The End….
The next morning Sean staggered from bed and let Maddox outside and jumped into the shower. He was soaping up and going over his list. It wasn't much more than what he was already doing. With school only taking him a couple of hours a day he had been a lot of help to Max around the house. It was then that Sean realized something; he suddenly didn't want to get out of the shower.
Taylor padded down the stairs and met Sean who was racing up. They traded coffee mugs; Sean's empty one for Taylors mug full of the delicious brew. He kissed the boy on top of the head and scooted back upstairs. Sean scrambled back into the apartment and saw John buttoning his shirt. "What time does school start? I'll drop you off," John said.
"About that," Sean began, "it's kind of a funny story you see."
But John was not the least bit amused after hearing the story. "You what! How could you expose us like that? Hunting down demons…"
"I thought it was real the sulfur was overwhelming, what was I supposed to think?"
"You were to think that the chemistry class was doing an experiment you were to check things out before you let loose in your insanity," John yelled.
"I always thought we were supposed to shoot first and ask questions later, besides they just think I'm an unruly nut. That's why they kicked me out. It's okay Dad."
"It is anything but okay Sean!"
"But my grades have been fantastic," Sean explained.
Max had climbed out of bed and did her best to explain what had happened. But John was past explanation and was heading to irate.
"What are you doing?" Logan asked as Taylor had his ear at the end of a glass pressed to the floor.
"Shhh, trying to listen to what is going on downstairs. I don't think there is any way Sean can talk his way out of this one, coffee or not."
Logan grabbed a glass and took the spot next to his partner.
A few minutes later they heard the shower kick on drowning Max from the sounds that wafted up through the floor indicating that Sean was having anything but a good time.
"I had a feeling it was only a matter of time," Logan sighed.
A little bit later Sean made his way across the street and climbed into the truck next to Bob. He grimaced as he scooted over on the seat.
"What's wrong with you?" Bob asked.
"Dad found out about me and school."
"Did you tell him about your grades?"
"Well duh of course I did. But he was past that point," Sean said his face reflecting his discomfort.
"Well kid been there done that, you have my sympathies. But I'm with your dad, you need to clean up your act and fly right. Now let's get going with that math."
Sean finished up his math and slogged back to Max's. After John had issued Sean's punishment he had left saying he needed to take care of a few things and would be back later.
John had completed his errands and cleared his head. Once again he felt horrible but what could he do. He had let Sean slide on the hunt handing out a lecture and extra chores but he had been kicked out of school and had kept that information to himself with every phone call; every time John had asked about school all he heard was that it was all fine. Yeah fine because he wasn't going. And the reason why he was kicked out thinking there was demon convention going on when it was a simple chemistry experiment that had wafted into the hallway was inexcusable. His boys knew better, they knew to be sure before they acted as long as they weren't in imminent danger. Sean had broken those rules and called attention to himself. He was lucky that child services didn't swing by and pick him up. The more he thought about it the more he felt the punishment was justified, maybe even a little light. His brain still mulling over everything when he opened the door to Max's apartment and fell over the Great Dane.
"Scooby are you okay?" Sean asked getting up from his wrestling match with a Boxer.
"Thanks for your concern," John said getting up.
"Sorry, are you okay?"
"Yeah, what the hell is all this?" he asked as the dogs all stopped cocked their heads and ears at the new arrival and then went back to playing.
"It's Max's dog sitting business."
"She does it here?"
"Well yeah it would cost too much to rent someplace else."
"Where is she?"
"In the backyard picking up poop. So when do we leave?"
"Not yet, it looks like the boys have things under control and Tim said by the time we got there it would be all wrapped up."
"So can we stay for Thanksgiving?" Sean asked eagerly.
"I don't know, your behavior says you don't get to choose what happens."
"I never get to choose anyway," Sean said sourly.
John opened his mouth to respond when Mr. Jiggles chased Paco right into John's left shin. "Damn that little head is hard," John yelled.
"Awww, you scared him."
"How do you know?" he asked rubbing his shin.
"Because he just peed on your boot."
John shook his boot off and opened his mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted with loud stomping from upstairs. He looked at Sean his eyebrows wagging up and down.
"Tap class, the stay at home moms come and grind out their aggravations after they drop the kids off at school."
"Yeah school where your ass should be," John said unable to resist.
"I said I was sorry," Sean whispered.
John ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "So tell me what you learned in math?"
The week consisted of Sean getting up and helping Max and then doing his school work followed by lots of training. John was still upset by all the shenanigans that happened while he had been away and was attempting once again to drive the point home. Sean just wanted his brothers to show up so they could leave, forget Thanksgiving; he wasn't going to survive anyway at this rate.
Wednesday evening arrived and Sean had just gotten out of the shower after being run through the woods umpteen times. He and John weren't getting along and Max decided to take charge and sent Sean upstairs to help Taylor and Logan make some pies for tomorrow.
"Roll it out like this, not too thin," Taylor advised as Sean rolled out the pie crust.
"How come you don't buy frozen pies?" Sean asked.
"Because this is tradition and these taste better," Logan said cutting the newly formed roll into strips.
"You're killing my crust," Sean exclaimed.
"No this is for the cherry pies, we do it like a lattice," he said showing how to lay it across the pie.
"Cool, I'm creating something."
"Yeah, is it first or something?"
"We aren't into cooking."
"No I suppose you wouldn't be."
"I finally get to create something," Sean said excitedly. "I can't wait for tomorrow, I get to be normal. You guys have no idea what you have done for me."
"Been your neighbors kid, that's it," Taylor said.
"No, you have given me stability and understanding and so much more. Things that I never get," the teen said quietly. "I've never felt so at home than I have here. You guys are the best mom's ever."
Outside the door John lowered the hand that was about to knock on the door. Nothing Sean had said surprised him but it broke his heart all the same.
John was juggling pies as he went down the stairs at the church the next morning. Max and Sean had come early to get the tables all set up for the minions of guests that were expected. He had encouraged Dean and Sam to show up for the dinner as it would mean a lot to Sean but they hadn't surfaced yet. He had placed the majority of the blame on Dean who most likely had decided to celebrate their hunting accomplishment by closing a local bar and going home with the sassy bar maid. And Sam was just stuck by the antics of his older brother.
Logan and Taylor along with the help of the many others including the Woman's Auxiliary who were told to leave their taser's behind put on a Thanksgiving dinner for many of those who had nowhere else to spend the holiday. It was an annual tradition they had done for several years. Turkeys had been cooked and were being marched in and sliced up, pans of sweet potatoes, green bean casseroles and corn soufflés were being sorted and lined up on the counter. People began to drift in and socialize as they dipped into the snack trays and sized up the other diners.
John looked around as the room began to fill and felt as if he had fallen onto an island of outcasts. There was definitely a mix of people. Sean had finished mashing potatoes and had been bringing bowl after bowl into the room placing them on the tables. He waved to John and then went over to join him.
"Do you know any of these people?" John asked.
As Sean opened his mouth he was interrupted by Lou who had popped in wearing an outfit circa 1692 complete with bonnet and black dress with white apron. He carried a basket that was filled with various muffins and biscuits. "Hey there buddy, how are you?"
"Great, this is my dad John, Dad this is Lou," Sean said.
John wasn't too sure what to say or think but he didn't have much time as Lou had his own introduction to make. "This is my grandma Maude," he then leaned close and whispered, "she lives at the nursing home, she has a little trouble with reality, and she thinks she is on the Titanic." As if on cue she waved and toddled off to find a life jacket.
The Winchesters just nodded and turned to greet Cain who was followed by his uncle Todd who kept looking over his shoulder and patting his pockets. "Just out of rehab – again," Cain explained.
The parade of guests followed including Bob and Sam who toted a spacey looking woman with long, tangled hair, disheveled clothes and a far away look. "Hey Sean this is our cousin, Jade. She dropped by for a visit," Bob said trying to keep a straight face.
"Yeah from Mars," Sam whispered as they passed.
The room was filling fast and seats were being assigned to this menagerie of misfits. Sean was thinking that his brothers would fit right in and was disappointed that they hadn't made it. They took their seats and began to eat with the rest. They looked around and saw people enjoying the meal and camaraderie around them. They had made up their own group, a little different, a bit odd but together nonetheless.
The Winchester's along with everybody else ate far more than they should have and as always kept their eyes roving for signs of anything abnormal. First there was an older woman who kept tucking food into her purse and then a gentleman at the other table who kept turning around and talking to nobody. Maude had circled the tables twice speaking of icebergs and the fun fellow who had thrown two dinner rolls claiming that he was bombing the Germans. A man who had come through the back ramp on a motorized scooter began to rev his engines up and Jade the spacey cousin had talked of nothing other than rainbows, while over in the corner Uncle Todd had fallen on the slippery slope of relapse and was getting quite sloshed along with a few others who had tipped the glass a few times too many. Yep, there was just nothing like Thanksgiving.
As the diners finished and plates were dragged into the kitchen and loaded into the sink and dishwashers. Sean looked around and thought this would be a great place for Logan and Taylor to set up shop, and he despised the close minded idiots who had held it from them. He along with several others cleaned up as others began to transform the dining area into a dance area.
Dean allowed his eyes to adjust and wasn't quite sure what he was looking at. The noise was a happy one but he was questioning if this was the right address. He saw a man racing around on a scooter with an older man balancing on the back pretending to shoot 'the enemy' as he passed by. There was a woman sitting on the table who grabbed Sam as they walked by and told him he had better hurry and get on a lifeboat. Dean's eyes locked on the table in the corner that held several desserts that just happened to be next to a drunken poker playing crowd. There was one guy talking to an invisible partner and another who kept sipping from a thermos that more than likely didn't contain coffee. In the corner a tall pilgrim was holding a purple dog and there were several women pretending to target shoot.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Sam called out.
"Yeah, this is the address Dad told me. He said it was a church, there was going to be dinner followed by a dance.
They both looked at the dance floor and finally found John who was dancing with Max.
"I didn't know Dad could dance?" Dean asked.
"Me either, but then I guess he hasn't had much opportunity," Sam replied.
The headed that way when they found Sean dancing with a blonde guy who was twirling him around. "You want to explain that?" Dean asked.
Sam just shook his head no and continued towards John wondering what rabbit hole that had fallen down.
"Dad, what is this place?" Dean asked.
"Where I live," Max said smiling.
"Not surprising then," Dean mumbled.
"That's Lou with Mrs. Phillips dog and that is the Lady's Auxiliary they are practicing their stance for when they fire their tasers. He fell off the wagon, he still has an invisible friend, she has dementia, he is having flashbacks and he just likes to drive fast," Max explained pointing to everyone in question.
"Weird just follows you around," Dean said.
"Does it?" Max asked.
"Oh yeah," Dean said as Sean appeared.
"Hey guys about time you showed up, you missed the dinner but I saved you a couple of plates in the kitchen."
"Who was your dance partner?" Dean questioned.
"Taylor, he and Logan want to buy this place for their dance studio but the damn city counsel won't pass it through," Sean yelled as he led his brothers to the kitchen.
"Why do they want to buy it?" Sam asked.
"For their dance studio."
"Of course, ooohhh turkey," Dean said his eyes lighting up.
By the end of the night the boys had met everybody, discussed lifeboats, rainbows, purple dogs, how hard it is to find a dress that fits a man over six feet tall and how easy it is to cheat drunken men out of a poker hand.
The next morning the boys were wiping sleep from their eyes as they heard a commotion outside. Sam had thought he had heard a leaf blower revving up outside and then a bunch of running and barking. By the time he got his shoes on and ran outside there was a very large man with a garden hose spraying the last of the flames.
"What happened?"
"The leaf blower got the best of me," Max said looking embarrassed.
"That's why you need a stalker to watch out for you," Sean stated holding tightly to Paco.
Bob stomped on the last few smoky piles. "Yeah I guess I had better stick around and you keep you safe," he said smiling.
From upstairs there was a happy shout followed by the window opening. "We got the church, the offer went through and we have the city's blessing," Logan shouted.
"You know what guys, sometimes things do work out," Sean said smiling.
"Every so often that it does," Sam said putting his hand on his younger brothers' head.
"Bob you might want to take a firefighting course though," Sean recommended after the second blaze that he had to battle in a matter of months happened.
"I think I might just do that, she should be okay for an hour or two every day," he laughed.
The goodbyes were hard and John didn't think he would be able to drag Sean away and it was only with the promise that they would return for July block party that he finally was able to stuff the teen into the truck and drive off for their next adventure.
The End
Thank you for reading and a big thank you to all who commented, each one made me smile and was greatly appreciated. For anybody that would be interested in learning more about Sean I will be posting the original story I wrote about him years ago. Actually I will be combining two stories, so it may get bumpy here and there. Also it was my first endeavor in the writing world and I wasn't quite as refined back then. But I will clean it up as best as I can and post it after a short hiatus. The title is Rainbow in the Dark, because that is what Sean is…there may be more to him than you think.
I hope you will check back for it, and again, thank you for your support.
Carol aka Winfan2