I finished!
I've had such a good time writing this and I can't you enough for the reviews. They mean a lot because I'm very isolated at the moment because of COVID-19. If anyone is interested, I'd definitely like to write again (I'm quite pre-series) so please let me know.
Thank you again for reviewing and being so kind ?ￂﾠ
The journey back to the house found John and Jim in reflective mood. Dean was succumbing to tiredness and effects of mild sedation and Sammy was wholly engrossed in ensuring he got maximum value out of his sucker. There was a skill to ensuring you made these last as long as possible and Dean had been quick to teach Sammy this valuable lesson early on. It required concentration.
John sat in the back with Dean leaning against him on one side and Sammy looking out of the window on the other. John felt how slight Dean was against him and couldn't help looking down at his marred face, only too aware that this was the lightest of his injuries and that it could (and should) have been so much worse. Only Dean's quick thinking and actions had saved his boys and only John's actions had put them in danger in the first place.
John thought of his dead wife and how she would weep at the family they had become. Injured boys still loving a Father who put them second in a dangerous world and forgiving a failing Father for the unforgiveable.
As so often before, the shock of events led John to promise himself he'd make it up to the boys. He'd be a better provider, he'd be a better Father, he'd always put them first. Even as he hugged the dosing Dean closer, he berated himself for the inevitable failure of those promises. How could he keep them safe except by destroying the danger around them? How could he ignore the suffering and loses of other families for the convenience of his own? How could he not seek to find out why his life had been turned over so horrendously? The small threads he had unearthed about his wife's death led him to believe that what had happened was not random. If it wasn't random, would he not put more risk on his children by not hunting down, not his wife's killer but the threat to his small and fragile family?
John's life (and Jim's) was a life of hard choices. A life of sacrifices, not only by them, by imposed by them on those around them. Victims sacrificed for the greater good and childhoods sacrificed to ensure there was an adulthood. John tried not to dwell on his failures (they were so many) and certainly never celebrate successes, he had learnt just to do what had to be done and carry on forward. So even as John made the promises to his wife and children, he knew in his heart he would fail because something else would be more important. So, he did the only thing he could do, hug his son and promise that today, and this week, and as long as it took the boys to recover, he would make it up to them. He promised the one promise he could keep, that when they were left again ( as they inevitably would be) he would be more careful and let nothing hurt his boys.
Jim had a similar train of thought in the front seat. They had been vocal in their blaming of John for these events, but none of them were taking the responsibility that they bore. They were Uncles to these children. They were the only adults these children had been told they could trust. They were the only people who gave Christmas and Birthday cards and gifts. They were the only people who received hand made cards, decorations and presents and they were the people who the boys wrote about in school when they wrote about "my family". It wasn't enough to blame John, they all bore a responsibility. They knew the pressures John was under, they knew the places he left the boys and none of them had thought about those boys whilst in the heat of the hunt. Jim knew his duty to his small family was twofold, firstly to heal the rift between the angry hunters and make sure this didn't happen again and, secondly, to ensure those boys were happy and spoilt by the time they left and they left with a family cloak of protection that nothing could break through.
The occupants of the car engrossed in thoughts, lollies and sleep, the journey to the house was quick. Unsurprisingly Caleb and Bobby were waiting on the Porch, having come out at the sound of the engine roar. Moving quickly to help unload the children Caleb asked "well, what's the damage?" as he opened the back door.
Jim quickly got out to stall the rush of questions, and probably rising tempers that would otherwise happen. "Caleb, Bobby, both boys will be fine. The hand wasn't as bad as feared, but the priority is to get them settled and getting plenty of rest. They both have some medicine to take, and I am sure Sammy has waited very patiently for the pancakes I know he was promised earlier. Let's get them onto the sofa, warm and settled and then we can discuss things properly without interrupting their cartoons".
The last sentence was said in a warning voice that the team knew so well. Nodding quickly Caleb picked up Sam (who had looked very proud at Jim acknowledging how good he'd been) and said "come on squirt, let's get some cartoons going". John followed to the living room with a still dozing Dean and settled him on the sofa quickly, putting cushions behind him and wrapping him in the bed comforter. Brushing his son's hair from his eyes, John turned to Sammy, who had immediately settled cross legged in front of the old TV and was trying to find a cartoon channel. "Sammy, get up here with Dean, I want you warm and under the covers. We'll light the fire in here. We're gunna get you some pancakes and then you can just watch TV, read and rest up today". Sitting him on the sofa and under the comforter, John quickly tuned the old TV to the first cartoon station he found and seeing Sammy was instantly engrossed moved back to the kitchen.
Jim smiled as he walked in and said "I think today is definitely a chocolate chip pancake day. I even have the sauce and the cream in the cupboard. I suspect we'd prefer our pancakes with bacon, and I'll get some under the grill. I think Caleb and Bobby could do with filling in about the boys though if you wouldn't mind".
John knew Jim long enough to know he was managing tempers so, pouring himself a coffee from the coffee maker he sat down and said "So Dean's fingers are broken and splinted. His hand is bruised but he got off lucky with it. He's got some ribs that are strapped and a small concussion. Lots of bruises but overall he's in okay shape. Sammy's fine. Only the bruises you can see and none too bad. This is just an adventure to him. The boys have got some painkillers and Dean's got other stuff. The Doc said plenty of rest, good food and relaxing…"
Looking up John said slowly "You wouldn't be you if you two didn't have something to say to me. But you say it to me, not the boys. It ain't gunna be relaxing in a family quarrel and I aim to see they get a shit load of relaxation. We agreed?"
Pastor Jim felt Caleb and Bobby bristle at what they would see as John weaselling out of a difficult conversation. Turning quickly round whilst starting to plate up very chocolaty pancakes he said quickly "I certainly agree, our issues are our issues. I'll say this now though so that you can all be thinking on it. I take my share of blame for what happened. I'm part of those boy's family and it never crossed my mind that they had no one to turn to. I think that applies to all around this table. We can't claim to love those boys and take no responsibility for them. So, I for one haven't got a high horse to sit on over this. In my view, neither have the rest of you".
Bobby just grunted and Caleb replied, "enough of the sermon Jim, let's just get fed, I'm starving".
Plating up the boy's pancakes on a tray along with the chocolate sauce and cream, Jim went to the front room and called out "Sammy, Dean, sit up and have some breakfast! It's the good stuff, but I don't want goo all over my good furniture thank you!"
At this Dean awoke and yawned, starting to pull himself up slightly "Good luck with keeping Sammy clean with chocolate sauce" he said "he's a magnet for anything sticky. We're better off feeding him at a table, or you'll be remembering this meal for weeks".
Jim smiled and winked "I have faith" He called Sammy to the other chair and putting the tray on his lap said "I'll pour the sauce and cream, you tell me when to stop. I pour it, you eat it, and you don't touch ANYTHING until I've wiped those fingers after. We'll show Dean". Pouring very slowly and about half the amount Sammy wanted, he waited until Sammy had started pulling apart his food and was eating until he turned to Dean.
"Well my boy" he said, "can you eat this with one hand or do you need help". Dean looked at him sideways "I'm not a baby!" he said before adding "Dad would cut it up a little and then I'll be fine." Dean, looked round and asked quietly "Has Dad gone?". Realising his error in John not coming in he quickly shouted out "John, you need to help Dean in here" and John immediately came.
Seeing Dean visibly relaxed he left John to help Dean and protect his furniture from Sammy, going back in the kitchen and finishing making pancakes and bacon for the men.
"Whilst John is out" said the Pastor from the stove "I meant what I said. That whole family need to heal. I don't want to drive John away, and I'm not sure we aren't all so mad at him because it's easier than being mad at ourselves. Let's learn from this and move on".
Bobby grunted, starting to serve himself crispy bacon "John's an ass but I ain't so perfect in this and I suspect we will catch more flies with honey. I'm in for not having to shoot John".
Caleb looked on in astonishment "You're gunna let him get away with this? Those boys were ripe for being corpse 24 hours again, and that ain't an exaggeration!"
"He's not getting away with anything Caleb" said the Pastor in mild frustration "he loves those boys in there, seeing them hurt, knowing he put them in danger isn't going to be something he shrugs off. If we push him away, he'll go and take them with him. If you care for those boys, you'll curb that temper and work out a way so none of us forget them again. If you've got a better way to deal with this, I'll hear it. Otherwise stow your crap, let's just make sure those boys heal and this doesn't happen again. Am I clear?"
Caleb grunted "He's an ass, but most important thing is the boys and for that I won't remind him, every single day of his worthless life, what an ass he is"
Realising this was the best he could expect, he thanked the men and served up food as John came back. They ate in silence and when finished the Pastor said "John, let's get them settled and Dean sleeping. The pills will knock him out. After that I've got chores I'd be grateful if you'd help with. I think we could do with a day off from big issues and I suspect you need more sleep too, Caleb certainly does".
Washing dishes and settling the boys took a little time and ended up with Dean quickly sleeping in the living room, fireplace now lit and Sammy watching TV and reading comics and dosing. John took the opportunity to settle for a doze with Sammy on his lap and Bobby and Caleb retired upstairs for the comfort of soft beds.
Lunch was late and was a serve yourself combo of soup and sandwiches grabbed as each person woke up for however long was needed, and it was evening before everyone was awake at the same time.
Pastor Jim put together a meal of spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread and a vegetable bake on the side. He was hopeful that the cheese he had smothered the vegetables in would disguise them to the children he knew were more used to fried or starchy foods. Pastor Jim was trying to get Dean's stomach working and some meat on his small frame.
Bringing Dean and Sammy to the table to eat, John sat next to Dean and Sammy, turning the cutting up of Dean's food into a joke by cutting it into random animals and testing them on the shapes. The boys, and men, engaged enthusiastically and the meal passed quickly and cheerfully, both boys so engaged they ate far more than Jim might have hoped for.
Everyone fed and happy, John and Bobby put both boys to bed (the boys bathed for the first time in 2 days) and, after night time medicines had been administered and all the men had gone upstairs to say goodnight, returned to the living room where coffee and whiskey waited on a tray by a well stoked fire.
"Dean seems much better" said Jim "a day's rest is remarkably recuperative for a small boy, I sometimes forget how well they repair. I think tomorrow we'll have more difficulty keeping them tied to a sofa".
John sat down, despite his rest in the day, he felt drained and in need of sleep. he knew the men would want to talk about what had happened and he knew he needed to keep his temper, both because they were right in whatever was said and because his boys needed these men. They were the only family Sammy had ever known and the only people who'd been able to reach Dean in the dark years following Mary's death.
"John, I owe you an apology" began Jim "What happened is as much on us as it is on you. All I ask of you is that you let me make sure we don't fail you again. Those boys are our family as much as yours. When we were called to you, we should all have thought about where that left them, not just you. We all got complacent; we all assumed a ten-year-old would have been able to cope. We never had enough regard for the human monsters, and we never thought just how many decisions Dean would have to make".
As John looked on in astonishment as Jim continued "all I ask is that we review our procedures for looking after the boys and you let us help them to ensure they don't end up in this situation again. I know why you like motels, but transiency is a risk in a lot of ways. Can we sit down and work out what is best for those boys and what they can expect from all of us. Because John, they have a right to expect things from us. We are their only family".
Realising he was being boxed in by the Pastor, but knowing he needed the help, John nodded. "Yeah" he said "a little strategizing wouldn't go amiss"
For the next few hours discussions were had, negotiations made, tempers raised and calmed, and an easy truce reached. It was decided the boys would stay with their "Uncles" whenever within a reasonable radius of a hunt, that they would never be left for more than two nights, that none of them would hunt without being sure that their back up place was taken by someone else, that Dean needed more money to keep in reserve (regardless of whether silver bullets were needed) and that, if John was away there was a strict call in for the boys on a rotation. Pastor Jim was also going to arrange an attorney so if the boys were without John one of them legally could step in.
It can't be said that John was automatically happy with the arrangements, he naturally railed against any curtailing of his authority over the boys, but he knew the measures would keep his children safer and happier so swallowed his own pride.
The next day saw a far more mobile Sammy and a more perky Dean (despite the painkillers). Bobby and Caleb had agreed to stay a week (the lure of the boys and the pastor's cooking too much to resist) and Jim had announced that Dean was staying at least until the Doctor signed him out, which John knew was likely to be a month.
After breakfast of waffles and fruit for the boys and bacon for the adults (although Dean and Sammy managed to snag a substantial amount of bacon) the boys settled with comics and cartoons and John set about mending some steps at the house. The Pastor retired to his study to work and Bobby went out with Caleb to "get something".
Lunch was late that day but a hearty soup with small burgers for the boys. The afternoon was spent with John and Caleb entertaining the boys with card games, and cheating. A happy mood pervaded the whole house and a dinner of Roast Chicken, potatoes and green beans followed by a cherry pie ensured two happy relaxed boys went straight to bed.
The next few days saw more of the same. Pastor Jim noticed a tendency of Dean to apologise for not coping better when his adventures were raised, but he quickly and deliberately knocked that down. The boys, now warm, full and safe and surrounded by the people they loved best in the world blossomed. Games were played, small tantrums overcome, pictures painted, library books read, and comics provided by Pastor Jim consumed and analysed. Both children were smiling, happy and well on the way to recovery after a few short days.
Dean was still tied to the sofa mainly, it was obvious that his ribs hurt when moving and it was clear he felt it his responsibility to keep Sammy entertained, even though he needed to sleep. Pastor Jim encouraged all the men to spend time with the younger child and given his sunny personality it wasn't a chore. Pastor Jim baked cookies with him whilst Dean slept. John changed the oil on the impala with him whilst Dean slept. Caleb played poker (and lost) with him whilst Dean slept, and Bobby secreted the boy outside with him doing tasks the boy was sworn to secrecy about.
After another week of good food Dean was resonating with energy, his ribs were starting to heal, he had removed the sling for several hours a day and was using his hand clumsily and he was desperate to get outside and play in the dangerous scrap yard.
One evening, when a plate of warming stew had been eaten and apple pie inhaled Bobby asked the boys to come outside "Come outside for a moment Grubs" said Bobby, " I got somethin' there I need your help with".
Sammy was obviously in on the plan, he was jumping up and down on the balls of his feet and saying "Let's go Dean! come on! Let's go outside!". Dean looked suspiciously but shrugged and said to Sammy "You ain't going anywhere without your coat and gloves, I ain't listening to you cough up a lung all night". Dean followed Sammy to the hall and automatically dressed the boy; knowing how to get moving arms into coats was a skill he'd learnt early.
Following Sammy and Dean outside, he tried (and failed) to grab Sammy as the boy hurtled down the steps. Sammy stood in front of a bright red bike, tassles on the handlebars and reflectors on the wheels.
"It's for you Dean, from Bobby and me! I helped him fix it up, and I got one too. Mine's blue, and I can ride mine, Uncle Bobby showed me. We can go everywhere, and Uncle Bobby's gunna fix us a bike for his place as well. It's got lights and everything!" Sammy was dancing around as he spoke and grinning hard.
Dean looked on in surprise and moving to the bike said "It's beautiful but I don't know how to ride a bike Bobby. I'll dent it or something".
At this point John crouched in front of his son "Dean" he said "Teaching your kids to ride a bike is something every Dad should do. I'm sorry it took me so long, so tomorrow we'll come out and see if you can manage this with your hand. If you can't we'll try again soon. This is your bike and it's here for you. I'm sorry I can't take it on the road, but I promise you'll get good use out of it."
Dean looked at his Father and grinned, "I'm gunna sit on it now!" he said and got himself on, revving the handles like a motorbike, lost in the adventures of a little boy and his bike.
After a few minutes of Dean and Sammy giving each other blow by blow accounts of the superiority of their bikes, the men ushered the boys back inside and settled them down to an evening of TV and bike plans.
It would be too far to say the next month was perfect. Bobby and Caleb extended their trip, but eventually left with promises to see the boys soon. Pastor Jim insisted the boys be re-kitted with clothes from the rummage sale collection (allowing Sammy Spiderman pyjamas and Dean a snug hoodie with Batman on it as well as other clothing treasures) comics and toys appeared silently, the boys were fed regularly and their Father relaxed around them and enjoyed their company. Dean learnt to ride a bike and how to scare the adults by venturing too far afield.
Time however moved on and, finally having been cleared by the Doctor, the small family got ready to depart. Jim emphasised to John that he must keep his word on the boy's safety. John had found a small unit in a quiet complex whilst he looked at a potential werewolf problem two states over. John meant to keep his word. The first lesson he had learnt was that his boys must never be put in danger again. However, in truth he knew life was rarely fair or perfect and the second lesson he had learnt was, if put in danger Dean could cope, because he trained them well.