Considering my strict Christian school bans movies and fanfic cites, I should not be posting this in the middle of common area at lunchtime. But I'm impatient. So here's to my VPN holding and no one looking over my shoulder.
Thank you guys so much for the love!
This chapter... this is the last "chill" chapter. So... enjoy it while it lasts hehe
~TH~
Two weeks. Dean had been missing for two weeks.
Caleb let his head hit the seat back. He didn't know where to head next. He'd visited the surrounding towns but was wondering if Dean had ditched the state. He should probably call the Triad. Maybe he could make it casual? Keep Sam out of harm. Ask Jim, or even John if he'd heard from Dean. Mention he hasn't been able to get ahold of him and that's unlike him.
But Dean had called him. Dean clearly was having some massive trust issues and he really couldn't blame him for it. Caleb was glad that Deuce still trusted him. But he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ruined it. It wasn't technically his fault. He knew that. But he couldn't help but feel guilt. If something happened to Dean, Caleb was the last person he tried to contact.
But he couldn't think like that.
Nothing had happened to Dean.
He was just… hiding.
Living out his best life away from the man who hit him and brother who seemed to forget who exactly raised him.
Caleb's phone started ringing.
Speak of the devil.
"Caleb?"
"No, it's Batman. The Batphone is down so I thought I'd borrow Caleb's. "
He could practically hear the eye roll on the other line.
"Have you found anything yet?" And the kid actually sounded worried.
"No, Sam. I told you I would call when I found him."
"It's been weeks!"
"I know. Trust me I know. But I don't have much to go on. He ditched his phone and either no one has seen him or no one will talk." THe older hunter ran a hand through his hair. "And I can't say I blame him."
"What are you talking about?"
"Think about it Sam, a kid shows up in town, has nothing, has clearly been knocked around, then some guy comes asking for information on him? People think they're helping so abused runaway and that I'm the bad guy here."
There was silence for a moment.
"Have you been able to sense anything psychically?"
And that's where even Caleb was confused. "Everything's been off man. Like I can sense him. I know he's alive. But I honestly can't even tell you what state he's in. I haven't had any visions and I can't get more than a simple brush on anyone. I don't know if my last case screwed with my head a bit too much or what."
"Have you asked Mac?"
"Not yet. The Triad thinks I'm at a Tricorp conference. They wouldn't be thrilled if they thought I was using my gift in the private sector." Gambling was frowned upon but accepted. Reading and implanting thoughts in a business sense would breach a line with his father.
"So you haven't told anyone?"
"If I had, I think you would have heard about it."
"Yeah…"
"What's your old man say?"
"Dad's been weird. He's finishing up a hunt, but barely spoken to me. Which doesn't seem that weird but… I guess it's normal, it's just that… I guess it's different without Dean here."
"Freedom not sitting as well as you thought it would?"
"Something like that." The admittance was quiet.
As much as Sam boasted his manhood, the kid really hadn't spent all that much time on his own. It wasn't so much that he couldn't take care of himself. It was just that Dean did so many things. So many mundane things that Sam probably hadn't thought about. Like yes there was food- sometimes not enough but generally there was something- but where did it come from? Sam didn't mind walking home from school when it gave him that sliver of freedom, but he also didn't necessarily want to in the pouring rain.
And Caleb wasn't blind. He knew that Dean could be overprotective. But the Flagstaff scare and Johnny's resulting wrath really heightened that. He hadn't talked to Dean much, even after the punishment was over. But when he had, Dean had just seemed so tired. But Sam wanting some freedom wasn't unfounded, and before Flagstaff Caleb had talked to Dean about lightning up on the kid. Dean didn't have a good frame of reference. He knew that six year olds shouldn't be left alone, but Dean had been. But Sammy shouldn't. And now Sam was sixteen and Dean still wasn't sure what the line of protection was. John certainly hadn't helped in that aspect and the Triad did their best to stay out of the way of John's parental authority. It was that, which made this whole thing harder. It was the Triad's disinterest, or at least, lack of action that had brought them to this point.
Caleb took a breath. The fault layed primarily with the Knight. Any other anger was misdirected at the moment.
But maybe, just maybe, this would push Sam to see that Dean wasn't the bad guy. He was done fighting on John's behalf but he would never stop for Deuce.
The silence had stretched to the point of it being uncomfortable. Caleb sighed. "Has your dad said anything about Dean? Tried to get in contact?"
"I dunno. I mean- I asked him and he said Dean was just being a brat and that he'd come back when he was done moping. But I don't know, Caleb. This isn't like Dean. He doesn't normally wait this long to come back."
Caleb stopped at that. "What do you mean he doesn't normally wait this long? This has happened before?"
"I mean not like this. It's just that sometimes when Dad's being a jerk Dean will walk it off. But he always comes back in the morning. Dad doesn't usually… like…throw him out. It's more of a suggestion to know his place. You know how Dad is. And Dean doesn't know how to stand up for himself so he listens to whatever Dad says."
"Sam-" He replied through gritted teeth.
"I know, I know. Just- forget it. Just find Dean, yeah? Call me if something changes." The call was disconnected and Caleb was left with an icy feeling in his chest. The red hot anger had been replaced with aching resignation.
Dean had essentially been being thrown out of his home for years and no one had noticed. It seems like even Sam and Dean just thought it was normal.
Apparently this time was different for everyone. Even Deuce. There must have been a finality to this one that a drunk John hadn't processed but an exhausted and hurting Dean had assumed. Unless Dean had just truly taken to this time to break away from his family and the Brotherhood. Which Caleb couldn't really blame him. But he had to know that Caleb wouldn't stop until he at least knew that his stupid kid brother was okay.
Then there was the fact of how torn up Dean had sounded in his call.
An idea struck the hunter as he put away his own phone. He hadn't messed much with Dean's phone since finding it, but he was suddenly curious if anyone else had tried to reach Dean over the last week.
Pulling it out of his glove compartment, he found it blinking. Well someone had tried to call him. Caleb had to admit surprise when he saw it was from John Winchester himself.
Would the great Knight of the Brotherhood actually stoop to apologize?
Unlikely. But he'd seen stranger things.
He played the message, putting it up to his ear.
"Dean. Stop throwing a tantrum. I'm in Springfield, Iowa. Call me back and I can pick you up or you can meet us here. Just- call me. Or Sam. We can head to the Farm. Call me."
And while that wasn't an apology it was as close as the man would get.
"Too little, too late, Johnny. Too little, too late."
~TH~
Reviews:
Long Live BRUCAS:Thank you! Something is indeed off and next chapter you will learn at least one piece of the puzzle. Your I really like your theories and we'll see how close they are soon enough ;) I can't blame you for hating mad at John and Sam. Got to admit they deserve it lol. Thanks!
Princess of the Fae: Soon is a rather relative term... and what exactly do you mean by Find ;)
EmmilyAnnMcGarrett-Winchester: Hey I'm just glad you're sticking with it! Vivian and Dean is a very interesting dynamic. We'll see how much more they interact (and I'ma be honest I mean that for real some of the middle chapters are spotty for my brain at the moment lol). Whiteman and his pills... well we'll see more about that next chapter!
Kathy: So much for getting away from the supernatural, huh?
WaitingforAslan: I love that scene in WIAWSNB. It definitely at least partially inspired this. It's sad because even when Dean was with people he felt so alone and then he truly was alone and... and clearly he didn't handle it well. That's why I love the Brotherhood... at least there's Caleb! Dean doesn't handle guilt or loss well. Caleb and Dean's reunion will happen... eventually. And from there we'll just have to see! Thank you for your wonderful comment!
WastedJamie: All of those are very very good questions and at least Some of them will be answered in the next chapter. But what kind of author would I be if I dumped all the info at once?! Dean just wants love and so long as he thinks he's getting it... well I suppose we'll see how far he's willing to go for just an ounce of love and approval ;)
Meilean: Thank you! Yeah it's odd because I don't often write truly supernatural plots and normally deal with just the human fallout so several people were surprised by this chapter which I'm glad of lol. Vivian is definitely... something. Who or what she is will be answered... eventually. Thank you so much for your kind comment! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint too much as there is some real plot in next chapter!
Pretty short but y'know. What do you think about Sam and John? We still hate them? Any forgiveness? How's our guy Caleb doing?
And I know I'm pushing "abusive John" pretty hard for a Brotherhood fic. But John periodically telling Dean to get out when Dean defies him is in fact cannon so...
Oh guys...
Guys...
Next chapter lol
Next chapter you will start to get answers.
The next chapter is one of the first one's I wrote (obviously has now been heavily edited tas things change) and I'm so excited for you to finally get a taste for what's going on. I'm so excited and I REALLY hope you like it.
If I get some really good and long comments I may even double post next week... so tell your friends lol.
But for real you guys have been fantastic and I'm so thankful for it!
Do make sure you've looked at the tags if you're squeamish because the next four chapters are... uh... are dark and emotionally distressing hehe.
Love you guys so much!
God bless,
Jamie
