Stepping into the line of fire

Chapter 45

Angela looked at Sam with a concerned look. He glanced down at the ground. She then turned to Dean with a quizzical frown on her face. Dean gave her a silent cue that he would brief her later on. She went up to her sweetie and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. "I'll help ya' with the eggs Dee" Angela volunteered.

"Thanks honey". Dean kissed her back on the mouth boldly. John and Bobby said nothing and pretended that all was good even though they felt a little shocked by the impulsive act. Sam just sat there dejected. He had tried to do good this morning and all he had to show for it was a very clean mouth! It had been incredibly humiliating and he was fuming inside. From the top of his fifteen years on the planet he was mortified. Why was his dad such a hard ass?

John had glanced at his youngest from time to time and he was concerned. Washing out his boy's mouth with soap was not a big deal in his book. It had happened to him many times when he was growing up. He could have used his belt. John would never allow cussing around him. It showed disrespect. He cussed though… he knew that. It was very much a "don't do what I do but do what I say" moment and he understood that Sam hated the irony of such an action. Sam was extremely bright. Always had been. He could read and write at such a young age and he was so curious about every new thing he came across. Sammy was a genius at research and he did ask very clever incisive questions but not always at the right time! They were fucking good ones though! John had to admit to that. He wanted to restore morale and so he went to sit next to his disobedient boy. He spoke first.

"Sam. I'll not tolerate cussin' ya' know that, don't ya' boy?"

Sam was just looking at the ground. His father was the last man on earth he wanted sitting next to him at that moment in time. John persevered…

"Son. I've forgiven ya'…have you forgiven me...ya' know we always move on…don't ya?"

Sam lifted his head a little but would still not look at his father. John then lifted his son's chin and turned his head to look into his boy's sad eyes.

"We're done. No cussin'. Ever. You know that! I've made it very clear since ya' were little." John said paternally." He then took hold of the back of Sam's neck and brought his son's head forward so it was resting on his chest. "I love ya' Sammy. I'm so proud of ya', so's Dean…go on… give your ol' man a hug!"

Sam just sat there smelling his dad's woody smell and whiskey breath. He just did not feel in a forgiving mood. Something primal was beating inside his heart though and he could not resist burrowing deeper into his tough marine ol' man's chest. He capitulated and started to cry again.

"Hush…Sammy…hush son…all's good. We're good." John whispered into his boy's ear. Sam just sat there enjoying the manly cuddle in spite of himself. "Man up! We've got a balrog's ass to fry!". John then gave him a kiss on the forehead and got up to get washed. Sam continued to sit there but he felt better. He began to accept what had happened to him in some sort of begrudging way. He'd be more careful from now on and Dean owed him one!

Meanwhile, Dean was feeling very guilty about his part in the previous incident and he just wanted to make up with his nerdy littl' bruv'. He should not have played the big brother card like he had done and he wanted to make up desperately. He was determined to do so after breakfast, after he had confessed to Ange. It would all be great in the end… he hoped. They had a higher cause on their mind. Calm needed to be restored.

SPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPN

The fluffy scrambled eggs had been dished out to the hungry troop and the coffee flowed. All the hunters looked ready to face Ugoliant. John had announced that they would start the hunt in an hour's time and that gave Dean to chance to have a chat with his honey and make up with his brother. He took hold of Angela's hand and led her to a quiet place just out of sight of everybody else. She spoke before her sweetie.

"What happened?"

"Dad washed out Sam's mouth for cussin'" Dean replied forlornly.

"Sam looked so sad …is he Ok?"

"I don't know Ange. It's my fault though". Dean went on to explain his role in the sorry affair and waited for her to advise him. Angela gave him a big hug and a reassuring kiss on his perfect mouth. Dean felt a lot better.

"What shall I do Ange?" he asked plaintively.

"Go speak to him. Say ya're sorry Dee. Sam knows you're sorry. You tried to defend him. He knows that". Angela replied wisely.

Dean gave her another couple of butterfly kisses and made his way towards his little brother. Sam was washing up with Bobby.

"Sammy?"

"Yeah Dean?"

"Come with me dude!" …Dean then turned to Bobby… "Is that OK with ya' uncle Bobby?" Bobby nodded affirmatively. Sam followed Dean to his tent. Dean zipped them in.

"I'm so sorry Sammy. I didn't want ya' in trouble. I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have grabbed you the way I did. It wasn't fair." Dean said with meaning. "I just couldn't believe that the ol' man was going to do that dude. He hasn't done that since we were six or seven! …I'm so gutted for ya'…you know I'd take a whippin' for ya' don't you? I hope ya're OK. I'm sorry."

Dean then hugged his precious brother and ruffled his shaggy hair. He continued…" Best be safe from now on and keep a civil tongue in our heads! I'm sure he'd do it to me and I'm nineteen!"

Sam smiled and giggled. "I don't think so dumbass'!...you cuss all the time and he never notices!"

"I've just been lucky that's all...ya' know Sammy… age doesn't matter with the ol' man. We screw up we pay the price. Ya' know that's true!"

"Yeah…I know Dean it's true but it sucks big time man!"

Dean agreed.

Dean then unzipped his tent and the brothers made their way out. The order of things had been restored. A balrog needed sorting and they were the right men to do the job. John had ensured this through his rigorous training routines and strict discipline. Sam and Dean knew what they were doing and felt invincible.

SPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNS