This is the last installment in this format…next week you will read a tale as Sean describes it in his own words.
But be not afraid of greatness:
Some are born great, some achieve greatness
And some have greatness thrust upon them.
Shakespeare
Rising Son
John held Sean tight as he knocked on Emily's front door. He hoped she was home as he had rehearsed all morning what he was going to say to her. He was beginning to think he was out of luck when the door opened revealing Emily. Her face held mixed emotions and John hoped he was doing the right thing with his visit.
"I'm sorry if this is an intrusion but I didn't want to leave with things the way they were. And Sean wanted to say goodbye before we left," John began as he looked down at his young son.
"So you're leaving?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, I think we have to," John replied.
"Your right of course you can't stay. I'll miss you Sean, class won't be the same without you. I hope you keep reading and continue to love learning. I have these books for you," Emily said picking up several books that she had brought over the day Sean had disappeared. "I think you'll like them."
"Look Daddy," Sean said as his eyes lit up. "This one has my name on it," Sean said as he showed John a book titled Sean Goes to the Zoo "Can I keep these?"
"Of course you can sweetie," Emily said.
Sean managed to wiggle out of John's arms and take his books over to the couch where he made himself very comfortable.
"We haven't given him much room lately. In fact I don't think his feet have touched the ground much in the last couple of days. It seems as though he is always in somebody's arms."
"I can't say that I blame you. Are your friends still here?"
"Yeah, in fact we are going to follow Jim home to Minnesota. We need a change of scenery and I need someone to help me through this. I'm having nightmares and haven't been able to eat. If Sean is out of my sight for more than a minute I begin to panic. I think after some time up North we'll be just fine. What I wanted to tell you was how sorry I am about what you went through. I wasn't mad at you that night; I was mad at me. I should have never allowed our relationship to go forward; I should have never exposed you to our lifestyle."
"You didn't know what was going to happen. I'm not mad and I don't regret our time together. I think it was good for both of us. I will miss all of you Winchesters and I will never forget you guys. I won't see the world the same as I did before but maybe that's a good thing."
"You have my cell phone number; don't be afraid to use it if you need me or just want to talk. I'll try and send you updates on Sean but I have to warn you I'm not too good at keeping people informed."
"Maybe I'll just have to call you sometime and check on him," she said as they both knew the calls and notes would never happen.
"Come on Sean we gotta get going. Thank Miss Todd for your books."
"Thank you Miss Todd I liked being in your class," the boy said as he reached up to give his favorite teacher a hug.
Emily stood at her window as she watched John buckle Sean in the car. She drew in a deep breath and brushed away a tear as her heart became heavy as she watched her two favorite men pulled away from the curb and drive into the unknown.
Several days later while sitting in the living room in Minnesota John tried to relax. "Are you sure you want to do this John?" Jim Murphy asked his friend.
"I'm sure; there was something there Jim I'm sure of it. This is my son who we already know is something special and if there is any more information to find then I want to find it."
"Okay, tell me again so that I know exactly where we are."
"When you hypnotized me the last time I saw Sarah and the images that Sean had projected through her but I'm sure; absolutely sure that there was somebody else there too; somebody that didn't scare Sarah; somebody that she wanted me to see. I think he holds some answers or is an answer himself; either way I have to find out."
"Okay but what if you find something you aren't prepared for?"
"I need to know everything," was the quiet reply.
It didn't take long before John was heading into the darkness of the unfamiliar. He searched high and low but was met with only emptiness. He wasn't sure if he was angry or disappointed. Things began to lighten up when he felt a tap on his shoulder he whipped around staying in the dark when he saw an unknown figure standing before him.
"Who are you?"
"The one with the answers you want. Do you truly want to know; because once you do there will be no going back?"
"Yes I want to know it all."
"You will know what Sarah knew and what she has told me to tell you. Many years ago very early in time there were two children born to a woman. They were twins; the first child was a boy and the second a girl. Their mother was older when they were born and because she was of such a giving nature helping so very many people during her lifetime she was blessed with these children. Along with being given healthy strikingly beautiful children; her offspring were given gifts to carry with them as a reminder of the benefits of being born from true beauty. The first; a son was given the gift of immortality; he was to use this to help mankind in every generation. He would never need to fear death and with his gift he could forever watch over his sister and the generations that followed.
The second child; a daughter was given special abilities. These gifts were given to help her see things that others could not; to help people see the unseen, make sense of confusion and to assist those in need. These abilities would not die with her but be passed along to each generation getting stronger as they made their way into the future.
Each child was also given a coin-like medal to wear. The son would wear his at all times and the daughter would pass it down where it would continue through the generations. They would be a symbol that the two were forever linked; to maintain a connection between the lines. They show the duality between themselves and of the world in general; dark in the light; light in the dark. Things are rarely one or the other; neither all good nor all evil."
John kept his breathing even and tried to hold onto every word.
"The boy watched over his sister and eventually his nieces and nephews as time marched on. He had done his job well but the gift of immortality is a great one and one that finally pulled this man from many of his duties. He fell away from many of his good deeds and slipped into greed and self service. As time went by he fell farther and farther even to the point where the family had him leave the homeland of Ireland and move to Scotland. Though even as he grew darker and eventually leaving the name of angel behind he never stopped watching over his family keeping a close eye on them and always ensuring their survival to the next generation.
The girl used her abilities to help all those around her and bore a son who also carried on the kindness. The generations continued and grew stronger as was predicted. But with those gains they also faced danger from those in power around them. Those in command sought to control the current prodigy and when they couldn't they then sought to end the line. But as I have said the immortal one always protected his family. Other family members did their part as they waited for the Dear One to be born. This is what they called the individual who in the future who would restore what had been lost over the ages. Family members were born; died and continued on. The time was drawing near and the current extraordinary child was grown and the time had come to move it all into place."
John asked the question he felt he already had the answer to. "Sarah?"
"Yes, Sarah left the old country and moved to where you met her. She then gave birth to the final child; the chosen child the Dear One. Late in her pregnancy she came under attack and the medallion was torn from her chest in an effort to take her heart. The medallion helped save her life but was forever lost. Though it truly was only a symbol its loss affected her knowing she was unable to pass this heirloom along to her son. She feared this may break the bond between her and the one that would be known as brother to her son. She died with many questions in her head and fear in her heart. That is one of the reasons she takes the great risk in checking on her son. But you have noticed that of late she has not appeared as often due to the fact that she is assured the protector the one who is considered the original brother moved with her and even in his darkness protected your child through this day. Shall I continue?"
"Please."
"He is to save many on his path to greatness and will be given the tools he needs as he walks along it. He will look to you and to others at all times and you must do what your heart tells you to."
"What about the dark one; will he continue to protect him? The coin Sean received a while back was it the protectors?"
"Yes; a show of faith, maintaining the bond. And yes he is in the best position to protect him; he is in the world of Sean's enemies. He will do his part of that I am certain but even with that and all that you can do his years will be short."
John saw a flash in his brain and a picture of an older Sean handing the coin back to its original owner. Maintaining the bond John thought with some relief. "How short will his life be?" he asked as his wits returned.
"If you follow your heart you will not see his death. He will have the time to accomplish what must be done; but not a day more. He will need size and strength in mind and body to complete his task. When he grows to that point he will be ready to complete the job he was born to do; the job that his family has been groomed for over the centuries."
"Is Sean human?"
"According to the lore he and his family were born of human and other world spirit; less than Angels more than human. But I suspect he is an even bigger presence, bigger than either you or I can ever imagine. But, right now, as I stand here I tell you that he is your son through and through and you must treat him as such. You must understand that this story is simply that, exactly where Sean came from we don't know, but what we do know, is that he is an exceptional child, destined for great things."
"The name of the dark protector; the original brother?" John asked his sentence hanging.
"Listen, the story I told you is just that; a story, the characters are real, but not necessarily in the right roles if that makes sense."
"Not much makes sense, so what is the name of the brother, or son or man?" John asked again.
"Why it's Scotty of course. Like it or not, this—being will be a part of Sean's existence. I can tell you that Sean is vital to this world."
"Then tell me who he is," John demanded, feeling left out of the loop.
"The truth would be too much for you to handle. You need to raise him, and protect him. He will be target for so many as he means more to the world than you will ever know. You have been chosen for a very important task, one I'm sure you and your boys will be up to."
As John comprehended it all the figure disappeared and before he knew it he was brought back to the present. Jim asked what had had happened but John was too busy looking for a pen and paper as he needed to prepare for the future; his future and the future of the Dear One.
