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Sorry for the delay, being having major computer problems. Computers are wonderful things when there working but a complete nightmare when there not.
THE LONG HOT SUMMER OF 95
Virginia, Summer of 95
Chapter Four
It promised to be the start of another scouring hot day, and as John Winchester climbed into the impala he was feeling slightly guilty for making his boys stay indoors especially when all the other kids would be outside. It was one of the reasons why he was going so early before Sam was awake; he didn't want another one of their increasing argument. Whining down the driver's side window he called out "you know the drill Dean"
Dean placed his hand on roof of the shiny black beast, leaning down through the window he reassured him "I know dad, we'll be fine, don't worry"
This time for John, not worrying was a lot harder for him to do, knowing the caller was out there somewhere "I'm not that far away so if you need me" he shouted over the sound of the engine as he started it up "and don't let anyone in and don't talk to any strangers"
"Yeah dad, I know" Dean sighed, impatiently crossing his arms over his chest "will you go already"
"Ok...ok I'm gone" John released the handbrake before backing the impala out of the parking lot.
Dean shook his head, he was sure the old man was going soft but it felt good that he cared. After watching the impala disappear down the road Dean turned and headed back inside to find that Sam awake "Morning sleepy head"
Still half asleep Sam looked around the small room "dad gone" he asked
"Yeah, just now, you want some breakfast?" Dean opened the kitchen cupboard door to find there were a half a box of cereal left and an open jar of jam. The fridge wasn't much better, there was just enough milk for breakfast and that was it. The old man had never had been big on shopping and thankfully it had given him a good excuse to go out.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Sam asked climbing out of bed
Finding two bowls Dean put them on the table along with the milk and cereal "dad thought it was for the best"
Sam made his way to the table for breakfast "Why?"
"You know why?" he was getting tired of listening to their arguments "Why is it you've always got to start an argument with him?"
"I don't mean too but it's the way he treats us, he never tells us anything and then he takes off for days at a time, you know how many times he's missed our birthdays or Christmas, five times Dean, five times"
Dean shovelled a large spoonful of cereal into his mouth "I know but can you a least try not to argue with him?"
Seeing the contains of his brother's open mouth spinning round as he spoke disgusted Sam "you're so gross you know that don't you"
Dean stuck his cereal covered tongue out to annoy Sam further
"I sometimes wonder if you really are my brother" Sam jived. Taking a mouth of cereal Sam noticed that instead of finishing his cereal Dean stood up and emptied it into the trash can "How long dad's going to be away for?"
"A few days, you want anything from the shops?" Dean asked as he carried his empty bowl to the sink
"You're going out?" Sam thought they were on lockdown
"We need food Sammy" and he needed to go somewhere, yesterday as they drove towards the motel he had seen an old jalopy; it would do for where he had to go.
"I'll come with you" Sam replied, it was better than being cooped up
"No you can't"
"Why not"
Dean had to think quickly "I'm going to see Hannah, alright happy now?"
Sam let out an unbelievable "wow" this was a first for Dean "you like her don't you" Sam climbed follow Dean to the kitchen "Dean's got a girlfriend"
"So what if I do?" he like her but that was it
Sam still couldn't believe it "It just you with a proper girlfriend"
"It' no big deal Sam"
"Oh yeah"
XXXX
Michael Sheridan rang at 8.45 just as he said he would. "Isn't it a fine morning Johnny boy, doesn't it make you feel great to be alive and because I'm in such a good mood I'm going to give you a chance to save the boy" a slim one at that, one that would give John Winchester hope and then for it to be squashed like a bug "I've buried him on holy ground in an unmarked grave but you better hurry he as" there was a pause as Michael Sheridan checked his watch "about 3 hours of air left"
John needed more "Where goddamn it; you have to give us more?"
"This is my game and time is ticking Johnny boy so I wouldn't waste it, if I was you" as Michael Sheridan spoke he glanced across at the graveyard and freshly made unmarked grave, he wished he could be here to see John Winchester's face when he found the dead boy's body. He held on to thought like he had done for the last five years but his time would come, he would see the look of total despair in John Winchester's eyes as his dead son lay in his arms, then and only then will John's Winchester finally understood that his son had to die, now that would be his final reward.
John knew the caller was going to hang up "hang on, wait a minute" but it was too late the line when dead
Agent Lawson was already on her phone "I want a list of all the graveyards in the area, ASAP... I don't care how busy you are." she ended her call slipping her cell phone back into her handbag.
"There as to be a more than a dozen graveyards around here, how we going to know which one?" Bob felt it was impossible task, he wished he could go with them but he was tied to the damn radio show.
"We don't, this is his game" John replied as he tried to squeeze out the tension in his neck muscles with his fingers
XXXX
In his underground tomb Andrew Miller awoke to a splitting headache and something pressing around his mouth and nose, all he saw as his eyes adjusted to his surrounding was pitch blackness. Panicked he screamed out "dad, dad" he had always hated the dark and his father knew it. Feeling around he found the sides then the top of the coffin, soft velvet fabric no silk. Realising where he was he franticly he started banging on the coffin lid with his fists, it was then that he realised he had been buried alive.
"No... No..." he had to get out, this can't be happening, why would his dad do this to him? He started banging more and more.
"Dad, please" he pleaded, what had he done to deserve this, hot tears started to run down his face, leaving streaks "you bastard" with every ounce of strength he started to pound on the coffin lid until his fists started to bleed, no one was coming because no one could hear him, and he was using too much oxygen he needed to calm down and reserve what he had left. Someone out there had to be missing him, he's mum for starters.
They were on their third graveyard and after two and half hours John was covered in sweat and his lungs were aching, his body tired, adrenaline was the only thing that was keeping him going and the need to find the Andrew Miller alive. The sun was at its highest, beaming rays of warmth down over the small graveyard at the edge of a crossroads of a small town. John ignored the old gravestones as he ran between them, they weren't what he was looking for; he needed an unmarked freshly dug grave. Picking up speed he bellowed across "check the far side" to Agent Lawson who was coming up on his right side.
Agent Lawson waved her acknowledgement back in John Winchester's direction, graveyards had always creped her out and the last two had taught her one thing, this was John Winchester's domain. It was worrying how at ease he seemed to be at digging up graves.
Turning his attention back to his own side John headed down the path between two rows of gravestones, at the end he turned and stopped not sure where to look next when his eyes fell on a newly filled in grave. "Agent Lawson over here" before the words was out of his mouth his was at the grave side furious digging at the mound of freshly laid soil.
The thin cotton shirt was glued to his back with sweat by the time John's shovel finally hit the coffin lid, throwing the shovel aside he cleared the rest of the soil off before he lifted the lid to find Andrew Miller's lifeless body, an oxygen mask covered his pale face; at the side of his body was a small oxygen tank. He wasted no time in climbing in; placing his feet at each side of Andrew's body he lifted the boy out of the grave and onto the grave side.
Hearing John Winchester shout out Agent Lawson ran towards him, arriving to see him franticly digging at an unmarked grave. It was a wonder he had any strength left after digging up two other graves before this one. Knowing this was their last hope she threw herself onto her knees and joined in. She couldn't give up even when John Winchester lifted Andrew's still body onto the grave side, immediately she was searching for a pulse "I can't find a pulse"
John's marine training kicked in, instantly starting CPR "Come on kid give me something here" he pleaded as he pushed down on the boy's chest with both hands as Agent Lawson tilted Andrew's head back and started to breathe into his mouth. As minutes past and no signs of life from the youth's body she stopped. Lifting her head, her eyes locked with John Winchesters, what she saw surprised her, there was desperation and disappear. She but her hands on John's to stop him, "John he's gone"
It was the first time she had called him John, stopping he leaned back on his heels, starring down at the youth, he'd failed, the bastard had won,
Agent Lawson made the call "Call off the search we've found him...no he's dead"
xxxx
Pulling up in the old jalopy Dean starred up at the old abandoned train building before climbing out. He felt nervous just walking inside, making his way across the dirty stone floor he stopped half way uncertain of whether he was doing the right thing by coming here. He wanted to stand up to him, face his fears but suddenly standing there his courage had suddenly gone, he turned to go "What the hell are you doing here"
Dean turned to see Michael Sheridan standing on the stairs "I had to see you"
"You idiot, what if someone saw you coming in here?" Michael Sheridan ran down the rest of the stairs, passing Dean to look out of the broken window to see the old jalopy sat outside.
"No one saw me" why would anyone be following him he thought
"Well, why are you here"
Nervously Dean moved away from Michael Sheridan, his thoughts were a jumbled mess; he had been having his doubts it was harder than he thought, he didn't like lying or having secrets, they were draining him, not just physically but mentally as well. Turning he looked at the man he feared "I don't think I can go through with this, it's..."
Michael Sheridan moved as fast as a tiger grabbing hold of the sixteen year old and spinning him hard against the wall. "Well you'd better get your head straight kid, because your apart of this whether you like it or not" five years of waiting and finally his plan was in motion.
Dean felt pain as his back was slammed up against the wall, for a minute it took his breath away, held there he could feel Sheridan's hot breath on his face "You want to be orphan kid cause I'll will do" Sheridan had learnt to play on people fears, manipulating them to get what he wanted
"No" Dean breathed out
"Then do as I ask and this will soon be over" Michael Sheridan realised him from the wall "now get the hell out of here"
Dean took off he didn't look back until he was safely outside in car.
Michael Sheridan turned his see James standing at the bottom of the stairs "you think he's up to it?" he asked his brother
"He cares about his family, he'll do as he's told" James answered
Michael Sheridan thought for a moment, he had a growing suspicion that he didn't want to voice, not yet not until he knew for sure "Let's see how much he cares, load the van up"
TBC