Summary: John drags his boys on another hunt, but unfortunately this time they weren't prepared. When a caring teacher discovers the boys' injuries, will her meddling help or hurt the family? A wee!chester story.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Supernatural but I can't pass up the good material it inspires! Enjoy!!
Dean glanced up from tickling his brother when he felt a presence by the door. His laughing stopped instantly at his father's somber expression. Sam rolled over and stopped laughing as well. The silence was unbearable. John forced a cough to clear away the lump in his throat.
"Hey, Sammy? Could you give me and Dean a minute, kiddo?"
"Promise you won't hurt him," Sam demanded, making John's heart constrict.
"I'll swear on anything you want. I will never hurt you or your brother again."
Sam considered the proposal, then nodded and rose from the bed, heading out into the kitchen area. John took a deep breath, then turned back to Dean.
"Son… I…"
"It's okay, dad. I know you didn't mean it."
John took a few more steps into the room, but kept distance between himself and his son.
"It's no where near okay, Dean. You didn't deserve that, and you didn't deserve it the first time either. I need you to understand that."
"Sure, dad."
"You know you've never failed this family, right?"
Dean's eyes dropped to the ground instantly.
"Dad… about what I said when you and Bobby showed up… I don't really think you're an obsessed son-of-a…"
"Dean, it's okay. You were right. I am obsessed, and I'm sorry for the pain it has caused you and your brother. I never meant for things to get so out of hand."
"I know that. Like I said, it's okay. It's not like you asked for this kind of life either. We're all in the same boat, dad. None of us are handling it very well."
"You are. You always have been. I don't know how you do it, but I wish we were all as strong as you. I'm a lucky father to have you by my side."
"Come on, you don't need me, dad…"
"I do need you, Dean. You're the one holding this family together. Not me. And I've always loved you and your brother, and I always will. Never forget that, okay?"
Dean swallowed hard and nodded silently, feeling slightly awkward at the chick flick moment his father had started. John sat down next to Dean's hip, not ready to give up on their heart-to-heart just yet.
"On another note, since when did you stop believing in angels? I always thought you did."
"I pretended to for a long time, but only for Sammy's sake. He insisted they were real and that mom was one of them. I didn't want to dash his dreams."
"Well that's very considerate of you, kiddo. I'm sorry you couldn't stay innocent longer. I never meant to take away your childhood."
"There was nothing wrong with my childhood, dad. I've got no complaints. I mean, sure it wasn't always easy, but other kids have had worse. Who am I to bitch?"
"You know if I could take it all away and still keep you and your brother safe, I would?"
"Yeah, dad. I know." Dean offered up a weak smile and John patted him affectionately on the shoulder. A lone tear fell from John's eye, mourning the loss of his son's innocence, and Dean was blinking more than usual to hold his own tears in. His dad quickly wiped away the tear and sniffed loudly. An awkward silence filled the room, so John decided to lighten the atmosphere a bit.
"So… about the virgin thing?"
"Oh, come on, dad…" Dean groaned as he blushed profusely.
"Seriously, dude. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Why?! Because it's freakin' embarrassing, that's why!"
"Were you really that bad?" John teased, making Dean scowl.
"I didn't hear her complainin' any if that's what you mean."
"You know, you don't have to rush these things. There'll be plenty of time for it in the future."
"Yeah, sure. When we're not hunting the supernatural 24/7…" Dean rolled his eyes.
"Please tell me you at least played it safe?"
Dean groaned louder and dropped his head into his hands. "Yeah, dad. I'm not an idiot."
"Glad to hear it. Oh, and it better not have taken place in my car…"
"Gross! God no! We practically live in that thing! She drove us to this place by the water and we had a picnic on the beach. Then one thing led to another…"
"She… drove? How old was this girl exactly?" John arched an eyebrow at his son's smirk.
"Her name was Laura, and she was twenty-one."
"Dean! Don't you think she was a little out of your league?"
"Apparently not. And she certainly knew what she was doing…" Dean's eyes glazed as he replayed that day in his head. John was highly disturbed.
"Okay, okay… That's enough info, thank you. I don't need to hear the details."
Now Dean was having fun making his dad feel uncomfortable. Payback is a bitch. "You sure? Cause damn, the details can really make or break an experience. Did I mention she was into yoga?"
"Dean! Honestly, I don't know where you get it from, but I knew the moment you were born you were gonna be a heartbreaker. Just, try to have some self control will ya?"
"Now where's the fun in that?"
"Where is that brother of yours?"
Dean smirked. He knew he had won. His father wouldn't be prying into his private life again anytime soon. Thank god…
"I'm right here!" Sam came bobbing back into the room with a huge smile on his face. Apparently he had heard the entire embarrassing chick flick moment and was glad all the issues had been addressed. Dean reached up and scratched the back of his head feeling uncomfortable. Teasing his dad about his sex life was one thing… but having his little brother overhear it all? Awkward…
"So are we all okay now?" John asked tentatively.
"Course," Dean answered immediately.
Sam pretended to be thinking it over until Dean nudged him hard in the ribs. "Okay, okay! Yeah, we're okay. But you better not break your promise," he warned his father.
"You have my word, Sammy. Now, I gave Missouri a call and she gave me an herbal remedy to help you boys heal faster. I'll go get it. Stay right here."
"Yes, sir."
Once John was out of the room, Sam turned to his brother.
"Hey, Dean?"
"Yeah, Sammy?"
"Angels really do exist ya know. You just have to believe."
"I'll take your word for it, little brother."
"I'll prove it to you someday. You'll see."
John paused in the kitchen, staring into his newly made concoction. This was his last chance to back down. After a few seconds of indecision, he let out a slow breath and carried the two cups into the bedroom.
"Here we go. Enjoy."
The boys took their drinks and Sam began to down it. Dean glanced into the cup in disgust and sniffed at it.
Sam made a face as he forced the liquid down his throat. Half way through, he gagged. "Gross! What is in this, dad?"
"Don't you worry about that. Just keep drinkin' till it's gone."
John was too busy watching Sam to notice that Dean hadn't even taken a sip from his cup yet. The eldest Winchester was sure his good little soldier would instantly do as he was told without question, whereas the belligerent Sammy could feed it to the nearest plant when John wasn't looking.
When Sam finished, he handed the empty cup back to his father.
"Good boy. It'll kick in soon. You'll probably feel tired, so don't fight it. You boys need your rest anyways."
Sam's eyelids were already drooping. John stood up and helped his youngest slide under the sheets next to his brother.
"Night, kiddo." He kissed Sam on the forehead, then turned to tuck Dean in only to find him clutching the full cup with both hands. He was staring into it as though he were holding a cup full of poison.
"Go on, son. Drink it up," John prodded.
"Dad, please don't make me do this again."
John was completely nonplused. Dean couldn't possibly…
"Again? You…you remember the day your mom died?"
"Yeah. Have for a long time. It just never seemed like the right time to say anything."
"Jeez, Dean… I didn't know this stuff wore off…"
"I don't know if it did. I just always had this feeling that I was missin' something, like there was a void of emptiness when I knew there should have been somethin' there, so I pursued it until eventually bits and pieces started comin' back."
"What exactly do you remember?" John wasn't sure he wanted an answer, but he felt compelled to ask.
"I remember everything that happened that night from the demon showing up, mom screaming, you shouting for her, then me carrying Sammy out of the house. I even remember what yellow eyes did to Sammy."
"What do you mean, what it did to Sam?" Not even John knew the whole story. By the time he had gotten upstairs, his wife was dying on the ceiling and Sam was crying in his crib, but the demon was gone. He had no idea the thing had even gone near his son.
"It put demon blood in his mouth. I watched from the doorway. I hid when it looked at me with its yellow eyes. Then I came back when you yelled. It infected him, dad."
"You let me worry about that, okay?" It took everything he had not to strike out at the wall as he was consumed by anger yet again.
"Okay."
"You know this drink will give you peace of mind? At least, as long as you don't pursue the truth again…"
"I can't… I don't want to feel that void again, dad. Please don't make me drink it this time."
His son's pleading was tearing at John's heartstrings, but he couldn't bear the thought of dealing with Dean's newly acquired emotional pain. It just wasn't in his genes.
"Dean, I… Please, son. Just do as I say."
Dean dropped his gaze to the floor in defeat. After all, he never disobeyed a direct order.
"Yes, sir."
A tear slipped silently down his cheek as he lifted the cup to his lips, then after a slight hesitation, he grimaced as the foul mixture made its way down his throat. Seconds later, he was handing the empty cup to his father.
"Thank you, Dean." John had never been more sincere in his life.
Only moments later Dean was starting to slump forward. John eased him down to his pillow, kissed him on the forehead, and gently wiped away the rogue tear.
"I'm so sorry, son. Please forgive me," he whispered to his sleeping boy. Now he had yet another notch to add to his guilt tally. His only comfort was that his boys wouldn't remember any of this come morning.
TBC
Review please! How am I doing so far? Was this a powerful enough chapter? Only one left I think to tie up loose ends. If there is anything else you want to see before it's over, feel free to let me know and I'll try to work it all in!