In my defense, this was done last week but I had been unable to upload it coz the snow and ice started to melt and I didn't want to drive down my muddy ass driveway to go upload it. I really need to see if I can convince my tribe to pave my driveway.
Whatever though, yeah?
Read and enjoy!
Call it intuition or whatever, but Dean felt something off as soon as he stepped out of the diner. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up signalling the rest of his body that something's up and that maybe he should send Daniel away from danger. At least until he can assess the situation.
He sent the shapeshifter away, telling him not to return to the bungalow for three hours. Daniel nodded and disappeared down the shoreline.
Dean left their Range Rover in the diner parking lot and took off into the trees to watch the road they came into town in, it's the only road in and out of this place. Every instinct Dean had screamed at him that what has his nerves on edge is going to come from that direction, he felt it to his very bones, and they haven't steered him wrong yet.
He had barely crouched down out of sight when he saw a two black Suburbans that practically shouted government pulled up on either side of his rental.
Not good. Oh, so not good.
Please, please, don't be who I think it is, Dean pleaded to a hopefully benevolent god.
...Who apparently didn't listen because the five people he dreaded seeing got out of the two Suburbans. They surrounded the rental cautiously, Chin and Kono keeping watch while Steve and Cath went inside to undoubtedly to question the people inside. Danny opened the car door and started snooping around inside.
Panic set in. He couldn't remember if he and Daniel left anything the Detective could find and discover that could identify them as the rental owners of the car. He doesn't want Daniel to get caught in the crossfire between Dean and Steve.
And Danny.
But most importantly, he's not ready to have those conversations with the aforementioned men. He hasn't rehearsed anything. Not really.
Well, at least not something beyond, "Hey," and that just won't fly with either of those two.
Okay, Steve maybe, but Danny? That is one big hell no. Danny won't let that fly one bit. He'd make Dean bare his soul and spew word vomit until Danny felt Dean was genuinely sorry for leaving like he did and then he'd patiently wait for Dean to initiate their long delayed conversation that Dean never planned on actually having. And though Danny may be many things, he can be quite patient when he wants to.
Dean's seen the blond do it to Steve often enough the year he lived with Mr. SuperSEAL. He got Steve to spill his guts by not speaking. Steve'd crack and everything that bothered him would spew out and then Danny would carefully dissect every problem/emotion and lay it out for Steve in a more manageable manner.
That man is a wizard in Steve-handling. He's not bad at managing Dean either.
The sound of a the diner bell cheerfully saying goodbye in that ringing way of its kind pulled Dean out of his thoughts and back to wishing he had locked the damn car. That way Danny and the others wouldn't be able to get in said vehicle without probable cause or a warrant. One of the two.
At least Dean thinks. One would think living with, and being friends with, cops would have given him the knowledge of the "other side" of the law. The good side. The "lawful" side. But no. Dean spent most of his time with Steve and the others by playing civilian and best friend and boyfriend, keeping far away from their job and his own unique job. Steve even kept quiet about any case particularly bugging him until it got too much and either he went to Danny himself or Dean called the blond.
All of that on Dean's stupid ass request. My god, he was an idiot back then.
Steve letting out an inarticulate yell and the sound of glass shattering had Dean flattening himself on the ground on instinct. The man sounded pissed and would most likely be looking for a target, meaning he might actually find Dean hiding in the bushes like a great big chicken.
Dumbass, he berated himself, focus and keep aware of your surroundings. What would dad say?
That he's an idiot and deserves to get caught by Five-0.
True enough.
He watched as Steve pulled at his kind-of-long hair (he really needs a haircut) and scrubbed his face with both hands. The SEAL shrugged off the others' comforting hands. He pointed at the car and then the diner before pointing towards the road that lead to his and Daniel's bungalow.
Not good.
"I know he's here, Danny," he heard Steve plead with them. He saw Chin and Kono share a look while Cath shook her head, he can see the exhaustion on their faces.
Guilt hit him but he forced it down before it could take hold.
"I swear that was him on the airport monitors. His features may have been altered slightly but I know it was him." Well, that was $300 down the drain. "As for the guy with him, Dean could have hired him because he knew we were looking for one guy not two." Damn you, Steve. "I know he's here. And the tip," he added grudgingly.
Wait. What tip?
"And why would he be here, Steve? He knows we're looking for him," Danny pointed out. "Why would he come back to the one place we have complete jurisdiction? Dean's smart. He wouldn't come back here. As for that tip, I'm still not sure we should trust it."
What tip?
Steve shook his head. "Yes, he would have, Danny. Think about it. We've been looking everywhere on the mainland for him, but the one place we wouldn't have looked is back on the islands. It's a good thing I decided to trust the tip. Dean's here. I know it."
"He does have a point, Danny," Chin admitted. "We never would have thought to look for him here without that tip."
"And," Kono spoke up, "we would still be looking around Boston for him. I think we were getting close and Dean figured this would be the last place we'd look, though in hindsight, we'd probably should have looked here first."
Cath tilted her head at Kono, confused. "Because?"
"Because Dean likes the outdoors," Kono explained simply.
Chin snorted, drawing a grin from Danny, and a huff of amusement from Steve.
"I guess that makes sense," Cath said, not completely convinced. "But why here on this particular island?"
This time Danny answered, seemingly convinced by the others. "Because it's called the 'Garden Isle' and Dean has always liked rainforests. Of course he'd hide out in one." Danny looked annoyed at that and Dean is annoyed they know him so well. "I bet you dinner, one Steve is gonna pay for, of course."
Steve's outraged sputtering went gleefully ignored by Danny who continued speaking.
"Plus, this genius," he points towards Steve accusingly, "got Dean into hiking and kayaking. The waterfalls here would be too tempting for Dean to pass up."
That got them nodding their heads in agreement.
"That, and there's a lot of haoles here that he could blend right in," Steve added with a grin, previous bad mood temporarily forgotten.
"Okay, fine," Cath said. "But who is the guy that came with the man we're assuming is Dean?"
That seemed to stump them. Good. Daniel's safe for the time being.
Steve shook his head. "That guy doesn't matter. Dean does. Can we - Can we just look that way for Dean?" He asked pointing towards the direction of Dean and Daniel's rental property. Shit. "The realtors claimed a property fifteen miles north had been rented out by two men, one of them matching Dean's description."
"And you didn't ask for the copy of the ID Dean used because . . . ?" Danny asked sweetly, a sure sign their Jersey volcano is seconds away from blowing his top.
"She wouldn't give it to us without a warrant, and since Dean technically hasn't done anything wrong, she has every right to protect her clients," Steve pouted. "And she may have let it slip the only recent rental property is found up that road."
Chin rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "But Dean's using a fake name, ID and most likely a fake birth certificate. And who's this guy Dean's apparently traveling with? Another hunter?"
Steve shook his head. "Dean does't like to hunt with other hunters. Difference of technique when hunting creatures. Dean's been thinking about asking questions first instead of killing. He said he found that killing a creature first tends to bite him in the ass later. Then again, that was before Dean took a year off from hunting. For all we know he's been itching to kill again and forgone that part."
Dean frowned at that. Hey now, he's kept his word on that part. Kind of. Not really. Daniel's been the only creature he's come across since returning to the mainland that he hasn't killed. And that's because Dean got inconveniently horny. Stupid libido.
And he may have forgotten that resolution.
His bad.
Kono thumped Steve on the back. "Then let's go check out that property."
The others agreed and hopped into their cars and drove towards Dean's bungalow. Shit. Daniel.
He checked the time and prayed that they'd do a periphery check and move on before Daniel returned to their house in two hours and forty-five minutes. To protect Daniel, he'd happily give himself up and have those conversations.
Dean waited until they were for sure gone before he got out from behind his hiding place.
"That was a close one," Dean muttered to himself.
"Too close," a deep, familiar voice replied. Dean stiffened in shock, denial warred inside his brain, turning everything around him static-y and blurry.
No. No way.
It can't be.
"I was wondering how long it would have taken them to follow my tip," the (no-it-can't-be) familiar voice. "Took a little too long since I gave it to them a week ago."
Dean turned slowly around to see his dad smirking at him.
"Hi, dad," Dean greeted. The sight his of his dad staring at him shut up the scream of denial in his brain. "How've you been?"
John Winchester indulged his son. "Good. Killed a wendigo, poltergeist, rougarou, and exorcised a demon back Hell. You know, the usual. Before the demon left, it said I better keep watch over my son closely. I immediately thought of Sam, and I'm guessing you did, too," John hypothesized correctly. Dean did think of Sam.
"But Sam was fine. Studying for some test coming up and not a demon in sight. Then I realized the demon was talking about you. Why would a demon tell me I should keep a better watch over my eldest son. The son I thought I trained to be so good I wouldn't have worry about him.
"But nope. I find three demons following my son. I dispatched them," John told his son, seeing his alarmed expression. The thought of those black-eyed sons of bitches following his son ignited a wrath inside him he hadn't felt since the night he found out what killed Mary. Nothing hurts his boys. Nothing follows them and reports back to another goddamn demon their whereabouts.
He wished he knew how to actually kill demons. Any threat to his boys, should be met with extreme prejudice and their death should be slow and painful as possible.
"Then something odd happened," John started with a dark grin that had Dean's adrenaline spiking and his breath picking up. "My son slept with a shapeshifter and brought it with him back to the Hawaiian island chain, to the favored honeymoon spot with couples all around providing perfect cover for my son and his new . . . lover." John's face twisted in disgust and he shot Dean a very disapproving look that had him wilting under the heat of it.
"At least you hadn't slept with that thing since that first night. I probably would have killed it when you left it alone to go get your new IDs made for you and it." He grinned at Dean's shocked expression and answered the unasked question. "Yes, I knew where you were the whole time. I trained you. I know how your mind works, Dean. I just wanted to see if you'd turn yourself in."
"Oh," Dean muttered. He felt foolish for thinking he managed to hide from his dad.
"Get in the truck," his dad ordered.
Dean's body obeyed without hesitation. He dropped his head so his chin rested against his chest. This is bad. This is so very bad. His dad's here in Kauai. So is Steve and Five-0. They're all here and he has a young shapeshifter in his care. Out of all the creatures in the world, Daniel just had to be a shapeshifter, the one creature Steve hates with every fiber of his being, as well as the rest of the task force. No help for Daniel there.
He may have just signed his friend's death.
"Dad," Dean started but stopped at his dad's quelling look.
John drove in the opposite direction of everyone he cared about in the island chain. He fought the urge to look behind him, praying Daniel'll be safe. Praying that Steve would forget him and move on, and that Danny would forgive him for not explaining his actions.
They arrived at a shipyard. Gigantic cargo ships and freighters towered over the water. It dwarfed the shipyard workers, making them look like ants or action men in a children's play set.
He knew better than to ask why they're here. He knows why.
His dad is taking him back to the mainland.
ALK
Steve stared at the small bungalow with something akin to heartbreak. The others kept their distance from him, knowing he needed his space. Even Danny stayed away.
There is obviously two people living here. He could easily pick out Dean's clothes but the other? That must be the good looking man he saw with Dean on the airport tapes. And at car rental depot. Whoever this man is, he must mean a lot to Dean.
Pain lanced through his chest at the thought of Dean loving someone else.
He needed a distraction and looked towards Danny, only to see an odd look on his partner's face. He almost looked . . . wistful. Right. He forgot Danny had feelings for Dean. That's a talk he hadn't worked up the courage to bring up. He has no idea how Danny'd react to that particular conversation. It's not something he thought he'd ever had to have with his partner.
Steve chalked it up to Danny missing his partner in crime. He's the king of denial when he wants to be.
"Danny, you take the Master bedroom while Cath and Chin take the guest rooms. Kono and I will check out the kitchen and living room," he told them. They nodded their assent took off to their respective areas.
Danny hesitated before going inside the master bedroom. He felt a little bad doing that to Danny but rather his partner than him.
Kono took the kitchen, though he thinks it's to find something to snack on since Steve might have not let them have breakfast first before flying out to Kauai following that anonymous tip they got a while back. It was only out of sheer boredom that Steve decided to check it out and he immediately kicked himself for not checking it out sooner. It was their first solid lead into finding Dean.
They'd been coming up empty on their search up until that point.
After checking that the tip was in fact helpful, Steve had Chin check out where the tip came from and from there Chin did his damnedest to find any trace of their anonymous helper. The lieutenant could not find a single pixel of the tipper (tipster?).
"Want some Pringles?" Kono asked, pulling Steve out of his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Pringles," Kono repeated. "Want some?" She shook the green tube temptingly.
"Yeah," Steve replied and reached for can. He tipped it over so he could get a sizable stack. "Thanks. You better leave money for a replacement," he told her. Kono waved him off.
Grinning, Steve ate his little snack while he found nothing beyond newspaper clippings and a notebook with handwriting that didn't watch Dean's. Must be the guy Dean's been traveling with. Jealousy made his stomach twist as it burned its way through his veins. He had the real urge to start trashing the place but he knew he'd get an earful from Danny if he did and a very disappointed look from Chin.
It's not often when Danny and Chin both disapprove of something together. Normally, Danny'd rant and yell at him and Chin would laugh at them and did as Steve ordered while Danny lectured the SEAL. Chin usually went along with Steve, trusting his instincts, but there were times when Chin listened to his own and called Steve on his shit, telling him he's wrong.
Danny, Chin and Catherine returned to the living room, saying found nothing to identify who's living with Dean. Chin said he found clothes that did not fit Dean in the guest room he searched.
Steve let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He heard Danny do the same.
Danny held out his hand and Steve panicked, thinking Danny found something small (condoms size, not the - a condom size packet. Whatever.). He shook his hand until Kono passed the tube of Pringles.
Oh. That's what Danny wanted.
Blushing, Steve shoved the last couple of chips into his mouth, ignoring the looks the others were giving him.
"God, you're weird," Danny informed him through a mouthful of chips.
The others echoed their agreement and took some of their share of Pringles. The only sound in the house was them munching on pilfered chips.
Steve's disappointed they hadn't found Dean in the house. Or at the diner. A waitress there told him and Cath that they just missed Dean and his "hot" friend. Also telling them that she hoped Dean's friend isn't dating the man they're looking for. Someone that attractive shouldn't be bogged down by a troublemaker such as Dean.
Cath pulled him out of there before he said something he'd regret.
Danny finished eating his snack first, moving into the kitchen to find some more. The sound of cupboard being opened and closed filled the silence. Steve flopped down onto the somewhat comfortable couch to think.
He has no idea where to look for Dean. They could just wait here but Dean might see their borrowed vehicles and book it. Dean always has a bug-out bag just in case he needs to leave right that second should the cops, on pure luck, find out where Dean is staying at the moment during a hunt.
Most people don't like other people who dig up corpses and burn them or ask bizarre questions about a death that happened. But most of all, most people don't like being lied to.
Steve can identify with that last part.
The smell of something cooking had his stomach growling. He heard answering growls from his teammates.
Danny brought out burgers and a party size bag of chips for them to eat. They wolfed down the burgers in record time and schooled out the big bag of chips within ten minutes. Sufficiently fed, Five-0 allowed themselves to fall into a food coma.
Steve woke up to the sound of footsteps making their way cautiously to the door. He looked towards Danny who's eyes were wide open too. He nodded at Danny and quietly got off the couch while Danny snuck around to the back door of the house. He eased the door open just enough for his body to get through and slid through it, Kono followed.
Chin and Cath eased their weapons out of their holsters and waited for Steve's orders. He gestured for them to remain hidden while Steve met their intruder head on.
Steve ripped the door open, startling a young man enough for him to topple backwards and off the lanai out of sight. Steve blinked, because, really?
A head popped up with wavy light brown hair that was attached to a blue-eyed model. Of course the guy looks like and is built like a model. This must be the guy that's been living with Dean.
Jealousy roared through Steve's veins and he reacted without thinking. He grabbed the guy by the throat and picked him up so he was on the lanai. The guy's eyes bulged and he clawed at Steve's hand.
"Steve!" Danny yelled and peeled Steve's hand off the guy's throat. "Let him go!"
Steve snarled and took a step back before Cath and Kono kicked his ass for doing something incredibly stupid. Chin took his place next to Danny as the detective questioned the young man.
"Who are you?" Danny demanded.
"I'm - I - My name is Daniel," the guy stuttered out. "I live here with my boy - with my friend. Who are you? Where's Dean?"
Steve's eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth when the guy, Daniel, almost called Dean his boyfriend. Daniel paled when he saw the look Steve is sporting. He quickly shifted so he was closer to Chin. Danny turned around to glare at Steve, gesturing for Cath to take Steve inside the house while they talk to Daniel.
Cath nodded and shoved Steve through the door and out of sight.
Steve twisted out of her grip and stepped away from her. He took deep breaths to keep from going back out there and decking the man he's assuming slept or is currently sleeping with his (ex) boyfriend.
"You need to calm your ass down," Cath told him. "i don't care if that guy may have slept with Dean. It's not like Dean cheated on you. You were broken up. Now calm down."
Steve glared at her. He knew she was right, of course, but still.
"He's been living with Dean," he pointed out. Jealousy and hurt ran rampage through his body at the thought of them having sex. "He's been living with Dean," he said again.
Sympathy radiated from Catherine. "I know. Let's just let Danny, Chin and Kono find out who he is and we'll deal with that later. Okay?"
Steve nodded his head.
Steve walked into Dean's bedroom and flopped down on the bed. He rolled over and covered his face with Dean's pillow, inhaling the familiar scent. It calmed him down considerably. To pass the time he started snooping around a little more thoroughly than Danny did.
He tore through the drawers, tossing everything on the floor in his search of anything that reminded Dean of their time together. The longer he went without finding anything the more hurt took over. His heart breaking into smaller and smaller pieces after each search came up empty.
Did Dean not really keep anything of theirs?
Lifting up the mattress and looking under it is his last chance to find something salvageable for any future relationship he might have with Dean, but more importantly, he wanted to find something of theirs that Dean kept as a reminder of their time together. He found a small black leather journal with color coded tabs instead. A part of him wanted to read it but another part was completely terrified to. What if it's just another hunting journal?
Then why is it hidden underneath the mattress?
That - That is a good question.
Steve retrieved the journal and let the mattress fall down onto the floor with a loud thump. He shot a quick look towards the door to see if Catherine was coming to check on him before steeling himself to open the journal.
The first thing he found was a picture of his house on Piikoi and a little paragraph describing the place.
Steve's house. It's located on Piikoi Street. Nice neighborhood. He has a private beach access that's very handy when wanting to have some adult fun time. Steve grinned at that. It's my first home since my mom died (Save for Baby). I miss it. A lot.
I can't go back, no matter how much I want to. What would be the point?
Steve blinked back tears at the last sentence.
He flipped the page to see pictures of him. One of them is of him mid-argument with Danny over the phone. He has his phone pressed hard against his face as he used his free hand to make gestures to emphasize a point Danny can't even see. He remembered that disagreement. It was over basketball, of all things. They had made a bet over the game and Danny was arguing over the specifics so he wouldn't have to pay the full $100.
He hadn't even realized that Dean took his picture.
Another picture had Steve silhouetted against the sun. He's staring out at the ocean, in deep thought, probably over Wo Fat or a case they were working on. That could have been taken during their first month living together. It had to be otherwise Steve would know when it was taken.
Two more pictures were on the pages. One of him hunched over an engine part, trying in vain to figure out what's wrong with it, and the other was of him sleeping.
That one he remembered vividly. It was their three month anniversary. Dean made him breakfast in bed, not something he's ever had nor done before. It was sweet and a little weird to be the one on the receiving end of a romantic gesture. Dean had kissed him awake, another first for Steve, and he gave him a single red rose, the single reddest rose he had ever seen in his life.
"Happy anniversary," Dean whispered into his shoulder before kissing it.
Steve remembered not eating their breakfast until much later when it was cold and congealed. It was the best breakfast he'd ever had.
Dean must have taken the picture before waking him up.
There's a single word at the bottom of the page: Happiness.
Tears welled up and spilled over, Steve made no move to wipe them away. He quickly flipped through the pages to see what else Dean had in them. He found pictures of all of them. There's Danny smiling happily while talking on the phone, presumably to Grace, and another of Danny flipping off Dean.
Some of Chin fanboying over their new smart table and one of him straddling his bike, smiling at the camera. Three of Kono; one of her surfing, at the firing range, and of her helping Kamekona serve food at one of their numerous get-togethers.
A few of Cath and Kamekona. All at Steve's place, save for one of Kamekona who's arguing with Flipper over something.
At the bottom of the pages are single words that pop into Dean's mind when he looks at them. For Chin, it's Stability. Kono: Strength, Catherine: Friendship, and Kamekona: Brother.
He didn't find any pictures of Grace until the very end. Most of them were her smiling at the camera, a few selfies of them cheesing real hard, and one of Grace wrapped around Dean's waist, head pillowed against Dean's chest, and the happiest smile he's ever seen on Grace's face.
The one word he hard for Grace was: Family.
I miss them, was written on the last page under a picture of all of them. It's one of the few family photos of the entire ohana.
This small leather journal, with barely a hundred pages held everything that Dean missed about them. Dean still cared about them. But he's still staying away from them. If Dean missed them so much then why is he staying away from them? Why hasn't he shown up yet? He has to know they're here by now, and he's most likely hiding out in the forest watching them.
Dean probably sent this Daniel guy in as reconnaissance.
As soon as the thought fully formed, Steve was out the bedroom and making his way to the back door before Cath intercepted him.
"Whoa! Steve, you need to sit down," Cath ordered with a shove that sent him a step backwards. "Danny has some news." She manhandled him into the closest chair, remaining near him should he try to book it.
He knows enough not to push on this. She'd quite happily kick his ass, especially if it meant getting Dean back. Steve sometimes forgot that Catherine and Dean were close and that she misses him just as much as he and Danny does. It makes him wonder just how much she's mad at him for screwing his relationship up with Dean, and when she'll finally lose it and take her anger out on him. It's not like he wouldn't deserve it.
Which brings up Danny's eventual eruption. So far Danny's been pretty supportive in Steve's endeavor to get Dean back.
It's also unnerving because Danny's heart hasn't been in the rants he's been giving Steve for doing something stupid, like giving that one deputy in Lowell County a swirly. Guy really shouldn't have taunted Steve about Dean. He really shouldn't have.
Danny swaggering through the door pulled Steve from his thoughts, thank god, and that Daniel guy followed in on his heels. Steve bit back a growl at the sight of him.
Jealousy right now won't be helpful in finding out where Dean is, and Mr. Model knows where his (ex?) boyfriend is. So, for Dean, he'll shove down any anger and jealousy towards said model until the model gives up Dean's location. Once that is done, Steve plans on planting his fist in Mr. Model's face for even thinking of Dean as "his" boyfriend.
"Knock it off, Steve," Danny groused at him, seeing his gleeful expression at the thought of hurting this Daniel guy. "Daniel here says he hadn't seen Dean for over three hours. Dean, apparently, sent him away because Dean just 'knew'," the skepticism is strong in Danny's voice, "that we were coming."
Steve scoffed and moved to get up to tower and intimidate Mr. Model when Catherine moved closer to him. He sat back with a huff. Spoil sports.
"Liar," he settled to say instead. "I know you know where my boyfriend is."
Mr. Model flinched before glaring back weakly. "I do not, McGarrett." He made Steve's last name sound like a cuss word. "Dean sent me away because he . . . sensed you guys coming down the road. He told me not to come back to the house until 3 hours have passed. I waited and here I am."
He shot Steve a defiant look.
Steve sneered back.
The thing is, Steve believes him and that is pissing him off. He wants this guy to be lying so he can be justified in punching his handsome face.
Where the hell is Dean?
ALK
Dean watched the Kauai shoreline disappear beyond the horizon as the cargo ship he and his dad stowed away on. He didn't even get a month there before his dad found him.
"Why'd you let me train Daniel if you knew what he was?" Dean asked his dad.
John Winchester didn't even look at him when he answered, "Because I wanted to see how you'd train that thing." Dean frowned at Daniel being called a thing. "And because I knew whatever you did, that thing will still die by a hunter's hand. You can't beat nature, Dean. That thing is a killer."
"No, he's not!" Dean denied. Daniel's not. He's a good guy (kid?). "He's never killed anyone."
"And you know this how?" John asked mildly.
It made the hairs on Dean's neck stand up. Anytime his dad uses that tone, if Dean doesn't have a good enough reason, it's his hide.
"He told me," Dean admitted, cringing at the weak answer. He thought long and hard and that's all he seriously has.
John hummed thoughtfully. "Laps. Now. You don't stop until I tell you."
Dean swallowed thickly but did as told.
He ran well into the night, earning looks of sympathy from the crew. Who knows who his dad bribed for them to let Dean and his dad on the ship or what his dad did to earn such a favor.
The stairs were killer but he didn't stop or trip over them, no matter how exhausted he got.
John watched Dean do his laps like a good soldier from the shadows. He'll never get over just how proud he is of his son at following orders. Dean'll do whatever he says with only a very slight hesitation, if what he's being asked to go goes against his morals. Granted, Dean doesn't have a lot of those, neither does John, but Dean does stick to the little bit he does have.
"Stop," John ordered, and Dean did. His son's body quaked with exhaustion but he didn't allow himself to fall onto the ground or bend over to catch his breath. He waited at attention until John told him he could relax.
His old DI would have loved to have had Dean as a recruit.
Sadness wrapped it's familiar shroud around him at the thought of Dean not having a future of his choosing. He does have those moments, especially early on, if he was doing the right thing in bringing the boys up in this kind of lifestyle. He had wrestled for months, years even, on this dilemma but the thought of his boys being prey for another demon decided for him.
He rather have his boys hate him than be unprepared for the "real" world of monsters and demons. Who apparently have plans for them. He doesn't know what they are, but he will. Nothing hurts his boys. Nothing. He'd kill anyone and everything if it meant his boys would be safe.
"Rest," he told his eldest son. Dean slumped against a shipping container. He walked over and hauled an arm over his shoulder and helped Dean make his way down to their sleeping quarters.
He opened the door that lead to their room and dropped Dean on the bed with a slight bounce. Dean whined but otherwise didn't complain at the rough treatment. Too tired to do so anyway.
John pulled one of Dean's legs up, propping the foot on his knees. He took Dean's boot off and peeled the sock off before doing the same to the other foot. Dean wriggled his toes at him, making John fight back a grin. He remembered Dean doing this all the time when he was a kid, giggling wildly, happy he was making mommy and daddy laugh. But it was before Mary died. Before The Fire.
Dean fumbled with his belt and unbuttoned his jeans to kick them off, they got stuck midway. John took pity on him and pulled them off. He threw a quilt on top of Dean, fighting the urge to tuck him in like he used to.
Around 4 A.M. Dean woke up with leg cramps. John massaged them away and made him drink some Gatorade he found (stole) and broke off bits of banana (also stolen) to feed to him. It took an hour before the cramps ceased and Dean was able to fall back asleep. John stood watch out of habit.
He let Dean sleep until noon before rousing him out of bed. Dean whined and complained the whole time. It reminded John that Dean was most emphatically not a morning person, or in this case, afternoon person.
Grinning mischievously, John gripped one end of the quilt and pulled with all his might. It sent Dean crashing into the metal wall of their cabin. John winced, not thinking of that possibility. Whoops! He let Dean wear his worn, brown leather jacket as apology. Not that'd he say those words aloud. Not when a gesture does just as good as verbalizing.
He helped Dean up the stairs to the commissary. The crew nodded their heads at them, John nodded back since Dean is currently focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
Dean flopped into a chair and let out a relieved sigh. His legs feel like jell-o. Blue jell-o.
John hopped in line to get him and Dean some food. He made sure to load up on a lot of carbs for Dean and a couple bottles of Gatorade for his son to drink. He grabbed a couple bottles of water as well. Dean needs to stay hydrated. Doing laps is only the beginning.
He should call Adria Linas, a semi-retired hunter he knows living on Kauai. He read about a grave desecration that happened their a couple of months ago, he suspects his boys. The time line matches up with Sam's visit and Dean's abrupt departure of Oahu a few days later.
Speaking of Sam, John pulled out his phone and sent a text saying he has Dean and he's bringing him home.
You should check out Kauai or even Oahu. -JW
Sam'll know what he's talking about. If John can't hurt that Fish Boy, then Sam certainly can. Sam's puppy-like and innocent demeanor makes even the deadliest and cruel demon hesitate for a second. That second allowed Sam to strike and kill or maim whatever it is he's hunting.
I think I might. -SW
Grinning to himself, John urged Dean to hurry up and eat his lunch because he still has some PT to do. He let the grin out when Dean groaned.
"Aw, man, really?" He asked plaintively.
John nodded his head cheerfully. "Oh, yeah."
Dean thumped his head against the table a few times. "I don't wanna," he whined. "I - Is it enough that your're taking me from my home? Taking me from a new friend? From Steve?"
"You left your home. You left Steve. I didn't force you to do any of that," John pointed out, amusement fading. "From what I gathered, your Steve seems like an all right guy. Even if he's Navy," he spat out the last word. Old rivalries linger and linger and linger. "You chose to leave in a fit of anger, like a child."
Dean winced at that. Because, yeah, he did.
"And not to mention, they were right there," John said, pointing at the other end of the table to emphasize his point of just how close Dean was to them. "You chose to hide from them. That wasn't me. I was actually going to see what you did and followed your lead concerning them. I'm a little disaPpointed I didn't get to meet the man that captured my son's attention."
Dean's head snapped up at that.
"Bu - But - But," he stuttered stupidly. "When I called you that one time, you acted like my being in Oahu was a waste of time by not saying a goddamn word."
"You're a fucking adult, Dean!" John snapped. "If you can't decide to be with someone then maybe you shouldn't be with them! You are not putting that on me."
"You're the one that indoctrinated me to put family first!" Dean yelled. "If it wasn't for you, I'd probably be playing Monopoly with the only family that never tore me down. I wouldn't have sabotaged my relationship with Steve. I wouldn't have toyed with Danny's affections. I wouldn't have ruined the one thing that was MINE!"
Dean panted after his outburst. His stomach twisted into knots, making him sick at the realization that he just yelled at his dad. He's never done that before. Ever. Not in his 24 years.
His dad's going to kill him. Disown him. He'll make Dean wish he'd never been born.
John stared at his son with an unreadable expression. It didn't make the pterodactyls in his stomach go away, if anything they mutated into Godzilla size flying monsters. No. They're not pterodactyls, they're friggin' Mothra!
He swallowed and prayed for a quick death.
When his dad finally spoke, it was in the iciest voice Dean's ever heard, "If you choose your new family over me and Sammy, then we're done, Dean. The car is mine. You won't contact Sam. You won't step foot back on the mainland."
Tears sprang up but Dean didn't let them fall. His dad's serious. How can his dad tell him that? Then again, this is the man that told Sam that if he stepped out that door, he better not come back.
"I - Why?" He floundered for a second before settling on, "Yes, sir. What are we going to hunt first?" Bye, Steve. Bye, everyone. I'm sorry.
John nodded his head regally. He knew Dean would choose him and Sam.
"Water sprite in Colorado. Caleb's gonna meet us there." Dean nodded. "200 push-ups and sit-ups," he told Dean, who nodded again.
He moved to help Dean up but Dean shrugged his hands off. He watched Dean move like an old man towards the deck to do his PT. Guilt gnawed his stomach. It felt eerily similar to when he had that last fight with Sammy, before his baby boy left for Stanford without either him or Dean to protect him.
His boys without him to protect them made fear crawl up his spine like fire ants and ice grew in his veins. He needs them back with him. It's the only way he knows they're safe.
He has Dean. He needs Sam next.
It'll be easy to get Sam to come with them once Sam beats the ever loving shit out of this McGarrett guy. His youngest feels immense guilt in his part with ruining Dean's happiness, and guilt can go a long way when manipulated right. It can convince the most recalcitrant person to bend and do as told to ease the feeling away.
More guilt grew at the thought of using his boys' emotions like this but he needs them with him, to know for a fact they're safe. This little experiment of freedom for them is over.
But first, he needs to make a call to Adria Linas. There's a shapeshifter that needs hunting.