Turning Points - 4
Disclaimer: Nothing 'Supernatural' belongs to me. I've just borrowed and not for profit.
Summary: A series of snapshots about turning points in the lives of the Winchesters
Author's Note: This is the four in what is becoming a series of snapshots of the Winchesters – A look at some of John's life changing decisions.
Please let me know what you think (positive criticism welcomed – seem to be plenty of people hitting the page but not many reviews so far so I don't know whether the later parts are any good.) I will try to improve and take on suggestions and keep going. And so to the fic…
Turning Points – John
Ten minutes after meeting Mary, John realised his life was going to change in a big way soon.
Fifteen minutes after meeting Mary, John realised he was wrong. His life wasn't going to change anytime soon. He was late in his prediction; in fact he hadn't even made a prediction because his life had already changed by the time he realised change was possible. The change happened ten minutes ago when his friend Tom had gone to get another round at the bar, taking Mary's friend Sara along too, and had left him here to talk to Mary alone.
He'd never believed in love at first sight, but this was… well… he didn't actually know what it was but he certainly wanted to spend more time with her and find out.
John had never given much thought to settling down, marriage and kids. He'd always felt a bit reticent around the women he met in bars, not really sure of himself but something about Mary put him at ease.
In truth, he hadn't given much thought to any kind of future. He was just a 'take life one day at a time' kind of guy. He realised that he would actually like to have a future with someone like Mary. He could imagine a life, a family with someone like her. Geez, he almost didn't recognise himself.
John looked at his wife, tired but content. He saw the fascination in her eyes as she watched the baby in her arms asleep. He thought back to that night he had met Mary in the bar and his life had changed. He remembered that it had been the first time he had considered the future beyond the immediate and that it had been the first time he had considered a future that involved kids and now look here he was – husband and father. He wouldn't have believed just how good it could feel. His wife. His baby. His life.
There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep them safe and happy. He wanted to savour every moment and wanted every moment to be filled with the feelings he had now. Realistically, he knew the baby was going to cry sometimes, and sometimes they weren't going to know why, and that sometimes they were going to be exhausted because the baby was going to keep them up. He knew he was going to have to work overtime to buy all the things the baby was going to need, they weren't always going to have enough money to be really comfortable but he would make sure that they had enough to be okay.
'Dean,' said Mary, 'I think he looks like a Dean.'
'Dean's good. Was it in that book of names you were looking at?'
'Good? Is that all?' Mary smiled.
'I like it.'
'It means leader.'
'Sounds good. Not one to be pushed around when he gets to school.'
Mary smiled again, laughing gently at her husband and looked down at the baby, 'Hi there, Dean.'
The baby slept on and John silently promised he would help his son be strong enough to face the world, to be the leader his name suggested. He promised again, as he had done on the day he married Mary, that he would love his wife, the mother of his beautiful boy, until his dying breath. Some things changed and some never did.
John helped Dean out of the car and began the walk into the hospital. 'Now remember kiddo, really quiet and really calm okay.'
Dean nodded but John could feel the excitement vibrating through his son's body where he held his hand. 'Big brothers have to be careful, it's their job to make sure that little brothers are well looked after.'
'I know. I can do it. I promise.'
John looked down into Dean's earnest eyes and saw the promise there and repeatedly etched in every inch of the body walking at his side. He reached down and swung his young son, now his eldest but now longer his only, up into his arms. 'Let's go meet your little brother shall we?'
'What's his name? How long will it be before he'll want to play?'
John laughed, 'His name's Samuel and you'll have to wait a while for him to play your games but you'll be able to help him play with his toys before that but it'll still be a little while.'
'Do I have to call him Samuel? Sammy is nicer. I'll teach him everything I know.'
'Sammy sounds good, maybe Mom and I will call him that too sometimes.'
John kissed the top of his head as they made their way to the room in which Mary and Sammy waited for them. Dean would lead the way and Sammy would follow. John hoped that would last. The willingness to love that Dean had came straight from Mary, open and giving. John hoped nothing would change that about Dean, but equally that it wouldn't lead him to be hurt.
In his heart, John promised he would help his eldest son grow into the man he could be and that he would protect his youngest from the world beyond the family. He promised again, as he had done on the day he married Mary and the day she had Dean, that he would love his wife, the mother of his boys, until his dying breath. Some things changed and some never did.
Mere months later, he watched as the fire crews tried to put the fire out. He looked at the baby in his arms, calm and asleep now. The last thing Mary had given him. He promised her he would treasure him and protect him, that he and Dean would make sure no harm came to her baby. He glanced down at Dean, curled into his side, clinging to his arm, eyes wide and staring but not yet crying and said, 'You'll have to always be good now Dean. Sammy is going to need you to help him.'
'Mom…' it was almost a whisper. John could see the tears brimming and knew he couldn't do anything to stop them. He couldn't put anything right about this night but he couldn't handle the tears.
'No, it's just us. Mom would want us to be strong, to be men and to look after Sammy, he's only a baby.' Dean nodded, wiped his eyes and went back to staring silently at the house.
John wanted to break down, he wanted to cry and scream, he wanted to rush back into the house, to die with Mary but instead he promised her he would bring her boys up to be strong, he would teach them to protect themselves. He promised for a final time, as he had done three times before, that he would love his wife, the mother of his boys, until his dying breath. Some things changed and some never did.
Author's Note: I am starting with the next chapter, which will be some of Sam's turning points I think. Like I said before, please do review - it helps.