Chapter 11:
Mackland sat down beside his son on the porch step and Caleb handed him the second cup of coffee he had been holding. Mackland smirked and took the cup from him, sometimes it paid to be psychic.
"How's the Runt?" Caleb asked.
"He's gonna be fine, I was able to find the block in his head."
Caleb grimaced.
"Yeah... I saw it Mac, all of it."
"I'm sorry son, that wasn't supposed to happen. Guess I'm out of practice."
"It has nothing to do with practice. It has to do with the psychic connection I share with him. Yellow eyes really don't suit Sam."
"Caleb-"
Caleb held his hand up, signaling his father not to continue.
"You don't have to say anything Dad, I made my peace with who I am."
Mackland knew that wasn't true, but it was an insecurity that his son kept buried. It sometimes flared its way up to the surface. The Triad had never tried to dig too deeply into the story behind Caleb's lineage. For a long time, they had been able to ignore it choosing not to believe the ramblings of Daniel Elkins, former Knight of the Brotherhood.
It was years past ignoring. The evil touch of the yellowed eyed demon had shown itself more and more over the course of the last few years, and while Caleb could no longer live in blissful ignorance, he worked hard to keep the Winchester brothers from finding out too much too soon.
"Sam says he doesn't remember it, do you think that's true?"
Caleb sighed.
"I think that Sam is a proud graduate of the Winchester School of Repression. He may not remember, but I'm sure you know that there is a part of him in there that knows, and he is subconsciously fighting against it."
Mackland nodded and looked at his son's profile. Caleb was a grown man, yet he couldn't help but worry.
"I don't like knowing that you boys feel the need to repress your pain."
"Listen Mac, we are never going to be the type of family that spills all their girly feelings. Maybe we all lack a woman's touch. Sam's okay, Dean's okay, and I'm okay Dad."
Mackland nodded and stared at the silver ring on his son's hand.
"Son, I need to ask you something, and I would like to apologize to you."
Caleb frowned and looked at his father.
"Apologize for what?"
"For what I am about to ask, but I need to know as the Scholar."
"Mac... whatever it is you do not need to apologize."
"Well, I need to ask you about your ring. How does it feel?"
Caleb put down the cup in his hand and looked down at his silver ring.
"Ummm... I don't know. It feels... warm?"
"Warm? The silver feels warm?"
"Yeah, I assumed it was just the brotherhood magic... but based on this conversation I am assuming it's not?"
"Well... we all feel the magic at its core of course, like a pulse of energy... but most of us still feel what silver should feel like. Cool to the touch."
Caleb twisted the ring on his finger.
"This have anything to do with what happened to Sam's hand? Is that why you are coming to me about this Dad?"
"Sam's burn came from a lost artifact that was created by the Brotherhood to identify demonic presence among them. It was made from Guardian silver just as our rings... it just seemed much more potent."
Caleb nodded.
"I'm assuming Sammy doesn't know about this?"
"He does not."
"Good keep it that way."
Mackland smirked.
"Aren't you the one always pushing John to tell them the truth about Sam's psychic powers?"
"Sure, but this is different. I want Sam to know about his powers, so he understands he has a place here among us. This secret? Knowing this would drive him further away. Trust me."
Mackland wished he could have offered his son the same innocence, but Caleb had come to him years ago much too damaged to be shielded from such pain.
"I agree, son. I will, however, have to send a note to the rest of the Brotherhood. Ask them to keep an eye out for such an antiquity so it can be returned here and housed safely. We will keep its true powers to The Triad and you."
Caleb nodded and stared out at the yard. Mac stayed silently next to himm. For now, they were safe on the farm, and while Mackland did not know what the future held, he was happy to sit for five minutes in peace with his son.