Wow, April was crazy. Sorry I didn't get a chapter up last month I just didn't have the time, but here's May. Enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.


Chapter 4: Promises, Promises

"Sam get up."

"What?" he asked groggily, looking up at Dean.

"Come on, lets go," Dean whispered, gesturing for his brother to follow.

"Ok," Sam sat up and rubbed his eyes. The room was still dark, but with the curtains drawn it was hard to tell what time it was. He squinted at his watch in the dark and looked incredulously at the time. Dean had disappeared into the bathroom for a moment, but had now come back out. "Dean, it's four in the morning."

"So?"

"So, you never get up before eight. What's the big deal?" Sam asked. The curiosity was barely enough to keep him from collapsing back against the bed.

"I want to show you something," Dean grinned, "Hurry up." Sighing, Sam got out of bed and dressed, while still keeping a weary eye on Dean who was loading a few things into a plastic bag.

"What about Dad?" Sam asked, as they were leaving the room.

"Forget about Dad. This is between you and me," Dean said before quietly closing the door behind them. Sam raised his eyebrows, but didn't comment. He climbed into the passenger's seat as Dean started the impala.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise," Dean grinned. Sam let his head thump back against the headrest and closed his eyes. He was vaguely aware that he had fallen asleep, but Dean shaking his shoulder came all too soon. "Rise and shine." Sam grudgingly opened his eyes and glared at his brother.

"Dean why are we…" he paused as he looked at where they had stopped, "in the middle of a field?" They were so far out that he couldn't even see the road any more.

"You'll see," Dean got out and started walking away from the car. Sam quickly followed him, but they didn't go far before stopping again. "I buried it so you have to dig it up," Dean said, handing Sam a shovel.

"Buried what?"

"Oh come on Sam, appreciate the thrill of surprise without worrying about whether it's going to bite you in the ass or not," Dean said, but Sam could still see the amusement in his eyes.

"Where do I dig?" he asked tiredly.

"Surely you've heard of X marks the spot," Dean said, pointing. Sam looked down and saw an X made out of rocks right at his feet.

"You sure went through a lot of trouble for this," Sam commented as he moved the rocks out of the way.

"It's your birthday. I had to make it special somehow," Dean shrugged.

"Yeah, it's my birthday, which means you should be the one doing all the hard labor," Sam joked, as he plunged the shovel into the ground.

"Not so little brother. Manual labor is the best thing for a kid your age," Dean said, sounding ridiculously like Sam's most recent middle school principal. Grinning, Sam continued to dig until his shovel scraped against something hard. He reached into the shallow hole and pulled out a large rock.

"You dragged me all the way out here to dig up a rock?" Sam asked skeptically.

"Try looking under the rock Sammy," Dean shook his head. Sam reached back into the hole and frowned as he pulled out a Ritz cracker box. He looked back up at Dean. "Open it," Dean prompted, saying the words slowly as if trying to explain something complicated to a small child. Sam snorted and shook his head before tossing the rock to the ground and opening the tattered old box. He tilted the box and three things fell into his palm. One was an old piece of notebook paper with a note scribbled in pencil. The second was an old hot wheels car that had been Dean's favorite when he was little and the last was a silver and gold toy compass that Bobby had given Sam for his fourth birthday.

"I'd thought I lost this," he grinned, looking down at the toy.

"You buried it down there exactly six years ago today," Dean said, sitting down on the hood of the impala.

"Whoever opens this box before Sam turns fifteen will die a slow and painful death by Dean," Sam read off the faded piece of notebook paper. He looked up at Dean curiously.

"When you were six your kindergarten teacher talked about time capsules," Dean explained, "You were upset that we wouldn't be here for you to put something in the one at school so we made our own."

"I kind of remember it," Sam nodded, "So let's have it."

"Have what?" Den asked confused.

"Your note says slow and painful death to whoever opens this box before I turn fifteen," Sam pointed out, "I'm only twelve."

"Well it's your birthday I'll give you a break," Dean grinned.

"So what was in the bag?" Sam asked, suddenly remembering the bag Dean had tossed into the backseat.

"Oh right," Dean reached into the back seat and pulled out the bag, "This one's from me and this one's from Dad." He handed Sam two small boxes.

"Shouldn't Dad be giving me this one?" Sam asked, holding up the appropriate box. Dean's gaze dropped to his feet for a split second, but it was all Sam needed. "Let me guess. Dad doesn't know he bought it."

"He didn't forget," Dean said defensively.

"Right," Sam opened the one Dean had claimed and smiled as he opened it. Inside was a silver watch. "Thanks Dean." He slid it onto his wrist and looked at it a moment before slowly turning to the other gift.

"It really is from Dad," Dean said, as Sam just stared down at the package.

"Then I'll wait to open it."

"I'm assuming alright? I don't know if he got you anything or not, but can you try not to pick a fight today?" Dean asked, "I know Dad's gonna try." Sam took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah alright," he agreed, "But I'm still waiting. That way we can at least pretend." They were quite for a moment. "You know, I don't even care if he got anything or if he forgot it was my birthday. It's not a big deal. I just want to spend one day where he's not running off to his job."

"I think that can be arranged," Dean grinned.

"What's that look for?" Sam asked. He felt an unusual excitement start to build inside him as he interpreted Dean's expression.

"We should get back before Dad sends the cops after us," Dean said, ignoring Sam's question. The ride back was longer than Sam had originally thought and Dean refused to say anything the entire way. By the time they got back it was eight o'clock and the sun was shining brightly. Dean's grin had grown wider the closer they'd gotten to the motel. As Dean shut off the car, he grabbed Sam's arm right before he got out.

"What?" Sam asked, as he settled back into the seat.

"Twelve Sammy," Dean grinned, then got out of the car. Sam got out of the car, but almost ran into Dean who was frozen in the doorway to the motel.

"What's going on?" Sam pushed around his brother and saw John packing everything up.

"There's another job a few towns over," John said, not even bothering to look up, "We need to move if we're going to get there in time."

"Dad you promised," Dean said indignantly. John looked up and glanced between his two sons. Dean looked furious, while Sam looked resigned.

"I'm sorry Sam," he said after a moment, then resumed his packing.

"I understand Dad," Sam said softly. He looked down at the unopened present in his hand, "Thanks for this." He lifted the package momentarily. John's gaze flickered to Dean for a split second and then nodded.

"Let's go," John moved between his boys and went to the car.


The three Winchesters were silent the entire five hour drive. John hadn't bothered to give either of them any information as to where they were going. Dean sat in the front seat seething, while Sam sat quietly in the back seat, looking down at the box that was supposedly from Dad. He still hadn't opened it and based on how the day was going already he didn't really want to. He'd asked for one thing that was obviously too complicated for John to understand. They continued to not speak even as they pulled up the gravel driveway to Bobby Singer's Salvage Yard. Assuming there were here to pick up supplies, Sam got out of the car without a word. John and Dean were both headed to the house and Sam frowned as he saw a strange spring in his brother's step considering how pissed he was. They were far enough in front of Sam that the screen door had time to shut after them before Sam reached it. As he opened the door, a chorus of "Surprise!" greeted him.

"What is all this?" Sam asked, grinning as he looked from familiar face to familiar face. Bobby, Pastor Jim a few other hunters that they had frequently had contact with and of course his brother and father were all smiling broadly at him.

"This day is all about you son," John said, stepping up to pat his son on the back, "I couldn't forget something as special as your birthday."

"Thanks Dad," Sam said earnestly. Later when he was alone, he opened the present that was supposedly from his dad. Inside was a small pocket knife with the letters SC carved into the side. There was also a note written in his father's familiar scrawl.

Happy Birthday Sam. I know all you really wanted was just to be like everyone else out there, and I tried to do that for you today. This knife was your grandfather's on your mother's side. You're shaping up to be one hell of a hunter and I hope someday you will be able to save lives without me. You're a strong boy Sam and despite how much we've been through I hope you don't give up on this family. We're not perfect, but we have each other's best interests at heart. Take care of that knife, it will serve you well.

Dad

Sam folded the note up and put it in his pocket. Years later, after John made his deal to save Dean, Sam set the note into the fire and silently thanked his father for everything, especially the one birthday that didn't involve monsters.


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Again, sorry about last month. Hope you enjoyed

RAFOCY