Memories and Hope
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who read my first chapter. Hope I don't disappoint-here's chapter 2. Again thanks to Sensue for her Beta services.
A couple hours after John and Jim had left; Caleb had grown extremely bored with chasing after the boys, so he disappeared inside the farmhouse, emerging a short time later with his sketchbook. Taking a seat on the porch step he began to sketch the farm from that vantage point. The first thing he drew was the barn that was about 300 yards from the house, nestled close to the woods that surrounded the property. Though he was drawing, he still kept an eye on the running boys who never seemed to tire at chasing Atticus. As Caleb finished the details on the barn, he smiled a little remembering that Jim kept two rescued horses, the church wine, as well as, some of his own brews that would surely surprise the older man's congregation.
Next he started on the area of the pond that was about half-way between the house and barn. It was a decent size pond with a couple of shade trees skirting the edge. It was enough for some swimming and fishing that Sammy and Dean enjoyed. Caleb hated the pond. Caleb disliked any bodies of water, to many bad memories for the teen, but he saw how Pastor Jim found an unwavering peace on the banks of the pond. The man could sit for hours just watching the ripples lap against the bank. Caleb had also noticed Dean's unusual interest in the pond. He would find his young friend almost mirroring Jim on occasion, just watching the water splash quietly against the bank. The seven-year old was also known to take Jim's small boat (it stayed next to the tree) out onto the pond and float for hours. As Caleb drew, he remembered the first time Dean had ventured alone onto the pond.
A barely six-year old Dean was suppose to be upstairs taking a nap with his baby brother, but when John went to check on the boys Dean wasn't there. John came back down, fear flashing in his face. "I can't find Dean!" the other adults, as well as Caleb, sitting at the kitchen table immediately stood.
Jim's calming voice spoke, "Are you sure he just not gone to the bathroom?"
Caleb watched as John shot the Preacher a angry look. "Don't you think I would have checked there, Jim!"
Jim raised his hand, "I'm just saying, he's a small boy, he couldn't be far. To leave the house he would have had to come through here, so he has to be in here somewhere." With a nod of acceptance the four people in the kitchen started a search of the house. As the adults searched the normal places, Caleb checked the places he knew the boy would sometimes seek out to be by himself, like the attic and the small storage closet that was in the corner of Caleb's room. Caleb tried to be quiet as not to wake a still sleeping Sammy as he again checked the boys room that was connected to his. The adults were down stairs searching, since John had supposedly checked the second floor.
Caleb was drawn to the window that was open about an inch. It being early March it was still a little cool for it to be open, as he reached to close it his eye's traveled to the view of the farm below. "What's the boat doing in the pond?" Caleb mumbled out loud, wondering why it would be out anyway with there still being a chill in the air. Caleb watched as the small crafted turned slightly, what he saw stole his breath. He caught a glimpse of blond hair, just barely visible in the boat. Before he could rationalize a thought his feet were pounding down the stairs toward the backdoor.
Mac was the closest to the kitchen as Caleb came tearing through the house. "Caleb!?"
Without breaking stride Caleb hit the screen door as he yelled, "He's in the pond!" Caleb's only thought was to get to the small boy. To Caleb water only meant the painful memories of his parents death, so to Caleb water meant death. The boy felt himself running faster then he had ever run.
In the second between seeing his son tear out the door, Mac's legs had already started to follow, but as he hit the porch the words registered, "Jim! John! He's at the pond!" Mac yelled back toward the door as he raced to catch up with his son. Mac heard the screen door slam and the pounding feet of the other men behind him as he watched his son reach the pond and without stopping, jump in.
"CALEB!" Three voices shouted at once as the teen disappeared below the surface. Mac saw his son surface as he too jumped in. The teen swam toward the small boat, grabbing the lead-line as his father came up beside him. They were pulling it to shore as Jim and John reached the bank. John jumped into the shallower water as the boat was pulled near. It was then that Jim saw, an unconscious or sleeping Dean, he prayed it was the latter, as the small boy seemed oblivious to the frantic attempts to get him ashore.
"DEAN!" John's frantic yell, as he and Jim pulled the boat onto the bank, startled the small child awake. John instinctively grabbed his son from the boat as Jim helped Caleb and Mac from the water. John shakily ran a hand over the boys head, looking at him, making sure he wasn't injured. Dean's wide-panicked eye's took in the scene and uncharacteristically burst into tears. John pulled his son to his chest, "God, Dean, what were you thinking, why were you out here?" John could feel his son shaking against him, not knowing if it was the cool air or fear. John looked from Jim to a wet and shivering Mac and Caleb, each waiting for the boy to answer.
A quiet broken voice gasped out, "Sorry Daddy…I'm sorry. I just wanted to feel like I was floating, like on a cloud, so I could feel closer to Mommy in Heaven." Dean returned his head to his father's chest. John felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs at his son's revelation. Looking up again John saw Jim with his hand over his mouth, at a lose for words, then he saw Mac pull his own son closer as the small child's words became clear. John was barely able to contain the sob that threatened to escape his own throat as he realized his six-year old had found a way to feel closer to his mother that John now envied. He wouldn't discipline the child for this, though he would talk to him about sneaking out of the house. But he didn't have the heart to take the child's mother from him again.
Jim, Mac and Caleb retreated toward the house to check on a hopefully still sleeping Sammy, leaving father and son to gain strength and some understanding from one another. Caleb recalled after the incident, that it was agreed by the adult that Dean would be allowed his time at the pond when he felt the need. The only rule was Dean needed to tell them that was where he was going.
Caleb closed his sketchbook as Atticus raced onto the porch, with the sound of two sets of smaller feet following. "I'm hungry!" Sammy whined as he climbed the stairs, he was still a little unsteady but Dean was close behind. Sammy then proceeded to climb up into the porch swing.
"Sammy, don't whine." Dean rolled his eyes as he looked at Caleb. Caleb smiled as Dean sat on the porch step next to him mumbling, "Kids."
Caleb stood, stepping toward the door, "Well, runt, what do you want?"
"Don't call me wunt!" Sammy stuck out a pouty lip, then seemed to think for a second, his face lighting up. "COOKIES!"
"Sammy!" Dean attempted to call his brother down.
"Can't have cookies…" Caleb again smiled at Dean, who was watching to see what the teen would offer. Caleb was as into junk food as the next teen, but he knew that little kids needed good food first. "…Unless…" Caleb continued as Sammy's crestfallen expression at 'no cookies' was soon replaced with the possibility of said cookies. "You eat some apples and peanut butter first." Caleb knew peanut butter was Sammy's weakness. The toddler would eat it all day if allowed.
"Peana butter!" Sammy clapped as Dean nodded his approval at Caleb's suggestion. Dean knew the peanut butter would make his baby brother forget all about the cookies.
Caleb walked into the kitchen, leaving the smaller boys on the porch, to prepare their snack of apples and peanut butter, with Jim's homemade lemonade. Caleb gathered everything he needed then proceeded to start peeling the apples. Glancing out the window, Caleb watched as Sammy ran after Atticus again. Dean following as he attempted to get his brother inside to wash up. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Caleb's head. "Augh!" He groaned as the knife and apple slipped from his grasp. One of Caleb's hands reached for his head as the other tried to find stability on the counter. As the blinding pain intensified, Caleb's hand hit the pitcher of lemonade, knocking it from the counter, shattering to the floor. With no solid surface to support him, Caleb felt his knees give out and he dropped to the floor, both hands now clutching his head. He barely registered Dean's panicked voice calling his name as images flashed rapidly in his mind.
Atticus's attention was captured as one of the fish in the pond jumped up. So being a dog, he ran toward the pond, barking wildly, Sammy close behind.
"Atticus, you come here! We have to wash!" Sammy attempted to scold the dog for not listening as the boy neared the pond. "Atticus Finch, come here now!" The small boy stomped his foot as he stopped at the edge of the pond. Atticus continued to bark at the water.
Suddenly the dog turned, tail wagging happily, as he noticed he had been followed by his playmate of the day. Sammy stood about ten feet from the dog, with the animals fetch stick in hand. Assuming they were still playing Atticus ran toward the stick still held in Sammy's toddler hands. As Atticus lunged for the stick he knocked Sammy off balance and the small child fell backward into the pond.
He was near the shade trees that sat on the edge of the water and as Sammy's small body fell backward his head hit one of the exposed roots, just under the surface, knocking the boy unconscious. Caleb watched as Sammy sank below the surface, Atticus sitting on the bank, stick in his mouth.
Dean had rushed inside when he heard the glass shatter to find Caleb on his knees, clutching his head. Dean hadn't seen it happen before, but he knew Caleb sometime saw movies in his head that were really important, but it scared the younger boy. He hated to see his friend in pain, so he dropped next to the teen, trying to offer comfort by rubbing circles on his back.
Feeling Dean's presence beside him Caleb inhaled sharply, whispering out painfully, "Sammy."
Dean looked at Caleb as he heard his brother's name escape the teen's mouth, "No, it's Dean. Sammy's outside." Dean answered as he thought Caleb wanted to know where the toddler was.
Caleb shook his head painfully as pain-filled eyes met scared ones. "Sammy…" Caleb's breathing was harsh, "…Pond!"
The look of recognition then fear passed over Dean's young face as the words registered and the smaller boy jumped to his feet, running out the door yelling for his baby brother. "SAMMY!" Dean's eyes went to the pond, where Atticus was sitting, with the stick in his mouth. "SAMMY!" Dean yelled again as he ran full speed toward the pond.
Caleb had made it to his feet as Dean's second yell reached his ears. As quickly as his unsteady feet would move, the teen was out on the porch, willing himself to regain his balance as he stumbled down the stairs, seeing Dean nearing the pond. Caleb took off in a stumbling run toward the pond as well.
Mac approached the familiar drive of Jim's farm with a feeling of warmth, knowing his son was here, along with the Winchesters. It had been over a month since he had last seen John and the boys and he was looking forward to seeing his extended family again. He pulled into the long drive and slowly made his way around the few ruts the late spring rains had created, that Jim hadn't leveled out yet.
As the farmhouse came into view, a feeling of concern showed itself as he saw the distant form of his son seeming to stumble across the yard. Jim had called earlier to let Mac know that Caleb and the boys were at the farm, while John and he were in town doing research. Fear shot through Mac as he also took in the smaller form of one of the Winchester boys further ahead of Caleb. Mac watched as he exited his Land Rover as the smaller form disappeared into the pond, he noticed Caleb trying to pick up speed.
"CALEB!" Mac yelled as he too took off running toward the pond and the boys.
Caleb heard his father's voice behind him, but didn't stop. He had just watched as Dean jumped into the pond that showed no signs of Sammy aside from Atticus' presence at the waters edge. As his name faded over the farm Caleb reached the pond and with the bond he knew he shared with his father, Caleb shouted out in his mind, "SAMMY!", as he too jumped into the water.
Mac nearly stumbled as the mental yell filled his mind, his son's panicked voice yelling, 'SAMMY!'
"Oh God!" Mac shouted as he watched his own son jump into the pond, the implications of what was happening finally caught up to Mac.
The doctor reached the pond as Dean broke the surface, not yet aware of Mac's presence Dean yelled, "Sammy!" Just then Caleb broke the surface with a limp form in his grasps.
"God, Sammy!" Mac yelled as he jumped into the shallow water near the bank, reaching toward Caleb, who was pulling the toddler to shore. Mac grabbed the lifeless child and stumbled back up the embankment.
Dean saw Caleb surface with Sammy and watched Mac pull his brother from the water. Caleb had climbed out and was reaching back to help pull Dean from the water. Mac had dropped to his knees a few feet from the pond, gently laying Sammy's still form on the ground. Caleb and Dean dropped on the other side. "Sammy!" Dean yelled as he grabbed at his little brother.
"Caleb…take him!" Mac glanced at his son, nodding toward Dean. Mac needed Dean back so he could help Sammy. Dean struggled as he felt Caleb pull him back, but the teen did not let go as they both watched Mac.
"Sammy!" Mac called out giving the boy a gentle shake. With no response Mac reached for the small child's neck. "No Sammy." he whispered as he lowered an ear to a still chest. "Nonono…" Mac mumbled as he straightened and tilted back Sammy's head, blowing two quick breath's, that barely moved the small, water filled chest. He then placed one hand over the child's heart and started compressions.
"Sammy!…Wake up!…Wake up!" Dean's frantic voice yelled in the background as Mac stayed focused on the task at hand. He knew Caleb would take care of Dean for the moment.
After what seemed like forever and several sets of compressions, Sammy gave a cough. Mac quickly turned the boy as his small body convulsed, attempting to expel the water from his lungs. Finally Sammy's breathing started coming out in ragged, shallow gasps. Mac checked his pulse to find it unsteady, but there. However, Sammy hadn't regained consciousness. Mac noticed a pink tinge to the water still dripping from the child's face. Looking up at Caleb, who was still holding a very terrified Dean, Mac made eye contact with pleading, gold-green eyes. "We need to get to the hospital, now!" Caleb understood as he rose, grabbing Dean as they ran toward Mac's vehicle. Mac close behind with Sammy clutched to his chest. Nearing the Rover, Mac called out. "You boys in the back, Caleb grab the blanket back there." Mac opened the passenger door, gently laying Sammy in the front seat, wrapping the blanket he'd taken from his son around the shaking boy. Dean had climbed in the back, but was now leaning over the seat, holding his baby brother's hand, pleading for him to wake up. Caleb kept his hand on Dean's back as the teen watched Mac start the car, turning around in the yard, speeding back down the driveway, heading the twenty miles into town and the hospital. Mac glanced several times at Sammy to check, making sure the child was still breathing. He then reached for his newly installed car phone, quickly dialing the number to the library that Jim had given him just that morning.
John and Jim were in the archives room at the library when one of the librarian's came in, telling Jim he had a phone call. There was phone in the same room, so the woman stepped over to it, hitting a button, handing it to Jim. John didn't look up, figuring it was Mac letting Jim know he had arrived at the farm. John's assumption was confirmed by Jim's greeting. "Mackland, have you arrived at the farm already?"
Jim's expression changed at the tension-filled sound of his friends voice over the phone. "Is John with you?" Mac asked.
"Yes, Jonathon is with me, we're…" John's attention was drawn to the Pastor as he heard his name mentioned. His concern going through the roof as Jim's worried eyes met his.
"Jim, I need you both to met us at the hospital." Mac glanced again at Sammy as he said those words.
"Mackland, what's wrong?" Jim motioned to John.
"Jim, there was an accident." Mac's voice was thick with emotion. Jim knew it must be something really bad, if the doctor, himself couldn't fix it.
"The boys?" Jim's question shot fear through John's soul.
"It's Sammy…Please Jim," Mac took a deep breath, "Just get here, we're pulling in now." With that the line went silent. John stared at Jim as the Pastor looked sadly toward John.
"Jim?" John's question in the other man's name asked a million questions in one.
"Jonathon, give me the keys, we need to get to the hospital. There was an accident." Jim took a step toward John.
Shaking his head John stepped back, gripping his keys tighter. "Jim? My boys?"
Jim reached his hand toward John's that held the keys, looking into the distraught father's face; Jim spoke calmly, hiding his own racing fear. "Jonathon, it's Sammy." Jim felt the man release the keys as color drained from his face.
"My baby?"
Jim wasn't surprised to see a break in the younger man's emotional barriers. Recalling the mornings earlier conversation, Jim knew that for some reason John's emotions were nearer the surface then the hardened man normally played them. Jim placed a guiding hand on John's arm as he lead the man to the car. "We're going to him now." Jim spoke as John mechanically climbed into the passenger seat of his own vehicle. Jim quickly slid in behind the wheel, bringing the powerful engine to life. He then squealed the tires as they left the parking lot.