"Did you see his eyes," Jo groaned chewing on the tip of her pen lid with her eyes staring into space clearly her homework had been forgotten meaning she was now distracting Sam. "And those muscles," she whistled. "He must work out." She continued drool practically running out of the corner of her mouth to which Sam wrinkled his nose up in disgust to. "What do you think?" she turned her attention back to Sam who was doing his best to ignore her though it was hard to concentrate when she would not stop talking. "Sam…Sammy!"
"Don't call me Sammy," Sam automatically bit out sighing and throwing his pen down on the table knowing that he would not get a chance to focus when she was hung up on the eighteen year old. Not that he could blame her, he himself had been thinking about Dean ever since that afternoon. He was just not as vocal as his twin is. "Sammy is a chubby twelve year old."
"Naww, you will always be our Sammy," Jo pouted reaching out to pinch his cheeks though he batted her hand away. "So what do you think of him?"
"Don't call me that," Sam bit out again annoyed that she continued to ignore him no matter what he said. "Who?" he added feigning ignorance like he had not just been listening to her rattle on for the past god knows how long. He loved his twin and yes they did have a bond like no other but that didn't mean he didn't have times when all he wanted to do was to strangle her. The usual brother sister, well any sibling relationship. "I don't know what you are talking about," he replied reaching for his pen once more and attempting to complete his homework that needed to be done for the next morning. He would get into so much trouble if it was late once again. The last time Stephen had decided that his homework would make better paper hats.
"Dean of course…wait…are you avoiding the question…" she mocked her eyes flashing at him with her mischievous intent. Pulling his paper up to his face he buried his nose in his work blocking his twin out though this did not stop her from continuing to run her mouth. The numbers starting to blur but he continued to stare trying to will himself into growing superpowers and turning invisible. "I can still see you, it was cute when we were five," Jo's voice still continued to grate inside of his head. Gritting his teeth he lowered his homework, gathered his pen before pushing himself to his feet. "Oh come on Sam I'm just teasing…"
Sam scoffed shaking his head picking up the rest of his stuff. He stuffed the paper in the bag not caring that it was most likely going to get crumpled or ripped, it was no good he wasn't going to be able to complete it tonight as it was. Not when Jo refused to leave him alone, or that his mind wouldn't stop thinking about Dean Smith. His cheeks heated up just at the thought of the elder teenager and he prayed that it was not visible, he did not need to give her some ammunition. Shaking his head he kicked his backpack under his bed before pushing himself to his full height.
"Where are you going?" Jo huffed pushing her own homework off of her side of the room probably never to be seen again knowing her. "I was just joking…do you...?"
"Shut up," Sam hissed barging his way out of the door ignoring her calls. He didn't want to get into it with her…ever…not when he himself didn't understand what he was feeling. Not completely. Never in his life had he looked at another male, he was confused at what that could mean and at the moment all he wanted to do was bury his head in the sand and hope that he would make it through the next few weeks of Dean's student teaching rotation.
He huffed shaking his head at the sound of his twin's voice continuing to call after him. He made his way down the hallway pushing the large wooden double doors that lead into the living area open. He jumped at the huge form that was apparently blocking his entrance. Ok huge might have been an overstatement but the man in front of him was alike any he had ever seen before. Steely brown eyes peered down at him, they were full of mistrust and annoyance like he wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment in time. His hair was black with white streaks littered through it and he had a thick beard covering up the tight line of his mouth. His chest was broad with muscles apparently hiding underneath his dark jacket. There was something familiar about him though the teenager was sure that he had never seen him before in his life. He might have been a patron of the bar but the Roadhouse was situated out in the middle of nowhere that there were rarely any new faces to be seen or ones that ever came back that was.
"Sorry," he mumbled squeezing past the small space the man had cleared for him. Feeling his cheeks flush red he peered up at his father who was smiling warmly down at him.
"Sam," Bill greeted him ruffling his hair as he came to a stop beside him.
"Dad," Sam replied his eyes cautiously staring up at the other man trying to get some kind of read off of him. He had always prided himself to be a good judge of character but this man…he was holding his cards close to his chest. He seemed to be a man of secrecy, a secret that Sam did not want to discover. "I didn't hear you get back," he added tearing his eyes away from the stranger though he kept him in his periphery.
"We just got in," Bill smiled down at Sam though he could tell it was forced.
"We?" he questioned.
"How about you go and see if your mother wants a hand," Bill interrupted him quickly pressing a hand to the small of Sam's back and effectively pushing him out of the door. "I'll come see you in a minute," he smiled down at the teenager before shutting the door in Sam's face leaving him bewildered and confused at the same time. What the hell was that? His father's job had always been a mystery to him but he guessed it was because he didn't have just one job role. He always seemed to be running odd jobs for various people, sometimes it was plumbing other times it was carpentry and that was just a few examples he had been given throughout his life. Not once had he brought someone back with him be it work colleague or client…what was going on?
Frowning he tilted his head towards the bar where he could see his mother's back as she cleaned out whiskey tumblers ready for the night shift. Satisfied that she was distracted he slowly pressed his body against the door, careful not to make any sudden movement or noises that could attract any attention. He pushed his hair behind his ear and grabbed the door handle. Biting his lip he forced the door to open a crack so that he could hear his father's voice filter through.
"Are you sure?" he could hear his father say the worry evident in his voice.
"Trust me," the other man had a deep gruff voice that vibrated through Sam's body causing chills to run down his spine.
"But he's just a boy…"
"No he's not," the man growled his tone becoming almost feral.
"No you're right," his father sighed. "He never was."
"And the way you are raising your children is better?" the man hissed his voice becoming dangerous.
"They are getting a childhood…"
"They are weak, they are vulnerable."
"At least they don't go to bed with a gun under their pillow or wake up not knowing if the day will be their last. The twins have a life John and I will not change that no matter what you say. I will not let them go down the same path…"
"Then you will have to be prepared to bury them," the man scoffed. "An unprepared hunter is a dead one."
…
"SAMUEL!" the screeching call of his name had him jumping out of his skin. He allowed the door to slip from his hands causing the two men's focus to fall on him. The John guy looked smug while his father looked like a deer that had been caught in the headlights. Guilt flushed through him and he attempted to stifle his bubbling panic that was threatening to overwhelm him. Turning on his heels he plastered on his best fake smile as he came face to face with his mother. "What do you think you are doing?" she questioned crossing her arms to her chest and raising her eyebrows at him. Her whole façade was screaming out anger although he could tell that she was also panicking. What was going on with everyone?
"Nothing," he replied.
"Sure looks like nothing," she scoffed unfolding her arms and grabbing hold of the nearest tea towel. "Start cleaning," she threw it at him as she firmly closed the door that he had been peering through blocking the men from their sight.
Sam sighed making his way towards the bar he sat down on the nearest stool, grabbing the towel he started to clean a random glass though his mind was not focused on the task at hand. He had no idea what was going on and he was sure as hell going to find out. What did they mean they were vulnerable? From who? Hunters? What did they hunt? And what did he mean his father would have to bury them? He might not have known much at that moment but he did know that he didn't like that John…not one single bit.
…
"Mum's pissed off," Jo commented throwing the towel on the bar top. It had been busy in the roadhouse that evening meaning that they both had to chip in to help out their mother. Their father had been too busy with that John doing who knew what. Sam's eyes had been drawn to that closed door the whole night too distracted to deal with their usual drunks and those who liked to tell him the same story over and over again like he had not heard it a million times before. "What did you do?"
"Nothing," Sam replied continuing to stare at the door like he would magically be able to hear everything that was going on.
"What is wrong with you?" Jo questioned peering at the door like she was trying to work out what he was seeing.
"Something's going on," he replied never able to keep much from his twin. It was true what they say, they really are like one person sometimes. "I want to know what."
"You know Dad likes to keep his work private," Jo hissed.
"Do you ever wonder why?"
"No."
"Oh come on."
"Ok yes but he has his reasons."
"What reasons?"
Jo opened her mouth like she was going to come up with some kind of clever remark or smart reasoning though no words escaped her lips. It appeared that even she who had a damned answer for everything was lost for words. "I don't know," she admitted. "He would tell us if it was important."
"Really," Sam scoffed. "He disappears for days at a time without so much as a goodbye and we are expected to just understand…" he trailed off his eyes narrowing towards the door. There was more than one way to find out what was going on. He threw his rubber gloves and disinfectant onto the nearest table before striding out of the room. Jo hot on his heels.
"Sam where are you going?" Jo whispered as they passed the door to the living room to walk down the corridor towards the back door.
"To get some answers." He replied unlocking the patio door and striding out into the night. He peered at the window that was concealed by a thick curtain. Coming to a stop he lifted his arms up to the nearest tree and pulled himself up onto the branch. Settling himself down he pulled off one of the branches smaller arms along with the leaves. Sticking his tongue out in concentration he leaned forward on the branch holding the stick in his hand. He prodded at the outside latch on the top window, grasping it with the end of the stick he pulled slowly feeling the lock move. Smirking he managed to lift the latch off with the window naturally falling open on its own accord. A trick Jo and he had mastered years ago when they were trying to find out what their parents had gotten them for Christmas. Ellen and Bill had always been surprised every year when the twins had managed to predict ninety percent of the wrapped packages.
He could hear their voices filter through the night though he had to shuffle towards the end of the branch in order to make out any full sentences about what was being said. Jo had joined him by this point she too seemed interested to know exactly what was going on.
"…you can't seriously think that this is a good idea…" their mother's voice called out clearly angry.
"You have a better one?" John seemed to reply.
"Ellen…" their father called out.
"No don't Ellen me…"
"He will prove himself," John interrupted.
"Jesus John this is not about him proving himself…he's a kid for fuck sake," Ellen added.
"He's eighteen."
"So…"
"Ellen honey."
"No Bill you cannot be ok with this?"
"It doesn't matter he is in place," John replied.
"You're a heartless bastard," Ellen hissed.
"It makes me heartless to teach my boy how to defend himself how to make a difference…"
"You took his childhood away from him," Ellen interrupted this time.
"No the son of a bitch who killed Mary done that," John replied.
"Look Ellen this is the best plan that we have…"
"I'm not alright with this, your boy best be as good as you say he is…"
"He is."
"Fine but after this I want you gone."
The sound of mumbling occurred after that with the noise of movement. Sam stayed where he was concealed with Jo holding onto his arm. They both sat there clearly unable to comprehend anything of what had just been said. He was about to move when the back doors opened, John stepped out grumbling to himself he delved into his coat pocket to retrieve his portable phone. Continuing to mumble he punched in some numbers, holding this up to his ear he waited for the person on the other end to answer.
"It's me," he coughed out a short reply. "We are on….yes…Bill and I will be in place…Yes all goes to plan you won't have to do anything…No buts…No I don't want you on the front line for this…No…You are on protection duty…Bobby will be back up…we will call you in if you are needed…Good…Stay safe…you too Dean…" John hung up the phone and placed it back in his pocket. He inhaled deeply before making his way back into the building slamming the door shut behind him.
Sam's mouth fell open…Dean…that had to be a coincidence…right?
TBC (Thank you for reading and those who review, hope you are enjoying and let me know what you think. Thanks again and see you all in chapter four!)
