A Hard Road Ch. 2
Author's Note: Thanks for the wonderful reception to my latest story. I was truly surprised by the fantastic response.
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As John carried his boys up the stairs to give them a bath, Jim prepared a meal of friend chicken with mashed potatoes and a garden salad. He figured the small family would be hungry after their long trip and he wanted to make sure they had a decent meal before going to bed. There was no way he would allow those two young children to go hungry while staying under his roof. As he cooked, he thought about the things he would need say to the children's dad. John had just recently become aware of the supernatural world and it would be up to him to divulge the information that John needed to hear. Removing the chicken from the frying pan, Jim could hear the sound of soft laughter and splashing coming from the bathroom up above. It filled his heart with happiness knowing that for at least a little while, the children were enjoying themselves. Knowing that they would be sitting down to dinner soon, Jim went out to the church and got the high chair and crib that young Sammy would need while staying at the parsonage.
While Dean undressed himself and climbed into the tub of lukewarm water, John undressed Sammy. It was easier to give the boys their bath together since Sammy had learned to sit up, but Dean was there to always sit behind his baby brother just in case. After divesting Sammy of his diaper, John gently lifted him into the tub, sitting him directly in front of his brother. As Dean held Sammy securely around the chest, John lathered up a wash cloth and proceeded to bathe his baby boy. As John tried to wash his face, Sammy began to thump his hands in the water and giggled as the water splashed up on him and his daddy. The more John tried to wash him, the harder the splashes got until Sammy had soaked the front of John's shirt along with part of the bathroom floor. "Thanks a lot kiddo" John smirked as he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe water from his face, "You didn't have to give me a bath. I was already planning on taking a shower tonight."
After John had finished with bathing Sammy and washing his hair with the no more tears baby shampoo, he lifted his youngest child from the tub and wrapped him in a warm towel to dry him off as he kept an eye on Dean who was now washing himself. When he was still talking, before the nightmare that had changed their lives so dramatically, Dean had stressed that he was big enough to bathe himself since he wasn't the baby anymore. John allowed his son the independence of doing so to build up his self confidence, knowing that it would serve Dean well one day.
Seeing that Dean had finished his bath, John carried Sammy back to their room to dress him while Dean toweled himself off. He sprinkled some baby powder on Sammy and then diapered his little bottom before dressing him in a sleeper because he knew Sammy would soon go down for the night. After he finished, he glanced up to see Dean standing by him and holding out a comb.
"You want Daddy to comb your hair champ?" John asked as he reached out to take the comb. Upon seeing his son's nod, John combed through Dean's wet locks making sure to ease the comb through the tangles so he wouldn't unintentionally hurt his son. Once both his boys were set, John picked up Sammy and took Dean by the hand to take them back down the stairs. Judging by the aroma that wafted up the stairs and making his mouth salivate, Jim had finished preparing their evening meal.
When John and the boys arrived in the kitchen, Jim had already set the table and had a high chair sitting nearby for Sammy. Seeing John's surprised look, Jim explained, "While you finished bathing the boys, I finished cooking the meal and then went out to daycare room in the church and got the things you would need for young Samuel. Smiling his thanks, John placed his baby in the high chair while Jim placed the food on the table. Jim asked the Winchesters to bow their heads and then said grace thanking the Lord for their evening meal. John waited for Jim to serve himself before he placed a piece of chicken and some mashed potatoes on Dean's plate. He didn't bother with the salad knowing that his oldest disliked it and that it would just go to waste. Next, he prepared a small bowl of mashed potatoes for Sammy, using enough gravy to make it soupy enough for Sammy to eat so that his baby wouldn't choke. After making sure that his boys were set, John filled his own plate and tsat down to eat.
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After their evening meal, John carried his children upstairs to put them to bed while Jim cleaned the kitchen and washed the dishes. John had offered to help, but Jim assured him that he would finish quickly enough by himself and that he needed to put his youngest to bed since Sammy had nearly fallen asleep in his food. John kissed his youngest on the forehead and whispered "Goodnight Sammy" before placing his sleeping infant into the crib that Jim had placed into the room. He then lay down with Dean on his bed and read his oldest child a story about a monkey named George. By the time he had finished the story, Dean had faded off to sleep. John kissed his oldest lightly on the cheek and said "Sweet dreams kiddo" before he eased himself off of the bed and quietly left the room, leaving the door ajar so he would be able to hear his children if anything happened.
Returning to the kitchen, John found Jim seated at the table with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands and another cup sitting on the table ready for him. He flopped down in the chair with a sigh and looked the pastor in the eyes. "I want to thank you for taking me and my boys into your home" John said as he sipped the hot brew. "I'm sure that wasn't in your plans when Missouri contacted you."
"Think nothing of it John" Jim replied. "I'm happy to have the company. I don't get the chance to really interact with children much since my nieces and nephews live too far away. I'm looking forward to getting to know your boys." After a few more minutes of small talk, John was ready to discuss the reason for his visit.
Feeling a little nervous, John started fiddling with the coffee cup in his hands. "So uh…Missouri told me that you might be able to explain what happened that night" John said as he winced at the memory. The sight of Mary burning on the ceiling was so vivid in his mind, he didn't think he would ever be able to put the sight behind him.
Jim looked at John with sympathy. He could see how nervous the man was about bringing up the subject of his wife's death and the occurrences that had led to it. To get the conversation started Jim said "I need you to tell me what you know."
John grimaced and said "Not much really. Missouri just told me that evil had visited us that night and that it had touched our family. I'm not really sure what she meant by that. I just remember hearing Mary scream that night and running up the stairs. I ran into Sammy's room and saw him lying there in his crib. I happened to notice something near his head and reached down to touch it only to have blood drip on my hand from above." John swallowed convulsively, tears springing to his eyes, before going on. "I looked up to se my w-wife stuck to the ceiling with h-her stomach sl-slashed open. Before I had a chance to even assimilate what was happening, her body was engulfed by flames. I pulled Sammy from his crib and took him out into the hall where Dean had just arrived. I put Sammy into his arms and told him to take Sammy outside as fast as he could. Oh God I tried to get to Mary, but that fire flared out like it was alive or something. I couldn't do anything so I raced out of the house and picked up my boys carrying them far enough away just as the windows exploded." By this time, John had a steady stream of tears freely running down his face from reliving the nightmare that he was trying so hard to put behind him.
Jim placed a comforting hand on John's shoulder as he reached over and grabbed a Kleenex. "I'm sorry for your loss" he said simply as he handed John the Kleenex. "I can only imagine what you and your boys have been through and I will do my best to help you gain understanding from the tragedy." Sighing with regret at what he was about to say, Jim said "The first thing you need to know is that it was a demon who visited your family on that tragic night."
Seeing the shocked look on John's face, Jim went on to say, "I know, you thought they only existed in mythology, that there was no such things as demons. Let me assure you John that they do walk this earth and they are the spawn of evil." He gave John time to process that bit of information before going on. I'm sorry to say that I cannot tell you why your family was chosen to be visited, but I will help you to learn to protect yourself and your boys from the supernatural beings that inhabit our world."
"What do you mean beings, you mean there's more than just demons?" John asked incredulously wondering if he had heard the preacher right.
"Yes John, there are more creatures out there than probably even we hunters know about. All the urban legends and folklore you hear about are based in truth and reality. Many people assume they were stories made up to scare children into behaving themselves. That notion is wrong. Bloody Mary does exist as do ghosts, vampires, zombies, demons, and other beings you thought existed only in your weirdest dreams."
John's mouth dropped open at the revelation. How in the world had he sailed through life never knowing about the things out there in the dark. He thought the horrors that he had witnessed during his time in the Marines was the worst thing that would ever assail his eyes, only to find out how truly naive he was. He shuddered at the thought of what his boys could possibly witness in their young lives. Was he making the right choice to subjugate them to a life of pain and turmoil. Sure, he would do his best to protect them from it, but unforeseen consequences were bound to happen. In reflection, he knew he had no choice. He had to do this for himself as well as for the boys. Mary's death had to be avenged.
"I know it's a lot to take in and that you're probably overwhelmed, but I thought you should know the types of things you will be facing if you choose to take on the life of a hunter. The road is not an easy one. You will constantly be moving from town to town and hunting down creatures of the night that are out to hurt, maim, or kill you. You need to be sure that this is the path you want to follow, especially with two young boys to raise." Jim informed John wanting him to have all of the facts about the path set before him if he chose to take it.
"It's not a choice of what I want to do Pastor, it's what I haveto do" John intoned knowing that there was no way he could turn his back on finding that thing that killed his wife. Mary and the boys were his life and he couldn't dishonor her by not going after the thing that killed her so cruelly and kept her from watching their sons grow. She never even got the chance to hear Sammy call her mommy.
"Then it is our job to make sure you're ready for the challenges ahead." Jim said. "I'll put in some calls and we'll get you started on the training that you'll need to become a hunter of the supernatural. Just know this, it won't be an easy life for you or your boys. There'll be times when you don't think you can survive another day, but we'll be here to help and guide you through it. There is a large network of hunters that you can touch base with, some of whom will become your closest friends I'm sure."
"Thanks Jim, for all …" John stopped mid sentence as he heard a terrifying scream coming from the boys room. His face immediately lost all color as he bolted out of the chair he was sitting in causing it to crash loudly to the floor. He raced up the stairs with Jim following right behind him. As he opened the door, his heart broke at the sight that met his eyes.
TBC