Crawling From the Wreckage Ch. 21
Disclaimer: See first chapter
Author's Note: In order to avoid confusion about which story is being updated, this story is the one where Sam was driving John's truck and wrecked it due to the Ala Demon. He is suffering from significant head trauma.
Previously: "That's my boy," Dean stated with a grin as he watched Sam finally dig into his meal. He could only hope the rest of Sam's recovery would go so well.
Lying in bed that night as he listened to the sound of his baby brother's soft snoring, Dean couldn't help but grin as he reviewed the day's events in his head. Sam had made some great strides with his speech and with another few weeks practice, he was sure the kid's speech would nearly be back to normal. Sure, he knew that Sam would still face some challenges ahead, but that was something they would face together as a family. And speaking of family, he was extremely proud of the way his father had encouraged Sam throughout the day. It was actually nice to see him being a father instead of a drill sergeant for a change. Of course, he knew that wouldn't last, but for now, it was all he could hope for where Sammy was concerned.
Rolling onto his side as the sound of rustling came from the other bed, Dean held his breath as he watched Sam squirm about restlessly. He hated the fact that Sam's sleep was often interrupted by nightmares, and it really pissed him off to know that that was one of the things he couldn't protect his brother from, the horrors of his own mind. Pushing himself up onto one elbow, Dean made ready to throw the blanket covering him back when his brother sighed softly and relaxed into a peaceful sleep once again.
Keeping vigil just a few moments more, Dean finally allowed his own eyes to close; secure in the knowledge that nothing bad would happen to his baby brother as long as he was around. He would make sure of that.
Silently opening the door to his sons' room an hour or so later, John smiled contentedly as he watched them both sleeping peacefully, almost as if they didn't have a care in the world. Silently sending up a prayer to his beloved wife Mary, he asked her to watch over their boys and give Sam the strength and determination he would to get through the days to come.
Closing the door once more, John made his way down the hallway to his own room. He really was in need of some sleep himself.
~~Supernatural~~
Working on an old Chevy Nova later the next morning, Bobby had to laugh as he heard John's stomach rumbling from beneath the rusted vehicle they both were currently working on. They had skipped breakfast in favor of getting an early start on the car, and now he himself was feeling a bit hungry to be honest.
"Hey John, why don't you go get the boys so we can run into town and pick up some food at diner that you seem so fond off." Bobby voiced as he closed the hood over the engine.
"Sounds good to me," John replied as he rolled himself out from under the car and wiped his grease covered hands on an old rag. His stomach had been experiencing hunger pains for the last hour or so and he was hoping Bobby would soon call and end to their work.
Striding quickly across the yard, John climbed the few steps to the front porch and then pulled the screen door open and made his way into the kitchen where he knew that Dean would be working with Sam on his speech therapy using some of Bobby's old Tomes.
"You boys about ready for a break yet?" John queried as he walked into the kitchen and made his way to the sink where he filled a glass with some cold tap water.
"Yesss Sssir," Sam answered with a slight cringe. He still hadn't gotten the /s/ sound down correctly yet and it aggravated him to no ends.
"Whatcha got in mind Dad?" Dean inquired as he gave his father a quizzical look.
"Me and Bobby are heading down to the diner in town for one of their succulent steaks and thought you boys might like to join us," John replied after chugging down the water. "My treat."
"Sounds good to me." How about you kiddo, you feel up to making a trip into town?" Dean asked, knowing that Sam would be nervous about his first foray into the public arena since his speech aphasia had started. He wanted nothing more than to feast on one of the gigantic burgers that the diner offered, but he would forego the heavenly treat if Sam wasn't up to going.
"Yeah, I'd lite (like) dat…that." Sam stated, correcting his mispronunciation.
"Okay, give me and Bobby a few minutes to get cleaned up and we'll make a trip into town," John stated before jogging up the stairs to take a quick shower. He knew Bobby would clean up in the tool shed since he had an outdoor sink there that he used cleaning up the tools or himself when needed.
~~Supernatural~~
"So, what will it be gentlemen?" Tiffany, the bleached blonde waitress, asked as she smacked on a piece of bubblegum while tapping her order pad with her pencil.
"I'd like a steak, medium rare, a baked potato smothered in sour cream and butter with a side of onion rings," John answered with a smile as he handed the menu back to the waitress. "Oh, and a coffee."
"Make that two." Bobby stated as he too handed his menu over.
"What about you handsome?" Tiffany asked as she gazed seductively at Dean with a beaming smile.
"I'll have your famous triple burger with extra onions, no pickle, and a side of fries and a coke," Dean replied, with a smile of his own.
"And for you sugar?" She asked Sam as she smiled politely at him.
"I'll hab…have a hambuder wid…with fwies," Sam answered, his head hanging low as he refused to look the waitress in the eyes. He couldn't help but hear the loud snickering coming from the next table over as two hoodlums dressed in black garb mocked his broken speech.
Unbeknownst to the Winchesters and Bobby, the two men who looked to be in their early twenties had been causing problems for the last thirty minutes or so and had been driving customers away. But the manager refused to do anything out of fear.
"Excuse me for just a minute," Bobby stated as he pushed back his chair. "I think the trash needs taking out. Oh, and make sure you give Sam a coke to go with his order also."
The waitress nodded her understanding and walked away as the other man stood up also, anger radiating from his broad form.
"I'll give you some help," John voiced, his fists clenching as he too pushed away from the table.
"Dad…" Sam pleaded with a whisper. He didn't want to be the cause of any trouble and them getting kicked out of the restaurant.
"No Sammy, let them handle it. Those dicks deserve the trouncing they're about to get," Dean enunciated as he stayed at his brother's side to soothe his siblings frazzled nerves. Sam needed him and his Dad and Bobby could handle those idiots alone.
Not even bothering to talk to the two men about their rudeness, Bobby grabbed one by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him out of the seat just as John did the same to the other.
"Hey, what the f*ck do you think you're doing?" The thug, known as Hammer, asked as he was unceremoniously pulled from his chair.
"Getting rid of the trash," Bobby answered as he grabbed one arm and wrenched it behind the man's back before pushing him towards the door.
"You can't do this to us, I'll f*cking kill you," the other deviant, Knuckles" spat as John locked him in a vice grip and forced him forward.
"You and what army?" John retorted angrily as he pushed the man out the now open door before following him out.
"Damn it! You bastards are going to pay for this," Hammer swore as Bobby slammed him up against the outside alley wall of the restaurant.
"I think you've got that wrong son. You're the one who is going to pay," Bobby voiced as he punched Hammer near the kidney area with his fist. You punks said something in there that hurt my kid, and me and my friend here are going to teach you the manners you two apparently failed to learn from your mamas.
"What do you have in mind, old friend?" John asked as he held his thug in place.
"I was thinking maybe we should cut their tongues out and shove it up their asses. At least then they wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else with their barbed words. You up for that?" Bobby answered, a malicious tone to his voice.
"Hell yes," John replied with an evil grin, knowing that Bobby was trying to scare the crap out of the two hoodlums.
"But...But you can't do that," Hammer stammered with an audible groan as Bobby ground his right cheek into the brick wall.
"We can and we will," John iterated, nearly wrenching Knuckles arm from its shoulder socket as he pulled on it harshly. "No one messes with my boys and gets away with it."
"Come one man, we we're just having a little fun at the kid's expense," Knuckles gasped as sweat began to roll profusely down his face. These men holding them had to be certified whackos.
"Tell you what; we'll give you one chance and one chance only. You get the hell out of town and never show your faces again, or we'll make good on that promise to cut out your tongues and shove them up your asses," Bobby warned as he forcefully shoved the idiot he was holding once more. "You hearin' me?"
"Ye-yeah. We hear ya man," both hooligans answered in unison, knowing they were lucky to get away with their lives.
"Then get the hell outa here and pray we never see your ugly mugs again," John intoned as he and Bobby released their hold on the men and watched them take off like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs.
Watching until the delinquents were out of sight, John and Bobby then walked back into the restaurant and sat down as though nothing had happened, ignoring the curious glances aimed their way by the other patrons.
"Dad?" Dean voiced uncertainly as he watched the two hunter take their seats.
"Don't worry Ace, those two won't be causing any more problems," John answered his oldest with a wink as he then watched the waitress approach with their meals. Now, they could settle down to an enjoyable lunch without having to worry about those bullies taunting Sammy or anyone else.
As he sliced into his steak with the knife, John could only hope the troublemakers hadn't dissuaded Sam from keeping up with his therapy and going out into public again.
TBC Sorry for the wait. It is not my best chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.