FIC: Two Sons (Supernatural) PG-13

[mhalachai]

Two Sons
A Supernatural story
by mhalachaiswords

Summary: Something keeps saving Dean's life, and Sam can't figure out what.
Disclaimer: Supernatural belongs to the CW and those nice folks. No profit has been made from this fic, and the only benefit to me is personal satisfaction and the creative process. I hope you enjoy.
Genre: Gen, oneshot, SAS (sorta angsty Sammy)
Rating: PG-13 for swearing.
Words: 970
Spoilers: Spoilerific for the aired episodes of season two of SPN.
Note: My first straight Supernatural fic. This idea popped into my head after rewatching "In My Time Of Dying", and after listening to Blue Oyster Cult all freaking night.

~~~~~~

It started in Winchester.

Sam hated Winchester, Virginia, because the place made Dean snicker every time he spotted their family name on another street sign. All it did was make Sam nervous, seeing his dead father's name on every surface.

Sam also hated Winchester because Civil War ghosts were a bitch to burn out. There were so many of them, and all full of rage after one-and-a-half centuries in the ground. They grew creative in their old age, and it almost got Dean killed.

It should have got Dean killed. They'd fucked up something fierce, and the job went right to hell. Dean landed on his back and the haunted axe was speeding towards his head, too fast for Sam to do anything but scream his brother's name.

Then the axe landed where Dean wasn't, an inch left of his head, and Dean was up on his feet and firing rock salt at the apparition. It vanished, screaming in frustrated rage.

"Whoo! We showed that son of a bitch!" Dean shouted, high on adrenaline and life.

Sam couldn't move. His brother should be dead. That axe should have split Dean's skull right open.

"Come on, Sammy, let's go burn us some bones!" Dean was out the door and Sam was left staring at the axe. Something had saved Dean and Sam didn't know what it was.

He hated not knowing what it was.

~~~

The second time it happened, Sam had been smacked upside the head with a lamp, so he wasn't too sure what he was seeing. But he was convinced that the poltergeist had been slamming that desk down on Dean, had been an inch from crushing Dean into paste, when suddenly the room moved. Dean didn't move; Sam didn't move. The room and everything in it was suddenly fucking three feet to the left, and the desk slammed harmlessly into the floor.

It couldn't be anything in that house. It couldn't be coincidence. And as much as he'd like to believe it, believe that it was him who saved Dean's life, it wasn't anything Sam did.

~~~

The third time, it wasn't even supernatural. On the sixth-month anniversary of Dad's death, Dean had gone to a dingy bar, drank half a bottle of whisky and picked a fight with the meanest bastard in the place. Things went predictably downhill, and the punch was headed toward Dean's jaw, fuelled by two hundred pounds of muscles and alcohol-fuelled meanness. The punch should have landed and broken Dean's jaw. What actually happened was that the asshole's fist was suddenly an inch to the left and missed Dean altogether.

The bouncer threw Sam and Dean out of the bar. Confused, Sam was left trying to simultaneously figure out what had happened and keep Dean vertical for the short walk back to the motel.

If it had happened once, he could chalk up to distraction on his part. Twice, to coincidence. But the third time, out of their normal supernatural surroundings?

Dean was singing Don't Fear the Reaper when he stumbled against his bed in the room. Refusing to think about his brother's song choice, Sam pushed Dean onto the mattress, then pulled off his boots and set the wastebasket by the head of the bed before Dean even passed out.

He should have gone to his own bed. He usually did after Dean went on a bender, but tonight, he sat on the edge of Dean's mattress and stared at his brother's shadowed face.

Sam had never forgotten those last hours in the hospital. Dean waking up, the doctor saying that Dean must have some kind of angel looking out for him.

Dad sending Sam out for a cup of coffee.

Dad dead on the floor.

Sam buried his head in his hands, listening to Dean's raspy breathing. He didn't want to think these things. He wanted to be angry at the idea that Dean had someone looking out for him.

He didn't want to think his Dad was trapped here, keeping Dean from getting killed at every turn.

Dean muttered something in his drunken sleep. Sam shushed his brother, pushing Dean's too-short hair back from his forehead. Out of nowhere, Sam remembered when Dean had done the same thing to him, that time when he'd had the measles and Dean had taken care of him because Dad had been on a hunt.

Sam had always had Dean to protect him. No one had ever been around to look out for Dean, not after Mom died. When they were children, Dad was always hunting, too obsessed to realize that he had two sons, not just Sam.

Then Dean had almost been taken by a Reaper, and Dad died for no apparent medical reason. Now crazy thing were happening to keep Dean safe, things Sam couldn't explain or understand.

~~~

If Dean ever noticed it, he never said a word. His guardian angel kept up the work, saving Dean's skinny ass whenever he went into suicidally dangerous situations with no hope of survival. Yet he always walked out without a scratch.

Sam could have tried to find out the truth. A Ouija board, a psychic, something to figure out what was keeping his reckless older brother alive.

But when Sam looked at Dean's face, shadowed under the weight of what they did, he knew that what was happening wasn't for him to know. It was between Dean and whatever force held him back from death.

Only in the darkest of nights could Sam admit to himself that Dad might be trying to rectify some of what he'd done to Dean as a child.

Try as he might, Sam couldn't get angry at the thought that Dad was looking out for Dean.

In fact, all Sam could think was, It's about fucking time.

--fin

Comments

[cissasghost.livejournal.com]

Y'know, it's funny, I watched supernatural twice and had zilcho interest in it. Really wasn't impressed at all. I am, however, impressed by this fic, not least because I could care less about the canon but you've made me care about the characters here.

(PS - have I mentioned how much I must make you watch Battlestar Galactica?)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed the story. And glad you liked the character development. It's sometimes hard for me to get a handle on the male characters, and SPN is my first big foray into writing guys (Harry doesn't count because he's written POV.)

I tried to watch BSG, got about two thirds through the mini-series, and gave up. I really don't like "end of the world" stuff like that, makes me uncomfortable :( But, to be fair, I haven't seen anything else on the show.

[cissasghost.livejournal.com]

Oh, huh - I love apocalyptic type stuff like that. Which is good, I suppose, considering I have dreams about the end of the world on a semi-regular basis (though not as often as I used to). The mini-series was good, but IMO it's gotten better. Still, if end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it themes bother you .. yeah, maybe not the show for you. Oh well.

-Sonya

[penyn-1600.livejournal.com]

This is great, because it really shows that Dean is sort of beyond caring about being safe. He's always been a little reckless and cocksure, but the fact that he might have a guardian angel looking out for him is cool. And you did a great job with Sam's voice. I think this season that Sam has become a lot steadier and less focused on his vendetta.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! From what I've seen so far, losing Dad really messed Dean up. Sam had college and was trying to build a life, but all Dean ever had was his family. To think that his Dad died because of him (because frankly, it's so obvious that even Dean can spot it a mile away) would really wreck a guy.

Then, of course, Sam. My opinion of him is that Dean's speech about family at the end of last season really pushed Sam to grow up a little. He's what, 23? You think your family's going to live forever then, but losing John would have knocked that out of Sam's hands.

Man, I'm deep today (j/k)

[dhark-charlotte.livejournal.com]

Whee! I just finished the season 2 opener and have started on the clown eppy, when I saw this. neat story.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it :) I'm not sure if I'll do any more straight SPN... we'll see once more eps show, I suppose. But oh, crossover fic will abound.

[dhark-charlotte.livejournal.com]

Yay! Crossovers!

[jinnifanfic.livejournal.com]

This is tthjinni, in case you can't figure it out - didn't want to log into my other account. LoL.

Anyway - this is a beautiful look at the brothers. Sort of haunting and eerie, but lovely just the same. Good job.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I know who you are. There's only one Jinni :)

To paraphrase Dean, I can't stand chick flick stories, but something in me just needed to write this "what if". It's one way to have some sort of closure to the way John treated the boys.

[quicksilvereyes.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful! I love how you always explore every aspect of the character's emotions. I haven't been able to watch SPN in while, but I still like it. I think I might actually like fandom more than the actual show at this point! LOL. I'll catch up eventually, but I'm glad you jumped on the bandwagon :P

[zionsstarfish.livejournal.com]

I love your last line! This is really well-written, and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your kind words! I had fun writing this; it's my first foray into straight SPN fic (I'm a crossover writer, mostly, and I have started a SPN crossover, but I'm not very far into that at the moment. I love new obsessions fandoms

[bluesister.livejournal.com]

Nice how Sam keeps his attitude to the end. Enjoyed this.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it. The way I see it, Sam's certainly not hesitant to form opinions about his dad and their upbringing :)

[maharetr.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is excellent, on so many levels. You've got a lovely way with words, and damn, Only in the darkest of nights could Sam admit to himself that Dad might be trying to rectify some of what he'd done to Dean as a child, does this idea make me happy.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) I happened upon Supernatural about a month ago and it has consumed my brain. There's just something about the family disfuntion and emotional neediness there that calls to me.

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

You know, the thought of John repeatedly saving Dean's life...it slays me. John as a spirit that stays on just to do that, to save Dean's life over and over...wow. thanks!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

It makes sense, in some sort of twisted way -- Dean wasn't going to be able to let go, to move on. I can't see John being willing to just carry on to the next station. He does tend to be a little... intense.

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

He does tend to be a little... intense.

Yes. He does that.
I love it :D and love how you put it in your story.

[iamstealthyone.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. I like the idea that not only did John give his life for Dean, but that in death, he’s still looking out for him.

Favorite lines:

Then the axe landed where Dean wasn't, an inch left of his head, and Dean was up on his feet and firing rock salt at the apparition. It vanished, screaming in frustrated rage.

"Whoo! We showed that son of a bitch!" Dean shouted, high on adrenaline and life.

Sam couldn't move. His brother should be dead.

Love this. Of course Dean’s all gung-ho, acting completely oblivious to what almost was, and of course Sam is frozen, all too aware of what should have been.

Sam pushed Dean onto the mattress, then pulled off his boots and set the wastebasket by the head of the bed before Dean even passed out.

Aww, Sammy’s such a good little brother. *pets him*

Dean muttered something in his drunken sleep. Sam shushed his brother, pushing Dean's too-short hair back from his forehead.

This is such a sweet image. *pets Sam again*

Try as he might, Sam couldn't get angry at the thought that Dad was looking out for Dean.

In fact, all Sam could think was, It's about fucking time.

Awesome ending. Just love how you wrote it, those last two lines especially.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it! I love writing in this punchy style.

And they're both great brothers. Too bad about that whole angsty lifestyle thing. I can't wait to see how this plays out.

[alias_chick.livejournal.com]

That was absolutely haunting! That last line gave me goosebumps. I really like the concept and delivery of the story, small things, all adding up to saving Dean's ass multiple times. Thanks so much for the awesome read!!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed :) The sparse tone of this story is a bit of a change from how I normally write (in excrutiating detail) and seemed to fit with the way Sam's thought process might go.

[anakin415.livejournal.com]

AMEN TO THAT

[brighette.livejournal.com]

Nice job, I like the idea that John is watching out for Dean from the afterlife :) And I have to second the BSG recommendation, it's a great show!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed :)

You know, one of these days, I'll end up watching BSG, and I'll fall in love with it, and wonder why I didn't take everyone's advice sooner :)

[ewanspotter.livejournal.com]

Oh God, that ending... that just about broke me. Excellent job. Lovely.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed my story :)

(Also love your icon)

[ewanspotter.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) That icon is made of the special crack.

[emony2.livejournal.com]

Damn, you made me like John more than the series ever has, mind you, you've got him doing something that like Sam says it is, It's about fucking time.! Awesome.

Em