John stood and headed back to his truck. Bobby followed closely behind. He knew that tonight was going to be hard on his friend and he had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be any easier on him.
The final bell of the day rang and Dean for one couldn't have been happier. The day had been horrible. He hadn't even had a chance to sit down in his homeroom class before finding himself the new target of the school bully. It didn't take him long to show the kid he was messing with someone way out of his league, but the lesson earned him his first detention.
His stomach had taken to growling with hunger before the clock had a chance to read nine; its way of reminding him that breakfast was in fact a meal not to be missed.
The school was a winding maze and he found himself lost more than once. The cafeteria was a nightmare, and the only good time to use the bathroom was when you were the only occupant. By the time the final bell had rung, Dean had decided that this school officially sucked.
As he waited for Sammy by the front entrance he watched the other kids as they made their way to the waiting buses or to their own cars. His stomach flipped, just a few weeks ago that would have been him heading out, making his way through a crowded schools parking lot to his baby; instead of standing here waiting for some creep to drive him to a place he refused to call home. A tug on his hand pulled him out of his thoughts and he looked down to find Sam smiling up at him. Well at least Sam looks like he had a better day, Dean thought to himself. Forcing a smile, he hoped looked sincere; Dean ruffled Sam's hair, "Hey squirt, how was your day?"
"Great! My day was great. My class has a pet hamster and the teacher let me feed it some carrot pieces. There's this really nice boy, his names Charlie, he helped me find my way around. Charlie even picked me first for kickball. Me! I'm usually one of the last ones chosen because I'm usually the new kid. Dean, I love this school," turning his head slightly to the side Sam looked at his brother, "Dean's what's wrong? Don't lie to me. I know something's bothering you. C'mon, spill."
Running his hand over his face, Dean sighed, "Nothing, Sam. Seriously," he added when Sam gave him the I don't believe you look, "I'm just tired. I'll be fine. Danforth said to meet him here, didn't he," Dean asked looking at his watch.
"Yes, I did," Danforth answered. He smiled at the little jump he had caused Dean by his stealthy entrance. "I trust you both had interesting days? Sam your teacher just adores you. She couldn't stop talking about how easily you fit into her class. She told me that you already had a new friend. I'm very impressed," his smile morphed into a sneer when he turned his attention to Dean, "I had a conversation with your homeroom teacher that was rather enlightening. Detention on your first day, you know we are going to have to have a discussion about this?"
Something about the way Danforth had spoken sent Dean's heart plummeting to the soles of his feet. This man frightened him like nothing he had ever encountered before. Dean could feel the evil seeping off him and couldn't understand why Sam didn't. He lowered his eyes and nodded. For the second time that day Sam looked curiously at his brother.
Something was wrong, really wrong, and Dean wasn't telling him. That could only mean one thing; Dean was trying to protect him. But, what was he protecting him from? Sam became more determined then ever to find out.
Danforth pasted on a smile clapped Dean on the back then took Sam's hand, "Good. Hey, what do you say we stop for ice cream on the way home," he asked ruffling Sam's hair much the same way Dean had just done, "Jane doesn't need to know."
"Sure," Sam replied, "Did ya hear that Dean, ice cream. Dean, c'mon."
Dean watched as his Sam ran to the car., "Yeah, squirt I heard," he whispered, "I heard loud and clear."
John watched from the other side of the parking lot. He knew that it wasn't a good idea for him to be there, but he couldn't help himself. He had followed Danforth's car from the school all the way to the ice cream parlor. He swallowed hard as he saw the look of sheer delight plastered on his youngest sons face. Sammy sure seems to be doing fine, he thought. His heart shattered when his gaze fell upon his oldest. Dean walked behind Sam and Danforth, his head down, feet shuffling. Dean looked lost and frightened.
John jumped; having been startled by a sharp rapping on the driver's side window. Bobby waited for John to roll down the window before he let loose, "Just what the in the hell do you think you're doing? You know you aren't supposed to be this close to the boys. John, what if you get caught? Are you trying to make things worse? Seriously! And you wonder where Dean gets his stubborn streak from."
"I know. I just couldn't help it. I'm worried, Bobby, even more so after talking to Celia. Do you really think that they can save the boys? Bobby, did you see Dean? He senses something is wrong. I just wish I had a way to warn him, to let him know what's going on. I don't like leaving him there blind."
"I trust them. I think they have more experience then we do. The boy's will be fine. Dean's smart. He senses something is wrong, that's good. He has his guard up. In a few hours this will be over. Sam and Dean will be back were they belong and the Danforth's will be one more bad memory."
John sighed, one more bad memory. How many more bad memories will his boys have to face? It wasn't fair. Why them? Why was his family chosen? The larger pieces of his heart shattered once again. He didn't want this life for them. He longed for them to be normal. He wanted to be the dad in the bleachers bragging about his kid who just hit the winning homerun. He didn't want to be the father teaching his son in some musty hotel room the best way to suture an open wound.
"Come on John. We best move out before someone sees us. Let's grab something to eat. Head on back to the apartment and wait for Celia's call," Bobby walked over to the passenger side and climbed in.
"Bobby, how'd you find me? And, just how did you get here?"
"Bastian brought me. We figured you would try something like this. He picked me up shortly after you left. We followed you all over," Bobby shrugged when he saw the indignant look his friend cast his way, "Well, we were right." Bobby smiled smugly as John growled and started his truck.
Dean looked out the window wishing he was anywhere but here. He noticed his father's truck as it pulled out of the parking lot. What was their dad doing here? Was he watching over them? Why hadn't he tried to talk to them? Where was he going? Was he really that mad at him that he could just ignore them?
"You ready to head out sport?" Dean heard Danforth ask Sam. "I'm sure Jane is starting to suspect that we are up to something by now."
Sam laughed, "Sure. But, I'm telling her this was all your idea," Sam shyly looked over at his guardian, "Thank you. This was nice. I don't remember the last time I had this much fun."
"You're welcome Sam. Now what do you say we head out?" Danforth smiled at Sam. He was so much like his Jacob. He had thought at first he would feel some guilt but the chance of having his son back outweighed everything he felt. As for the older one he didn't feel one way or the other. He was needed for the ritual, after that, whatever happened was of no concern to him.
The sharp intake of breath that Dean took at Sam's mention of not being able to remember the last time he had fun wasn't lost on Danforth. Keep the smile Daniel, he told himself. Just a few more hours and he won't be your problem anymore. Just a few more hours and this will be all over.
