The First Five Holidays... 4/5
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Chapter 4
Sam’s Birthday
Winter became spring. Easter came and went. And still John couldn’t quite believe that Ellen had actually... sort of... forgiven him for Bill’s death.
Then it was mid-April and John woke to the howling wind and the unmistakable sound of sirens. But these didn’t sound like police sirens or ambulance or fire sirens.
The phone rang, and when John answered, he was greeted by, “Basement, Dad. NOW.”
When Dean used that voice, John knew better than to argue. He grabbed his gun and ran down the stairs, not even bothering to put on shoes or hang up the phone.
It wasn’t until he got down there that he finally put two and two together.
Those were tornado sirens.
He very nearly hauled ass back up those stairs to get his boys - but his boys were grown men with wives now, and they could take care of themselves.
Sighing, he made himself as comfortable as he could. It had been a long time since he’d lived through a tornado, and even longer since he’d gone through one alone.
The sirens went on for just about an hour short of forever. Then a different sounding siren began to wail.
Ten minutes after it started, a shadow passed the basement window and a knock sounded on it.
Two raps. A beat. Two raps.
Dean. Must be all clear.
He trudged up the steps and found himself suddenly ambushed by Dean, who was running his hands down his arms and ribs. “You okay, Dad?”
John frowned. “Yeah, I’m fine. What’s going on?”
“Tornado,” all four said together, and Dean’s hands told John how worried they were.
“Well, hell, Sgt. Winchester here told me to get downstairs, so I went.”
They laughed at his terminology, then Sam stopped laughing. “You meant that.”
John smiled a little. “Yeah, Sam, I did.”
Daphne nudged Dean. Told you you leader.
Dean ducked his head and rubbed his neck sheepishly.
“Well, since you’re okay,” Sam said with a smile. “We’ll go get our days started.”
Rude wake up call, Dean noted.
“That it was,” John agreed. “We supposed to have any more storms today?”
“Yeah, but should all be over at noon. Mercer’s has a basement,” Sam told him.
John nodded. “Okay, then. You kids be safe.”
“You do the same, Papa John,” Tricia said, kissing his cheek.
He hugged her, and she and Sam left.
Dean frowned. Sure you okay? he signed.
“Be better once I get some coffee,” John returned. “But yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for the call, son.”
Dean nodded, and John suddenly knew how rattled Dean was.
He was silent.
“Listen, Dean, as long as you and Daphne are here, you want to have breakfast?”
Dean looked at Daphne.
Daphne shrugged. “Sure. I was gonna call this afternoon anyway, so we can talk now. And I’m not sure I feel like cooking.”
Dean rolled his eyes and headed for the kitchen.
John followed and started on the coffee while Dean got out ingredients for waffles. “Call? What were you wanting to call about?”
Dean put on the maker to heat and waited for Daphne to speak.
“Sam’s birthday,” said Daphne. “Since it’s coming up in a couple of weeks, I figured now was as good a time as any to start planning.”
23, Dean signed.
John nodded. He hadn’t forgotten, exactly, but the time had gotten away from him. “What did you have in mind?”
Dean smiled at him and signed, Piano.
John blinked. “A what?”
“A piano,” Daphne translated.
“I got that-but why a piano?”
“He’s always wanted to learn to play,” Dean spoke at last.
John blinked again. He didn’t remember Sam voicing that desire before-but he didn’t want to say so, given... well, everything. “Huh,” he said instead. “Okay. What kind of piano?”
“A small one,” Daphne grinned and Dean laughed.
“Baby grand? Electric keyboard? What?”
“The keyboard sounds good,” Dean said, mixing the batter.
John nodded once. “Okay. Why don’t I do some research on it, and then you two can go to Beaumont to pick it up?”
Daphne hugged him.
John hugged her back. Maybe he could get the hang of this birthday thing after all.
“Thought we could go in together on it.” That was Dean, hands busy but voice soft.
“Sounds reasonable,” John agreed. “He want to teach himself, or do you know someone who gives lessons?”
“Teach himself,” they chorused.
“Okay. Guess he’ll need some books, then.”
Dean grinned over his shoulder. “That’s my wife’s domain, Dad.”
John laughed. “Yeah, I should leave that one to the librarian, huh?”
Daphne glared, but raised her hands. “Fine.” But amusement laced her tone.
“You have any ideas for a party yet?”
Dean shook his head.
“It’ll be pretty tough to top the one we had for his 18th,” Daphne noted. “So we don’t usually try. And that’s right after the AP exams, so it’s not a good time for a big deal anyway.”
“Just a nice, quiet, low-key celebration,” Dean nodded.
John nodded and looked at the calendar. “That’s a Tuesday. We want to just do something out back, like we did for Dean?”
“He’d like that.”
“Okay. Who all is coming-Jim, Bobby, Rufus, Caleb....”
“The Harvelles... wish Ash could.”
John swallowed hard. “So... Jo’s coming, too?”
They nodded.
Awkward, Dean signed.
They stay with us? Daphne asked him. Maybe less awkward.
Dean nodded and the conversation turned to lighter topics until after the meal, when Daphne left to do the dishes, leaving the men alone.
“Speaking of awkward...” John rubbed the back of his neck, unsure this was the time to broach the subject, but the words were out of his mouth, and Dean was looking at him expectantly. “There’s... something I’ve been wondering, son. Not really a bad thing, just... I’m curious. Why’d you raise Sam a signer?”
“You make it sound like we never spoke,” Dean returned with a smile.
John chuckled softly. “Hell, you didn’t speak to me until after the wedding.”
“Yeah, well, there was good reason for that.” He shifted position. “Sammy likes to sign, Dad. So I let him.”
John shook his head. “I should have seen that. Instead, all I saw was him headed the same way you were for a while after the fire. I just... I couldn’t take losing your voices again.”
“I understand.” There was a silence, then Dean chuckled. “There were some really funny moments.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“Well, there was the memorable eighth grade end of school dance. Sammy’d been skipped a grade, so he had just turned 14 when it happened.”
John raised an eyebrow. “When what happened?”
“Well, I go to pick him up because it’s run past when the buses left. I get in there and there’s John Cougar on the speakers. You know...” He raised his hand. R-O-C-K in the U-S-A. “That song.”
John tried not to smile, although he could guess what came next. “And?”
“And by now, Sam’s 5'6", okay? He’s pretty tall and all arms and legs. So I get in the gym and I find him - he’s surrounded by kids, and he’s signing the song! Fast as his fingers can fly! And the teachers are staring at him like....” Dean made his eyes widen and his jaw lower.
John burst out laughing, picturing the sight.
Dean laughed, too. “So I get him out from his crowd of admirers and we’re heading for the exit, and - well, we can’t hear ’cause the music’s too loud. So he grabs my arm and turns me to face him and asks....” His hands rose and he affected a look of lost-puppy confusion. Dean, why was everyone staring at me? Is it because I’m so tall? He spread his hands, laughing again. “I told him:” No, it’s because you’re so awesome. “He beamed for WEEKS!”
John chuckled and shook his head. “That boy. He’s something else.” Then he looked Dean in the eye and signed, And so are you.
Dean gasped. He always did when his father signed. His hands pulled in toward his chest, ‘whispering’. Once upon a time, that was all I wanted from you. To hear you say that to me. That you thought that of me.
“I’ve always thought it, Dean,” John whispered back. “I just... hell. I thought you knew.”
Tears filled Dean’s eyes. Soldier. Not son. Weapon. Second best. Always. That’s what I knew.
John bit his lip, willing his own tears not to fall. “Somehow I forgot to be a father. Forgot you were a boy, not a Marine. I put too damn much on you, Dean. And I am so, so sorry.”
I know better now. He wiped the tears away. “I learned better. Thanks to Sammy. Raising him for real, getting him the Normal he craved - that was the most important thing I ever did.”
“You did a good job, son.”
“I know. It wasn’t easy. We had a lot of compromises to make - but there was one thing he needed that you just couldn’t give him.”
“What was that?”
“Equality. He has to be included, Dad. If he knows the whys and wherefores and is included in planning, things go so much smoother.”
John nodded slowly. “I didn’t know how to do that. Not sure I do now. Even if I’m not your platoon leader... I’m still your father. Not all that easy to get my head around the two of you bein’ grown men who can be my equals.”
“No, Dad. We are your equals.” He slowly smiled. “And Dad? We’ve hunted since we first moved here. We’re normal men, with families and jobs - but we have never stopped being Hunters.”
“And in a town like this, that makes you normal.” John shook his head and chuckled in spite of himself. “Do you know Rufus calls this place Huntersville?”
“Yup. It was just an ordinary town when we arrived.”
“So I hear.”
“It changed around us. It’s... amazing.”
John smiled wryly. The demon possessing Sam’s friend, he could have predicted. But he would have expected the town to fall apart after that, if anything. The idea that the people would band together against evil wouldn’t have ever crossed his mind until he actually came here and saw it for himself. “Yeah, that’s the word for it.”
“Not really,” Daphne said, coming back in. “We’re something here that I doubt you’ve ever run across before, Dad.” She sat on Dean’s lap and smiled at him. “We’re Texans. We don’t scare easy and we sure as hell don’t give up.”
John laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”
May 2 dawned bright and - stormy. A clap of thunder brought John out of his bed. Not daring to turn on the computer in an electrical storm, he switched on the radio to try to find a weather report, only to have the sirens go off again. He cursed under his breath and headed toward the basement, snagging the cordless phone on his way.
Sure enough, Dean called just about the time John reached the top of the basement steps. “False alarm for here, Dad. The thing’s visible, though - past us and dropped. Look to the southeast.”
John went to the back door and looked out-and whistled at the sight of the dark funnel cloud roaring away from them.
He could see several people milling about watching as it rolled on down and away.
He could hear sirens faintly sounding from the next town over.
“Welcome to springtime in Texas,” he muttered.
“That’s the last of it, though,” Dean said in his ear. “The radar’s clear after that monster.”
“That’s a relief. Wasn’t looking forward to trying to relocate the party.”
“See you after school.”
“Right.” John hung up and switched on the coffee maker-although he wasn’t sure he needed the caffeine after the adrenaline jolt.
He went to work after checking in and found his thoughts drifting all day. He couldn’t help wondering if these were normal storms or if something were threatening to come after Sammy... again.
Mercer came down into the bay and told him to go home and stop brooding.
John sighed. “Sorry, sir... is it that obvious?”
“’Fraid so.” Mercer smiled. “And it’s obvious you’re the boys’ father.”
John raised an eyebrow at that. “How so?”
“Dean will think a problem to death, and Sammy will brood like nobody else.”
John chuckled. “Yeah, they come by it honestly.”
“Go home and rest.”
John nodded and closed up the car he’d just finished.
“I’ll see you tonight.” And Mercer went back to his office.
John headed out and had just reached the sidewalk when he heard someone honking at him. He turned to face the sound.
Bill Cooper stuck his head out the window. “Hey! Need a lift?”
John laughed. “Sure!”
Cooper stopped, and John got in. “Sheesh,” said Cooper as John buckled his seatbelt, “I could hear you worrying all the way at the high school. It’s just a storm, John.”
“Yes, but demons disrupt the weather -”
“They don’t cause tornadoes. And you’re welcome, by the way.”
“For?”
“A dry backyard.”
“Thanks. You nudged the beast away from us?”
“Ah, wasn’t too hard. I try not to do it too often, but it is Sam’s birthday.”
John looked out the window, worrying about Sam again.
Cooper reached over and smacked John upside the head. “Stop that.”
“OW! HEY!”
“I mean it. Quit worrying about Sam. He’s safe here; his blood’s clean; Azazel’s dead and his plan’s been derailed. He is not starting the Apocalypse any time soon.”
“But he will be the one to-” He broke off as Cooper threw up his hands. “Okay, okay, sorry! I’ll try!”
“Seriously, John, the plan is kaputt. And we’re not going to let anyone else have a chance to start it up again.”
John took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m trusting a damned Trickster - but my gut tells me you’re tellin’ the truth.”
“That’s because I am. You know what I think of your sons.”
“Yeah.” John found himself smiling. “You care for ’em like they’re yours.”
Cooper smiled back. “Yeah. I guess you could say that. Sam beats an eight-legged horse any day,” he added under his breath.
“What was that?” John asked.
“Nothing,” Cooper replied, a shade too airily and a shade too loud.
“M-hm.” But John let it lie.
Unlike Dean’s, Sam’s party wasn’t a surprise one. With Sam being psychic, that was next to impossible. They arrived at seven and Sam’s first words were, “I’m starving - where’s the food?”
John laughed. “Out back. Happy birthday, son.”
Thank you, Dad.
John pulled him into a rough hug and thumped his back. “Good day?”
“Rough day. Dodging storms is never fun.”
“I hear that.”
Sam shivered slightly and stretched, trying to cover it.
“You all right, Sam?”
“Mmm. Felt like someone walked over my grave.”
Dean frowned. “You got anything more than that?”
“No. Just a... real bad feeling that something’s watching me.”
“Josh!”
Josh jerked, making Tiffany laugh, as it seemed he’d gotten his hand caught in the act of swiping frosting from the cake.
John frowned. “Josh?”
Sam smiled wryly. “The possession left him sensitive.”
Josh came over, bickering fondly with Tiffany all the way. By the time he reached them, both were smiling broadly. “Hey, what’s up? Happy birthday, dude.”
Sam hugged both of them. “Somethin’s watchin’ me, dude. You got anything?”
Josh cast a concerned glance at John.
John frowned. “What?”
“He knows about me?” Josh asked Sam.
Sam nodded. “And he’s cool with it. Right, Dad?” he added pointedly.
John nodded back. “That’s right. So long as it’s used by a fellow Hunter, it’s fine.”
Sam smiled at him gratefully.
Josh put his hand on Sam’s bare wrist - and smiled when Tiffany put her palm between his shoulder blades. He closed his eyes. John watched anxiously, but Tricia slid an arm around Sam’s waist.
Josh frowned, eyes still closed. “S’old. Really old. And... and wrong... another - driving it off... the second one... lady... protector.” He opened his eyes, pupils blown. “She caught me looking.”
“Lady?” Sam prompted.
Josh shrugged. “It’s female. That’s all I could see. She was... very amused that I caught her.”
Everyone’s eyebrows shot up at that. “Amused?” Sam and Dean chorused.
Josh nodded and grinned, blinking as his pupils returned to normal. “She thought I was cute.”
“Well, she’s got good taste,” Tiffany said, evidently without thinking. Daphne and Tricia burst out laughing.
Josh turned and kissed her.
Just then, Cooper’s phone rang. He answered, and his eyebrows shot up. Then he moved the phone away from his mouth. “Hey, guys? Do you mind if my cousin Carol stops by?”
“No!” Sam grinned. “The more, the merrier!”
Cooper relayed the message and went to the door. Moments later there was a knock, and Cooper opened it to reveal a dark-skinned woman in a red dress.
John’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t forgotten what Cooper had whispered to him at Christmas. He knew he was looking at Kali the Destroyer.
She walked in, stepping neatly over the salt line, and dark eyes scanned the party. She drew in a deep breath and her eyes flew wide open with surprise. “... steak?”
“As rare as you want it, toots,” Cooper teased.
She smiled and walked over to the Winchesters and Robichauxs. “Hello.”
Dean grinned and offered his hand. “Hi! Dean Winchester. Good to know you.”
She shook it. “Carol... from Sandusky.”
Daphne shook her hand next, then Sam, Tricia, Tiffany, and Josh, at whom Kali winked. Josh startled and blushed without seeming to know why.
Then she turned to John.
John swallowed hard and offered his hand. “Carol. John Winchester.”
“Their father.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I have heard much about you. Mainly from... from Bill.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Well... what brings you to Cazadore?”
“Business,” she said smoothly.
And suddenly it clicked, and John felt bizarrely relieved and grateful. “You sounded pretty hungry a minute ago-would you care to join us? We’re just getting ready to eat.”
“I’d enjoy that. Thank you.”
The kids led the way out to the backyard, leaving John to trail behind with Cooper and Kali. “I think I have reason to thank you, don’t I?” he whispered.
“Perhaps,” she whispered back. “Perhaps not.”
“You’re the lady Josh saw.”
“Ah, is that his name? It’s so cute how he can see things he’s not supposed to.”
John chuckled. “And Sam?”
She met his eyes. “Is protected.”
“What... what was it that was coming for him?”
She smirked, tilting her head. “Now, you know I can’t do that.”
John frowned and looked at Cooper, who just shrugged. “Will it be back?”
“Not if it has any sense.” She took a sip of the tea Cooper produced for her and smirked at John again. “Which is seriously in doubt, at this point.”
Then she set the cup down and looked at John more seriously. “You know who I am. So I can tell you this. I cannot hold it back forever. But it will not get through until your child is ready for it. And when he is ready...” She picked the cup up again and graced him with a rare, fearsome smile. “Fear not for your child, John. Fear for the thing that thinks it can control Sam to its own ends.”
A chill ran down John’s spine.
Kali took a drink and continued, “I told it once that it would find nothing here but death. That was not a threat. It was a prophecy.” John opened his mouth, and Kali met his eyes. “The things left behind with the purification of blood were not accidental. They were gifts. Given for a reason. Both the strength and speed shall be required of him. And he shall prevail.” She looked at Cooper. “They shall all prevail.”
“Damn right,” Cooper rumbled and kissed her cheek.
She took another sip and put the empty cup in John’s hands. “You worry too much.” And she went to the grill to see about her steaks.
John sat there in shock for a moment before shaking his head and looking at Cooper. “Damn,” he breathed, for lack of anything better to say.
“Ain’t she somethin’?” Cooper grinned from ear to ear.
John nodded. “Yeah. She’s... she’s something, all right.”
He watched Kali take a plate of steak so raw he half expected it to sit up and moo before she moved to where Sam and Dean were sitting with their girls. She leaned over and kissed both of the boys on their foreheads, and brushed her fingertips over the girls’ foreheads. John read her lips. “Happy birthday, Sam.”
John blinked. “What did she just do?”
Cooper shrugged. “Blessed them.”
“That’s it?”
“What’d you expect,” Cooper snarked, “human sacrifice and an orgy?”
John rolled his eyes. “I just... most gods don’t give without taking.”
“They’re Yahweh’s, John.”
John frowned. “Whose?”
“Yahweh. I Am That I Am. Y’know... God.”
John frowned deeper. “Not sure I’m ready to wrap my head around that yet.”
Cooper patted his shoulder. “There’s time.”
John chuckled. He was genuinely starting to like this ma-this being. “C’mon, let’s spring the keyboard on him.”
Cooper grinned and followed John back into the house. “So, how’s it coming with Jo?”
“Slowly.”
“She speaking to you yet?”
“No, but at least she’s nodding at me now.”
“That is progress. I remember at Dean’s party, she wasn’t even subtle about trying to avoid you.”
“Yup. Progress. I’ll take what I can get.”
Between them, John and Cooper carried the gift-wrapped keyboard out to the backyard. Sam’s eyes went huge.
“What do you get for the geek who has everything?” Dean teased.
“A new library?” Sam teased back.
Everyone laughed.
Sam unwrapped the keyboard and joy shone in his eyes. “Thanks, guys!”
You’re welcome, son, John signed.
Sam’s whole face lit. And thank you for that present.
John laughed and hugged him.
Sam hugged back, then kissed Tricia as the pair of them melted into the embrace of their friends and family.
Kali stood on the outer fringes, watching the young man enjoy the company of his friends. She turned to see John also on the outskirts.
She caught his eye and one of hers closed in a wink.
And despite his lingering worry, John felt oddly... relieved. He didn't know how the hell the Trickster had managed to get a goddess like Kali on the boys’ side, but... well, she did have a reputation as a demon-slayer. He guessed they could use all the allies they could get.
Next
Chapter 4
Sam’s Birthday
Winter became spring. Easter came and went. And still John couldn’t quite believe that Ellen had actually... sort of... forgiven him for Bill’s death.
Then it was mid-April and John woke to the howling wind and the unmistakable sound of sirens. But these didn’t sound like police sirens or ambulance or fire sirens.
The phone rang, and when John answered, he was greeted by, “Basement, Dad. NOW.”
When Dean used that voice, John knew better than to argue. He grabbed his gun and ran down the stairs, not even bothering to put on shoes or hang up the phone.
It wasn’t until he got down there that he finally put two and two together.
Those were tornado sirens.
He very nearly hauled ass back up those stairs to get his boys - but his boys were grown men with wives now, and they could take care of themselves.
Sighing, he made himself as comfortable as he could. It had been a long time since he’d lived through a tornado, and even longer since he’d gone through one alone.
The sirens went on for just about an hour short of forever. Then a different sounding siren began to wail.
Ten minutes after it started, a shadow passed the basement window and a knock sounded on it.
Two raps. A beat. Two raps.
Dean. Must be all clear.
He trudged up the steps and found himself suddenly ambushed by Dean, who was running his hands down his arms and ribs. “You okay, Dad?”
John frowned. “Yeah, I’m fine. What’s going on?”
“Tornado,” all four said together, and Dean’s hands told John how worried they were.
“Well, hell, Sgt. Winchester here told me to get downstairs, so I went.”
They laughed at his terminology, then Sam stopped laughing. “You meant that.”
John smiled a little. “Yeah, Sam, I did.”
Daphne nudged Dean. Told you you leader.
Dean ducked his head and rubbed his neck sheepishly.
“Well, since you’re okay,” Sam said with a smile. “We’ll go get our days started.”
Rude wake up call, Dean noted.
“That it was,” John agreed. “We supposed to have any more storms today?”
“Yeah, but should all be over at noon. Mercer’s has a basement,” Sam told him.
John nodded. “Okay, then. You kids be safe.”
“You do the same, Papa John,” Tricia said, kissing his cheek.
He hugged her, and she and Sam left.
Dean frowned. Sure you okay? he signed.
“Be better once I get some coffee,” John returned. “But yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for the call, son.”
Dean nodded, and John suddenly knew how rattled Dean was.
He was silent.
“Listen, Dean, as long as you and Daphne are here, you want to have breakfast?”
Dean looked at Daphne.
Daphne shrugged. “Sure. I was gonna call this afternoon anyway, so we can talk now. And I’m not sure I feel like cooking.”
Dean rolled his eyes and headed for the kitchen.
John followed and started on the coffee while Dean got out ingredients for waffles. “Call? What were you wanting to call about?”
Dean put on the maker to heat and waited for Daphne to speak.
“Sam’s birthday,” said Daphne. “Since it’s coming up in a couple of weeks, I figured now was as good a time as any to start planning.”
23, Dean signed.
John nodded. He hadn’t forgotten, exactly, but the time had gotten away from him. “What did you have in mind?”
Dean smiled at him and signed, Piano.
John blinked. “A what?”
“A piano,” Daphne translated.
“I got that-but why a piano?”
“He’s always wanted to learn to play,” Dean spoke at last.
John blinked again. He didn’t remember Sam voicing that desire before-but he didn’t want to say so, given... well, everything. “Huh,” he said instead. “Okay. What kind of piano?”
“A small one,” Daphne grinned and Dean laughed.
“Baby grand? Electric keyboard? What?”
“The keyboard sounds good,” Dean said, mixing the batter.
John nodded once. “Okay. Why don’t I do some research on it, and then you two can go to Beaumont to pick it up?”
Daphne hugged him.
John hugged her back. Maybe he could get the hang of this birthday thing after all.
“Thought we could go in together on it.” That was Dean, hands busy but voice soft.
“Sounds reasonable,” John agreed. “He want to teach himself, or do you know someone who gives lessons?”
“Teach himself,” they chorused.
“Okay. Guess he’ll need some books, then.”
Dean grinned over his shoulder. “That’s my wife’s domain, Dad.”
John laughed. “Yeah, I should leave that one to the librarian, huh?”
Daphne glared, but raised her hands. “Fine.” But amusement laced her tone.
“You have any ideas for a party yet?”
Dean shook his head.
“It’ll be pretty tough to top the one we had for his 18th,” Daphne noted. “So we don’t usually try. And that’s right after the AP exams, so it’s not a good time for a big deal anyway.”
“Just a nice, quiet, low-key celebration,” Dean nodded.
John nodded and looked at the calendar. “That’s a Tuesday. We want to just do something out back, like we did for Dean?”
“He’d like that.”
“Okay. Who all is coming-Jim, Bobby, Rufus, Caleb....”
“The Harvelles... wish Ash could.”
John swallowed hard. “So... Jo’s coming, too?”
They nodded.
Awkward, Dean signed.
They stay with us? Daphne asked him. Maybe less awkward.
Dean nodded and the conversation turned to lighter topics until after the meal, when Daphne left to do the dishes, leaving the men alone.
“Speaking of awkward...” John rubbed the back of his neck, unsure this was the time to broach the subject, but the words were out of his mouth, and Dean was looking at him expectantly. “There’s... something I’ve been wondering, son. Not really a bad thing, just... I’m curious. Why’d you raise Sam a signer?”
“You make it sound like we never spoke,” Dean returned with a smile.
John chuckled softly. “Hell, you didn’t speak to me until after the wedding.”
“Yeah, well, there was good reason for that.” He shifted position. “Sammy likes to sign, Dad. So I let him.”
John shook his head. “I should have seen that. Instead, all I saw was him headed the same way you were for a while after the fire. I just... I couldn’t take losing your voices again.”
“I understand.” There was a silence, then Dean chuckled. “There were some really funny moments.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“Well, there was the memorable eighth grade end of school dance. Sammy’d been skipped a grade, so he had just turned 14 when it happened.”
John raised an eyebrow. “When what happened?”
“Well, I go to pick him up because it’s run past when the buses left. I get in there and there’s John Cougar on the speakers. You know...” He raised his hand. R-O-C-K in the U-S-A. “That song.”
John tried not to smile, although he could guess what came next. “And?”
“And by now, Sam’s 5'6", okay? He’s pretty tall and all arms and legs. So I get in the gym and I find him - he’s surrounded by kids, and he’s signing the song! Fast as his fingers can fly! And the teachers are staring at him like....” Dean made his eyes widen and his jaw lower.
John burst out laughing, picturing the sight.
Dean laughed, too. “So I get him out from his crowd of admirers and we’re heading for the exit, and - well, we can’t hear ’cause the music’s too loud. So he grabs my arm and turns me to face him and asks....” His hands rose and he affected a look of lost-puppy confusion. Dean, why was everyone staring at me? Is it because I’m so tall? He spread his hands, laughing again. “I told him:” No, it’s because you’re so awesome. “He beamed for WEEKS!”
John chuckled and shook his head. “That boy. He’s something else.” Then he looked Dean in the eye and signed, And so are you.
Dean gasped. He always did when his father signed. His hands pulled in toward his chest, ‘whispering’. Once upon a time, that was all I wanted from you. To hear you say that to me. That you thought that of me.
“I’ve always thought it, Dean,” John whispered back. “I just... hell. I thought you knew.”
Tears filled Dean’s eyes. Soldier. Not son. Weapon. Second best. Always. That’s what I knew.
John bit his lip, willing his own tears not to fall. “Somehow I forgot to be a father. Forgot you were a boy, not a Marine. I put too damn much on you, Dean. And I am so, so sorry.”
I know better now. He wiped the tears away. “I learned better. Thanks to Sammy. Raising him for real, getting him the Normal he craved - that was the most important thing I ever did.”
“You did a good job, son.”
“I know. It wasn’t easy. We had a lot of compromises to make - but there was one thing he needed that you just couldn’t give him.”
“What was that?”
“Equality. He has to be included, Dad. If he knows the whys and wherefores and is included in planning, things go so much smoother.”
John nodded slowly. “I didn’t know how to do that. Not sure I do now. Even if I’m not your platoon leader... I’m still your father. Not all that easy to get my head around the two of you bein’ grown men who can be my equals.”
“No, Dad. We are your equals.” He slowly smiled. “And Dad? We’ve hunted since we first moved here. We’re normal men, with families and jobs - but we have never stopped being Hunters.”
“And in a town like this, that makes you normal.” John shook his head and chuckled in spite of himself. “Do you know Rufus calls this place Huntersville?”
“Yup. It was just an ordinary town when we arrived.”
“So I hear.”
“It changed around us. It’s... amazing.”
John smiled wryly. The demon possessing Sam’s friend, he could have predicted. But he would have expected the town to fall apart after that, if anything. The idea that the people would band together against evil wouldn’t have ever crossed his mind until he actually came here and saw it for himself. “Yeah, that’s the word for it.”
“Not really,” Daphne said, coming back in. “We’re something here that I doubt you’ve ever run across before, Dad.” She sat on Dean’s lap and smiled at him. “We’re Texans. We don’t scare easy and we sure as hell don’t give up.”
John laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”
May 2 dawned bright and - stormy. A clap of thunder brought John out of his bed. Not daring to turn on the computer in an electrical storm, he switched on the radio to try to find a weather report, only to have the sirens go off again. He cursed under his breath and headed toward the basement, snagging the cordless phone on his way.
Sure enough, Dean called just about the time John reached the top of the basement steps. “False alarm for here, Dad. The thing’s visible, though - past us and dropped. Look to the southeast.”
John went to the back door and looked out-and whistled at the sight of the dark funnel cloud roaring away from them.
He could see several people milling about watching as it rolled on down and away.
He could hear sirens faintly sounding from the next town over.
“Welcome to springtime in Texas,” he muttered.
“That’s the last of it, though,” Dean said in his ear. “The radar’s clear after that monster.”
“That’s a relief. Wasn’t looking forward to trying to relocate the party.”
“See you after school.”
“Right.” John hung up and switched on the coffee maker-although he wasn’t sure he needed the caffeine after the adrenaline jolt.
He went to work after checking in and found his thoughts drifting all day. He couldn’t help wondering if these were normal storms or if something were threatening to come after Sammy... again.
Mercer came down into the bay and told him to go home and stop brooding.
John sighed. “Sorry, sir... is it that obvious?”
“’Fraid so.” Mercer smiled. “And it’s obvious you’re the boys’ father.”
John raised an eyebrow at that. “How so?”
“Dean will think a problem to death, and Sammy will brood like nobody else.”
John chuckled. “Yeah, they come by it honestly.”
“Go home and rest.”
John nodded and closed up the car he’d just finished.
“I’ll see you tonight.” And Mercer went back to his office.
John headed out and had just reached the sidewalk when he heard someone honking at him. He turned to face the sound.
Bill Cooper stuck his head out the window. “Hey! Need a lift?”
John laughed. “Sure!”
Cooper stopped, and John got in. “Sheesh,” said Cooper as John buckled his seatbelt, “I could hear you worrying all the way at the high school. It’s just a storm, John.”
“Yes, but demons disrupt the weather -”
“They don’t cause tornadoes. And you’re welcome, by the way.”
“For?”
“A dry backyard.”
“Thanks. You nudged the beast away from us?”
“Ah, wasn’t too hard. I try not to do it too often, but it is Sam’s birthday.”
John looked out the window, worrying about Sam again.
Cooper reached over and smacked John upside the head. “Stop that.”
“OW! HEY!”
“I mean it. Quit worrying about Sam. He’s safe here; his blood’s clean; Azazel’s dead and his plan’s been derailed. He is not starting the Apocalypse any time soon.”
“But he will be the one to-” He broke off as Cooper threw up his hands. “Okay, okay, sorry! I’ll try!”
“Seriously, John, the plan is kaputt. And we’re not going to let anyone else have a chance to start it up again.”
John took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m trusting a damned Trickster - but my gut tells me you’re tellin’ the truth.”
“That’s because I am. You know what I think of your sons.”
“Yeah.” John found himself smiling. “You care for ’em like they’re yours.”
Cooper smiled back. “Yeah. I guess you could say that. Sam beats an eight-legged horse any day,” he added under his breath.
“What was that?” John asked.
“Nothing,” Cooper replied, a shade too airily and a shade too loud.
“M-hm.” But John let it lie.
Unlike Dean’s, Sam’s party wasn’t a surprise one. With Sam being psychic, that was next to impossible. They arrived at seven and Sam’s first words were, “I’m starving - where’s the food?”
John laughed. “Out back. Happy birthday, son.”
Thank you, Dad.
John pulled him into a rough hug and thumped his back. “Good day?”
“Rough day. Dodging storms is never fun.”
“I hear that.”
Sam shivered slightly and stretched, trying to cover it.
“You all right, Sam?”
“Mmm. Felt like someone walked over my grave.”
Dean frowned. “You got anything more than that?”
“No. Just a... real bad feeling that something’s watching me.”
“Josh!”
Josh jerked, making Tiffany laugh, as it seemed he’d gotten his hand caught in the act of swiping frosting from the cake.
John frowned. “Josh?”
Sam smiled wryly. “The possession left him sensitive.”
Josh came over, bickering fondly with Tiffany all the way. By the time he reached them, both were smiling broadly. “Hey, what’s up? Happy birthday, dude.”
Sam hugged both of them. “Somethin’s watchin’ me, dude. You got anything?”
Josh cast a concerned glance at John.
John frowned. “What?”
“He knows about me?” Josh asked Sam.
Sam nodded. “And he’s cool with it. Right, Dad?” he added pointedly.
John nodded back. “That’s right. So long as it’s used by a fellow Hunter, it’s fine.”
Sam smiled at him gratefully.
Josh put his hand on Sam’s bare wrist - and smiled when Tiffany put her palm between his shoulder blades. He closed his eyes. John watched anxiously, but Tricia slid an arm around Sam’s waist.
Josh frowned, eyes still closed. “S’old. Really old. And... and wrong... another - driving it off... the second one... lady... protector.” He opened his eyes, pupils blown. “She caught me looking.”
“Lady?” Sam prompted.
Josh shrugged. “It’s female. That’s all I could see. She was... very amused that I caught her.”
Everyone’s eyebrows shot up at that. “Amused?” Sam and Dean chorused.
Josh nodded and grinned, blinking as his pupils returned to normal. “She thought I was cute.”
“Well, she’s got good taste,” Tiffany said, evidently without thinking. Daphne and Tricia burst out laughing.
Josh turned and kissed her.
Just then, Cooper’s phone rang. He answered, and his eyebrows shot up. Then he moved the phone away from his mouth. “Hey, guys? Do you mind if my cousin Carol stops by?”
“No!” Sam grinned. “The more, the merrier!”
Cooper relayed the message and went to the door. Moments later there was a knock, and Cooper opened it to reveal a dark-skinned woman in a red dress.
John’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t forgotten what Cooper had whispered to him at Christmas. He knew he was looking at Kali the Destroyer.
She walked in, stepping neatly over the salt line, and dark eyes scanned the party. She drew in a deep breath and her eyes flew wide open with surprise. “... steak?”
“As rare as you want it, toots,” Cooper teased.
She smiled and walked over to the Winchesters and Robichauxs. “Hello.”
Dean grinned and offered his hand. “Hi! Dean Winchester. Good to know you.”
She shook it. “Carol... from Sandusky.”
Daphne shook her hand next, then Sam, Tricia, Tiffany, and Josh, at whom Kali winked. Josh startled and blushed without seeming to know why.
Then she turned to John.
John swallowed hard and offered his hand. “Carol. John Winchester.”
“Their father.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I have heard much about you. Mainly from... from Bill.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Well... what brings you to Cazadore?”
“Business,” she said smoothly.
And suddenly it clicked, and John felt bizarrely relieved and grateful. “You sounded pretty hungry a minute ago-would you care to join us? We’re just getting ready to eat.”
“I’d enjoy that. Thank you.”
The kids led the way out to the backyard, leaving John to trail behind with Cooper and Kali. “I think I have reason to thank you, don’t I?” he whispered.
“Perhaps,” she whispered back. “Perhaps not.”
“You’re the lady Josh saw.”
“Ah, is that his name? It’s so cute how he can see things he’s not supposed to.”
John chuckled. “And Sam?”
She met his eyes. “Is protected.”
“What... what was it that was coming for him?”
She smirked, tilting her head. “Now, you know I can’t do that.”
John frowned and looked at Cooper, who just shrugged. “Will it be back?”
“Not if it has any sense.” She took a sip of the tea Cooper produced for her and smirked at John again. “Which is seriously in doubt, at this point.”
Then she set the cup down and looked at John more seriously. “You know who I am. So I can tell you this. I cannot hold it back forever. But it will not get through until your child is ready for it. And when he is ready...” She picked the cup up again and graced him with a rare, fearsome smile. “Fear not for your child, John. Fear for the thing that thinks it can control Sam to its own ends.”
A chill ran down John’s spine.
Kali took a drink and continued, “I told it once that it would find nothing here but death. That was not a threat. It was a prophecy.” John opened his mouth, and Kali met his eyes. “The things left behind with the purification of blood were not accidental. They were gifts. Given for a reason. Both the strength and speed shall be required of him. And he shall prevail.” She looked at Cooper. “They shall all prevail.”
“Damn right,” Cooper rumbled and kissed her cheek.
She took another sip and put the empty cup in John’s hands. “You worry too much.” And she went to the grill to see about her steaks.
John sat there in shock for a moment before shaking his head and looking at Cooper. “Damn,” he breathed, for lack of anything better to say.
“Ain’t she somethin’?” Cooper grinned from ear to ear.
John nodded. “Yeah. She’s... she’s something, all right.”
He watched Kali take a plate of steak so raw he half expected it to sit up and moo before she moved to where Sam and Dean were sitting with their girls. She leaned over and kissed both of the boys on their foreheads, and brushed her fingertips over the girls’ foreheads. John read her lips. “Happy birthday, Sam.”
John blinked. “What did she just do?”
Cooper shrugged. “Blessed them.”
“That’s it?”
“What’d you expect,” Cooper snarked, “human sacrifice and an orgy?”
John rolled his eyes. “I just... most gods don’t give without taking.”
“They’re Yahweh’s, John.”
John frowned. “Whose?”
“Yahweh. I Am That I Am. Y’know... God.”
John frowned deeper. “Not sure I’m ready to wrap my head around that yet.”
Cooper patted his shoulder. “There’s time.”
John chuckled. He was genuinely starting to like this ma-this being. “C’mon, let’s spring the keyboard on him.”
Cooper grinned and followed John back into the house. “So, how’s it coming with Jo?”
“Slowly.”
“She speaking to you yet?”
“No, but at least she’s nodding at me now.”
“That is progress. I remember at Dean’s party, she wasn’t even subtle about trying to avoid you.”
“Yup. Progress. I’ll take what I can get.”
Between them, John and Cooper carried the gift-wrapped keyboard out to the backyard. Sam’s eyes went huge.
“What do you get for the geek who has everything?” Dean teased.
“A new library?” Sam teased back.
Everyone laughed.
Sam unwrapped the keyboard and joy shone in his eyes. “Thanks, guys!”
You’re welcome, son, John signed.
Sam’s whole face lit. And thank you for that present.
John laughed and hugged him.
Sam hugged back, then kissed Tricia as the pair of them melted into the embrace of their friends and family.
Kali stood on the outer fringes, watching the young man enjoy the company of his friends. She turned to see John also on the outskirts.
She caught his eye and one of hers closed in a wink.
And despite his lingering worry, John felt oddly... relieved. He didn't know how the hell the Trickster had managed to get a goddess like Kali on the boys’ side, but... well, she did have a reputation as a demon-slayer. He guessed they could use all the allies they could get.
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