Steve took every medicine prescribed without complaint, earning a few raised eyebrows from his team mates, but otherwise they didn't say a word. Danny's been floating around him, full of guilt and self-recrimination at his earlier actions, and as much as Steve wanted them to be on even footing again, that's going to have to wait. Steve has a much more urgent mission.
Other than some rather colorful bruising, Steve's actually okay. Apparently Sam hadn't kicked his ass as badly as he, and the doctors, first thought. Sam made sure to hit Steve in the meatiest parts of his body, outside his face, of course.
"I'm taking a couple weeks off. Danny, you'll be in charge until I get back," Steve told them without looking at his team. He felt Catherine take a couple steps toward him but stopped just shy of coming into his peripheral.
"Why?" she asked. "Why now, Steve?"
"Because it's time. I need to get my head screwed on straight," Steve answered, still not looking at them. "If I keep going how I'm going, I might just get one, if not all, of you killed. I'm a liability, and you guys know it. Danny can lead the team."
Silence followed his statement.
"I'm leaving today. I'll call each night to let you guys know I didn't do anything stupid or reckless," he assured his team. "Good luck, and catch some bad guys."
Steve left without another word.
He wasn't surprised when Danny ran to catch up with him.
"You'll be fine," Steve told him without looking at him. "Chin'll help you out if you need it. Kono is best as our sniper, and Catherine's pretty damn good at close quarter combat. I'd keep her by your side if you go on a raid."
"I know, Steve," came Danny's soft reply. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have protected Daniel so viciously as I did. Stupid thing took off and left Grace on her own. I should have let you kill it."
"Yeah," Steve said, "you should have, but that's in the past, Danny. Time to move on and shit. I really need to go. I wasn't lying, partner. I need a break."
"I know you do. Just." Danny sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Just stay safe, will you? I don't want to tell Grace that her favorite uncle's dead because he did something stupid and reckless." That earned a smile on both their faces.
"I will," Steve promised. He nodded in Danny's direction, still not looking at him.
He hopped into his truck and drove towards the airport. He's got a destination in mind: Minnesota. It's a big state, but Steve's been looking into Dean's family and friends and he knows one of his friends live in the state. The only problem is, is that he doesn't know who that friend is. He could have Catherine call in a favor for him and look up anyone connected to the hunter but that'd be telling everyone where he's going and why he took leave.
It's best not to get their hopes up, let alone his own, that he's trying to win back Dean. He's going to prove to the hunter he's worthy and that he is so sorry for being an idiot.
And maybe he'll think about how he may not be the only one at fault for the deterioration of their relationship.
Breezing through airport security, Steve used his power as the leader of Five-0 to get bumped up to first class just because he can. He'll need all the rest as he can get. Steve has a feeling he'll need it in his search to find Dean. He'll have to think like a hunter. He's watched Dean early in their relationship pour over news articles in search of hunts before he gave it up to play civilian. Steve thinks he knows what to look for that could possibly catch Dean's attention.
It's already been a couple of days since Sam left and the shapeshifter disappeared. Is there a connection there or just a mere coincidence?
Steve relaxed in his chair, grinning when he felt the plane take off. He has a couple of layovers before he lands in Minnesota, and he plans on using that time to rest and to peruse some online Minnesota papers to see if he can find a possible hunt that he could check out just in case Dean goes after it. He'd then check out any places that mysteriously had its hauntings and things that go bump in the night go away, and he'd map it out to find a central location. He'd bet money that's where Dean's friend lives.
There were a few of Dean's friends that are stationary. They don't really travel as much as other hunters. They're more like advisers or something like that. The downside of that is that Dean never actually used names when he talked about them.
It's okay though. Steve is damn good at finding intel. He'd probably do a lot better on his own than with his team.
He'd only have to worry about himself instead of others.
Maybe he should have gone that way in the first place. He could have found Dean a lot easier and faster if he did it on his own, but he allowed his guilt over Dean and his jealousy of Danny that he didn't think it through. His emotions ruled that decision. That's not going to happen again. Steve wasn't lying that he was a liability to him and his team.
Even if Dean won't take him back, at least Steve will have closure, and he could move on.
The plane leveled out and they were allowed to use their electronic devices. Steve pulled out his laptop and got to work on looking up places that had their hauntings and killings stopped by individuals, and once he had that, he could make a geographical map that could narrow down his search.
Anticipation filled his veins with the thrill of the hunt.
He's going to find Dean and get closure one way or another.
ALK
Sam slapped Emily upside the head for trying to sneak off yet again. His dad and brother are supposed to pick him up tomorrow, and Sam has a bone to pick with the both of them. Emily told him everything.
What the hell was Dean thinking keeping a shapeshifter as a goddamn pet? And why the fuck did his dad say all that shit about Steve when it wasn't even remotely true? Sam just attacked the man without provable intel. He operated on his father's word, and he really should have known better. Sam fucking knew better than just go on his dad's orders.
Great. Just fucking great.
He let his emotions rule him in a big and very bad way. Dean is going to kick his ass when he confesses what he did. Hopefully, Dean will also kick their dad's ass for sending Sam on his mission of revenge.
Emily whined pathetically and gave Sam stolen sad puppy eyes.
Sam ignored her and pushed her again to keep her moving. Jess is supposed to come over in a couple of minutes to send him off, and Sam really didn't want her and Emily in the same room. He's not exposing Jess to his life like that, not with a damn shapeshifter. Hell, he never wants Jess to know about his old life. He might lose her.
"You make a sound, I'll kill you slowly," Sam warned her. "You make your presence known, and you talk to Jess, then I promise you, Emily, you won't like what I'll do to you. I have a lot of repressed rage and I would love to take it out on you."
Emily gulped and nodded her head. She has no idea why Sam brought her with him, and there is a minute part of her that's grateful, but she feels like she might have been better off back in Hawaii.
"I'll be as quiet as a mouse," Emily promised. Sam scared her in a way Dean or McGarrett didn't.
Sam's look promised pain beyond measure if she screwed this up.
He locked her in the guest room where the windows were bolted shut so she couldn't escape that way and the only other way out the apartment is through Sam's room, but that would be going against Sam's orders not to be seen by Jessica Moore. She's well and truly stuck. Shapeshifting isn't an option, not with Sam being super vigilant over her every move.
The only plus side Emily can see is after tonight, she'll see Dean again. What happens to her afterwards doesn't matter, not if she gets to see Dean one last time, although there is a part of her that is hoping he'd save her somehow.
Sam's goodbye to Jess lasted a long, long time. Emily doesn't think she'd ever be able to look the taller man in the eye without blushing like a fire hydrant. Nope. Nuh uh.
But, dear god, the amount of stamina Sam has is frankly impressive. Jess is a lucky woman.
If felt like hours later when Sam unlocked the guest room door. He looked refreshed and completely relaxed, a looseness with his movements spoke of a very satisfied evening. Hell, the hunter even smiled at her, a first. He's only ever sneered at her or glared with disgust.
Emily made damn sure to avoid eye contact and made her way into the kitchen to find something to eat. Sam hadn't let her eat all day. She's starving.
Sam must be really in a good mood, he didn't snap at her for using a butter knife or when she accidentally slammed the drawers and cupboards a little too aggressively. He merely put his finger to his lips and continued watching his show about H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. That boy has some terrifying interests.
This chill Sam is scaring her. She doesn't like it. The incredibly pissed off Sam is the one she knows.
To keep Sam in his good mood, Emily made him a sandwich as well. An evening without getting death threats or getting smacked on the head sounds real good to her right now, especially if she's meeting Dean tomorrow. A good night's sleep so she'd look her best for her hunter is what she's striving for tonight, and the only way to do that is to keep Sam in his mellow mood that Jess put him in. Emily's hoping that Sam'll go to sleep early tonight.
Sam grunted a thanks when she handed him the sandwich she made, Emily even offered him a pop to drink. That earned her a suspicious look and wouldn't eat until she took a bite of her own sandwich to prove it wasn't poisoned or tainted with something disgusting.
The action appeased Sam and he practically devoured his sandwich, which makes sense. He worked off a lot of calories earlier. He finished his sandwich and stared at hers with puppy eyes. Emily handed it over without hesitation. Damn, he has some pretty powerful puppy eyes. Sam could teach her a thing or two. If she concentrated enough she could probably copy Sam's eyes.
The hunter probably won't like that. He just might kill her for it. Sam has a wicked temper that is easily set off.
Or maybe it's just her he's like that with.
Sam really does seem to adore Jess. He wouldn't hurt a fly around her, but woe to anyone who'd dare say anything mean or derogatory about Jessica Moore. The dangerous predator that Sam hides comes out and many a-people back off when confronted over his girlfriend's honor.
Emily wondered how Dean looks to others when he doesn't bother hiding the predator inside him.
She only got a glimpse when he was hunting her but his heart wasn't in it. Dean seemed to acting on autopilot when they first met, and add to the fact their fight wasn't as epic or as fight to the death as it should have been, Emily feels like she got robbed in being terrified of a hunter. She grew up hearing all these horror stories about hunters, and the hunter she got was a brokenhearted one.
Kind of a letdown after everything she's heard about them. Not that she can blame Dean, McGarrett was just as heartbroken as the hunter. Those two are so gone on each other, she couldn't see how those two dumbasses thought that they were the only ones with their hearts trampled on the ground.
Three hours pass before Sam locked her in the guest room and he himself went to bed. Emily's a little sick of wearing borrowed clothes that are slightly too big on her, she hopes Dean'll stop at either a thrift store or vintage shop and buy her some clothes that actually fit.
Emily is awoken by Sam slapping her with the pillow she'd been hugging in her sleep.
"Get your ass up," Sam told her. "Dad and Dean are a few miles out. They'll be here in a couple of minutes. Make yourself look presentable. I want to see Dad's face when he realizes what and who you are."
Sam's smile is dark and Emily wishes with all her heart that she never left Detective Williams' house.
This is going to be a bloodbath.
ALK
Dean felt off. He's been feeling like that since last week, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why he feels like this. He's half tempted to go see a psychic and get a read on this feeling of off-ness. He's not that desperate yet.
Yet.
Seeing Sam will hopefully push the feeling away and he can focus on clipping the sasquatch upside the head for being a goddamn busybody and to show he's not mad at the big goof anymore. Sam's eyes will mist up and he'd try to hug Dean and talk about feelings about how sorry he is about his part in Dean and Steve breaking up, and Dean'll have to go for a walk or something before he does something he'll regret, like punching the big girl for bringing that up. The subject of Steve will not be brought up, at all for the next couple of lifetimes.
Not that Sam'll listen to the unspoken order. Dean should have never let him watch Dr. Phil and Oprah. He knew someday that letting Sam watch those shows would bite him in the ass.
His dad steered the Impala down Sam's street and found a parking spot right in front of the big lug's apartment complex. Squinting against the bright California sun, Dean pushed his sunglasses further up his nose in an attempt to block out the seriously bright star. It was moot but Dean is a stubborn son of a bitch and he all put pressed the sunglasses into his face.
"You know the apartment number?" Dean asked his dad.
John nodded and lead the way to his youngest's temporary home, knowing full well Dean is right on his heels. They didn't bother locking the car, anyone who'd dare steal it would be in a world of surprises when they opened the trunk, and then they'd face three incredibly pissed off hunters. The Impala was practically Dean and Sam's home growing up. Neither of them would be happy with the theft.
The apartment complex is as drab as a prison. Hell, the place was in prison gray! The complex is small, maybe six apartments in the building, and John hopes like hell the apartments are bigger than the dimensions of the building suggest. And a hell of a lot cleaner.
Drab hallways with what looked like shitty lighting, kind of hard to tell in the daylight and with all the windows, had Dean suddenly worried about Sam's safety in this building. He and their dad are going to have to do some basic protection wards around Sam's place later on. He's not letting his little brother live in a place that isn't sufficiently warded.
"Jesus, who the hell designed this place?" his dad grumbled loud enough for Dean to hear.
John went up the stairs and turned right to Sam's apartment, 4B, and rapped hard on the door. They could hear two distinct sets of footprints on the other side of the door, one sounded lighter than the other.
Holy shit. Sam has a woman in there.
Dean and his dad shared a look that had John knocking on the door harder. Is the mysterious girlfriend in there? Do they finally get to meet her? Or is it someone who is not Sam's girlfriend?
Ooh, drama! ...Okay, give Dean a break. All that was playing was MTV garbage at the hotel last night. He's still in the mindset of over dramatic MTV teens and young adults. It's a terrifying mindset. He doesn't like it.
Dean and John decide to give Sam a minute before they pick the lock and let themselves in, parading around like they own the place and embarrass the shit out of Sammy. They shared amused smiles and patiently counted down from 60, and just as they hit the teens, Sam threw the door open with more force than was warranted, an odd anticipatory smile on his face. He almost looked gleeful, if only his smile wasn't as twisted as Sam is currently sporting.
"Uh, hey, Sammy," Dean said slowly, and he swore the saw a shadow in the guest room jolt at the sound of his voice. "Whatcha doing?"
Sam's twisted smile grew wider. "Nothing. Come on in. There's someone I want you two to meet." He gestured for them to come in and showed them the couch to sit on. He gave that odd smile again before striding to the closed bedroom door, he placed himself between them and the other side of the door, and spoke in quiet, hushed tones.
There seemed to be an argument happening between Sam and the mysterious woman. Thankfully, neither Dean nor their dad were bothered by a couple having a row. They've seen it many times on hunts.
They tried to listen in but Sam was smarter than that and he kept his voice low.
Sam seemed to have won the argument because a plain looking woman, kind of mousy really, followed Sam into the living room. There's something familiar about the woman, even though Dean knew he'd never met her before, but he swears he's seen her somewhere. He found himself staring at her intently, much to Sam's growing amusement and vindication that the shapeshifter had been telling the truth.
Their dad frowned hard at the woman. Sam could practically hear their dad's mind whirring to place the woman, trying to figure out why she's here and why Sam is staring at them with gleeful intent, like he was waiting for a certain reaction from them.
Dean got up off the couch and took a step towards the woman, who remained where she stood. She did not, however, look him in the eye.
"I know you," Dean said slowly. "How do I know you?"
He stepped closer, now a foot away from the woman, who still refused to meet his gaze. Dean reached out and tipped her head up so they could make eye contact. The second, the second, her eyes met Dean's, his eyes widened in recognition and stumbled back a few steps. Their dad made the same realization and was up on his feet, silver knife in hand, lunging forward to stab the 'shifter in the heart.
Dean reacted fast and twisted their dad's wrist hard so he'd either let the knife go or risk breaking his wrist, and body checked him away from the 'shifter once he dropped the knife. Stepping between their dad and "Daniel", or whatever he/she's going by now, Dean took a defensive stance, ready to defend his friend.
Their dad glared at Dean, anger hot enough that Dean could feel the heat wafting off of him, but he didn't back down. He thought Daniel was safe on the island, away from his family.
Sam surprised them by laughing, and not the amused yet nervous laugh but a maniacal one that had the hairs on the back of Dean's neck standing up. Even their dad looked unsettled with the sight of Sam doubled over, laughing like a madman.
"I knew it!" Sam said between laughs. "I fucking knew it. You know her! You even slept with her!" Sam's face twisted into a moue of disgust, making their dad snort in amusement. "I can't believe you slept with it. That's disgusting, Dean."
"Fuck you, Samantha," Dean shot back automatically. He turned to 'Daniel' and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Scared but fine," she replied.
Dean made sure to keep "Daniel" behind him as he shuffled towards the door, just in case "Daniel" needed a quick get away from his dad. Their dad followed step for step, his gaze locked on his prey, and judging by "Daniel" crowding in close, undoubtedly knowing exactly what Dean's dad is thinking.
"What the hell is going on, Sam?" Dean demanded, not taking his eyes off their dad. He'll strike as soon as Dean is distracted. Dean's not losing "Daniel" like that.
Sam finally quit laughing but he still broke out in giggles every now and then.
"Dad sent me on a revenge mission to kick McGarrett's ass, and I'm guessing so he would quit looking for you, and that you would return to being Dad's good little soldier when you realized McGarrett wasn't coming after you anymore. And I'm guessing he told me about Emily here," he gestured towards the shapeshifter, "so I'd kill it because Dad was disgusted by the fact you actually care for it."
Sam's face twisted in disgust again. He mouthed 'Dude, nasty' at Dean before speaking, "And for what it's worth, Dean, I am sorry for my part in yours and McGarrett's break-up."
He looked so damn earnest it took everything in Dean not to go give the baby Sasquatch a hug. He so much as twitches an inch, their dad is going in for the kill. Dean knows their dad has more than one silver knife on him, it'd be really dumb if he actually did have only one silver weapon on him. It would make Sam and Dean think there's something seriously off with their dad if that happened.
"It's fine, Sammy," Dean said, catching Sam's eye for a brief second to show he means it. He quickly switched his gaze back to their dad. "I forgive you, but I'm still so fucking pissed at you."
Sam deflated in the corner of his eye. Dean wanted to take it back, to say they're good, but he couldn't. The one thing he learned for sure from his time in Oahu and with Steve, is that it's okay to still be mad at his family for any hurt they inflict upon him, accidental or not. He doesn't have to automatically play nice whenever his dad and brother need him to.
Their dad's body language screamed anger but it didn't show on his face. With coiled muscles ready to spring into action, and a certain rigidness in his posture, Dean knew their dad was furious with being found out.
Dean wanted to hit him. Scream at him. Demand why he's hellbent on hurting Dean, on keeping Dean to himself like a selfish asshole. But he didn't. Dean matched his dad glare for glare, the entire atmosphere in the room turned into a powder keg, waiting for someone to set it off, and for once, Dean is going to be the one to do so.
Without breaking eye contact with his dad, Dean said, "Emily, I want you to run. Now. Hide. Keep yourself safe. I taught you how to take care of yourself."
"Dean," Emily started, tears in her voice, but Dean broke in, "No. Go. Emily, just go."
Dean felt her touch his shoulder, feather-light, before she ran out the door. Their dad surged forward to chase after her but Dean threw a punch at him, forcing him to turn at the last second and take a glancing blow on the cheek. Their dad crashed into the far wall, hand on his cheek in disbelief as he stared at Dean.
"Stay away from her," Dean growled out. "Stay away from her and I promise I won't leave."
Their dad had a snarl on his face, his chest heaved with barely contained anger, but he gave a curt nod.
"Sam, get your shit," their dad ordered. "Now!" he yelled when Sam didn't move.
Sam jolted into movement and grabbed his bag, edging around the two snarling elder Winchesters, and out to the relative safety of the Impala. He may have fucked up. Big.
ALK
John wanted to slap the shit out of Sam for not killing that thing when he told him to. The only good thing to come out of it was Dean's promise to follow orders again, if he didn't go after that damn creature. Fine. No worries. He'll find it again and give it a slow, painful death.
The car ride to Pastor Jim's was tense and quiet. Not even music was playing. Dean sat in the passenger seat, hunched in as small as he can get like he was trying to get as much distance as he can from either of them. John couldn't blame him. Oh, he wanted to. He wanted to tell Dean to quit being a baby and he wanted to tell Sam to grow the hell up, but he didn't because Dean is already so mad at them. John doesn't want to make it worse.
They only stopped for gas and food. Sam looked like he wanted to complain about being in the backseat where his knees were up to his ears but one look at his brother's hunched in form had him shutting his mouth. Yeah, Sammy, we both fucked up.
Pastor Jim is going to be pissed when he sees Dean's defeated posture. The man always had a soft spot for his boys, especially Dean.
They might have to find a new place to stay.
He wonders if Bobby is still mad at him. He can always use Dean as an excuse to stay with the old bastard. Bobby'd never turn Dean down if he asked to stay there. Hell, John would even apologize if it meant having a place for him and his boys to patch up their bonds. But then again, at least Pastor Jim would know when to leave them alone. Bobby? Not so much. Damn man thinks John's boys are his, and gets to have an opinion on how they should be raised.
Pastor Jim was waiting for them when they arrived late into the night. He had a smile on his face when saw Sam get out of the car. Sam smiled back and all but ran to the man and gave him a great, big bear hug, making the pastor let out a surprised, "Oof!"
"Hello, Samuel," Pastor Jim greeted. "It's nice to see you again."
"You, too, sir," Sam greeted back. He let out a jaw popping yawn that had Pastor Jim shooing him into the house and into his room to sleep.
Pastor Jim's smile faded when he saw John's angry posture and Dean's defeated one.
"What did you do?" he demanded John.
John tilted his chin up in defiance. They glared at one another for a long time, both ignoring Dean standing on John's right, his usual position when their father is confronted by an enemy. At the ready to defend him, and the sight would have sent a sick feeling to his stomach if he had bothered to take a look at Dean's face.
It was blank, no emotion. Lights on but no one's home, if someone looked him in the eyes.
But he didn't. All Jim was focused on was John fucking Winchester. Why is he surprised that John did something that upset his boys? He does wonder what he did this time though. Must be pretty bad if Sam isn't even arguing with his dad at every chance he gets.
"None of your concern," John snapped, and Pastor Jim pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Dean, go inside son. Rest," Pastor Jim. "I'm sure you're tired."
Dean didn't move. He didn't even blink, remaining at attention like a good soldier. A shiver of foreboding slithered its way down Jim's spine at Dean's actions, or lack thereof.
"Dean, son, are you okay?" Jim asked gently, turning his full attention to the young hunter. Dean's more important than a pissing contest with John. "Dean, can you hear me?" He reached out to touch Dean's arm, only to be intercepted by John.
"He's fine. Dean, go rest." And just like that, Dean moved, following orders with no hesitation.
"What have you done?" Jim asked again, this time less angry and more concerned.
John waited until Dean was inside before answering with a loud, tired sigh. "Getting my family back."
"And what does that mean?"
"They're back under my protection. Sam's recent screw up ensures that Sam won't leave again. He won't leave until he's made it up to Dean, and Dean won't be forgiving him any time soon."
The bastard actually looked pleased about that, but Jim spies guilt swimming in John's eyes.
"How can you do this to Dean? He's the only one that stuck by you through everything."
"I know!" John exploded. He paced in front of Jim, gesticulating wildly. "I know that! But he left me a year ago. He planned on staying there, Jim. He planned on staying away from me."
John pressed his palms against his eyes hard enough he saw stars behind his eye lids before scrubbing his face with them.
"McGarrett was stealing my son away from me. I had to do something. Luckily for me, they were already on the way to breaking up, Sam's arrival there only expedited it." He let out a broken laugh. "I hadn't figured on McGarrett and his team going after Dean for as long as they did. It kindled a hope that maybe McGarrett might actually love him... and I think he might."
John felt guilt slam into again. He's ruining a chance for real happiness for his son because he's a selfish son of a bitch.
"I think McGarrett truly loves my son but I'm not losing Dean. And that makes me the worst dad in the history of fatherhood. I'm even a worse father than my own." He gave Jim a humorless smile. "He left when I was a kid. Just up and left. Haven't heard from him in years. I'm worse than that."
John moved to the porch and sat on the top step. The proud and cocky posture he usually sports is missing.
"I broke my son, Jim. Me and Sam. We broke him. That look on his face. I've seen it before. After Mary died. He wouldn't leave my side and he wouldn't let Sam out of his sight. He wouldn't talk for over a year. The thing with that just happened, I think it was the final straw for Dean," John said, fighting back the sting of tears. He won't cry. He doesn't cry, not even over his son who's in deep emotional pain.
Pain he inflicted without hesitation. He knew Dean shutting down was a possibility when he sent Sam after McGarrett. What he hadn't counted, even though he should have, was Sam going against orders and brought that damn creature back with him.
Confronting him about McGarrett and the shapeshifter, was not Sam's brightest idea. His youngest was so dead set on catching John in the act, he didn't think to think of the impact it would have on Dean, and now Sam is drowning in guilt, which makes him moody and broody. That kind of Sam is not fun to be around, and Dean is the only who can pull Sam out of that funk. That's not going to happen any time soon.
He broke his boys. He's really Henry Winchester's son. He's passing along some great genes there.
Someday, when his boys have their own kids, John prays with all his heart that they won't make the same mistakes he's done. He wants them to love their kids so unconditionally, that the very thought of bringing them pain is anathema to them. The way it should be. The way John should have been to his boys.
"Then what are you going to do?" Pastor Jim asked. "Your boys are not okay, John. What are you going to do to make things better?"
"I'm going to give them a week to get their heads on right before I take them hunting," John replied. "It's the only thing that I know for sure that will bring Dean out of his mindset, maybe even repair a burned bridge or two."
"And what about Sam?"
"Sam will come out of his funk when he sees Dean acting somewhat normally."
"What if Dean doesn't get his head on straight? What if it takes him a year before he speaks again? What are you going to do then?"
"I'll think of something."
"That sounds encouraging," Jim said dryly, earning a quelling look from John. "But seriously, John, what are you going to do about Dean? You can't handle Sam on your own. You've admitted that Dean is the only one to bring Samuel out of his funk, what are you going to do if Dean doesn't get better? You and Sam might have to grow up and take care of him."
John growled in frustration. "Don't you think I know that?"
"Knowing is one thing, John. What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll think of something," he repeated.
Pastor Jim didn't reply. They'll just end up going in an endless circle because John is a stubborn and pigheaded son of a bitch. The only thing he can count on is that John does actually love his boys to death, that he'd do anything for them. He only hopes that he'll pull his head out of his ass before Dean is lost to them.
The Dean they get back might not be the Dean they know. John might have to contact a certain person, the very person he'd been trying to keep his son away from. Pastor him hopes he's there when John makes that realization.
It would be quite the show