A/N:
This story is undergoing some revision before I update it again. I'm so sorry if I'm spamming everyone's emails after so long! Don't worry, the story will be picked up again soon. In the mean time, there will be some inconsistencies within the story as I swap the chapters over to the newer version.

Blade's Edge

"Dad," Sam's voice was calm, but it narrowed eyes shot warning signs across the room. His arms folded defiantly over his chest, and John Winchester knew his son was gearing up for a fight.

"Sam." He responded carefully, opening his hands from their fists. He felt like he was trying to defuse a bomb.

"I don't want to go hunting Dad."

John pushed his anger down once again, fighting for control of his emotions his said calmly, "I know Sammy, but people's lives are at stake."

The fuse was getting shorter.

Sam's weight shifted and John straightened up from the maps he'd had spread on the dining table. "Hunting is our job, it's important, more important than movies, son."

He suppressed a wince, the timer was up. The bomb detonated anyway.

"Oh! Silly me, how could I forget, you don't care!" Sam was breathing heavily, feet planted; ready to dig his heels in. "You NEVER care! You're such a-."

Screw calm. Fight fire with fire.

"SAM! There are people who are going to die tonight! We can't just decide to let them suffer so you can do what you want!" John threw a pleading glance at his eldest son who lingered in the doorway, watching the fight with tense shoulders and piercing eyes.

Dean Winchester didn't respond, his eyes were darting between his father and his kid brother like his watching a high speed tennis match. The ball was a grenade. Dean was not going to offer any help for fear of catching it unawares. Their eyes met for a moment, and the tension in the room was tangible.

Dean's eyes strayed back to his brother as he started his tirade again. "All we ever do is follow you on your stupid crusade; I just want to be normal for ONE NIGHT dad, one night!"

"So what do you want to do, Sammy?" John asked. "What is it that is so important that someone can die for you to do it? Huh? Is the new television worth more than a life?"

Sam seemed to falter there, blazing eyes staring at his father. There was an awkward pause, John had been backing Sam into the metaphorical corner. If Sam relented he'd be admitting to John's position. "I want to go see a movie."

John stared incredulously at his son, "You would condemn someone to die to see a movie?" He hissed, wondering how the hell he had raised his children.

Sam faltered again; he recognised this is a lost cause. John sighed, but the fallout wasn't over. Sam's puppy dog eyes turning on. "After the hunt then?"

John sensed Dean tense in the corner, apprehensive of the answer, hawk eyes drilling a hole in the wall. He wondered why his son had reacted this way, his mind mulling it over he turned his eyes back to Sammy.

Dean's always telling him to compromise with Sammy.

"Yeah, after the hunt we can go as a family." He relented, realizing that just this once he'd have to meet Sam somewhere in the middle.

Sam smiled, "Thanks dad!" He said enthusiastically, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

John relaxed, finding momentary relief, right until he heard the front door slam with a ferocity that made him jump, hands instinctively on the small gun that was tucked in his jacket pocket.

Sam's smile faded, "What the..?"

"Dean seem upset to you today, Sammy?" John asked, eyes following his eldest son through the window as he walked to the Impala and pulled open the door before disappearing into the drivers' seat to adjust the speakers before climbing over the seats. Seconds later Dean was sprawled in the back seat as Metallica blasted through the speakers from the front.

"No, you do something stupid again?"

John winced, of course he had.

John had been pouring over the newspaper, still fuming over the recent fight with his youngest son, Dean had hastily cleared the plates up from dinner and washed them, glancing back at his father across the room.

"Dad?" Dean had asked tentatively.

"What?" John had snapped, feeling immediate shame for taking his anger out on his eldest.

"Catherine, Jamie and Ben are driving up here tomorrow…" He had started, shifting under his father's steady glare. "Can I go out with them, just hang out…or something?" He mumbled, trying not to look too excited, obviously preparing to be disappointed.

John had racked his brain for a moment, trying to remember where those random names had come from. He let out a sigh as he realized they were the friends Dean has left behind not so long ago, from before their last move.

For the first and last time Dean had protested leaving town when he had met the troublesome trio. They had been good friends for some time, he had no idea they were still in contact.

"We're hunting tomorrow." He had said stiffly, trying not to let his son's broken expression sway him.

"But after the hunt?" Dean had asked.

John had sighed, his son didn't usually ask for much and it had been nice to see Dean smile when his friends had been around. Deciding to treat son John had nodded.

Snapping back to the present John realized he had just promised Sam that Dean would come with them, as a family, which meant he had just crushed Dean's only chance to see his friends again; they'd probably have to clear out pretty fast after the hunt was over.

Sighing, he chalked it up to a bad day and made himself promise he would drive Dean down to see his friends soon; he just had to find another hunt in that direction.

He followed Sam out to the Impala, deciding the hunt was the most important thing at the moment.

Dean sat up in the back seat, avoiding eye contact as John ushered Sam into the front, trying to respect Dean's need for space.

"Ready boys?"

"Yes sir." Dean said quietly, and John was relieved that his son didn't seem too angry with him. At least Dean had a proper respect for authority.

Maybe he should mention that he'll drive them down to see Dean's friends soon? He decided not to though, because he can't have this conversation right now.

Ss John pulled out of the motel parking lot he glanced back at Dean, who was staring out of the window with a blank expression.

He'll deal with it later.

If only he had of known in that moment: he would never get the chance to have that conversation with his son.

- TBC -

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