John let out a sigh of relief as he pulled his truck up outside their temporary residence. It was Friday, thank God.

They had been in this town for about three months now and after three months of working at the garage, doing odd hunts and carrying on the ever present search for Marys killer he was beat. Thoroughly beat.

And tonight both his sons were out, Dean had said something about a film he and Sam were going to see, He had a six pack in the fridge and a game on TV. He was giving himself the night off. In reality he knew he would probably drink two beers sit on the sofa, turn on the TV and promptly fall asleep, but it was the principle of the thing.

Drawing all his strength he grabbed his tool box and swung out of the cab of his truck. He absently noted that the Impala was already gone so his steps stuttered a bit when he pushed open the door to see Sam sat at the dining table scrunched over a battered text book and some papers.

Hearing the door swing open Sam looked up from his work giving his Dad a flash of dimples. "Hey Dad. Want a beer?" Sam was up and heading to the fridge before John had even responded.

Frowning, John dropped his stuff by the couch and wrestled his way out of his jacket before taking the offered beverage. Sam flashed him another small grin before going back to his homework.

When John's Friday brain cleared of confusion he sat down on the couch and to take off his boots. "I thought you and Dean were out tonight?" he asked once his feet were free and he couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh as he cracked his toes.

"Oh." Sam started, John caught a flicker of something in his eyes before the boy covered it quickly with a flash grin. "Nah, he's gone on a date with Cathy Wilkins tonight."

"Cathy Wilkins, the sheriffs daughter?" John asked incredulously. Sam let out an amused huff.

"Yup."

"Oh God." Moaned John, finally picking up his beer and taking a long deserved sip, "That's the last thing I need." Sam grinned up at him from the table seeming to agree with John's assessment of his oldest sons dating habits. Shaking the implications of his oldest, cocky, flirt of a son dating the sheriffs only daughter, from his mind his confused frown returned. "I thought you were going to see the new movie tonight?" he asked, watching his youngest closely. John knew he hadn't got the dates mixed up because Sam and dean had been talking about this film all week, apparently it was the blockbuster for the summer and as much as Sam liked to think he could hide his emotions John could mostly read him like a book and he had been looking forward to going, first to see this film, and secondly to spend time with his brother.

"We can go another night, who can say no to the prospect of a night on the town with a leggy brunette. Right?" Sam grinned but this one didn't reach his eyes.

"Right." John responded. He opened his mouth to say more but Sam's head was already bent back over his book. John stretched out on the sofa, joints cracking eliciting another groan from him as he slumped back boneless on the sofa. He caught Sam's eye and saw the michevisou glint to it which meant that an 'old man' joke was flitting through his head right now. John gave the boy a pointed stare and raised his eye brown, silently daring him to say it out loud.

Sam, wisely, kept his mouth shut and went back to scratching his pen on his notebook and the room fell into silence again.

John laid out on the sofa, lazily sipping his beer. He thought about putting the TV on but decided it wasn't worth the hassle of getting off the sofa so just laid there and let his mind go. But try as he might he couldn't relax, he could still feel the presence of someone else in the room and after all his years in the military and then hunting, his body wouldn't allow itself to relax when there was someone else there.

Sighing he opened his eyes again towards Sam. "It's Friday night and you're a sixteen year old boy, don't you have some friends to hang out with?" he asked gruffly. He hadn't meant it to come out so stern but he was tired, and it was Friday, and it was true, a sixteen year old boy shouldn't be in on a free Friday night doing homework.

Sam's pen stopped for a moment on the page but the boy didn't look up. "They're all busy tonight." Sam stated, feeling his father continued stare on him he looked up. "Don't worry, I'm just gonna finish these last two questions then I was gonna take some books back to the library."

"Library? That's on the other side of town, and won't it be closed?"

"They've got one of those external drop off boxes and I was gonna take a run back seen as it's a nice night."

A breeze wafted through the opened window bringing with it the scent of outside, cur grass and pollen, and the strange unique fresh scent of early summer. It was warm but the cool breeze kept it comfortable. The sun hadn't set yet and was casting long shadows across the streets as it made it's descent. John smiled as he remembered taking long walks with Mary on nights like this. She had loved this time of year and dragged John out to wander the town. Once dean was born she dragged him out too, putting him in his stroller as she walked until he fell asleep.

John let the memory of Mary pushing Deans stroller, pausing to smell Miss Hubbards new flowers in her front garden and passing on to Dean, she picked another one smiling and tucked it behind johns ear before giving him a small peck on the cheek. Dean had then squealed with laughter and clapped his hands causing both his parents to grin. John smiled as the memory washed over him, bathing him in the love and warmth of that day, the brightness of Mary's smile and the song of their joint laughter.

John opened his eyes in time to see Sam stop writing and read over the paper. He gave himself a pleased nod and smile before closing the text book and collecting together his papers. And just like that John's smile faded and the reality set itself back in.

Mary was gone, he'd never see her smile again, never kiss her, never be dragged grudgingly from his armchair to stroll through the summer night. And Sam wouldn't either. He couldn't remember if Sam had had any walks. The summer after Sam had been born wasn't a particularly nice one and John couldn't remember if Sam had ever been given a flower by his mother, whether he had ever laughed as his parents kissed. And suddenly the grief he felt wasn't for himself, but for his son that had missed out on knowing her.

John was brought back to awareness when Sam said is name again.

"What?" he mumbled running a hand over his tired eyes. Sam was now emerging from his and deans bedroom, school books now away, in his arms instead were a few battered books that obviously belonged to the library.

"I said did you want me to get some food on the way back? There's not much in the fridge."

"I went shopping two days ago." John said exasperated, they shouldn't be out of food yet. Sam just raised an eyebrow at his father before realisation came over him, "Dammit dean. That boy is like a bottomless pit." Sam huffed a laughed before putting the books into his back pack.

"So did you want something?"

"Nah, I gotta save my cash to get some new ammo from Caleb tomorrow."

"I can get it, got the cash that I was gonna use for tonight burning a hole in my pocket if you wanted something." Sam stood with his bag on his bag looking uncomfortable under his father gaze.

John didn't know whether it was the smell in the air that was sending him on nostalgia trips or he was just too tired but he took a moment to survey his son in front of him. Dean may have got his mother's looks but Sam is all her. Her fiery passion to do what's right, never bending, strong willed but with a bright smile that could melt ice. When they had fought they were always blow out fights that had John sleeping on the couch until he crawled back to her an apologised for whatever he had said. It was when Sam started fiddling with his bag straps that John realised he hadn't answered. He shook his head to get out of his daze and blamed his lack of sleep on his melancholy mood.

"um…" John hesitates because he knows that Sam spent a long weekend building a patio for Mr Grober to earn that money and that he really wanted to see that film, but they need to eat and John won't have any spare cash until next week and dean is probably out right now blowing his spare cash to get in some girls knickers. He sighs before nodding tiredly. "Thanks Sammy. Just… grab some essentials from the mini mart yeah?"

"Yes sir." Sam nods before heading for the door.

When it's open the door allows a small breeze to filter through rustling Johns hair, he smells the beginnings of summer, flowers and the smallest tiniest scent of something that smells like Mary.

"Sam wait!" John snaps just before the boy disappears. On instinct the boy instantly freezes before turning slowly, an apprehensive look on his face, "Wait two seconds and I'll come with you."

It's Sam's turn to frown in confusion and he straightens his shoulders back as if gearing for a fight, "I think I can get to the library and shops without my hand held sir."

And John sighs, because that wasn't what he meant and he is too tired to argue right now, "I know that Sam. It's just a nice night, I could use the air." He says as softly as he can, his shoulders slumped. And that confuses Sam even more, he blinks trying to find the right answer.

"Um… Ok. Sure. But aren't you watching the game tonight?"

John doesn't know how Sam knows that is what he planned, it wasn't like he voiced his ideas for his evening in but John blinks away the unnecessary question before standing up, feeling a little more awake now. "I don't even know who's playing, just… let me change my shirt and I'll be right out."

Sam blinks back before closing the door and waiting.