His greatest fear almost came true when someone tried to take Sammy at the hardware store. Exactly who tried to take him, he didn't know. All Sammy would say after they got back to Bobby's was that a man came up to him and told him he'd take him to live with children as special as him.
"But the angel made him go away before he could take me there."
"Angel?" The fear rolling around inside his gut made his tone sharper than he intended. He took a deep breath to steady himself before asking, "What angel?"
"The angel," was all Sammy said, though.
"He didn't tell you his name?"
"No." He shook his head. "He just told me to run back to you."
John had no clue what happened in that hardware store. He didn't know who this angel his son claimed saved him was. He figured it was one of the locals who stepped up when they saw what was going on. No matter what, he owed the man for his timely interference. Without him, he might have lost his boy.
Like he lost Mary.
He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't lose his boys. They were all he had. I'll be more vigilant, he decided as he ran an unsteady hand over his face. Do whatever's necessary to keep them safe. He'd make sure nothing could get near those kids. Teach them how to protect themselves. Dean was already proving how capable he was with a gun. Sammy would also learn once he was old enough. For now, what he needed to do was to teach his youngest boy about walking up to strangers.
It's a conversation, he realized as he pulled Sammy into his lap, long overdue. A good father would have already had this talk with his son. Made sure he understood he didn't talk to strangers much less go with them.
It wasn't like he claimed he was a good father.
No, he was a shit father and this proved it.
A/N: Hello, all! Hope this finds you well!
I'd like to thank Sharzdah and umbrella0326 for their wonderful reviews!