A Hard Road Ch. 27
Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable in this story. Nor am I making a profit from it.
Author's Note: Dean is 8 and Sammy is 4 in this chapter.
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Previously: John just shook his head as he reached into his pocket to add another dollar to the swear jar. Looks like he would be taking his boys to the circus next week.
As Caleb sat down with the others at the table to eat lunch, Sammy looked over at him with a quizzical look on his face. He had never met this man before but he must be okay to talk to since his daddy and Uncle Bobby knew him. "Daddy, what him name?" Sammy questioned as he pointed a finger at the man wearing black and sitting across from him.
"That's Caleb Sammy, he's a hunter too. He helped take care of me when I got hurt." John explained with a smile.
Climbing down off of his chair and walking over towards Caleb, Sammy smiled at him and reached out his arms to be picked up.
Caleb's face paled as he looked at the youngster who was holding his arms out to him unsure of what to do. He glanced at Bobby with imploring eyes to do something.
"He want's you to hold him ya idgit, pick him up, the kid doesn't bite." Bobby stated as he rolled his eyes. Caleb was supposed to be a mighty hunter and here he was, scared to death of a four year old.
Reaching down timidly, Caleb pulled the little brown haired boy up into his lap. He was surprised as Sammy squirmed around until he was on his knees and facing him. He was totally floored in the next moment as Sammy wrapped his arms around his neck and gave him a tight squeeze.
"T'ank you for helping my daddy." Sammy stated with childlike innocence squeezing Caleb's neck as tight as he could. "You's berry, berry nice."
"Ah, you're welcome little bit." Caleb replied as he returned the hug. "Glad I was there to help." Caleb started to put Sammy down when he heard the little one say "No. I wants to sit wif you." He stopped lowering Sammy to the floor and placed him on his lap as John and Bobby both smirked while Dean transferred Sammy's plate of food to where he was now sitting.
"Caught…hook, line, and sinker." Dean replied before walking back to his own seat.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Caleb questioned wondering what the older child had meant with his words.
"He means Sammy now has you wrapped around his little finger too. Ain't none of can resist the kid and those puppy dog eyes of his, even Joshua." Bobby replied with a shrug."
"You're kidding me right, I mean Joshua is a bear of a man. There is no way he would melt…" Caleb trailed off as Joshua picked that exact time to come walking into the room.
"Did somebody say my name?" he questioned as he watched everyone turn to face him.
"Unca Josh" Sammy squealed a he pushed himself out of Caleb's lap and went running over to the six foot five bear of a man.
"Hey tiger, how's my little man?" Joshua asked as he scooped Sammy up and swung him around in the air. "I sure missed you kiddo, you and that brother of yours.
"Me's fine Unca Josh, me and my Deanie is gonna play wif da army men later. Will you play wif us too?"
"You betcha tiger, wouldn't miss that for the world." Joshua replied as he walked over and sat down at the table reaching for Sammy's plate. "But first you gotta eat squirt so you can get big and strong like me."
"Otay" Sammy said as he reached out to take a chunk of the sandwich his daddy had cut up for him and placed it in his mouth.
"I seen it, but I don't believe it." Caleb stated as he started at Joshua and Sammy with his mouth totally agape. "I mean Joshua the badass hunter brought down by a little tyke.
"Uh, that's another dollar you owe to the swear jar." Dean replied with a laugh knowing they would have more than enough money to go to the circus.
"Swear jar?" Joshua questioned with hi seyebrows raised.
"It was something the boys came up with. Any time one of us curses, we have to add a dollar to the swear jar. They boys are going to use the money to go to the circus." Bobby replied nonchalantly.
"Might as well go ahead and put a twenty in for me then." Joshua replied wanting to make his own contribution to the boys having a little fun. And if the boys will let me go, I'll add another twenty so we can all get some popcorn and cotton candy."
"Yay" cheered Sammy as he clapped his hands in glee. They were all going to have so much fun.
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Later that week the Winchesters, Bobby, Joshua and Caleb all entered the flap of the big circus tent to see bleachers filled with people waiting for the show to begin. John found a place for them all to sit and the walked over taking their position in the third row of seats. John placed Sammy between him and Joshua while Dean sat between him and Bobby.
As the Circus Master took center ring and started the show, Sammy and Dean sat amazed by the big elephant that was brought into the tent. The watched as the elephant stood up on it's rear leg and trumpeted it's sound. "Wow, that's awesome" stated Dean as he watched the elephant perform it's multitude of tricks. Next came the lion tamer as he worked with a leopard inside a cage. Dean sat spell bound as he watched the man putting the leopard through it's tricks while protecting himself at the same time. Sammy however scooted closer to his father since the leopard scared him a little. He breathed easy as he felt his daddy's arm wrap around him and squeeze him gently.
"You okay Sammy?" John questioned as he glanced down at his little boy. If Sammy became too scared, he would carry the little boy out leaving the others to enjoy the show.
"Uh huh, I's otay daddy." Sammy replied with a smile as he watched the tightrope act begin. He was captivated by the way they walked across the little rope using only a pole to keep their balance. He gasped as he saw the man's foot slip, but then applauded with everyone else when he caught his balance and began walking again. "Yay, he did it, he did it." Sammy cheered as the tightrope walker finally made it to the other end of the rope.
John smiled as he watched his boys being flabbergasted by the sights of the circus. He loved watching the smiles that lit up their young faces each time something new and amazing occurred. He couldn't remember having a better time in his life and his only regret was that Mary wasn't there to see it. He was drawn from his musings as the next act began and the boys watched a variety of acrobats doing incredible feats of tumbling.
Announcing that there would be a fifteen minute break for the next act to set up, the ringmaster called out the clowns to keep the audience entertained until the human cannonball act was ready. "Ah, this ought to be fun." John thought knowing how silly clowns could be. His boys ought to love them.
"Look Sammy, here comes the clowns." Dean said as he pointed off to the far side of the tent with a huge grin on his face. He loved clowns ever since they had come to his school once to put on a little show. He watched as the clowns began to climb out of the tiny car. And then laughed as they kept on coming. How in the world could they fit ten clowns in such a little car.
Sammy shied away a little as he saw the clowns with their painted on faces wondering why they looked so funny. "It's okay kiddo, they won't hurt you." John whispered as they watched the clowns trying to ride unicycles only to fall over on their behinds. Seeing another amusing sight, he pointed Sammy's attention to the three clowns being chased around by the small poodle who kept barking at them and nipping their heels. Sammy laughed as he watched the clowns jumping and running from such a little doggy. Hearing his brother laughing extremely loud, he looked towards the area where Dean was now watching. He saw one clown using a sword to spank another clown on it's behind. He laughed as the clown jumped up into the air and grabbed his hiney and took of running. He saw the clowns coming closer to them as the sword clown spanked the other one again causing him to giggle even more.
The whole audience began to laugh as the spankee clown sought refuge within the audience. They watched as he began to duck away from jabs thrown his way by hiding behind the men or children in the audience. Rubbing it in, the spanked clown would stick out his tongue and make funny faces at the clown who was trying to catch him. "Dean, dem's funny." Sammy said as he watched the clown putting his fingers in his ear in a taunting manner and waggling them at the other.
Soon, the clowns came over by them and the hunters laughed as the spanked clown started popping in and out between them. "I'm too fast, you can catch me." the clown taunted in a sing song voice as he stood behind John.
"Oh yeah?" the other clown taunted as he suddenly thrust the collapsible sword forward making it appear to sink deep into John's chest.
Sammy screamed in horror as he watched the sword go in and a red stain appear on his daddy's chest. "No, no, no, him killed my daddy." Sammy screamed as he threw himself into Joshua's arms trembling violently.
"No Sammy, he didn't hurt your daddy." Joshua cooed into the child's ear as he tried to get him to calm down to no avail as Sammy's screams and sobs grew louder.
"Oh shit, I didn't mean to scare the little guy." stated the clown as he wrung his hands in nervousness. He wasn't thinking when he had pulled the sword and ketchup stunt by a child who was too little to understand what was going on.
"Sammy, hey, I'm okay." John repeated over and over as he rubbed Sammy's back trying to get him to look at him. "Daddy's right here baby, please don't cry. Please look at me son."
The whole audience grew deathly quiet as they watched the scene unfolding before them. Their hearts broke for the little boy as he held a death grip on the man in his arms refusing to look away from his neck where he had his face snuggled into.
"Let's get the hell out of here." stated John as the hunters stood as one and left the tent with Joshua holding on tightly to the screaming and sobbing child in his arms. Once outside, John continued trying to sooth Sammy without any success until Joshua kneeled down at Dean's vehement request.
As Dean wrapped his small arms around Sammy's trembling back, he began to softly sing. "I'm back in black. I hit the sack, I've been too long, I'm glad to be back" The hunters watched with bated breath to see if Dean could get his little brother to calm down. As Dean continued to sing, the screaming slowly subsided and Sammy began to loosen his grip and eventually turned to face Dean with tears streaming down his face.
Seeing the shattered look held in Sammy's eyes, Dean reached out and took his baby brother into his arms as he cooed in his ear. "Shh, it's alright Sammy, daddy's not hurt, I promise." as he rocked his baby brother back and forth. Sammy took in some hiccupping breaths as he looked into Dean eyes with his own tear filled ones. "You pwomise Deanie?"
"I promise Sammy, look." Dean replied as he pointed to John who had removed the ketchup stained shirt to keep Sammy from being scared even worse.
"I'm alright kiddo, that clown didn't hurt me. That sword wasn't real. He just put ketchup on my shirt baby." John said as he reached out for his youngest child. It took a few minutes, but Sammy finally relinquished his hold on Dean and flew into his daddy's arms.
"I no like clowns no more. I wanna go home." Sammy cried with tear filled eyes as he clung to his father's neck.
"Okay baby, we'll go home now." John stated as he picked Sammy up and carried him to the car with the others quietly following.
TBC I hope I did Sammy's fear of clowns justice.