Chapter 29

Disclaimer: I still don't own them.

Neither one could ignore it when they finally pulled into the driveway and saw the for rent sign in the front window of their house.

Dean instantly felt the tension levels rise in his brother, as Sam slid silently out of the car.

"Dean," Bobby started.

"Don't," Dean said quietly. "Go home, okay, Bobby. I'll call you later."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come in?"

"No, Bobby. Please, just go home, okay?" Dean pleaded.

Against his better judgement, Bobby complied with Dean's request. "You better call me," he all but ordered.

Dean nodded and then turned to his brother and found him standing, staring at the sign in the window, and he knew exactly what his brother was thinking,

No, they couldn't leave. Not now.

Dean stood beside his brother. He kind of had mixed feelings. He missed hunting and he missed the open road, and Gray had told him that he was leaving for Paris in a week, so it wasn't like he had a ton of things planned for the summer, although his friendship with George had grown, so it wasn't like he would be completely bored. He knew this wouldn't just be for the summer, though. They wouldn't be coming back. He found himself not wanting to go into that house, as he could feel the anger rolling off his brother in waves. He didn't want to be around for the conversation that was sure to happen. Conversation, yeah that's a good one, Dean thought wryly to himself.

"Maybe we're going hunting for the summer," Dean suggested half-heartedly.

Sam scoffed. "You don't really believe that do you?"

"Sammy..."

"Forget it," Sam snapped. "I'm going to go get changed. I'm meeting Max at his place and we're going to the movies." He was still trying to deny the obvious.

"Sammy, please don't..."

He never got to finish that thought as Sam stalked off toward the house. Dean's hand reached up and he gripped his amulet tightly, not sure what his feelings were towards it. He knew that putting on the amulet was the reason behind this and that made it his fault. One moment of weakness and he had ruined everything, but he still liked the fact that he no longer had to take needles everyday. Did that make him selfish?

Dean followed his brother into the house. He could hear his dad in the kitchen and he followed Sam to their bedroom so he too could change out of his uniform. He hated it, but he felt a little melancholy that this was likely to be the last time he would be doing so.

"Boys," he heard his dad call. "I need to see you both when you're done."

"Coming," Dean called and he looked over to his brother. "Don't start anything, Sammy, please," he said desperately, and hated the pleading tone in his voice.

"I knew you'd be on his side," Sam mumbled just loud enough for Dean to hear.

"I'm not on anyone's side, Sammy," Dean tried to explain. "I just..." Want peace.

"I'm going to ask to stay at Bobby's. Back me up, okay Dean? Just once have the nerve to stand up to him and ask to stay with me. He can get more hunts done without us anyway, we would just be in the way."

"That's not true," Dean said, he could feel his defenses start to rise. The next little while was going to be anything but pleasant. "Dad loves us. He won't let us stay at Bobby's, you know that..."

"You know what, Dean, just forget it. It would just be nice to know I could count on my big brother," he said going right for the jugular.

"Sammy..." Dean said, a touch of hurt entering his tone as Sam's words landed home.

"I told you, it's Sam," he growled and stalked out of the room, leaving Dean standing there.

--

Dean tried to swallow his emotions as he followed Sam out of the room. He didn't want his dad to have to call him twice. Both boys made their way to the kitchen as if they were on their way to a funeral. In a way, they were. Sam knew his normal life was about to become dead and buried, and Dean knew the peace between his father and brother was about to be brutally murdered.

"Boys, I need you to have a seat, there are some things we need to discuss," John said seriously.

"I don't want to leave," Sam blurted out.

"Sam, let me speak," John insisted. "I was speaking to the landlord and gave my notice. There's no reason we can't get back on the road now. There was a mysterious house fire in Ohio that I want to check out."

"I don't want to leave," Sam repeated. "Can't I stay with Bobby?" His eyes flickered over to his brother to see if he would speak up. Dean remained silent, his gaze cast vaguely ahead.

"No, Sam," John said immediately. "I want you boys with me. I have a little surprise planned as well," he said. He knew leaving was going to be hard and he wanted to make it up to his sons, even if it was just in a small way. "The hunt is in Sandusky, Ohio. I thought after it was finished, we could go to Cedar Point for the day before we headed out on our next job, as a reward for you boys doing so well in school. Sammy, I know you've always wanted to go on a roller coaster."

"I want to stay here," Sam insisted. "I have plans already and I don't want to hunt. I can stay with Bobby. You know he would let me."

"Your place is with your brother and me. You're coming and that's the end of the discussion," John said firmly.

"Dean wants to stay with Bobby too," Sam replied. He was getting desperate.

"That true, Dean?" John inquired as he directed a glare toward his eldest.

Dean dropped his gaze so that he wouldn't have to look at his father. He didn't say anything, he couldn't. He really didn't want to deal with this.

"Dean," John said again. "Answer me."

"I, um… I want to, ah… that is..." he mumbled something so low that neither Sam nor John could hear it, yet that didn't stop each of them from interpreting it in their own favour.

'He wants to hunt', 'he wants to stay' was what both of them came back with at the same time.

"You're not staying at Bobby's. Either of you," John replied in an angry tone. "We're a family, we stick together."

"When it's convenient," Sam shot back.

John's temper instantly blew, and the vein in his forehead started throbbing. "I'm your father, Samuel Francis Winchester, and what I say goes. We are leaving at the end of the week, and if you want to spend it grounded, then keep it up."

"When are we coming back?" Sam wanted to know.

"We're not," John replied as if it should have been obvious. "I couldn't get the summer off so I gave my notice at work."

"But the academic team, my friends. I was going to try out for the debate club and there is a good chance Charlie is going to be my history teacher next year. I don't want to leave. I really like it here. Dean likes it here. Can't me and Dean stay with Bobby and still go to school there?"

"I don't work there anymore. How do you suggest I pay the tuition?" John asked pointedly.

"I could apply for a scholarship. Please dad, it's Dean's senior year," Sam pleaded.

"Even if you get a scholarship, it wouldn't cover Dean, and I'd doubt that he'd qualify, and it'll be his senior year no matter what school he's in. You'll like that, right Dean? No more uniforms."

"Can I be excused?" was all Dean said. He was a little hurt that his father didn't think he would qualify for a scholarship, even it was true. You had to have straight As. He didn't.

"No, I'm not done. As I said, we'll be leaving at the end of the week. On Sunday, I have a hunt, so Dean, you're in charge of making sure you and your brother are packed and ready to go, and that the house is cleaned, top to bottom, and any repairs made, I need my damage deposit back."

"But dad, you know that Bobby would..."

"SAMUEL, ENOUGH! THIS IS MY DECISION AND I HAVE MADE IT!" John thundered.

"Damn right it's enough. I'm tired of having to put my life on hold for your crusade. I'm a kid, not a soldier. I don't want to be a soldier. I didn't ask to be enlisted," Sam yelled back.

"This isn't about what you want, Samuel. This is about what's best for this family."

"Risking mine and Dean's life is right? Dragging us all over the country, and never letting us have friends? Never getting a chance to be normal? Tell me dad, how is that best for us?"

"Normal," John scoffed. "We can't afford to be normal, Samuel. How many people will die because you want to go to the movies?"

"That's not fair. Why is it our job to save those people? Why can't we live our lives, dad?"

"Because we know what's out there and we have to find the thing that took your mother."

"Even if we do find the thing that killed her, it won't bring her back. Do you think she would have wanted this life for us?" Sam said before he could stop himself.

Bringing Mary into the argument was a mistake. John's voice got low, deadly. He turned away. "This is not open for discussion. You will go to your room. The only time you're allowed out is for meals and to help your brother pack. From this point on, you're on full restriction."

"But..."

"You should have thought about that before you mouthed off. Now go pack."

"No."

"I said go pack. I will not discuss this anymore."

"And I said no."

"Samuel, you're really pushing it. You're not too big to turn over my knee."

"I HATE YOU!" Sam yelled at the top of his lungs. "I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU, AND DEAN,YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS HE IS. JUST THIS ONCE WOULD IT KILL YOU TO..." Sam stopped dead when he turned to where his brother was supposed to be sitting.

John looked over his son's shoulder and they were both staring at an empty kitchen.

--

He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't stand to sit there and watch the two people he loved more than anything tear each other apart, and when his mother was brought into it, it was the last straw. He silently slipped out of the kitchen and walked out of the house. He just started walking. He wasn't going to take the Impala, as he didn't want to alert his dad and brother.

He wasn't surprised when he discovered that he was taking the route to Bobby's house, but he didn't want to go there. Bobby would just drive him home and tell him to talk to his father, but damn it, he didn't want to. He changed direction and just wandered aimlessly.

The only thing Dean wanted to know was just when his life had gone to hell. One year ago, he'd had everything laid out on a nice clear path. He took care of his father and his brother. He went to school and tried to stay away from everyone and out of trouble. Why bother making friends when you were leaving. He was going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a hunter. Then everything changed.

Diabetes, the doctors said. You have to take shots, eat right, and exercise, stay in one spot.

They had stayed with Bobby. Sam and his father had stopped fighting. He had met Kelsey, and then they had started at a prep school. Dean had met Gray and for the first time in his life, he had a real friend. He had joined a school team. Not his first choice of activity, but he had done well. His grades went up in all his classes and he found that he liked getting good grades. Then he had met James in the hospital and started getting interested in forensics. There were teachers talking about college.

He compared that to the open road, saving people, hunting things, the family business. That was what he wanted. Wasn't it?

This was all his fault. They wouldn't be here if he hadn't gotten diabetes. They wouldn't have stopped hunting and lived their normal life. They wouldn't be leaving if he hadn't put the amulet on and he had known what putting it on meant. The end of all the good stuff. He had put it on because he was just so overwhelmed at the time that he couldn't think. He had just slipped it over his head. He once again cursed his weakness and wished that he could take it off, but Dean didn't think even that would help. He could hunt with diabetes but what about his arm. He didn't know if he would lose function again, and the only thing he was certain of at that point was that he couldn't live like that.

He tried to clear his mind as he continued to wander aimlessly down the road. HadSam and John realized he was gone yet? They were probably still fighting. What would his dad do after Sam stormed off? He'd get smashed. To Dean, that suddenly sounded like a very good idea. He turned left and headed downtown. He had a fake ID and some cash in his pocket.

--

"Sam, where's your brother?" John wanted to know.

"How should I know?" Sam snapped. "It's not my job to keep track of him. You're his father, it's supposed to be your job."

"Never mind, he's probably headed toward Bobby's." John called the elder mechanic and asked him to call him when Dean showed up. Bobby said that he would keep an eye out for him.

Sam got up to headed to his room, he couldn't resist one last parting shot though. "What are you going to do without Bobby, dad?"

"Samuel, I'm not going to tell you again. I suggest you get your ass in your room before I give you something to yell about."

"That's your answer for everything isn't it? Issue an order and hope it all goes away. Why don't you try being a father, like Bobby does for us? I wish he was my dad."

Sam knew in that instant he had gone too far. John's face flashed hurt for a minute before

it was quickly replaced by a dark thunder cloud. The vein started throbbing in his head once more, and his fists clenched by his side, his face turning purple as his blood pressure shot through the roof.

"Like it or not, Samuel Francis Winchester, I'm your father, and that's not going to change. You don't like the way I run this family, well that's just too damn bad," John growled. He was desperately trying to keep his hands by his side. He had never struck his children and damn it, he wasn't going to start now. With that, John turned and walked toward out of the kitchen. He needed to get himself back under control. He was so upset that he grabbed the Impala's keys, despite the fact that it was no longer his car, and walked out the front door, slamming it shut behind him.

--

Bobby had been worried about both Winchester boys when he had dropped them off and he was really berating himself for listening to Dean and leaving. He wasn't surprised when he got a call from John saying Dean had disappeared, so he kept an ear open, waiting for John's eldest to show. He really started to get worried when Dean failed to turn up though. He got up and checked the garage. No Dean. John indicated that Dean was on foot, so he waited another half hour before he made another check for Dean around his property. No Dean. Great, just great, he thought. He picked up the phone and called the Winchester house, but there was no answer. He called John's cell and it went straight to voice mail. Bobby grabbed his keys and headed out the front door. He had a strong feeling that he knew where John was.

Bobby's first stop was the Winchester home. John could look after himself. He quickly confirmed that Sam was okay. He found the youngest Winchester in the living room. It was a wreck, however, books, couch cushions and other things were strewn all over the place.

"Sam, what the hell happened here?" Bobby snapped.

"Dad wanted everything off the shelves. I helped," Sam snapped back.

Bobby took a deep breath and counted to 10. "Okay, you're upset. I get that, but do you really think acting like a spoiled brat is going to help your cause?"

"He's never gonna change, Bobby. Why does he always do this?"

Bobby knelt down and gathered Sam in his arms. He held tighter as Sam struggled to get out of them. "It's not fair, kiddo, I get that. I know you don't understand, and I pray you never have to find out what your dad went through, but he's your dad, son, and the only one you got. You deal with what life hands you and you move on."

"But..."

"No buts. I'm not telling you not to be mad. You have every right to be. Now where's your father?"

"Probably at some rat hole getting hammered," Sam spat out bitterly. Then a thought occurred to him. "Um, Bobby, where's Dean?"

"I don't know. I was kind of hoping you did."

"Where'd he go, Bobby?" Sam said, worry overriding his anger.

"I'm going to go look for him. You wait here. Call Gray and George, see if either of them has heard from him.

--

Gray drove down the road looking for his friend. Sam had been vague on the phone. All he knew was that Sam had said they were moving and that Dean had taken off. He remembered showing Dean a small creek that he liked to go to when he was upset, so he drove there and was relieved to see a familiar figure sitting on a rock. He pulled over and walked to sit next to his friend.

"Hey Dean. Sam called me. He's worried about you," he said softly as he approached his friend.

"He noticed I was gone? I'm surprised."

"What's going on, Dean?" Gray asked.

"Sam didn't tell you? Dad's making us move. According to Sam, that's the equivalent of committing murder," Dean said bitterly.

"Um, Dean, have you been drinking?" Gray asked. He could see at least 4 empty beer cans around Dean.

"So what? Dad does it."

"Well that may be, but not only is your dad of legal age, but he's not diabetic. Do you have any idea what alcohol can do to your blood sugar?" Gray said worriedly.

"I got it covered," Dean said and took another swig from the can he was holding. "Want one?"

"No," Gray said and pushed it away. "You're done as well," he said taking the can away from Dean and throwing it as far as he could. "You got your meter?"

"No, threw it away," Dean said with a grin.

"Come on, I'm taking you to the ER. Your sugar has to be through the roof."

"No," Dean said stubbornly. "I'm fine."

"Dean, please."

"Just take me home, okay?"

Against his better judgment, Gray did what his friend asked of him. He didn't seem to be showing signs of high blood sugar, he didn't even seem to be drunk. The other cans must have been there already he thought, although part of him doubted it.

Gray called Bobby to let him know that Dean was alright, and that he was bringing him home. He tried to get the story out of his friend, but Dean was tight lipped, refusing to discuss it.

--

Gray pulled into the driveway, walked Dean to the door, and let Bobby know that Dean had been drinking. Bobby thanked him for bringing Dean home, said that he would look after Dean and thanked Gray for his help. Gray got the distinct feeling that he was being dismissed. Something was going on that he wasn't supposed to know about.

When the door shut behind Gray and Bobby heard his car pull away, Bobby grabbed Dean's shirt in both fists. "You stupid ass. What did you do?"

"Bobby I..."

"There is no excuse for this, Jonathan Dean. You're just God damned lucky Gray listened to you and brought you here instead of hauling your keister to a hospital. You would have been in some serious crap if they stuck you with insulin. And drinking? You know you're not supposed to draw attention to yourself."

"Yeah, well, what difference does it make? We're leaving in a few days anyway," Dean said with a shrug.

"It does matter. You know better than that."

"Dean, how could you take off like that? I needed you," Sam said in an accusing tone as he walked into the living room.

"I asked you not to start something with dad, Sammy," Dean reminded his brother.

"SAM!" His younger brother yelled back at him.

Dean suddenly couldn't take it anymore and something inside him broke. "So I'm only allowed to call you Sammy when I meet with your approval? Is it like a reward for doing whatever you want, and when I do something that upsets you instead of talking about it like an adult, you resort to ignoring me, except to tell me that I'm never there for you, and telling me I can't call you Sammy because of it. Newsflash, I've been there for you since the day you were born so screw you, SAMMY."

Bobby wasn't sure how it happened, but when Dean went to storm out of the room, he brushed by Sam. Sam yelled that he should watch where he was going and pushed back. That led to a 'quit it', 'you quit it' shoving match that quickly escalated with the two boys wrestling on the floor.

"Stop it, that's enough." Bobby grabbed the two boys and tried to pull them apart. Then he tried to hold them, one in each arm. "Samuel, Jonathan Dean, you're both acting like children."

"We are children, Bobby," Sam said. "Dad needs to remember that."

"He's not even here, Sammy. Give it a rest would you. You're giving me a headache," Dean snapped back at his brother.

"Can you get headaches?" Sam shot back. "If you could have sucked it up and not put that stupid amulet on, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Bobby felt Dean stop struggling as soon as Sam's words left his mouth. He immediately thought Dean was going to retreat into himself, but he was wrong. When Bobby loosened his grip, just slightly, Dean wriggled out of it and grabbed Sam. "YOU DON'T KNOW..." Dean stopped abruptly. "I'm so sorry for ruining your perfect life," he said, matching his father's quiet, deadly tone. Bobby and Sam could tell that Dean was trying extremely hard to control his temper. "I'm sorry I'm a weak screw up. Is that what you want to hear?"

Dean let go of his brother and prepared to leave. He turned back when he got to the door of the living room and he reached up and pulled his amulet off, and then he turned back to Bobby and Sam and threw it at their feet. "I wish I'd never laid eyes on this stupid thing. Why'd you give it to me, Bobby?" He didn't wait for an answer. This time, he walked out of the living room, into his room, and slammed the door.

--

Sam silently reached down and picked up the shiny gold object and thrust it out toward Bobby.

"YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS YOUR FAULT. WHY'D YOU HAVE TO GET THAT STUPID THING ANYWAY?" He followed in his older brother's footsteps and stormed out of the room. Not wanting to be near his brother, Sam went to his father's room, and slammed the door leaving Bobby standing there.

--

That was when Bobby had realized that Jefferson had been right, this stupid thing had done more harm than good, and he suddenly realized why more people didn't seek this thing out. Kind of ironic that it was based on the Goddess of Harmony when it created everything but. Bobby had thought he'd been thorough in his research on the thing. He realized now that he had only done his homework on how it affected the wearer, but he had no idea how it affected those around them. Was that part of the legend? He was in debt up to his eyeballs, and his family was in pieces. Yeah, the thing worked real well, he thought bitterly.

This was his fault. He had better get started on the damage control.

--

He approached the boys' room first and just before he could knock, he heard Dean's voice telling him that he could come in.

The young hunter did not want to talk about this, but he knew it wasn't Bobby's fault. Bobby had gotten him the amulet because he wanted him get better. He remembered Bobby's words at the hospital, that Dean was like a son to him, and there was no way Dean wanted to undermine that. This wasn't Bobby's fault, it was his.

"Here," Bobby said softly as he handed Dean back his amulet.

Dean reluctantly reached out for it and put it back around his neck.

"I'm sorry, kiddo," Bobby said.

Dean looked at him in surprise. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I shouldn't have been so weak. I should..."

"JONATHAN DEAN WINCHESTER JR," Bobby said cutting him off sharply. "Stop it. You're not weak. I would have done the same thing under the circumstances."

"It was just a snap decision. I felt everything piling up on me and I couldn't take it anymore, I put it on without thinking. I knew this would happen, yet I did it anyway. How does that not make me weak?"

"It makes you human, kiddo. There's nothing wrong with wanting something for yourself, Dean," Bobby said trying to reason with John's eldest.

"But we wouldn't be in this mess if I wasn't..."

"Jonathan, I swear, if you finish that sentence, I'm putting you over my knee. I don't care how big you are. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I'm the one that gave it to you."

"I don't blame you," Dean said sincerely.

"You can't blame yourself, either. You didn't make your daddy decide to hunt. Amulet or not, you know he would have eventually hit the road. He wouldn't have stayed here forever. If this keeps you safe, then I'm glad I gave it to you."

Dean knew that Bobby was right. His dad wouldn't have stopped hunting forever. He just needed an excuse, and he had found one in the amulet.

"Can you just leave me alone?" Dean asked, getting up and walking toward the window. "I just need to think."

Bobby didn't like it, but he knew that Dean had already opened up more than he had expected, so he silently left the room. Before he could go into John's room to speak with Sam though, the front door opened and the object of his thoughts walked into the room.

Bobby thanked whatever Gods existed that John didn't appear to be drunk, although Bobby could tell that he had had a couple beers. He did, however, have a six pack in his hands and Bobby had no doubt that he intended to get hammered.

"What the hell happened in here?" he asked as he took in the living room that looked like a cyclone hit it.

"That would be hurricane Sammy," Bobby said.

"Damn it," John growled.

"Don't!" Bobby warned. "This is your fault."

"My fault? How did you arrive at that conclusion?"

"Did you talk to your children before dropping this bomb on them? They're both settled, with friends and school, you had a good job, the whole nine yards and you told me that you liked being a father to the boys."

"I am their father," John said coldly, as Sam's words flashed in his brain. Bobby had no way of knowing that he had just said the worst possible thing he could have. Why don't you try being a father, like Bobby does for us? I wish he was my dad.

"That's not what I meant," Bobby said trying to defend himself.

"If you'd just keep your nose out of my family, we'd be fine," John said harshly. He wanted Bobby to hurt like he was hurting.

"How dare you," Bobby said. "It's my family too. Sam, Dean, they're like my own boys. You're like my bro..."

"Your son's dead. You can't have mine," John said going for the jugular.

Bobby's fist launched through the air before he even thought about it, and landed squarely on John's jaw. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

John landed on the ground. He had regretted his words as soon as he had said them, but it was too late to take it back.

"Look, you won't see or hear from me ever again," Bobby said and he stalked off toward the door.

Dean, who had heard the commotion, came out of his room just in time to hear Bobby's last statement. "Bobby," he called after him. He couldn't lose Bobby.

"I'm sorry, Dean," Bobby said as he walked out the door.

"Dad," Dean said turning toward his father.

"What? You want him for your father too," John said.

Dean turned toward his father. He had no idea what his father was talking about. "No," he insisted. "You're my dad."

"Sam apparently thinks Bobby would make a better dad."

"He didn't mean it. He was just mad. You know how he gets when we move," Dean said, quick to defend his brother.

"Do you want to stay, Dean?" John asked his eldest

Dean didn't answer at first, leaving John wondering if he would.

"I don't know," Dean finally admitted.

"I have to find the thing that killed your mother," John said hoarsely.

"I know. Let's go, we have lots of work to get done."

Dean went and started tidying up the living room, as his father headed to the kitchen with his six pack.

--

John didn't make his hunt the next day. He got drunk and passed out on the couch, and was too hungover to do much.

Sam didn't even try to be quiet, he spent most of the day stomping around. When his dad yelled at him to be quiet, Sam couldn't help himself. He didn't even think before he threw his father's words back at him.

"How many people are going to die because you wanted to get drunk?" Sam shouted at his father.

John lost it. He reacted on instinct and his fists curled and launched through the air.

Dean reacted instantly. He pushed Sam out of the way just as he felt his father's blow strike him on the cheek. The force of the blow sent Dean reeling.

Dean sat on the floor, more stunned than hurt. Had his father really just hit him?

John sobered instantly. Oh God, had he just struck his child. He hadn't had he?

"Dean, I'm sorry. Oh God, I'm so sorry, baby." He reached down to try to help Dean up.

The young hunter knocked his father's hand out of his way and slowly got to his feet. He reached up and gingerly touched his cheek. Fortunately, his father's blow hadn't hit him fully, and there was no blood, but Dean guessed that he was going to have a spectacular bruise.

"You were going to hit me. You hit Dean," Sam accused and shot his father a death glare. "I could call the cops..."

"Let it go, Sammy," Dean said desperately. "Just for once in your damn life, would you let it go." Dean really couldn't take it anymore and he grabbed the Impala's keys and walked out the front door.

They didn't hear the Impala start and John and Sam guessed that Dean just needed some alone time. He often sat in the Impala when he was upset. Sam took off toward his bedroom. He refused to talk to John the rest of the day.

Dean came back in a couple hours later. John felt bad when he saw the bruise forming on his son's cheek and his guilt returned. He tried to apologize, but Dean told him that it was forgotten and those were the only words he spoke for the rest of the day.

When the boys awoke the next morning, John was gone. Dean wasn't surprised. He desperately wanted to call Bobby, but he knew the elder hunter was mad at him, so he just methodically kept himself busy so he didn't have to think. He ignored John's orders that Sam was on restriction and let him come and go as he pleased. He wanted Sam to be able to spend as much time with his friends as possible.

What saved Dean that week was Gray. He showed up every day and helped Dean get ready for the move.

Gray didn't miss the bruise on Dean's cheek, and when he questioned his friend, all Dean would say was that something had fallen on him as he was removing a box from a shelf above him. Gray had been hit by his brother more than once and he knew that Dean's injury was from a fist. Instinct was telling him that it wasn't Sam that had done it. He didn't think that Dean's father was abusive, but there was a lot about his friend that he didn't know. Dean did have a couple of strange scars that he wouldn't explain. He thought back to the research paper he had done in Health Studies last year on abused children. Dean definitely displayed some of the signs, he was moody, withdrawn and quick to blame himself when something went wrong. Had he been wrong about Dean's father all this time?

The young man knew there was a big part of Dean's life that he was missing, like how he could drink four beers and not appear drunk, or have it affect his diabetes. Dean had never been perfect in regards to eating foods he wasn't supposed to, but lately, it seemed like he indulged himself a lot more, and again, with no consequences. If he knew it wasn't impossible, he would have thought Dean was cured.

He wanted to push Dean, but he had quickly learned that pushing had the opposite effect on his friend, so he decided that he would just try to be there if Dean needed him.

--

The last night in their home was tense. Sam had returned from saying goodbye to his friends and was in a really bad mood, and the fact that his brother made him pack up his own stuff didn't help it.

Sam knew that his dad was serious, whatever wasn't packed was staying here. The problem was that they were only allowed their duffle bags and Sam knew that all the stuff he wanted to take wouldn't fit. He first got rid of any clothes that had too many holes, or were worn out, to make more room. He put his box from Dean in there first. Then in went some going away gifts his friends had given him, and a few other keepsakes, like the stuffed giraffe that Dean had won for him at the fair, and his uniform. He wanted to keep it. Sam had watched as Dean literally salted and burned his. Now his books. He really wanted to keep his Lord of the Rings series, along with The Hobbit, but no matter which way he packed things, there was one book he couldn't fit in there.

"Hey Dean," he called to his brother.

"What, Sammy?" Dean asked.

Sam grimaced. Ever since that night, Dean had refused to address him as Sam. "Can you put this in your bag, it won't fit in mine?" Sam asked as he held out his copy of The Hobbit.

"It just a book, Sammy. Why don't you just toss it?"

"Because I like it," Sam snapped. "Will it fit in your bag or not?" he huffed.

Dean's own bag was stuffed and he really didn't think he could fit anymore in. He knew how important the book was to Sammy, though. He went to the bedroom, unzipped his bag and looked through it. Like Sam, he had keepsakes and mementos in there. He didn't really want to give anything up. He had wondered if Bobby would keep some stuff for him, like the tool box that Gray had given him. They did have a bit of extra room in the back seat of the Impala, he then realized.

He took his school backpack and took out some clothes that Gray had given him. He said they were a going away present. Dean appreciated the gesture as he would be able to start his new school without wearing clothes that came from goodwill. He usually hated charity as much as his father, but he had accepted Gray's offer for what it was, they were friends and Gray cared about him. Gray may have been rich, but he knew how the real world worked.

Dean wasn't sure why he cared so much. He had no intention of making friends wherever he ended up. It hurt too damn much.

Dean also didn't want to leave without making things right with Bobby. The elder hunter meant everything to Dean. He was family and Dean had had enough of the fighting. He just couldn't leave without saying goodbye, so that led him to drive over there. The visit wasn't easy for either man and things were tense at first, neither wanting to say goodbye. Finally, their natural bond took over and they gradually relaxed until it was time for Dean to leave.

"Dean," Bobby said, his voice thick with emotion. "No matter what problems your father and I are having, I hope you know it doesn't extend to you or Sam. You boys, you're just..." he trailed off.

"Thanks Bobby," Dean said simply. "I never did say thank you."

"For what?" Bobby asked with a touch of confusion.

"The amulet. You risked your life to get me this thing, and I want you to know I do appreciate it. IloveyouBobby," Dean said, his gaze dropping to the floor as the words left his lips.

Bobby reached over and gently placed his hand under Dean's chin and turned his head so that he could see Dean's eyes. "I love you too, son," he said and swept the boy into a fierce hug.

--

The next day, John was late getting back. When he pullled his truck onto the drive, he found the Impala packed and ready to go, and the boys sitting on the porch with their friends.

"Sam, Dean," he called. "I want to be on the road in 15 minutes," he said and headed into the house to take one last look around.

"I wish you didn't have to leave, Sam," Randy said.

"Me too," added Conner.

"I tried to get dad to let me stay with Bobby, but he wouldn't," Sam said.

"We'll still see each other. I mean, your dad will be coming back to visit your uncle, right?" Max asked.

Sam wasn't sure about that one. His father and Bobby were still mad at each other. They were barely civil, let alone speaking to each other. "I'm not sure when though," Sam said non-committally.

--

John had just finished taking a quick look through the rooms. Dean had done a thorough job though, and everything was packed or tidied up, and all repairs had been made. He knew he could count on Dean. He startled when he heard a noise behind him and he saw Bobby standing there.

"Look Bobby, about last week. I was, uh, out of line."

"You were way more than that," Bobby said coldly. He was still angry. It was true that words cut a lot deeper than a physical blow.

"I know. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Upset me?" Bobby scoffed. "You accused me of trying to use your sons to replace mine. That was cruel, even for you, Winchester."

"I'm sorry," John suddenly blurted out. "I know that. When Sam said he wanted you for a father, it hurt. I wanted..."

"I know why you said it," Bobby cut him off. "It still doesn't change the fact that you said it. Look, I don't want to argue. I will accept your apology, just not right now. I can't," Bobby said truthfully.

"I know," John said softly. "I just... "

"Look, Johnny, I will say this and I don't care if you accuse me of meddling or not. You and the boys are the closest thing I have to family and if you ever lay a hand on one of them again, I don't care what the reason is, I will call the cops myself."

"You have my word on that," John said sincerely. Not a day went by that he didn't beat himself up over the incident.

"See to it. I hope you know you're still welcome at my place anytime," Bobby offered.

John once again thanked his lucky stars that Caleb had sent him to Bobby. "I'll be in touch," he said.

--

John walked out the door and called his boys, telling them that they had to get going.

Dean turned back to where he had been talking with Gray.

"I'm going to miss you, man. School's just not going to be the same without you," Gray said affectionately.

"Me too," Dean said, his tone matching Gray's. "At least you have Ben to keep you company," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Gray chuckled. "I wish. He's not coming back next year. He's going to boarding school. Apparently, Judge Atwood found out he's going to be a grandfather."

"Seriously?" Dean said. He felt bad for Kelsey, but Ben deserved everything he got.

"Dean, come on," he heard his father say.

"Coming," he called over his shoulder. "I guess this is it," he said turning back to his friend.

"Yeah, I hate saying goodbye," Gray admitted.

Why does it seem that's all I ever say? "Me too. What if we just say, 'see ya later'," Dean said hoping it was true.

"See ya later," Gray replied thinking the same thing.

"See ya later," Dean repeated and held out his hand.

Gray shook it and then pulled Dean into a big bear hug, which Dean returned wholeheartedly.

"Why do you have to take that away from him?" Sam said accusingly to his father.

"Don't start," his father snapped back.

Dean and Gray separated separated and Dean walked over to his car. "You coming with me, Sammy?"

Sam didn't want to ride with either one, but he wanted to ride with his father less. As he started walking over to the Impala, he felt himself swept into a hug from Gray as well.

"Take care of yourself and cut your brother some slack would you? He's the only one you got."

"Thanks Gray," Sam said. "I guess this is goodbye."

"Take care…" Gray said and paused. "Sammy."

"You too," he said with a grin. Somehow, he didn't mind it coming from Gray.

When Gray was done, Bobby walked over and hugged Sam, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately, then he walked over to Dean. Both Sam and Gray were a little surprised when they didn't do much more than hug, but Dean and Bobby had already said their goodbyes the other night. When Bobby left Dean's side, Sam walked over and got in the front seat of the Impala next to his brother. He looked over and saw that Dean's eyes were glistening. He watched as Dean reached over and pulled his sunglasses out of the glove compartment, despite the fact that it was overcast.

Gray stood next to Bobby and watched the truck and the Impala pull out of the driveway and drive down the road. He didn't try to stop the tears that escaped. He noticed that the elder man looked a little misty eyed as well.

Bobby reached over and draped his arm over the young man's shoulders. "It's okay, son. It may be a while, but I have no doubt you'll see them again."

Gray looked over at the elder man and smiled at him. He had a feeling he was right.

The end.

Please read and review. I live for reviews.

A/N: Thanks to all who followed this story, and read or reviewed. An extra thank you to Soar for her beta work, Sinead-Conlan for answering all my medical questions, and JuliaAurelia for all her feedback on the chapters. I do have a sequel to this story planned for all those who are interested.

It's going to be called Camp Sunshine and here is the summary: Sam convinces Dean to take a job at Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for children with diabetes. While trying to take care of the spirit that is causing accidents and hurting campers, Dean has to deal with a familiar problem, and runs into an old friend.