Chapter Fourteen

"Sam get your hands off me, it's just a broken finger." Sam had been smothering me all morning. Once the doctor gave me anesthesia before positioning my finger and gave Sam charge of driving me home he'd been hovering over me. I'd never imagined he had it in him to be so overly protective.

Now I knew the real reason he'd been worried. Dad's truck sat in the parking lot, no Dad in sight.

"You didn't?"

"I did. He kept calling me wanting to know if you were all right. What was a I suppose to do?"

"Lie!" I pulled away from him and stomped to the door. Dad had a key, not that it mattered, he'd be inside one way or another if that was his desire.

I waited for Sam to open the door, my right hand useless in it's oversized splint. On the other side of the door stood Dad. Years of grief etched into his face. Plenty of gray hairs in his beard, gray hair I'd added to in the recent days.

"You look all right."

"They insisted on this splint, but it's just my finger."

"Sam mentioned they had to put pins in it."

"Yeh, and Sammy's got a big mouth. You didn't need to come here Dad. Things are fine." I felt okay, but a little off so I gave into the drugs that lingered in my system and took a spot on the couch. Dad, however, remained standing.

"You have a talk with your friend?" The shift of my eyes were all I needed to do to show Dad that hadn't happened.

"That why you're really here? To make sure the mission succeeds." Dad was his usual steely calm, but Sam made a face, shocked to hear me talk back to the old man.

"Sam will you make us some coffee?"

I pulled my feet up onto the couch and grabbed the cushions to prop up my hand, conscious that Dad now had the aggressor's position. I highly doubted he'd hit me if he spent time to come back to see me, even if this visit was all about getting me to leave Gregg.

We stayed like that not speaking until Sam returned with the coffee.

"Thanks Sam." Dad took the mug into his hands gravely. "Why don't you go out for a while. Let Dean and me talk." Though given politely, it was an order. Sam knew enough not to argue and I watched him gather up his books and head off to school leaving me to deal with Dad without a buffer.

"So, did you talk to that man yet?"

"His name is Gregg and he's the one that came out to Braymer to get me, he's the one that patched me up."

"Like a good friend should, but I gave you an order. And I know you might not like it, but it's for your own good. Look, I know you're more independent and mature than other guys your age, but you're still my kid, and you still have a lot to learn. I'm just tryin' to look out for you, to see the big picture. When this arrangement you and Sam have is over, what are you going to do then? Have you thought about that?"

Even if it was a girl, Dad would be asking that question. Why was I not allowed to fall in love? Was I doomed to never being able to settle down, is that what he was implying?

"Because I'm a hunter?" My stinkin' chin was wobbling like a child's. Freakin' pain killers making me fall apart. "I don't get to love anybody?" My voice had gone all soft like a little girl.

"I'm going to find that thing that killed your mother, then this will be all over. You can settle down and relax knowing it'll never hurt anyone of us again."

"What if that takes twenty years? What then, I'll be forty and more than half my life will be over. Why?"

"I don't have all the answers, but I need you Dean. Last week I was in Colorado, nearly got choked by a poltergeist. Got a lucky break when I was able to toss my lighter into its grave to burn it. Wouldn't have been that close a call if you'd been with me."

"We always have close calls." I muttered. He was right, I should have had his back, but I was too busy falling in love and living out a fantasy. Oh sure I could say this was all for Sam and that I was following my father's directive to protect my little brother, but this had become all about me now.

Dad had gotten up for more coffee when there was a knock on the door. We weren't expecting anyone, and it's not like Jehovah Witnesses canvassed the basement level of our seedy apartment complex. With my hand banged up it would be safer for me to open the door and have Dad at the ready.

But there was no reason to fear the person on the other side of the door. Not from my point of view at least. For me, the monster in this room was my dad.

Gregg stood at the threshold, face to face with my father.

You could say I didn't want Gregg there, not at this moment with my head fogged up on painkillers and my heart confused like a preteen girl at her first dance. And Dad, well, he always knew what to say to get his way. Sam was right. I didn't have a backbone. I just wanted to make everything all right.

Dad actually sat and motioned to the chair next to him at the kitchen table. After delivering Gregg a cup of coffee I just stood there, not sure where any of this was going.

There was very little small talk between them before Gregg launched into what he must have carefully crafted to say to my father. Dad listened, at least outwardly, but I knew how stubborn that man was, how adamant he'd been the day before in the truck when he told me what I had to do. No, Dad was being polite, letting Gregg have his word, but Dad already knew how this would go down, Gregg's opinion or not.

I think Gregg was sincere in his words. "This is who I am. It's not something I chose, it's just the way I was born. I'm not here to speak for Dean, these things, can be so complicated, but I'm not here to hurt him either. Dean's so…he's special to me. You really have a great son."

"I don't know why life goes this way, but I've known I was gay since I was like fourteen. This is not like, oh well let's find some innocent boy and corrupt him. No, I need an equal. That's Dean." Gregg's jaw was set. I'd seen that look before when he was convinced his ideas were right. He'd defend them to the end.

Dad looked rather uncomfortable. Which I took as a plus, hell, I'd have thought he'd look more disgusted hearing Gregg spill his soul, but Dad took it all in. Just wish I knew why.

"Gregg, I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, but this is my family you're tangled up with, my son's head you're messing with. And his future. I'm not about to let him wander around in public holding hands with you and kissing.

"Because it embarrasses you?" Did Gregg realize how his comments were lighting the fuse on a stick of dynamite?

The anger swelled in Dad, but it wasn't the same type he'd use with monsters or the possessed. He was controlled, cold. "Damn right, because Dean works in a career field that doesn't stand any weakness. Hunters are known for killing what's different. I've spent half my life protecting my sons, not just from the supernatural, but from others who might not understand. They were just babies when I started this fight, babies among warriors who weren't known for compassion. You don't have children; so you have no idea how it is to worry about them day and night. This isn't about what I need, it's for Dean's well being."

"You tell yourself that, but his safety gives you comfort, helps you to know you choose the right path for yourself and made the right choice in becoming a hunter. You think other people don't have bad shit happen to them? But not everyone decides to hunt it down. It's what you chose, not something your sons did. If you were thinking of their well being you wouldn't let them face monsters like that lamia, you'd keep them a million miles away. That's protecting your own. Not keeping them from a job, or a lover, or college."

At the mention of college I was worried Sam would be dragged into the conversation. Time to step in.

"Woah, guys." I held out my arms in a calming gesture as Dad rose to his feet.

Dad, as usual, continued on. "Don't tell me how to raise my sons…."

"They're adults, they have to make their own mistakes and learn from them, you can't …" Dad advanced on Gregg quickly and I thought for sure I'd see punches fly. Instead Gregg backed up a few feet and tensed. I moved between them.

"Will you two just stop it? I don't even know what you're arguing about." They would have to figure it out without me, I left them standing in their testosterone anger. I slammed the bedroom door behind me and headed to my bed.

WWW

Sam's hands were on my shoulders shaking me gently. "Wake up, you gonna sleep all day and all night? I glanced at the window and noticed it was dark, had to be after five. "I'll make you something to eat. Want toasted cheese and tomato soup?"

"Sammy, I have a broken finger, not a cold."

"I know, but you look awful. You been sleeping all day?"

"I took a couple pain pills and came in here for a nap."

"Dude, you're only suppose to take one! You feel okay?"

"I'll live. You talk to Dad at all?"

"No, what happened?"

"After you left Gregg came over. He didn't know Dad was here of course. It's interesting how much he reminds me of you."

"They got into a fight didn't they?"

"No punches, but plenty of angry words."

"I don't know if it's worth this Sam? It's so hard being me. Dad's too pissed to talk, I'm not used to him angry at me. Gregg's on my back about being honest to myself. And on top of it all there's your college secret. Why can't things just go back to the way they were?"

"Our lives aren't normal. But you can't wish to go back in time, things gotta change, people have to move on with their lives. You know I'm not leaving you forever, I just want a college education, then I can get a good job, make legitimate money, help the family out this way."

"You provide a convincing argument, become a lawyer."

"Actually, that's what I've been thinking."

"Can we not talk about this college thing right now. Dad gave me an order. He told me I had to leave Gregg, end it, he said. I don't want to, but part of me knows Dad has a point, and look what arguing got me." I lifted my hand in annoyance. "

"So, you're just gonna give in?"

"No, Sam, not give in, but do the right thing by Dad. He's got a point. And there's only room for one rebel in the family."

"Now you're just making excuses."

"Shut up Sam and go make me some dinner." I rolled over, putting my back to him. He got the hint. I wasn't kidding when I said there was only room for one rebel in the family; that was Sam's job. Me, I was the peacemaker. So I'd do what had to be done, just like always.