Coming Home Ch. 5
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Previously: "I guess maybe we could try to get a sample of their hair and get it tested," John theorized as he tugged a hand through his own dark hair. "Or maybe after they brush their teeth in the morning, we could put their toothbrushes in a Ziploc bag for testing?"
"Yeah, either one of those ideas should work," Mary agreed as her heart began to swell with happiness. They would soon know for sure beyond the shadow of a doubt, what she knew to be true in her heart; their boys were finally home where they belonged.
A couple of hours later found John and Mary making their way up the stairs to check on the boys. They hadn't heard any noises coming from the room, so they couldn't help but be concerned whether or not the boys were okay. Turning the knob gently, John softly eased the door open. Smiling at the sight that nearly took his breath away, he eased the door open even further to allow Mary to see the precious scene, that of David (or was it actually Dean) with his arm wrapped protectively around Joey/Sammy, both held firmly within the arms of slumber.
Silently wiping away the lone tear that traveled down her cheek, Mary sighed wistfully at all the missed moments like this; moments that she should have gotten to witness, but had been deprived of instead because of the boys having been taken from them at such an early age. She would never be able to get those years back and that alone made her want to hunt down and kill the bastards who took these sweet precious boys away from them.
"Do you think we should wake them?" Mary questioned with a slight sniffle as she wiped away a second tear. "I mean, they didn't eat any lunch and it will be time to make dinner soon."
"Yeah, that and we don't want the boys to be awake half the night tonight because of having gotten too much sleep now," John agreed as he leaned over to give his wife a quick peck on the cheek.
Traipsing over to the bed, John bent down and placed a hand on the eldest child's shoulder to wake him, Scant second later, he suddenly found himself rubbing a sore jaw and sitting on the floor after having been knocked on his derriere in splendid fashion.
~~Supernatural~~
Drifting in that state where he wasn't fully asleep but not quite awake yet either, David thought he could hear the buzz of voices softly in the distance, but it was not enough to draw him to full wakefulness, that was until he felt an unfamiliar touch on his shoulder. Knowing that his baby brother lay sleeping beside him, he did the only thing he knew to do to protect the kid and threw out a punch in anger without taking the time to think about it first. He and his younger sibling had been dragged out of their beds one too many times because Norman had been extremely drunk and felt like knocking them around for a little while. Feeling the pain as his fist connected with the person's face, he opened his eyes and gasped upon seeing John Winchester sitting on the floor and palming his right cheek.
"Shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to h-hit you," David voiced as he began to slightly tremble upon noticing the older man getting to his feet. He was sure to have his behind handed to him on a stick now.
"De' something wrong" Joey questioned anxiously, as he was pulled from the throes of sleep as tension ramped up in the room. He didn't know what had happened; only that something was upsetting his big brother.
"No sweetie, everything is okay," Mary answered as she took a quick moment to assess the quickly reddening right cheek of her husband. John would most likely develop a light bruise by morning, but nothing had been broken.
"I…I," David stammered as he waited for punishment that was sure to come. Damn it, why did he have to react so negatively.
"It's okay son," John voiced as he stood back from the bed, sure that his approach would have a negative effect on the scared youngsters in front of him. "It's my fault; I shouldn't have grasped your shoulder like that when you were sleeping.
"Huh," David stammered bewilderedly as his lower jaw dropped open in shock. He didn't understand these people. This was the second time the man had apologized to either him or his brother when he was absolutely certain they had been in for an ass kicking.
"It really is okay," Mary voiced softly as she walked over and sat down on the bed, reaching out to palm the pre-teen's cheek, automatically halting the movement when the boy flinched. "Listen, it's nearly time for me to start supper, so why don't you and your brother go outside and play and I'll call you two in when it's ready."
"Can we play on the tire swing?" Joey asked excitedly at the prospect of actually doing something he had never done before. He had seen other kids do it and it looked like a lot of fun.
"Sure, and I'll even push the two of you on it if you would like," John offered as a peace offering, trying to find a way to spend quality time with the boys if they would allow him.
"I'll just push Joey myself if that's alright?" David questioned, not yet ready to allow the man to be in such close proximity of his baby brother. Sure, John seemed nice enough and hadn't hurt them yet, but that didn't mean that he wasn't just trying to get into their good graces before lowering the boom on them. No, he would keep things on the safe side for the time being.
"Okay, well if you change your mind, just let me know," John voiced sadly knowing that the boys still did not trust them in the least little bit. Well, they would just have to try harder. Come hell or high water, he was going to make sure that the boys knew that they were safe and loved with him and Mary, even if it turned out the boys weren't really theirs.
~~Supernatural~~
Watching the two boys through the window above the sink as she washed up a few dishes from lunch, Mary smiled brightly upon hearing the loud giggles coming through the partly opened window. It had been the first time she heard Sammy (because that's who he had to be) laugh since he had arrived and it was a sound that warmed her heart more than anything else ever could. Just a few short weeks ago, it was a sound that she never thought she would ever hear again. Glancing over to the doorway as John walked in, she motioned for him to walk over to the window.
"Have you ever heard a more wonderful sound in your life?" she asked as the sound of her youngest child's voice drifted over to them from the window 'push me higher De.'
"No, can't say that I have," John voiced as he stood behind Mary and wrapped his arms around her waist so they could gaze out the window together. Smiling wistfully, he remembered the last day he had had with his children before they had been taken away. He and Dean had tossed a football back and forth to each other in the front yard as Mary rocked Sammy and hummed a lullaby as she watched them from the front porch.
"John, are you okay honey?" Mary questioned worriedly, drawing John from his reverie with the sound of her soft voice. "I was asking you a question, but you never replied."
"Yeah, I was just thinking about how wonderful it is to have those two out there enjoying themselves the way they are," John answered as he focused his attention back on his wife. "'Now, what was it you asked?"
"I just wanted to know if you would be fine with us having spaghetti for supper this evening," Mary said as she wiped her hands on her apron and then set about getting the pot and skillet she would need to make the meal.
"Yeah, whatever you make is fine with me. You know how much I love your cooking Sweetheart," John answered as he walked over to the refrigerator and pulled a cold beer from the shelf.
Walking into the living room and settling on the couch where he could watch a little television as he waited for dinner to be prepared, John heard the sound of feet treading across their wooden porch and looked up just in time to see the boys walk inside.
"Hey boys, you two finished playing already?" John inquired before raising the bottle to his lips to take a swig of the cold brew in his hand. He couldn't help but notice the way that Joey immediately ambled behind his big brother and began to tremble in fear.
"Sa-Joey, what is it? What's wrong?" John asked, nearly referring to the boy as Sammy by mistake.
"Noth-nothing. Joey just has to p-pee," David stammered, trying to keep his own fear at bay at seeing the man drinking.
"Come on, I know something's wrong. Please tell me what I did. I can't change it if I don't know what has you two so upset," John pleaded as sat the beer down on the end table and gazed at the eldest imploringly. It was then that he noticed the way David kept his gaze focused on the amber colored bottle of beer.
"It's the beer isn't it?" John queried as he looked once again at the boys.
"It's…it's just that Norman, our Dad, used to drink a lot. And when he did, he was a really mean drunk," David answered, hoping it didn't cause the two of them more trouble. If John was a mean drunk too, it was best to find out now and deal with the ramifications, than stay here for a couple of months and have to leave after Joey started thinking of the place as home.
"Damn, I'm sorry. If I had known how much me having a beer would upset you two, I would have emptied them down the sink immediately," John informed the boys as he stood up and walked towards the kitchen so he could dispose of the half-filled bottle. "I'll get rid of this right now."
"You-You don't have to," David informed the man, pulling Joey close and shielding him with his own body when John got within reaching distance of the two of them.
"I want to," John stated, making sure not to seem threatening as he passed the boys and went into the kitchen where he poured the rest of his beer down the sink, Mary eyeing the event questioningly.
Watching as John emptied the bottle, David nodded his head in satisfaction. "Okay, I'm just going to take Joey to the bathroom then."
"After he's finished, make sure you both wash your hands," Mary informed the boys as she mixed up the pot of spaghetti, hoping that the boys would actually manage to eat this time. "Supper is nearly ready."
"We will," David informed his foster mother before ushering his sibling up the stairs, breathing a sigh in relief at knowing that maybe John and Mary did actually care. Maybe he and his sibling had a chance for a happy life with these two people, but then he also knew chances were that his hopes would most likely be dashed.
TBC
