Chapter 11
It took two hours to get all of the lights untangled and then make sure they worked. Only three strands were in full working order, but John had a knack for figuring out exactly which bulbs needed to be changed. In the end they had eight fully working strands of lights and a pile of salvage which was what John called the strands he wound up and put in a box labeled with the same name. "You always keep what's left over." John explained to Dean, "You never know when you might need them." Morgana found herself smiling to see John in his element, fixing broken things. It made her realize just how hard the last few weeks must have been for him, John was the guy who could make anything work, who people called to come over and help solve problems with cars and things around the house. The world he had found himself in now was not fixable, it was impossible to just reach in and put it all back together.
Just as they were stacking the last of the boxes and trying to decide what to eat for dinner John stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Morgana. All of the color had drained from his face, he handed the box to her, turned and walked out of the office. Morgana and Dean shared worried looks. Dean ran after his Dad and Morgana scooped up Sam who had been chewing on a plastic Santa ornament and followed them both. As she emerged into the cold November evening she saw what had drawn John out into the parking lot, Dan and Greyson in that hideous paneled station wagon. John was already standing next to the car impatiently waiting for them to get out, and Dean stood behind his father holding on to John's leg. Morgana knew their discussion was not going to be pleasant and briskly walked over to intercede before they could even get started.
"Good to see you made it back in one piece." Morgana said grabbing Dean's hand off John's leg. John looked up at her, she couldn't tell if he was angry at her for barging in, his face was blank.
"Even better." Dan exclaimed as he climbed out of the car carrying several paper bags obviously full of greasy french fries and burgers. "I brought dinner." Dan handed a bag to John and patted him on the shoulder.
"We can eat in my room." Morgana said as she guided Dean that way, keeping him from grabbing the bag from John's hand and wolfing down the food before they even got inside. They all went into the small room and found places to sit, Greyson had the nerve to sit right on top of one of the larger trunks knowing quite well what the symbols on the top were there to keep in. Morgana passed the food out and insisted Dean sit at the table with her and Sam, who sat on her lap gnawing on a french fry. They all made small talk as they ate, and when Dean was mostly done Morgana grabbed the extra fries and Dean's soda and stood up saying, "Well, while you boys talk shop, I'm going to get these two washed up and ready for bed. Let's go Dean."
"I didn't know you were a mechanic Mr. Dan." Dean said stalling the inevitable bath time ahead of him.
"Mr. Elkins isn't a mechanic,"John corrected his son, "he's a hunter."
"That's right." Dan interrupted before John could go on. "I hunt things that get in houses and under porches and make a mess, I'm an exterminator."
"Cool." Dean said, and he would have gone on but Morgana could see the look on John's face, this was not a conversation he was ready to have with his son, so she grabbed Dean's hand and rushed him out the door. "Good night Mr Elkins." Dean hollered as he was dragged away.
John was glad Mora had the good sense to take the the boys next door. John knew she thought he should start talking to Dean about the real dangers in the world, preparing him, but John just wanted to give him a little more time to be a normal kid. He looked at Dan who was eating his second burger. John had barely touched his, Mora would nag at him that he needed to eat more, that woman reminded John more and more of his mother, even at Mora's relatively young age.
"Before you tell me what you found out in town I need to know about Mora." John looked Dan in the eye, but Dan gave nothing away. "What did you mean by 'witch'?"
"Just that," Dan said sipping from the straw in his soda, "she's a witch, healer, sorceress, whatever label you want to give it. She uses magic to manipulate the energy around us to do amazing things. In Mora's case, she uses her power to heal and help those who need her, like you and your boys." Greyson grunted and Dan glared at him. "Greyson owes her his life, that's why I'm helping you, Grey was as good as dead after a werewolf almost tore him in two. Mora saved his life, I owe her everything, and you don't come by that kind of gratitude from hunters easily."
John sat quietly staring at Dan, finally he spoke. "Okay Dan, I'm going to take you at your word. I've just recently become aware of the true world we live in, you are my guide, you and Mora, I guess I have to trust you both until you prove otherwise." There was a fear in Dan's eyes that John found interesting, it was the knowledge that John wouldn't hesitate to snap Dan's neck if he thought for a second Dan or anyone with him might hurt Sam and Dean.
"I'll be honest, John," Dan cleared his throat before continuing, "I came here expecting to find a man who was completely useless as a hunter. I was going to take you out on a couple of jobs and tell Mora to let it go, you were hopeless. Then, on that farm I saw a man who is well on his way to being one of the best hunters I've ever seen. Then I went into town today and saw how desperate some high level demons are to find your family and I understand why Mora is so dedicated to keeping you safe."
The look on John's face didn't change, he looked grim and stoic, a man who refused to be surprised by anything ever again. He was not about to ask why or try to dig information out of Dan, John just stood there and stared at him, emotionless. Dan found himself uncomfortable for the first time in a long time. Here was this man who had barely become a hunter and he was intimidating Dan Elkins, a life long hunter of the worst things the world, and underworld could throw at him. Dan found himself speechless and looking away awkwardly from John's gaze.
"How about we wait for Mora to get back?" Dan inquired trying to sound more confident than he felt. "No use telling the same story twice."
John leaned up against the wall next to the door, crossed his arms and stared at Dan and Greyson blankly. Dan tried to shake of his anxiety and ignore John's stare by digging into a large pile of french fries. Greyson was too busy reading a comic book and sucking down a soda to even notice anyone else in the room, he really didn't care what John thought. John wanted to know that these men were being straight with him. John had learned enough in the last few weeks that he felt confident in his ability to keep the boys and himself safe without any help.
For Dan it felt like an eternity for Mora to return from getting the boys down, John could tell. That made John feel better, sure Dan was unnerved by John's demeanor but he didn't cave, John could respect that. Mora swept in with her usual flare, long, dark, wild hair whipping around her face and the old fashioned long skirts she preferred sweeping around her feet. Mora was flushed, John knew the feeling of trying to get those two Winchester boys to settle down to sleep.
"Alright," Mora gasped "What did I miss?"
"Nothing," John answered "We waited for you to come back."
"What gentlemen." Mora said as she sat on the end of her bed and looked to Dan. "Well, what happened Daniel? Or are you going to make me drag it out of you?" John knew Mora was kidding, he could tell by the look on her face, but Dan didn't and he quickly stood and began his narrative.
"Well, there was a demon alright. It was still hanging around waiting and watching for you John."
"How do you know that?" John growled.
"Oh, we'll get there, don't you worry. So, Greyson stayed in the car and watched demon boy for me while I went to talk to Brett, the boyfriend. Brett was a mess, I've seen it before, some demon brain raped him for as much information as possible. But, for as little as I got out of him I doubt there was much to begin with. He didn't hear much of anything Katy ever told him, typical. What he did know was Katy had super strength before she left, she threw him against a wall and broke his wrist before taking off."
"She was possessed." John stated without emotion.
"Yeah, no doubt about it." Dan continued "I don't think we'll find her alive,John, I'm sorry."
"What good does that do Katy?" John snapped. "The only thing that girl did was babysit my boys so Mary and I could go see a movie. Others are going to die for this, and why, that is what I really want to know, why are they doing this? Why my family?"
"I wish I could tell you." Dan stammered with utter honesty. "That's the problem, these were high level demons, ones who don't come out and play very often. They don't want you though, they want Sam. All of the questions were about Sam, if he went to daycare, who was his doctor, even if he could talk yet."
"What do they want with Sam?" John wasn't asking Dan, he was staring directly at Mora, and he was angry.
"John," Mora began with that calming voice she thought could trick him into backing off, but her games wouldn't work with John right now, he was too pissed off. John could see her shock at his resistance, he wondered if it was a first for her. "Dan's right, they want Sam."
"Why?" John was done playing hunter games, he wanted truth and didn't car who he made uncomfortable or what dark secrets he had to dig out of people.
"Sam is special, very special." Mora looked tired and her eyes looked older than ever before. "He could develop powers that could bring the end of the world. As ridiculous as that may sound to you John it's true. Do you think Joseph looked at the baby Jesus and thought of what we know of his legacy today? To you he is just a baby, a cute little boy with bright eyes and a charming smile. But, you must understand, Mary did, that is why she was willing to die to save him."
"Special, that's great, and tells me absolutely fucking nothing!" John was done, he had nothing left to resemble patience. "Tell me something I can understand Mora, tell me what he can do or why these bastards are trying to get a baby, an innocent little boy. Why they would torture and burn my wife, possess our babysitter and melt her boyfriends minimal brains to get Sam!" John was panting with rage and wanted nothing more than to punch some one into a bloody pulp, and the eerie calm of Greyson and his damn comic book was top on the list. Mora came toward John with her hands outstretched and as much as John wanted to resist her healing and calm he also wanted to welcome it. To not feel this pain, anger and confusion. She stopped in front of him, but didn't touch him. John understood, she wanted him to hear her with his whole self, anger, fear, all of it.
"You and your boys are the last of a long line of gifted men." John glared at her but let her go on. "Dean is a true soldier, he will protect and serve who he is told to. Sam is the opposite of a soldier, he is the man who thinks beyond the battle and sees the world as it could be. That is as dangerous as it is useful, his strength has been bred into him from centuries of pure blood, he can do things most would never believe could be done."
"But not Dean." John hoped.
"Oh, no, Dean could, but he wouldn't, or at least it would take a lot to make him." Mora furrowed her brow as she tried to find a way to explain it to him. "It's complicated, it's biblical, thousands of years of have gone by waiting for these two boys, but Dean isn't the one who will bring the demons victory, it is Sam. Sam was born with the potential to accomplish the goals the demons seek, freeing Lucifer himself."
John's head began to spin, he could hear the words of the preacher his Grandmother always had over for lunch on Sundays to 'chat' with them. John knew it was an attempt to help him find religion but he sat and pretended to listen politely. John reached out and grabbed Mora's hand, he could feel her energy help him to calm down, before he knew it Dan had shoved a chair under him and he was sitting slumped down staring at the ugly gold shag carpet.
"Is that what you found out too, Dan?" John's voice shook and he really didn't want to hear the answer.
"For as much as I got out of him, it's about right." Dan began his tale again. "I was smart enough to set up a devil's trap while I spoke to Jello brains Brett, it's good since some one fell asleep in the car." Dan shot a look at his son, but Greyson was oblivious to it. "When the demon came in it was stuck for good, or at least I thought. I asked it a couple questions about you and the boys and all it would give me was the fact that the master of all, AKA Lucifer, needs Sam. Unfortunately I didn't realize how much control the demon asshole had over Brett the idiot. Brett went and got a rag and cleaner and broke the circle. Demonboy black smoked out before I could get much out of him at all."
John sighed and looked up at the deep brown eyes of Mora, she was genuinely pained by all this and for the first time since Mary's death he felt safe. Witch or not, some how this woman was keeping them safe and together, she asked for nothing and would do anything to help. John saw her for the first time as his friend and ally. Mora squeezed his hand and smiled down at him.
"We won't let them get to Sam." Mora assured John. "We will keep him safe, and you will make sure he is raised to make the right choices. It is going to be alright, and you know I will do anything to keep that promise to you."
There was something in Mora's voice, not the usual manipulated tone, but a truth that John could feel in his heart. John let go of everything and allowed himself to break down in front of other people. Dan looked at him with the understanding of a man who had lost his wife, Greyson didn't even look up from his reading and Mora wrapped her arms around John and held him tight. There was no magic in her embrace, just compassion, she let him weep and feel to pain that Mora knew he needed to let out.
It wasn't long before John pulled himself together. It was obvious there wasn't anything more to discuss that evening. Mora offered to get a room for Dan and Greyson from Wally so they could get a good nights sleep. As soon everyone else was gone John stood up and walked over to the footlocker that held stacks of pictures of Mary and her family. John picked up a picture of Mary around age 16 holding a shotgun and smiling while covered in blood of some sort. John began to understand what his wife was running away from and he also understood that it had all caught up with her. Now John was going to have to decide whether he wanted to keep running or stay and fight. His heart broke as he imagined Dean shooting rock salt at ghosts and Sam learning how to draw devil's traps or recite latin exoticisms. There was nothing he could do about it tonight so he decided to just go next door and go to bed.
John took a shower and got ready for bed, he then stood over his sleeping boys and just watched them smile and dream. "I'm sorry." John whispered.