Fledgling
"I'm just not sure he is ready for this." Dean said.
John let out a loud sigh, and ran his hand over his rough stubble.
"He already has his ring Dean. You and Caleb were leading your own hunts long before you ever got yours. It's time, we can't coddle him anymore."
"It's not about coddling him Dad! You and I both know he doesn't have the experience I did at his age."
"You're right he doesn't, and this is how he gets the practice."
Dean squeezed the wood of the kitchen chair until his knuckles went white. He eyed Pastor Jim who sat at the head of the table.
"Jim? Are you okay with this? He's barely 17."
Jim looked at Dean sympathetically.
"My dear boy… I have given Sam special treatment. You know that he got his ring early because he behaved so heroically… but that action led to questions from other members about the Triad's ability to lead. We gave a child… a child with very little experience in the grand scheme of things passage into a society of hunters. It is time for him to learn how to be a leader. Just as you and Caleb did before him."
"We are not making this decision lightly." Mackland chimed in.
"He is going to be in danger." Dean snarled.
"We are always in danger." John responded.
"I'll go with him and be his second."
"You can't go with him Dean." Mackland said softly.
"Why not? At least then if this goes to hell, I am there to pick up the pieces."
"That exactly why you can't go Dean." Jim said.
The Pastor rose and walked over to the young hunter and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"We know that you want to protect him, but Sam needs to do this on his own. He has always had you to fix things for him, that is what makes you a great brother, and a leader. But Sam needs to learn to stand on his own two feet, if you are there he will never truly lead."
Dean sighed and his shoulders sank.
"Fine…"
"This is out of your hands Dean; this is a Triad decision. Now go, we have business to discuss." John said.
"Yes sir."
Dean walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He knew he couldn't win if he argued, Sam was going on a hunt with other hunters, and he couldn't be there. The Triad wouldn't be there. All he could do now was try and make sure Sam was prepared.
He hesitated outside the Winchesters shared room, before making a quick turn towards Caleb's room. The room hadn't changed much over the years, and he went straight to the phone that had never been disconnected. He quickly dialed and waited for the other end to pick up.
"Jim? That you?"
"Uh no… just borrowing his phone. Are you busy?"
"I can always spare a minute for you Deuce. What do ya need?"
"You got anything going on this weekend?"
"Nothing concrete, probably bars and women. Why you wanna join me?" Caleb asked.
"Not exactly, was wondering if uhhh…."
"Spit it out kid."
"Could you make it to the farm this weekend?" Dean asked hurriedly.
"Errr… wasn't really planning on it… why a job come up?"
"Not exactly. You know what never mind it's fine it was stupid. I'm sure I'll see you soon Damien"
"Don't you dare hang up on me. What's going on? You never call me like this."
Dean sighed into the phone
"Look… Sam's going on a hunt this weekend… its time for him to lead."
Caleb cursed under his breath.
"Say no more. I'll be there Friday afternoon."
"Thanks…."
"He is going to be fine. We were."
"I know."
"See you in a couple of days."
The other line clicked and Dean hung up the phone. He made his way back to the Winchester's bedroom and slowly turned the door knob.
Sam was sitting with his back to the door head phones on listening to an old dented cassette player that had once been Dean's. He quickly snatched them off his brother's head. Sam turned to look at him with venom.
"What the hell is your problem?" Sam snarled.
Sam had become more and more vicious as he got older. He had made it quite clear what he thought of their life, and over the last two years had begun to go toe to toe with John. Sam never failed to tell John what he thought of his parenting, and Dean had spent less and less time trying to get between them forcing himself to fade into the background. There was no winning, he either made his Dad angry or Sam wouldn't speak to him for a week because of how betrayed he felt.
"Calm down would ya? I just think I should give you the heads up about what's going on, trying to be a good brother and all."
"What do you mean?"
Dean sat down on his bed planting his feet on the floor and rested his elbows on his knees.
"You have a hunt this weekend." Dean said.
Sam rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"I'm not going anywhere this weekend Dean! I have a test next week in Physics! You and Dad can handle whatever it is by yourself."
"Sammy… its not that kind of hunt. Dad and I aren't going."
"Then why do I have to go?"
"Well… do you remember when Dad sent me on my first hunt without him? Just outside of Vegas? It was shortly before I got my ring. I went on a hunt with some low level hunters?"
Sam's eyes widened in realization and he stood from the chair.
"You mean… The Triad is sending me out on my own?"
"It's time kiddo, you got your ring early so they delayed it. But it's kind of a rite of passage around here. Time for you to lead."
Sam peered out from under his curtain of bangs. He looked ten years old again, like the little brother who thought Dean could do no wrong. The strong front that he had unfortunately learned from Dean and John disappeared.
"Dean… I'm not a leader. I never will be." He whispered.
Dean wanted to tell him that he didn't think he was ready, that he was just a kid who had no business leading a group of men into danger. He wanted to tell Sam that it was okay to fail, that he didn't have to do this.
But he didn't.
He stood, and walked over to his brother and place his hand roughly on his shoulder squeezing until Sam looked at him.
"You have led us before without even knowing it. Do you know how many times we would have died if it hadn't been for you? You are a natural born leader. That's why you and Dad butt heads so much. You are a Winchester, those hunters are going to be looking to you for direction, and they will listen to you. Use your training. You can't stay a Private forever. Time for a promotion."
Sam swallowed and his eyes grew cold again.
"I don't remember agreeing to enlist, maybe I'm not looking for a promotion."
Dean smirked.
"We were drafted. You know that."
"Yeah, well I hate it."
"Sammy… I can't get you out of this one."
"I know… it's not your fault Dean."
"Listen, the recon has been done. You got 3 days to do the research, and then you go on your hunt, lead your team and I will be here to crack a few cold ones with you when you get back. Damien's going to come down to celebrate with us too."
Sam smiled softly.
"Right… celebrate… Okay. Listen I am gonna go for a walk before dinner. Play stupid for another hour or two."
Sam left the room leaving Dean to his own thoughts. He slumped back on the bed and tried to get the gnawing feeling out of his stomach.
He wondered if his father felt like this when he sent Dean on his first hunt without him.
Probably not.