Choices

Chapter 8 - Help is at Hand

Bobby parked down the road from the education centre at twenty to twelve, making sure the truck was concealed from immediate view if Dean were to come past. He took a walk round the area, looking for any sign of John. Back outside the centre, he saw John pull up outside at five to twelve. He moved to the position he had decided on with the clearest view of the steps up to the building without being seen. It was close enough to hear some conversations.

Twelve came and went as he watched and waited. He saw the expression on John's face grow darker and wondered where Dean had got to.

At ten past twelve, he phoned Mark. He figured that maybe Dean had already left in order to avoid the confrontation. He didn't know what to think when Mark explained that he could see Dean in the corridor near the front door, it looked as if he were delaying leaving. Bobby made a rapid decision and asked Mark to deliver a message if he could catch Dean before he left, offering him a lift in ten minutes if he wanted to hang on. As Mark came back to the phone to say he hadn't been able to catch Dean, Bobby had already seen him emerge from the building.

Used now to watching Dean for signs of how he was feeling, Bobby realised the practise he's had over the months since the accident stood him in good stead now, when he could tell on first sight that Dean was tense and edgy. Bobby heard the first exchange. "Hi Dad, sorry I got delayed." It removed any doubt from his mind that the two had already met and that John was the source of Dean's current state of distraction. "You okay? Where are you staying? Somewhere near here?" Bizarre as it seemed, Bobby was certain that Dean's babbling lines of questions indicated that he wasn't comfortable with his Dad being there, which Bobby took to mean that John had made the initial contact. It highlighted how vulnerable their plan to keep John away from Dean had been.

Both men's reaction to John's answer told Bobby the final information he needed: John had come for Dean and Dean didn't want to go. Bobby listened to the two of them talk and heard Dean's attempt to reason with his father, his attempt to calm the situation and the first of the warning signs of an impending panic attack. He heard John's threats and accusations and hated standing by letting John tear down Dean's confidence again. But the one things he was sure of was the need for Dean to know it was over because he couldn't keep letting John back into his life to repeat the damage.

"You always were an attention-seeking little bastard." Bobby had heard more than enough, he had to put a stop to this, it couldn't keep on.

He dialled Mark's number again, "Mark, it's Bobby... I don't have time to explain, but I need you to do something for me urgently... Dean is on the front steps of the centre talking to someone. I need you to interrupt them, don't speak to the guy, just to Dean, get him back into the building as quick as you can. Thanks I'll be in touch as soon as I can."

As soon as he finished speaking, he scrolled down to Sam's number and started to speak as Sam picked up. "Sam, what time's lunch? Can you get to the education centre? He's here now. I want this finished for good. I'll see you here in a few minutes."

Bobby saw Mark lead Dean up the steps to the door. He saw Dean turn back to John and held his breath as he waited to see what would happen.

He heard the word "Sorry" and the final tone it carried. When he heard Dean add, "It's over, don't come back for me." relief ran through him. For the first time, Dean was truly ready to move on with his life.

He watched John Winchester and wondered how the boys had done so well with this wreck of a man for a father. Bobby recognised that the end was approaching for John. He'd seen it before: hunters, born, honed and killed by their desire for revenge, losing sight of the goodness left in the life around them. They usually didn't last as long as John had. Bobby had always suspected that it was Dean's tenacity that had kept him going this long. Dean had never failed to hang on to the dream of making his family right and so he had thrown himself into every role his father had demanded - brother, soldier, hunter, with it came Dean's belief that he could make everything right and that had kept John alive, kicking and believing he could get revenge.

Bobby walked up behind John. "I think it's time we moved away from here, John."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"He told you then, snivelling little..."

"He didn't need to tell me anything. You want to kill your boy, John. Is that what Mary would have wanted?"

"Leave my Mary out of this."

"Did you? Or did you pull her out to throw at Dean, along with any other guilt trips that sprang to mind. You really want to kill your boy, John?"

"Kill him?"

"He's not recovered from his injuries."

"After all this time! He's just playing on it. You see, Bobby, you couldn't keep your family alive, you lost them all. I protected my boys from the demon and all the stuff since. You... You had nothing left but memories. Is that why you've tried to steal my family? I've told you before to keep your hands off." John turned aware of another presence behind him, surprised to see Sam. Bobby nodded to Sam.

"No Dad. Bobby didn't need to steal anything. You gave it up. You gave it up when Mom died and you left Dean to bring me up. You sacrificed any right to be a father when you let him leave school, when you kicked me out, when you put him in hospital. The day you walked out of that hospital, leaving me sick and Dean to die, you died as far as I'm concerned."

"You always did have a smart mouth, Samuel. He spoilt you, you know that, ruined you. You could have made a decent hunter if you'd applied that intelligence to something worthwhile."

"You prove my point. Spoilt or not, the fault is yours. A decent father would never have expected a six year old to care for a two year old."

"Oh, Dean been whining about his sorry lot to you."

"He doesn't need to. I knew enough people who knew how wrong it was, Bobby, Caleb, Pastor Jim. Do you want me to go on or will that do for you?

"John, both boys have made it clear. You're not wanted."

"I notice you removed the weak link from the scene, Bobby. Nicely done. You know Dean will want back in with me. It's only a matter of time."

"No Dad, it's not." All three men turned in surprise to look at Dean as he stood at the door watching and listening to them. "You're wrong. I may be the weak link. I may be pathetic, selfish and all the other things you've called me over the years but be sure of one thing - I agree with them. I want nothing more to do with you. You should leave."

"Looking for the easy way out again, Dean? Think you're going to be able to protect him on your own? We know what a bang up job you've done of that in the past."

"We're through, you should go."

"Not even going to answer me, Dean. Did I hit a nerve there? Say something that you know is true?"

"Go." Dean's voice remained quiet but firm.

"What? Still no answer, boy?"

"He doesn't need to answer. I'm still here and I'm with him, not you, so if you are in any doubt over who protected me, take that into consideration." Sam moved to stand alongside his brother. "It's over."

"John, leave now but know this for your Mary's memory and Jim Murphy's, I'll look out for your boys and if there's any goodness left in your heart, you'll be glad of it."

John Winchester cast one last look over the three men in front of him. He lingered on Dean as if searching for any signs of weakness, then turned back to his car, climbed in and drove away.

"Thank god that's over." Both Bobby and Sam turn to Dean.

"You okay, dude?"

"Sure. I'm just glad you were there. Both of you."

"Dean, you only ever had to ask. You don't have to go through this alone."

"I know that... now."