Never Forget

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Synopsis: Pre-series. Dean and John are working separate hunts in New York when the unthinkable happens. It wasn't supposed to happen like this; it was supposed to be an easy hunt.

Setting: This story is set in NYC on September 11th 2001, is was also set in Palo Alto, but is not any longer. Pre-series.

Disclaimer: Supernatural and all of their associated content belong to Eric Kripke and the CW, I own nothing of the sort.

A/N: This may contain some material that some readers find sensitive and it is pre-series AU. Here is an update! Not as large but still was fast! Summer hours are quieter!

"Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard." ~ Dave Mustaine

4:47 P.M September 13th 2001

"You sure you're alright here John?" Asked Mac as he looked in to John's eyes, he could see how tired his friend looked and doubted he'd slept much at all over the past few hours.

"Yea, Mac." he said "I'm alright, just glad to be back with my boys."

Mac looked over to Caleb, "All right son, let's get back to the motel for some shuteye."

Dean had mostly slept over the few hours Caleb had been sitting with him. When he was awake he was quiet and withdrawn, but they could see it in his eyes that he was getting over the 'self-blame'. They could also see that he was now trying to seek closure, closure that would not come for many days.

"Well, doctor Carville is back on shift so if you need anything John remember to just page him. I've explained the situation with Samuel so he has no problems with either of you occupying the bed tonight okay?" Mac told him.

The effects of the exhaustion were slowly wearing off on Sam. He was currently in the Cafeteria grabbing a sandwich for himself and his father, who he knew would be arriving shortly.

"Alright Mac, and thanks again. For everything." John replied.

"Not a problem John. Caleb and I will see you again in the morning." Mac told him and then turned to his son.

He smiled as he saw Caleb leaning over closely to Dean and whispering in his ear.

"You gotta get better man, we can blow this place and go find some nice New York women if ya catch my drift." he whispered.

Both Mac and John pretended not to notice when Caleb rubbed his hand over Dean's short, spiky hair.

"Neither of you saw that!" The psychic fumed when he heard their thoughts.

"Saw what?" John asked smiling.

Caleb stalked from the room and his father followed, laughing the entire way.

John sat down in the now vacant chair and took Dean's hand. "How ya feelin' son?" he asked.

He laughed as his sons eyes opened to mere slits, "How'd you know I was awake?" Dean rasped.

John reached for one of the cups with ice chips and assisted Dean with putting some in his mouth.

"I can read you like a book kid." his father reminded him. "I saw you flinch when I sat down."

"Kinda surprised me as I was wakin' up." Dean told him.

Sam walked into the room the minute Dean finished talking, he nearly dropped the food he was carrying when he saw that his brother was awake.

"Dean! Hey!" he exclaimed as he struggled to keep his hold on the food.

"Easy Samantha, I'm all right." Dean whispered

"You're anything but all right Dean," his father reminded him "Physically anyways."

"Ahh man, Mac and Caleb told you about that?" Dean asked as he turned red.

"Of course they told me Dean, you may be over 21 but you are still my son. Why didn't you tell me how you felt Dean?" John asked, "I know I may not be the most understanding of individuals but….."

He was interrupted when Dean snorted and whispered "Understatement of the year…"

Sam started laughing, then John started laughing, and eventually Dean joined in. They must've looked ridiculous to anyone walking by but they didn't care. For the first time in along time it was just the three of them there, together, and laughing and to Dean it felt just…right.

John immediately stopped laughing when he saw the tears in his eldest's eyes. "Are you okay Dean?" He asked "Do you need a doctor?"

Dean just shook his head and wiped his face the best he could. "It's just…." he stopped as he was overcome once again by tears. "I feel…so…weak and I miss…I miss this." he sobbed "I miss the three of us, saving people, and hunting things together. Do you even…realize…h-how…l-long-g it's been since we've just been together without fighting? Without you an Sam butting heads?"

"Too long." Sam said "I'm sorry dad, about everything I said before I left…I should've realized what it was doing to you Dean…it's my fault you're even in this situation."

"Sammy it's not…" Dean began but was interrupted by John.

"If it's anyone's fault it's mine Sam. I gave Dean this solo-hunt, I thought he was ready to be out on his own and…."

Sam interrupted him, voice raising as he continued "No dad, if I hadn't left…."

"STOP IT!" Dean yelled as loudly as he could "Please…just…stop it." John and Sam looked at each other, realizing they were doing it again. Fighting without even realizing it.

"I'm sorry Dean." Sam said…"I didn't think…"

"That's right Sammy…you don't think." Dean began, mustering up all the strength he had to tell his brother exactly how he'd felt the last few months. "You do what's best for yourself and that's how it's always been or at least, how it's always felt. I've given everything for you I've done everything for you and you just left? You know…I tried to convince myself for the longest time that you belonged in Stanford, that you left for a reason and just…the only conclusion I came to was that you left to get away from me…and let's not delay the inevitable Sam…just…go back to Stanford…at least this way I can see it coming."

Sam stared at Dean, mouth agape as he listened to his brother talking.

John's look mirrored Sam's own as Dean told them how he'd felt for the last few months, his heart was breaking as he heard his son's heart-felt words. Hell he'd felt the same way himself.

Sam looked away for a moment after Dean finished and then he looked right back at him, anger in his eyes.

"Is that what you honestly think?" he demanded "That I left to get away from you? Dean, I left for you. I know how much it hurt you to see me and Dad arguing, my heart was breaking Dean! I had to leave, I couldn't deal with you 'taking off' every time dad and I were in the same room! You are one selfish son of a bitch if you think I'm going to let you deal with this on your own big brother, I'm not going anywheres."

John just stood, taking in the scene as his sons continued to sort out what had desperately needed to be done for months.

"You mean…" Dean began "You're not going back to Stanford right away?"

Sam had to look away at the sheer hope in his brother's eyes, it was almost too much.

"No Dean, I'm not going back right away, I'm not going back, period. My place is here with you…and dad." he had to blink away the tears that threatened to spill "These have been the hardest months of my life Dean, not knowing what happened to you every minute. This is a family business so we'd better start acting like it."

Sam cautiously leaned down and hugged Dean, motioning for John to follow his lead.

John looked awkwardly torn, he hadn't been this close or emotional with his boys since…well it'd been too damn long. He leaned in and the three men hugged for what seemed like forever.

"Well this is awkward…" Dean mumbled after a few seconds.

Sam quickly pulled away and John followed suit, each straightening their shirts and hiding their faces as they noticed that several people in the hallway had stopped to watch the family's heart-felt moment.

Sam looked at his father, I mean really looked at his father since any of this had begun. He noticed that his father had showered but that was about all he was sure he had done.

"You look dead on your feet dad." Sam stated honestly, "Here, eat your chicken salad sandwich and get into the bed. I'll keep an eye on Dean."

"Hey! 'Dean' Is sitting right here." Dean pouted "And he can keep a perfect eye on himself!"

"So you want me to leave?" Sam joked, not at all ready for Dean's reaction. Dean reached his arm out as quickly as he could and grabbed Sam's wrist. "I was just kidding!" he plead.

"Easy man." Sam said "I was just messin' around."

"Yea…kidding." Dean said absently.

"I already told you Dean, unless it's to sleep later, I'm not going anywhere."

John picked up the sandwich and sat on the other bed, silently, watching his boys as Sam sat in the chair next to the bed and Dean slowly started to fall asleep.

He tossed the wrapper into the garbage and laid back, ready to sleep for a while.

He had one last thought before sleep claimed him:

'Mary…if you're listening…please keep our boys together and safe."

**REVIEW**: You didn't expect an update this fast did you? XD Thank you to ALL of my reviewers! You can be expecting a reply soon if you haven't already gotten one!