A Hard Road Ch. 17
Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable in this story. Nor am I making a profit from it.
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John was filled with anticipation as they made their way back to Bobby's place. The doctor had finally agreed to release him on the condition that Joshua keep a close eye on him and if he showed any signs of forgetfulness or excessive sleepiness and nausea to get him back to the hospital right away. Joshua had agreed to the conditions and signed John out as quickly as possible so that they could hit the road and get back to the boys ASAP. They had driven for about five hours before stopping to spend the night in a motel, Joshua insisting that he needed to get a good night's sleep to get rid of the raccoon look around his eyes before his boys saw him.
Now, here he sat in the passenger seat of the truck once again as he lay his aching head against the cool window and thought about the joy of finally seeing his boys again. He had been away from them for over forty eight hours now and that was forty eight hours too long as far as he was concerned. He couldn't wait to hold them both in his arms and smother them with hugs and kisses as he told them just how much he had missed them.
He also thought about things he would need to say as he explained the reason he had been gone so long. He knew right away that Dean would question the stark white bandage that was wrapped around his forehead and he couldn't very well tell him that he had been fighting a nasty spirit now could he. Sure, there would be a time when he would have to introduce his boys to the world of hunting, but not until it was absolutely necessary. Who knows, maybe he could kill the demon that had destroyed their lives so that Dean and Sammy would never have to know about the evil that was out there in the world.
John sighed with relief as they crossed the South Dakota state line. Just another hour or two and they would be in Sioux County where Singer Salvage Yard was located. He couldn't wait to surprise his boys since he hadn't called to let them know he was coming. He knew they would be eating lunch right about now and that Sammy would most likely go down for a nap soon after. Sammy was growing so fast and picking things up left and right that he hoped he hadn't missed any milestones for his baby while he had been laid up in the hospital.
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The boys were in the living room watching a Dungeons and Dragons cartoon on television when Bobby called for them to come eat. He had just finished preparing a can of Spaghettio's for the boys to eat since he knew it was their favorites and something that Sammy could easily swallow even though he made quite a mess with them while eating. "Aw Bobby, can't it wait" Dean called out since Hank and Eric had just been captured by Venger who led the forces of evil. He didn't want to miss seeing how the boys would defeat the evil dungeon master's son.
"I'm sorry sport, but it's time for lunch so Sammy can go down for his nap on time" Bobby said as he walked into the living room. "You know how cranky Sammy can get when he's tired."
"Okay" Dean said as he slumped his shoulders in defeat. He really wanted to watch the cartoon but Daddy would be mad if he didn't respect Bobby. Dean reached out to take Sammy's hand as his little brother slid off the couch but Sammy bolted away instead. "No, no, no, I no nap" Sammy said as he took off running as fast as his little legs would carry him. He quickly crawled under Bobby's desk to avoid being caught as Dean got closer to him.
"You come out of there right now young man" Bobby said sternly as he walked over towards the desk himself.
"I no nap" Sammy said stubbornly as he refused to crawl out. He was a big boy just like Dean and Dean didn't have to take a nap so he wouldn't either. His stuck his bottom lip out in a pout as he saw Bobby's face come into view as the hunter bent down to get on eye level with the youngster.
"Sammy" Bobby said with a warning tone in his voice. "I don't want to have to put you in the corner for bad boy time. You need to come out of there now."
"I'll get him Bobby" Dean said as he scrambled under the desk beside Sammy. He didn't want his baby brother to be in trouble and Daddy had told him that he was supposed to help Bobby with taking care of Sammy. Dean pulled Sammy close to his side as he wrapped his arm around the little tyke.
"Come on Sammy, let's go eat, I'm really hungwy" Dean encouraged hoping that it would get Sammy moving.
"I no nap" Sammy said as tears sprang to his eyes "P'ease De"
"You have to Sammy, but I'll make a deal with you. You come out and eat and De will nap with you 'kay?" Dean waited for Sammy to make up his mind and then both boys crawled out from under the desk. Dean took Sammy by the hand and led him to the kitchen where Bobby has just finished spooning some Spaghettio's into their bowls.
"You did good Dean" Bobby praised as he ruffled Dean's hair with his hand before picking Sammy up, stripping him down to his diaper and placing him in the highchair. He put a bowl in front of each boy as he made himself a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. He had just sat down at the table to eat his lunch when he noticed Sammy. The toddler's face and chest was covered in spaghettio's and he even had some in his hair. He shook his head in exasperation as Dean giggled at how much of a mess Sammy had made and said "Sammy, you s'posed to eat your skettio's, not wear em."
They had just finished eating and Bobby was getting Sammy out of his highchair to give him a bath when he heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. "Wonder who that is?" he said as he placed Sammy on his hip spaghettio's and all. He cringed as Sammy patted him on both cheeks with his messy hands as they walked to the door. He had no sooner opened the door when Dean skirted around him hollering "Daddy, Daddy, you're home."
Dean ran towards his father and wrapped his arms around John's leg as he looked up at his dad with a huge smile on his face. "Hey champ" John said as he bent down and wrapped Dean up in a bear hug. "Have you been a good boy for Bobby while I've been gone?"
"Yes Sir" dean replied as he cocked his head to the side in wonderment as he noticed the bandage around his daddy's head. "You got an owie?" Dean asked as he reached up to gingerly touch the white bandage.
"Yeah, but don't worry, Daddy's okay, I just fell down some steps and hit my head" he said as Bobby finally approached them. John reached out to take Sammy into his arms as his baby cooed in happiness. He pulled his youngest to his chest in a tender hug and said "I bet you gave Bobby a run for his money didn't ya tiger?" Sammy smiled as he placed a slobbery kiss on his daddy's cheek and said "Damn, damn, damn."
John's eyes went wide in amazement at hearing the words that Sammy had said. He couldn't believe that his almost two year old youngster was already cursing. 'What the hell?" John growled as he looked over at Bobby who was now squirming as he fiddled with his ball cap.
"Sorry about that John, he kind of overheard me saying the word a few times when I was talking to Joshua on the phone after…well, you know" Bobby didn't want to admit that he knew about John's injuries before now in front of Dean.
"Guess I'll have a hard time breaking him from saying that one" John said as he hugged Sammy once again. He couldn't stay angry with Bobby after the way he took care of his boys for him. "But right now, it looks like tiger could use a bath." John transferred Sammy to his left arm and then took Dean by the hand as he led his boys inside the house and up the stairs. He couldn't wait to spend some time alone with his boys, even if it was just to give them a bath.
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Later that evening, Joshua filled Bobby in on the hunt while John carried his boys up the stairs to play with them for a little while before getting them off to bed. Both hunters could sense the need that John had to spend some quality time alone with his boys and couldn't blame the man. John was lucky to have two wonderful sons like Dean and Sammy and they envied the love the boys showed for their father. Bobby and Joshua both smiled as they heard the loud giggles drifting down the stairs. Whatever the Winchesters were doing, it was obvious that they were having fun.
Up in the room. John was lying on the floor as he playfully wrestled with both of his boys. He had Dean pinned to the floor and was tickling him unmercifully to the sounds harmonious laughter while Sammy was crawling all over him in an effort to help his big brother. John quickly scooped his youngest up and placed him beside Dean before blowing a rather loud "raspberry" onto his tummy. "No" Sammy laughed as he kicked his little legs in an attempt to free himself.
Soon John allowed his boys to take the upper hand as he allowed himself to be tackled to the floor with both boys doing their best to tickle him. He loved the merriment in their eyes as they held him to the floor while Sammy pushed his tee shirt up and tried to blow a raspberry himself but only managed to slobber all over John's stomach. "Eww that's just nasty" John laughed as he wiped away the mess, but he wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world right now.
All too soon, bedtime arrived and John changed his boys into their pajamas and put a fresh diaper on Sammy before helping them into the bed. He decided to let Sammy sleep with them tonight instead of placing him in the crib. He wanted to feel both of his boys close to him tonight as he slept.
"Daddy, will you tell us a story please?" Dean asked as John placed a blanket over him and Sammy.
"Sure kiddo, what do you wanna hear?" John asked as he shucked off his shoes and jeans before climbing into the bed with his boys.
"The one with the three little pigs" Dean answered loving the way that his daddy told the story.
John gave a fake groan as he said "Not that one again." He knew before he had agreed to tell a story that it was Dean would request it since it was his favorite.
"P'ease Da Da" Sammy said as he snuggled up beside his father, ready to hear the story himself.
"Now how could I say no to that" John said as he proceeded to tell the story to his two young sons.
TBC