Disclaimer: I still don't own anyone in this and I'm still not profiting from this story.
The rest of the evening brought the small family some peace after the stressful week. Bobby and Caleb sat bickering about the best rifle; Smith and Wesson or Winchester, Sam continued to read out of his book, sitting on Tony's lap and Dean watched infomercials on the TV. Was this normal? Absolutely not, but it was a start.
2/26/13: Just doing some small editing and grammar changes. Nothing major.
The next day past in a flurry of hectic scrambling preparing for the flight and the funeral and it wasn't until Wednesday afternoon that Tony started to pack.
Standing in front of Sam's closet and walking to his bed where the bag was laid out, "Sam I need you to start packing what you want to bring. I'll take care of what you'll wear for the funeral but I need you to lay out the rest." Tony called over his shoulder to his brother who was lying on the bed reading the book he had started earlier in the week.
"Ok in a minute Tony. I'm almost done with this Harry Potter book." Sam reasoned from his perch on the bed.
"I expect you to have everything laid out that you want to take by supper. Got it Sam?" Tony asked pulling the nice dress clothes that had been bought by Bobby and Caleb and laying them in the duffel.
"Yeah ok" Sam answered waving off his older brother.
"Sam look me in the eye and tell me you understand what I'm asking?" Tony said sitting down next to Sam on the bed lowering the book from the kid's eyes.
"Yes I understand Tony."
"What did I ask you to do?"
"You want me pick out everything I want to take with me to South Dakota and lay it out on the bed." Sam answered reaching for his book that Tony had firmly in his grasp.
"Ok. I want this done before supper. Understood?" Tony asked standing up walking towards the door only pausing to for an answer.
"Yes Tony I understand." Sam said flipping back to his current page and settled back against his pillows.
Walking down the hallway he ran into Caleb coming down the hallway, "Anything I can help with? Me and Bobby are already packed mostly because we never unpacked but still need any help?"
"Yeah make sure Sammy gets his stuff together because I have a feeling that he won't do it otherwise." Tony answered and walked into his room to finish his packing. Leaving only the essentials to be packed in the morning. Satisfied that he had gotten everything he left his room and headed towards Dean's.
"Be quiet he just got back to sleep and if we're leaving in the morning you don't need to be waking him up." Bobby whispered meeting Tony at the bedroom door. Even though Dean was beginning to recover he was still in bad shape the fever persisted and so did the vomiting and coughing. Tony was just hoping Dean would be able to sit through the long flight without any major problems.
"Yeah I got it; I just need to pack his clothes. Where did you put the clothes you bought?" Tony asked knowing that he didn't put any of Dean's things away and he didn't think anybody else had either.
"I think Caleb put the bags by his closet. Haven't really had a chance to go through 'em yet. Everything he needs should be in there." Bobby answered starting to walk down the hallway into the kitchen. "Just remember to calm your elephant feet and don't wake the boy up or you will have the wrath of me on your ass."
"Yes sir." Tony answered mock saluting the older the man and received a salute of his own from Bobby a one fingered one.
Walking quietly into the bedroom Tony stopped for a minute to check Dean's temperature. After making sure his brother was ok he moved onto the bags he saw thrown in the corner. Opening up the first bag he saw it was mostly full of clothes so he began to sort through the bag and put away all the clothes that he wouldn't need and pulled out the outfits along with some of Dean's other clothes that he would need and tossed them into Dean's duffel. Picking up the next bag he saw that it was mostly school supplies and tossed it back down. The next bag he opened he was shocked to see held a new Ipod with a couple of CDS. Taking the bag out of Dean's room he walked down the hallway until he saw Bobby sitting at the table working on something.
"What's this?" Tony asked holding up the bag and Ipod.
"What does it look like? We thought Dean might like something new and figured since we got Sam a bunch of stuff we should probably get Dean something too. You know to be fair and stuff." Bobby answered pausing only momentarily to look at the young hunter in front of him before he went back to his book.
"Thank you." Tony replied speechless and walked back to Dean's room to finish packing when he heard Caleb and Sam arguing.
"I said I would in a little bit Caleb. I just want to finish my book!" Sam yelled at the older man.
"Don't you yell at me Samuel; I just want you to do what Tony asked. Then you won't have to worry about it later or forget. After you are done you can read all you want." Caleb answered trying to be logical but finding he was losing patience fast with the 10 year old.
Tony walked into the room just as Caleb finished trying to reason with Sam and saw him roll his eyes.
"Samuel Allen, you do not roll your eyes! You were raised better than that I want you to apologize and then do as you are told." Tony ordered walking into the room and snatching the book from Sam's hands making sure to mark the page so it wouldn't be lost.
"But Tony-"Sam began but was cut off.
"No buts apologize, pack and then we can talk about getting your book back. Let me know when you are done. I need to finish packing Dean's things." Tony said taking the book with him and left the room. He made his way down the hall and finished packing the clothes for his brother and brought the bag out to the living room where everyone except Sam's bag was waiting.
"Hey Tony how you doing?" Caleb asked strolling into the living room where Tony had taken a seat and minute to rest.
"Yeah I think so everyone except Sam is packed. It should be interesting getting Dean and Sam on the plane tomorrow; I don't think either one of them as ever flown before." Tony added nervous at the prospect of the two boys flying and their reactions.
"They'll be fine they are tough guys they can handle anything." Caleb reassured sitting down on the arm of the sofa next to Tony.
"I sure hope so; I think I have had my fill of drama for a while." Tony answered. He couldn't wait for his life to calm down just for a moment enough for some breathing room and relaxation.
"Yeah but when has anything ever gone as planned for a Winchester?" Caleb asked jokingly trying earnestly to make his friend smile.
"You got that right." Tony sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He couldn't wait for all this to be over.
The two men were quiet for awhile unsure of what to say. Finally Caleb broke the silence, "You know if you need someone to help around here for awhile I could rent a place around here and help you out. You know if you needed it." Caleb nervously blurted out.
"What?" Tony asked opening his eyes and turned his head to the side.
"It's just. Me and Bobby know how hard this must be on you taking in your brothers and all. I thought maybe you might need a little help around here for awhile. I could run my DC office for awhile and get rid of that half-wit Martin who is running it now. I mean that is if you wanted my help if you don't I understand with your team and everything-"
"I would love your help Caleb." Tony answered cutting the man off. Tony was shocked at first that Caleb would offer to help him and the shock turned to happiness. He knew eventually he would be able to take care of the boys by himself but he wasn't sure if he could do it right away. He also didn't want to depend on the team completely because they might not even what to help him.
"Well now that that is settled why don't we go and see what Sam has cooked up?" Caleb said abruptly changing the subject and moving towards the youngest boy's room.
Just as they were about to walk in Sam ran into them in the hallway.
"You done?"
"Yep can I have my book now?" Sam asked eagerly trying to get past his brother and friend to the book.
"Let's see what you packed." Tony answered steering the youngster back into his room and towards the bed. Looking over the clothes that were laid out on the bed Tony made sure there was enough of each article of clothing and nodded his agreement and packed it into the duffel.
"So can I?" Sam asked ever the eager beaver.
"Let's go out to the living room where we can talk about what happened before." Tony said letting Sam lead the way.
Making their way into the living room Tony dropped the duffel bag onto the pile of others by the door.
"Sit Sam we need to talk about your behavior lately." Tony said gesturing with his hand for Sam to take a seat at the kitchen table. "Now what happened earlier? You sure as heck weren't listening to me and you weren't listening to Caleb? What's gotten into you lately you never use to act like this." Tony asked giving his brother a chance to redeem himself.
"I don't know. Just didn't feel like doing what you asked I guess." Sam answered twiddling his thumbs and looking down at his lap.
"I have been really easy on you kiddo. I haven't made you do any of the chores that you were assigned as punishment and I have pretty much let you do what you want. I know it has been tough with everything since Dad… passed away but you need to get your act together. We are all trying to get use to this new life we are living but you aren't helping matters with your attitude and behavior." Tony told his brother after he had put much thought into what he was going to say.
"I'm giving you another chance Sam but if you don't get your act together after we get back from Bobby's and you start school we are going to have a serious problem. Understood?" Tony said looking the small boy in the eyes making sure he understood where he was coming from.
"Understood sir so can I have my book back?" Sam asked timidly.
"Here you go," Tony said handing the book back, "just remember what we talked about ok?"
Sam nodded and made his way back to his room crossing paths with Bobby.
"You don't think I was too hard on him do you?" Tony asked turning to Caleb.
"No I think you said what needed saying and hopefully he got the idea. You're the adult here don't let him make you second guess yourself." Caleb said offering his advice.
"I agree I know I wasn't here for the whole discussion but I have seen how Sam has been acting. I think you hit the spot with him." Bobby offered taking a spot across the table.
The rest of the afternoon past without a hitch and was filled with phone calls and last minute plans. After much debating and calling it was decided that Gibbs would pick up the team and the Winchester's would ride with Bobby and Caleb to the airport. The group would meet in the lobby at 7 the next morning. Figuring they would all need a good night's sleep the hunters all turned in early that night. By 8 o'clock the apartment was dark and full of sleeping bodies.
Tony felt like he had just fallen asleep when his alarm went off at 5 and the first thought to cross his mind was and so it begins.
A/N: Reviews Please!