Thank you again for reading the story so far...

Epilogue

John's POV

7:14 AM

John was sitting at the table in the small kitchenette doing research, looking for any signs or omens to help trace the yellow eyes.

Last night after he returned from his run to the drug store, Dean had woken Sam up just enough to slip two tablets into his mouth which he obediently swallowed with a little water. Dean had bunked on Sam's bed for the night to make sure his fever didn't get any worse through the night, and also John knew it would help Sam sleep better. Rest of the night was uneventful, Sammy had slept like a log, was still sleeping infact. They'd checked him for fever a few minutes ago, he was still a little warm but was doing better than last night so there was nothing to worry about. Nonetheless they'd decided to camp till lunch at the very least to make sure Sam was rested enough before getting on the road again.

Dean was out to get some breakfast. John couldn't really concentrate on the papers in front of him, his eyes and mind kept straying to the bed every few seconds where his kid lay sleeping peacefully. He'll say it again..God, he had missed his youngest! He had tried so hard to protect him, to hold on to him without realizing the harder he tried to hold on, the more he pushed him away.

It never failed to amaze John just how much of himself he saw in Sammy. Dean may have taken to John's persona, but he was like Mary in more ways than one. Dean was loyal and cared for his family with such fierceness that John couldn't help but admire, just like Mary. While Sam was more like John, he was a rebel, fought for independence and control. Dean could and would never abandon his family no matter what while Sam could and had, just like John had abandoned Mary and Dean once, before Sam was even born. Just thinking about it seemed painful now. John suspected that Sam was stronger than Dean, even though physically Dean could easily take on Sam simply because he could anticipate his little brother's every move faster than Sam could move.

Dean biggest weakness, he can never let go of Sam, part of the reason could be that he still saw him as the young kid he'd brought up, not a grown up hunter. Whereas Sam could survive alone, infact he thrived alone, his weakness was power and control. And this is what scared John the most, he knew about the demon's plans for Sam. John had been in denial earlier, he could bet on his life that nothing could turn Sammy. The kid maybe a hunter, a damn good one, but he couldn't hurt a fly as long as, you know, it wasn't a supernatural evil fly! But the history had witnessed far too many good men succumb to their weaknesses. And nothing could exploit a weakness better than a demon. The more he thought about it over the years, the more desperate he got, he had to get to YED before it could get to his son. He didn't drag Dean with him when he took off to go after the demon at the first sign he found that the demon had resurfaced. He couldn't take that chance, even after years of training, when it came down to it, he just couldn't bring his older son in for the death mission. But more importantly, if it all did go south, he didn't what Sam to be left alone and vulnerable. Dean would be his firewall.

Even the thought of it gave John heart palpitations! He knows he will have to eventually tell Dean the truth, but he's afraid what would laying such a burden on him will do to him. In case something happened to John, there has to be someone to keep Sam safe. And if he couldn't keep him safe, then........

John heard Sam shift around in bed, he was waking up. A moment later, he saw him sitting up in bed, a little disoriented, hair sticking up in all directions, reminding John vividly of a much younger Sammy waking up in the morning. Sam rubbed his eyes, looked around the room searching,

"whr's Dean?" he asked in a sleep crusted voice looking across the bed at John.

"And good morning to you too son." replied John, mentally shaking himself out of all the dark thoughts.

And then, Sammy gave his soft shy smile, dipped his chin while scratching the back of his head, "mornin' dad" he mumbled in a little self conscious tone.

And just like that, looking at that dimpled smile, his heart ache.

Could this kid ever......did John really think he could bring himself to tell Dean to.....(sign)

......

finish!

Does it make sense? or did I end it too abruptly?

That's it. My first complete story!

Please read and review...

Hopefully will write another short story in a few day. Its so exciting :)