturing while Sam remembered the hunt that had finally, permanently put him off hunting.