Chapter Five
John shuffled nervously as him, Kate and Adam sat in the living room waiting for the boys. They'd been there since breakfast, playing some nonsensical movie that none of them were watching. Adam, to his surprise seemed the most anxious, green eyes flitting to the curtain every few moments. With every car that passed by the teen seemed to tense more and more, and it left John fearing that the kid would work himself into a fit if he didn't calm down.
Still, if he was honest, he wasn't quite sure how he felt about all of this. On one hand, he knew he was wrong to keep the boys from each other, especially keeping Adam from his eldest. Dean was the definition of protective older brother, and he hadn't wanted to deprive the man of being able to dote on Adam as he had on Sam. At the same time, with the YED gunning for them, he had only wanted to protect the one innocent child he had left. His two older sons had both lost their innocence too soon, the result of being in their brand of business, and he hadn't wanted that to happen to Adam.
The low rumbling growl of Baby's engine broke him from his thoughts and he stood as Adam jumped up and bolted out the door. Kate followed and as he exited he was treated with the sight of Adam tackling Sam in a tight hug. His middle son had grown into a giant in the four years he'd been away, looming a good four or five inches over Dean's 6'2 and his own 6'3. He watched as said son caught the teen effortlessly and swung him onto his hip laughing. Beside them, Dean was watching with a tiny grin, his hand resting on his hip.
"Alright ladies, break it up."
John snorted, watching as Sam shot his brother his infamous bitchface, Adam mimicking it perfectly before hopping down to lean against the former. He decided to make his and Kate's presence known and cleared his throat.
"Boys." He greeted and Sam glanced at him, then frowned and looked away. Dean, frowned as well but stepped forward, shifting so that he was in front of his brothers.
"Dad. Ms. Milligan."
Kate blushed. "Just Kate. You're family after all, dear. And you're Dean, right?"
He nodded and gestured for Sam to step forward. Sam shook his head, pulling Adam closer. The teen leaned up and whispered something to him, until he did as he was asked.
"Sam, I heard about the attack on your school. Are you alright?"
Hazel eyes left Kate and moved toward him, then past him to stare at something over his shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"Fine is a relative term." Adam muttered. "How are you really, Sammy?"
"I'm fine, Aj."
His youngest snorted, but subsided when Dean sent him a sharp glance. John's eyes narrowed but he said nothing, leading the way inside. He was tempted to ask about Bobby, about school, about everything he'd felt since arriving at the Milligan home but he said nothing. Instead he poured himself a drink and took a seat.
Something was going on, and his money was that it had to do with the attack on Sam's school. The question was; what was it?
"Sammy,"
Sam's jaw clenched as he fought not to look at Lucifer. The devil sat directly beside Ms. Milligan, petting the woman's hair in a sickening display of mock affection.
"I wonder if he can even see me. He can't, can he? You won't let him."A dark smile crossed those thin bloodless lips, blue eyes flashing with the glacial fire Sam remembered from the cage.
"But you can. See, little baby Adam never had a place in our game, but you- you are mine. Dean can't erase my claim on you no matter how many times he fucks you through an available surface."
His heart sped up and he began to press the place where the scar should be…
It wasn't working.
Why wasn't it working?
"I'll be free soon and when I do, I'll find you. It'll be just like before. Me, you and a table of tools. Are you cold, Sammy? You're shaking."
Fisting his hands, he fought the urge to cover his ears, jumping startled when a heavy barely familiar hand landed on his knee.
"Sam?" His father stared at him, concern hidden in his otherwise hard eyes and he swallowed convulsively.
"Sorry," He whispered. "Haven't been sleeping well."
Dean glanced at him for the blatant lie, but didn't comment, placing a beautifully carved wolf pendant in his hands.
"Adam made them." He explained and Sam nodded, slipping it over his neck gingerly.
"Thank you." He murmured and Adam smiled grimly.
"It the least I could do after everything."
"How sweet."
"Dean." The elder Winchester's eyes widened in understanding as his brother's voice broke and he kneeled beside him.
"Hey," He said gently, placing a hand on his arm. "Stone number one, remember?"
Sam shuddered, stiffening as Lucifer leaned over him to get face to face with Dean.
"You can't fight what you can't see, Deano. But I can. And I owe you for touching what's mine. My cage is weakening and when I'm free, you will learn true fear, Dean Winchester. Alister's racks will seem like paradise when I'm done…just ask Sam."
Sam grew steadily paler as the apparition spoke, his heart hammering in his chest. His breathing sped up, memories threatening to overtake him and when strong arms, too thick to be Dean's wrapped around him, he didn't fight them.
"C'mon, Sammy. Breathe, kiddo."
"I c-cant." He gasped, black spots looming threateningly in the corner of his eye.
"Sh, yes you can." His father argued, voice gentler than it had been in years. It was the tone he'd used when he still saw Sam as his baby boy and not the monster that had killed his wife.
It was this voice, the memory of the man his father had been that had led to Sam mourning him even after discovering the promise he'd tried to get out of Dean. Beside him, Lucifer snarled, angry about being ignored and he clenched his eyes shut with a whimper.
He couldn't breathe.
"Obviously, it's a bad time," Lucifer growled. "I will be back and you will regret ignoring me, Ssssammy."
Sam's heart raced, hearing the promise in Lucifer's voice, and he let out a broken whine, trying and failing to regain his breath. So lost in his panic, he didn't even notice when the black spots over took his vision and he slipped into unconsciousness.
TBC…