John pretended to be increasingly grumpy at the speed of the group. Really it suited his mood. He didn't want to get where he was going. To tell his friend, how to cope with two motherless children. He didn't know how to cope. How could he tell, what he had not done himself?

He fell behind a little. He walked along side Sammy for a while, his younger son looked at him, it wasn't going to be long before the teenage years. John remembered his own father and how he had acted at that age. It was going to be bumpy.

"Double time it Sammy" he waved the boy on.

"Yes Sir" he took off past Harry and Doris. Long legs covering the ground quickly. He jogged backwards in front of Debs."I'll race you to that tree" he pointed to a large dead tree on the horizon.

Debs was running before she realised what she was doing. She stopped after three steps. Her mother had stopped at a tree, more out of breath than the short distance should have caused. Turning she could see her Dad was having one of his secret talks with John. She was old enough to hear the cop talk, so it seemed, but something about this man. It made her father push her away.

"Come on slowcoach." Sam called out.

Debs ran to catch him up.

Dean and Dexter were back at motel while the sun was still fairly low. After leaving, when they could barely see the path, they fell into a easy rhythm. Neither one taking the lead or falling behind. It would be at leasr two hours before everyone else would be back. Dean convinced Dex, the thing to do was to "borrow" the cars and go for doughnuts. He didn't take much convincing. As it turns out, his little sociopath friend had a sweet tooth.

They pulled up in to the car park in front of the small general store.

"You gotta mix it up a bit Dude" Dean grabbed some more doughnuts.

"I like the bear claws" Dex put another one in

"Good for you Grizzly Adams." Dean rolled his eyes. Dex looked at Dean, Slightly puzzled. Better than the normal dead eyes, Dean thought. He took the bear claw from Dex.

"My Dad likes sprinkles and Sammy likes the pink frosting." Dean turned, a little sugar coated his lips. He put the half eaten doughnut in the box. "Never tell him I told you that"

"Okay." Dex took a second to think. He picked up three gingerbread people. He put one back, as it was missing an arm. "Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you like?" he looked at Dean and smiled a little. Waving over the selection. "I'm buying"

Dean blinked. It had been a long time since anyone had asked. Even Dex, a visitor to the human race, knew he should ask the question. His Dad would buy without asking. He always asked Sammy what he wanted. He would get it for him, even if it meant he didn't get anything.

Dean picked up the nearest pastry. Not looking at what it was. Placing it in the box with the rest.

They put the cakes and groceries in the back of the Morgan's rental car.

By the time the everyone arrived back at the motel, the rooms were emptied like they were never there. Walk softly, carry a big gun and leave nothing behind. Family motto, almost. Both cars were packed and turned towards the highway.

Doris smiled at John. She waved to Dean and Sammy, sitting in the back of the Impala. She didn't say goodbye to any of them. She made her way to the passenger seat of Harry's car. Closing the door she told her kids to buckle up.

"Harry" John looked at his friend. "You are going to have to get a few things sorted before" he stopped and closed his eyes. "before Doris is..." he swallowed the last word, like it left a bad taste, "gone"

Harry took his hand and balled it into a fist. He couldn't look at John. A world without Doris was just too dark to imagine. Even in the dark world his job took him to, it was made brighter by his wife. His children.
"You have to visit the shrinks. Before they come at you. If they think you are coping, then you can get back on the job quicker. Keep busy." John decided to treat it like any other job. Get the job done.

"Coping?" Harry let out a breath of disbelief.

John started again. "While you are there. Pick up a few leaflets. These places are full of them. Give them to Dexter"

Harry looked confused. "What on earth for?"

John looked towards the car where Dex sat next to his sister. He had eaten half a bear claw and was offering her the other half. He gave Harry a look that said, "Think about it"

"Oh." he paled a little. He knew his son would feel it. He just couldn't show it. With a list of things to go through, the world outside wouldn't see it. His boy would be safe. Maybe. "Thanks"

Harry shook John's hand and headed for the car. He slide in behind the wheel. In his rear view mirror he saw John do the same.

As he started engine, Doris looked at him, "Are we nearly there yet?"