1832 - Truth Hurts
Story by Meilean
Beta: Penpractice (check out her stories here; they are amazing!)
Tag on The Good And The Bad Medicine. It takes place shortly after Mike and Cole are back to Wyoming.
Disclaimer: This story is only faintly related to Superntural but to be on the safe side:
I don't own anything from Supernatural by Kripke and the Brotherhood belongs to Ridley C. James.
Rated: T
18th of April, 1832 - Wilmington Ranch
MIKE
They got back from Liberty three days ago. Father and son had experienced a lot of things in the city. New friends, other Brotherhood members and an exciting hunt for a Kelpie. And of course discovering that Cole was really from his blood. Meanwhile, The Knight had bonded with Cole so closely in this short time, like he'd known he was his for the boy's whole life. Cole's heart was still fragile about the loss of Carolyn but it had started to heal. His countenance spoke that in volumes.
Wade's behavior on the other hand spoke volumes too. Mike had been confused at first that his brother had not been more surprised over the fact that they came home as father and son. It made Mike suspicious about the reason and there was only one thing that came to mind. He must have known before. The only question was how long before.
Mike watched the scene at the kitchen table. They were joking and talking happily over the lunch Cole had made. Wade smiled proudly at the boy - his son - and tousled through his hair like he had done it often before. The familiar gesture irked Mike for the first time and he began to wonder how often his friend had done something like that and known he had stolen this moment from Mike.
He'd had enough of this game. He got up and grabbed Wade's arm. "We have to talk - in private."
Mike dragged Wade outside with him and rounded the barn, away from Cole and the other nosy teens in the house. Now he stopped walking, turning to his brother. This conversation was far overdue.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Wade looked at him questioningly. "Tell you what?"
"God damn it, Wade! That Cole is my son! You knew it. You were way too calm when I told you about my assumption after Carolyn died. I was just too worried about Cole to realize you were acting weird. Now it's time for the truth. How long have you known?!" Mike waited but soon lost his temper when Wade didn't answer. He gave his brother a hard shove that made the Guardian stumble a few steps backward.
It was rare, but Mike saw his brother searching for words. "Mike, it was complicated."
Mike didn't want to hear any more excuses. Too long he had accepted that all the things Wade told him were true or for the good of the Brotherhood. This was not about the Brotherhood - this was about his family. "How long? Since you moved to Wyoming?" He gave Wade another shove. His friend stumbled back again but didn't try to stop him. "No? Since Diana died? It's a bit too late to hide the truth from me, Brother. I want you to tell me everything. Right here and right now!"
He saw it in Wade's face - shame. "What? Even longer? You knew it the whole time? Did you play a part in marrying Diana off to that monster?"
Wade looked up now, defending his position, "No, I would have never done something so cruel. Please Mike, I thought it was the right thing at that time. You were so broken when you came back to us. When we told you about her being married, I feared it would drive you over the edge. If you had known about Cole too - what would you have done? It was too late to change anything. Diana was married to Marcus. My hands were tied. Father did what he thought was best for everyone."
"Best for everyone?" Mike turned to give himself a break from looking into Wade's face so full of shame. He ran a hand through his dark curls, turning back at him. "Fuck, Wade. I would have gone and gotten her - them. Cole is my blood and I loved Diana so much, I would have died for her - I would have killed for her."
"That is exactly the point! You'd have been out of control. I didn't want you to become a murderer. I was scared of losing you again. And even if you had the chance to get them; then what? You had nothing at that time. How could you have cared for a family?"
Mike looked insulted now. "You see me as low as your father did when he told me I'm not worthy of Diana. The poor Scot who isn't able to care for a family!"
"Mike, no…" Wade began.
"No, what? I had a right to know. I. Am. His. Father! And even if you were right about me being broken at that time. Why did you take MY SON across half the country without at least giving me a say in the matter?!" Mike gave Wade another shove which made him crash hard against the barn wall.
He felt so angry. All the years Wade had known about Cole. All the years he had kept this from him. It hurt. It hurt even more because he loved and trusted Wade. It wasn't right. He had no right to do so.
"Mike, please believe me I wanted to tell you but every time I was at that point, I hadn't the grit to face you. I was afraid you would freak out. And look at you now."
Damn self-righteous Wilmington breed. Mike had never questioned Wade's decisions. He had always - always followed the Guardian's orders. And what for? To be lied to? To be protected? He felt so betrayed. "What did you expect? That I would thank you? You know what? I can't find words for my anger." Without forewarning, Mike punched The Guardian straight in his face. Wade went to the ground holding his bleeding nose. He didn't even try to block it. He didn't say anything and stayed down, looking at Mike like a kicked dog.
It took only a few seconds before Bastian came running around the corner of the barn followed by Cole and Daniel. "Wade, what happened? I felt … Holy Cow. Mike, did you hit him?"
The teens stared at him in disbelief. Daniel was already rushing to his father's side. Mike stared at Bastian. "He asked for it!" Then he walked past everyone, searching the wide land for a place to have some privacy.
*** WWT prequel ***
COLE
It felt like looking into a mirror. Cole felt reminded of when he had hit Daniel. To see it as an observer was strange. He felt helpless about what to do.
Bastian grabbed Mike by his sleeve. "Hey. I know damn well how it is to be on the receiving end of your anger. Why do you always have to bring it down on us physically? He has done nothing to you!"
Mike spat at him, "He knows damn well what he has done! And you? Did you know too?" Mike wriggled out of his hold.
Bastian looked confusedly. "Known what?"
"That Cole is my son!" Mike saw all eyes were fixed on him. Cole had never seen him so caged. Then Mike just turned with a disappointed grunt, walking away angrily.
"Let him go, Bastian," Wade told him while Daniel was already about to check on his father's nose.
Cole was torn between staying with his uncle and following his father. He looked at Wade for help.
His uncle nodded at him, brushing the blood from his nose. "Go with him. You are probably the only one he wants around at the moment. I'm sorry, son. You both had a right to know. I was just a coward."
"I don't blame you, Uncle Wade. You always did what you thought was best for us." Cole turned and hurried to follow Mike.
He was not far. Leaning on the outer fence of the pasture and staring out at the wide land.
"Dad?" Cole carefully tried.
Mike sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit him. I'm glad I didn't have a blade at hand. It just overtook me, like with Marcus."
"What do you mean by 'with Marcus'?"
Mike sighed. "We all make mistakes and wrong decisions, son. Never forget that." Mike took in another deep breath. "The night your mother died I … I killed Marcus Tanner."
Cole was confused. "But I thought it was a raid by some thieves."
"Yes, that was what Wade concocted from the truth. He is skilled with words. Marcus provoked me from the first moment we came to his house. Then I found Diana dead on the floor. I was heartbroken. I stormed back to the hallway and Marcus blamed you for her death when it was obviously his fault." Mike covered his mouth as if speaking the next words out loud hurt him. "God, Diana … she looked so thin, so broken and it was not the fever I'm sure of that. He had not cared for her wellbeing. If I had only checked on her earlier…" his father turned away, wiping his eyes.
"What happened then?" Cole asked, offering him a way back from his hurt.
Mike took in a deep breath and shakily let it out again before he continued to tell his story. "My anger boiled over and the rational thinking part of my brain just switched off. I pushed a knife right through his lungs before any of my brothers could do anything to stop me. I was shaking all over and not sane at that moment. When I realized what I had done, I couldn't move or talk. I was in total shock. George dragged me away and we left Newport. Wade took care of the rest. He was right to not tell me then …," Mike let out a crazy chuckle. "... of course." He turned to face Cole again. "But why not later?"
"I'm glad you killed him. He was a monster of the human kind. He hit me often and what he did to Mama…" Cole swallowed the tears down. "Dad, all that counts is that we are together now, right?"
"Aye, you're right." Mike smiled warmly at Cole before he pulled him into a sideways hug. Mike needed a moment to return from the painful memory. They stared together at the wide land before them with the huge mountains in the background. "I often ask myself how my life would have changed if we had run away. Maybe to a place like this. Would she have died the same way? Is it God's will that she left this earth so soon?" Mike's eyes still shone with tears.
Cole pulled his father close. "Stop overthinking it. I love you, Dad." Cole felt Mike breaking in his arms. His shoulders trembled and hot tears moistened his neck.
COLE
They separated after a long minute of crying from Mike that left Cole unsure and at a loss for words.
What should he do? Mike looked so vulnerable and so broken. He had never seen this side of the stalwart man.
Mike let out a long sigh and brushed his tears away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't put my long-standing problems on your shoulders. You have enough shit going on yourself."
"Isn't that what family is for?"
Mike let out a laugh under all these tears. "You are right. Maybe I should beg Wade for forgiveness. He only did what he thought was best to keep everyone safe."
"I think he deserves a bit of a punishment. Let's stay a little longer, until you calm down at least to be presentable."
His father nodded and they stayed together in silence until the sun began hiding behind the Teton range in the far distance. It was peaceful and not odd at all. Everything was said and done.
MIKE
Father and son had headed home in the evening. Mike let Cole enter first and stayed at the threshold unsure if he should enter or not. The men inside looked up at them, Cole was already heading to the others at the table.
Wade got up and walked towards him, patting Cole's shoulder as they passed each other.
Mike gave him a rueful look and mumbled, "I'm sorry about your nose."
Wade studied him for a moment. Mike couldn't read his expression but eventually nodded. The Guardian put a hand to Mike's shoulder. The physical contact brought comfort to Mike's stirred up feelings. "Forget about my nose. I'm so sorry, Mike. You were right. I should have told you. Can you forgive me?" Wade pleaded.
Damn it, Mike felt close to tears again. Could he forgive losing so much time with Cole? Wade had cared for Cole like he was his own son. Mike knew he had had a happy childhood with the Wilmingtons. A brother, and a father, a home. And Wade was his best friend - more than that - a soulmate. Yes, he could forgive him everything. "Aye. I do."
Wade pulled him into a hug, patting his shoulder. Mike hugged back, seeing the others at the table watching the two reconciling. He smirked and whispered into Wade's ear. "They're watching us."
Wade nodded in his embrace. "I know. Let them learn a lesson from it. We'll give them a good example of what forgiveness looks like," Wade said with a crack in his voice.
Mike snorted and Wade grinned at him when they separated, both their eyes shining slightly. "Come, the meal is ready."
*** WWT - Prequels ***
COLE
The weather was unexpectedly warm the next day and Mike and Cole had chopped wood until the afternoon. Mike stretched his aching muscles, groaning. "Oof, I'm getting old. Ten years ago this kind of work didn't bother me half as much." Mike sat on the chopping trunk and massaging his aching shoulders.
"How about we go swimming after supper? Or we take some food with us and go now?" Cole suggested.
Mike nodded. "Aye. That's a good idea. Go and get us something to eat, I'll saddle the horses."
*** WWT - prequels ***
They went into the water first to wash off the sweat and dirt from work. Cole enjoyed the cool water on his skin. Mike took a deep breath and dived under the surface. He soon reappeared and stroked his wet hair back. His father sighed in relief and swam towards the exit spot where the rocks formed natural stairs.
Cole watched him climb out, his eyes fixed on the three white scars to his fathers side. He had told them they were a reminder of a werewolf encounter. He had many more on his back but they told another story. Mike grabbed the towel and began to dry. He turned and Cole got a glimpse of Mike's tattoos. "Are you comin'?"
"Yeah," he answered. Cole had always liked the tattoos Mike wore. One was the Campbell family crest. Now that he thought about it the spot was pretty much in the same place only on the opposite side of the werewolf scratches
Mike also had the protection tattoo on his chest. He had promised him that at the next opportunity he would get one too.
Cole followed his father. Mike was already slid into his pants, buttoning them. "What have you packed, son?"
He smirked at his father. He knew Mike loved the little spicy sausages Daniel made and had packed a few. He spread out the tablecloth. Mike sat down cross legged on the rim of the cloth, letting Cole put out everything. "I think you'll find something you like," he told Mike, placing the sausages in the middle at last.
Mike smiled and grabbed one. "Daniel has to teach us how he makes them. I love the spice blend. He could sell them." Mike took a bite and closed his eyes.
Cole grabbed a piece of bread and the cheese. "I could eat everything at the moment. I'm starving. My last meal was my breakfast."
MIKE
It was good to see the kid eat again. Cole had gained weight again and even gotten more muscles. Mike would never admit it but last time he hadn't been able to get out of his son's hold in the sparring session. Whether his son was damn strong or he was really getting old - maybe both a bit. He took another bite of his sausage. "Oh boy, you don't know what real hunger feels like."
Cole raised a brow. "Are you gonna tell the story about eatin' grass and bugs again?"
Mike scoffed. "Careful, you're talking to your boss here. Everything I tell you could save your life one day." His time in British hands had taught him some lessons about real hunger and survival.
"Sorry dad."
Mike waved him off. He didn't like talking about that time much and tried to lead the conversation in another direction. "So, we're heading to the Crow tomorrow?"
Cole made a confirming noise while chewing.
"That's good. I need to talk to Grey Feather. I have to ask him for the herbs he uses for his horses. I have the feeling Wotan is limping."
Cole turned to the horses. "I haven't noticed anything on the ride. I can check on him later."
"You should."
They ate further in silence and Mike saw his son studying his tattoos. "We should get you your first one soon."
Cole looked up. "My first what?"
"Tattoo. You've been staring at mine the whole time."
Cole looked a bit caught. "Uhm, yeah. I was wondering why you decided for that spot for the Campbell crest. I bet it hurts like a bitch there."
Mike brushed over the spot. He could still feel the shape of the branding there. "It didn't hurt half as much as receiving the scar it's supposed to cover." He saw the questioning look in his son's eyes and sighed. "They burned me in prison there. I wanted to forget by erasing the mark." Mike kept his fingers occupied with the slice of bread. "I didn't forget." He shrugged, "But I like the tattoo. Reminds me of my roots."
"Can I have the Campbell crest too?" Cole asked then.
Mike began smiling. "Of course, if you like. But be careful. Once you start with that, you might want a new one every time the opportunity is given."
"We'll see, I'll decide after I have the first one," Cole chuckled in amusement. He couldn't wait for his first one. If Mike was right and he would want more after that? He wasn't sure but no matter what tomorrow might bring, they were together now - a family and he didn't need a tattoo to remind him.
The End
A/N: I would be so happy for a little review. There will be a story about Cole getting his tattoo(s) not sure yet when it is finished. So if you don't wanna miss it subscribe to the notification list and make sure that your notification settings are intact. Thank you for reading!