Chapter 6:
Dean pulled into the farm and pulled the keys out of the ignition and waited for a moment as the rumbling of the Impala's engine stopped. He knew they had to figure out what was causing Sam's stutter, but he was instantly calmed by having his brother in the passenger seat next to him. Any remaining panic he kept stowed away as not to alert Sam. He glanced over at the teenager who was leaning against the window grimacing uncomfortably.
"You feeling nauseous?" Dean asked.
Sam shrugged.
"Are you gonna be sick."
Sam shook his head.
"Are you in pain?"
There was a pause before Sam shook his head one more time. Dean sighed.
"Dad's not here Sammy, no need to play tough guy."
The younger boy squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
"He-head-d. Ribs."
"Alright Mac's on his way he'll get you all fixed up, okay? And we will figure out what's going on."
Dean opened his own door and slammed it shut with a squeak before making his way to the passenger side. He opened Sam's door and made a move to help his brother out of the car but froze as the teenager held up a hand in front of him signaling that he didn't want to be touched. He heard the screen door of the farmhouse open and held his hand up to stop Jim from coming any closer. Dean crouched down behind the door of the car, effectively hiding him and his brother from view. He quickly realized two things; one Sam was crying and two he was embarrassed.
"Listen kid, just take a second. You are hurt, probably concussed and you got pummeled by some unknown force. You don't need to hide from me. Pretty sure this is a normal reaction."
Sam sniffed and looked up at Dean with watery eyes.
"N-n-n... not y-y-you."
Dean smiled at Sam.
"Yeah well... I tend to lash out in anger instead of tears. Not any better."
Dean felt for the missing ring on his finger. He would have to apologize for that one. He turned as Caleb's jeep and his father's truck made a crunching sound on the gravel. The last thing they needed was John telling Sam too suck it up. He turned back to his brother.
"Dry your eyes."
Sam nodded and wiped his eyes on his sleeves. Dean smiled and stood pulling his brother up with him carefully so as not to jostle any of Sam's injuries.
"We'll keep your mini meltdown our little secret, okay?" Dean said with a wink.
Sam smirked and rolled his eyes before making his way towards the house with Dean right behind him. Jim smiled at the young hunter before giving him a careful hug. John had called to give him as much information about what had happened as possible.
"Are you okay my boy?"
Sam shrugged and lifted his hand to show Jim the burn. Dean saw the concerned look on the Pastor's face which was quickly covered with a soft smile.
"Looks like you got the power of God in the palm of your hand Samuel."
Dean groaned.
"That's a horrible joke even for you Jim." Dean said.
John and Caleb walked up to join them, and noticed and Sam swayed a little to one side and Dean reached out to steady him.
"We should get you laying down until Mac gets here little brother."
"I want you to wake him up every hour Ace, just until Mac gives him the all clear."
Dean nodded and made his way inside with Sam.
Caleb watched as John fiddled with the keys in his hand.
"Where are you going John?"
John looked at Caleb and then over to Jim.
"I'm gonna go talk to Sawyer."
Jim frowned and looked over to The Knight of the Triad.
"Why now John? Any reports can wait until later."
John shook his head,
"This isn't adding up Jim. Hunters being pulled of cases and Sawyer showing up without telling any of us? The mysterious presence at the house that has Sammy unable to speak properly."
Jim nodded.
"Call if you need anything."
Caleb busied himself in the kitchen while Jim went to check on the boys. He stood in the doorway and watched for a moment as Dean watched over his charge. The past 17 years had been some of the best of the Pastors life, watching the boys grow up but it was moments like this where he questioned the weight of the choices placed on all of them. The Triad had wanted Caleb, Dean and Sam to depend on each other, but watching Dean look after an injured Sam reinforced how young these boys really were.
Dean looked up at Jim and smiled sheepishly before raising from his spot and walking over to the Pastor closing the door behind him. Dean took a step into Caleb's room and closed that door as well when Jim entered behind him. Jim waited patiently for Dean to speak.
"I'm sorry." Dean whispered.
He was disappointed in himself and the way he had treated Jim, the man had never shown him anything but kindness.
"Dean... come sit with me for a moment?"
Jim waved Dean over to sit beside him on the bed. When the younger man took a seat the Pastor twisted his own ring on his finger, his Guardian ring.
"Son, you don't need to apologize to me for being afraid,"
"I'm not. I'm apologizing for what I said. I don't hate you; I could never hate you,"
"Maybe not, but it's okay if you are angry at me for sending your brother out there."
Dean wrung his hands.
"I am angry."
"I know."
"I knew something was going to happen. I felt it in my gut. I didn't want him to go, and you let him go anyway."
Jim nodded.
"I felt it too Dean, but it wasn't what you think it was. I feel that with every hunter we send out on their own, and since I promised to always be honest with you, I will admit there were only two other times I felt just as sick, and it was when I agreed to send you and Caleb on your first hunts."
Dean frowned at the Pastor.
"Then why did you send us at all."
"Because Dean I can't hold you back and treat you boys like children for the rest of your lives. And I certainly can't protect you from everything that is out there and call it love. Eventually you are all going to have to make your own choices, and I want you to begin that journey with your family to fall back on."
Jim pulled Dean's silver ring out of his pocket and placed it in his palm covering with his own.
"Dean... being a part of The Brotherhood is an honour, but let me make something very clear. I will never ask you to give up your brother for the cause. That has never been a condition. You protect him as fiercely as you need to, but you do not need to turn away from us to do it. Am I clear?"
Dean slipped the silver ring back onto his finger.
"Yes sir, you are clear."
"Okay, you can do be with Sam. I'll let you know when Mac is here."
As Jim turned away he heard Dean whisper as if ashamed of what he was saying.
"Do I protect him too much?"
'He's your brother. Even if you did, I find it hard to believe there is any fault in that."
Jim walked down the stairs of the farmhouse and pondered the future of the Brotherhood and of his boys. Perhaps Dean did protect his brother too fiercely. After all, that was his Guardian spirit beginning to shine.