CHOICES (Sequel to Ultimatum)
Sam slammed the door to his room. He was so angry with his father! Why couldn't he just accep the fact that he wanted the normal life like everyone else had. But that would just be too easy, wouldn't it? He threw himself on his bed and rolled onto his back. He stared to the ceiling and sighed. Maybe his father was right. Maybe he was needed. But it didn't stop the fact that he wanted the college experience, the girlfriend and home with a picket fence. It was a dream, he knew that, but it was always there with him. He sighed; life was just so damn annoying.
"Sam?" Dean said, as he knocked on the door, "Can I come in?"
Sam muttered to himself. "Whatever Dean."
Dean entered the room and took a seat on his own bed. "What was that all about Sammy?"
Sam shrugged, "I want out Dean. What can I say? A life outside hunting is all I ever wanted."
"You don't think I know that? Maybe I wanted the same at one point in my life. But that's out of the question. We're always in danger of the supernatural and until they are gone, we'll never live a normal life."
Sam sat up and looked at his brother, the years of pain etched in his face. Maybe life as a hunter was all he knew, but Sam saw the happiness in others, the light at the end of the tunnel. This wasn't the life for him, not by a long shot. "I want out Dean, that's all. Why is it so hard to understand?"
"Because letting you go is the hardest thing I can do Sammy." John said as he entered the room. "If I let you go, I can never protect you and I fear that one day the supernatursl will get to you and I'll lose you like I did my dear Mary."
Sam saw the pain in his eyes, the anguish that had built in his heart. He felt remorse for a woman he never knew, his mother. He felt jealous of Dean for knowing her when he could not. It wasn't fair.
"But I want to leave dad. I need to get away from this all."
Dean looked to his father, knew that a fight was brewing but instead he surprised them both.
"Then go to college Sam."
Sam perked up, "What?"
John sat next to Sam, patted his shoulder and continued, "I want you to have a life. I wanted that for both of you boys. I know Dean would never leave and I knew that one day you would make this decsion. Go to Stanford, meet a nice girl and be happy Sam. We'll be here when you get back."
Sam was down-right stunned. Was his father for real? Could he walk away and go to school and return when he wanted to?
"Dad?" he started but John cut him off, "Sam, I know how much this means to you. Be happy."
Sam nodded. "Thanks dad."
John patted his sons shoulder and gave him a bear hug. "I love you boys. You do know that?"
"Yes sir." They said in unison.
"Good. Now get packed. Sam has a trip to Stanford while we go on our next hunt." He rose and began for the door, then stopped, "And Sam? Good luck." And walked from the room.
Sam sat there stunned and looked at his brother. "Is he for real?"
Dean nodded, "Yeah Sam, he is."