Wow thank you all so much for the response I got to the first chapter, I really wasn't expecting it so thanks! The pressure's now on to give you something you like and I hope I did it with this chapter, (though I know it is annoyingly short – sorry!) Enjoy.
They sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Awkwardly perched on a couch that was too comfortable for their moods right now, with only the sound of the second hand on a clock nearby to slice through the tension in the air at that moment.
Usually talkative and loud as hell, Claire sat staring at her hands thinking of babies and brothers and how easy it would have been for him to just pick up the damn phone.
Normally with a cockiness that could make anyone's eyes roll, Dean sat watching the second hand on the clock over the fireplace and asking himself how and why and what he would have done differently, if anything, had he known... what exactly? Yes, the siblings were sitting on their baby brother's couch at just gone 2.30am waiting for said brother to come down the stairs and explain exactly how, in only four years of absence, he had managed to get himself a live-in girlfriend, 3bedroomed house in the suburbs and a child for Christ's sakes.
Already this trip was turning out to be more complicated than they'd thought: this was only supposed to be a pit-stop. So they could rescue Sam from some boring life that he had realised wasn't what he wanted after all, and go find dad. That was what was supposed to happen. They should already be out the door by now.
Trained hunters hearing made sure they both heard the voice of their brother and the soft padding of footsteps down the stairs. Sure enough, their brother appeared, child still in his arms and live-in girlfriend following along behind. They seated themselves side by side on the couch opposite them and took a breath before; finally, the silence was broken.
"But you're hot!" Dean blurted out.
Silence. Again, as everyone turned to look at Dean with a look that just screamed "dude, what?!?"
"Erm thank you. I guess..." Jess said, deciding to break the atmosphere of confusion.
"Well what I meant was you look so…" Wrong approach, Dean decided as he spotted the look given to him by his brother, "I mean you don't look like you've had a… well not that you look fat or anythi…"
The sharp intake of breath by his sister at the word 'fat' and the murderous look on Sam's face had Dean physically squirming in his seat in such a way that Jess felt she had better step in. Before Dean was killed by both his siblings.
"I get it Dean, thanks. Well it's been nearly four years since Abby was born"
"Oh of course that's just…" Dean trailed off looking to the floor, but not before giving Jess a grateful look. Yep, he really liked this girl...
"Abby?" Claire finally spoke, directing her question at Sam.
"Abigail Mary Winchester"
Claire and Dean's eyes travelled towards the girl, Abby, and back up to Sam. Sam couldn't help but notice the flash of pain that passed Dean's face at the sound of his mother's name, and the uncharacteristic glisten in Claire's eyes as she looked in awe at her niece. A look of understanding met both Winchesters as Sam also reflected on his mother.
For Jessica however, this was turning out to be an oddly silent conversation, so she decided to give the siblings some breathing room. Give them some space to start actually talking in.
"Sam, is she asleep?" Sam's eyes met hers and he gave her a soft nod, not wanting to jostle the precious bundle in his arms. At this Jess stood, holding her hands out for her sleeping child and Sam obliged, passing her gently to her mother, "I'll just take her up" Jess said softly, before leaving the room and padding upstairs.
The three Winchesters watched her go with a mixture of love, shock and appreciation (in Deans case especially), before turning to face each other again.
"Sam, why didn't you call?" Claire cut to the chase immediately.
Sam sighed, closing his eyes momentarily before answering, "It's been a pretty hectic few years".
"Yeah Sam, years. You could've at least called man; I mean she's, what? Three? Four?" Dean cut in.
"Three. Her birthday's in Novemeber."
"Well that's still three years you could've called us in Sam. Three years. What, are you telling me you're hot-shot college life is so hectic that you haven't had a spare moment to ring and say 'oh yeah by the way I've had a kid' in three years?!"
"Look, I know you're upset and you have a right to be, but I did what was best for all of us".
"Best for who? You, right. You didn't want us coming in ruining this nice little set-up you've got going on? Didn't want us sticking our noses into your perfect new life?" Dean was angry now, but Sam just looked exhausted... and lost.
"You know that's not true." He replied softly.
"Do I? 'Cos you know, yesterday I thought my little brother having a daughter, wasn't true" Sam looked away, "that you not caring about this family, wasn't true. I was wrong there though wasn't I"
"Dean, look I should've called you. You too Claire I… should've trusted that you would care about this."
"Then why didn't you" Claire spoke softly.
"Because…" Sam sighed, "Because I believed him."
Somehow she knew that the answer to her question would be an unwelcome one, but Claire asked it anyway: "Who?"
Sam knew this wouldn't go over well, but this was his time to come clean, and Claire and Dean, his brother and sister, deserved the truth.
Sam met his sibling's eyes before speaking:
"Dad"
