Hey all. So sorry for the delay in posting, but I swear...there's a good reason for it. I've been feeling a bit under the weather and finally, the day before yesterday, after beginning to see black dots dancing in front of my eyes, I decided a trip to the doctor was probably necessary. Well, it seems my harmless cold has turned into pneumonia. Yep...sucks right out loud! I haven't had the energy to do much writing, but now that I'm on some pretty heavy duty drugs, I'm starting to feel a bit better. At least I can breathe and the black dots have taken a vacation! Seeings as how I can't do much of anything else, I thought it may be a good time to just sit down and use my sick days from work to write and finally have the next chapter ready for you! So...am I forgiven? I sure hope you like the chapter and it makes sense. Like I said...HEAVY DUTY DRUGS!!!!

Anyway...on with the story!

Cindy


John trudged through the trees, a look of anger mixed with worry on his handsome face. He cast a quick glance to his right and took in his middle son's pain etched face. On the other side of Dean, Daniel too was looking at the injured teenager. He glanced up and met his father's dark eyes then quickly looked away. John shook his head and turned his eyes away from his sons. He tightened his grip around Dean's torso when the boy stumbled on the darkened path and took a deep breath when he felt Daniel tighten his hold too. The three hunters continued down the path in silence until John couldn't hold his tongue any longer. He found a downed tree and steered his sons off the path then along with Daniel, he eased Dean down upon the log. Daniel sat down next to his brother as he nervously watched his father pace, the elder hunters dark eyes glowing eerily in the moonlight each time he glanced over at his sons. Finally, John stopped pacing and turned to his sons. He bit at his lip as he stared down at the two scared teenagers then crossed his arms over his chest.

"So, I want you to tell me where exactly in my instructions did it say that it would be a good idea for you to climb a tree and then fall out of the tree!" the man snapped, his gaze shifting from one boy to the other before finally settling on his eldest.

Daniel swallowed as he stood to face his father, the boy looking over his shoulder at Dean's upturned face before once again turning to John. "Sir…I…we thought…um…we thought we could finish the test faster if we climbed the tree and scouted out the route from above," the boy said nervously. He glanced back at Dean and saw the pain on the younger teen's face and felt his stomach knot. He turned back to John and dropped his eyes. "It's my fault, Dad. I told Dean that we should climb the tree," he said softly.

"That's not true!" Dean suddenly shouted from where he sat on the downed tree. "Dad…he's lying! It was my idea!"

"Dean…shut up!" Daniel hissed through clenched teeth as he continued to watch his father.

"No, Danny! Stop lying!" Dean cried as he attempted to stand, but pain lanced through his side and he dropped back down onto the log with a short gasp.

John rushed forward and dropped to a crouch in front of his son. "Dean…" he started as he reached out and took the teenagers arm.

"I'm fine, Dad…I think I just bruised my ribs," Dean said as he wrapped his arm around his side.

John sat before his middle son for a few more moments then stood and began to pace again. He stopped finally and ran his hand over his face then up through his hair. "So, it seems each of you wants to take blame for your stupidity," he said as he turned to face his boys. "Fine. Once we get home, you're both grounded for a month. Straight to and from school. No hanging out with friends, no phone calls…nothing. You'll be running extra miles everyday after school," the angry man said evenly.

"Yes, sir," both boys said in unison.

John watched his boys for a few more moments then stepped forward and helped Dean to his feet. "Come on. I want to get a good look at those ribs then you boys need to eat and get to bed. We have a long day ahead of us and you're going to need your sleep," he said as he started down the path again.

The three finished their trek in silence and pushed through the trees into the clearing where their two cabins stood. They passed by Caleb and Joshua's cabin and were halfway to their own when a terrified scream cut through the night halting the hunters in their tracks. A second later they were running toward their cabin, Daniel all but dragging Dean along as the screaming continued. John burst through the door first, followed closely by Daniel and Dean. The man was already on his knees next to his youngest son and was pulling him up and shaking him when Daniel and Dean pulled up behind him.

"NOOOOOOO!!!" Sam screamed, his eyes flying open as John gave him a rough shake.

"Sammy! Wake up, son!" John cried as he turned Sam so he could fully see his face.

Sam stared at his father with wide, glassy eyes and for a moment, John thought the boy couldn't see him, but then Sam lunged forward and wrapped his arms around his fathers middle and held on for dear life. "We have to help them, Dad! We have to get them out!" he cried, his words muffled against John's chest.

John pushed Sam away and held him at arms length and looked into his terrified eyes. "Help who, Sammy? Get who out of where?" he asked softly.

Sam gazed up into his father's face and John could tell the boy was still somewhere else and not in his sleeping bag in front of the dying fire. "Dean and Danny…they…the earthquake, Dad. You felt it, right? They went over the edge…" the boy started, his voice rising as hysterics started to over take him.

Daniel moved around John and knelt down, easing his brother down with him. He reached out and took Sam's face in his hands then turned him until their eyes met. "Sammy…we're right here. Dean and I are right here. We're fine. It was just a dream," he said as he leaned in so that his face was the only thing Sam could see.

Daniel watched as Sam's pupils dilated and comprehension washed over his face. "Danny?" the boy queried, his trembling hands reaching up and grasping Daniel's wrists.

"Yeah…it's me, kiddo. Dean and I are fine. There was no earthquake," Daniel answered with a warm smile.

"Dean?" Sam said softly, his hazel widening hopefully.

"Right here, squirt," Dean said, the teen holding in a hiss as he reached for his baby brother.

Sam turned toward his brother's voice and smiled as he met the teens green eyes. "Dean…you…I…I thought you and Danny were…"

"We're not, Sammy. We're fine. You just had a bad dream, that's all," Dean interrupted, the teen unable to hold in a soft gasp when he moved closer to his little brother.

Sam pulled back and looked down, his eyes widening when he saw Dean holding his ribs protectively. "Dean? You're hurt," he said as he looked back up into his brother's eyes.

"Oh, its okay. I fell out of a tree," Dean said absently. "It's a long story," he added when Sam opened his mouth to speak.

"You okay now, Sam?" John asked as he drew his son's attention back to himself.

"I…uh…yeah. It just…it was so real," Sam answered, his voice still a little shaky.

John reached out and rested his hand on his baby's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Look, kiddo…I've had a few of those kinds of dreams myself. You swear it really happened, but it was just that…a dream. Your brothers are fine…we're all fine," he said comfortingly.

Sam gazed up at his father and nodded. "Okay, Dad. I'm okay," he said softly.

"Okay then, why don't you get back to sleep. I need to take a look at Dean's ribs then your brothers will be turning in too. They will be getting up extra early in the morning," John said with a smirk.

Sam looked at his brothers then shifted back down into his sleeping bag. He pulled the bag up high enough to where all that could be seen was his mop of unkempt brown hair. John and Daniel helped Dean up and that was when the three Winchesters noticed Caleb and Joshua standing just inside the doorway.

"Hey…didn't hear you two come in," Dean said as he was eased down onto the sofa.

Caleb shrugged his shoulders and glanced down at the mound that was Sam then looked back up at his friends. "Half pint okay?" he asked with a hint of concern.

"Yeah…just had a nightmare. Thought the boys were caught in an earthquake," John answered as he began his examination of his middle son.

"Huh. What about Ace there? What happened?" Caleb queried.

"Oh, the boys decided to change my instructions a bit and clumsy here fell out of a tree. Don't feel any cracks or breaks, so I think he got away with just some bruising," John answered before standing up and turning toward his friends.

"A tree huh? That's pretty talented, Dean," Joshua said with a chuckle.

"Shut up," Dean whispered as he leaned back against the sofa back.

John rustled around in one of the boxes for a few moments then made his way back to the sofa and his waiting son. He held a large first aid kit in his hand and set it down on the sofa before kneeling down on the floor in front of Dean.

"Shirts off," he instructed as he opened the first aid kit and pulled out a large roll of medical wrap.

Dean pulled off his button down then gingerly pulled his tee shirt over his head. He held his arms up while John tightly wrapped his ribs, the father not wanting to take any chances just in case. He finished with his ministrations then patted Dean on his knee. He stood and took the first aid kit back and placed it in the box then went to another box and pulled out a box of granola bars. He opened the box and tossed his sons two each then took one for himself. The boys were not too happy with their dinner, but both knew better than to argue with their father about it. As they began to eat, John moved over to the other two hunters to discuss the plans for the next day. Once Daniel and Dean were done eating, they pulled their sleeping bags out from the corner where they had stuck them and laid them out on either side of Sam. They climbed into their bags without a word, both knowing they would be awakened quite early to begin their punishment for straying from John's instructions. Both boys were asleep within minutes.

John finished finalizing plans for the next days training then bid his friends goodnight before closing the door behind them and making his way to the woodpile Sam had made earlier in the evening. He placed several more logs on the fire then moved over to the sofa and laid down. His dark eyes flitted over the room then came to a rest on his sleeping sons. He smiled and shook his head, not a bit surprised at how his two eldest sons had arranged themselves around the youngest in an obvious display of protectiveness. He watched his boys for a few moments longer then closed his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest and a few minutes later, he was asleep.


"Dad?"

John looked up from his journal and turned his dark eyes onto his youngest son. He closed the journal and set his pencil down next to it on the flimsy kitchen table. "Yes, Sam?" he queried as he took in the serious look on his baby's face.

"Uh…I…um…" Sam stammered, his feet shuffling on the dirty wooden floor.

"Sam…spit it out. We're moving out just as soon as your brothers get done doing the dishes down at the creek," John said impatiently.

"I…I don't think we should go on the hike today. I…"

"What? Why not?" John asked as he leaned forward in his chair.

"M-my dream…it wasn't the first one and…and I think something's gonna happen," Sam replied nervously, his large hazel eyes staring pleadingly into his father's dark ones.

John sighed and rubbed his hand over his scruffy face. "Sammy…it was just a dream. Nothing is going to happen," he answered, the man reaching out to place his hand on the young boy's shoulder.

"But, Dad…"

"Sam…it was just a dream. I know it scared you, but that's all it was. You and your brothers will be perfectly safe," John interrupted.

"Dad…I've had more than one dream about…about an earthquake. It's not even like they're dreams. I think…I…"

"What? You think they're premonitions? You think you're psychic?" John asked incredulously as he gazed at his son.

"No…its not that, Dad. They were just so real and I…"

"Sammy…I understand, okay? But kiddo…there's no reason to believe there's going to be an earthquake. As far as I know, there's no fault line anywhere close to here. You need to stop worrying and get ready to go," John said as he stood and gently squeezed Sam's shoulder.

"But, Dad…"

"No buts, Sam. Get your gear together. You wanted to be included in this training…now move," John said, his voice leaving no room for arguments.

"Yes, sir," Sam murmured as he turned and shuffled across the floor.

John shook his head as he watched his youngest. "Earthquake," he whispered under his breath as he began to fill his own pack.


Sam followed behind Dean, his legs moving as quickly as they could to keep up with his brother as the older boy hurried through the forest. He could hear Daniel behind him, the eldest sibling choosing to bring up the rear so that he could keep his eye on both of his little brothers and Sam felt comfort knowing that his brothers were there to watch over him. John had sent the three boys off on their own, giving them a map and instructions. He had given the two older boys strict instructions to not let Sam out of their sight for even a second, not that either boy needed to be told that. It was what they did. It was who they were. Take care of each other…take care of Sammy. Nothing else mattered. Not really. Not in their eyes.

The three brothers trekked through the woods, following John's map to the letter for sometime before Daniel called for the two younger boys to stop. Dean and Sam waited for their brother to catch up and watched as he knelt down and spread the map on the path at his feet.

"What's up, doc?" Dean queried as he stood over his brother and gazed down at the map.

Daniel looked up and shook his head. "See this?" he asked as he pointed at a circled area of the map.

Dean leaned down and squinted at the small dot on the map then looked at his brother questioningly. "Yeah…what about it?" he asked, the middle brother making room when Sam decided to take a look at the map himself.

"It's a cave," Sam said before gazing up at his brother.

"Okay…it's a cave. What about it?" Dean queried, his green eyes once more moving to the eldest sibling.

"Dad circled it. He must want us to check it out. It should be about a half mile up the trail," Daniel answered as he stood and brushed the dirt from his knees.

"Oh crap…I suppose we're gonna have to climb," Dean groused as he absently wrapped an arm across his still sore ribs.

"If you're hurting too much, you can wait for Sam and me," Daniel said sympathetically.

"No way, man. Dad'll have my a…my butt if I don't go with you," Dean shot, the boy pulling his arm away from his side and straightening.

"You sure you're okay, Dean?" Sam asked as he gazed up at his brother.

"I'm fine, squirt," Dean said as he ruffled Sam's hair playfully.

Sam shook his brother off and stepped away. "Sheesh, Dean…will you stop it? I'm not a little kid anymore," he cried indignantly.

"You look little to me," Dean said with a chuckle.

"Deeeaaan…"

"You two stop! Dean, stop teasing him," Daniel said, the eldest boy shaking his head as he started up the trail.

Sam followed behind Daniel, the boy turning and sticking out his tongue at Dean as he passed him on the path. Dean reached out and softly slugged Sam's arm before he too followed down the path. Twenty minutes later, the three boys came to a stop and looked up the incline that came into view as they pushed through the thick trees.

"That's it," Daniel said as his eyes surveyed the cave that opened up about 100 feet up the incline.

"Ah, that's not too bad," Dean said, his gaze already scoping out the best path to take up the hill.

"Uh…guys…do we really have to go up there?" Sam asked as he stared up at the cave nervously.

"Why, Sammy…you scared?" Dean asked, the teen giving the smaller boy a gentle nudge.

"No…yes…I don't know," Sam answered softly.

Daniel turned and kneeled down in front of his baby brother. He placed his hands on Sam's shoulders and smiled reassuringly. "Sam…is it your dream? Is that what you're afraid of?" he asked.

Sam swallowed as he looked up at the cave. "I just…what if there really is an earthquake? What if…"

"Sammy," Dean said as he moved into his brothers line of sight. "Don't worry. There isn't going to be an earthquake. We'll be fine. Besides…it doesn't even look that deep," he continued as he saw the fear still in his baby brother's eyes.

"I don't what I'd do…if you guys…if something happened to you," Sam whispered, his wide eyes gazing at first one brother then the other.

"Nothing is going to happen. Dad wouldn't send us up there if he didn't think it was perfectly safe," Daniel said as he gave Sam's shoulders another soft squeeze.

Sam bit at his lower lip then nodded at his brother. "Okay…okay," he said softly before slowly turning and making his way toward the incline.

Dean and Daniel looked at each other, a small amount of worry darkening their green eyes then they hurried after Sam and together the three brothers started the short climb up the rocky hill. Ten minutes later they pulled themselves onto the rocky ledge that stood just outside the opening of the cave. The three brothers reached into their packs and each pulled out a flashlight then together, they stepped into the cave.


John sat on a large rock that protruded from the earth and bit hungrily into the turkey sandwich that he had packed into his bag before leaving the cabin. Joshua and Caleb sat on the other side of the trail, the two hunters eating their own lunches and gazing at the eldest hunter.

"So, Johnny," Caleb said around a mouthful of roastbeef on rye. "You think the boys have found the cave yet?"

John swallowed as he set his sandwich down and looked at the watch around his wrist. He gazed around their surroundings then up at the clear, blue sky. "Yeah…they should be there by now I'd think…unless they've been doing more horsing around then scouting," he answered gruffly.

Joshua chuckled then finished off his sandwich. He reached into his pack and pulled out a bottle of water, twisted off the cap and took a long swallow. "How was Sammy this morning? Still freaked out about his dream?" he asked before taking another long drink.

"Yeah. He said he's had more than one dream about earthquakes. He really thinks there could be one coming," John said with a shake of his head.

"He's had more of these dreams?" Caleb asked, the youngest of the three straightening, his eyes staring at John intently.

"So he says," John answered, his dark eyes moving to his younger friend, his eyebrows furrowed. "You aren't actually giving his dreams credence are you, Caleb?"

"No…not really, but…"

"But what?" John interrupted.

"It's not unheard of, John. Sam could be…sensitive to such things. Who knows," Caleb answered.

"Sam isn't a psychic, Caleb, so just stop. They're just dreams…nothing more than his nerves getting the better of him," John snapped.

"John…" Caleb started, his words cut off by Joshua's harsh voice.

"Quiet! You hear that?" the large man asked as he stood from the log he and Caleb were sitting upon.

"Hear what?" John queried, his eyes narrowing as he suddenly heard a low rumble, from where he couldn't determine.

"What the hell is that?" Caleb asked as he too stood and cocked his head, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as he realized the normal sounds of the forest had suddenly stopped, leaving only the deep rumble that seemed to come from the ground itself.

"I don't…" John started, his dark eyes widening as the earth suddenly began to shake, ever so slightly at first, but gaining in intensity until the shaking was so violent it nearly threw him to the ground.

"Son of a bitch! Earthquake!" Joshua screamed above the deafening rumble, the tall hunter grabbing hold of a nearby tree to keep from falling to the earth.

John tried to move, but the violent shaking finally took him down and he hit the ground hard. "John!" Caleb shouted, his blue eyes meeting his friends wide, dark ones.

"My boys! We have to get to my boys!" John screamed, his face as white as a ghost as absolute terror washed over him.


So...what did you think? You think the boys may be in some deep doo doo? It's me writing, so the odds are they may very well be in for some pretty big boo boos. Hey...doo doo and boo boos rhyme! Okay...forgive me...HEAVY DUTY DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cindy ;)