Chapter Two-Becoming a Family
It was a couple days later that saw John, Missouri and Dean pulling into the driveway of a beautiful, antebellum home. Everything about the place spoke of love and care, a peaceful home that had seen the worst in humans but still was innocent of all the hurts. John was amazed that the house could be like that. After he heard that Jeffrey Wallace was Adell's son, he expected that the walls were dripping with blood and the trees draped with intestines. The house was painted a nice cream color and the trim was a navy blue. No intestines dripped from the sides but there was ivy that climbed on trellises along with roses. Large oak trees shaded the home and made it look as comfortable, as peaceful as any home could be. The tragedy that existed inside the house could not be read from its exterior.
Missouri directed John to park the Impala near the attached garage where there was another car already parked. She got the Winchesters out of the car with their luggage, John taking not only his own but also Missouri's to Dean's delight. Even though John tried to keep it quiet, Dean always knew that his father had a thing for the lady. His emotions were always pink and happy when Missouri was around. The three of them went to the front door where Missouri rang the bell. After waiting for a few minutes, the door was opened by a fortyish woman.
"Hello, Kari! How are you doing?" Missouri asked, greeting the woman.
"Missouri, I'm doing real well, thanks for asking," the woman grinned. "And I see that you are doing just fine, being with these two handsome men." John and Dean both blushed. Kari calling Dean a man did the fourteen year old's ego a good turn. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come in, come in! Adell wants you to sit in the living room. I'll get her and, hopefully, Sam if I can find him. Just put your bags down and follow me. While you are resting, I'll bring in a small snack and some sweet tea." With that, Kari led the small group to a beautiful living room, one that invited someone to sit in it and relax. Books lined the walls while small lamps were placed strategically around the room by chairs and the couch. Small tables also were next to the chairs. The curtains were a rich ivory color and it matched the wall-to-wall carpeting. The walls were paneled with Alpine White with oak trim. After a few minutes, Kari came back, pushing a wheelchair with Adell in it, hooked to an IV with an oxygen tank behind the chair. After Kari parked the chair by the couch, she left again.
"Adell, you are looking fairly well," Missouri said kindly. She actually thought that Adell looked as though she had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.
Adell laughed, she knew exactly what Missouri thought but loved the comment anyway, "Mr. Winchester, Mr. Winchester, I'm Adell Wallace. Thank you for coming to my home and meeting with me."
John rose from the couch and extended his hand, "Please call me John," he said. Pointing to Dean, he introduced, "This is my son, Dean." Adell nodded and shook his hand. As John sat down, Adell wheeled herself to a roll top desk and picked up a sheath of papers. Going back to her spot, she put them down on an end table.
"John, I know that Missouri has told you of my request and why. Since you are here, I pray that you will listen to the rest of the explanation and grant my final requests," Adell stopped to take a few pulls on her oxygen mask. Then she put it down and started again, "Missouri probably told you that we are cousins, is that correct?" John nodded then she went on, "She also told you that I believed that you and your son out of all my relatives were the ones whom I thought would protect my grandson the best, correct?" John nodded again.
"What Missouri probably didn't tell you since she didn't know it herself is that I just don't want to you be Sam's guardian but I want you to adopt him. I want him to have a family who would love him and not just for the money I'm leaving him but for himself," Adell saw John's mouth open with objections and she waved him quiet. "Because of Jeffery, my other children won't have anything to do with Sam. Jeffrey abused them when they were growing up, before you ask. He was the perfect vessel for the demon that possessed him and, knowing Jeffery, he probably begged the demon to come to him for the power.
"I know that my sons, Brian and Mitchell, would take their anger out on Sam. Brian has been in trouble with the police and CPS regarding abuse he has done to his own child and Mitchell is an alcoholic with his own anger problems. Brenda and Margery have both married men who are more interested in their inheritances than my daughters. I've already put them in my will with codicils to help protect them but with Brian, all his inheritance will go to his son and ex-wife. Mitchell will get his administrated by my lawyers to make sure he doesn't drink it up the first year. Because of these steps I feel that if my children find out how much I'm leaving you and Sam, they would contest the will and your guardianship, that's why the adoption," Adell pulled out the adoption papers for John to sign. "I know this is a huge favor to ask especially since you don't know us, but this concerns my grandson's life and I only want the best for him. John, you and your son are the best." Numbly, John looked at Dean who had a strange look on his face. Dean nodded to his father who then signed the papers. Adell took them back with a smile. "Good. Now for the rest." Taking out another stapled packet of papers, she gave them to John along with a set of keys. "Even if you hadn't agreed to adopt Sam, this would still be yours."
John read the papers and his eyes grew wide. He looked at Adell who just nodded and smiled. For Dean and Missouri's benefits, she said, "It's a farmhouse that sits on fifty acres of land. I figured you needed a place to call your own. I know the fire had destroyed your home years ago and this is my way to give you something back that you lost. Missouri had called a couple of friends of yours to go out and ward the land, outbuildings, and house so the property is very safe and protected."
Picking up a checkbook, she gave it to John, "This is to go for home repairs, insurance, and property taxes. The property has been paid for so you won't have to worry about any mortgages." Then she picked up two more checkbooks and one passbook. Giving them to John, she explained, "John, you and Dean are to have the checkbooks. These are your inheritances from my estate that came from my side of the family. My children don't know about this money, never have since I kept it that way. Sam also has his inheritance represented in that passbook. My suggestion is to find a bank close to your new home and transfer your funds. I do want to ask that Sam not have total access to his inheritance until he's twenty-one but he can use the interest that the funds earn until then." A fourth checkbook appeared and was given to John, "This is for raising the boys and everything you need. Clothes, food, bills, extras, and also your car needs." A fifth was given to Missouri, "I would never forget you, my dearest friend. You have been a better daughter to me than my own flesh and blood."
A sixth and final checkbook materialized and given again to Missouri, "This is to fund the Hunters Robert Singer, James Murphy, Caleb Reeves, the Winchesters, the Harvelles, Rufus Turner, Joshua Martin and whoever else is in their circle. It's just my way of trying to help people who are in danger from the supernatural since I never learned to hunt. Mr. Winchester, I have sent some of Melissa's keepsakes and my own to the farmhouse for Sam. I have made sure it was furnished with everything you will need except for fresh and frozen foods." She smiled at the dumbfounded people in front of her. She was happy to be able to finally help at least Melissa's brother-in-law and his son. Her main will had some funds allotted to the families of Jeffery's other victims but it wasn't like the money she gave the Winchesters and Missouri. Like she told John, her children would most likely contest her will for any monies not allotted to them. At least she knew that the people sitting in front of her would be taken care of.
As she looked at her guests, a knock sounded on the door and Kari came in with the refreshments and a slight, small boy. Adell smiled softly at her grandson and she patted her knee for him to sit there. Sam was nervous around the two strange men and Missouri even though he knew her. Gladly he went to his grandmother, but instead of sitting on her lap, he chose to hide behind her chair. "Sammy," Adell said gently, "please come out and greet your cousins. The older man is John and the younger is named Dean. They agreed to adopt you, my beautiful child, and give you a home. Can you say hello?"
Dean could sense the distress and fear in the small child so he took the initiative and got up from the couch. Approaching slowly, he finally got to Adell and knelt down. Looking Sam straight in the eye, he projected, "Hey kiddo, don't be afraid. We won't hurt you, I promise!" Sam flinched and mentally tried to hide but Dean didn't let him, "Don't do that, please. I want to get to know my new baby brother so don't try to hide. I'll just find you and bug you until you say something, bitch!"
Sam was surprised and automatically thought, "Jerk!" Dean grinned. He knew that since Sam responded to him, there would be no way that the ten year old would be getting away from him. All the while, the adults watched the two boys. Missouri smiled when she heard Dean's thoughts and knew that she was right, Dean had been a protector without his charge and now that he found him, Dean would never let Sam go.
WWWWWWWWWWWW
After lunch, which Kari served in the living room for everyone, Adell asked Sam to show Dean his room, saying that the boys should get to know each other. She had let them know that Dean's room was right next to Sam's and they shared a bathroom that connected both rooms. When both boys left, finally (there had been a bit of a tense moment when Missouri found out that Dean was trying to listen at the door), Adell had Kari get two folders from the desk.
After Kari put the folders down in front of John, she left the room closing the door behind her. Adell sighed in relief. She needed the nurses around but sometimes they could hover around her too much and what she needed to say was private, just like the monies she had given to the Winchesters and Missouri. "John, what you have in front of you are Sam's medical and school records. Sam had been privately tutored since the children in the school were merciless and beat him badly just because Jeffery was his father. They didn't seem to understand that the child was never responsible for the father's actions and neither did their parents who signed a petition to keep Sam from school.
"Sam's medical records are, to say the least, horrific. What my son did to my grandson was torture, plain and simple. The demon had made him watch as it slaughtered Melissa in front of him then it turned the knife onto that beautiful, five year old child. Sam's hands and feet are scarred from the cuts it made to keep him from running. The stab wounds that Sam had received nicked his right kidney, liver, and spleen along with some of his intestines so he was a pretty sick child for six months after the incident. He doesn't talk much since, when he was screaming, he permanently damaged his vocal cords. The worst damage, of course, is all psychological. Sam never speaks of what happened to him but it comes out in night terrors so bad that he is on medication to try to control them but the drugs keep him locked into the dreams, unable to wake up. I've been meaning to talk to his doctors about taking him off the drugs because they seem more harmful to my grandson than the dreams do. Since you have signed the adoption papers, it is now your choice as to what you want to do," Adell revealed with tears in her eyes. John just nodded numbly. He couldn't believe how much physical damage a father could do to his child albeit while possessed. Deep down, he always had hoped that the demons couldn't make a person cross a certain line but now he found that demons could make a person do anything, especially if they had a leaning towards the action in the first place, like Jeffery did. It was inconceivable to John, however, that a parent would willfully torture their own child no matter what. John silently vowed to make his sons lives better than they had been. Dean wasn't the only protector in the family after all.
Missouri and Adell watched as all those thoughts and feelings crossed John's face and they smiled. They were absolutely right in picking him for Sam's father.
WWWWWWWWWWWW
Dean was upset at Missouri for chasing him away from the door. He looked up and saw his new little brother staring at him with those strange eyes. Dean knew the eyes were the windows to the soul but what he saw in Sam's eyes was someone who had been in Hell and still remembered every torture he had gone through. The protector in Dean screamed that nobody should hurt that much, especially a ten year old boy, forgetting that he too had been in the same Hell. What the adults were saying meant very little to him now. The child in front of him was now more important than anything in the world. It was at that moment a bond started to forge between the boys.
Dean nodded towards the stairs and Sam just led the way to his room. He knew what Dean had wanted even if no words had passed between the new brothers. "Uh, here's my room," were the first verbal words Sam used in front of Dean. With those four words, Dean learned a lot. He learned that Sam was not just shy but painfully so since his voice sounded rusty as hell. He also learned a lot about Sam just by looking around at the bedroom. It was Spartan except for the books and a picture on the dresser. Dean thought that Sam didn't have anything else in his room then the younger boy opened a cabinet. In it were a television and a VCR. There were many movies but the majority of them were still in the shrink wrap so Dean knew that Sam wasn't much into movies.
Noticing what Dean was looking at Sam said rustily, "My uncles gave those to me. I don't like that kind of movie so I never unwrapped them. You can have them if you want." Dean looked at the titles: It, Alien, Aliens, and so on. Knowing what he did of Sam's history, Dean figured that his uncles gave him the movies as a torture. They were the same as Sam's father, Dean thought, just more subtle.
"Naw, let's just toss the ones you don't like and not say anything to anyone. That way nobody's feelings get hurt," Dean said brightly. Sam gave a small smile and started to toss most of the movies, especially the ones that were of the horror genre. When they were done, there were only three movies left that Sam wanted. Since it made the smaller boy happy, Dean knew his idea was a good one.
Then he moved to the dresser to look at the picture. In it was a pretty blonde woman holding a very small boy. What was interesting to Dean was how closely she looked like his mom…almost like a sister. With that thought going through his mind, he took his wallet out and pulled a picture of his mom out to compare them. Sam saw what he was looking at and said, "That's me and mom. I just had my birthday when that was taken. I was five." The voice was so small and soft, Dean barely heard it over the roaring of blood in his ears. The picture in his hand and the picture on the dresser could have been the same woman except the one on the dresser was so much younger.
He showed his picture to Sam and said, "This is my mom."
"They look alike," Sam observed. "I never knew if mom had a sister or not. She always said that she had been adopted Grandma and Grandpa but I don't know if she ever saw her other family. When I asked, she would just smile but I could feel the tears that were in her eyes." Sam knew that Dean would understand. Ever since their silent exchange in the living room, Sam understood that Dean was special, just like his Grandma Adell always said he was.
"I can feel my Dad's tears whenever he thinks about Mom," Dean replied. He definitely knew what Sam was talking about. Sensing Dean was becoming uncomfortable with the talk about their mothers, Sam quickly showed Dean to his room. Both rooms were connected by a bathroom. Dean could sense that Sam was uneasy in the bedroom that was given to him. Lightly brushing against Sam's mind, he could see why…the room used to belong to Sam's mother and it hurt the younger boy to have anyone in it, even if it was his new brother.
"Hey, I can't sleep in a room by myself. Dad and I usually stay in motel rooms so I'm used to having someone snoring in the bed next to me. Um, do you think anyone would mind if I bunk in your room with you?" Dean asked politely.
Sam felt relief at Dean's request. "No, I'm sure if you ask there wouldn't be any problem but I only have the one bed."
"No problem. We can either stay in the same bed or we can bring another one in here. Of course, if we did that, we would have to move your bed away from the door."
"Why's that?" Sam wanted to know.
"Cuz, older brother sleeps next to the door. I gotta protect you, little brother," Dean replied with a blinding smile. Sam didn't say anything else but answered with a smile of his own. When Dean watched Sam smile, he felt his chest expand. He knew that Sam didn't smile very much and he loved the fact that he was the one to bring that look on the younger boy's face.
WWWWWWWWWWWW
Adell had insisted that the Winchesters and Missouri stay with her for a while so they could get used to Sam and Sam to them. She wanted to supervise every step of the way even though Missouri told her that it was unnecessary. The first clue to that was when Dean moved into Sam's room that first day. Nothing anyone could say would move the boys from changing their sleeping arrangements. Missouri had an idea why Dean wasn't sleeping in Melissa's old room and it had to do entirely with Sam's feelings. Giving into the boys' wants, Adell had John move another bed into Sam's room.
Dean was the one who said that Sam should be taken off the sedatives at night after witnessing Sam being stuck in a nightmare. He had been woken up by a feeling of terror, horror and a deep sadness. Dean didn't know what brought that on until he saw Sam. Even though the younger boy was still and quiet, there was a sheen of sweat that covered him and he was extremely pale. As Dean watched, he noticed tears falling from Sam's eyes. Following his instincts, Dean threw his covers off and ran to his new brother. Getting into Sam's bed, he gathered the child to him and started to croon, "It's okay, Sammy. I gotcha." Sam started to calm as Dean continued to croon and rock him. It was also because of that first night that Dean started to sleep in Sam's bed. Adell noticed a significant decrease in her grandson's night terrors.
When Dean found out about Sam's scars, he asked Missouri for a cream to help keep the scars supple so they wouldn't pull on Sam's skin. After she gave it to him, he coaxed Sam to take off his hoodie and shirt then lay on the bed face-down. Dean started to rub the cream on his back. At first, Sam was tense. He didn't like for anyone to see what his father had done to him for fear that they would see it as a mark of Cain but Dean put him at ease by showing his own scars from burns he had gotten from the house fire. Dean told Sam that the scars were badges of survivorship. When Sam asked him to explain, Dean said that the scars meant that they survived something that had killed other people which meant that they were strong. Sam smiled at that and Dean felt good. It was like watching a baby taking his first step and Dean could feel his chest expand with happiness.
What really cemented their brotherhood was when some neighborhood bullies had spotted Sam waiting patiently outside a store for Dean to come out. Dean had wanted to explore the town and, even though Sam was nervous, he agreed to show Dean around. John gave them both some money and told Dean to watch out for his little brother. Both boys grinned at his words then ran off to have some fun for the day. Sam was nervous when they came to the first store which sold clothing. Many of the town's kids liked to go there to buy their clothes and they had made him know that he wasn't welcome wherever they were. Dean, feeling his brother's worry, shrugged then pulled him into the store. He was determined to give Sam's wardrobe a complete makeover since, as he said, he wanted everyone to see what a handsome brother he had. Sam had made what Dean privately called a bitchface but he agreed to go along with Dean's plans.
Dean allowed Sam to get one hoodie but then he picked out some nice flannel shirts and a couple of jeans for his new little brother. He bought himself some shirts and jeans also since most of his stuff was full of holes, worn, or had blood on them. After paying for their purchases, Dean then made Sam go to a shoe store and there they bought boots, tennis shoes and regular shoes. John had always said that good footwear was important to soldiers and Hunters. Besides their weapons, it was one area he would sacrifice a good night's sleep in a bed for. The other area was his number one priority, Dean. John would hustle, steal or even go without just to make sure his son had food in his belly and clothes on his back.
Dean spotted an auto store and wanted to get John a present. He knew his father would value anything that he could use to keep the Impala in impeccable condition so the auto store was the perfect place for such a gift. Sam wasn't interested in the store and volunteered to stay outside, in plain sight, where Dean could see him at all times. Reluctantly, Dean agreed. He didn't like the idea of his new brother being alone, it went against every protective feeling he had, so he mentally attached a link between them just in case of problems.
What he didn't count on was Sam being spotted by four of the local teens. These kids had been responsible for most of the bullying and beatings that the young boy had received. It was their parents who had petitioned the schools to have Sam banned because, they said, since his father was a murderer they were afraid that sometime in the future, he would become a killer also. At first, the school board refused to act but then the original petitioners went on a signature drive and received most of the signatures of the parents of the other students. When the four saw Sam, they smiled cruelly and went over to him. Surrounding the young boy, they started to call him names and push him around. It wasn't until a punch was thrown at Sam's face that Dean appeared and began to pummel the bullies. After the four were on the ground, Dean grabbed Sam's arm and turned him around to assess the damage. Sam had a bruise that was forming on his jaw but no other injury so Dean picked their packages up and the two boys left. When they got back to the house, Dean let his father know what had happened. John was shocked at the violence that had been done to his baby boy. He told Dean to put ice on Sam's bruise then he prepared for the angry parents to call or come over with threats of retaliation.
An hour after the incident, four cars drove up to Adell's house with four sets of parents. They knocked on the door and when it was answered they were surprised when they were met by a man instead of Kari.
"What do you want?" the man asked rudely.
"We want to see Adell. Our sons were beaten by her grandson an hour ago and we want to see him in the hospital where he belongs. That kid is a menace," one of the fathers said angrily.
"Can't do that. Adell is sleeping, not feeling too good today. Sam is a bit small to be taking on four big kids, isn't he?" the man was insolent. "In fact, it seems as though they probably tried to beat him up. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they had it coming."
"What the hell do you mean? He's Jeffery Wallace's kid! He's just like his father, a murderer!" the man yelled.
"I'm not a murderer, thank you very much," the stranger replied then smiled at the dumbfounded looks on the faces before him. "Jeffery Wallace may have provided the DNA that resulted in the child but he was no father to him. Sam isn't a Wallace anymore but a Winchester and he's my son." John let his jacket fall open casually so that the crowd could see his gun, "I protect my family, especially from assholes like you who don't understand that a six month old child has no say in what his parents do and a five year old being tortured isn't responsible for an adult's actions. Neither Sam nor Adell are responsible for Jeffery's actions, only Jeffery is responsible for Jeffery's actions. They are just as much victims as the people that Jeffery killed. Now, I suggest you leave before I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing."
"What about our sons?"
"Well, you see my oldest son didn't like seeing his brother being beat up and, like any good brother, he went to Sam's aid. To confirm what my children had told me, I called the store where the incident happened and the clerks backed up their story. Then I made a call to the police and reported your kids for harassing my son so you should expect a call yourself to explain why you believe that it's fine for your older sons to beat up on a child who has many medical problems," John smirked the slammed the door shut on the crowd.
He turned around and saw Dean standing behind him with questions in his eyes, "Is Sam's father really the guy who killed mom?" he asked quietly.
"Jeffery Wallace was possessed by the demon that did the murder," John answered. "Does it really matter whose DNA helped create Sam?"
"No Dad. It doesn't. As far as I'm concerned he only has one father and that's you," Dean answered then went to find Sam.
WWWWWWWWWWWW
John was worried about being a father to an emotionally and physically damaged boy like Sam was. Not only were the bodily damages extensive but his psych report read like a grocery list: PTSD, night terrors, excessive shyness, lack of self-esteem were a few of the things the report had on it. John knew that how to handle the PTSD, both he and Dean had bouts of it. Dean's stemmed from the night Mary died while John's was from his time in Viet Nam. PTSD was very problematic since one didn't know what would set it off. With John it was cars backfiring or even fireworks that would set it off. With Dean, it had been screaming, smell of smoke or even the color yellow for a long time. Adell had told John that Sam had a very hard time with men, knives, meat, screaming and blond women since Melissa, like Mary, had been honey blond.
John remembered walking Dean through his recovery but even now, Dean would clam up and hide whenever something reminded him of that awful night. To make sure he knew some of Sam's other triggers, he read the police and autopsy reports carefully. Because men, especially loud men, would scare the child, he started very slowly to introduce himself into Sam's life. He did little things, such as passing the milk at breakfast, sitting in the same room with the boy and reading out loud. When he felt that Sam was ready for it, John began to talk to him, keeping it light. To make sure Sam didn't feel nervous around him, he had Dean or someone else was in the room with them. At first, Sam wouldn't come out from behind his new brother but eventually, with Dean's help, he started to feel comfortable in John's presence until, one day, the three of them were watching television. Dean got up to go to the bathroom while the others were engrossed in the program and didn't notice his departure until he came back and flopped on the couch. Sam was startled when he figured out he had been in a room with John and nothing bad had happened. Dean slowly started to leave the room more often so the other two were alone together until his brother got used to John. Finally, Dean left one time to get a snack. When he got back he was surprised to see Sam cuddled in John's lap with the older man stroking the younger boy's back and singing "Hey Jude", his mother's favorite song. Dean put his plate down and sat next to his father, joining in the singing. Sam's eyes closed and soon a soft snoring sounded in the room. After that, Sam became more comfortable in John's presence, not needing Dean as a buffer between him and his new father any longer.
Because Adell had a library she was giving them along with other furniture and clothes, John needed some help from his friends to load and drive the truck to his new home. Before calling his friends, he sat Sam down and told him who was being invited over and what they were to the Winchesters. John talked about Bobby Singer, Joshua Martin, Caleb Reeves, Rufus Turner, and Jim Murphy. He said that even though those men could be rough and loud, they would never hurt him but would protect him. John told the boy he had every right to feel nervous, even afraid, but he hoped that Sam would at least give them the chance to prove themselves to him. Sam agreed, not wanting to anger or hurt his new father. John knew exactly what Sam was doing but took his victories where he could. He called his friends for help all the while warning them about Sam. When they asked about motels in the area, Adell wouldn't hear about them staying in one of the "rat infested places", as she called them, while there were plenty of empty rooms in the house. She actually got on the phone and argued with each and every one of them until they agreed to stay at her home. John just grinned. He figured out on their first day there that she was a formidable lady, right on par with Missouri.
Josiah Brown missed his friends and promised them that he would keep an eye on their mother. When she brought Jeffery's son into her home, he called them and they said they were worried about her mental health since she took the son of a serial killer into her home. They contacted psychiatrists who said that, unless a judge ruled Adell as mentally incompetent, there was no way they could hospitalize her. Brian then contacted a judge who said that there were no grounds for them to have her declared incompetent.
Brian, Mitchell and their sisters' husbands got together and decided to keep a strict eye on Adell's bank accounts. They didn't want to have her spend one penny more than was necessary on the boy. They agreed to make a monthly trip to see her and assess whether or not she was losing her mental faculties so they could make their case in front of the judge. When her doctors reported to them that her health was failing, they believed that their time had finally come to get rid of Sam and control Adell completely but before they could make their move, a lawyer friend called Mitchell to tell him that she had adoption papers drawn up with blank spaces where the adopting parent's name and the adoptee's name would go. After a couple of days, he called back to report that the papers had been filed directly with the judge and the adoption of Samuel Wallace had been granted to one John Winchester. Panicking, the brothers, along with their sisters' husbands, made plans to check on their mother. They hated their nephew but they knew that Adell would have provided for him in her will and they wanted the money he would inherit upon her death.
They weren't aware of many things. One was that the demon that had possessed Jeffery left them a legacy of hatred and greed. It was working through them to destroy a very powerful but innocent child who could someday utterly destroy it. Another thing was that John Winchester was very protective of his children and would do anything to ensure their safety. A third thing was that the men and women who made up John's "family" were of the same mindset. When John adopted Sam, the whole family expanded their protection to that child. There were other things these stupid, greedy people weren't aware of but soon, they would be, to their detriment.
When the group of Hunters finally arrived at the Wallace home, John was waiting with Dean and his new son, Sam. Sam was very nervous about meeting a group of very loud strange men and his feelings were leaking all over the place. Adell made him take a mild sedative but even that didn't help much until Dean started to sing to him telepathically. It helped to calm the young boy down enough to accept John's arm on his shoulder. He still wasn't ready for his new self-appointed Uncles though.
Loud and happy for the Winchesters, the new people in Sam's life were scary to him. Sam was used to a quiet home since Adell was careful about the volume of her voice but these men had forgotten what John had said in their happiness to see the joy in the faces of his son and himself. Bobby Singer had been extremely worried about his friend since John seemed driven to find the demon who had murdered Mary and her unborn child. He knew what John went through since a demon had been the cause of his own wife's death. Joshua and Rufus had also been worried about the two Winchesters since it felt to them that the sorrow and loss the two had felt was extreme.
Caleb was the first through the door. Spotting Dean, he rushed over to the young teen and started to rough-house with him, not seeing the panicking younger boy hiding behind John. Josh and Bobby were the next to come in. "John, you son of a bitch, how're you doing, boy?" Josh asked in a booming voice while Bobby stood behind him with a face-splitting grin. It took all of Sam's control not to run and hide.
Rufus was quieter but moved like a predator. His eyes moved constantly, watching for danger in all corners of the room. The fact that Rufus felt dangerous to Sam had the boy finally backing away from the group. His heart was racing as he turned to leave only to run into Pastor Jim. "Who's this then?" Jim asked in a quiet voice. John turned around to see what was going on and saw Jim looking at the very pale young boy.
"This is my son, Sam. Sam, that's Pastor Jim Murphy, a brother of sorts." Then John started to point out the other men, "The one sitting on Dean is Caleb Reeves. He sort of adopted Dean as a brother and he'll probably do the same to you. The two loud mouths are Bobby Singer and Joshua Martin. Again, brothers of mine…sort of. The tall, dark and silent guy is Rufus Turner, another brother of a kind." Seeing how scared Sam actually was, John went over and picked the small boy up. "Don't worry kiddo. Their bark is definitely worse than their bite. Once you get to know them, you'll like them. I promise and I promise none of them will hurt you, ever."
Sam nodded nervously then burrowed his head in John's neck. John was a bit worried. He could feel the shaking that ran through the small body so he excused himself to bring the child up to his bedroom. There, he sat on his bed and rocked Sam, singing under his breath. Hearing a slight sound, John looked up and saw Dean standing by the door with sorrow in his expressive eyes. John held out an arm and Dean ran to his completed family. They stayed that way for a very long time, drawing comfort in each other's presence.
After a while, John cleared his throat and asked, "Sam, do you think you want to try meeting everyone again?" Sam gave a slight nod and John stood up with the boys still in his arms. Putting them down, he escorted them downstairs to the living room where the other Hunters were seated and waiting.
"Aw, Johnny," Bobby said. "We're sorry. We forgot what you had said about Sammy." He then looked at the little boy behind John. "Can you forgive us, kid?" He smiled when Sam nodded then hid behind his new father. The other men looked worried at the child. They knew that he had some issues, both psychological and physical, due to the torture the Yellow-Eyed Demon had put him through at a very young age. Caleb also knew it but decided to take things into his own hands. Going over to the hiding child, he picked him up and started to swing him around.
"Hey Ace," he called, "your baby brother needs to some feeding. Kid's lighter than a kite! I swear a good wind could knock him over." Sam squeaked as he was swung. Then Caleb put him on the floor and proceeded to tickle him. Dean watched for a couple of seconds then joined in the fun by attacking the older boy.
"Sammy, help me teach this big lug a lesson!" he laughed. Sam agreed with his brother then started his own tickle attack.
"Help!" Caleb cried out as he was smothered by two tickling children.
John grinned then said, "Naw, you brought this on yourself. You get to get out of it yourself."
It was then that Missouri and Adell entered the room. Studying the situation for a minute, both women smiled to see Sam playing with the older boys. Clearing her throat, Missouri said, "Caleb Reeves, I oughta get my spoon! Picking on those poor boys like you are!" Caleb just gave a gargled reply while Sam, seeing his grandmother, ran over to give her a hug. Adell returned it with a kiss and smile.
"Are you having fun, angel?" she asked.
"Yessum. Grandma?"
"Yes baby?"
"Can Caleb, Dean and me go swimming in the pool? I promise we won't make a mess," Sam held his breath as he waited for his grandmother's answer.
"Have you asked your daddy?" Adell was determined to let him know that he had to ask John for permission.
Sam shook his head then turned to John, "Dad, can we go swimming?" John's eyes teared when Sam used the term dad. He knew that Sam wouldn't use the word unless he was getting comfortable with him. John looked over at Dean who had his jaw on the floor then he turned back to the little boy with pleading puppy dog eyes. The minute he saw them, he knew that he was in big trouble. There was no way he could say no to the child and he nodded.
"Just for a while and I want you to use some sun screen. Don't want you to burn now, do we?" John asked lightly. Sam smiled largely and, with Dean and Caleb on his tail, ran to his room to change leaving a roomful of astounded adults in his wake. "What just happened?" he asked no-one in particular.
Jim was thoughtful, "Healing."
tbc