Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold Ch. 29

Warning: Some cursing ahead

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

Previously: "See you boys in the morning." John whispered before turning off the light and closing the door. It was well past midnight and he was in desperate need of sleep himself.

The next morning at breakfast, John couldn't help but notice how much more confident Sam seemed of himself. After having showered, he had come down the steps surefooted and ready to face the day. John was pleased when Sam had looked both him and Bobby in the eye and stated a cheerful "Good morning." Before taking his place at the breakfast table.

"Looks like somebody has woken up in a good mood this morning." Bobby said with a grin, happy to see things finally starting to get back to normal with the youngest Winchester as he placed a plate of pancakes in front of Sammy.

"Yes Sir." Sam replied as he picked up his fork and cut into the scrumptious mound of breakfast food before forking a decent sized helping and munching down on it. Using his uninjured hand, he grasped the glass of milk and lifted it from the table and took a big swallow. "Hey Dad, I was hoping maybe you would help me with my hand exercises today." Sam said as he placed the glass back onto the table.

John's mouth dropped open in surprise at his son's request. Whenever Sammy needed something, he always wanted Dean to be the one to do it for him. "Are you sure kiddo? I mean I know you would probably be more comfortable with Dean." John voiced a little ashamed.

"Yeah Dad, I'm sure. Dean's been helping me everyday and it's not fair to him. Besides, I thought maybe we could spend a little time together and talk, I mean if it's okay with you."

"Yeah Tiger, I'd love to spend some time just talking with you." John said with a huge smile. He had promised Bobby to help him with a repair job that needed to get out today, but he knew Bobby would be more than willing to do the work himself to give him and his youngest some bonding time together.

"Thanks Dad."

"You don't have to thank me kiddo. You're my baby boy, M'happy to do it." John informed his youngest as he reached out to ruffle his hair just as Dean walked down the stairs.

"Happy to do what?" Dean questioned as he walked down the stairs dressed in blue jeans and an AC/DC shirt, his hair wet from just having had a shower.

"I'm going to help Sam with his therapy today so we can spend some time together and you can have some free time to yourself." John stated in answer to his son's question.

"Wait a minute, who said I needed some free time. You know I'm happy helping Sammy, it's my job, it's what I do."

"Yeah, but all you do is spend your time watching over and helping me." Sam broke in and said. "You need to have some fun for yourself Dean. How long has it been since you did something for just you?"

"Your brother is right Dean. Besides, I'd like to spend some time with Sammy so you are free for the afternoon to do whatever you want." John said putting an end to the discussion in his mind.

Seeing the lost look on Dean's face, Bobby piped in to say, "Hey Dean, if you don't have anything else to do, I sure could use some help on the '66 Corvette sitting out there in the yard."

"Sounds great." Dean touted with a smile as he took the seat across from his brother. If he couldn't help Sammy, then the next best thing would be working on one of Bobby's classic cars. Looking his brother over, he said, "How you feeling this morning dude?"

"M'Good. Just don't remember much about getting home last night." Sam answered knowing how strung out he had been on pain medicine.

"So you don't remember dad carrying your ass into the house and then undressing ya before he put you to bed huh." Dean said with a grin as he watched the blush rise on Sammy's face.

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

A few hours later as John encouraged Sam to flex his hand further with the stress ball, he could tell that Sammy had something on his mind. He knew his youngest was afraid to talk about it with the way his uninjured hand kept clenching while his knee bounced up and down in agitation. Knowing that Sam wouldn't start the conversation that he so obviously needed to have, he asked, "Sammy, what's on your mind son?"

"What did I do that was so bad Dad?" Sam asked a he looked at his father with questioning eyes.

"What do you mean Tiger?"

"What did I do that was so bad that made H-Hank Re-Reynolds hate me so much? Why did I deserve to be hurt the way he hurt me?" Sam asked with a quivering voice.

Feeling his heart shatter from the questions, John pulled his youngest into a firm hug. "You didn't do anything Sammy and most definitely didn't deserve what he did to you. This one was all on me. It's my fault you were kidnapped kiddo. That bastard wanted to get back at me by going through you for something that happened years ago."

Pushing away from his dad to face him, Sam saw tears glistening in his dad's eyes that were now full of guilt. "What happened to make him want revenge?" He queried needing to know so he could understand why he had been tortured unmercifully.

"I was a hunt. It happened years ago when you boys were sick and I left you with Pastor Jim. We were on the trail of a nest of vampires. Hank thought he had found the nest in an old abandoned building, but he was wrong. I discovered it was just a group of runaway kids strung out on drugs, but Hank wouldn't listen. He managed to knock me out and tie me up. He then was somehow able to grab two of the kids and tortured them, nearly killing them." Taking a deep breath, he went on to say, "When I finally woke up and got free, I beat the crap out of him for what he did to those kids, making sure that at the same time I belittled him in front of the other hunters who were with us. If I had known what he would do to one of my children years later, I would have killed him back then."

"What happened to me wasn't your fault dad, you couldn't have known what he was going to do." Sam intoned knowing the guilt was probably weighing heavily on his dad's shoulders.

"Thanks for saying so Sam, but I'll never forgive myself for allowing it to happen, for not being there to keep you from being kidnapped and tortured by that sonuvabitch!" John informed his youngest with sadness.

"Ya know Dad, when he was holding me captive in that cabin and beating me, he told me that you and Dean were probably happy to be free of me. That I was nothing but a whiny little bitch and you were probably thanking your lucky stars he took me off your hands. After so long and you guys not coming to get me, I started wondering if maybe the words were true." Sam admitted needing to get everything off of his chest.

"Oh god Sammy, I'm sorry that he filled your head with those words and that we couldn't find you sooner. We did everything we could to find you. I swear I wish I could resurrect that bastard just to kill him once again for the monster he truly was. You know his words were all lies now right? You know how much we love you don't you Sammy?"

"Yeah Dad, I know." Sam said as silent tears started rolling down his cheeks. "I love you guys too."

John pulled his youngest into his arms once again and cried silent tears with him as they sat there comforting each other. Unbeknownst to them, Dean was on the porch shedding quite a few tears of his own after having overheard the whole conversation through an open window.

SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN

Knowing that Sammy needed the time alone with their dad, Dean pulled himself together and dried his tears before walking back to the car that he and Bobby had been working on. Picking up a socket wrench, he was about to start working when Bobby gave him a questioning look.

"Uh, Dean, where's the drinks you were supposed to be going after?" Bobby asked wanting a nice cold brew to cool himself down. He couldn't believe Dean had forgotten to bring them back.

"Before opening the door, I overheard Dad and Sammy talking about his, his…"

"Kidnapping?" Bobby questioned finally noticing how upset Dean was.

"Yeah, Damn Bobby, the kid was blaming himself. He actually asked Dad what he had done that was so bad to make that bastard do those things to him." Dean informed Bobby as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "But that wasn't the worst thing. Sam admitted that Hank was torturing him mentally too, told him that we were happy to be rid of him and were thanking our lucky stars that he had been kidnapped. Bobby, Sammy actually told dad that he began to wonder if it was true." Dean's voice broke on the last part as he slid down the side of the car and hugged his arms to himself.

"That frigging, good for nothing asshole. I wish I could raise him and kill him all over again." Bobby muttered as he clenched his fists in anger over hearing Dean's words. "Dean, you do know Sammy didn't honestly believe that right? It was just Hank playing with his head, making him believe things." Bobby intoned trying to comfort the older brother.

"I know Bobby, it just hurts so damn much knowing that he felt that way, that he wasn't wanted when that sadistic son of a bitch had him." Dean retorted as he ran a hand through his hair in agitation.

I know it does Dean, I know it does." Bobby said as he reached out to squeeze Dean's shoulder in comfort. Ya know, there is one good thing about this latest turn of events with your dad and Sammy talking."

"And what's that Bobby?" Dean inquired wondering how anything could be good about the situation.

"At least now your brother is finally talking about that happened to him instead of keeping things inside. Now he can fully heal…physically and mentally.

"Yeah, guess you're right there." Dean said with a tight smile knowing Sam had taken another step in the healing process.

TBC The next chapter will be the last.