Chapter 69:

Deep Water

July 4th weekend. It was all Adam could think about. John had told the boys he was planning a trip for them and though Dean remained skeptical, Adam couldn't contain his excitement. He had just finished packing and as he zipped up his duffel bag there was a slight knock on the door. Adam smiled as John glanced over at him.

He chuckled a little as he spotted a pair of arm floaties sticking out from the top of his bag. John walked in and narrowed his eyes at the boy. "What are those?"

Adam felt a little embarrassed by it, but he knew how important it was that he brought them along.

"I can't swim" Adam stated. "Sam and Dean promised they'd teach me once we got to the lake house."

John scoffed, "How old did you say you were again?"

Adam could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He hated feeling like he was disappointing his father.

"I'm gonna learn," Adam stated. "You'll see!"

"Is that so?" John questioned.

"Promise you'll come watch?" Adam begged. "I'm a real fast learner."

John chuckled slightly and ruffled his third-born's dirty blonde hair. "I know you are." Dean walked past Adam's bedroom, stopping in the doorway as he spotted them.

"Adam let's go" he ordered. He felt sick seeing them together, and every instinct inside him was screaming for him to get Adam away. Adam grabbed his stuff quickly and brushed past his brother, eager to get on the road. John began to follow but Dean stood in his way. John's eyes were alight with amusement, he was hiding something.

"Forgetting something?" Dean questioned.

He smirked, "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean son."

Dean cringed at the word. He would never see himself at having any relation whatsoever to the man. "Our agreement."

John sighed, "Just came in to make sure he had everything he needed" John replied. He placed a heavy hand on Dean's shoulder and every muscle within his body tensed at his father's touch. The nerve damage from years prior flared up and caused white hot pain to course up the side of Dean's neck. His eyes watered, but he hid the pain well. "You worry too much." Dean didn't budge. He set his jaw and remained with his green eyes locked on his father. He did that on purpose, Dean's mind shouted but part of him wanted to believe different.

"I'm serious" Dean said, his voice becoming deep and hard. "If anything happens on this trip, we're gone."

John nodded. "I haven't forgotten what we agreed to, but lighten up a little will ya?" He knocked his shoulder against Dean's as he made his way out towards the car. The pain returned again and Dean waited for his father to be out of earshot before he grabbed his throbbing shoulder. The pain. He hated it. He hated that just the slightest move from his father was enough to make him feel weak. No matter how much time had passed, the wounds ran deep for him and Sam, things that would always be there to remind them what they had endured. Dean dug his nails into his shoulder. Hard. It was enough to break skin. But he didn't care. Your weak! Why do you still let him affect you? You have got to get stronger. Dean silenced the voices in his head and hopped into the impala, sitting in the back with Sam as Adam sat up front next to John.

Dean was strangely quiet for the ride, and Sam was taking notice. A few times he tried to talk to him, but Dean ignored him. It was as if he wasn't even there.

As the group arrived at the small lake house together and set their bags in their rooms, Dean passed by John's room. He noted several more bags then normal, and one duffel bag he knew well. His guns. John caught him looking as he came out of the bathroom attached to the room and smirked.

"This is a hunt" Dean stated. "I should have known."

John put his finger to his lips, "It's a secret."

"What are you talking about?" Dean questioned.

"I was thinking it could just be me and you" John said. "I know you've still been hunting Dean. It's in your blood as much as its in mine."

Dean hated to admit it, but he had been itching for a hunt for months now. His dad had connections he didn't and probably wouldn't for years, until he was out on his own and was a more established hunter. As much as he did not trust going on a hunt with his father, Dean knew it would be his only chance. Its not like he could just go with Sam. Sam had given it up. He would likely never touch a gun again.

"When?" Dean questioned.

"Got to leave tomorrow morning" John said. "It's a big one."

Dean knew how upset Adam would be. He had promised to help Sam teach him to swim that morning. It's fine, Sam's more than capable of teaching him, he told himself. Dean walked towards him and held out his hand.

"Promise me I can trust you" Dean said.

John clasped his hand. "If you got my back, I got yours."

That morning Dean set out in secret with John. He told Sam they were heading out to pick up some groceries for the long weekend, and though he could see the concern in Sam's eyes, he didn't argue. He knew Sam was hoping for this. Hoping that Dean and John would get opportunities to bond.

"I promise, I'll come help Sam teach you as soon as we get back" Dean said as he kneeled beside Adam. Adam glanced from Dean to his father.

"And you promise you'll come watch?" Adam asked.

John nodded, "Course I will."

But as John and Dean left, Lydia called, and Adam found that Sam was reluctant to hang up with her. He was lying on the couch, his arm behind his head. Adam began to pester him and after a minute Sam stood, walked to his room and closed the door. Adam waited for as long as he could stand it. But soon a half hour had passed, and Adam noticed his floaties were starting to lose air fast. He panicked a little at the thought of not using them. He was sure they had been full of air when they left.

"Sam!" Adam called as he kicked the door. "Hurry!"

"Give me just a second Adam," he called back.

Adam could not wait any longer. "Meet me at the lake!" he said. There was no response from Sam, so he headed out towards the lake by himself. He hung his feet of the end of the dock and sighed. He tried to feel the water, but it was too low, and he decided to wade around in the shallow water as he waited for his brother. By this time all the air had been lost, Adam had forgotten to check them before he found that he had stepped off into a drop off. The sandy ground under his feet disappeared.

I was sinking. No matter how hard I tried to push myself up, the cold water kept pushing me down. The water was dark, I couldn't see a thing. I knew I couldn't hold my breath forever. Sam please! Please find me! I clawed at the water, kicked my legs, but it seemed the water wanted to keep me here. I should have listened! I shouldn't have come by myself! I think of dad, and how he would find me. How heartbroken he would be. My brothers… what would they think? How could this be happening? And as everything around me starts to go dark I catch a glimpse of my floatie as the sunlight above me pierces the darkness of the water for the quickest second. It reveals something very strange. A small slash in the rubber fabric.

I know! It's been years since I updated! But thanks to the reviews I got from fans of this story begging for an update I had to give in and pick this story up again! Stay tuned for more!