All disclaimers apply - before I add that Real life has been major crazy and yet again I've not been able to say my personal thanks for all those very supportive reviews. Again this is a slow chapter building up to the whumpage to come! Hope you can stick with it and to let me know your thoughts, which I promise to get back to you about a-sap! Again all stupid mistakes are mine. Rozzy.
Growing Pains
Chapter 3: Truth and Lies
Pastor Jim checked his watch and took another sip of his now lukewarm coffee. John was late and for that he was grateful as it meant that he had stayed back long enough for his son to come home not to an empty house and a scribbled note of explanation.
The scoring beam of a trucks headlights pulling into a parking bay caught his attention and he watched John jump out of his truck heading directly for the diner. Jim felt himself immediately relax on seeing him alone and beckoned over to the waitress, "Two more coffees please."
John entered the diner with nod of silent greeting, sliding into the booth before taking the fresh coffee with a small grin of gratitude.
Jim waited for him to settle before asking, "You get hold of Joshua okay?"
"Yeah he'll head by tomorrow to keep an eye on Sam, not that he really needs it," sighed John adding a little dejectedly, "You should have seen it Jim, the boy could barely contain his delight at getting rid of me for a few days."
Aware of the ill feeling still festering between them Jim added sadly, "Samuel is still very much a child John no matter how tall he gets or how you treat him. I just wish we had been able to get Joshua to get here sooner. Leeson's place is so far away from town."
Ignoring his friend's concerns John shrugged, "You worry too much old man. The house has enough protection carved into its wall and ceilings to keep the devil himself out. Besides despite all his protestations Sam's been raised a Winchester and will do just fine for one night."
Jim with a wry smile confessed, "Suppose I still see that little toddler who would hug his brother near to death if a window rattled at night."
John glared at him in open disbelief and spat out, "Look Jim, I left him in Baudette at your insistence so why all the hand wringing now? Sam is not hunting just like you wanted."
Jim shot him a purposeful look as he responded equally as passionate, "For that Johnny I am grateful. The darkness destroys innocence whatever chance it gets. The child need not be exposed to such evil unnecessarily."
"Bringing him along might have given him the chance to appreciate what we actually do and take on a bit more responsibility," snapped back John getting more and more irritated by having his parenting of his boys questioned so openly, "You know Dean managed just fine at his age."
Jim's blue eyes darkened as he gruffly responded, "You think it has not left it marks on your oldest John, this life you led him into?"
"Don't you dare judge me on how I raised my boys. I did what I thought best and kept them safe," growled John in a warning.
Shaking his head Jim took in a calming breath before adding softly, "All I'm saying you might want to remember that Sam is still only fifteen. Why don't you take him fishing or something when this job is finished? You two stuck on lake waiting for a bite on a line might make it easier for you to talk to each other."
John grimaced at the suggestion, "He had the chance to say something all the way from California and the silence was deafening. Believe me I don't think a little bit of fishing is going to loosen his tongue. The boy has 'stubborn' tattooed on his ass."
"Not unlike some other Winchester I happen to know then."
A flicker of annoyance marked John's face at the suggestion before he dismissed any thoughts of his relationship with his youngest and instead redirected his attention back to the business at hand, "Look lets get back to why I drove over here. You sure this time out that we have this demon cornered? That it won't just slip away like last time?"
Jim knew that Sam was now off topic and sadly shook his head before responding, "As sure as you can be anything involving the likes of this."
John smirked back at his old friend. "Must really piss you off the way it targets its hosts. It might not be safe for you to keep wearing that collar Pastor if you get my drift?"
"The beast seeks to corrupt the righteous."
John shrugged draining the last of his coffee before adding, "I think it just gets its kicks from inhabiting you so-called men of god."
Jim scowled back aware that his friend was yanking his chain, "That may be so but at least now we know what to look for in a crowd of people. The demon is now in Minister Fredericks, a good man by all accounts, using his voice to stir up hatred and sow fear in people easily swayed."
"Yeah got the picture, fanning the flames of discord and all that…" muttered back John darkly. "The bastard really does know how to work an audience if he's caused trouble so quickly."
"Yep. Thank the lord its early days here and we have time to do some damage control. Pity we didn't get a chance to get rid of him in Cedar Creek. Still we've struck lucky as Aubrey knows the local sheriff really well."
John growled out his dislike at the suggestion, "The freaking law Jim? Last thing we need is their involvement."
"Sheriff McCall is different. He knew Aubrey's uncle and even did the odd bit of hunting with him as a teenager. He knows what to expect and believe me is less than happy at having a demon come into his town. Pastor Frederick were, are personal friend I hear."
Soaking in this newest information John slowly nodded, "So we use this Sheriff to get the demon to come to us. You have a locale for that to happen? Or is Aubrey still scouting that out."
"Not exactly. You remember Jeb Murdoch?" asked Jim cryptically.
John's expression soured, "Yeah I know him, not exactly the brightest hunter out there. What's he got to do with things here?"
"Apparently he and his son were given a heads up about this demon and took it upon themselves to get involved. I believe that's why the demon moved on so quickly from Cedar Creek before we could stop it."
John snorted his disgust, "Sounds about right. Jeb has about as much finesse as a fucking bull in a china shop. So he screws things up and we have to sort out the mess. The man is a freaking idiot and a danger to us all. I don't want him involved in this."
"Bit too late for that John. Besides we can use the Murdochs to our own advantage this time around. The demon will not be happy to see them turn up again and take the risk of having his plans spoiled so early on in the game. My reckoning is that he will want to eliminate his problem with the Murdochs as soon as possible."
John shook his head, "Jeb isn't exactly going to go knocking on the front door of the church to announce his presence is he? We all know that this particular demon cannot be taken out of the place it binds itself to."
The pastor glanced at his watch and threw John a playful smile, "If it can be lured away from the church then we have a chance to get it out of Fredericks and send it back to hell."
"You're gonna need a freaking huge decoy." John paused on noting how Jim smile only grew bigger. "Okay you old goat, you know something. Best spit it out before you choke on it."
Jim's grin was even wider before he answered, "You know news gets out pretty fast in a small community like Eagles Falls. We're going to let good old fashioned word of mouth work its magic to get the demon to come to us."
"Gossip?" John shrugged his disbelief. "You're kidding right?"
"Oh believe me this little titbit of gossip will bring the demon out." Jim glanced once more at his watch and smirked, "As we speak Sheriff Adams and his deputies should be picking up Jeb and his boy for illegal firearms possession. They'll be cooling their heals locked up in county for a good few days and during that time I expect the demon will want to pay them a little visit."
John face softened into an appreciative grin, "You know Jim for a man of god you are down right devious at times."
"Just doing the lords work is all." beamed back Jim as he finished his own coffee. "By the time we get to Eagle River the sheriff's office will have been nicely decorated by Aubrey and all we have to do is wait."
o0o0o0o0o0o
As the night closed in and the deep boom of thunder in the distance crept closer the euphoria of having his dad gone for a few days had died down. It was unsettling left alone to wonder why after all these weeks of heavy training his dad had just upped and left him behind instead of taking him on this all important hunt.
For sure if it had been Dean at his age his dad would have taken him along to ride shotgun, but he guessed his dad now had so little faith in him it was just easier for him to be left behind.
'Your not worth a bag of salt you idiot,' he reminded himself sadly as he looked out of the kitchen window into the pitch black of night.
The rain smacked hard on the glass, threatening to turn to hail as the temperature dropped and the winds picked up.
The glass in the frame rattled and a puff of air stole a path under the window frame and through the line of salt on the windowsill. Sucking in a weary breath at the sight Sam knew he would have to check each window and make them draught proof. His dad would tear strips off him if he came back and found the salt lines broken.
He started with his room, ripping up an old sheet and jammed the pieces of cloth it into the edges of the frame before reapplying the salt. He finished up in the kitchen, thankful that the place was more a shack than a house and that he only had a few windows to sort out.
With the job done he vaguely thought about food before a rumble overhead vibrated through the house and a flash broke the darkness outside.
The wooded area out the house was briefly illuminated and Sam flinched at realising just how close the strike had been as a small fire smouldered in the bough of a dead oak a hundred yards down the track before it drowned under the heavy deluge overhead.
The whole place reeked of ozone and he muttered sourly to himself, "Great place to be during a storm, stuck on top of a freaking hill."
Sam looked out of the window and drew three fingers in a line down the condensation that his breath left and saw only inky darkness and waited for the next strike. The thunder rumbled again and he counted the seconds and only got to three before the night was lit up again. He watched the display for the next ten minutes more than a little awed by the power of nature on display before it tapered off to echo in the distance, the storm moving rapidly away.
His stomach rumbled its own discontent and he again was forced to think about food. He chuckled to himself as he noticed the list of chores his dad had pinned to fridge, one of them was to cook, "Yeah, right, like that's gonna happen."
Ducking his head into the fridge his hand automatically went to pick up the near empty carton of milk then paused remembering that he would need it for breakfast. There wasn't much else in the fridge, a carton of orange, a couple of eggs, and a small block of cheese on the turn by the smell of things and a few vegetables on the bottom shelf that had given up the pretence of ever being edible.
Tomorrow he realised he would have to stop at Nancy's uncle store and pick up some groceries on the way home.
His top lip twitched at spying the left over chilli that his dad had made so hot he was sure that his insides had blistered on contact. Picking up the container he dumped its contents in the bin with a grateful grunt, positive that it was just another form of torture his dad had dreamt up to inflict on him.
His stomach gurgled again and a smile lifted his features as he reached up to the top cupboard and he pulled out his secret stash of goodies, a large bag of chips and a Hershey chocolate bar.
The perfect supper, he reasoned, and now all he needed was something to drink. Leaning back into fridge his gazed drifted up to the top shelf to the six pack of beer. With a small shrug he murmured softly as he grabbed a can, "While the cats away…"
Turning on the ancient TV any thoughts of homework or chores were forgotten as he flopped down on the couch. The picture alternated between grainy and snowy but still he could make out enough of the Monty Python classic to laugh out loud. It felt good to have that freedom again, without having censuring looks thrown his way if he did anything more than breathe softly.
As the hour wore on and Sam's long legs dangled over the edge of the sofa his mood lightened. It was if an invisible weight had been lifted of his chest so that he could suddenly breathe easier, the threat of chores and endless training gone with his father's absence.
Sam allowed the luxury of a smile to cross his features at this new act of defiance as he supped the illicit brew. He had come to the conclusion that chocolate and beer were not a good mix but just imaging just how pissed his dad would be if he could see him now seemed to make the bitter brew taste almost sweet.
At some point the long day and the fix of junk food and half a can of beer had left him sleepy and he had drifted off. It wasn't until the shrill tone of the phone ringing broke through his foggy dream state that he woke with a start.
Instantly alert he shot up to a sitting position and the bag of chips fell onto the floor. As he swung his legs over a foot connected with the half full can of beer and it skittered across the floor to spill its contents in a long glug onto the shabby carpet.
"Damn it," growled Sam as he lurched to his feet and danced around the mess and grabbed the phone from the table. Daring a quick glance to his watch he realised that he had been asleep a good few hours as it was now past ten o'clock and his stomach did a little roll fearing it was his dad checking up on him.
As he hurriedly pressed the green button on the phone to accept incoming calls his stomach clenched at the expected tongue lashing from his dad and to his own ears his voice sounded pathetically brittle as he answered, "Hello?"
"Sammy you okay?" came back the concerned voice of his brother down the line.
Letting how a deep exhale of relief Sam grinned and gave a soft laugh, "Yeah Dean, - the one and only."
"Then why the hell didn't you pick up sooner?" Dean had been torn in two at knowing his dad had left Sam behind. Relief that his brother would not be involved in the hunt but also concerned that he was left alone and unprotected till Joshua turned up.
Feeling a little sheepish at worrying his brother Sam sucked in a breath, "Sorry, I sort of fell asleep watching the box."
"Jesus dude, you planning to drive me to an early grave here, I thought…. look never mind just don't do that again."
Sam couldn't keep the amusement from his voice, "Really stop worrying. Not like I haven't done this whole 'Home Alone' thing before."
Dean's voice softened at realising that his little brother really was fine, "Maybe, but with dad gone you've got stay on your toes even if it is just for one night."
Sam yawned and stretched out his long frame. "Yeah. I know."
Hearing the tiredness in his brother's voice Dean asked sharply, "So you locked up, checked the lines, made sure things are secure?
"Yep. Nothing is getting in here tonight," came back Sam before he started to recheck the protection by the front door and the windows just in case.
Dean satisfied that his brother was safe knew that school beckoned tomorrow for Sam and reluctantly went to end the phone call, "So you best get your sorry ass to bed, you've got school tomorrow, and don't forget to…"
"… brush my teeth and wash behind my ears." snorted back Sam a little irritated that even so far away his brother was dictating to him. "Just stop being such a mother hen. Dad seems quite happy to leave me here so what's problem?"
"Yeah well dad doesn't know what a first class idiot you can be at times."
"Jerk," grinned back Sam, now checking the back door to see if he had locked it properly.
"Bitch."
"Whatever."
Dean paused knowing he should hang up but the nagging need to know how things really were going with his brother and dad couldn't be ignored, "So how 's life in Wisconsin? School good?"
"Schools school, what do you want me to say?"
Detecting the bitterness in his brother's voice Dean quickly asked, "You having trouble there?"
"No," answered Sam quickly not wanting Dean to worry about something he had no control over, "It's just another school in a long line of schools. Same crap wherever you go."
Dean took the hint and instead asked, "So any hot chicks you've hooked up with there?" When he got no answer he laughed softly, "The girls really that ugly?"
"Snotty little bitches more likely," snapped back Sam. "I'm steering well clear of all their little games."
"You've got to have some fun some time Sammy. I hear it gets really cold in Wisconsin so cuddling up to some farmer's daughter might keep the frostbite away."
"Fun? You forgetting where I am and who's pulling the strings here?"
"When did you get so freaking cynical?" snapped back Dean.
"Since I realised that I really do not have any control of my life."
There was a long pause before Dean added bitingly, "There's no way of talking to you when you're like this. I'll call another day when hopefully you will have been able to removed your sizeable head out of your own ass."
Sam warned as he went to hang up, "Not if I check caller Id first."
"Don't make me bitch slap you down the phone line dude," growled out Dean in warning. "You better pick up the goddam phone or so help me…"
Sam couldn't hold back a laugh, "Okay, okay! Jeez man you've been around Caleb too long and forgotten what a sense of humour is."
"Ha, ha, very funny."
"I thought so," answered Sam softly missing his brother now so much that it was a physical pain. He wanted to ask when he was coming home but instead side stepped the question by asking about the hunt, "Anyways you anywhere near to finishing off Chuckie yet?"
Dean missed the desperate edge to his little brother's voice and huffed back, "No man like I've told you before Chupacabras are just a stupid modern day myth. Just like Vampires were dreamt up to scare little boys named Sammy in their beds at night."
Ignoring the jibe Sam asked, "So you still think it some sort of Werewolf? Now that is an urban myth. You and Caleb are so far off track here…"
Irritably Dean snapped back, "Listen you little smartass stop second guessing us with this job. We've got it covered, so why don't you just worry about fixing things up with dad why don't you?"
"Like you said I'm smart enough to know that some things can't be fixed," snorted back Sam not liking where his brother was now directing the conversation. "You ever think that I don't want to anyway."
"Real adult Sammy. You know if you poured half of the energy you put into winding him up and instead tried to meeting him half way then things wouldn't be so bad."
Stung by his brother's open rebuke Sam blinked back hot tears, "Yeah everything is always my fault. God forbid the all mighty John Winchester ever gets anything wrong."
Dean for his part was too tired to stop his words from coming out harder than his intent, "Stop being such a drama queen. You really are starting to hold a grudge here dude, you planning to never speak to him again?"
Picking at a hole in the hem of his t-shirt Sam shrugged out his indifference, "Wouldn't matter if I do or not. He never listens to me so what's point of trying to get myself heard anymore?"
Dean sighed knowing that there was an element of truth in what his brother said but still he felt obliged to defend their dad, "He'll listen when you get your head out of your ass and get with the programme. Giving him the silent treatment isn't exactly mature is it?"
His unhappiness spilling out at his brother's harsh tone Sam spat back, "I thought you'd be pleased. You're forever telling me shut up around the man. Don't speak unless spoken to, right? I'm just taking your advice on board is all…"
"Stop using my words against me you little freak. You know something dad is right you really do need to grow up. I'm glad he took you to Wisconsin to sort you out. Maybe it will stop you from being the screw up of this family…"
Dean winced as his words spoken in anger was met with a long silence before the line went dead.
"He didn't just do that?" Dean growled out loud in disbelief before anger hot and prickly washed over him. His little brother had really just cut him off.
He pressed the redial and waited for Sam to pick up not liking that he was too far away from him to smack him around the back of the head.
"Pick up the goddam phone you little bitch," he growled ignoring the questioning look from Caleb. When there was no answer Dean turned to his friend, "The little shit is so going to get it when I get my hands on him next."
It scared him knowing that he was now the second Winchester on his little brothers list he wasn't speaking to. His stubborn brother really was intending to fly solo for the next few days apparently more than willing to cut him out of his life.
Caleb had heard the one sided conversation between the brothers and knew that Dean harsh words were an automatic defence mechanism when it came to his dad. He just never realised that he would use such cruel word on his little brother like that.
Handing over a beer he sat down and said softly, "Give him time too cool down. He won't want to talk to you till then."
"The jackass will have to call me first," muttered back Dean sourly, looking at his phone with a frown. The urge to press redial and tear a strip of his brother was still so strong.
"Your right someone was a jackass here dude," remarked Caleb coldly.
Dean's head snapped up in defence readying to argue but Caleb cut him off, "Don't you see the kid gets it in the neck all day long from your dad and he just needed to vent some of this to his big brother. Instead what he got was a mini version of John Winchester telling him for the thousandth time that he's not good enough."
"It wasn't like that man," snapped back Dean. "I just don't want him and dad going at it anymore."
"Yeah well that's a two way street and your dad isn't the type of man to meet your brother half way is he?"
Caleb studied his friend for a brief second before adding, "Your brother has always hero worshiped. Your words carry weight with him, though God knows why when half the time all that comes out of your mouth is gibberish."
Dean glared back at the older man, "Come on man, the kid is just too sensitive for his own good. Once he gets over his hissy girly fit he'll calm down. He knows I didn't mean it."
Caleb shook his head sadly and offered up his own personal confession, "Dean you're not listening. You think it doesn't hurt to be told that you're useless every day? My dad did it to me, playing me off against my brothers, till I was old enough to walk away and be my own man. You want the same for Sammy?"
On noting how Deans' face visibly paled Caleb got up and went to wait outside to give Dean some privacy, only pausing fleetingly in the doorway to say "The kid has always loved you unconditionally. Funny thing I thought you did the same but judging by the way you spoke to him tonight I see I was wrong. You truly have become your dad's mouthpiece."
As the door slammed shut Dean felt his stomach knot at Caleb's parting words. They were brutal but honest and he was left to wonder just when did he allow his father's voice come out of his mouth? Just when did it become so easy to hurt his baby brother so?
Anxious fingers suddenly pressed the redial, the urgent need to make things right with his brother now a physical palpable need as his chest tightened as his bravado of earlier dissipated to be replaced by raw guilt.
The phone rang but there was no response and Dean begged softly, "Come on kiddo give your brother a chance here to eat crow."
He was forced to press the redial button half a dozen times before his brother picked up, and he anxiously asked, "Sammy?"
There was no answer and Dean wet his dry throat with a gulp of beer. "Look kid I know you're angry with me, my stupid mouth and all. But it's too far away for us to be fighting like this. Come on lets call a truce here."
The silence was still not broken and he asked again, "Sam please. I'm sorry…"
There was a hitched breath down the line before his brother broke his silence, "I'm sorry too." There was a lengthy pause as Sam struggled to keep his emotions under control. "I didn't mean to get you so mad and I don't mean to screw up all the time."
Dean could hear the pain in his brother's voice and felt it vibrate inside himself, knowing that this time out he had caused it. "Oh Sammy that ain't true. I don't know why I said that? Too much sun and a beer too many maybe?"
Unable to disguise the tremor in his voice Sam answered, "You must think it though. Dad does."
"Well he's a jackass at times." Dean heard his brother gasp out in surprise and quickly added, "Though if you ever tell him I said that I will have to seriously hurt you, you hear me?"
Sam's soft giggle down the line eased the tight feeling in his chest and Dean sighed his relief, "Look little brother you know I'm proud of you right despite all that emo crap you pull?"
Sam didn't answer and Dean could only guess at the thoughts going through his head. "Hey I know it must be difficult for you being up there with Dad doing his hard-man marine act on your ass all the time. Just try and suck it up if you can and I'll be back before you know it."
"Okay Dean," whispered back Sam, frightened of saying more as his throat seized up at hearing his brother's much needed support.
"Another week man, that's all its gonna be. You'll be okay till then." It was a prayer that Dean was silently muttering under his breath for his brother.
"Yeah, I won't screw up, I promise."
Hearing the strength returning his brother's voice Dean felt his own confidence returning, "I know you won't Sammy, and maybe this time round dad will see it too."
Sam didn't react to that thought silently not believing that would ever happen and instead whispered out, "You'll ring me again?"
"Yeah Sammy you know I will. Caleb and I will be busy the next few nights getting Mr Skunk Ape sorted out so I'll ring you on Wednesday. Okay?"
Sam laughed happily, "Told you before it's a Chuckie…"
o0o0o0o0o0o
Coach Enders eyed the tall boy with more than a hint of frustration as he loped past the dug out and towards the end zone on a cold dreary Tuesday evening. The kid was a natural athlete, having just done the last twenty laps of the pitch without even breaking a sweat and he could only guess at the untapped potential he possessed.
The boy had speed, agility and judging by the state he'd left three of his best athletes enough power behind him to be of use either in the football team or basketball squad. It just really irked him that none of that was at his ready disposal as the boy couldn't be part of any team until he wore the school kit.
As the boy continued with his final ten laps dusk was descending and the spotlights automatically came on. He didn't pause just kept on running, his face unreadable as he continued his detention KP.
Enders glanced at his watch. By the time he finished up here his wife would be tearing her hair out as the stupid tickets for the 7'0'clock show she had made him get for the local theatre were burning a hole in his pocket.
Martha was going to kill him and he found himself suddenly on his feet and calling out, "Hey Winchester, time to head for the showers."
Sam drew to a halt before the dug out a startled look of surprise on his face, "I have another nine laps coach."
"You can do them tomorrow. Now get your stuff, shower up and get out of here."
Sam winced not relishing the thought of walking the ten miles home another night, "I'd prefer to do them now sir."
"Winchester it's been over two weeks now. Just get your dad to sort out your P.E. kit and we can call this quits." Enders saw something akin to panic in the boy's eyes and frowned, "You know if it's a problem just get your dad to contact the office. There is a hardship fund…."
Appalled at the thought Sam shook his head furiously, "No sir. My dad will get the kit sorted out. Its just that with his new job and all he's been busy."
"You make sure he does that before Thursday or you'll be doing another thirty laps on top of the nine you owe me tonight," warned Enders as they walked back into the locker room.
He watched as his student nodded his shaggy head in understanding and he found himself asking, "You know Winchester we have a few openings in the football and basketball squads. Why don't you try out for a place?"
"No sir. It wouldn't be fair," whispered back Sam, pulling off his damp t-shirt as he grabbed a towel and headed for the showers.
Enders curiosity won over the need for him to get back home and he asked, "Why's that?"
Sam paused and dared look his coach square in the eye, "Because I would be taking the place of a student that would be here for the team all year long. I can't do that."
"You trying to say that you can't be a team player?"
"No sir. It's just that I won't be here long enough to give you that commitment. I've been to eight other schools in the last two years, Lincoln High is just a blip on the page before I move onto number ten."
"Oh," muttered Coach Ender's as he tried to wrap his head around the boy's nomadic existence. "That's a lot of schools kid. Your dad ever think of settling down somewhere nice? Baudette is a good place for a family to set down roots."
Again there was that strange flicker in the boy's eyes that Enders just couldn't read. "No sir. His job is his life. It's his main priority."
Enders watched Sam head off to the shower and suddenly felt weary. The boy was a good kid at heart, he could see that now, his reserved nature a defence from all the upheaval he was continuously being put through.
Perhaps if he had a word with Percy he might be able to find out why he was being dragged around the country never getting a chance to settle. It just didn't sit right with him. He had moved his family to Baudette eight years ago because they had to come first and he wondered what sort of man Sam Winchester's father was to not have his son on the top of his list of priorities.
His phone vibrated in his shirt pocket and he smiled ruefully to himself as his wife's angry voice spat down the line.
"Just where the hell are you? I've got the baby sitter waiting and your still not here. You promised me."
"Hey Martha, I know I promised. I'll be finished up here in five minutes. Just finishing with a detention."
Martha attuned to her husband's moods forgot her frustration at his absence and gently asked, "You okay honey, you sound a little tired."
"Yeah I'm good. Just missing you and my girls. Give them a hug for me honey and I'll be home soon."
Five minutes later Enders watched Sam leave with just a small nod of recognition thrown his way and was left to wonder just what his father's reaction would be on picking him up.
o0o0o0o0o0o
It was another miserable night and Ted Burnett was readying to close up the store and head upstairs to a cooked meal and a bottle of bourbon. It wasn't until the door pinged as the Winchester boy walked in that his thoughts on the meal and the alcohol disappeared.
Sam was drenched from head to toe and Burnett lifted up an eyebrow at his appearance. The boy from California really had yet to get a handle on the change of weather and what to wear it seemed. His lightweight jacket clung to him, as did his long shaggy hair dripping rivulets down his face and back. Most of all the boy looked cold, as his once warm tan had faded and his cheek bones stood out sharp on his pale skin.
"We're just about to close up," huffed out Burnett, "You best make this quick Sam."
"Yes sir, just grabbing a few bits and pieces." Sam ignoring the hard stare coming his way moved fast snatching up the few things he needed and headed over to the counter. He brushed his wet bangs out of his eyes and nodded at the Storekeeper. "Thanks sir. How's Nancy? She wasn't at school today."
His step-niece's left eye had closed shut from his beating the night before and she was sporting a large purpling bruise that no make-up could hide. Burnett squirmed a little before he coughed out, "Women's trouble."
Daring to look up he caught Sam's earnest stare and fought against the unsettling feelings it stirred inside him.
"Tell her I hope she gets better soon," offered up Sam with a hopeful flash of dimples handing over a slightly damp ten dollar note in payment. "Can I have a receipt please sir?"
Burnett felt the pulse in his wrists bang loud as he rang up the items, quickly bagging them before handing back Sam his change with the requested a till receipt, "What you doing out in this weather anyways boy?"
Sam ducked his head aware of the scrutiny he was under not willing to say he had just walked home from school, " Just needed a few things."
"Your dad couldn't drive you down? This weather is enough to make a duck drown…"
"Umh, well he's still at work and you would have closed up by the time he got home," Sam offered up in explanation as he picked up his bag of groceries and went to leave.
Burnett gave a soft snort of disbelief knowing full well the older Winchester's truck had yet to return but held his tongue. The boy had been left alone all night and it looked like it was going to be the same tonight.
As the rain continued to fall heavily he saw his chance and quickly offered, "Well it don't hold with me seeing you standing there half freezing to death. Give me five minutes to lock up and I'll drive you back home."
Sam shook his head more than a little uneasy at the suggestion. He had nothing against the man but Burnett just gave off the strangest vibes at times for him to want to keep a wide berth of him. "No thanks sir. My uncle Joshua is already on his way over. He'll pick me up."
Burnett nodded slowly mastering his annoyance, "Okay boy, give my regards to your daddy and stay safe out there."
"Yes sir. I aim to."
o0o0o0o0o0o
The phone was ringing the moment he came through the door and he dropped his small bag of groceries on to the kitchen workbench hurriedly worrying that his brother was ringing earlier than intended.
As he snatched up the phone he breathlessly asked, "Dean?"
A deep baritone answered, "No Sam. Its Josh."
Sam wasn't able to hide his disappointment, "Oh…."
"Listen kid, I know I promised your dad to be here tonight but I've run into a spot of bother. I don't think I can get to you until Thursday, maybe even Friday."
Sam pushing his wet hair away from his eyes allowed a smile to creep across his face. "Don't sweat it man. Never needed you babysitting me in the first place."
"Not what your daddy thinks boy."
"Like I care what he thinks," snapped back Sam in open defiance, "I'm fine on my own."
"Well I'd like to believe that Sam but as I can't get John on his cell just get him to ring me when he calls in next."
Sam agreed, knowing full well that his dad would be fielding any calls to him via his brother, "Okay."
A voice, soft and decidedly feminine called out and Joshua distractedly added, "See you at the end of the week. You good till then?"
"Just peachy."
"Just give me a ring if you need me before then."
Sam didn't bother to answer guessing easily at Joshua's reason for being held up. He just hoped the woman's husband didn't blow a hole in his head if he got caught out.
A shiver went down his spine and a sneeze escaped, followed by another, as the puddle on the floor by his feet grew.
Hastily he stripped off his sodden jacket and jeans and draped them over a couple of chairs and left them to dry out in the kitchen. With the wood-burning oven blasting out heat from its open doors he hoped they would be wearable by tomorrow morning.
With his toes squishing inside his sodden sneakers he knew that they too needed drying out. Pushing them off his cold feet he placed the tatty footwear upside down on top of the cooker's hob hoping that they too would be dry by morning. It didn't matter if they weren't as they were the only pair of shoes that fitted him so dry or not he would be wearing them tomorrow.
With Joshua now a no-show he realised that his escape routes with Coach Enders and the threat of a second dentition and another long walk home had been whittled down to one. He pulled out the small tin his dad had left the emergency money in and counted out thirty dollars.
It was just about enough to pay for a second hand kit in the school shop he hoped, all the while knowing that no way in hell would his dad appreciate a call from Vice Principal Starling to discuss the school's Hardship fund for needy pupils.
He was deemed too fucking needy by his dad at the best of times so no need to advertise that to the man if he could solve the problem his end.
Mind made up he started to put away his small bag of groceries, thankful that he had milk for the next few days and enough bread for sandwiches for his packed lunch.
It wasn't until he pulled the eggs out of the damp bag that he noticed the Twinkies bar at the bottom of the bag and was left wondering just how Nancy had snuck that in under the nose of her uncle.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Burnett eyes burnt with the need for sleep as he watched the turning into the old Leeson's place inside his truck. So far neither the boy's dad or so called uncle had turned up. It was gone past midnight and the boy with the pretty eyes and dimples was still all on his own. Again.
Turning his engine on he pulled out of the thicket and headed back for home, for that bottle of bourbon, and for a good night sleep. The next few days was just a waiting game he knew as the boy's dad was too scary a man to rush things rashly here.
As for this imaginary uncle Joshua he was not happy that the boy could lie so easily to him about him. Just like Nancy he needed to be taught the lesson that lying to his elders was just plum wrong.
TBC
Next chapter up the actions starts up with Sam's 'Home Alone' status biting hard. Dean and his Florida hunt goes pears-shaped and John Winchester gets a bit of a thumping!
