A Hiccup in Time Ch. 28
Disclaimer. I do not own anything recognizable in this story, nor am I making a profit from it.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Previously:"I'll make sure I talk to him Dean, he's got enough on his plate without having to worry about that too." John stated feeling guilty. He knew he needed to do something to convince Sam that he loved him and would never leave him behind, he just had to figure out what.
Later that day, Sam awoke to the afternoon sun shining in his eyes and his family sitting close by watching him. He wondered what in the world had happened since the last thing he remembered was being held by the Kupua demon. He had a vague recollection of being consumed by water and being scared out of his wits, but that was all he could recall. Clearing his throat, he sat up in the bed and immediately groaned at the discomfort on one side of his behind. "Why the hell does my ass hurt?" he questioned as he quickly slid off the bed and rubbed his sore bottom with his hand.
"The doctor had to give you an injection after that damn demon threw you in the pond." John answered as he reached out to palm Sam's forehead noticing the warmth that still resided there though it wasn't as bad.
"What?" Sam gasped in surprise at the information his father had just relayed. "I don't remember that."
"It happened while little Sammy was visiting." Dean explained succinctly. The demon had you in it's grasp and when we tried to get you back, he tossed you into the middle of the pond. You almost drowned tiger." Dean told his baby brother with a visible shudder, the memory still to fresh for his mind to handle.
"I guess that's why I keep getting flashes of being surrounded by water" Sam said as he ran his fingers through his sleep mused hair. "But that still doesn't explain why the doctor thought he had to stick a damn needle in my ass.
"It was either that or chance you getting pneumonia from the water you aspirated into your lungs kiddo, I wasn't about to take any more chances." John explained.
"Oh, guess that means you still care a little bit about me then huh, or did you know the demon was coming after me and that's why you came back?" Sam questioned before cursing himself for actually saying the words out loud. He didn't mean to guilt his dad into staying if he wanted to leave.
"Hold it right there kiddo, you and I are long overdue for a talk about what's going on in that head of yours." John said as he looked his youngest in the eyes.
"Dad I didn't…"
"Yes you did Sam, otherwise you wouldn't have said the words." John admonished before reaching out to pull a retreating Sam into his lap. Looking towards his oldest, John said, "Dean, if you don't mind, your brother and I need some time alone to talk."
"Sure dad." Dean replied with a smile knowing that John was finally going to talk to Sam and hopefully alleviate his fears about being abandoned. He didn't know what his dad planned to do or say, and honestly wondered if anything his father did would make a difference. He saw Sammy give him a pleading look to stay before mouthing "It'll be okay." and walking out the door.
Left alone with his dad, Sam deflated in his arms with a huge sigh and hung his head towards his chest. "I'm sorry sir, I shouldn't have said anything." Sam mumbled with embarrassment.
"You're wrong Sam. I'm glad that you spoke up because I knew you were afraid of being abandoned, I just didn't know how much until now." John said as he palmed the nape of Sam's neck and massaged it gently. "But I want you to know kiddo, that could never happen. Sammy, leaving you would be like leaving a piece of myself behind. Whether we want to admit it or not, you and I just alike in so many ways. We're both stubborn as hell and refuse to give an inch, even when we're wrong. That's why we're always fighting son, because we're both cursed with that fiery Winchester temper. But even when we're fighting, I wouldn't want you anywhere other than by my side."
"Then why did you tell me if I walked out that door to go to college to never come back?" Sam questioned
"Because I was stupid Sam. I thought if I told you that that you would cave in, that you would stay with me and Dean where I could make sure you were safe. But instead, that fiery Winchester temper prevailed and you walked out that door. Believe it or not Sammy, after you left, I cried like a baby and then I went to the bar to drown my sorrows. I stayed drunk for three days not wanting to face what happened, not wanting to admit that I pushed you away. One thing's for damn sure, I'll never make that mistake again."
"Why should I believe you dad? We'll just end up fighting again sooner or later and you'll walk out that door, it's what you do. Admit it dad, things would be so much easier if you leave me behind, just walk out that door and never look back. It's not like I could do anything about it with the way I am now anyway." Sam retorted as a tear slipped silently down his cheek.
"You're wrong Sammy, it wouldn't be easier and you wanna know why? It's because I love you kiddo. I know I've never really showed my emotions, that I keep them locked behind the façade that is John Winchester, the tough hunter everybody thinks I am. But I'm going to show you just how wrong they are." John stated as he stood up and placed Sammy on his hip, carrying him down the stairs and out the front door. Once he made it to the Impala, he opened the trunk and then the hidden compartment that held their weapon cache. Reaching into the far corner, he moved his old Marine jacket out of the way to reveal a silver colored metal box.
Pulling the silver box out of the trunk, he carried it over to Bobby's front porch and then sat down on the top step and placed Sammy right beside him. Keying in the code on the locked box, he pulled open the top to reveal it's hidden contents. "This right here tiger, is why I could never leave you behind." He said as he placed the box beside Sam.
Reaching into the box, John pulled out a small plastic bag with a few strands of hair in it. "This was from your first haircut son. It took me weeks to talk myself into cutting those curly locks of yours. I almost didn't, but then a waitress at a diner where we stopped commented on how pretty my daughter looked. I knew then that it had to be done." Next he reached into the box and pulled out another plastic bag. "This is the first tooth you lost tiger. You were so happy to find a dollar under your pillow the next day. You had so many plans for that dollar. You ended up buying us all a meal at Burger King…or at least you thought you did. I paid the rest of the money for the meal after Dean took you away so that you couldn't see me do it. The next thing John pulled out was a blue sheet of construction paper that had been folded to resemble a card. "Do you remember this Sam?"
"Wait a minute, surely that's not…"
"Yeah it is son, it's the first Father's day card you ever made me. I've got the others in here too, but this one is special because it was your very first. You weren't even in school yet and Dean had to help you write the words." John smiled as he remembered the day that Sammy proudly handed over the card. Sammy was only three at the time and the boys had woke him up with a breakfast tray of burnt toast and waffles, but he had eaten every bit of it and marveled at how good it was. They toped the breakfast in bed off with presenting the card when Sammy had climbed into his lap and gave him a slobbery kiss on the cheek and said he loved him.
Sam was totally flabbergasted as John continued pulling things out of the box from his first report card to a keychain he and Dean had bought for John proclaiming him to be the world's best dad. "Dad I can't believe that you kept all of this, I mean I thought you would have thrown this stuff away years ago." Sam stated as he rifled through the contents of the box once again.
"How could I Sammy? These things had too many special memories attached to even think about discarding them. Throwing them away would have been paramount to throwing away my love for you boys. So you see Sammy, even if this time spell lasts for years, I would never abandon you. You own a piece of my heart that could never be owned by anyone else, just like Dean does. We're a family kiddo, and families stick together."
"Thanks dad, for this and for letting me know how much you really do care." Sam said as he smiled big enough for the dimples to show prominently in his cheeks. "It means the world to me to know you've kept all this stuff, that you really did care through the years."
"You're welcome tiger, now what do you say we get this chick flick moment over with before Dean comes out here and catches us. We'd never hear the end of it." John said as he ruffled his youngest son's hair. As they walked back inside the house, John pondered a thought. "Hmmm, I wonder if Bobby still has that old ball and glove that I bought for Dean years ago on his sixth birthday? It sure would be nice to spend a little of the afternoon playing catch."
"Just so happens I do." Bobby stated as he walked into the living room to find an old tome to look up some information needed by another hunter. "You can find it out back in that old shed, just look in the old blue trunk."
"What do you think Sammy, you up for a game of catch with your old man?" John questioned with a gleam in his eye. He was enjoying this special bonding time with his youngest and he wasn't ready for it to end.
"Sounds fantastic dad." Sam answered with a twinkle in his own eye. He couldn't remember ever playing catch with his dad. He was too young to play when Dean had first gotten the glove and ball and by the time he was old enough, his dad was too involved in hunting every supernatural creature he could find and didn't have the time for such silliness.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with John teaching Sam the finer aspects of catching a tossed ball and how the glove should be held just so to protect oneself from an incoming pitch.
Dean couldn't be happier as he sat on the porch watching his dad spending the kind of time with Sam that he should have spent with him the first time around. He couldn't think of a better sound to hear than that of Sam's laughter as he spent a fun filled evening playing catch with their dad. Finally, Sammy was getting to see and know the dad that he had the chance to know before that damned yellow eyed demon came into their lives. He was soon drawn out of his musings though at hearing the sound of Sammy's voice.
"Hey Dean, why don't you get your lazy ass off of the porch and come join us." Sam called out as he watched his older brother watching them wistfully.
"No, S'okay kiddo, you and dad have some fun. I just wan to sit here and watch." Dean informed him with a smile. It was Sammy's turn now to spend precious time with their dad and he wasn't about to interrupt it.
"Okay, your loss big brother." Sam called out as he caught the ball once again." Happy in the knowledge that at least for now, he had the best family in the world and he wouldn't trade them for anything.
TBC Hope you enjoyed this chapter of John and Sam bonding.