The next day Jess seemed better, but still freaked out. Whatever Castiel did, it seemed to work. Jess suggested we go to the Preserve. Of course Dean found it boring, but Castiel liked the thought. As we watched the birds, I saw Dean grab Castiel's hand.
"I knew it. I should get credit for that. I am the one who told you Cas loved you." I smiled.
"Whatever." Dean rolled his eyes.
The rest of the day was great. We did many things and Jess started to open up at dinner. She talked about her childhood. I heard familiar and new stories. After playing board games, Bobby showed up. Then, we watched movies. That was when they had to say goodbye. Of course I choked up and hugged Dean.
Jess and I went to bed early. I had a nightmare of Dean getting killed. I woke up and Jess comforted me. I was glad that I could share these things with her. It made it easier to handle. She told what Dean had said and that he was going to be fine. She just knew it.
Soon, I got back to my normal college ways. Jess and I met up with Zach, Becky, Emily, and Luis. It seemed like a hundred years since I had seen them. Everyone talked about what had been going on. Jess loved telling about Dean, Cas, and Bobby.
"Wow." Luis said. "Oh guess what?"
"What?" I asked.
"Ashley and I are going to get an apartment together. Any advice?"
"No. Jess and I just moved in together a couple weeks ago." I glared.
"Right." He nodded. "But still?"
We argued and talked for two hours. Finally Luis left. Emily, Becky, and Zach only stayed for an hour. They had studying to do. So did Jess and I. The exams for closing in. It was hard to believe that next year I was going to be in my last year and trying to find a law school.
Of course with Winchester luck, things got worse. I had just finished my last exam and was walking from the party when I got a text that would forever change my life. Dad, after almost two years, contacted me. I knew something had to be wrong. In a panic, I called Dean.
"Sammy?!" He asked.
"I think something had happened to Dad." I said trying not to cry.
"What makes you day that?" Dean asked me.
"He just sent me a text." I told him.
"What did he say?"
"'Proud of you. Glad to see you happy.'" I couldn't hold it back.
"Ok. He could be fine. He has been really nice recently. I will go check it out." Dean assured me.
He got back to me and told me that Dad was dead. He was dead and I had never reconciled with him. I couldn't remember the last thing I had said to him. I told Jess and we headed for his hunter funeral.
We didn't stay long. We had to clean up, get ready for the summer, and run some errands. Also, I couldn't stay. I had gotten out and I didn't want to put Jess in danger. I knew Cas and Bobby would look after Dean.
The next days were rough. I wanted to move. I needed to do something. Unlike Dean, I couldn't hunt. So I just exercised a lot. Jess was supportive and comforted me. You'd think I could handle this after all I had seen, but this was my Dad. I didn't remember Mom, so I didn't really grief. Now I did.
After a couple weeks, I started to clean the apartment. It had become messy with dealing with school and other things. I threw away old school stuff, clothes, and things like that. Jess wanted me to have better summer clothes, but I wasn't a shorts kind of guy. I did get new tee shirts and jeans. One that Jess snuck in was purple with a small graphic of a unicorn on the front. I wasn't too crazy about it, but she bought it for me.
Everyday activities seemed hard and frustrating. Jess offered that we do something really great this summer to make me feel better. We were just having trouble deciding what. I knew she wanted me to meet her family, but felt it was wrong to ask. I had just lost a huge piece of my small family and the rest was in a war on the brink of death. I wondered if it was time. Maybe this meant a new chapter in my life. Maybe a new beginning without hunting.
A/N: Dates: 6/5/04-6/6/04.