Snippets Forty-Three: John Awakes

The smell of coffee and food woke the man sleeping on the bed.  John’s head pounded.  He reached for his duffel and noticed it wasn’t there.  He fought to remember what happened.  He didn’t remember going to bed.  He looked over at the other bed to see a sleeping Sam.  Dean sat at the table. The remains of a cheeseburger and a coke were beside him and he was eating a slice of pie.

John stood and the boy looked up at him.  The man headed to the bathroom. While he was taking his shower, the boy grabbed the key card and the car keys and got his dad’s duffel from the trunk.

A few minutes later John opened the bathroom door and came out with a towel wrapped around himself.  He saw his duffel on the bed.  Taking some clothes, he went back into the bathroom. 

A few minutes later, he came out and went to his duffel and grabbed the medical kit.  Taking it to the table, he sat down and opened the coffee.  He took three aspirin.  The older Winchester  unwrapped the meal and saw a steak, potato, and a salad. Dean watched him shake his head.

Halfway through the meal John asked him, “How did pay for the room for another night and for the food?”

“I took money from your wallet.”

John stared into the hazel eyes and snorted.

“We need to leave tonight.”

Castiel had been sitting in the other chair watching everything.  At that moment he nudged John Winchester.  John shook his head as if he felt it.

“Sammy’s asleep,” Dean spoke matter-of-factly.

“He can sleep in the car.”

“I’m not going.”

“What makes you think you can tell me what to do?  I’m your father.”

“I hid the keys.”

John’s head hurt too much and he sighed and went and laid back down.  He was soon fast asleep.  Dean stared at  him and resalted the front door.  He turned off the lights and went and slept next Sam.  Again he put himself between his brother and the door.  Castiel wondered if John was part of what the boy was protecting his brother from.