Spoiler - 1.01
Chapter 3
Only a few days later, Mary and John got together where John was staying and decided to talk about what exactly was bothering John about the boys.
Mary went on and told John with tears in her eyes how their eldest son – who is still only four years old – felt the need to play 'man of the house' since he moved out. Dean was missing his chance to be a kid, because John couldn't get himself together.
They talked for what seemed like forever, until John decided to go back home and try again – of course, under a few conditions, per Mary's request.
One, John wouldn't be moving back in just yet. To start off, he only has visitation rights. If things don't work out, she doesn't want it to be a messy good-bye with baggage and luggage.
Two, he had to call before coming over. She didn't think it wise for him to just come over unannounced whenever he feels like.
And three, if John brings one drink into the house – or comes over even slightly less than sober – Mary promised to pull the plug on the whole thing, and file for divorce.
Without even having to think about it, John agreed to these terms.
Time passed, and on August first John moved back into the house with his sons and his wife. He was still terrified of his children's future, but decided he would have to cross that bridge when they got to it.
After all, he didn't even know what Sam would become yet.
The thought sent a shudder through his spine. He knew how unnatural this was, but these were his boys – and he made a promise to Mary to try and deal with it.
Dean had been excited when John moved back in; he never hinted that he ever resented the workload that he put upon himself after his father left. But he sure did seem relieved once his father returned and reclaimed his fatherly duties again.
And for that while, they were a family again. It was everything Mary had been running towards when she decided hunting wasn't the path she wanted to take in life.
They fell into normal everyday routines, and played their own roles around the house like a normal family. John would go to work at the Garage in the morning, while Mary was a stay-at-home wife. She cooked, and cleaned, and cared for their children during the day, and when John came home in the early evening, a freshly cooked dinner would be sitting in the oven waiting for him to arrive.
It was perfect.
It was normal.
It was safe.
xXx
November 2nd, 1983
Once the sun had sunk, and the dark night sky bled overhead – Mary had gone about her daily routine as usual.
She would sit Dean in the tub, and give him a bath and once he was finished and cleaned, she gave little Sammy his sink bath.
Once Sam was clean, and dressed – she placed him down in his crib on his back, so she clearly saw the smiling giggling baby looking up at her.
Mary smiled down at her youngest son with a loving spark in her eye. She could already tell this kid was going to be something special.
"Okay, Sammy – I'm gonna go bring Dean in here." Mary announced in a gentle whisper as she backed out of the room slowly. The only response she got was the sounds of Sam's squeaking baby giggles.
Mary sighed as she headed down the hall towards Dean room in a steady pace. Upon reaching his door, she gently nudged it open to see her eldest son sitting on the edge of his bed in his pajamas waiting for her to put him to bed.
"Come here, baby." Mary requested pleasantly.
Dean nodded feverishly as he hopped off of his bed and ran toward his mother excitedly. She bent down and met him when he was close enough, and scooped him up into her arms.
With Dean secure in her arms, Mary walked back over towards Sam's nursery.
"Come on, let's say goodnight to your brother." Mary said to Dean with a vibrant smile placed on her face.
She holds Dean, as she leans him into the crib where Dean can see his brother better. Dean kisses the giggling baby's forehead with a clear, "Goodnight, Sam."
Satisfied, Mary puts Dean down on his own two feet on the floor before she leans in to kiss Sam's forehead for herself, "Goodnight, love."
When Mary stands upright, she turns around to see John standing in the doorway with a pleasant smile on his face as he looks down at Dean.
"Hey Dean." John greets happily.
"Daddy!" Dean cried excitedly as he ran toward his father.
John instantly leaned over, and caught his son and hoisted up into his arms – his smile never faltering.
"Hey Buddy! What do you think?" Maneuvering Dean in his arms so he can catch another glimpse of Sam, "You think Sammy's ready to toss around a football yet?"
"No Daddy." Dean replied with a slight eye-roll.
"No?" John questioned, completely joking.
Mary chuckled visibly as she walked over toward her husband holding their son.
"You got him?" She questioned seriously, wondering if John was willing to put Dean to bed.
"I got him." John confirmed, still smiling.
And this was how it was almost every night. John had resumed his role as the father; Dean was just a child – and Sam's big brother. And Mary was back to just being the mother, and not having to carry all the weight herself.
xXx
It had all happened so fast, John thought to himself as he stood outside in the cold November air holding his youngest son in a bundled up wrap, while his eldest stood at his side. John sat on the hood of his sleek black 67 Chevy Impala, and watched with his children as the firefighters continued to attempt to save what was left of their house.
John had been downstairs sleeping in his chair when he suddenly heard Mary scream. He had ran upstairs, and instantly went for Sam's nursery. At first he found nothing but his giggling son looking up at him.
But when he looked up, he remembered his heart stopping cold in his chest upon seeing his beautiful wife pinned to the ceiling, a deep red stain spreading over her white nightgown. He didn't need to be told it was her blood.
He called out for her, wondering if this was some sick crazy nightmare – but instantly realized the moment her body suddenly combusted, igniting the entire nursery in hellfire that it was very real.
John made a grab for his crying baby, and made a run for Dean's room – only to see his eldest standing in the hallway with a sleepy glaze in his eyes. John passed Sammy off to Dean, and ordered him to take his brother outside, and don't look back.
Dean didn't need to be told twice, and instantly made a break for the front door with his little brother in his arms.
John on the other hand fought his way back to the nursery to try and find Mary, praying she was still alive.
There was no hope for her, John soon discovered. She was dead, and something had killed her. Something that wasn't natural.
Now John and his children watched as their neighbors began to walk out of their houses toward the sidewalks to get a better look at the burning house. So many people crowded around like vultures to witness the worst night of John Winchester's life.
Oh well, it wasn't like he would ever see these people again – John thought to himself darkly. He was going to get revenge. The thing that killed his Mary was running around out there unchecked, and John swore in that moment that he would track it down and kill it.
And all the while, he would raise his sons to fight alongside of him…they would learn what he knows about self defense, and be able to protect themselves so this never happens to them again.
xXx
For the remainder of the night, after John had finished answering the Sheriff's probing questions about the fire – he moved his sons into some ratty motel room just outside of town with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
He figured once he was rested, he would go into town and gather clothes for himself and his children. But for now, they all needed rest. They'd been through so much in just a little amount of time.
Dean hadn't said anything at all. The usually chatty four-year-old was silent and reserved for the rest of the night. John would give him simple orders, and Dean would simply nod.
The small family was grieving; they had all suffered such a terrible loss. Even Sammy seemed uncharacteristically withdrawn, as if he understood what had just happened.
That night, John bought out a room with two beds. He figured Sam would share a bed with him, since he knew no motel came equipped with a crib.
Tonight would be a hard one, John knew. But tomorrow would be worse. Tomorrow he knew he and Dean would wake up to find that tonight wasn't a dream. Mary was dead.
And all he had left was finding her killer, and making him pay.
John felt sorry for his sons; he couldn't decide who to feel worse for. Once he knew what was going on, he would let his sons know – and teach them how to protect themselves. Dean would never again know the normalcy of life, and Sam never know it at all.
It was a depressing thought, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made.
But first, they had to get through tonight – John thought to himself as he laid himself down on his springy stinky motel bed, and getting under the covers. Sammy lay close to his side above the covers, kicking his little feet as if trying to kick his way out of his footy pajamas.
John pulled his youngest son close, and made a silent promise to Mary that he would never ever abandon his children as he had before. They were his now, completely, one hundred percent. And nothing would ever change that.
Not even the curse, John thought to himself as he eyed the baby at his side curiously.
Sorry this chapter seems so rushed - and that it's much shorter than the last 2 chapters. But I didn't want to bore you guys with stuff we already know from the Pilot, so I kinda skipped ahead in some places. :\
Chapter 4 should be longer, and full of some other goodies. :)
