Meeting the Winchesters
Author's Note: Cussing ahead in this chapter. They are hunters after all
Ch. 10
John had no sooner finished changing Sammy's diaper when he decided it was time to put the boys down for a nap. The last thing he wanted to deal with later this evening would be a grouchy toddler.
"But Daddy, I'm not sleepy," complained Dean as John lay Sammy down on the bed in the room he was sharing with the boys.
"I know you're not Ace, but you know how grumpy Sammy can be when he doesn't get his sleep," John cajoled as he reached out a calloused hand to palm the back of Dean's head and ruffle his hair. "And you also know that he won't go to sleep unless you're laying here beside him."'
"I guess I can lay down with him for a little while then," Dean replied with a yawn. "But only until Sammy goes to sleep."
"That's fine," John answered with a smile as he watched Dean roll over on his side and curl a protective arm around Sammy before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep himself. Dean was still having troubles with nightmares and tossed and turned most of the previous night.
Pushing himself to his feet, John gently pulled the blanket up over his sons and watched for a few moments as Sammy began to suckle on his thumb and drift off to sleep, safely ensconced ion his big brother's arms. Smiling wistfully at the sight, he once more wished his Mary could be there with him to see how close their boys were becoming. "They miss you Mary," he whispered before glancing at his children one last time and quietly making his way from the room.
~~Meanwhile, out on the porch~~
"After hearing everything we've had to say about monsters and such, you still think Winchester is going to be dead set on becoming a hunter?" Joshua asked Bobby as he stood up and leaned against the porch railing in order to stretch his long legs for a few minutes.
"I wish I could say no for the sake of those two little rugrats, but I don't think there's anything we could say to scare him off, ya idjit" Bobby answered. "After what he witnessed with his wife burning on the ceiling, there's no way he can turn his back on the world of the Supernatural. He'll do what he has to in order to protect those two kids."
"It's a damn shame to think that sooner or later, those two will likely become hunters themselves," Caleb voiced a little sadly. "I know they've been through a lot in their short lives, but it will be a shame to see them lose their innocence."
"I have to wonder if Dean already has?" Bobby stated as he thought about the eldest child. "He hasn't said anything, but Dean is old enough to understand what happened to his mom. And I'm almost afraid to think about what he might have witnessed that night.
"What do you mean Bobby?" Joshua inquired as he crossed his burly arms in front of his chest.
"I'm not sure. It's just time he gets so quiet and just stares into space is all," Bobby answered thoughtfully. "I'm probably just reading into something that isn't there. I mean, the kid has had a lot to deal with since losing his mother.
"I sure hope you are right," Caleb stated, just before they heard the sounds of John returning from changing Sammy's diaper.
"So where's the little scamps hiding?" Joshua inquired when John walked out alone.
"I put them down for a nap," John answered, before walking over to sit in his chair once again. "So, know that you've told me about the rules of hunting, what comes next?"
"Next, we teach you about protection sigils and the fine art of drawing them like I promised yesterday," Bobby answered having already planned the next few steps in John's training before daring to take him out on an actual hunt. "You'll need to be fluent in making them, especially when it comes to demons."
You make these demons sounds like they're pretty damned hard to fight," John voiced a little worriedly.
"You best listen to me and listen good when I say that they are the nastiest sons of bitches you will ever want to come across during your lifetime," Bobby intoned as he leaned forward, getting into John's personal space to make sure he made his point. "You're going to need to know how to protect yourself and your boys should you come across one when hunting. And believe me idjit, it is bound to happen sometime or another."
"Guess we better get started with the lesson then," John voiced as he rolled his sleeves up to prepare for what was sure to be a lengthy session of art, well, that is if his children slept long enough.
"Let me get some drawing paper then. You'll need to learn to draw these correctly before you transfer them into a journal," Bobby said as he pushed himself to his feet, before turning his attention back to John. "I'm assuming you have one?"
"I've been using an old leather bound journal that used to belong to my father, since Mary di..."John voiced in answer, his thought trailing off with a slight shudder as he remembered the way in which Mary died once again. "I've been meaning to get one of my own."
"Your father's journal will do," Bobby replied as he stood up to go inside his house to retrieve some drawing paper from his den as well as an old tome on his desk full of protection symbols.
"Let's carry this artistic lesson inside so we can hear if the boys awaken," Joshua stated, the little ones already worming their way into his heart. He didn't want the boys upset upon awakening to find everyone gone.
~~Moments later~~
"This right here is a Devil's Trap," Bobby informed John, as he lay the old Tome on the kitchen table in front of the wannabe Hunter. "It is the most important symbol you will need to create when it comes to demons. Once a demon is caught in one of these, they're trapped and powerless.
"It's like a satanic roach motel," Caleb returned with a grin. "The stupid sons a bitches can walk into one without a problem, but they can't get out unless the circle is broken."
"But when you draw it, you'll need to place it in an inconspicuous place; someplace that is easily looked over such as under a rug or on the ceiling," Joshua added with a smirk of his own. "Demons are conceited bastards and will walk into one without thinking ahead once they lay eyes upon you."
"You can use chalk, markers, spray paint, or even blood to draw it," Bobby added as he placed a black marker and some paper on the table in front of John. "First thing you need to do is draw a five pointed star with the tip pointed up like this one and then draw the circle around it."
As John followed the directions that Bobby gave, Bobby couldn't help but smile at the tenderfoot's work. "Looks good, but could use a little work getting the lines a little more straight." Next, you need to add each of these sigils that surround the star, making sure to keep each of them within the diameter of the circle. Bobby explained as he carefully observed John's drawings, making sure to give little pointers when needed for the more complex sigils.
"There, what do you think?" John inquired as he finished he last sigil which resembled a backward letter J with a bone shape across the top of it.
"It's okay for a beginner, but you'll get the hang of it," Bobby replied, knowing that the sigil was by no means perfect, but that John would get better with time.
"So what else do I need to learn about demons?" John asked, wanting to know as much as he could.
"Well, I reckon you need to learn how to send them back to hell once you've got them trapped," Caleb answered, just as the sound of Sammy crying could be heard coming from upstairs. "But I guess that can wait until later. Go see about your son."
~~Supernatural~~
"What's the matter, Tiger?" John questioned as he walked into the room to find Sammy sitting up in the bed, tear drops rolling down his pudgy cheeks as Dean tried to console the toddler by rubbing circles on his back.
Sniffling in a stuttered breath, Sammy reached his arms out in the universal gesture to be held instead of trying to answer.
"Guess maybe you need a little Daddy time, huh little one?" John stated as he picked Sammy up and bounced him gently in his arms.
"Does that mean you can play with us or read us a story Daddy?" Dean asked meekly as he looked up at his father with pleading eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he had actually sat down in his father's lap and listened to his dad read. He wondered if Sammy had even got to know what it was like to be read to yet?
"I would love to read to you boys, but I don't think we have any children's books," John voiced around the lump in his throat. It used to be a Friday thing with him and Dean, but since the fire...
"It's okay Daddy, you don't have to stay with us," Dean stated solemnly upon hearing the tome in his father's voice. He hadn't meant to make his dad sad.
"You know what Sport, let's go down and see if Bobby had any children's books. Surely he'll have one somewhere around this place," John returned, hating the disparaging look that he had put upon his son's face.
Grasping Dean's hand, John lead his boys out of the bedroom and down the stairs into the kitchen where the hunters were all seated around the table.
"Bobby, the boys and I were wondering if, um, maybe you would have a children's book laying somewhere around," John queried hopefully.
"Sorry John, I've never really had any munchkins running about the place so never really had a need for them," Bobby answered with a frown. He could tell from the look on Dean's face that the child was disappointed. He would have to make sure to pick up a book or two the next time he went into town.
"Ya know what Kiddo, you don't need any storybooks when you got me around," Joshua voiced happily as he pushed back the chair he was sitting in and stood up. 'Let's all go to the sitting room and I'm going to tell you and the Runt there in your daddy's arms all about the three little hel...heck hounds and the big bad wendigo!
And so went the next 30 minutes. Joshua telling a child safe version of the three little hell hounds with Caleb adlibbing here and there as he saw fit much to the deliught of a rapt audience in Bobby, John, Dean and Sammy.
TBC Some of my research for the Devil's Trap come from Superwiki. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.