Chapter 16:

John began his trek back to the house, ignoring the flames burning behind him. He knew the flames would die out on their own inside the hole. And even if they didn't, right now he didn't care. That asshole was gone for good. He needed to concentrate on his boys now. He needed to step up and be the father they needed him to be. Even if it was too little too late.

As he walked his old body began stiffening up on him. His legs were throbbing where the stick had hit him, his joints ached from the electric jolt the ghost gave him, and his head was pounding. And all of a sudden it just seemed as though the years of this hard life had caught up with him. His body felt old beyond it's years. His body was slowing down, his mind was tired, and his heart ached for the wife he lost, for the family he never got to raise the right way, and for his boys who never knew anything different. Oh how his boys had suffered because of his choices. Looking back it was easy to see what he should have done differently. But hindsight is always twenty twenty. There was nothing he could change now. And as sad as it made him, he wasn't truly sure he would have wanted to change it. He had ruins his boys' lives, but he had also taught them how to survive. How to survive in a world where monsters are very real. He taught them to kill the monsters. He only wished he would have known about all of this the night Mary died. Maybe he would have been able to save his family.

He sighed a loud tired sigh as he reached his truck. He opened up the back and retrieved a fresh shotgun fully loaded with rock salt. Of course, Mr. Wells was gone. But he stuck to his motto of always being prepared. Then he made sure he locked up his truck tight. He figured he would take his boys out of there in the Impala. It would be easier for them to get into. He would come back for the truck later.

Cautiously he made his way up the steps to the house, shining the flashlight along the broken boards, making sure to stay along the side where it was safe. When he reached the front door, he didn't even bother to try the handle. He simple lifted back his leg and kicked it open, shattering the frame. He smiled to himself. Even for an old man, he still had it.

He entered slowly, swinging the light side to side. He caught sight of Sam first, laying just to the right of the door. He bent to his side and shook his shoulder. "Sam? Sammy, can you hear me?" He was answered with a soft groan, but his son's eyes stayed closed. He patted Sam on the shoulder and then stood looking for Dean. As he spun he was shocked at what he saw. Dean lay slumped against the opposite wall, and sitting next to him on her knees was a little girl. A ghost. She was softly rubbing his arm. John raised the shotgun.

The little girl turned to him and softly said, "You killed my Daddy." John didn't respond, he simply stood ready to fire. "Thank you."

John couldn't hide his surprise. "Thank you?" He questioned.

She nodded. "My brother says we can leave now. You saved us." She looked from John back down to Dean. "I wanted to help him, but I don't know how. I thought I would sit with him until you came back."

John was still stunned, but he lowered his gun. "Thank you for that. But you can go now. Go be with your family. I'll take care of my boys."

The little girl nodded, looked sadly at Dean once more. "I'm sorry my Daddy hurt you." She whispered to him. Then she slowly faded away.

John hurried to Dean's side. "Dean! Dean can you hear me!" He lightly slapped Dean's bruised face. Dean made no response. John felt for a pulse and found a weak one. He was in much worse shape than Sam. Satisfied that all of the danger was passed, John set down his flashlight and shotgun. He rolled Dean onto his back and placed an arm under his shoulders and knees, then as gently as he could he lifted him up. John couldn't surpress a grunt as he lifted and began to walk. This wasn't as easy as it used to be when his boys were smaller. He gave Sam one last glance and then headed out to the car with Dean. He fished the keys to the Impala out of Dean's pocket and laid him in the backseat.

John then hurried back to the house for Sam. He couldn't hold back his gasp of joy when he walked back into the house and found Sam awake and trying to stand. "Hey kiddo. Take it easy." He walked to Sam and placed Sam's arm over his shoulder and then placed his arm around his waist. "Why don't you let Dad help you out."

Sam nodded. "Where's Dean?"

"Already in the car. Now come on, let's get you out there too."

Sam let John lead him out. When they were safely out of the house Sam asked, "Mr. Wells?"

John smiled, "Ashes."

"Bout time." Sam said weakly.

They had almost reached the car when John noticed Sam started to loose it. Just as Sam's legs gave out John scooped him up in the same manner he had Dean. "I got you kiddo." He whispered to his son, then placed him in the front seat.

"Sam, look at me." John said firmly as he leaned in the passenger doorway. Sam looked up at him with weak eyes. "We're gonna get out of here, but first I have to go back and make sure I get all of our weapons. I'll be back in just a minute. Stay here. You understand? Don't move."

"Yeah, I got it Dad." Sam said as his eyes closed and he leaned his head back against the seat.

John patted his leg, "Good boy." For a moment he stood and just looked at his sons. He only wished that he was the type of man who could express his love for them in a better way. They deserved so much more from life. He shook his head sadly then set back to the house. He gathered everything he could find as quickly as possible. When he got back to the car and loaded the trunk, he checked on Dean and Sam once more finding them both still out. He started up the Impala, and peeled out as he took off for the nearest motel where he could patch up his boys.

-TBC-

Okay all, last chapter will be up sometime this weekend. It will be better than this one. I just for some reason had trouble writing this one. So it didn't turn out great, but it's just a transition to the end. Thanks for reading.

P.S. The reviews have made my day! Thanks a lot! But go ahead...leave some more!