The Way Home
Chapter 22
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
A/N: I am hanging my head in shame, It took a reviewer (thanks sammygirl1963) to remind me I left out a very important scene. (I'll stand in timeout if you guys want me to) I almost forgot to put in a John/Dean scene. Yes, an allusive emotional scene between our hard-ass Papa Winchester and our favorite 'who needs a hug?' Winchester son, Dean. I hope this is an appropriate ending. Again a HUGE THANKS to all of you who stuck it out with me, you guys kept me going, you're amazing-Montez
Epilogue
"Is there anything you need before I turn in?" Dean stood beside the bed he had just helped his father ease into. The moving around the older man had done earlier in the day was catching up with him and the pain medication he had just taken hadn't kicked in yet. To be honest Dean had been surprised his father was allowing anyone to help him during his recovery, so when his father took a hold of his hand, the teen didn't know what to expect.
"I'm good Ace, have a seat a minute." John couldn't miss the surprised, somewhat worried look that crossed his son's face as the boy sat on the edge of the bed.
"Is something wrong?" Dean looked at his father's larger hand holding his. Painful memories of those desperate hours, when they didn't know if John was going to live or die, came flooding back causing the teen's breath to hitch.
"I'm fine, but what about you?" John asked as Dean's green eyes met his.
"Me? I'm fine…you're the one who almost…" Looking away as a hitched breath again escaped, the boy trying to hold on to what little composure he had.
"Dean look at me." John said quietly, his heart clinching as tear-filled eye's turned toward him. "I'm sorry, I should have paid better attention to how I was feeling, then this probably wouldn't have happened."
"But you've had colds before." Dean could remember a couple of times when his father had continued a hunt even when he wasn't feeling well.
"Yeah, but I knew this was something different, it just felt different, but I ignored it, putting the hunt first." John hated to admit to any form of weakness, but this time his body had overrode his stubborn streak and knocked him on his ass. "Jim told me what you did."
A hit of panic crossed Dean's face, this was it, his father was going to get on him for not doing a better job of taking care of his family, for leaving Sammy. "Dad…I…"
"I'm proud of you." John saw the confusion cross his son's face, the older man felt bad knowing the kid was probably expecting to be busted on something. Squeezing Dean's hand again, John continued. "He told me how you were the one that figured out it was Caleb coming down the driveway, it was you that got to him first. Then how when he couldn't get a hold of me at Bobby's, Jim told me how you were insistent on going to South Dakota with him, even though we both know how you feel about flying." John smiled slightly as Dean ducked his head, his fear of flying was well-know within his family. "But you did it to help me, that means a lot to me Ace."
"You taught me everything about tracking, I just knew I needed to help you, when I heard Damien mumble something about a vision and you, I had to do something." Dean answered, John couldn't help but think his son was like him in that regard, whether by nature or by training, his eldest was never one to sit around if a job needed to be done.
John looked at his closed hand around his son's, scattered memories of his trek through the woods filtered through his mind. He still didn't understand how Caleb had been there with him, but on some level he had been. "I still don't know what happened, but I know Caleb helped through those woods, even when I wanted to quit…" John noted the look of surprise on his son's face at the admission that John could have possibly considered giving up, "But you know what kept me going?"
"What?" Dean's quiet voice asked.
"You and your brother. I just kept thinking I needed to get back to you boys; I couldn't leave you like that. When Caleb got me to Bobby's and I heard him whisper that you were there, I knew I was going to be okay. You've always taken care of this family and I knew you would take care of me, when I saw you running toward me, I knew I was safe." John squeezed his son's hand again; tears had filled his own eyes as he spoke those words to his son.
Emotions were never something openly expressed in the Winchester family and to see the emotions that his father was allowing to show, reminded Dean of his father before his mother's death. The teen could remember times when his father laughed more, when just looking at his dad could tell Dean just how much his father loved his mother and him. After the fire John's emotions became hardened, his face almost unreadable, but now Dean could see just how scared his father was. "I was so scared when I saw you collapse; I didn't know what to do." Dean took a chance and opened himself up, admitting his fears to his father, "I thought…I thought you were going to die. I don't know what I would have done." A tear finally slipped past Dean's defenses as sorrow crossed John's face at the raw emotions his son was showing.
Clearing his throat, a tear also slipped from John's eyes as he placed his hand on the side of Dean's face. "Let's hope we don't have to find out for a really long time, but like I said before, I'm proud of you, don't ever forget that. I know I don't tell you enough and maybe this was a wakeup call reminding me I need to let you boys know how important you are to me, I love you Ace, don't ever doubt that."
Dean placed his hand over his father's, "I love you too Dad." Dean smiled at his father, squeezing the older man's hand.
John smiled back, "Well I think you should turn in Ace, you need to rest now, everyone is home, safe. You can let other's take watch a while." The older man was amazed at the weight that seemed to visibly lift from his son's shoulder. In true Dean fashion he had been waiting to be relieved of his duty, if only for a little while, because if John only knew one thing about his eldest it was that the boy had his priorities right, he knew his family came first.
"Yes, Sir." Dean stood, making his way to the door, "Night Dad."
"Goodnight Ace."