I didn't get any reviews, i'm not sure people are reading this? But, I know Johns OOC but I wanted to try to show a softer side of John. I really feel he did his best with the boys growing up. He was strict because he felt he had to be but really loved his kids. His children didn't make it easy i'm sure pushing boundaries and trying to bend his rules. Warning: There is a spanking in this chapter. Not a bad one but the next chapter will have one as well.
Chapter 2: Deans rebellion
"Did you just backtalk?" John growled out. Sam's sniffles receded and he lifted his head to look at John and Dean. The tone in his Dads voice frightened him and he didn't want Dean to get in trouble. Sammy hated hearing Dean get punished because he loved his brother more than anything. Dean protected Sammy a lot and it made him sad when he'd hear him cry.
Dean didn't want to lie to his Dad, he knew he had talked back, but it was more out of confusion than defiance, "Well no sir, I mean yes sir." Dean mumbled out. He hoped somehow his lame response would save him from a whipping, and he knew he was pushing his luck. John frustrated started to unbuckle his brown leather belt and slowly pull it from the loops.
Sammy's eyes started to water, and Dean cleared his throat. Dean felt a little confused because his Dad was never quick to a whipping and it'd been a while since he'd gotten one. Warning swats he'd gotten plenty of those lately because his mouth had been word vomit central with his wise-ass remarks towards John. Deans emerald green eyes looked up meeting Johns, silently pleading to not do this and John folded the belt over making a snapping noise.
John pointed angrily at Dean, "You are this close Dean Eric Winchester to having my leather over your bare ass. Is that what you want?" John yelled. He had enough of these games with his boys, how could he trust them alone if they couldn't follow simple orders?
Deans eyes glossed over as he held back tears, "No sir, I'm sorry sir. We will do laps and then come back, shower and get ready for bed." Dean rasped out. He was trying to control his fear of a whipping and felt guilty for challenging John in the first place. "I did not say you guys were going to bed after. I told you to get yourselves showered and into pajamas. Dean, you need to start listening to orders and not questioning what I'm telling you to do! That is not how this family works and when I give an order it will be followed, not questioned."
"Yes sir, I know that sir." John nodded at Dean walking over and placing his belt upon a small wicker bookshelf in the room. Dean let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in and started rubbing Sam's back again. He could tell his kid brother was scared and tried to comfort him. Dean usually always followed orders and he never cried. He didn't want his Dad or Sammy to think he was weak.
"That," John pointed to the belt, "is staying in here because I can't trust one of you won't need a whipping by the end of tonight. Let it be a reminder that back talking won't be tolerated boys and disobeying orders won't be tolerated either."
He heard a double yes sir and walked towards the kitchen, he heard Sam whispering loudly to Dean if Daddy would really whip them? Dean in a serious tone asked if Dad ever made an empty threat. Sam didn't need to respond, and John grabbed his bourbon and tea. He perched himself at the table and began his research for the hunt with Bobby tomorrow for the La Llorona.
The lore had said, a woman killed her two sons by drowning them after her husband left her for a younger woman. She then took her own life but when she arrived at the gates of heaven God turned her away. The only way she'd get in was if she found her sons and brought them with her. She is heard weeping for her sons now near rivers, searching for them. John scoffed that this could be the original La Llorona, but it shook him to the core thinking a ghost was killing boys to get her ticket into heaven.
John thought tomorrow he'd bring the research when he met up with Bobby a few towns over where little boys were being drowned in a river. This to him seemed like La Llorona and it was dangerously close to where he and the boys were. He pondered asking Caleb to come to keep an eye on his rascals, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time. He'd just have to trust Dean, even though he'd be questioning orders earlier.
Then he thought to himself, maybe he was too strict with Sam and Dean earlier, but he just needed to trust them when cases like this popped up. He didn't want to lose them because they couldn't follow orders and Dean should know better. John justified that to himself and kept sipping his bourbon and tea. The heat was getting to John, or maybe the bourbon, so he left the small kitchen into the living room laying on the old beat up sofa. He had the book of lore on his chest and let his heavy eyelids rest.
Dean woke up first glaring at the bedroom clock and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He yawned and looked at Sammy sleeping next to him. He must have fallen sleep in bed with Sammy when he was reading the book. Even though they had their own beds he usually found Sammy in his bed in the mornings. Dean didn't mind because Sammy was still a little kid and he knew he only had a while longer before Sammy would want to sleep in his own bed. The kid was growing up and currently, the only thing he feared was clowns.
It was three already, so he lightly shook his brother trying to coax him awake, "Hey kiddo, it's time to wake up and do laps." Sammy groaned. "I'm still sleepy thoughhhhh." He whined out and Dean smirked. His brother never liked waking up and he found it amusing. "Come on Samantha! You can do it!" He mocked knowing if he annoyed Sam enough, he'd get up.
Dean got up and peeled his white t-shirt off himself, replacing it with another and changed into his sweats. He opened Sammy's drawer and got him out his jogging clothes as well. He looked up glaring at his Daddy's belt and tried to push out of his head what happened earlier. Sammy stood behind Dean getting dressed, "Owe," Sammy whined out. Dean worriedly looked behind himself, "What's wrong tiger?" He asked.
Sammy's face scrunched in pain, "I think Daddy was wrong and I hurt myself, Dean." Tears slowly rolled down his face and he began sniffling. Dean walked over to Sammy helping him pull his denim jeans off and luckily Sammy felt comfortable standing in his Batman underwear in front of Dean. Sammy was small for his age and Dean lifted him up carrying him to his bed so he could get a better look at his knees.
He gently sat Sammy down who hissed out in discomfort and Dean remembered their Dad had swatted him earlier. "Sorry Sammy, I just want to look at your knees cuz I think we might have to ice them." Dean looked at Sammy's battered kneecaps and they had bruised. The left knee was swelling a bit and he knew icing it would help. He'd have to ask Dad if he could give Sammy some kid ibuprofen though from the first aid kit.
He had learned the hard way last summer to not touch the kit without permission, his ass paid the price for that. Sammy started crying loudly because he always got scared when he thought he was hurt, and Dean hugged him. "It's okay, Daddy will patch you up and hey you might even get out of running those laps." John woke up to crying and quickly rolled off the couch dropping the book, running into the boy's room and saw Sammy's knees. He calmed his racing heart and kneeled in front of Sammy, "Hey kiddo, what's wrong?" He could obviously see that his sons' knees were bruised but he hoped talking would calm his boy down.
"Daddy my knee's they…..hurt and I promise I tried not to cry." He hiccupped out. John was thrown off why Sammy would be scared to cry. He never chastised his boys for crying when they were hurt or even when getting a spanking. John wanted his boys to feel however they felt even if it were anger. Yet, when anger got physical between his boys or himself then that was a problem and wouldn't be tolerated.
Mary had seen John cry and punch walls and never once made him feel that his feelings weren't valid. She had done the same with Dean and even baby Sammy. She'd let him scream into her ear while rocking him and telling him to let it all out. He raised his boys the same way for Mary's sake, "Kiddo, you know it's okay to cry. Seeing these big ole bruises must have scared you and its okay to be scared."
"I'm not scared! I'm not a crybaby!" Sammy yelled pushing John away with his foot. Luckily when John kneeled, he had a good stance because the force of Sammy's kick could have knocked him over. Deans eyes popped out of his head at his brother and he wondered if Sammy was possessed! John took a deep breath in and repeated in his head patience is learned, he would have patience. Sammy stared at John and a look of defiance was written all over his face. His green eyes were a stormy dangerous gray and his fists were balled up on the bed.
"Deano, why don't you get Sammy some ice and go into the medical bag. Grab some children's ibuprofen and take your time coming back." He put his hand on Deans knee rubbing it for a moment, "Yes sir, and I'll bring a glass of water too." He gave Sammy a sympathetic look as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him. He didn't want to hear Sammy getting a spanking and he walked through the living room to the small kitchen. The medical bag was always on top of the fridge, in every place they stayed.
John got up and sat next to Sammy, "Well kiddo, kicking people because your angry is not something we do. First off, who told you it wasn't okay to cry?" John had an idea but wanted to hear it from Sammy. He rubbed Sam's back trying to encourage him to answer and took a deep breath in. Sammy turned his head and with a tear rolling down his cheeks whispered, "Dean Daddy but please don't spank him. I….am sorry that I yelled and kicked you."
John took a deep breath in and tried to understand how a nine-year-old thought but cringed because this was a spankable offense. He didn't want to have to be the one to do this job because Sammy was already hurt but if he didn't follow through that'd be worst. "Well, son, Dean and I will be having a long talk. I'll decide if he needs a spanking, not you. Now, get over my lap because I know one boy here that does need a spanking. It's okay to be angry Sammy, it is but it's not okay to kick people." John sighed heavily.
Sammy got over Johns' knees and was crying so hard he was shaking. John wanted to just say Sammy was grounded instead of a spanking, but he wanted to drive this lesson home. He held Sammy secure with his arm because he wiggled a lot and didn't want his boy to fall. "Please Daddy, I'm sorry and I'll never kick again. Dooon't spank me. I want Dean! Dean! Dean!" He screamed. John patted Sammy's butt in warning to calm down. He heard Dean coming and the door opening, "Stop! Dean, go sit in the kitchen and wait till I call you!" He yelled.
The door remained closed and he heard a light yes sir and footsteps walking away. He wanted to get this over quickly and raised his big calloused hand down over Sammy's butt cheeks. His hand was just big enough to cover the whole backside. He didn't see a point in lowering Sammy's underwear because the material was so thin. He spanked Sammy seven times and each time Sammy screamed.
He decided to end with spanking the sensitive undercurve where thigh met butt, "Daddy, I'm sorryyyyyy, pleeease." His little boy choked on his snot and John slammed his hand down three more times trying to make sure Sammy wouldn't kick people. He paused, "Why are you sorry Samuel?" He could hear Sammy sniffling and breathing in, "Because I shouldn't have kicked yooou Daddy." Satisfied with the answer he pulled Sammy into a hug and let his head rest on his shoulder. He rubbed his sons back offering him comfort and whispering he was forgiven. After he had calmed down some, he carried him to the living room.
Sammy's growth spurt still hadn't kicked in and at four feet tall he was still easy to carry. He had to turn back to the room because he forgot his boy was not wearing pants. He grabbed Sammy's clothes off the bed and turned towards the door again.
Dean was on the sofa with all the supplies and looked pale white. John wasn't sure if it was sympathy for Sam or his own guilt eating away at him. "Dean, did you get all the supplies together for Sammy?" Dean looked up at John pointing to the small table with ice, bandages and children's ibuprofen. John sighed heavily, it looked like he'll be roasting two backsides tonight. He hated that and especially because he was leaving tomorrow. "Get your ass up Dean and go run your laps. We will be having a serious discussion when you get back in here."
Sammy hugged John tighter and started crying loudly again, "No more spankings Daddy." He sniffled out. John rubbed his little boys back again whispering into his ear. Sammy cried a little harder and Dean got up from the couch, "Sammy, it's okay. I'll be okay and this is all my fault." Deans voice gravely. John grabbed Deans arm, "I want 20 laps Dean and then shower." Johns voice stern. Dean just stared at him but finally spoke up, "This is bullshit Dad, I tell him one thing! I was just teasing the kid!" He yelled.
John thanked the universe he had Sammy in his arms because he was sure he'd pop Dean in the mouth for talking back. Sammy cried even harder if possible drenching Johns shirt in snot and tears, "I'm sorry Deannnnn, I didn't want to tell Daddy." Dean felt like a jerk because he wasn't trying to upset Sammy but was angry at himself because he told Sammy he thought crying was for girls and got Sammy in trouble. John turned so his right hand could swat Dean in the ass and still cradle Sam in his left arm. He slammed his hand down hard and Dean didn't give his Dad any satisfaction by yelping.
"Get out there and get running Dean," John growled through his teeth. Dean glared at his father but saw how upset Sammy was and answered yes sir. Walking through the screen door letting it slam as he ran down the porch steps.