John's jaw tightened when he realized what Sam was doing and he started to say something when he noticed Caleb standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest blatantly daring John to say something, anything.

John could tell by the look Caleb was giving him that Sam hadn't told him anything but that he had figured it out and that the best thing for him to do at this moment was to let his boys go back and for him to stay with Caleb.

Dean had protested he was afraid this meant that he would be left out of the upcoming hunt but after both John and Caleb reassured him that wasn't the case and John had ended up making it an order, he relented and followed Sam out to the car.

John stood on the porch and watched as his boys drove away, it was like his worst fear had come to life and they were leaving him. He felt Caleb wrap an arm around his shoulders and lead him inside.

Caleb had watched the boys drive off and knew that it was killing John to be away from them. He knew that his friend worried that they would leave him one day and he knew that if John kept going like he was that they would, or at least Sam would.

He wrapped his arm around his friend's shoulders, led him inside and then dropped him with a punch to the face. He stood over his friend as he sat in stunned silence on the floor, "I think it's time that you and I had a talk about your boys Johnny and the way you've been handling things with them."

Sam jumped when his brother's voice clipped through the silence. "I'm serious Sam; you better hope that whatever Caleb's doing doesn't get me banned from this hunt. I've really worked hard on this one. I was really looking forward to going. If your being a princess and having your little hissy fit causes Caleb to piss dad off to the point where he makes me stay behind I swear.."

Slamming on the breaks and skidding to a halt on the side of the road, Sam put the car in park and turned on his older sibling. "What? You swear what, Dean? Dammit, why can't you see what dad's doing isn't right? I didn't say anything to Caleb. I didn't have to. This isn't the first time he's witnessed you being laid up because of dad. Hell, it isn't even the second or the third," Sam drew in a sharp breath "I'm sure it won't be the last. But, I do remember what happened the last time this happened and it wasn't just Caleb who lit into dad, Pastor Jim and Bobby did as well. Dean, he can't keep doing this. There are days when I'm more afraid of dad doing you in than whatever you've been hunting. This has been going on for years. I guess I was more than happy to play ignorant, but not anymore. He's gotten worse Dean. I don't know why, but he has. And what's even worse than that is the fact that you refuse to fight back. You just take it. Why?"

Sam slumped back against the leather of the bench seat. He was tired the past few days had been tough and he felt like he was running on empty. The constant fighting with his dad and constant worry about his brother were wearing him thin. He could hear Dean's voice in the back of his mind telling him to man up and accept things as they were. That life would be easier if he would just do that. But, he couldn't. He couldn't roll over and accept things as they were because; to be honest, things as they were weren't working.

Dean didn't answer Sam right away. He let the silence hang between them. He took his time; he wanted to make sure he had Sam's attention when he spoke. After a few moments Sam started to squirm, the wait having begun to get to him; letting Dean know now was the time to speak.

"Sam," he started his voice deliberately low and soft forcing the younger boy to listen, "We've been through this. He needs me, us. He's been through so much. He's lost so much. I don't see the point in aggravating the situation. Besides, fighting dad doesn't do any good. I've learned that the hard way over the years. It's just easier, better, to go along with it. He doesn't mean anything by it. He needs a release and I'm there; that's all there is to it.

He loves us Sammy, I know it. He doesn't say it, and he sure as hell doesn't openly show it, but he does. If you knew what to look for you'd see it. It's in the way he needs to control everything. He needs to make sure we're alright, safe. If that means knocking me around then," Dean shrugged. He was growing tired. He was beginning to hurt again and all he wanted to do was get to a bed and lay down, "Sam, look I'm not saying its right. I'm just saying I understand. And, yeah, he's gotten worse, but think about it, so have you. Ever since you hit puberty you've been pushing dad's buttons. I think you like the fighting more than you let on. The only problem is that you don't think about the consequences and the fact that you, not to mention me, have to live with them. I know you're restless Sam. I know you don't want to do this. But, I also know there's no way out, at least as far as dad can see. Dammit, Sam please, can't you ease up just a little.

Throw the old man a bone or something. He's lost. He's been lost. Your pushing isn't helping. I can feel you're ready to make a break. If I can feel it so can he. He's lashing out. He's not reasonable. He's," Dean found himself choking on the next words, "he's scared."

Sam's eyes grew at his brother's confession. He couldn't believe that Dean had said their dad was scared. Sam always felt that Dean thought their dad was a god or something. To hear Dean talk one would think he thought their dad walked on water and wasn't afraid of anything; and, yet, he had just said their dad was scared.

Sam put the car in drive and pulled off the shoulder back onto the road. He drove for a couple miles in silence, and then he cast a quick glance at Dean. "Yeah, whatever" he said.

John looked up to Caleb, "What the hell," he growled.

Caleb glared at his old friend, "You know damn well what the hell," he ground out.

"I suggest you enlighten me, Caleb," John said as he got to his feet, "because I'm really not sure what just happened here or why."

"Well, if you'd listen to someone other than yourself you would know. You big blustering bag of wind. I swear Johnny, you're so blind to everyone and everything around you unless you're surrounded by something supernatural then you're well aware of what's going on.

You blow into every situation tossing out demands and thinking only of how it will affect you that you lose sight of what's really important. Dammit, Johnny, just once I wish you'd stop and pay attention before you act. You're gonna lose them Johnny. The tighter you hold on the easier it will be for them to slip away; for them to want to, especially Sam.

I know you're scared I know the more you dig and uncover the more it looks like something has its sights on your boy, on Sam. But, you have to ease up. Either that or tell them what's going on," Caleb let out a heavy sigh when John shook his head, "Then you better prepare yourself for the inevitable, Sam's going to walk away. He's already ready to go. He's just mapping out his plan. You know it's true. You know it.

As for Dean, well no matter what you do to him he'll stay. You've got him convinced that you're god and that you aren't capable of doing anything wrong. But, we know better than that, don't we Johnny? Yeah, sure we do," Caleb hissed out when his friend suddenly found the floor an interesting place to look at, "So what he'd do now to warrant the beating you dished out? Kid looks like hell and he feels like it to. I thought you had agreed never to lay a hand on either of them after that time Jim, Bobby and I made you see the light.

You don't deserve the love and respect that kid gives you. He looks up to you and I bet you got him convinced that he deserved every lick you gave him. He's not some animal for you to kick around. He's not some soldier for you to bark orders at. He's your son and by all that's holy a much better man than you. You. Don't. Deserve. Him."

John's shoulders slumped and he leant heavily against the wall, the weight of his friends words hitting him harder than any fist ever could. He knew, on some level, that what Caleb had said was right. He was holding to tight; but, Caleb didn't understand why.

John knew Caleb was right about needing to tell the boys what he had come across regarding their mom and Sam, but he didn't have enough to tell them anything concrete and he didn't want to needlessly worry them. The more he uncovered the more his fear and uncertainty grew. The more his fear and uncertainty grew so did his temper.

He knew he wasn't being fair, but until he had more to go on the boys would have to tow the line and trust in his leadership. That was just how it had to be. John drew himself up and pushed off the wall.

He fixed Caleb with a defiant stare, crossed his arms over his chest and growled out, "I don't remember asking for your advice on how to deal with my boys Caleb. What goes on between me and them, well that's our business and not yours. You'd do well to remember that."

"Yeah, sure Johnny. You're right like always. Sorry," Caleb bit out, "I stepped over the line." Caleb took a step forward, another swing at his old friend and once again caught the man off guard, "But, it's a line I'm gonna keep crossing. Those boys are all of ours. We helped you raise them. We all love them. I'm telling you Winchester, you keep hurting them boys and you'll have a pack of angry uncles on your heels. Do I make myself clear?"

John sat on the floor, a hand clamped over his now bleeding nose and nodded. He took Caleb's hand with his free hand and allowed the younger man to help him up. "Doesn't feel good does it," Caleb asked, "Here, let's get some ice on it. Get the bleeding to stop and than let's get some work done around here. Whatchya say?"