Chapter 4. Reverse Arguments.
John paid for his coffee and newspapers and smiled distractively at the girl behind the counter. "Thanks."
"Have a nice day." John nodded with another smile before turning and heading for the glass doors of the small store.
John shivered in the cool air as he exited the store. It wasn't long after Christmas and the weather was still very cold, even icy. Summer was much more preferable in John's opinion. The weather was better and also he didn't have to worry about school. He and the boys were free for three months. It made hunting a hell of a lot easier in some ways, especially now that Dean and Sam were getting older and much more involved in the business.
As John approached his truck he heard his phone begin to ring and vaguely wondered who it could be as he quickly placed his coffee and newspapers on the bonnet. He pulled the cell phone from his jacket pocket and flipped it open and then held it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello John." The voice that came through the phone was not one he was expecting.
"Missouri?" John asked, surprised to hear the black psychics voice. "It's been a while. How are you doing?"
"I've been okay John …" he heard Missouri hesitate and it gave John the feeling that this wasn't just a phone call to catch up. Something was wrong.
"Missouri is something wrong? Has something happened at the house?" John asked referring to the house that he had Mary had owned the house where his beautiful wife had been murdered by evil. He knew Missouri was keeping an eye on the place just in case but she had never had any news about it.
"No, no it's not that. Something's happened … a friend of mine was killed last night."
"Okay." John slowly drawled out, wondering what that had to do with him. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"There's more to it John. Is it possible for you to come out here?"
John frowned and hesitated in answering. He wasn't so sure he wanted to go back to his old home town. Lawrence, Kansas held far too many memories. "I don't know Missouri."
"John. My friend … he was killed by a spirit or something. I'm sure of it."
"What makes you so sure?"
John could hear Missouri sigh. "I had a vision. I have looked into it and some more locals have been killed in a similar fashion." the psychic explained. "Look John I understand if you don't want to come."
Do you think this thing is going to continue?"
John could picture his friend closing her eyes and nodding even though he couldn't see her. "Yes. The feeling I get leads me to believe that it isn't finished."
John raked a hand through his dark hair and looked down at his boots. Sam was going to kill him if he didn't keep his promise and he knew that Dean would be disappointed. The boy would never say anything John was sure of that but that wasn't the point.
John looked up and leaned against the truck as he heard Missouri sigh again. "John that's not all. You should know that in my vision the spirit mentioned a man called Mike who owns a garage. Your old partner's name was Mike wasn't it?"
John frowned. "Yeah." he clarified.
"I can't be sure but it's a pretty big coincidence. Whoever this Mike is I think he could be next."
"Damn it" John cursed to no-one in particular.
"John?"
It was John's turn to sigh. "It'll take me until sometime tomorrow to get there."
"Are you sure John?"
"Yeah, I'll be there."
"I'll look forward to seeing you again … despite the circumstances."
John smiled sadly. "Yeah, see you soon." he flipped the phone closed ending the call. "Damn it!" he growled again.
John picked up his cooling coffee and newspapers and entered the truck. He sat there for a moment thinking. It had been a long time since he had seen Mike. The man had been a long time friend and had co-owned the Auto Repair shop with him back before Mary had been killed. Mike and his wife Kathy had taken John and his boys in after the fire and John had been truly grateful for the support, even if he hadn't been in the right frame of mind to express that thanks.
Now though, John didn't feel so thankful towards the man. He had been shocked to discover that Mike had called Social Services about John's strange behaviour. Dean and baby Sam might have, no, would have been taken from him if he hadn't gotten himself and the boys out of there fast enough.
In hindsight John could appreciate that his behaviour might have seemed strange, even dangerous to people who had no idea of the dangers lurking in the dark. He guessed that he should be at least grateful that Mike cared enough for the boys to do something, but it still would have been nice for his friend to show some faith in him. John thought even if he could forgive Mike for being a lousy friend, he doubted he would ever be able to forgive the man for trying to get his children taken away from him. Nobody messed with his boys. That was unforgivable.
John slammed his hand down on the steering wheel. His feelings aside, John wasn't going to let his old friend die if he could prevent it. The oldest Winchester shook his head and then turned the ignition, starting the truck. "Well … looks like I'm heading home."
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Dean could feel his feet leave the ground as Jack Hamilton, the six foot two solid student, accidentally slammed into him.
The sports teacher had told them to start up a game of what ever they wanted and most of the students in his class for some reason or another had wanted to play Hockey. It wasn't a game that Dean really played a lot of but he was willing to participate. He had been having an okay time and was almost able to ignore the small lingering headache before he had turned around and ran straight into the equivalent of an oncoming bus.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment before it came crashing back … literally. Dean felt the hard gymnasium floor connect with his back before the back of his head connected with the floor a second later sending sparks flying behind his eyes. He felt the stitches his father had put there a couple of nights ago snap loose. The headache that had been nagging at him for the last couple of days since his battle with the Rawhead amplified into blinding pain before everything went black.
The next thing Dean knew was that he was still lying on gym floor and his head was pounding. He heard a number of people talking around him and he suddenly remembered what had happened and cursed him self for passing out and bringing more attention to himself than he wanted. His eyes fluttered open and the first thing he saw were two blurry figures standing over him.
"Winchester? Are you okay?" Jack asked as Dean's vision started to clear. He could see the raw concern in the other kid's eyes.
"What?" Dean asked as his still foggy mind was coming into focus
"Dean?" he recognised the other person as the gym teacher, Mr. Owens. Owens and Jack grabbed Dean's arms and helped the young hunter into a sitting position.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked him again.
Dean looked up at the kid and squinted as his head pounded harder, hard enough to make him feel slightly nauseous. "I'm fine."
Owens looked at him sceptically. "Even so I think you should visit the school nurse."
Dean shook his head and realised quickly that it had been the wrong thing to do when he nearly tossed his lunch on the gym floor. "Dean you actually lost consciousness and it looks like you had a previous head injury there that has reopened."
"Sir …"
"No arguments Dean. Jack, help Dean to the sickbay and let the nurse know what happened." Owens ordered as he helped Jack to lift Dean to his feet. He swayed a little and Dean felt the hands steadying him tighten their hold. He waited a moment to get his balance back and looked down at the floor where his head had connected and saw the small circle of blood from where his wound had opened up again. /Damn it!/ he thought.
"You ready Dean?" Jack asked looking at him worriedly.
Dean looked back up at Jack and then behind the boy to see that he held the whole class's attention. /Great!/ That was all he needed. "Yeah … let's get out of here."
Dean turned towards the gym doors with Jack next to him holding out a steadying hand in case Dean fell. The slow walk to the sickbay was made in silence and when they finally got there the nurse was no where in sight. Jack led Dean over to the bed. "Stay here and I'll go find someone."
"Yeah," Dean replied looking up at the other boy.
Jack stopped in the doorway, the brown haired boy looking decidedly guilty. "I'm sorry for knocking you down."
Dean smiled to show there were no hard feelings. "Dude, don't even worry about it. It was an accident."
"Yeah, I'm still sorry." Jack repeated. "I'll just go find someone."
Dean watched as Jack rushed out the door and he sighed, leaning back against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut as the pounding in his head didn't let up. He was frustrated with himself. He hadn't been able to shake a slight headache since the Rawhead and now he had gone and hit his head again and in a game of hockey for crying out loud.
Dean opened his eyes when he heard footsteps and saw the school nurse walk into the room. Dean couldn't help but think that he had to be in a school that's nurse was over 100 years old. Sam would roll his eyes at that exaggeration but if Dean was going to have a nurse fussing over him he would rather it be someone who wasn't old enough to be his grandmother.
"I suppose you're Dean?" the old woman asked, coming to stand in front of the teen.
"Yes Ma'am."
"What have you managed to do to yourself young man?"
"I just hit my head a little." Dean explained. "It's nothing really."
The nurse had him lean forward anyway so she could see the extent of the damage to his head. "He also lost consciousness for a couple of minutes Nurse Cohen." Dean was surprised to hear Jack's voice from the doorway. He had thought that the other boy had left after retrieving the nurse.
"Dean!" Dean groaned at the very familiar voice that yelled his name. Dean looked towards the door and sure enough there was Sam Winchester with an extremely worried look on his face.
"Man, Sammy what are you doing here?"
"I got someone to go get him since it's almost the end of the day." Jack told him from the doorway. "I thought you would want him here instead of waiting in the car park."
Dean sighed and then tried to nod only to find that the nurse had a strong hold on his head. "Thanks … I think." Dean replied. He remembered now that Jack had been witness to Dean's protectiveness of his brother on the very first day the brothers had attended the school when some older kids had decided it looked like fun to pick on the thirteen year old.
"You're welcome." Jack replied. "We'll I gotta get back to the gym. Look after ya brother little dude." Jack said ruffling the youngest Winchester's hair before leaving the room.
Sam looked at the door that the older boy had just walked through with a confused look on his face. He turned back to see that the nurse had finally relinquished his brothers head. "Dean what happened?"
"I …"
"It looks like your brother has reopened some stitches in his head." Nurse Cohen interrupted.
"Thanks." Dean shot an irritated glare at the old woman before looking back at Sam. "It's nothing to worry about Sammy."
"Let's get your head fixed up." Nurse Cohen walked back over to the teen holding the materials she would need to restitch the wound.
"Terrific."
Back in the car and with Dean sporting new stitches and a more intense headache the boys made their way back to the Motel room fifteen minutes later than what they usually left the school grounds. Nurse Cohen hadn't been happy about letting the boys leave when Sam brought up that Dean was driving them home. In the end Dean had told her that he was leaving whether she liked it or not and if she had a problem with it to bring it up with one of his teachers. So the boys left with Sam saying a quick thank you to the old woman for taking care of his brother.
"So …"
Dean rolled his eyes. "What Sammy?"
"So how did you end up busting your head open again?"
"Jack Hamilton slammed into me." Dean explained because he knew that his brother wasn't going to let up until he told him.
"Jack Hamilton … isn't that the kid that was at the sickbay with you?"
"Yeah, it was an accident. We both didn't see each other and before you know it I'm out cold on the ground. The guy is a giant."
Sam looked at Dean as his brother drove and saw that he was squinting, a sure sign that he had another headache. "How's the head?"
"Pounding but … it'll be fine."
"Yeah if you can keep from splitting it open every couple of days." Sam muttered under his breath and looked out the passenger window of the car as they got closer to the motel room. It was strange riding in his brother's car without music blasting. It was rarely quiet in the car. "You know there's one thing I can be thankful for out of your head injury."
Dean frowned at Sam. "What?"
"Peace and quiet for a change," Sam answered smiling.
"Oh that's nice Sammy. I'm in pain and you find something to enjoy about it. Thanks a lot." Dean responded without any real anger.
"I knew you'd see it that way."
Dean killed the engine as soon as he parked the Impala next to his Dad's truck. "Just get out my car squirt."
"Would you stop calling me that?" Sam complained as he got out of the car.
Dean laughed. "You don't want me to call you Sammy or squirt or shorty or Bitch or anything else. What should I could you?"
"How about calling me Sam? Ever think of that moron?"
"Nup, I like Sammy better."
"Whatever." Sam answered as he opened the door to their room.
Dean followed his brother in, inwardly laughing at how easy it was to annoy his brother. It did make life a lot more interesting. Dean was stopped short as he ran into Sam's back where the younger boy had stopped just inside the door. "Sam, what the hell?"
Dean shoved his brother in the back and preceded the rest of the way into the room and saw his father sitting on the end of his bed. "Hey Dad," he greeted, dropping his bag on his own single bed.
"Boys …" John began looking almost guiltily at them.
"Dad, are you going somewhere?" Sam asked from where he was still standing. Hearing this made Dean look back at his father again and he noticed the bag that was at the man's feet.
"An old friend called. She needs my help. I don't expect you boys to come so I left some money on the table for you. Use it wisely okay." John looked at Dean as he said the last part knowing that Dean would be the one handling the financial side of things while he was gone.
"Yes Sir." Dean answered lowering his eyes to the grey carpet.
Dean's quiet acceptance was making John feel even worse about what he was doing but that didn't change the fact that someone would probably die if he didn't leave. He had contemplated leaving that morning after Missouri's call but in the end he thought that he should at least wait till the boys got home. He owed them at least that.
"Dad, what about Saturday?" Sam asked the inevitable question. John had been waiting for this argument and he realised that he wasn't going to be disappointed.
"I don't think I'll be able to get back by then. I have left a little extra money than what I usually do so you boys can do something."
"Dad you promised you would be here!" Sam stated, standing his ground. He knew that his father's promise of a family birthday was too good to be true.
John sighed. "I promised that Saturday was free unless someone was dying. Well someone is dying and I need to help. I don't want anymore argument out of you Samuel."
"It's okay Sammy." Dean didn't want his father and brother fighting over him. "Dad, why don't Sammy and I come with you? You might need the help."
"No!" Sam's voice raised and was looking angrier by the minute and sounding very much is thirteen years.
"Sammy …" Dean gave Sam a warning look, telling him to shut his mouth.
"You'd miss out on too much school Dean, I'm going to Kansas and I don't know how long I'm going to be." John told him waiting to see when it clicked with his oldest son that he was going back home.
"Lawrence?" Dean paled at the thought of his old home town.
He hadn't thought of the small Kansas town in a long time and even now his memories of his first four years were fading somewhat. He still remembered the important things like his mother's voice and what it felt like to feel her loving embrace and her tucking him in every night.
Only problem was whenever he remembered those wonderful things he also remembered what happened that night when he had carried his baby brother out of the burning house. He remembered the feeling of panic and knowing that something terrible had happened. He remembered wondering why mommy hadn't come out of the house with his Dad and he also remembered how his father was after that night. In a sense he had lost everything that night because nothing was the same ever again.
The small family had never been back to Lawrence in the thirteen years since Mary's death and Dean had never even thought about going back. He couldn't deny that he wasn't just a little bit curious though. He had been so young when they left that only a certain handful of memories were left.
"Yeah, do you remember Mike and Kathy?" John asked wondering what exactly his son did remember from those days.
Dean frowned in concentration as he thought back to the days when he had a perfect, normal, life. "Yeah kind of … didn't you work with him or something?"
"I owned a garage with him."
"That's right. We stayed with them for awhile after …" Dean trailed off not willing to finish what he was going to say.
"Yeah, long story short, Mike's in danger so I need to leave now. Be careful boys and …"
"We know what to do Dad, don't worry." Dean quickly assured him.
"We should come with you." Sammy announced to both John and Dean's surprise. Sam hadn't volunteered to go on a hunt for years now. In fact it was usually the main point in an argument between John and Sam
"Sammy …"
"I agree, I think we should go with you. Three is better than one." Dean said looking at his brother and then back to his father
"Exactly, think about it Dad. Not to mention I have never been to Lawrence."
"Yes you have Sammy." John corrected. He couldn't believe his ears. He was actually going to be involved in a fight with his youngest son because the kid wanted to come on a hunt.
"Dad, I was a baby that doesn't count. I don't know anything other than what you and Dean tell me about mom and life before hunting. I wanna see what it's like there." Sam told John looking as sincere as he could.
"We haven't been back there since … maybe it might be good for all of us to go there." Dean suggested, looking hopeful.
John couldn't believe it. Now he remembered why he had wanted to leave before the boys got back from school. Although he hadn't expected that Sam would want to participate and as for Dean, the boy rarely mentioned Mary or their old life. In fact the teen avoided the subject all together unless Sam was asking questions about it.
"I'm sorry boys but I'm going this one alone. You can't afford to miss out on any more school, especially you Dean."
"But Dad …"
"Not buts Sammy my answer is final." John was not going to back down from this. For some reason he didn't want his boys anywhere near that place if he could help it. He was probably being irrational but he was going to stick by his order. No amounts of puppy dog eyes were going to break him.
"Dad …"
"That's an order Dean. Am I making myself clear?" John asked looking at both boys who had identical looks of frustration on their faces.
"Yes Sir." Dean answered quietly.
Sam looked at his brother's face and realised that Dean wasn't going to argue the point any further and that John was going to win this argument. "This isn't fair. I have a right to go."
"You'll do as I say Sammy, now both of you behave. If there are any problems and you can't reach me you know Pastor Jim's number or Caleb's. Money's on the table." John picked up his bag and walked towards the door.
"But Dad …"
John whirled around on his son, fed up with the childish whining. "Sam, enough!"
"You suck!" Sam yelled at him before racing off to the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him.
John moved towards the bathroom but was stopped by a hand on his arm. "Dad, let me deal with him. He'll listen to me." Dean's big green eyes pierced his and John could tell that Dean wasn't exactly thrilled with him either but at least his oldest son was smart enough not to voice it. "You have somewhere to be anyway." Dean added, reminding John that he really did have to get a move on.
John backed down and looked at Dean. "I won't have him talking to me like that. Make sure he understands that his behaviour was unacceptable."
"I'll talk to him Dad." Dean assured the older hunter and before John knew what was happening Dean was leading him to the door. "Dad, are you sure you couldn't use any help on this?"
John sighed as he reached the door. "I'll be fine and I was serious about what I said before about school. Make sure you attend." John ordered. He knew that school wasn't one of his son's favourite activities. The boy would do anything to get out of it sometimes.
"I will. If you run into any trouble you'll call right?" Dean asked. He couldn't explain the bad feeling he was suddenly getting about his Dad going on this hunt alone.
"Dean I'll be fine."
"But you'll call right?" Dean asked again not one to be dissuaded when something was important.
John placed a hand on his sons shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Tell ya what; I'll give you a call anyway on Saturday. About that … Dean I'm sorry …"
"It's fine Dad." Dean replied shrugging the apology off. "I'm sure Sammy and I will find something to do. I'll never hear the end of it if I don't do something for my birthday." Dean joked, letting some lightness fill the atmosphere again.
"We'll do something together when I get back and I will call you on Saturday Dean I promise … Sammy is right it is important."
Dean lowered his eyes to the floor at John's statement before bringing them back up to meet his fathers. "Be careful."
"Always," John smiled and gave his son one last pat on the shoulder before heading out the door and into his truck. Hoping he had made the right decision.
Dean watched his father drive away before closing the door to their room and running his hand over his short spikey hair and winced when he accidentally rubbed against the newly stitched wound at the back. He looked over to the closed bathroom door and sighed. Sam was obviously throwing a temper tantrum behind the door and it was up to Dean to deal with him now. /The joys of being a big brother/ he thought as he walked across the room to his bed and sat down. He decided to give his brother some time to calm down and to come back out when he was ready. Dean relished in the peace and quiet. He knew that when Sam did finally open the door he was in for more discussion so he took the time to relax and waited for the inevitable.
TBC ...
So back to Lawrence it is and Sam doing a 180 and now arguing about going on a hunt lol Hope you all like that and i'll hopefuly see you soon :-)