A Hard Road Ch. 6
Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable in this story.
Author's Note: Thanks to my anonymous reviewers for their wonderful comments. I'm so glad you are enjoying the story. Polly, I hope this is quick enough for you.
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Since it was getting well into the month of January, Jim decided that it was time for John to meet some of the hunters that would teach him the finer aspects of hunting. He had taught him all he could about the spiritual side of hunting and he knew John needed to learn more now. He wasn't looking forward to sending John on his way since he had gotten so attached to the boys during their all to brief stay with him. Since Bobby and Caleb were off on hunts of their own, he figured the best hunter to start with would be Daniel Elkins. Daniel was a gruff man who was considered a loner by the other hunters, but he could impart lots of valuable knowledge to John, especially about vampires and weapons. He just hoped Daniel, would accept this small family in without scaring the boys.
Jim started preparing breakfast so that the family would be well fed before they left. He was keeping an eye on Sammy who was playing in the playpen while Dean helped his daddy pack. Even though Dean wasn't speaking yet, Jim could tell he was upset about leaving by the sad look in the boy's eyes. How he wished that John would allow them to stay with him. He had even mentioned it to John but wasn't surprised when the young father had instantly negated the idea. He loved his kids fiercely and refused to be away from them for more than a few hours. He couldn't blame John after the rude awakening to finding out that demons did exist.
As he removed the scrambled eggs from the skillet, Jim heard the sound of Sammy clapping and turned around to see John and Dean entering the kitchen. He figured that they had finished packing and put their things by the door. "I hope you all are ready for a heart breakfast" Jim said as he placed the eggs on the table along with some sausage and pancakes. He knew Dean wasn't too fond of the eggs but loved the strawberry flavored pancakes that he made.
John reached into the playpen and picked Sammy up and swung his baby boy around in the air. "How's my little tiger doing today?" he asked as he nuzzled Sammy's face with his hair. Sammy giggled loudly as he clasped his hands to his daddy's face and planted an open mouthed kiss on his nose.
"Ewww" stated John teasingly as he wiped the slobber from his nose and returned the kiss. He was pleased to hear the soft sound of Dean laughing lightly from his chair. Maybe the kid would start talking soon. John pulled the high chair over next to his seat and placed Sammy in the chair while Jim took a bottle of orange juice from the refrigerator.
John fixed a plate for Dean and Sammy before fixing one for himself. Pastor Jim said the blessing and they all began to eat. They hadn't been eating long when John glanced over towards Dean. His birthday was only two days away now and he couldn't believe how big his oldest son was getting. He knew he couldn't give Dean a big birthday party since they didn't really know any other children, but he wanted to be able to do something special for him anyway. "Hey Champ, I was just thinking. You've got a birthday coming up and Daddy was wondering if there was anything special you'd like to do?" John watched as Dean thought things over before shrugging his shoulders. Knowing how much Dean liked pizza John said, "What do you say we stop at that new kid's restaurant called Chuck E Cheese that I've been hearing about on the way to Colorado?"
Dean's eyes lit up at the prospect of getting pizza and playing the games at the restaurant. He didn't like that big rat costume that they showed on the commercials, but his dad would keep the rat person away from him if it showed up. Dean shook his head vigorously to let his dad know he was pleased with the idea.
After finishing breakfast, John helped Jim clean up one last time and then gathered their things. "Jim, I don't know what we would have done without you over the past month. You've been a life saver to me and my boys" John said as he reached out to shake the pastor's hands.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute that you and the boys were here. I want you know that you and your boys are always welcome at my home John. I hope you'll come back soon for a visit" Jim stated with moist eyes. His home was going to be lonely and quiet now without those two little boy to liven things up.
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Two days later, John was holding true to his promise. They had stopped in Boulder on their way to Manning, Colorado to meet up with Daniel Elkins. John had asked the motel manager for directions to the nearest Chucky E Cheese restaurant and twenty minutes later, he was pulling into the parking lot. He opened the back door of the Impala and reached in to get Sammy out of his car seat while Dean unbuckled himself. He hoisted Sammy into his left arm while he held Dean's hand with his right.
Walking into the restaurant, John was amazed at the sight that beheld his eyes. The restaurant contained a huge play area for children as well as a video arcade off to the side. Scanning the building further, he saw a stage area which contained some oversized mechanical zoo animals playing music. "What have I gotten myself into?" he wondered as a waiter walked up to greet them.
"Hello, welcome to Chuck E Cheese. If you'll follow me please, I'll show you to your table so you can order and then the little ones can go play. John followed the waiter over to a table where he and Dean sat down while the waiter got a high chair for Sammy. John ordered a pepperoni pizza with onions knowing that it was Dean's favorite. He then ordered a coke for him and Dean while pulling a bottle of juice for Sammy from his diaper bag.
It only took fifteen minutes for the pizza to arrive and Dean launched right into it with gusto. John on the other hand had to tear off small pieces of cheese from his slice to cool for Sammy. As they ate their meal, John saw Dean tense as a person dressed in a rat costume headed their way. Not wanting Dean's special day to be destroyed, he glared at the character and shook his head no giving the person the message to stay away. The costumed character promptly got the idea and walked to another table.
After they had eaten, John allowed Dean to play in the children's play area while he held Sammy and kept a close eye on his oldest. Seeing the fun his brother was having, Sammy pushed on John's chest trying to get away from his father. John grasped him a little more tightly and said ""No Sammy, I'm sorry but you've got to stay with Daddy." Sammy's bottom lip began to quiver and tears filmed his eyes. He didn't wanna stay with Daddy, he wanted to play with Dean. "De, De" he called out as he reached out his hands towards his big brother causing Dean to immediately stop in his tracks.
"Sammy, you said your first words" John touted as he hugged his baby boy. He watched the smile that quickly lit up Dean's face at realizing that Sammy had called him by name. Dean quickly left the play area and ran over to his baby brother. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Sammy" he whispered as he reached out to take him from John's embrace. John couldn't have been more happy if he'd just been told he won a million dollars. It had been almost three months since he had heard his oldest son's voice and that one word alone was music to his ears. He wiped the tears from his face as he hugged both boys to him. This day had turned out to be very special indeed.
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Arriving in Manning, Colorado, John pulled his car into the narrow dirt lane of the isolated canyon that led to Daniel Elkin's home. He wasn't sure what to expect as he made his way down the long winding road. Jim had told him the man was kind of a loner and he wasn't sure what kind of reception he would get. He neared the end of the drive and pulled up into the yard in bad need of mowing. He looked at the rustic old cabin and noticed that it seemed relatively well maintained considering the condition of the yard. He got out of the car and then reached in to help his boys out. He was just starting to turn towards the house when he heard a gruff voice holler "Who the hell are you and what do you want?"
John looked up to see a man in torn jeans with a ragged looking jacket holding a shotgun aimed at him and his boys. He tensed as he pushed Dean behind him and handed him his baby brother. He didn't know if the man was crazy enough to actually shoot at them. "The name's Winchester, Jim Murphy sent me." John answered and then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the man lower his gun.
"Damn Pastor, always sending people out my way when he knows I like to be left alone" Daniel grumbled as he waved John to come inside the house.
As John entered the house with his boys, he was surprised to see an old desk that held books and notes he assumed where about some of the hunts that Elkins had been researching. He also noticed the gun cabinet that lined one wall which was full of many different kinds of rifles. He whistled in appreciation of the extensive gun collection.
"Sit yourself down there and make sure those kids don't touch nothing" Daniel said as he pointed at the old looking couch. He didn't like kids, especially little ones and wished Murphy had sent the man somewhere else.
"My boys are well behaved, you won't have to worry about them touching anything" John informed Daniel as he sat down with Dean beside him and Sammy in his lap.
"Yeah, well I think you're a damned fool for even thinking you can hunt when you have two little brats to take care of. You need to just go on back home and forget you ever knew about the supernatural world." Daniel stated as he looked John in the eye. There was no way the man could ever become a decent hunter by dragging two young kids around with him all of the time.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that. If you won't help me then I'll find someone who will" John informed the grizzled hunter as he stood up to leave.
"I didn't say I wouldn't help ya, just sit your ass down. I just think it's a bad idea to drag two brats around with ya.
"First of all, my children are not brats so stop calling them that. These children are the reason I want to learn to hunt. Their mother was killed by something evil over my baby's bed. I won't allow evil to ever get near my kids again and I will get revenge on the thing that killed their mother" John stated with conviction.
"Mister, I only wish that were true for your boys sake. When you start hunting, evil will gravitate towards you and your family. It will try to use those boys to get back at you."
John thought for a few minutes about the words Daniel had said. "Well, I'll just have to make sure that the evil out there doesn't know my boys exist."
Daniel snorted at hearing the words. "It's too late for that already since your wife was killed over your baby's crib. I'll teach you what I can to protect yourself and the boys. I just hope it's enough."
TBC