Growing Up Is Hard To Do

"But Dad you promised I could go out tonight," Dean wailed.

"I know, I did but something came up and I have to leave for a while," John replied to his disappointed son.

Sam tried to become invisible knowing that Dean would not be a fun companion after losing out on his date.

"Why don't you see if Dawn can come over here? We can stop and get a couple of movies and pick up some snacks. I'll tell Sam he has to stay out of your way for the evening," John suggested.

Sam had been in the background but decided this was his moment to join the conversation. "But what am I supposed to do all night?" he whined.

"See Dad, it will never work," Dean snapped.

"Look, Dean you call Dawn and see if my plan will work, Sam if she comes over you can spend the evening in your room reading or finding something to do. I'm sure you have enough crap in there that you can keep yourself entertained for a few hours; and if you can't you can always just go to bed," John said beginning to lose patience.

Both the boys stomped off in separate directions and John just shook his head. There were days when he wished that parenting wasn't the complicated form of torture that if often became.

Dean tapped John on the shoulder and said that even though he felt cheated; Dawn was willing to come over as long as they could pick her up. John felt comfortable leaving Sammy for the short time they would be gone and yelled up the stairs that they would be back soon.

Sam was so not happy with the situation. He planted himself in front of the TV knowing he would be losing all rights to it so Dean and his girlfriend could hog it all night. Sam was not thrilled with this whole idea of Dean liking girls. It really seemed to cramp his style by taking his big brothers time and attention away from him. Having Dean around even if he was picking on him and being a pain was better than not having Dean around at all; and when Dean was with a girl, it was like not having him around at all.

Sam flipped through the channels until he saw the window light up with the Impala's headlights. The party of 3 stepped into the house and John motioned for Sam to join him. Dean went into this big charade of taking the girls coat and showing her into the living room. Sam just shook his head and sighed, he was going to be unseen in his brother eyes that night.

"Listen Sam, I'll be gone for a few hours but will definitely be back by morning. Leave Dean alone; stay up in your room. I bought some snacks and soda and you of course can come down and get some but make yourself scarce. Please cooperate and you can have the TV all day tomorrow," John promised as he backed out the door yelling goodbye to everybody.

Sam peeked in the bags and saw potato chips and pretzels along with soda's and other items. He opened both snack bags and poured some from each into a bowl and grabbed a soda to take up to his prison with him. He made a point of staring at the couple on the couch as he walked by, but as he suspected Dean didn't even notice him.

Sam ate his snacks and read his library book. He then worked on a book report that was due next week. He looked over at the clock and it read 8:15. He blew out a big sigh and flopped back on his bed. There was no way he could stay up in his room for much longer. He walked over to Dean's side of the room and began to explore. He uncovered the knife that Dean kept under his pillow and assorted dirty clothes under the bed. He was about to head back downstairs when the corner of a notebook caught his eye. He looked around and began to indulge himself with his brother's private thoughts. It was just a normal notebook as Dean wasn't the journal type, but he did have some personal writings in there that caused Sam to raise his eyebrows.

I can't wait for my date with Dawn; she is really hot. We plan on going to the mall and walking around and getting something to eat. I know Sam is mad at me but he has to understand that I need my time too. One day he'll get it, but right now he still thinks girls have cooties. I want to tell him not to worry that he will always be my number one, but then I would sound like a sissy. Anyway he has some growing up to do and there are days I can't wait until it happens.

There was a bit more but Sam didn't really care about it. He didn't know whether to be mad or sad. He was glad the Dean thought he was 'number one' but he was 10 and had grown up plenty already. The more Sam thought about the angrier he got; Dean was the one who needed to grow up. After all wasn't he the one who was giving up the TV for the night so Dean could have his fun. Sam grabbed the empty bowl that had held his snack foods and tromped downstairs. The way that both Dean and Dawn popped up and tried to sit up straight he knew they were doing much more than watching the movie. Sam just rolled his eyes and made his way to the kitchen. He rattled around in there for several minutes until Dean appeared wanting to know what was taking Sam so long to go back upstairs.

"Dude you've been in here forever. Get what you need and go back upstairs," Dean snapped.

"I'll go when I'm ready. Dad said I could come down and get stuff to eat and drink so leave me alone," Sam pouted.

"You've got 5 minutes and then I'm coming back," Dean warned.

Sam plopped down at the table and pushed a new can of soda around. How dare Dean order him around, hadn't he sacrificed enough that night for the two lovebirds?

Five minutes later as promised Dean appeared and he wasn't looking so happy. He hauled Sam out of the chair and gave him a shove towards the living room.

"Go and don't come back down," Dean commanded.

Sam did head up the stairs but only stayed up there briefly before he came back down. It took no time at all for Sam to interrupt the couple 3 more times. The last time Sam's feet hit the stairs Dean came unglued. He gave his best effort to steer Sam back up the stairs before he was all the way down. While the Winchester brothers were in a battle of wills Dawn gave up on the evening and called her mom to come pick her up.

John walked in the front door and the first thing he saw that sent him reeling into a panic was the fact that the couch was upended and the lamp was on the floor. He raced up the stairs his heart beating wildly and flew into the boys' bedroom. He sighed as he saw Sam all curled up sleeping away on his bed, but when his panic recurred when he saw Dean's bed completely empty. He ran over to the bed as if Dean would suddenly appear or somehow John had missed him and was magically under the pillow. As he was about to turn and wake Sam up he saw movement out the window in the backyard. John raced back downstairs and out the back door. He scared Dean causing him to jump at the sight of this fast moving shadow.

"What are you doing out here and why does the living room look like a battlefield?" John demanded to know.

"Because it was a battlefield and I'm out here for the fresh air I so desperately needed," Dean said. He then went on to tell John of the antics Sam pulled and how Dawn left early and how absolutely pissed off Dean was at Sam.

"He was just feeling left out; jealous if you will. He doesn't want to share you. I can understand why you were upset but you'll have to cut him some slack. He is still pretty young and with all the moving we do you and I are the one constant in his life and it is important to him and apparently he doesn't like sharing you."

"Dad I just wanted some time with my friends not more time with my little brother."

"I know, I'll try and make this up to you. But you can't just physically force the boy to bend to your will," John explained as they walked back into the house and began to clean up the combat zone.

That statement just left Dean shaking his head as isn't that what John did to them nearly every day.

The boys spent the next several days steering clear of each other. John made sure Dean got his 'real' date and Sam just kept to himself. John hated to see the boys so oppositional but knew that's what happened sometimes with brothers so he let it be.

John began to take a closer look at his current project. The entire reason he had come to this area was because of rumors in the hunter's world concerning a Morgan; it was a Welsh form of a Banshee. But the Morgan caused floods as well as death to men often by drowning. This area often flooded in the spring and it seemed as though many if not all of the victims were men.

Nearly the entire town was on a flood plane but even with that fact the death toll and the destruction seemed immense. It was almost as if there were specific targets in its path. There was rain in the forecast and John needed to put this familial problem behind him and get going on saving the town.

"Okay guys sit down and listen to me. We are here to dispose of a Morgan," John then went on to explain the specifics. "I am going to need both of you to help me out on this one. I am still researching the best way to dispose of this being and as soon as I do we will begin our hunt."

Dean was thrilled; Sam not even close. John sensed this and went over and knelt down in front of his youngest son. "I will make sure that you are safe. It is time for you to see what we do; one day you will be leading the charge."

Dean balked at the 'leading' statement but remained quiet. He couldn't wait until showtime.

The next day John was exasperated with his research and lack of answers.

"What's the matter Dad?" Dean asked.

"I've looked and called and looked some more but there is no easy way to dispose of this thing," John said.

"None?" Sam asked.

"Well, there are ways, but they will be difficult to carry out. The first is using an arrow made of a certain type of stone found in the cliffs of Ireland - we're fresh out of those. The second is using a particular knife with rubies in the handle that was once King somebody or others from the 15th century – don't have any of those either. The third is an old firearm that uses a specific type of gun powder that was blessed by some Catholic saint – again we are out of luck. I don't know what to do guys."

Dean shrugged and went into the kitchen to find something to eat but Sam took the problem into consideration hoping that if he could solve it he would be excused from the hunt. Sam thought about all that John had explained to them about the Morgan and then he looked in the journal about what was written about Banshees. Sam had a suggestion brewing that he hoped would be the answer.

"Why can't we just try and shoot her or something," Dean suggested.

"You don't want to just try something unless you are fairly certain it's going to work or you are out of any other options. The goal is to win the battle and survive the ordeal," John explained.

"Isn't there somebody that knows?" Dean asked.

"There is only one person that I'm aware of who is an authority on these things but he is out of the country and we don't have time to wait on him. And before you ask I have tried to call him but he is out of contact."

"I have an idea," Sam came forward speaking in a quiet voice. "Dad you said that she is very beautiful and that's how she gets men to come to her."

"That's right she lures them in with her looks and they often drown. In fact according to this mornings news two men have already drown and a third is missing. We need to figure this out and take care of it before it gets worse," John announced knowing there was rain heading their way. "So what's your idea?"

Sam gave a sidelong glance at his brother and seemed to shrink. John noticed Sam's discomfort and thought maybe the boy was afraid that Dean may mock his proposal.

"Dean will you do me a favor and run upstairs and bring the extra boxes of shells down?"

Dean wasn't very happy about being sent out of the room but reluctantly followed the order that John had given. After Dean had vacated the room John encouraged Sam to tell him what his plan was; he didn't expect it to be usable but was nonetheless interested in the boy's thoughts and contribution.

"Well, um since she is so pretty and that is what causes the problems I thought that…." And Sam finished his idea whispering in John's ear as Dean reappeared from his errand.

Dean had no idea what Sam had said but his father suddenly looked thoughtful and nodded.

The rain went from a mist to a sprinkle and had finally settled on a steady downpour. John had left the car in a parking lot down the road where he was confident that they wouldn't get stuck in the mud. The river wasn't large but the rain had it creeping up the banks and the current was strong. Each boy had on a life jacket though Dean pouted about his new attire. John had to threaten that he would stay in the car if he refused to wear it. John knew where the Morgan was and they were right across from her homestead. The river had a small island-like clump of land in the middle and that was where she lured her men only they never made it to her. John knew that he could not look directly at her or he too may come under spell. He had said an incantation that should help him deny her efforts, but one never wanted to test these things too well in the heat of battle if they didn't have to.

John had his shotgun loaded with his special brew along with extra containers of the concoction. He was unsure of how to get close as crossing the river was going to be impossible and he didn't think the could get the accurate shot needed from the bank. The boys were waiting next to a tree away from the bank as John had instructed.

He stood surveying the scene trying to find a game plan when he finally saw a possible answer. A large tree had recently fallen into the river but looked sturdy enough to provide passage. John spoke with the boys telling them again of his plan and what he expected of them he then went to fight the good fight.

Dean and Sam had to yell over the rain and rushing water to be heard. Dean kept bugging Sam to tell him what the lethal plan was but Sam was reluctant. They pulled out the long rope that John had packed in case they needed it. Dean began to tie it to the tree they were next to just as his father had showed him. He tugged several times and once he was satisfied of its security he began to walk it towards the bank. He looked out over the water to see where John was when he caught a glance of the Morgan. She was on the small island seemingly hovering and smiling a very warm and sunny smile. It was if she had eyes only for Dean and being with her if only for a moment would make everything okay. Dean could feel his teenage heart beat with a strength he had never experienced before. He was destined to be with this woman; she was his fate.

Sam was also searching for his father as the wind sent a chill through him. John was edging his way closer to the Morgan trying to avoid any eye contact. The Morgan seemed to be unaware of him inching closer. Sam thought the spell must be working and was grateful for that. As he turned to say something to Dean he saw that his brother was very close to the bank of the river. He tried to yell to him but Dean remained oblivious to his cries. Sam began to run towards his older brother who sights were definitely on the creature in the river.

Dean was only feet away from the river when Sam caught up to him.

"Dean wake up!" Sam yelled. "Look at me!"

But Dean was lost in a supernatural stupor and could not be reached. Sam tried to call to John but the noise of the water drown out his cries. Sam knew he had to do something but there was no way he was big enough or strong enough to stop Dean from proceeding to what he believed was his true love.

As he felt the cold rain trickle down his back Sam noticed the rope in Dean's hands. He quickly pulled it from his brother's hands and looped it around Dean's waist and with Dean still in la la land he tied it tightly with the same knot that attached the other end to the tree. He stepped back and pulled trying to snap Dean out of his lovesick coma, but he couldn't get any decent traction and made absolutely no headway. Dean was precariously close to the edge and was teetering on the brink.

John was almost to the small bit of land. The Morgan seemed completely absorbed elsewhere and John would have to make a mental note that the spell he used was very effective. He turned as he was finally able to check on the boys and nearly fell off the log as he saw Dean slip off the bank and head towards the water. To John's surprise the water only went up to Dean's waist. The current was pulling him downstream but he seemed to stop and John finally caught on as to why. He could see the strain on the rope and traced it back to the tree with Sam in the middle pulling as hard as a little boy could. Now John understood while he had remained untouched as the Morgan was focusing on his little boy who apparently had crossed that threshold and could be victimized by this creature. He quickly looked up knowing he needed to finish this now as she was still somewhat distracted. He planted his feet on land and swung the shotgun around aiming squarely at her face just as she turned his direction. He pulled the trigger and the shells exploded as they found their target causing an ear piercing scream that made all 3 Winchesters place their hands over their painful ears. The rain fell harder and the river seemed to rise around them. John grimaced as he allowed his hands to reach for the remainder of the potent mix of chemicals that he and Sam researched and felt would do the most damage to the pretty face that led only to death and destruction. He opened the lid and the wind helped carry the grand finale to its prize knocking her off her perch and into the water that seemed to swallow her up.

John immediately looked back to the boys and saw Sam and Dean release their ears. Dean looked completely exhausted and was barely able to hang on. The river had risen and was splashing the teen in the face. John knew he had to get to him fast. Looking behind him he knew going back the way he came would be far too time consuming. He looked at Dean's predicament downstream and took one deep breath and jumped into the icy cold water.

The current quickly took him downstream and John desperately made his way over to the side where Dean was hanging like a fish on a hook. He was able to reach out and his right hand was able to grab Dean's midsection. Dean was beginning to get very pale and his teeth were chattering uncontrollably. As hard as it was John told Dean that he would leave him there for just a moment while he climbed up the rope. Dean was barely coherent and John couldn't tell if he understood or not, but rather than waste anymore time he reached around Dean and began to climb up the rope. Once he was on the bank he ran to the tree knowing he would need it for support so he didn't slip on the muddy soil and end up right back in the river. He heaved with Sam helping him until he saw his first born pop over the bank. He continued to pull Dean farther and farther away from the rushing water as Sam ran to meet him. Finally satisfied that he was out of peril John ran to his eldest and fell to his knees and placed his arms under the shaking body and though exhausted he stood up and ran the 100 plus yards to the car.

Later that night after Dean was sleeping after being warmed up and nearly recovered John called Sam over to the couch. "I just want you to know how proud I was of you today. The idea you had on how to kill the Morgan was brilliant and how you protected your brother was very impressive. How did you even think to tie the rope to him?" John asked.

"I remembered when I was on the ice back when I was 7 and you told me to tie the hose around my waist. Dean was zoned out and I didn't know what else to do," Sam said quietly.

"Well you did a great job of paying of attention and using your head," John commented.

Sam still looked a little sad and John asked him why.

"I tried so hard to pull him out of the water but I couldn't," Sam said dejectedly.

"Sammy your brother is much bigger than you are and the ground was too muddy to get any traction, even I had to use the tree. Besides you helped me in the end and made it much easier for me to pull him up."

"I did?" Sam questioned.

"You sure did kiddo. You were a hero today, without you your brother would not be here tonight. You are as much of a hunter as Dean and I are," John beamed.

Sam smiled back at his father proud that he helped Dean but not so sure he was happy to receive the news that his dad considered him a hunter.