Chapter Nine
Sam sat watching his brother sleep. It was mid afternoon and he knew they'd need to leave soon. Another text message received, another job to get to. Dean was stronger than before but Sam was determined to hold off leaving for at least another two days. He'd told his Dad that in a return text message. He was waiting for the phone call demanding to know what was going on and why they weren't hauling ass to where good ol' Dad had pointed.
Not one to disappoint the phone buzzed with John's caller ID. Sam got up carefully from his place on the chair opposite the couch and took the call in the kitchen.
"Hey Dad."
"Sam, why aren't you on the road? Where's Dean?" John demanded.
"He's sick, we'll be on the road in a couple of days."
"Sick?" John's tone softened slightly.
"Yeah, he caught a bug, he's over the worst of it but he's gonna need a couple more days."
Sam waited patiently as the silence crept across the call. He could almost hear the regret of tone in his father's lack of voice.
"You sure he's ok?" He said finally.
"He's fine, just needs to rest."
"Ok. I guess the job can wait another day or so."
"Where are you Dad?" Sam knew he'd never answer, knew the question would be evaded.
"On another job. I'll call in a day or so, to check on Dean."
"Yeah, sure, talk to you then." Sam hung up once the line went dead. "Nice, no 'how are you son' or 'I'll come help you look after Dean'."
"Sam?" Nicki looked quizzically at him from the doorway.
"Hey Nicki."
"You ok?"
"Yeah, just , er.."
"Your Dad?"
Sam smiled and nodded sadly.
"He want you both back on the road?"
"Yeah, but we've got a couple of days yet."
"Good. Cos I'd like to cook you a farewell dinner."
"You'd like to cook?"
Nicki frowned and moved passed Sam into the living room. Dean was awake and stretching his tired muscles.
"How's that Dean? I'll cook you dinner?"
"I really don't wanna get sick again Nicki."
"Hey!"
Dean smirked as she stormed out of the room. He was about to throw a quip to his brother when he noticed the frown on the younger man's face. It was a unique frown, only used when there was a certain person involved.
"Dad?"
"Yeah." Sam sighed as he sat on the chair. "Wants us back on the road in a couple of days."
"He say a couple of days or did you demand a couple of days?"
"I told him you were sick."
"Sam!" Dean sat forward, " You shouldn't have told him."
"Why?"
"Because he'll be pissed is why."
"Actually he sounded a little concerned."
"Really?"
Sam smiled, yet inside he hated the fact that John Winchester had managed to raise a son to be ashamed of being sick.
"He said it's a job that can wait a couple of days so there's no need to leave just yet."
"But we have to leave."
"Yeah." Sam frowned and watched as Dean seemed to slump, the breath leaving him. Within seconds he appeared to have shrunken.
"Dean? You ok?"
Dean looked up and attempted to pull the mask down, attempted to put on his smile and give a thumbs up to the world. Everything's ok here, no need to worry. But this was Sam.
"I hate leaving."
"Is that why you were so quiet last time?"
"I wasn't quiet last time."
"Yeah bro, you were. Come on, spill."
Dean sighed heavily and sat back, pulling the blanket around him.
"I hate that I get settled here, ya know? I get settled and then we have to move on. It's..it's …" Dean frowned as the words escaped him.
"It's like leaving family."
Both men turned to see Grace leaning against the doorframe. She smiled knowingly when Dean nodded.
"Dean honey, I don't like it when you leave either." Grace crossed the distance confidently, the way a person does when they are certain of their feelings, certain of the path they are on. She sat next to Dean, pulled her legs under her and rested her elbow on the back of the couch, she leaned her head against her hand and patted his knee. She looked at both of the brothers and smiled. Dean frowned to Sam who matched his own confused look. Grace didn't look sad. She didn't look upset. She looked…happy.
"You know you boys are family here. You will always have a home here. No matter if I see you once a month or once a year. No less mind you." She looked sternly at each man making sure her time frame was acknowledged. "As long as I get to see you I'm happy. If it was less than once a year then of course I'd be out in my car hunting you down."
"You'd have to get it started first."
Grace ignored Dean's quip and Sam's laugh and continued. "My point is this is home. As far as you both are concerned you will always be welcome here, you will always be a part of my life and I will always be here for you. Dean honey you said you felt bad coming here because you were sick, well, that's what home is. Home isn't a place to visit only when things are good. What makes a home 'home' is being able to go there when you're sad, hurt, lonely or sick. Home is letting the people who love you care for you. That's home, that's family. You boys are welcome here anytime."
Dean swore he was blinking away sweat that had formed from his being wrapped in a blanket. Sam looked at Grace, allowing his tears to be seen. His gratitude to cross the room and envelop her in an embrace. Grace smiled fully at him and he swore his heart grew two sizes from the sight. She turned to Dean, who was studying a frayed strand of blanket in his lap.
"Dean honey?"
He couldn't look at her, it was breaking the rule. If she saw how much her words meant, if she knew how grateful he was, how much he loved her. How much he needed her, needed to know she was here while he was on the road with Sam. If she knew that then he knew his father would see instantly that he'd gotten attached to someone, to someplace. Can't break the rule. Can't break the rule. Don't break the rule. He shook his head when he felt Sam place a hand on his knee. His brother crouched in front of him.
"Dean? Hey man you ok?"
"Sam honey why don't you go make us some coffee?" Grace stroked his cheek and nodded that it was ok to leave them. Sam rubbed Dean's legs and left him with Grace. Somehow knowing she'd make it ok.
"Dean, look at me."
He shook his head again. Grace gently lifted his chin, her heart going out to him as the green depths shimmered with years of unshed tears.
"I know now why you're always so sad when you come here. It's because you know you have to leave isn't it?"
"It's not just that." He whispered, still unable to meet her eyes. "I really like being here, but we have so much to do. I can't get attached. If I do we might get stuck here."
"No you won't baby. You boys know your purpose and you're too much of a restless soul to get stuck here. So what's really going on?"
"Dad."
"He doesn't know you come here?"
Dean shook his head and allowed his eyes to meet Grace's. He silently begged her to make it ok. To give him permission to go.
"Dean honey, this is your sanctuary. Your's and Sam's. No one can take that from you. Do you know all the places your Dad goes?"
"No."
"Well then, he has his places of comfort to go to, don't think he doesn't. Everyone needs that one place, that one place they can go to where everything melts away and they can forget and relax. He has his place, I guarantee it. This is yours."
"But we always have to leave you. It hurts when we leave and I hate that. I'd rather not have this place and you if we have to leave."
"Dean honey you're looking at this all wrong."
"I am?"
"Yes, instead of being sad a visit is coming to an end, I'm always thankful for the time and excited another visit is on the way."
Dean gazed into Grace's eyes and felt the love easing his worry, easing his heart ache. Maybe she was right. There were so many things his dad kept from them. It wasn't such a stretch that he went somewhere else, had time away from everything. Was it? They would be back here. He knew Sam wouldn't leave it long before dropping hints about visiting.
Dean sniffed back the tears and ran a hand across his face. He looked at Grace, held her gaze and smiled.
"So we never say 'goodbye', just 'see you soon'? Is that it?"
"That's it honey. Now, seeing how you made me cry a little here I think you need to hug me to make it better."
Dean snorted but leant forward for the hug and relished the feel of the love surrounding him. Sam watched from the doorway, unseen by the two on the couch. He wiped away the tears that had fallen freely down his face and smiled broadly. He knew he was attached to Grace for a reason, and seeing her with Dean made him fall in love with her all the more.
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Sorry for the delay! Blame a SN marathon with friends and my need to watch the new eppy almost hourly!
Thank you all for your amazing reviews! You really know how to fuel the creative fire! Only one more chapter to go, but i hope you've enjoyed the ride
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