AN - O_O So... It's been a while. PLEASE DON'T EAT ME! - Runs away screaming from frustrated angry followers - ... I meant to keep up with this fic, I honestly did. But then I got stuck with it for a while half way through this chapter, and my brain was all like - well what do ya want me to do about it?! - at which point I replied with -I asked you to do ONE thing Brain. One. You have failed me. Notice how I bow my head in shame Brain. Notice! - at which point Brain became rather mean to me, a long argument ensued in which it won and then he refused to provide me with anything until now. Yes, Brain is a he. As well as Brain being not so forthcoming with ideas, Life decided it wanted to get in on it too. It threw many a thing at me including family, college and a good dose of T.V just to keep me distracted enough whilst it plotted what it was going to do next. But I managed to stall Life long enough to write this though so HERE! Have it! College finishes for me this week at which point I get so many blissful weeks off, and so I will have opportunity to write more for you :D so ... enjoy ... hopefully.
Thwack!
The old baseball made a loud thud as it hit the ground, the speed it was going at helping to increase the force with which it struck the ground. Dean grumbled under his breath as he went to fetch the ball from where it had landed, hearing Sam's laughter behind him.
Dean hadn't been able to help but show off a bit as the three of them had alternated between throwing and catching the baseball and, catching on to his perfect streak of throws and catches, Bobby had decided to make a dent his winning streak. Mostly by throwing the ball so fast that Dean had had to duck to miss it or else get whacked in the head really hard with the tiny ball.
The look of panic on Dean's face and the rush to avoid impact with his head and the object had clearly pleased Sammy greatly, who had thus far had missed the ball as much as he had caught it.
Dean rolled his eyes at his little brother, hiding his smile whilst noticing a not so hidden one on Bobby's own face.
"Nice job at not aiming for my head, Ace." Dean said whilst none to gently throwing the ball back to the older man, using as much of his fifteen years' worth of strength that he could muster.
A practiced hand though easily caught the ball, and pulled it back ready for throwing to the eager boy a short distance from where Dean stood, hoping to succeed where Dean had just failed.
Whilst Bobby didn't throw the ball as fast as he had with Dean, he aimed it higher so that Sam had to work to catch the ball; letting the young boy feel as though Bobby hadn't gone easy on him and giving him a reason to be proud of himself.
Sam jumped for the ball and just about caught it in his worn catcher's mitt, he grinned and Dean cheered for him and praised him.
"Great job Sammy!"
"Thanks Dean."
The praise meant more to Sam than Dean could ever know. When affection from his father lacked, Sam knew he could always count on Dean for it no matter what. He knew that Dean would always be there to protect him and love him even when Sam was being a brat sometimes and would argue and answer back. If Sam ever had nightmares it was Dean he went to for comfort and if he just needed a hug or someone to talk to it would always be Dean that came to mind.
Because of all this, it made Sam want to make Dean proud even if it was something as trivial as catching a ball and the things Dean said meant more to Sam than anything else.
Sam pulled his arm back and tossed the ball back to Bobby, his still short arm just managing to throw it far enough for the man to catch easily. Bobby smiled at him, said his thanks and was just pulling back his own arm to toss the ball for Dean when the shrill tone of the house phone rang out from within the old home.
"Dad?!" Dean asked almost excitedly, looking to Bobby; his green eyes sparking with the hope of a child waiting for his loved father.
"Let's go find out kiddo." Bobby said, turning back towards the house setting a hurried but steady pace. Dean hurried after, catching him up and walking by his side. Sam trailed behind them, walking slower his gaze unsure as he followed after his big brother and the gruff yet kind man.
Bobby entered the back door, Dean on his heels and grabbed the phone from off the wall putting it to his ear.
"Yeah?" He asked into the receiver whilst Dean looked like he was about to burst with all of the questions and expectations that were written all over his face. Sam was hovering near the back door, not entirely sure what do with himself and unsure as to whether or not he should even hope that his father was the one on the other end of the phone.
After a moment had passed, Bobby's reply to the person on the other end came.
"Hey John."
Bobby's eyes moved to Dean as he said it whilst giving the boy a slight nod, confirming that it was indeed John Winchester. At the validation of it truly being his old man, a full grin spread across Dean's face, as well as a look of pure relief, mostly likely due to knowing that his father was safe, because why would he call if he wasn't?
Sam moved closer to stand beside his older brother, the same relief that was on Dean's face, evident upon his own. He unconsciously bit his lip as he looked up at Bobby where the phone still sat by his ear, the man making the occasional grunt in recognition of what it was John was saying on the other end. Most likely briefing him on the hunt before bothering to speak to his sons, Sam thought to himself a little bitterly. He knew he shouldn't think like that, but sometimes he couldn't help himself.
After no more than a minute had passed, Bobby said his good byes to John Winchester and passed the phone onto the absent man's eldest son.
"Hey, Dad." Dean said, calming himself before speaking, trying not to let too much of his eagerness and his relief shown through.
"Hey Dean." Came the voice of John Winchester through the ear piece. "How you doin' son?"
"Good. How was the hunt?" He asked of him.
"Not bad. Me and Caleb handled it well enough … not as good as if you'd been there though. Most of the trouble was tryin' to get info from those tight lipped stuck-up locals." John said with a short laugh.
"Thanks dad. And your right, they can be some real bitches sometimes. You'd think we were askin' 'em to dig the grace for us or something;" Dean said laughing along with his father, pride shining inside of him, and on his face at the complement his father so rarely doled out for him.
"You looking after Sam properly?" John asked.
"Always." Dean responded, the protectiveness evident in his voice, especially to John you recognised it every time Dean spoke about his little brother.
"I'm gonna be back in a day or two, to come and pick you and Sam up 'kay?"
"'Kay. That's great dad." A smile on Dean's face at the thought of his family coming back together like it should be. He liked staying at Bobby's but their dad was family, and they should never split up for long.
"Pass the phone to Sam for me." John requested.
"Yes sir." Dean replied immediately, passing the phone to his hesitant little brother.
"… Hi dad." Sam said after a moment.
"Heya Sammy. How's it goin' son?"
"Good." Unlike Dean, Sam didn't ask about the hunt, not really wanting to know any kind of details about. Knowing that his dad was safe was enough for him.
"Well, I'll be back in a couple days to pick you up." John said after another moment's silence. John never could talk as easily with his youngest son as he could with Dean, his emotions too complex for John to really understand, even if the boy was only eleven years old.
"Okay." Sam said quietly, desperately trying not to let his sadness show at the fact.
"Well, uh … um. Give the phone back to Bobby for me, would 'ya son?"
"Okay. Bye dad."
"See ya Sammy."
Sam handed the phone back to Bobby, and after a moment's hesitation he left the room and began to climb the stairs up to the room that he shared with Dean, leaving the catcher's mitt he had been clinging to on the counter.
AN - Wow that authors note at the beginning was long wasn't it? Well, all I have to say now is I hope you enjoyed this chapter after such a long hiatus and if you did TELL ME! Me and Brain need the feel good boost right now. We can only fend off Life for so long before it begins to be a giant pain. -so not hinting for reviews there are you Stark?- -... Be quiet Brain. *shifty eyes*- :D
