Thanks as always to my beta Warr2654
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Chapter Four- Wednesday, June 10th 1998 Butte, Nebraska
Sam was standing in a dirt circle about fifty feet from the front of the cabin. His father had cleared the space when they had first arrived and now Sam knew why. It was early, a little before nine and the air was already getting warm. His dad had picked this spot because of the tall evergreens that grew to the east and west. They would shade the circle for most of the day.
Sam was excited to practice his sparring with his dad. Dean had been teaching him some moves over the last year. They had always wrestled, but before his growth spurt Sam hadn't been strong enough to do much damage. Now that he was putting on muscle he thought he might be able to.
By the end of the first day, Sam was no longer feeling so optimistic.
He was doing horribly. He knew how to throw punches and roundhouse kicks. He could do the takedown maneuvers his father showed him perfectly. The problem came when applying them in actual sparring. When the time came none of the moves worked the way they were supposed to. Either his dad blocked the attack entirely or Sam ended up worse off from the move. Sam spent most of the afternoon just trying to stay off the ground.
By end of the second day Sam decided any pride his dad had in his shooting was overshadowed by disappointment in his fighting skills. He went to bed that night promising himself he would do better.
He had to.
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Friday June 12th
After two days of sparring John had Sam practicing shooting again, if only to assure himself Sam still had one skill. He had overestimated Sam's fighting abilities and he was discouraged. He didn't blame Sam for his lack of skill, John knew it was his job to make sure his sons were prepared for what was out there combined sentences with comma. He tried to look at the bright side. Sam certainly had impressed him in the last week. He was really trying. Even if he wasn't a natural fighter, he kept trying. John wasn't sure what had happened but he was relieved. Sam was amazing with a gun. How had he never noticed.
Probably because Dean had taught Sam behind his back.
John smiled at the thought. He was always giving Dean a hard time about babying Sammy, but he knew Dean wasn't shortsighted. Dean wanted Sam to be prepared just as much as he did.
John walked outside bringing a couple bottles of water with him. He made his way over to where Sam was shooting at targets down the hill. "How's the shoulder?" He asked Sam when he stopped to reload.
Sam's face flushed as he looked down. "It's good." Sam said too quickly.
It was hurting him. John could see it in the way Sam was standing. He was favoring his right arm.
"You've done enough training for the day. Why don't you head inside and ice that. I'll clean up the shells out here." He took the shotgun out of Sam's hand as he spoke, leaving no room for argument.
Sam nodded. He stood there for a moment as if unsure, before turning and walking back up to the cabin. After cleaning up John followed him.
He walked in to find Sam was sitting on the floor in the living room cleaning his guns.
"I thought I told you to ice that shoulder!" John said sharply.
Sam's head jerked up. He wore an expression like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I was just about to."
"Right. Well how about you do that now. It won't do you any good to let injuries go untreated. Even small ones. That's just as important as keeping the gear in order."
Sam nodded. "You're right."
"I always am." John grinned reaching out to rustle Sam's hair. He stopped when Sam flinched slightly.
He frowned pulling his hand back. "You alright Sam?"
Sam flushed, speaking in a rush. "It's just the sparring Dad. It makes me jumpy."
John accepted the explanation. "Alright. Go on and ice your shoulder and take a shower. Then we'll eat. Dean is supposed to call tonight, sometime around then."
Sam smiled at the mention of Dean. He hopped up and hurried to get everything done so he would be ready for the call.
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The phone rang while Sam was cleaning up after dinner. He rushed the drying job on the dishes, putting them into the cabinet damp. His dad always talked to Dean first when he called in case there was an emergency.
Apparently there was no emergency because when Sam walked through the doorway to living room his Dad was talking about his training.
"He's doing alright. He's got the shooting down, but fighting not so much." His dad said with his voice low, not realizing Sam was in the room. "I know. He does fine in practice but when he has to apply it he just shuts down." His dad paused listening to something Dean was saying. Sam feeling dejected, decided now was a good time to let his presence be known.
"How's he doing Dad?" Sam asked lightly, walking into the middle of the room.
His dad turned smiling inconspicuously. "He's good. He wants to talk to you."
His dad held the phone out. Sam grabbed it still happy to get to talk to Dean.
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"Hey Dean. How's the hunt? How's Pastor Jim? When do you think you'll get here?" Sam spoke in a rush.
Dean laughed at hearing Sam's excitement. He missed his cheery attitude whenever they were apart. He was always happy to see Pastor Jim but he was just as excited as Sam to be heading back soon.
"Hey Sammy! Catch your breath!" he chuckled.
"I'm doing great. Jim and I tracked down the son of a bitch. It was vengeful spirit, really powerful one. When it was alive it was a guy named Marcus Wright. Lost his whole family in a flood when a faulty dam failed. He killed himself not long after. He was too angry to pass on. He blamed the contractors for the malfunction. Started killing their families and then making the men commit suicide. We dug up the body, salted and burned his bones."
"That's awesome Dean. It was a vengeful spirit? Not a poltergeist?"
"Yep, just a really pissed off ghost." Dean had been relieved about that. Poltergeists were nasty. Spirits were a lot easier to handle.
"That's great Dean. So when will you be here? Are you heading out tonight?"
Sam was ecstatic. Dean could hear it in his voice. If the hunt was done Sam thought Dean would be coming back immediately. "Whoa whoa, Sammy. Hold your horses." Dean cut in before Sam got his hopes up. "I've gotta drive back to Jim's first and that's over an hour from here. It'll be dark by then. I'm gonna stay the night there. Jim asked me to help with some repairs to the church before I leave, so I might stick around for a couple days. I might head out Sunday, or I might wait until Monday. I'll be there Tuesday night at the latest. Alright?"
"Yeah that's great, that sounds great." Sam's voice was softer than before. He knew Sam was disappointed but was trying not to let Dean know it.
"Hey man, don't be bummed. I'll be back before you know it. Plus Dad says you're doing really well in training. Says you're a natural." Dean remarked trying to cheer Sam up.
"Thanks Dean. Well I better let you go. I have to take a shower before I go to bed and its already late." Dean was a little surprised but figured Sam was just disappointed he wouldn't be home sooner. "Alright, Sam. Take care of yourself. Listen to Dad. What he's teaching you is important. I'll see you soon. Ok?"
"Yeah I will. Bye Dean." Sam hung up.
Dean signaled to Jim that he was ready to start the drive back to Blue Earth. Jim started his truck and pulled onto the highway. Dean followed him, turning AC/DC on as he pulled out. He drove down the dark road, his thoughts on getting the repairs done and heading back to meet up with his family.
He told himself he would get there by Monday.
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I hope you enjoyed the chapter I will have an update for you soon. Reviews are always very much appreciated.
