On The Flip Side

Chapter 7

So, their dad is Negan. Because of course he is. Of course by some one-in-a-trilliondy, billiondy, quadrilliondy, whatever fucking chance, Sam and Dean managed to drive themselves through a wormhole into an apocalypse where their dad is starring as Earth's star douchebag. 

This is obviously a problem for several reasons, including but not limited to— his apparent killing spree, his tyrannical reign over Northern Virginia of all places, and his reported tormenting of several innocent civilians for no other reason aside from he felt like it. They're working with gasoline and a lit match here, and Dean feels a bit like his head is going to pop off from how hard it's spinning.

The fact that he and Sam don't belong in this universe is a glaring issue that has the both of them sharing uncertain glances over their dad's head as he hugs them. Because whilst this is a version of their dad, it's pretty fucking obvious he's not the one they knew. 

Dean wants to be upset. He just can't muster an immediate wave of revulsion, not with his dad sobbing the way he is. He stills smells the same as he always did when Dean was growing up, like motor oil and ash and something earthy. The tinge of iron isn't entirely unfamiliar either, even if the way he cries is. 

John Winchester had always prided himself on being tough as nails. Dean has never heard him cry before-- not like this. These are the kind of sobs that shake through your entire body, that wring you dry and leave you sluggish. Where you gasp because you can't breathe, where you wail out your agony because if it stays in you, it might just kill you with its weight. 

'Negan' is the type of guy they'd usually pop without a second's hesitation. Aaron's stories painted him as this horrific, awful entity, a true monster amongst those already aimlessly rotting and roaming. And that's totally cool. They'd typically like, do what needed to be done in this situation. 

It's just that this-- this is their dad. And even if this is another version of him, Dean can't reconcile in his mind him ever being even half as horrible as what everyone has said. Their dad had never been a perfect man, but he saved people for a living. He'd dedicated his entire life to hunting evil, not becoming it.

Him being an (alleged?) villain, them having a total chick flick moment, and everyone this side of humanity being here to witness it? It all kind of sucks total ass. A rollercoaster of emotion Dean did not sign up for.

"Y-You--" Dean's not sure how long their dad hugs them, fingers clenching the backs of their jackets, like he's afraid they'll slip away from him if he lets go. "Y-You're-- you're here. Y-You're actually, you're-- you're alive. I saw you die. I saw--" 

Their dad pulls back, his eyes puffy and cheeks slick with tears. The silence of everyone surrounding them is deafening. The stares are even worse. Aaron looks so horrified that Dean feels like a dickbag who's fraternizing with the enemy. 

Dean doesn't know what to do. He has no idea what the hell to say. The whole thing feels like a cosmic 'fuck you' from the universe, a badly cast shadow on their dad's memory. Like this version of him somehow taints their own. 

If they'd had an apocalypse of this kind in their world, would this have happened? Would Sam and Dean have died? Would their dad have become this?

"Well, uh. Funny story." Sam, who's sniffling like the giant baby he is, reaches up and wipes furiously at his face. "A-A lot happened. Maybe we should-- should step inside? To talk?"

Sam's gaze skittered out across the crowd. There were their dad's group, guns still half-raised but mostly just staring confused. The people of Alexandria were still so drenched in fear it was hard to tell what they were thinking, but there was a distinct furrow to Rick's brow that spoke to the betrayal he seemed to be feeling.