Snippets Forty-Two: Morning

Castiel’s head jerked towards the door as he heard it open.  John walked in with an almost empty whiskey bottle in his hand.  His eyes were bloodshot and glazed over.

Dean woke up and slid out of bed and walked towards his father as the man sat on a chair and buried his head in his hands and leaned on the table.  His shoulders started shaking.

The boy stood beside his father, uncertain what to do.  The angel stood over him and waited to see what would happen. 

John started sobbing out Mary’s name.  His son climbed up into his lap and put his arms around his father’s neck and cried with him.   After a while, John calmed down.  Dean climbed off his lap and took his hand and led him to the other bed.  The man feel asleep immediately.

Looking in his father’s wallet, Dean found some cash.  Taking the money and the key card, he went to the diner next to the motel and bought some breakfast to go for Sammy and himself.

Getting back to the motel, the young boy turned on the television and found cartoons. Sammy clapped his hands and sat at the table and ate his breakfast.  The boys kept the television low. 

During the morning hours, Dean bathed his brother and himself and they got dressed.    A man from the motel came by and said they needed to vacate.  Dean looked at the man and smiled softly.

“My Dad got sick.  He’s asleep now.  Can I pay for today and tonight?”

The man told him how much and Dean gave him the money and followed the man to the office.  He was given a receipt. 

Castiel followed the boy from place to place, amazed at how capable he was.

John Winchester slept off his drunkenness while is little boy took care of his family.

Snippets Forty-One: First Night with John

Dean requested several restroom stops during the day for himself and Sammy.  He asked for drinks and food.  John wasn’t happy about it but bought the boys tuna sandwiches and a coke.  Dean looked at the food and at his brother.  He took out the bag that Bobby had made for Sammy and got out what the boy could eat at his age.   He did let him have some of the coke.  John watched and grew angry over the sack lunches.

“Okay, next time, you go in and get the food.”

The drive to Lincoln was difficult for both boys.  Around eleven in the evening, Dean woke up beside his brother, not sure where he was.  The motion made him realize they were still driving.

He looked at the highway through the front windshield.

“Daddy?”

“What, Dean?  Don’t call me Daddy.  Call me Dad.”

“Okay.  Dad?”

“What Dean?”  John sounded irritated.

“We need to go to bed.”

“Sam is asleep and you were.  Go back to sleep.  I’m not stopping until I have to.”

“Dad?”

“What, Dean!”

“Sammy and I had a bed at Unca Bobby’s.”

“Damn it!”  John pulled off the highway into cheap motel.  Castiel looked at it and a memory of Sodom and Gomorrah passed through his mind.  One hour room rentals followed that thought. 

John locked the car and went to get a room.  When he came out a hooker was tapping on the rear window trying to get his son to roll it down, much to the chagrin of one angel.

“He’s underage.”

The woman turned and smiled up at the older Winchester. 

“You’re not.”

“You’re right, but I’m broke and I got the two kids with me.”

“If you got a bottle to split, put them to bed and come to my room.”

John grinned and asked for a number. 

He took the boys and their duffels into the motel room and showed his son how to salt the room.

“If anyone tries to get in, you shoot them with this,” he handed Dean the pistol he’d tested him with.

Dean stared at his Dad as the man took a bag with a bottle in it and left the room.

Castiel was freaking out.

‘Father!’

‘Castiel, if anyone attempts to enter the room, deal with them.  You have my permission to protect the boys in this situation.”

The angel turned and saw Dean put his brother into pajamas and climb into the bed with him.  Exhaustion was such that the young Winchester could no longer keep his eyes open.  He cuddled his brother close and instinctively put himself between the door and Sammy; a habit he would never break.

Snippets Forty: Leaving Bobby Singer

Dean dragged both duffels downstairs the next morning.  John was asleep on the couch.  Bobby was in the kitchen.  Sam was coming down right behind his brother.  Setting the duffels in a corner, Dean took Sam by the hand and led him into the kitchen

Bobby was drinking coffee and looked up when the boys entered.  His eyes were red.  Castiel wondered if the redness was alcohol or tears and wished he could just ask but Father would be upset if he did so. 

Breakfast was already ready for the boys and he had packed lunches for them, figuring John would forget to feed them until Dean reminded him.  The man was worried about the two children.  John had only one thing on his mind; hunting. 

“Dean, your Daddy is taking you boys with him when he wakes up."

Hazel eyes stared into the older hunter’s.  The blond head nodded but the boy kept quiet.

“You can talk to me, Dean.  I’m not your Daddy.  I’ll be one for you any time you need one.  You understand?”

“Yes, Unca Bobby.”

John stood in the doorway.

“Don’t fill his head with all of this childhood crap, Bobby.  Dean, are you finished eating?”

Dean looked at his half-finished plate and back at his Father.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Put your stuff in the car.”

The little boy ran into the other room and dragged his and his brother’s duffels out to the Impala.

“He wasn’t through eating, John, but you knew that.”

Castiel stood in front of John and looked into his face.  The man was not completely sober. 

“Yeah, Bobby, I knew that.  He’s got to learn to tough it out.  Nice meals are a luxury for a hunter.  Dean better learn it now.”

“You’re still an ass, John.  Sign over custody of the boys to Pastor Jim or me and let us raise them.”

“I need them, Bobby.  Thanks, but I’m not gonna do that.”

Dean walked back into the house.  He grabbed Sam’s car seat and took it to the car and strapped it into the backseat.  He was shaking as he did it.  Castiel followed him out this time and could see how the child was struggling not to cry.  The boy didn’t need another loss.

‘Father, please let me push John Winchester to let the boys stay here?’

‘No, my Son.  Dean will not become what he needs to become by staying here.’

‘I don’t understand, Father.’

‘When the time comes, you will.’

Dean ran to the house as John and Bobby came outside.  John gave Sam to Dean. 

“He’s your responsibility from now on, Son.  I will hold you accountable.”

Doing what he always did, Dean looked at Bobby and whispered, “What?”

John interrupted, “It means that anything happens to him, it’s your fault.”

The hazel eyes widened.  Castiel clenched his fists and lowered his head.  Bobby grabbed John’s shirt front and shoved him off the porch. 

“You aren’t fit to be a father, John.  You hurt that boy in any way and I’ll fill you full of buckshot.”

John sneered and told Dean to put Sam in the car and buckle them both up.  Dean ran to Bobby and hugged him.  The boy was trembling.

“I love you, Unca Bobby,” he whispered.

Bobby knelt down.

“I love you too, Son.”

John was halfway to the car and yelled, “Dean, I gave you an order, Boy!”

Dean took Sam and buckled him in.  Climbing into the backseat of the Impala, he looked out the window at the hunter standing in the yard.  Castiel had gotten into the front seat.  He sat so he could watch his charge.  Dean kept his face emotionless. 

The car pulled out of Singer’s Salvage.

Snippets Thirty-Nine: John Makes a Decision

That afternoon John sat down to have a few beers with Bobby.  Dean sat on the couch in the living room with a book.  He kept his eye on Sam who was trying to get into everything.  He also listened to the men in the kitchen.  Castiel stood looking out the window and watching his charge.  The boy was tense as if he expected problems.

John set down his fifth beer and asked Bobby if he didn’t have anything harder. Bobby brought out a bottle of whiskey.  The older Winchester was getting incredibly drunk. 

“Bobby, I have a case in Lincoln, Nebraska in three days.  I’m meeting another hunter there. “

“Okay,” Bobby muttered.  “When will you be back?  What happens with Dean and the school?”

“I’m taking the boys with me.  It’s time I started training Dean.”

“For what?”

“Come on, Bobby.  Every family that goes into the business raises their kids to do the same.”

“Like hell they do, John!  You took on this life to avenge Mary.  Dean has seen enough of that already.  Let him live a normal life.”

“He can shoot, Bobby.  Like nothing I’ve ever seen in a child his age.  He’ll be the best soldier ever.”

“He’s a kid, John.”

“He’s my kid, Bobby.  We’ll leave in the morning.”

Dean got up and picked up Sam.  They went upstairs where Dean began to pack their belongings, knowing they’d each get one duffle.  Castiel sat on the bed and watched the boy.  The child made no comment.  He did what he knew his Daddy would want.

‘The perfect little soldier,’ Cas murmured.

‘Yes, my Son.  He will be one of the best and most famous hunters of all time.  Both sides will fear him at some point.’

‘Our side, Father?’

‘Yes, my Son.  Our side is not My side.  Understand that when you do what you have to do.’

The angel watched Dean put the duffles in a corner and sit down to play with his brother.

‘Am I the perfect little soldier, also, Father?’

‘Yes, Castiel. Remember that this little soldier playing with his brother will be a brother you one day.’

‘He will?’

‘Yes, my Son. There will be four of you who fight for the world.’

‘Who, Father?’

‘You, Dean, Sam, and Bobby.’

‘The father?’

‘At that point, the only family Dean has will be you, Bobby, Sam, and the Harvelles.’

‘A brother.’

‘And his guardian angel.’

Snippets Thirty-Eight: Shooting Practice

The day after John’s arrival, Dean was awakened early by his father.  The sun was just rising. John had some clothing laid out for the boy.

“Daddy?” his son whispered.

“I have a test for you, Son.  Get dressed.”

The young boy hurried to get into his clothing.  Castiel was infuriated.  This was too early be taking a child who knew where.  There was nothing he could do unless Father allowed it.  There had been enough problems over the four flat tires.

John handed his son a soda and a package of mini donuts.  They left the house and went towards the Impala.  John took a pistol and a bag of bottles and cans, and motioned for the boy to follow him.

The father and son walked for almost a mile towards Bobby’s shooting range.  The angel walked behind them, bothered by the gun.

When they reached the range, John set bottles and some cans on posts and hung some in the air with string and hit them so they were moving.  He showed Dean how to use the automatic and explained the kick in it.  The angel’s grew wider.  Was the man insane?

Dean was told to take a deep breath, release, aim and fire.  His father explained that it was important to hit every one of the targets.  The boy nodded.

The revolver was heavy.  John stood back and watched his five-and-a- half-year-old son aim the gun, expecting the child to miss every one of the targets.  Dean spread his legs to help steady his hands.  His father’s eyebrows went up.  The child breathed deeply, letting the air out slowly and started firing.  He lowered the gun and stood there.

John Winchester walked towards his son and took the gun.  The clip was empty. There had been enough bullets to take out each target with one shot. The man looked at the targets.  Every one of them had been hit.  He turned and stared at his son and grinned the biggest grin Dean had seen in a long time.  He slapped him on the back and they headed back to the house.

John was contented.  Dean walked beside him, only knowing he had somehow pleased his dad.  Castiel was striving to gain self-control.  If it weren’t for Dean and Sam, he would have contemplated letting Azazel know where the man was.  What John Winchester had just done was set his son on a course that would bring nothing but sorrow and grief. The angel was completely distraught.

Castiel felt a breath of air wash over him.

‘You’re job has just begun, Castiel.  You must now protect the hero.’

Snippets Thirty-Seven: The Arrival of John Winchester

Three days after Dean was expelled, John Winchester pulled the Impala into Singer’s Salvage. Bobby and the boys were at the creek fishing.  When John got no answer, he walked around the back and followed the trail.  He stopped and watched his son catch a nice perch. 

Dean looked up and saw his father smiling and froze.  Castiel looked up and saw the man standing there amongst the trees.  He was surprised that Dean did not run towards his father.

Bobby, seeing the man, invited him to come down and join them.  Surprisingly, John did.  He sat down next to Dean and looked at the fish that had been put on a stringer.

“Nice catch, Son.”

Hazel eyes looked into his and there was almost a smile on the boy’s face.  John showed him a trick for casting further.  Dean relaxed.

“I went by the school, Bobby.”

“Okay,” the other hunter replied.

“They wanted to call in Child Protective Services.  We can’t have that, so I’ll be hanging around a few days and see what needs to be done.”

Castiel stood behind the older Winchester and was talking to Father.

“Can I just kick him once, Father?  Please?”

“No, my Son.  This is part of the predictions?”

“What predictions, Father?”

“You will learn more later.  Right now, stay with the boy.”

Castiel was quiet and frustrated.  Too many questions and not enough  answers. He still wanted to kick John Winchester.

Snippets Thirty-Six: Dean's First Day at School

Bobby drove Dean to the elementary school for Kindergarten.  Dean carried a sleeping mat, his lunch, and the school supplies were in his backpack.  The child looked around the room in shock.  He’d never been around this many children in his life.  The hazel eyes stared up into the older man’s, a plea in them.

Bobby knelt down.  Dean walked up until they were eye to eye.

“I can’t go here, Unca Bobby.  I gotta take care of Sammy.”

“School is important, Dean.  You’re a very smart boy. Study hard and you will end up doing something of major importance someday.  I’ll take care of Sam.”

“His name is Sammy,” the boy murmured as he turned and walked into the classroom, followed by an angel.

Bobby kept an eye on Sam who was toddling everywhere.  He had his computer turned on and had several books stacked next to it. He was still adding research to it.  His local phone rang.  Getting up, the hunter answered the phone.

“Singer’s Salvage.”

“Mr. Singer.  This is Mark Jameson at the school.  We need you to come and get Dean.”

“What?  Why?”

“He’s been expelled.  We will talk when you get here.”

Bobby packed up Sam and headed to the school

Dean was sitting in the outer office, with Castiel standing next to him.

“Dean?”

The blond head jerked up and Bobby watched the eyes go blank.  The principal walked into the outer office.

“Mr. Singer?  Come in.”

“Come on, Dean.”

“The boy stays out here, Mr. Singer.”

“Dean has a right in this country to face his accusers.”

The two men and the young boy sat inside the inner office.

“What did he do?”

“First off, he drew a picture of a bleeding woman on a ceiling and there was fire everywhere.  Mr. Singer, that is not normal for a five-year-old boy.”

Bobby looked down at ‘Dean.  The boy’s eyes were closed.

Bobby answered softly, “His mother was killed and he was a witness to it.  You expelling him for that?”

The principal blushed and said no. 

“Well?”

“He tried to leave the schoolyard during recess.”

“It has an eight foot fence around it,” Bobby replied

“When he couldn’t get over it, he took the spoon he stole from the cafeteria and tried to dig under it.”

Bobby turned wide eyes towards the young lad.

The angel sitting in the chair next to Sam’s stroller watched his charge closely.  How can one prevent what the child did if one could not let him know he was there?

Bobby asked, “Dean?”

“Daddy said it was my job to take care of Sammy.  I gotta check on him.”

Bobby turned to the principal, “Their Dad is on the road a lot.  Dean thinks that watching his brother is his job.  Maybe we can figure something out.”

The principal turned redder.  “He cursed his teacher.”

Castiel bowed his head and thought again where would he learn profanity? 

Bobby closed his eyes.  The child was being raised among hunters.  

“What did he say?” he asked.

“Why don’t you ask him.  I prefer not to repeat it.”

Castiel stood up and walked over to his charge and knelt down and looked into the child’s eyes.  

Dean Winchester was angry.  Cas couldn’t remember that look before.

Bobby looked over and softly asked, “Dean?  What did you say?”

“The teacher dragged me by my feet.”

“Okay, that’s uncalled for from any teacher.”

The principal looked at the hunter, “I would have too.”

The hazel eyes looked into his Uncle Bobby’s, “I called the teacher a stupid summa bitch.”

Castiel stood up quickly and murmured, ‘Oh, Father.’

A pin drop could have been heard in the office.  The principal cleared his throat in the silence.

Bobby asked, “How long?”

“Two weeks and we need to speak to his father.  Face to face.”