It Only Takes a Second
Chapter 15
Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Mac watched his son, as a fearful expression crossed the boys face, "Caleb, I need to know so I can try and understand it and help you. I believe your collapse occurred because of your already weakened state and I've asked you not to do such things without me present for that very reason. I know we have worked on you learning to use your gifts to retrieve information, but I believe it took going to a much deeper level within Sammy's mind for you to wake him."

Caleb was trying to figure out a way to explain it to his father, clearing his throat he started. "I didn't even know if it would work…" The teen looked at his dad, "I had to try something, I couldn't take the look in Deuce's and Johnny's eyes, they've lost so much already, I had to try and make that look go away. I just closed my eyes and focused on him; I laid my hand on the side of his face and started to brush through his thoughts." Worried eye's filled with tears as he explained, "Dad, he was further away than you thought, if I hadn't been able to get him to understand that Dean and his dad needed him, I don't know if he would have woke up."

Mac paled at the revelation, he hadn't dreamed that Sammy was that close to leaving them. "How do you know that?"

"He was so happy, so unafraid. He had his mom, someone who he only knows from pictures, she was real to him. I don't know, it's hard to explain, but something told me I needed to get him to come with me. When I mentioned Dean and John, that's when Mary's eyes filled with tears. I knew what I was seeing was what Sammy created to feel safe, but she was reacting independent of him, she understood what I needed to do, that's why she told Sammy what she did, she wanted him to come back with me." Caleb leaned his head back against the head board, closing his eyes. "I don't know if I will ever be able to do that again, since I'm not really sure how I did it, but I'm just glad it worked.

"So am I Junior." John stepped into the room, having heard what the teen had said to his father. The younger man laid a hand on Caleb's shoulder, "Thank you, for everything." Looking at Mac, John continued, "I don't think Sammy would be here now if you both hadn't shown up when you did. I don't know how to repay that."

Mac and Caleb exchanged looks; it was very rare that John would outwardly show appreciation toward others. "We're family John, that's what families do, we try to be there for one another." Mac answered.

"Yeah, well…" Rubbing his hand over his exhausted face, John moved back toward the door. "Glad you're okay too, Junior." with a small smile, John left the room.

"Miracles never cease." Caleb said, causing a chuckle from Mac.

Patting his son's leg, "You should try to get some more rest, let me know if you need anything." Mac stood, Caleb reached out and grabbed his father's arm.

"Love you Dad."

Mac was surprised a moment, it was rare that Caleb spoke the words that Mac could feel from the boy. "I love you too, Son." Reaching down Mac pulled Caleb into a hug, kissing the top of his head, "Get some rest." Stopping at the door he watched his son ease himself back under the covers; silently he slipped from the room.

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A few minutes after Mac had left the room, just as Caleb was about to dose off he felt a presence standing next to his bed, knowing nothing supernatural could come onto the property, he slowly opened his eyes and was met by big, brown eyes. "Sammy? You okay?" The teen rose up on his elbow.

"Daddy saids its bed times." the toddler whispered.

"Okay…where's your brother?" Caleb looked toward the doorway that connected his room to the Winchester's, expecting Dean to be right behind his little brother.

"Dede's in the bafroom." The large, puppy-dog eyes continued to stare at Caleb.

"Did you need something?" Caleb found it strange for the small boy to just stand there and watch him.

"Cans I seeps with you?" It was then that the teen noticed WooBee held tightly in the small child's arms. "Pwease?"

Scooting over the teen pulled the blanket up, then helped the toddler into the bed. "You need to stay still." Caleb told Sammy.

Sammy snuggled down into the blankets, once Caleb had settled back down he felt the little boy back up until he was nestled into the teen's side. The older boy couldn't help but smile as Sammy seemed to quickly fall asleep. A few minutes later a whispered, "Sammy!" caused Caleb to crack his eye's open again. "He's over here with me Deuce."

The six-year old walked quietly into the teen's room, "Do you want me to move him?" Dean asked as he looked at the sleeping form of his little brother.

"I think he's comfortable already…" Caleb noticed as Dean looked at the spot next to his baby brother. "You want up here too?"

A big smile broke across Dean's face as he shook his head, then eagerly climbed up on the bed with is best friend and baby brother. "Like I told the Runt, you need to stay still." Caleb whispered as Dean curled up against Sammy. Once everyone was settled the room finally fell silent and still.

A short time later John came up to check on his boys, worry spiked when he didn't find them in their beds, but going on a hunch he checked Caleb's room and found all three boys sleeping soundly.

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Entering the library where Mac and Jim were waiting for him, John spoke. "Believe it or not they are all three in Caleb's bed."

"They will draw strength from one another and that will help them all." Jim spoke softly as John sat down wearily on the couch, Mac and Jim each in one of the arm chairs.

After a few minutes of silence Mac leaned forward, toward Jim. "I've told John that he could go ahead and continue to train Caleb." Jim didn't seem surprised, but honestly Mac didn't expect him too. "But I have a couple of conditions that will go along with what you told me."

Jim nodded his head, "Of course."

Looking at Jim and John, Mac continued, "He will finish his schooling, any training will not interfere with that, nor any hunts he may go on in the future. I want him to understand that this does not have to be his whole life, he can pursue other interest as well as hunting, when the time comes it will be his choice, I do not want him to feel pressured to do something if he doesn't want."

Jim continued to nod, "I completely understand and would expect nothing less from you or Caleb. The Brotherhood is a choice, but Mackland, you must understand that the Brotherhood, and in particular the Triad, sometimes has a way of choosing for you."

"That is something that I will have to learn to live with when and if the time comes. However, there is one more condition that must be met." Mac looked again at the Knight and Guardian. "He is not to know about this until the time comes, as I said I don't want him pressured into this."

Jim stood, walking to the mantle that held pictures of Jim's life before he discovered the Brotherhood and pictures of his life since. "None of those who are destined to be part of the future Triad will be made aware of their positions until the time is right." Turning to look at the Scholar and Knight before him. "It will be our job to train them, so that when their time comes, what needs to be done will be as easy and natural to them as breathing." Turning back to look at the picture of the three boys who were safely upstairs sleeping, Jim took a deep breath, "Just as Julian told me that my Triad would be unconventional, the one that will come after us is destined to do great things."

Silence settled over the library as the three men sat, listening to the crackle of the fire. Thought's of the future giving way to memories of the last two days, days that reminded them just how fragile life could be and that it only takes a second for your life to be turned upside down, but in that same second the future could be revealed.

A/N: Well this is the end of this story, I want to thank all those who read and reviewed for me. your encouragement keeps me going. I'm still working on Vision and hope to update again soon, still a work in progress that is taking on a life of it's own, keep your fingers crossed for me :) Thanks again to everyone, until next time--Montez