This was supposed to be the epilogue. it got away, so there is a final chapter still to come :) Please review, it's my first fiction and it means A LOT
A fast drive, with a gas stop only for liquid fuel for the car and liquid fuel for the men (the latter in the form of strong hot coffee) saw the impala pull up outside Pastor Jim's at just before 2am the following morning. The roar of the engine echoed in the graveyard that stood next door to Pastor Jim's comfortable home announcing the arrival of the Winchester clan. As soon as Bobby pulled the car to a halt the door to the house opened and Pastor Jim, pulling a cardigan close around him to ward off the damp night air, scuttled down the wooden steps to meet them.
"John, Robert!" called Pastor Jim quietly "I'm so glad you're here. One worries less, when people are in front of you. I forget myself though, you must be tired and hungry! Let's get you and those boys inside and them settled into bed. I've made an appointment with a friend at 9am for Dean's hand. That's going to be trying for him so to the more rest he gets the better. Come inside out of the cold!"
Both men breathed a sigh of relief and Bobby said to John "I'll get Sammy, you take Dean. Let's get 'em in the Pastor's bedroom". With that Bobby leaned in the car and picked up a sleeping Sammy, who stirred only momentarily. Sammy was a restless sleeper anyway and somehow the blanket had become wrapped around him, causing him to look surprisingly like a Sammy Burrito. John, in the meantime, nestled Dean into his oversized jacket and picked him up bridal fashion hushing him back to sleep as he stirred. Avoiding jostling his son's damaged hand, he started to the house that was one of the few places he felt safe for his children, nodding only to Pastor Jim as he heard him say "I'll get your duffles, just get inside".
Once inside the comfortable and cosy house, all three men quietly made their way to the room the boys probably viewed as one of the few stable homes they had. As John and Bobby laid their sleeping bundles on the bed Jim switched on a bedside lamp and stoked the fire he had early lit in the room. Turning to help John and Bobby settle the boys in (tonight was going to be overclothes and shoes off and straight under bedclothes), Jim looked at both children and started.
"My God John!" he hissed quietly "What happened to them?", his eyes taking in Sammy's bruised face and throat and Dean's bruised side, head and swollen hand. "What the hell happened? Have they been to the emergency room? Are they alright?"
John had been waiting for the inquisition, Jim loved his children as much as he did, and he was as protective as John himself.
"I fucked up, that's what happened, and I don't need a lecture about it now" hissed John. He knew he owed his friend a great deal and that his concern came out of love, but John wasn't a man to take criticism kindly. "I went overdue and I didn't have a backup for them. Dean coped, it got hairy but he did good. He'll do better next time".
Bobby looked up in astonishment, his anger rising with every second. "Let me get this" he said "this is a teachable moment for that boy? That boy lying there drugged up, broken and battered. This is something that's got an upside for you? John, I've called you an jackass and worse before but, believe me, if it weren't that those boys need you right now I'd be filling your butt full of shot myself!".
Seeing that the situation was escalating and noting John's thinned lips and cold stare, Jim quickly interceded "Gentlemen, these boys need rest, quiet and care. You can take any arguments outside and, I warn you, if you wake up or upset either one of those children, BOTH of your butts will be full of shot, and the Lord has made me a VERY good shot!".
At Jim's words, both men look a little shamefaced and Bobby got up and said "John, it's been a long few days and not the welcome wagon we expected. Kiss those bugs goodnight and let's get something to eat downstairs and fill in the good Pastor".
John nodded gruffly "I'll be down in a minute" he said. "Don't eat the whole refrigerator. I just need a moment with my boys. And Bobby, thanks for everything today. It's been a shitstorm and, well, you really came through".
For a moment Bobby considered testing John with silver and holy water but in the end, he just stared at him and said "You're welcome, if you want food though, you better make tracks. I ain't waiting. It's been an adventurous kind of day, even for our line of work and that makes a body hungry"
"I'll protect some morsels for you" said Jim to John as he followed Bobby out of the door. "Just get downstairs, there seems to be a lot of explanations I'm missing".
Once alone John leant over his sleeping sons and kissed both lightly on the forehead. "I'm so sorry, Mary" he said quietly "I didn't look after them". Looking sadly at them once more, he stoked the fire and left the room pulling the door to slightly ajar behind him.
As the boys slept on, downstairs the men retreated to the warmth of the kitchen and Pastor Jim began serving a warming casserole he'd kept in the oven with fresh bread and green vegetables.
"Eat" he said, opening a beer for each man "We need to be up in the morning to get Dean to the doctors. In my view Sammy could do with a lookover too! John, you're in the second guest room with Bobby, but there's a comfortable chair in the boy's room if you want to be with them. I can't say I'm not curious and, frankly, concerned but for the next ten minutes I just want you to eat"
Both Bobby and John grunted and began to plough into their meal, Pastor Jim watching on patiently and pouring them both a beer silently. John was using the time to collect his thoughts, if he wasn't happy with what had occurred, he hated to think what the overprotective Jim would think. Bobby used the time to eat and think of when he could get to bed, he was exhausted. Much as he loved John and his family, he not in the mood for another Winchester novella.
After ten minutes Bobby stood up and put his plate in the sink. "Jim" he said ," I am more than grateful for the hospitality but these bones need to rest. I think John needs to update you a little on today's adventure but me, I just need to sleep so I'll bid you goodnight and see you far too early". Bobby glanced briefly at John and started for the door.
"Goodnight Robert" said the Pastor "You won't just see me, Caleb's driving back and will be here in a couple of hours. Whatever your package said to him spooked him and he said he "wanted to see the merchandise for himself".
At this John looked up and asked, "Did he say what the issue was?" Jim shook his head and, waiting for Bobby to leave, poured himself a glass of water and sat down.
"You want to fill me in?" said Jim starring at John intently.
John knew he had some explaining to do and, drawing a breath started "I left them in a motel with a fucking PREDATOR for a manager. I let them run out of money and I left them with no one to turn to, because you guys were all watching my fucking back and not theirs. It's only because Dean's, well Dean, they are here and safe. The manager knew they were alone and, well I don't know the details, but I know it got ugly and you can see the injuries. Anyway, Dean got Sammy and him away and was booking it for Bobby's when we caught up with them. There was a bit of a ruckus with a guy who should have known better which we took care of and, well, here we are. All in one piece, or fixable". John looked down and nursed his beer.
Jim had paled at the description of events, knowing John Winchester understatement of old.
Drawing breathe he asked slowly "John, old friend. They were with a paedophile? I hate to ask but, did anything happen to those boys. Is there anything I need to know?"
John looked up quickly "Dean said no, he got away, they're fine".
Jim nervously pressed the issue "That's a very embarrassing topic for a ten-year-old, did you check?"
John's stomach dropped; the day had just been other people reminding him where he had failed as a parent. Looking up he said "Drop it, Jim. Dean knows better than not to report an injury, he wouldn't lie, and Sammy couldn't keep quiet if his life depended on it"
Jim just stood and watched John mull over things for a minute. At the end of that time John stood up and "Fuck it, Jim, you're not going to give me any peace on this and now you've got ME wondering. They're asleep, just check 'em now".
Both men rose and went back to where the boys lay fast asleep, the shadow from the fire playing on their relaxed faces. Turning first to Sammy, John uncovered the bedclothes and, murmuring comfort to him, pulled down his underroo's and checked quickly for signs of bruising or bleeding. Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, he whispered to the Pastor "he's fine, let's get Dean over with".
After wrapping Sammy back up again and planting another kiss on his forehead, John to turned to Dean. Thankful that the Vicodin would keep him asleep he again mumbled comforts to his son as, avoiding jarring his hand, he pulled down his boxers and checked for any injury. Seeing only the horrible bruises from the kicking this time he let out a breath he KNEW he had been holding and said, "All clear". John knew the chances of Dean letting something happen to Sammy were negligible, He also knew no one had been there to stop something happening to Dean.
John turned to the Pastor and said "Jim, you've got a lot to say and I deserve all of it, but I just want to spend some time with my boys. So if you don't mind I'm just gunna bed down here for now and watch over them. Can we pick this up in the morning?"
Jim smiled understandingly and, moving to let himself out said "There's blankets in the dresser, it'll all look better in the morning. We all make mistakes and, the one thing those boys have going for them is a lot of people love them".
With that the Pastor smiled and left the room closing the door softly behind him.
John sat in the chair by the beds, exhaustion caused by too many hours awake and too many hours of worry begging him to surrender to sleep. Sleep, however, was evading him. All John could do was stare at his innocent sleeping and battered children, berate himself for his choices and beg for forgiveness from his dead wife.
After an hour however, the body decided the mind had had its turn and John surrendered to the comfort of exhausted rest.
The morning would come however and bring with it healing, recriminations and repentance.