SPN-AN APPLE PIE LIFE, CHAPTER 4

Mom and Gabe watched Ben at baseball practice from the stands. His game had been off all afternoon. He just couldn't concentrate; he had a nagging feeling that something was watching him. After practice Mom offered to take him for burgers but Ben just wanted to go home. When they got home no one was there. Bobby had left a note that he and Rufus were on their way to Oklahoma to follow up on a lead.

Ben was furious; he wanted to call Grandpa and tell him to get his ass back home. But he decided to wait until he could call in private, he didn't want Mom to start worrying. After dinner Ben claimed he had homework and headed up to his room. He grabbed Mom's cell on the way up and climbed out onto the roof. Grandpa's phone went straight to voice mail; Ben left a message short and to the point, "Get your asses back here now!" Ben considered calling Dad but decided against it. Dad needed to stay focused, not worry about them.

After Mom had gone to bed Ben got his shotgun (it was the first sawed off his dad had made and it meant a lot to Ben that he trusted Ben with it). First he locked and salted all the windows and doors in the house. Then he made a perimeter search around the house and nearby outbuildings. When he was satisfied the area was clear he widened his patrol through the auto yard. It took Ben several hours but he didn't find anything. He still had that watched feeling so he set up at the foot of the stairs and waited for morning.

Lisa found Ben in the recliner at the bottom of the stairs with Dean's old sawed off across his lap drinking coffee. Lisa sat on a step eye level with Ben. "What is it?"

"Don't know. I just have this feeling something is watching us."

Calmly Lisa said, "I'll call Bobby."

"Already did, I left a message but I haven't heard back from him." Ben replied

"Then we'll call Cas"

"Left a message for him too," Ben said with a heavy sigh.

Lisa brushed Ben's hair back and cupped his chin with her hand. Then she stood and headed back up the stairs. "I'll need your help moving Gabe's stuff into the panic room."

"Yes maim." It didn't take them long to get the crib, changing table and other baby stuff down to the basement.

Once Gabe was settled in the panic room Lisa took the receiver from the baby monitor and went up to the kitchen. "I'll have some food ready when you get back."

Ben nodded as he left through the back door. His patrol around the house was slow and meticulous. He didn't want to miss anything. As he started to widen his patrol Mom came out with a sandwich and a Coke. Ben downed both quickly, and with a mumbled thanks headed out to the main auto yard. It was afternoon before Ben returned. He had walked the entire yard climbing over and crawling under stacked cars. He was dirty, exhausted and completely frustrated. Ben had found nothing but he knew there was something watching them. Lisa insisted Ben get some sleep in the panic room. She promised she would wake Ben if there was any trouble.

Lisa spent the day watching from the windows. And occasionally walking around the outside of the house but she didn't go far. She wanted to be close to the boys.

Ben woke just before nightfall. He felt groggy and disoriented at first. But when he realized he was in the panic room everything came flooding back. Mom was there rocking Gabe and talking on the phone. When he realized she was talking to Dad he started making motions at her not to tell Dad what was going on. Lisa smiled and nodded. Ben slumped back on the cot, relieved his mom understood.

"Sorry honey but Ben hasn't been feeling very well today. He's upstairs asleep right now. No, no nothing serious. Just a bug. I'm going to keep him home again tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be fine by Monday." Mom winked at Ben and continued talking to Dad. Ben leaned down and kissed his mom before grabbing his sawed off and heading upstairs.

After a quick shower Ben made some coffee. It was going to be another long night. Mom and Gabe joined Ben in the kitchen. She fixed him a plate of food and checked the windows and doors while he ate.

It was dark in the garage where the family kept the Impala and Bobby's van. Both vehicles were gone. Sam was pacing, taking long angry strides up and down the length of the garage. How could Dean be such an idiot and leave Lisa and his sons alone like this?

Sam was just grateful he had made a stop to check on the family before heading to Louisiana. He was just leaving before sunrise when he saw Dean and Cas packing the Impala for a hunt. Sam put his hunt on hold so that he could stay and watch out for the family. When Bobby and Rufus left he almost stopped them. But he wasn't ready for them to know he was back.

Sam had been coming by every few months to watch Dean live his apple pie life. He could see how happy Dean was. Sam smiled just to see Dean and Ben having a catch in the front yard. He had even gone to a couple of Ben's games. He stayed in the trees and watched with binoculars, but he enjoyed the games. Sam was happy that Dean was doing everything he could to give his boys the childhood he and Dean never had. Sam was relieved Dean was keeping his promise to Sam. That was until now.

Sam heard the back screen door close quietly. He looked out the window of the garage and saw Ben starting another patrol. Sam was impressed with Ben. He was stepping up to protect his family and he was pretty good at tracking. Sam had to really keep on his toes as he moved ahead of Ben to ensure the path was clear of danger and still hide his own tracks. Ben had varied his patrols each time so Sam had to wait and see which way he was going tonight before he could take up his position in front of Ben.

When Ben reached his dad's workshop he climbed onto the workbench; he grabbed some sort of engine part and threw it into the darkness as hard as he could. "Damn it, I know you're out there. Who are you? What do you want?" The frustration and anger in his young voice tore at Sam. He had made the choice to stay away from the family to protect them from the pain and hurt he would eventually cause them. Ben could feel they were being watched which and it was Sam doing the watching. Sam was undoing all the good work Dean had done for his sons.

Ben wiped the tears of frustration off his checks and jumped down from the bench. He squared his shoulders and headed off to continue his patrol. That did it for Sam, he was going to let Lisa and Ben know he was there protecting them. That it was him Ben felt watching them.

Sam was smiling. He moved ahead of Ben but he didn't bother to hide his tracks. Ben deserved to be the one to track Sam down. It would be a real triumph for Ben when he found Sam. Sam was right, Ben was a good tracker. He found Sam's trail twenty minutes later.

"Yes!" hissed Ben. "I got you now you son of a bitch."

Sam took a round about route back to the garage. He thought he'd give Ben a chance to do some real tracking. But he hadn't expected Ben to move so fast. Ben knew the yard well and he almost cut Sam off a couple of times. By the time Sam made it to the garage he out of breath and laughing with pride. Ben was so much like Dean and John. One day he would have made a great hunter, but that would be over Sam's dead body.

As Sam entered the garage the lights came on and there was a sawed off shotgun aimed at his belly. "Who are you and want do you want with us?" Ben's voice was hard and steady. Sam didn't detect any fear at all, just anger. Ben was one seriously pissed off Winchester. Sam knew he would have to go slow, he was pretty sure Ben would shoot first and get his answers later.

"Easy Ben," Sam said as he slowly raised his arms hands open to show Ben he was unarmed.

"Slide your weapons over to me." Sam shrugged as if to say he didn't know what Ben was talking about. "I'm not stupid. The pistol in the back of your belt. And the one on your left ankle. And I'm sure you've got a couple of knives so slide those over too."

Sam couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He was so damn proud of Ben. He had nailed just about every weapon Sam had on him. Sam slowly removed both pistols and a couple of knives. He placed them on the ground and gently slid them over to Ben one at a time.

"Not bad Ben. You almost got me a couple of times out there. How'd you know about the ankle?"

"Your left boot print was slightly deeper than your right one"

"Awesome! Dean has really trained you well."

Ben carefully knelt beside Sam's weapons. He pocketed them in his jacket pockets. As Ben stood he said, "Okay, chit chat is over. Answer my question. Who are you and what do you want?"

"I'm Sam Winchester. I'm your uncle."

"Liar! My Uncle Sam is dead. "

"Well I was for a while but now I'm back. Your dad must have told you that we Winchesters don't stay dead for very long."

"He heard a rumor that Sam might be back. He's hunting him right now. Now, what do you want?"

"I'm here to protect you until my idiot brother gets back."

"Careful, that's my dad you're talking about."

"So, you do believe me. Wait, what do mean 'hunting me'?"

"Dad isn't so sure you are Sam and if you are he's not sure you're the same brother he lost in Kansas."

"So, he thinks I'm a danger to Lisa and you boys. Great, he just rushes off and leaves you all alone. I'm going to kick his ass for leaving you so vulnerable."

"Grandpa and Uncle Rufus were supposed to be here but they left to follow up on a lead."

"Bad move Ben. Don't ever volunteer information like that. You never let on you don't have back up."

Ben tightened his grip on the sawed off and took a step forward.

"Damn kid even if I didn't know you're a Winchester I'd guess it just from your willingness to get yourself killed to protect your mom and brother. Now, let's go inside and talk with your mom."

"No way I'm letting you anywhere near her. You can go as far as the fence and Mom will talk to you from the porch." Ben motioned with his sawed off for Sam to leave the garage. He kept his weapon on Sam as he moved around him. Sam stopped at the fence while Ben went through the gate and onto the porch all the while keeping Sam in his sights.

"Mom! Hey Mom! Come outside. There's someone here who says he knows you."

Lisa walked out the front door holding a shotgun.

"Who is it?" she asked trying to see the face of the tall man by the fence. The security light was behind him so she couldn't see him very well. Sam was concerned that she didn't know better than to let the light shine in her eyes, but Ben obviously did. He was standing slightly at an angle so the light wasn't in his eyes.

"Hey Lisa it's me Sam. You look great. Congrats on the new baby."

Lisa lowered the shotgun and shaded her eyes in order to get a better look at the stranger. "Sam is that really you? Dean's out looking for you. He's in"

"Mom!" Ben shouted. Sam nodded, Ben learned quickly. Don't tell possible enemies that help is far away.

"Ben's right Lisa. Right now I don't need to know where Dean is. I'm here to make sure you and your boys are safe. I'll leave as soon as Bobby and Rufus get back. That is after I kick their asses for leaving you alone."

Lisa smiled and went down the steps heading toward Sam. Ben quickly stepped in front of her with his weapon still aimed at Sam. "Mom maybe it would be a good idea if we kept some distance from him, at least until we are sure he is who he says he is."

"Ben's right. I'll stay in the garage. That's where I usually stay when I'm here. Ben don't bother with any more patrols tonight. I'm the one who was watching you. I'll talk to you both in the morning." Sam turned and headed back to the garage.