Chapter 8
This was supposed to be the epilogue, but it ran away from me and there is one more chapter after this!
I've really enjoyed writing this and am so grateful for the reviews. I've learnt a lot, and I will do another fiction (wee!chesters and teen!chesters are my thing) using those lessons. Thank you for hanging on for the ride. To the person who guessed I was English, I'm sorry! I tried to match your language (car boot in the UK is trunk etc) I realise now though that a car bumper is a fender to you!
Thank you all so much! I do love reading the reviews and I hope you take the time to leave one. I really hope you are enjoying this and will stay for the finish ?
It would be nice if life were so clean that the reuniting of the small family unit bought peace to all. Life, however, as John Winchester and Bobby Singer were more than aware, was rarely that kind.
No sooner had the impala burnt 40 miles on the freeway (all of which had been spent with John Winchester holding his, now statue like, children to him and muttering comforts), Bobby caught John's eye in the rear view mirror and said "John, nice though it would be to get home to Kissinger and all, we've made a lot of noise in a lot of places today. I think maybe we should head out to Jim's and seek the peace and tranquillity of sacred ground. I'm thinking a little more distance wouldn't hurt"
"Good idea" replied John "We'll stop in a bit and let him know we're coming in hot. I can't think anyone's going to put together the pieces but, yeah, you're right, we ain't been subtle".
Bobby's attention then fell to the two bundles clutching John around his waist, heads buried in his side
"John" said Bobby again "Those peas have had an exciting day out of the pod, I don't think it'd go amiss to hole up for a few minutes and take a good look at the merchandise. There's a whole lot of silence from those boys that is entirely out of character".
That statement seemed to pull back John to the present with a jerk "Yeah, pull over the next place with a restroom and some privacy. I've been so relieved they are walking, talking and I've got 'em back, I've not taken stock enough".
John shook Dean a little and said "Dean, we're gunna stop and check you and Sammy out. You wanna tell me what I should be looking for?" Dean didn't raise his head or answer his rather, he just huddled closer into his Father's side and began to tremble.
Dean not answering his Father was unheard of. Iif nothing else then Dean was a good grunt, he replied when spoken to, gave a report when requested and stared his drill sergeant in the eye on command.
"Dean" said John again, trying not to worry "I asked you a question, and answering wasn't optional. Now give me a condition report, and don't leave anything out".
Five days of worry, dread and fear coupled with a day when nothing had gone right and his ten year old deliberations had been stretched beyond breaking had now all converged at once to Dean. Try as he might, he just couldn't hold himself together.
"Dad" he sniffled, his head turning up to John's face and tears starting to fall from his eyes "I thought you were dead. I thought everybody was dead! You didn't answer, NOBODY answered! I ran out of money and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I should hide 'til you came back, but I didn't know you were coming back! Sammy was getting hungry all the time and I couldn't give him enough. And then I thought we'd head to Bobby's cos even if he wasn't there , there'd be food and stuff, but the man at the hotel cottoned we were alone and tried to get us. Dad, I'm sorry, but he tried to hurt Sammy and I couldn't do nothin' but fight him off. I'm sorry Dad, but I left him in the motel and I took his money. He's gunna be found and they'll be looking for me. I'm really sorry Dad, I am, I know I shoulda known better but I didn't know what else to do! I thought you were dead! I'm sorry, I am, I'll do better!"
With that Dean buried his head into his Father's side and started to sob and sob. John, recognising how overwrought his little soldier was and riddled with guilt at the story unfolding, hugged Dean to his side and kissing his head repeated "Dean, it's all my fault. I'm sorry. You did real good but you shouldn't have had to. I didn't think. Jim, Caleb and Bobby were with me. I'm so sorry, I should have known. You did good. baby and we're all back and it's gunna be okay. Don't worry about the motel, Caleb's there cleaning up as we speak. Just breathe real deep and let me know where you're hurt. It's okay. You did good, it's all over son. Just take a breathe and help me out here".
The comfort of his Father doing what no reasoning of his own could do, Dean looked hopefully up and said "You're not mad?"
"No Dean" said John smiling "The only people I am mad at are that motel guy (and Caleb will see that score is settled) and me. I fucked up son, not you. I just need you to calm down and let me know how you and Sammy are doing".
Dean took a deep breathe and tried, with some success, to gain control. "I think Sammy's okay Sir. Mr Oliment hit him but I think he's just got a bruise. I pushed him down in the car park, but I reckon he's okay with that. He's been real scared today but he's been real brave too!" said Dean proudly. "He done everything I told him and he ran real fast!".
At this point Sammy, who had been listening and trying to process his elder brothers distress felt on more steady ground and chirped in "Yeah, the bad man gave me an owie! But Dean fixed him real good and we had a picnic and everything!".
Reassured that at least one son was relatively unscathed John smiled and, kissing Sammy on the head said "Yeah Sammy, you've been a good, brave boy. Now, we just need to get you home, into a bath and you can tell me all about it before you go to sleep".
Sammy, now considering that he should have the opportunity to discuss his adventures NOW, said "but Daddy, I'll tell you all about it now, and I don't need a bath, I'm real clean!"
John smiled again and, kissing Sammy again said "let's just sort Dean out first, and then I can hear all about it without any interruption.
Sammy seemed to accept this and, turning again to his older son John said "You looked after Sammy real good, but I know you got hurt some and a good soldier always sorts his wounds. Now what are we looking at here?"
"Daddy" said Dean reverting to a name he hadn't used in three years "Everything hurts. Mr Oliment kicked my head and I gotta headache all day, I think he broke my hand cos I can't move it and my side hurts something fierce. I tried to be brave Daddy, I did, but everything hurts. I'm sorry. I tried to look after Sammy, but I just messed everything up".
Seeing Dean was once again losing control John lifted his chin and made his look John in the eyes "Son, you've been brave beyond belief, you kept you and Sammy safe. You did what you had to. We're gunna pull up and look at you and see if you need a hospital, and I'll get you some children's Tylenol in just a minute. We'll soon fix you up".
Realising just how much Dean had been through John regretted his decision not to cap Mr Oliment when he had the chance, but he figured Caleb would sort it appropriately anyway (Caleb wasn't known for his mild manner).
Catching Bobby's eye in the mirror he heard Bobby say "I'm on it John, we need a rest stop for them boys and a phone to let Jim we're coming in".
No more than 5 minutes later Bobby pulled into a truck stop and parked behind the trucks and away from the restrooms.
"You take Dean and I'll take Sammy" said Bobby. He got out and open the back door holding out his arms to Sammy "come here" he said "give your uncle Bobby a big hug". Sammy responded with a thousand watt smile and threw himself onto his uncle, who carried him to the back of the Impala and, having retrieved the medical kit from the trunk, started towards the restrooms.
"Son" said John "I'm gunna carry you to the restroom cos I wanna see those ribs before you put weight on them". Dean nodded and allowed John to lift him up, he clung to his Father as he followed Bobby to the restroom.
Once inside Sammy remembered he had a walnut sized bladder and headed to the stall quickly. John and Bobby on the other hand both started triaging Dean.
"John" said Bobby frowning "That hands broke for sure and it ain't something we can fix. It's swollen now so it's gunna need ice before anyone does anything"
"Yeah" said John half concentrating on feeling Dean's ribs and noting the grimaces when he touched the blackening skin "I don't think these ribs are broken, but I'm sure sorry I left that guy standing. He's gunna be feeling this for weeks, he's ten for fucks sake!"
Bobby held his tongue whilst thinking that John needed to remember Dean's age a lot more and asked "He got a concussion?".
"Yeah" said John, shining a small torch in Dean's eyes and watching his son's pupils react slightly unevenly, "but I don't think it's too bad".
Looking at Dean standing there stoically whilst he and Bobby prodded and probed at him, he was struck at just how at the end of his rope the poor boy was. "He needs a doctor, some food and a decent bed" said John drawing Dean to him "You okay son? Can you manage 'til we get to Jim's? it's about 5 hours."
Dean nodded numbly. John ruffled his hair and said "You need help to use the can? Let's get some food and medicine into you"
Dean was TEN! There was no way his Dad needed to help him so calling out an offended "Dad!" at the suggestion, he went to the stall and, thankfully, was able to do his business one handed (albeit the other hand REALLY hurt.
In the meantime John looked over Sammy, his temper rising as he saw marks on his neck, bruises on his face and scuffed knees and hands. Hugging him he said, "You done good today Sammy, now let's get you fed and settled in and we'll be at Uncle Jim's before you know it".
The day was beginning to wear on Sammy and he nodded silently barely able to keep his eyes open.
Bobby looked at John and said "Can you get those two grubs back to the car? I'll go stock up and let Jim know we're coming in". John nodded picking up one son in each arm and thanked the deity in charge again for their, relative, safety. Moving to the car, he put both boys in the back seat and went to the trunk, taking out the emergency blankets and pillows he kept there for when there was too much month for the money and they all slept in the car. He leaned back into the car and, handing Sammy his Teddy from his bag, he wrapped a blanket round both Sammy and Dean, putting a cushion behind each boy and a further cushion under Dean's hand. Going back to the trunk, he went the to medical kit and, ignoring the children's Tylenol, cut half a Vicodin for Dean. Dean needed relief and rest and he was gunna make sure he got that at least.
Waiting for Bobby to return with food and ice he then took off his leather jacket from the passenger seat and put it on top of the blanket.
Hearing Bobby's footsteps, he looked up and grabbed the bag being handed to him whilst leaving Bobby the coffee mugs teetering in his hands
"I got 'em sandwiches and some malted milk and some ice" said Bobby "I reckon let's just get them settled and get on. Jim said he'll arrange a doctor in the morning, but for now just haul ass there and he'll be waiting.
Nodding John started breaking up the sandwiches for his boys, Sammy barely awake enough to eat but chopping well enough when prodded and Dean munching through his sandwich disinterestedly.
"Soon as you've had that, you can have the good stuff" said John to Dean as he handed him the milky drink and put Dean's injured hand in a bag of ice, "drink up and eat up and we'll get you sorted".
Soon food and drink were taken, medicines and good night kisses given and the two boys (one naturally and one with chemical assistance) drifted quickly off to sleep. Carefully tucking blanket and jacket around the boys, John got in the front with Bobby and said "Let's head to Jim's. These boys deserve some home comforts".
Finding himself for once fully in agreement with John Winchester, Bobby headed back out to the road for the five hour (or shorter if Bobby had his way) trip to Jim's.
It has to be said, Bobby and John were both agreed on something else, those boys were due some spoiling!