Title: Reshaping the Future
Chapter 2 – The Negotiator's Son

A/N: Okay so there were a few requests to add some to this theme and I was going to at a later time but figured while it was still so fresh in my mind I'd add chapter 2 to cover off some Greg/Dean stuff (this still counts as the same eppy OS) haha. Hope you all like it.

Same disclaimer as chapter 1: "Words in italics and double quotes taken directly from episode" ('single quotes & italics are past thoughts')

"Thanks for the pizza," Dean mentions to Greg as they enter their quiet apartment; Marina having to work late so would be staying at her apartment for the night. But a few seconds later, when Dean hears silence he turns to see Greg watching him with an inspecting gaze. "What?"

"What…after the stunt you two pulled today, you ask me what," Greg sighs as he slowly unbuttons his black SRU shirt, him and Ed having gone to the pizza place in full gear right after the call.

"Yeah you were pretty pissed earlier," Dean retorts as Greg halts his actions, folds his arms and both recall the tension filled discussion they shared when Dean had called to inform team one of the missing bag of stolen guns.

"Dad can you listen to me?"

"Oh son I've been listening to you. Now let me get this straight, you disobeyed me, you moved into a live battle zone, you withheld key information during an active investigation and then you expose yourself further to danger by returning to the scene of the crime….do not think you are off the hook."

"Earlier?"

"What, you still are?" Dean retorts. "The case is closed, the good guys won and we just had a pretty great meal. How can you still be pissed?"

"I know it was and…" Greg stops and shakes his head before looking Dean with frown.

"Dad…that look, it's intimidating. What's up?"

"It's meant to be intimidating…seems to be the only way I can get a word in around here."

"So what then?"

"You handing me back what I normally say."

"You're surprised your habits are rubbing off on me? I see it all the time."

"I only do it on the job."

"That is so not true. You negotiated the cable guy the other day. Poor dude I swear he was like shaking when he left."

"He was not," Greg retorts lightly.

"Yeah he was. There was only one cord broken."

"He performed his job less than satis…okay how did you manage to deflect the subject again?"

"I switched it off me," Dean shrugs with a smirk as Greg's lips offer a small smile but not all the way. "But you're still mad."

"Dean you two could have been seriously hurt today and the last phone call I wanna make is me telling your mom her only son…"

"I'd say it was my fault."

"Missing the point," Greg sighs as they finally remove themselves from the hallway entrance and head into the main living area. "Didn't Eddie give you part of his rules lecture?"

"The one you gave Clark? Kinda scared him straight. Yeah we got it…and I get it okay, I get it."

"How was Clark today?"

"Him and Ed…well they don't talk right?"

"Did he say that?"

"Yeah…he said a few things. Plus they…they seem kinda strained together," Dean shrugs as Greg's mind thinks back earlier, to the moment when the four of them started to break up and head for the pizza place, Greg's arm wrapping around Dean's shoulders and Clark's expression begging his father for something more than a playful punch on the arm.

"Eddie's having a tough time right now."

"Have they always been distant?"

"Things are a little tougher right now."

"Because of the shooting right?" Dean wonders as they head into the kitchen, putting away the few groceries they had picked up on the way home.

"Clark say that?"

"Yeah. Said he's like a zombie at times. Zones out…never talks…snaps one time and then seems forgetful the next. Clark just wishes Ed would tell him what's up you know?"

"Ed was raised differently than me."

"Yeah I know. Hey it's not a bad thing but…I feel sorry for Clark. He wants to be closer to his dad but um…"

"But when Ed's having a moment, it can be hard for Clark to understand if Ed doesn't tell him what's going on. Ed….he's a strong willed man, raised that way by his father…those two…almost cut from the exact same cloth. Now that way of being raised is affecting Clark because Sophie is the opposite. Sam said it right this morning…"Ed is man of few words." But at times that doesn't always work and sometimes those closest to him…like his son pay the price."

"Can't you help him?"

"I try as best as I can, but sometimes the bounds of friendship only permit so much."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning sometimes there are systems in place…better and more professional systems to help out in situations like what Ed's dealing with."

"I tried to help Clark. Had to remind him that his dad shooting that woman was by the rules and as much as it sucks he did the right thing."

"If Ed doesn't explain as much to Clark as I do to you…it can be hard for Clark to understand why Ed seems so broken up about it one time and cold and distant the other. Why would he do something that would cause him so much pain right? Why shoot her at all?"

"Yeah, he said that."

"Well I hope after today the two of them will talk and Clark will ask that question and things will start to mend between them. Clark needs to ask Ed those questions and Ed…he needs to talk to Clark. Maybe after today…things will start to mend."

"I hope so."

"Me too. You know…Ed said that you told him this whole ride along was Clark's idea."

"Wanted to put in a good word."

"Telling him what he wanted to hear," Greg states more than asks.

"I just wanted to help. Like with the bag…okay dad Clark wanted to stay in the cab and just go home…but…but I figured if there was something in there that shouldn't be. I mean what if it got out and like some little kids found it or something and one of them got shot and…I had to do something."

"You did the right thing."

"Then why do I still feel guilty?"

"Because you broke the rules to do it. Had you told us right from the start…as soon as that other undercover cop stashed that bag…"

"We thought it was no big deal."

"But at the same time you still thought about it enough to act. Even in the cab you shoulda called me. That's part of the process Dean. You waited until something bad happened. You were just fortunate things worked out the way they did; but it doesn't always go like that. What do you think would have happened if say Sam and Spike found the bag and went off and did their own thing on this call and didn't tell us?"

"Truck duty?"

"More like parking duty," Greg smirks. "And I mean sweeping…the parking lot."

"Ouch," Dean groans as he heads into the living room; Greg slowly following.

"We can't just up and do our own thing. A team is only as strong as the integrity of its members. Team one…we know that. I never have to question one of my team that they might find something and take it upon themselves to break the rules and do what they feel is best. Even if you think missing a step will slow things down…the process is in place because it works."

"I didn't want to get out of the truck in the first place," Dean huffs as Greg looks up at him in surprise.

"You didn't?"

"No. That was all Clark."

"Okay so if Clark said to climb to the top of the CN tower and jump would you?"

"Point taken," Dean groans. "But it helped so I'm not sorry about that."

"I can't fault you for wanting to help, but I can remind you that you broke the rules to do it. Clark too."

"I'm glad Clark was there though…we worked well together. I mean when he wasn't…you know all down about his dad and stuff he was on the ball."

"He's got a good head on his shoulders like his father. You both acted on instinct and showed us some real promise. I'm proud of you son…very proud," Greg confesses warmly.

"But still mad?"

"Dean…" Greg warns.

"Yeah I know. Is Ed going to be okay?"

"Yeah…he just needs to work through a few more things and then he'll be fine. Ed has a tough time expressing his feelings. He was taught that if it's not outright physical pain, why complain about it."

"Not like you," Dean tosses and then looks at Greg with a pursed lipped expression.

"You saying I talk too much?"

"You practically talked me through my whole conversation with Emma the other day."

"It was a school night and…"

"It was a study session at the library."

"You two alone? Studying what? How to make out in ten easy steps," Greg retorts making Dean roll his eyes. "Besides…" Greg pauses as he leans forward in his chair a bit closer to his son, "you were standing in the kitchen and my hearing still works within two feet."

"Okay so next time I'll talk in my room."

"Next time make it a Saturday afternoon study session. More people around."

"Yeah…just what I want," Dean huffs as he leans back in the chair and looks away; Greg noticing his facial expression slightly change and offers his son a small frown.

"What else happened today?"

"What makes you think…"

"That's the second time in about an hour that you leaned back on that side that you've winced."

"It was nothing."

"It was enough to lift the right side of your face."

"So the course you took on profiling…"

"We even notice a hair out of place," Greg retorts. "What happened?"

"That guy…the cop…the one who came for the guns…he um…well I didn't want to give him the bag and he uh…he got kinda physical."

"What?" Greg asks in shock. "Why d…"

"Look it's no big deal."

"He physically assaulted my son…it is a big deal. What did he do?" Greg asks firmly.

"He just grabbed me and shoved me up against the recycle container. I'm okay really. We were kinda stalling for time and then Clark gave him the bag with the cell phone in it and he let go."

"Dean…what if he had pulled a gun?" Greg demands with a heavy groan.

"I know okay? But he…he was all weird and anxious at first. I said I had to see his badge we'd give him the bag. He wasn't the original guy who stashed them and we had no clue who he was. Said he was a cop but so what. Anyone can say that right? So…I asked for his badge, he showed it to me and then…"

"You tried to stall and it cost you."

"I'm okay really."

"Dean…" Greg starts and stops, his mind racing with horror at the thought that his son could have been hurt further.

"I'm okay really. Aside from that…today was pretty great. After today…I really wanna be a cop. I mean following the guns…arresting the bad guy and stopping that other cop before he could cross the line. I mean that's cool stuff."

"Not every day has today's ending. Even today…an innocent woman was killed."

"What? Who?"

"One of the wife's," Greg answers in truth. "Yeah the end always looks exciting and sometimes simple from an outside perspective. But getting there. I worry about my team…innocent lives…when we are called…"

"But I wouldn't start with the SRU. I mean I'd be there when I'm old…er…older," Dean smirks. "I'd start out as a beat cop right?"

"Just make sure you want to be a cop for the right reasons. Helping people…son you have that in spades and I love that about you…I do. But there are other jobs where you can help people such as a social worker or counselor that don't put you directly in harm's way. The rules that team one abides by…we abide by them every second of the day, on or off the job."

"I get that dad…I do…but…but I really wanna be a cop. I want help people and keep the streets safe and free of the bad guys."

"Takes a lot of hard work and a lifelong dedication."

"And I guess there's stuff to deal with like Ed has to right?"

"There is always that," Greg answers in truth as he leans back in his chair and gives his son a tired but somewhat worried glance. Listening to him open up about their adventure today makes him take pause and smile at the fact that his son was turning out just as he had hoped; he couldn't be prouder. But hearing the determination in his tone also makes him wonder how he'd handle something as tough as Ed is dealing with; being forced to take a rather innocent life and then having to deal with the consequences of those actions. I'd never let him get that far…Greg's mind reminds him. I'd see the signs and…never…I'd never let my son get to that stage.

"But not all cops deal with stuff Ed has to right?"

"Nope. Some go their whole careers without firing their weapon in the line of duty."

"Really?"

"Just depends on what you want to do."

"I want to be like you…I want to lead the top team in the city," Dean proudly boasts; making Greg's instantly rise. "Did you always want to be a cop?"

"Well at one time I had contemplated game show host."

"Really?"

"No," Greg retorts and both chuckle. "Yes…always."

"Mom hates cops."

"I know she does. That's why she married an engineer."

"It's such a boring job."

"All jobs have their dangers," Greg reminds his son.

"Oh yeah like what? He's at a job site and a crane falls on him?" Dean snickers as Greg cocks his head. "Could happen."

"You watch too much TV," Greg deadpans.

"Hey you took away my phone the other day."

"Didn't know what else to do. Poor old Mrs. Landry down the hall said you talked her out of that five bucks as if your…"

"Okay…I had offered to walk her dog for that and the next thing I know she was asking me to vacuum and…clean. Five bucks wasn't near enough."

"You offered," Greg looks at him seriously as Dean purses his lips.

"To walk that mutt only."

"Maybe your punishment should be walking that dog for free and no phone or TV."

"I am not walking Cujo."

"Cujo," Greg repeats in sarcasm. "Its name is fluffy."

"If I take it for a walk I'm gonna bury it," Dean deadpans, making Greg chuckle. "But you're kidding about the punishment right?"

"No…I'm not," Greg states as he looks at Dean squarely. "You didn't listen to me and I hafta keep the peace right."

"Keeping the peace in the house would be to excuse…right," Dean stops as Greg smiles and nods.

"But having said that…what you did today…made me damn proud."

"Really?" Dean asks as his face lights up.

"Really," Greg states matter of factly. "Just don't tell your mom," he smirks as he stands up, Dean following suit.

"Can we go to the shooting range this weekend?"

"What?" Greg turns and looks at Dean in surprise as Dean shrugs.

"Thought it might be a fun outing…or not," Dean shakes his head as he looks at his father's odd expression. "What?"

"I'll think about it."

"That usually means yes," Dean grins as Greg wraps his arm around his son's neck and playfully pulls him closer.

"Okay so maybe you are picking up too much."

"I can pick up some of Marina's habits instead," Dean suggests.

"Name one trait of hers you like."

"Her empathy."

"Really?"

"You've never noticed?"

"Oh I have…just never heard you say that before."

"You never asked," Dean shrugs as Greg's lips emit a small chuckle.

"Of course," Greg pats his son on the back as they head down the hallway to bed. "You know what trait of hers I like best?"

"The way she kisses?" Dean offers, making Greg stop and look at him in utter shock. "What? You said that."

"Okay you really are picking up too much," Greg says in a wry tone as Dean smiles at him.

"Am I wrong?"

"Don't make me offer your services to house sit fluffy…for a week."

"Fate worse than death," Dean makes a mock choking gesture as they reach their bedrooms.

Greg looks at Dean and offers his son a warm and proud smile before giving him a fatherly embrace. When Dean had first called and told him about their involvement in the case he was in a word – furious. With his team watching and knowing his penchant for upholding the law, he had to be firm and yet in a way understanding. It was as he had told Ed…one moment Dean was driving him crazy and the next he was making him proud; over the course of a few hours today he had successfully managed both. But in the end, Greg could only sympathize and believe his son when he said he had learnt his lesson but wasn't that sorry as it did help save a few good lives in the end.

For a few seconds more Greg thinks about Eddie, wondering if his tormented best friend was able to have some sort of friendly dialogue with his son and if indeed it opened the doorway to allow the mending process to start between them, something he so desperately wants for Ed and Clark. Never wanting to take for granted the close relationship he has with Dean he has to remind himself that each day is special, teaches something new and is another opportunity to either help or hinder a real future relationship together.

Today…today cemented his legacy. Dean would be like him and in that very moment his heart burst with fatherly pride.

"Goodnight dad."

"Goodnight…son."

THE END!

A/N: I know this chappy was lighter but you could really tell the difference in relationships between fathers and sons at the end of the eppy. Greg hugged Dean and Ed gave Clark a small playful punch but that was it. So I really wanted it to come across in this. Well I hope you all liked this eppy 2 shot and please do review before you go and thanks so much