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John had found himself growing restless. He was amazed at how well his oldest had been recovering and he could feel Dean growing restless as well. John sighed; he knew it was still too early for Dean to be hunting, yet alone being stuck in a car for hours on end, and he also knew that if he broached the subject with his sons Dean would be gung ho and up to leaving but, Sam….. well Sam was another story.

John pulled his truck over and was surprised to find himself at the same spot he had parked that night he almost lost his boy. The feelings from that night over took him and he broke down in tears. The anger he had felt towards Sam came flooding to the surface and he let out a frustrated growl.

Why couldn't his youngest accept who and what they were? It was Sam's constant need to grind against the grain that caused the majority of friction in their family. Sam was an ungrateful brat who took for granted that his older brother would always be there for him and that sense of entitlement constantly put Dean into situations where he was either butting heads with John or in the hospital getting treated for some injury that could have been prevented if he hadn't been distracted by worrying about Sam.

John's cell phone rang and he answered it with a sharp hello. "John," a familiar voice asked.

John closed his eyes and felt a headache building behind them. "Jake," he replied, "What can I do for you?"

"John, I caught wind of a potential hunt out your way and was wondering if you're interested. I'd take it myself but I have my hands full at the moment. I heard about Dean and man I'm sorry about that, but I also know that Caleb, Jim and Bobby are with you. This is gonna be a two man job. I thought maybe you could get one of them to help. I'd call someone else, but you're the closest," Jake paused when he heard John sigh and he quickly started back up before John could interrupt, "Look man, I understand that you have your hands full as well, but this thing is killing kids and someone needs to do something like yesterday. Whatchya say?"

John left Jake hanging for a few minutes as he thought out his options. He came to the conclusion that it might be a good thing for him to take the hunt and to see if one of the others could help. It might do him and Sam some good to spend some time away from each other, allow each other some cooling off time. With his mind made up he agreed to take the hunt, but only if one of the others would help.

"Thanks, John. Like I said I would have taken it but this witch is proving to be a real bitch to kill."

"Don't thank me yet," John replied, "If one of the others won't help you'll have to find someone else. I won't be able to go if two men are needed and count on Dean staying put. He'd fine a way to get to me to help."

"Well, that's just great dad. Sure run off and leave us here. If you haven't noticed one of your kids is still recovering and you never know when he might need you," Sam huffed at John. He stood in the doorway to his father's bedroom with his arms crossed over his chest, wearing his patented bitch face.

"I'm fine, Sammy. I don't need dad to stay here and baby sit me," Dean said from were he was sitting. He was hoping to calm his brother before he said something he'd latter regret.

"Yeah, I know you're fine, now, Dean," Sam said turning towards his brother, "but, you never know what could happen. You have a way of pushing yourself and without someone here to make sure you take it easy, well you could end up hurting yourself again."

"Well, Sam," John said as he stepped up to his youngest, "that's where you come in. I'm well aware of the condition Dean is in and I'm also well aware of the circumstances that lead up to him being in this position. I'm hoping that I can count on you to look out for your brother for once. You know put his needs before yours. Do you think you could that Sam? Do you?"

Sam turned green around the gills and looked as if his dad had punched him right in the stomach. John sighed, "Sam I wouldn't go if it weren't for the fact that kids are being killed. I would find another hunter to take this on if I really thought Dean needed me. Jim's headed back to his parish and Bobby is headed back to his junkyard, if Caleb wouldn't have been able to go I would have turned this down. No matter what you may think of me and no matter how much I might have earned it…I do love you boys. You need to know that. But, you also need to understand that I can't sit back and let innocent people, especially kids, die when I can do something about it."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Yeah, fine whatever," he grumbled before he headed out the front door, letting it slam behind him.

Dean flinched at the loud bang and the look on his dad's face. John looked to his oldest and saw the apprehension that surrounded him. 'I did that,' he thought, 'I put that fear into him. Man, I really am some kind of bastard.'

John moved over to stand beside his son and he gently placed a hand on his shoulder. When Dean looked up and John knew he had his full attention he softly said, "Dean, I can stay if you need me to. I'm sure we can get another hunter here to take this one on. I don't want to leave you in a bad spot. You say the word and I'll stay. Alright, kiddo?"

Not sure if his dad was testing him or not Dean shook his, "Nah, dad, I'm good. You're right kids are dying and we can't wait for someone else. I just wish I could go with you."

"I know, son," John said a slight pang in his chest telling him his boys were growing up. He had missed so much, lost so much; but there wasn't a thing he could about it. This was the hand they were dealt and he would do everything in his power to make sure it was a winning hand.

After their dad had left Sam set about the house sulking and complaining about everything and anything he could think of. He lamented about how unfair their life was and how wrong it was of John to assume that they would stay with hunting once they were old enough to leave.

"Well I got a surprise for him," Sam let slip before he realized what he was saying, "I won't be around much longer. I'm eighteen he can't make me stay. I have dreams and things I want to do. I won't let him and his need for revenge keep me from them."

"Sam," Dean asked, "Whatchya mean when you said you got a surprise for him?" Dean's heart had fallen to his feet and he found it hard to swallow around the lump in throat. 'He's leaving. I've been feeling him pulling away. He's planning on leaving. Dammit, Sammy, don't you know what that will do to dad. What it'll do to me? Don't you even care?'

Sam stopped his tirade and swore under his breath. Damn, he hadn't planned on saying anything, well at least not now. He needed to stay with them until his room at Stanford became available. He was waiting to tell them after he had a place to go. "Nothing," he stammered out, "I didn't mean anything by it. Look I'm just pissed that's all. It's just me blowing off steam. How about we head into town? Maybe get some dinner at the diner? That waitress you like so much has been asking about you."

Dean took in his brothers dimpled smile and thought, 'Yeah, right nice try but I know you. You're up to something and I'll find out what it is.' To Sam he gave one of own million watt smiles and answered, "That sounds like a plan, Sammy. Sounds like a plan."