The next morning, Adam awoke as his father nudged him.
"Time to get up, son. I have breakfast."
Adam yawned and slowly sat up and took a tentative look at his father. He was relieved to see gone was the angry father from last night. Adam made a quick trip to the bathroom and reached for the sausage biscuit wrapped on the table.
"Wash your hands, boy." His dad retorted, not even looking up from his newspaper.
Adam sighed but did as requested. He then sat cross-legged on his bed, ate his sandwich, and studied his dad as he read.
"Looking for something, son." His dad asked looking up.
Adam quickly shook his head. "No, Dad, just thinking."
"Well you will have plenty of time to do that today. I will be meeting with my friends this morning to get some work done. I want you to stay here in this hotel."
"Mechanics?" Adam asked, watching his dad carefully.
His dad eyed him and then answered slowly, "Yes Adam. Old friends of mine, who need some mechanic advice." His Dad sighed. " I know staying cramped up in a hotel for half a day isn't what you were thinking when you agreed to a road trip with your dad. But this can't be helped, son."
"Can't I come with you?" Adam asked.
"No, sorry, but you cannot."
"But why not, Dad? I promise I will stay out of the way and wont be any trouble and…"
"Stop right there, Adam." His Dad interrupted. "The answer is no. You will stay here in this hotel. Watch some tv, play that gameboy you insisted on bringing, take a nap, do whatever you want but IN this hotel room. "
"But Dad.."
"ADAM! This is not up for discussion. You will not leave this room. Do you understand me?" his dad asked his eyes boring into Adam.
"Yeah Dad, I get it. Stay here. Sit. Obey." Adam replied, slightly angry himself. His dad was being ridiculous.
"You want to try that again?" His dad asked, standing up.
Adam looked warily at his father. "Um I meant 'yes sir. I understand.'"
"That's what I thought. Adam, do not disobey me. I promise you, boy, I will bust your butt if you step one foot outside that door."
Adam nodded. He knew his dad meant every word and he had no desire to test him.
His dad walked over to Adam and kissed the top of his head. "Be good. I will be back with lunch."
Adam spent most of the morning helping Mario rescue the princess and watching MTV, simply because his mom would never let him. He was about to lie down on the bed for a nap when he noticed his dad's bag sitting on the ground. He just knew his dad was keeping something from him. Glancing around he made his way over and slowly undid the zipper. He pushed his father's neatly rolled up clothes to the side and felt around the bottom of the bag. He was just about to give up when he felt it. Something cold and metal. He pulled it out and just as quickly dropped it on the ground. A gun! His father was carrying a gun. Adam carefully picked it up and held it is in his hand. Why would a mechanic need a gun? A honk outside made Adam drop the gun again and he quickly shoved it inside the bag and that's when he noticed there was more than one gun inside. Why would any man need more than one gun? Adam put his father's clothes back inside and quickly zipped the bag. What was going on here?
His father returned a few hours later bearing lunch.
"Hey kid! How'd your morning go?' he asked tossing him a water bottle and a small bag of baby carrots.
Adam quickly tossed the carrots aside and waited for his dad to hand him the premade sandwiches. "Not bad, Dad. We get some interesting channels here." He added with a wink.
"Interesting channels, eh? Better not be getting any interesting charges on this bill when we check out, Son." His dad replied motioning for Adam to pick the carrots back up.
Adam sighed but dutifully picked the carrots up and made a big show of opening the bag and placing one in his mouth. After chewing as loudly and dramatically as he dared he asked his dad how his day had gone.
"It was productive. Listen, you pack some swim trunks in that bag of yours?"
"Yeah Dad, why?" Adam asked between mouth full of carrot.
His dad's eyebrow shot up at the 'yeah' but he made no comment. "Well, there is a waterpark down the road and I hear its half price after 2. Thought we might test it out this afternoon. You up for that?"
"Really? Awesome!" Adam replied ripping open his sandwich and taking a giant bite.
"Slow down, Son. We have over an hour." His dad said, chuckling slightly.
Adam was having an amazing time at the water park. He had met several boys his age and they were currently racing each other down the slides. Adam had just finished, landing with a plunk at the bottom when he noticed his dad motioning him over. He hurried over ready to tell his Dad how many times he had won when his dad hung up his phone and turned to Adam, hand out silencing him.
"Time to go Adam. Go change back into your clothes." He ordered.
"What? Dad we have only been here a couple of hours. The park doesn't close till 10. The boys and I were just about to do the giant toilet bowl!" Adam protested.
"Adam, do as I say." His dad replied rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Dad, please. Please let us stay." Adam whined.
"Now Adam." His dad said sternly.
"DAD! That's not fair! I don't want to go." Adam pouted stomping his foot. Before he could stomp again his dad spun him around and applied a hard smack to his backside.
"That can be the first or the last, Adam. Your choice." His dad hissed in his ear.
"The last please." Adam whispered, his face turning red as several passer-byers looked on with amusement.
His dad released his arm. "Go get changed then."
"Yes sir." Adam quickly replied and hurried to their locker to retrieve his clothes while the man standing beside them grinned at John, commenting on having to do the same to get his son out of the pool a few minutes before.
The drive back to the hotel was quiet. Adam still pouting and a little ashamed of his tantrum and John deep in thought about the hunt he was on. After a few minutes, Adam sighed and turned his attention to his dad's face. He knew he should apologize but admitting one was wrong had always been difficult for him. Perhaps that was an inherited Winchester trait as well. He looked out the window and then finally gave in to the guilt.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Adam?" John asked turning slightly to glance his direction.
"I am sorry for the way I behaved back there." Adam said quietly peeking at his Dad from the tops of his eyes. "I got no excuse."
"Hmm, well see that it doesn't happen again. You gotta learn when I tell you to do something, you do it." John replied firmly.
"Yes sir." Adam answered softly. His father reached over and ruffled his hair and Adam knew all was forgiven.
As they pulled into the hotel parking lot his father spoke again. "Adam, there are some things I need to take care of. I want you to stay here in the hotel till I return."
"What kind of things, Dad?" Adam asked as he undid his seatbelt.
"Just some things. NO, now listen." His dad said holding up his hand as Adam started to speak, "I know you think you have the right to know, but you do not. There are some adult things that need to be dealt with and as the adult I will deal with them and you, as the child, will do as you are told. If all goes well we will be leaving in the morning and then I promise I will not be sticking you in a hotel alone for the rest of this road trip, okay?" His dad asked.
Adam nodded his head. He didn't like it but he knew he would get nothing else out of his father at this point.
"Now Adam, listen carefully because I want you to truly understand this. You are not to leave that hotel room for ANY reason. I do not know how long I will be gone and I need to know you will be safe."
"Why wouldn't I be safe, Dad?" Adam interrupted.
"You will be safe, Adam. In this hotel room. So, I repeat. Do not leave that room for any reason. Understood?"
"Yes sir. But Dad.."
"No, Adam. No buts. Do as I say. If you disobey me I will take my belt to you. That is not a threat, it is a promise." His dad replied sternly.
Adam swallowed loudly. "Yes sir, I understand."
"Good, now here is the other key. Get on inside and I will be back tonight."
Adam took the key and opened the car door, he stopped when he felt his dad's hand on his shoulder. "I love you Adam." Adam smiled up at his dad. "love you too" he quickly replied before jumping out of the car, shutting the door, and running up to his room. His dad waited till he was inside before taking off.