23 Family can be a bother

Ianto is bothered about hanging with Jack. He want's to be with him, but he can't shake the discomfort he feels knowing that Jack and John hooked up. The girls are singing their song, and the boys are asked to step up. Daddy Winchester is in town, and it works well for a little while. About a week after his arrival he and Dean gets into an argument, and Dean takes off.

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Songs in this chapter

Salute - Little Mix - M/L: Barnes, Kelleher, Kohn, Cottone, Little Mix

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Girl Power

The rest of the week was kind of rough for Ianto. He and Jack could not come to an agreement on what to sing. It almost felt like Jack was doing his best to sabotage the whole assignment, while Ianto wanted to get it over with. Hanging out with the guy without being affected by his subtle - and sometimes not so subtle - flirting, proved to be very hard.

That John and Jack seemed to not be on speaking terms made it all even worse. Ianto didn't want to lose John as a friend, but John had very visibly shied away when Ianto tried to get him to join them and help out finding a song.

There was really no good explanation for their behavior. If the two of them really did hook up at the party, they could at least be mature enough about it to acknowledge it. If they both regretted what they'd done, there was still no reason to beat about the bush.

What was even more bothersome was that even if the two guys didn't exchange many words over the week, they did keep a keen eye on each other. It could almost look like they both waited for the other to make a move of some kind.

Ianto just wanted this assignment to be over, so they could all move on. From next week they would all be rehearsing in the auditorium to prepare for the competition, and they wouldn't have to team up with anyone to work on their free time.

Over the weekend, Gwen had all the girls in Glee over to perfect the singing on the number Mr Evans had picked for regionals. Jo and Charlie hadn't originally been chosen, but Gwen had suggested that all the girls should do it together. It required a little rearrangement of the harmonies, but it seemed to be going well.

They invited Ianto to join them in the basement, but he didn't want to sit there like an idiot listening to their sometimes ridiculous chatter. The singing was fine, but it was a little too much girl power for his liking.

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"Ladies all across the world

Listen up, we're looking for recruits

If you're with me, let me see your hands

Stand up and salute

Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps or lace up your boots

Representing all the women, salute, salute!"

Jane started the song, and walked backwards to let Unique step up for the next lines and then they all stepped forward as they joined hands and sang the chorus.

"Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Huh!)

Representing all the women, salute, salute!"

Gwen and Madison did their verses and. Charlie and Jo backed them up nicely. They had picked out only girls from the orchestra to play with them, and the guitarist from the band was the only male person on stage.

"It's who we are

We don't need no camouflage

It's the female federal

And we're taking off,

If you with me, women let me hear you say."

The beat of the song was contagious, and the all the guys soon started to stomp their feet in rhythm with the music.

"Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Salute)

Attention! (Huh!)

Representing all the women, salute, salute

Ladies, the time has come, the war has begun. Let us stand together.

And remember, men fight great, but women are great fighters

Huh!

Representing all the women, salute, salute!"

The girls did a marvelous show of it, and it was clear that their song would be their opening number for regionals. They needed two more, but it was hard to find something that would match.

Mr Evans had all the boys sing a different song every day. He wanted a good solo, and had given all of them a few options. Finding something that would work with the girl's number proved to be difficult, and they had to move away from the political theme.

For Wednesday's rehearsal he had to throw in the glove. "It would probably not go very well with the judges anyway." He threw his hands out and looked a little lost. "Whatever you can come up with, we'll try."

Castiel and Dean's Bruce Springsteen song had been received well, but Mr Evans had not been impressed with the choice. "We need more flair and fun, or a solo that will blow everybody away." He panned the choir. "It would be nice if one or two of you boys could bring something. With the girls number starting the show, I think we should opt for a male solo or duet before we have our closing number."

He looked directly at Castiel. "You haven't done a solo for a while, but I know that you are good enough." Then he nodded towards Dean and Ianto. "I want you two to step up as well. Mason, John and Jack has provided me with a few options, but I want the three of you to come up with something. Something new and fresh."

Jack looked at Cas from the corner of his eyes before he turned to throw a peek at Dean and Ianto standing in the back. He seemed a little taken aback, and he was clearly disappointed. Castiel knew that Jack had expected to be picked for this solo regardless - everybody had expected that - but now it looked like Mr Evans was of a different opinion.

Dean had a smug little smile on his face, and he didn't do anything to hide it as he stared back at Jack. Ianto just shrugged and rolled his eyes. He had never really participated in the struggles for attention; he was the kind of guy who seemed to take everything in the stride, but Cas could have sworn that there was a sparkle in his eyes that revealed that the guy was happy that Jack got knocked down from his high horse.

"Really? Really?" John was the only one that commented on it at all. "I mean, huh, what's wrong with my, er, our suggestions?" He threw his hands out as he stared at their director. Mr Evans shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. I just want more options. We have several guys here capable of doing a solo, and I want to hear them do something that they feel for, not only what I throw at them."

Kevin took a step forward and turned to face the group. "What are you so upset about? We are a team, and we have to support each other. I'm not even considered for a solo, and I fine with that. We have a luxury problem here. Too many really good singers."

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For the first time in almost two weeks, John and Jack hung together after rehearsal. Ianto saw them in the parking lot when he and Gwen left. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but decided to let it go. He had missed his chance with any one of them, and didn't want to let it bother him anymore.

He had no idea what he'd really missed out on, but he felt that his friendship with John was somewhat contaminated. He knew it was silly to think like that, but he couldn't help himself. With Jack it was a different story. The guy had been flirting with him ever since they met, and Ianto beat himself up a little for being such a whimp. If he'd only reciprocated a little bit, he could possibly have avoided the heartache he was put through at the moment.

He knew perfectly well that he was in love with the guy, but he knew he would never do anything about it. Going where John had been before him was not an option. That Jack behaved as if this wasn't an issue bothered Ianto more than anything else. He wished that he'd had the guts to address it, but that would mean revealing his feelings and admit that he was carrying a torch for Jack.

That both of them had been adamant about keeping their little hook-up a secret was kind of nice though. That they were especially keen on keeping it from Ianto told him that they did feel bad about it, and maybe even regretted the whole thing. It didn't matter much now. Two weeks he had spent on doing his best to push them away, and now he'd succeeded. It was almost devastating.

Gwen picked up on his bad mood as they drove home, and she did try to force him to tell her why, but he was not ready to share. For some odd reason she decided to let it go. It was not like her, and he suspected that she had a general idea. That she chose to keep it to herself, suited him fine, although it could have been nice to have someone to talk to about all this shit.

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Daddy issues

John Winchester arrived late one Friday night, and spent almost the entire weekend fussing about the fact that Dean had to go to work. Their father wanted to take the boys out, but his oldest son was way too busy to spend time with him. Sam was the one who had to deal with it.

He had looked forward to their dad's arrival, but it soon got very boring. He always knew that Dean and their father shared many interests, while Sam was the odd one out. He wanted to hang out with his friends, and when he couldn't, he was online for the most part. Sam and Mr Winchester did go out to spend some money on Saturday, and it was okay, but the two of them didn't really have anything to talk about. Sam knew perfectly well that both of them would have wanted Dean there as a buffer between them. It was always easier with the three of them together.

Sam could technically talk about anything under the sun, but it was Dean who was the funny one. For some, he could come out as moody and almost grumpy, but if he put his mind to it, he could easily lighten the mood in any room. He hadn't done so much to show this side of himself in Glee-club, but for those who had learned to know him he was well liked.

Their dad had bought them a new TV, and he spent Saturday night watching football. Dean had to turn in early, while Sam seized the opportunity to catch up with friends and acquaintances he had on the multiple different social platform he was juggling.

When Dean came home from work Sunday afternoon, a couple of hours earlier than anticipated, the three of them could finally spend some 'quality time' together as daddy Winchester put it.

That his sons had to go to school, and also were enrolled in different extracurriculars, bothered John Winchester a bit. He wanted to spend more time with them, but had to settle for what he got.

He did have enough money to pay the rent for the remainder of the school year, and he also deposited a few hundred dollars into Dean's checking account. It wouldn't last them forever, but he promised that there would be more coming as soon as he got back to work next month.

The first four days of the next week, the guy cooked and cleaned and he made sure that they had everything they needed. It even looked like he enjoyed the whole 'being a parent' concept although it was clear that he would have wanted them to be home more.

The bubble burst next Friday afternoon.

John Winchester came to pick up the boys after school. Dean was just out of football practice and on his way to the auditorium when he got the call. Sam was done with computer club, and since Mr Evans didn't need him that day, he'd opted to just watch the guys in Glee as they rehearsed since he was riding home with his brother anyway.

They both went to the parking lot to meet him, and Sam thought it was a good idea that he went home with their dad while Dean had to rehearse. Mr Winchester didn't want to hear it, and demanded that Dean came as well. "I have rented a cottage in the mountains for the weekend, and we can go fishing and maybe do some hunting."

That Dean had to go to work the next day seemed to be totally unimportant, and the three of them were in a heated argument when Cas and Unique walked by. Dean did his best to tone it down as their friends approached, and their dad managed to keep quiet for a moment.

"Hey Dean. You have to come on. You're up first." Unique was dressed in boy's clothes at the moment - he parents demanded that for class - but she was being exceptionally camp as she walked up to them and pretend-kissed Dean on both cheeks.

"I'm coming." Dean waved her away and threw her a quick but humorless smile. He gave Castiel a nod, and Sam could see that his brother got a little flustered, but he composed himself quickly.

"Tell Mr Evans that I will be there shortly." They watched as the two choir members walked away, and Dean tuned back to their dad and sighed heavily. "I can't go anywhere right now. We have a competition, and I have to be at the rehearsal. We can go later. I can ask to get time off of work, and we can go tonight."

John Winchester stared at the backs of Cas and Unique as they walked away. "So you rather hang out with the fruitcakes than with your own father? I am so proud of you for the achievements you have with the football team, but now you're disappointing me."

Sam could see that Dean got angry, and he worried that he would say things that he'd regret later. "Dad. Stop. Dean is one of the stars in Glee-club. You should come listen instead of, of… He is a really good singer." He pointed towards the school. "I can come with you. I don't have a job to go to."

He hadn't even finished the sentence before Dean just walked away. It was probably for the best. Their dad was not happy about it, but he mellowed a little. "Okay. Later then."

Later never happened. Sam and John waited for Dean to come home, but he took his time. It was almost ten o'clock when he eventually came back and their dad was furious.

"It's too late to go now, but did you at least ask for time off?" He was all packed and ready to take them and had paced back and forth for an hour already. Calls and texts hadn't resulted in anything, and Sam had actually started to worry.

"Those 'fruitcakes' are my friends and I do not like that you call them that." Dean was clearly a little tipsy when he walked through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late, but I had to take a moment and decide if I was going to be angry or not. I am angry." He slumped down on the couch and looked at his dad. "I want to spend time with you, but if you can't accept that I… I want to be in that choir."

Their dad tried to laugh away his derogatory remark, and he promised that he didn't mean to be rude. Dean demanded an apology, but didn't get it. Sam withdrew to his bed, and hoped that they would come to an agreement, but the whole argument ended with Dean walking out. Sam wondered what that would mean for the rest of the weekend, but decided not to let it bother him. Dean was a hothead, but he normally mellowed pretty quickly.

It was kind of funny though, the way he stuttered and turned into a whole different person when Castiel was around. Dean's normal demeanor seemed to be washed down the drain when that blue-eyed choirboy entered the scene.

About three months ago, Sam had been a little grossed out when he realized that Dean had some kind of a crush on Cas, but over time he'd accepted it. They had never talked about it, and Sam knew that he had to be careful with the subject. All in all, he liked that side of his brother. He was ready to embrace it if Dean ever decided to open up about it.

It would never happen with their dad around, and Sam wasn't sure if he was happy about it or not. He didn't need to be entertained; he was perfectly fine cooped up in his bed with the computer, like he always did when he was home alone. There was never a boring moment, but daddy Winchester was constantly bugging him.

A dad with two teenage sons should managed to find things to do on his own, but from Sam's point of view, he was totally unable to let loose.