Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. All the characters are owned by the respective owners (even though they abuse them).
Please keep in mind English is not my first language!
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»Don't let so much time pass until I hear you.« Bobby ordered John when they said goodbye. »You understand?«
John nodded.
Bobby hugged Dean and Sam to him, he missed these boys more than anything. It was always the bigest regret in Bobby's life – not having children. But Karen was the love of his life, he couldn't imagine having children with someone other than her.
He shook Johns hand and tapped his sholder. He wanted to say so much to John. How he loved him like a son even though he was an idjit. How proud he was of him for taking Bella with him to take care of the boys. How he was hoping John will see Bella for what she was; Johns soul mate.
»Family don't end with blood, boy.« Was all Bobby said to John.
»Take care of them, will ya.« He told Bella. »And don't let John push you around.«
Bella smiled at him. She saw how much Bobby loved the Winchesters, they were a makeshift family.
»I will.« She assured him, it was the least she could do.
Later they were driving to Spokane in complete silence, even the radio was off. Bella was just about to lose her mind when John broke the agonising silence.
»We'll stay in Spokane for two days, three tops.« When Bella indicated she was listening with a nod, John continued. »It's a simple haunting, salt and burn.«
When Bella's head turned to him and she looked at him in pure disbeliefe.
How could he say that to her, especially after last night. John was used to reading people but it was painfully obvious he couldn't read Bella.
»No really.« He tried to assure her. »A simple job. In and out.«
Bella turned to check if the boys were listening, John saw her move, he smiled a little. »They always fall asleep when we're drivin'.«
Bella nodded. It would seem so, but she was sure Dean was faking it by the way his eyes were moving under his lids and breathing pattern.
Still Bella said nothing on the topic of the boys sleeping or in Dean's case not sleeping, that was not her problem – not right now at least.
»How can you say that?« She asked John.
John glanced in the back seat confused. Were the boys awake. He truly didn't have a clue what was bothering Bella.
»The job John!« Bella exclaimed. »How can you say it's a simple haunting after what happened yesterday?«
John exhaled. He should have seen that coming, yet he didn't. How will he explain this to her?
»Bella, sometimes things just happen.« He tried to placate Bella. It didn't work. When he saw Bella was getting red in the face and her hands started shaking in anger he quickly caught her small hand in his.
»I didn't mean that in a bad way.« He told her while circling his thumb on the back of her hand. »It's just…«
»Look I try to help as many people I can, I do. But sometimes I can't.« He squeezed her hand. »I feel bad when I can't help, I do. But I can't let it eat me Bella.« He let go of her hand and reached up to whipe a tear off her cheek.
»You can't live like this Bella. It will eat you from the inside.«
»I know you loved your father.« He continued. »And he loved you too. He gave his life for you, don't waste it.«
Bella smiled at him and John was sure his heart skipped a beat, not that he'd ever admit it.
»Thank you.« Bella said. »You're right. Dad gave me a second chance for life and I would be stupid if I let it go.«
In Spokane John ran to the reception and rented a motel room while Bella woke Sam. Dean was already getting his seatbelt off.
Bella hasn't said anything to him but she did raise an eyebrow and pursed her lips at Dean. Dean blushed, he knew he was caught.
»Hey sweetie.« Bella ran her fingers through Sam's hair. »Wake up, sleepyhead.«
It took a few more tries for Bella to finally wake Sam up and even then he was not completely awake so she had to carry him.
Bella almost droped Sam when John opened the door to their room, her jaw definitely droped. The room was decorated in the seventies theme. Bella had to blink a few times so her eyes could get used to all the colors.
The walls were plaid - red with blue and pink. The couch was pink, the two twin beds were orange, the table and chairs were bright green, the kitchenette was lime green with brown trims and the rug was the color of shit.
»Wow.« Bella breathed.
She has never seen anything like this before. It was almost scary.
John and Dean chuckled at her. Sam hasn't even reacted.
In all honesty they have seen worse rooms than this. At least this one was clean and had no dead animals on the walls. If there was anything that bothered the boys it was deer and bear heads in the rooms.
»I like it.« Sam decided, attached on Bella's hip. Bella looked at him wide eyed.
»What?« Sam asked her. »It has no animals and has lots of colors.«
Dean agreed. »I can't sleep when animals are in the room.«
'God, this is so surreal' Bella thought.
The things these two boys saw, it was amazing how they found silver lining in everything.
»You know.« Bella said after thinking a bit. »I think you have a point there. I don't think I could sleep either if animal heads were in the room. I like my animals alive and cuddly.«
John snorted and Bella smiled at him.
»Yeah, you probably don't care. Right?« John shook his head. »The manly man.« Bella snorted.
Dean and Sam exploded in giggles.
John smiled as Bella put Sam down so the boys could explore the room together. He didn't smile this much since, well he had no idea how long but it was long. He stoped smiling and laughing and caring about things when Mary died.
»I'll bring in the bags.« John said abruptly. He was gone before Bella could ask if he needed help.
Bella sighed, the man frustrated the hell out of her. Hopefully it'll get better.
»So we'll do this gradually.« John explained as he put their bags down. »I was thinking, now I'll take some easy cases.«
He looked at Bella when he said they were easy cases. Bella smiled at him understandingly.
»So you guys could get to know each other, get used to one another.«
Bella nodded, that made things much easier. She was sure she'd make do somehow even if John left right now. But this way it would really be easier, she could go buy some clothes and maybe a tooth brush.
And with Deans fear of John walking away and leaving them alone, this will console Dean that his father will come back.
»What about when school starts?« Bella wanted to know.
»We'll do what we always do. You'll stay in a motel closest to a school and I'll go to nearby towns, hunting. I'll report back and call as much as I can.«
'That can't be healthy for the boys, or John.' Bella thought. But she felt she didn't know them enough to argue with John about stability in a childs life.
»Okey.« Bella accepted John's plan. »Can we go shopping now?«
All three Winchesters scrunched their faces. Bella smiled, she didn't like shopping either.
»I know. I'll try to be quick.« She soothed them. »But I'd really like a change of clothes and a toothbrush. I'd really like to have a toothbrush and a comb or a hair brush maybe?«
John took mercy on Bella and drove them to a nearby mall. He was suprised at how quickly Bella shopped. She knew her size and took few pairs of jeans, a pile of shirts and tank tops and a pair of sneakers.
Bella even bought Dean a Tshirt he liked and Sammy a toy dinosaur no matter how much John protested.
And frankly after seeing how happy the boys were John was quiet. He never had money to buy them things just because they liked them, he bought what they needed and the cheapest version possible.
John took the boys to the food court when Bella turned to Victorias secret. As much as he wanted to see that, he didn't need those images in his brain, his imagination is doing a hell of a job already.
Thank you for reading!