Take The Heart I Never Wanted to Give

22

The group didn't react immediately at John's presence, blank stares directed at the King. Slowly, a chorus of growls erupted from all of their throats, eyes flashing menacingly.

"You—" Sam snarled. "You absolute fucking lowlife cockroach!" Sam leapt from the bed, stalking forward only to be stopped by Gabriel and Kevin.

"Sam, no!" Gabriel exclaimed, struggling to hold his alpha back.

"Sam, he's not worth it, not right now." Kevin said quickly.

"This is your fault!" Sam snapped. "Dean, your own fucking son, just got ran down and shot by one of your oh-so-fucking faithful Royal Counsel because of this barbaric fox hunt bullshit you decided to pull!"

"Sam, I—" John started.

"No, you shut up." Sam snarled, removing himself from Gabriel and Kevin's grasp, inserting himself into John's space, close enough that he could punch him should the urge get stronger but far enough away that he was within grabbing distance of Gabriel and Kevin. "You don't get to speak. Dean almost died because of you and your selfishness. You lost your chance to be a father years ago. No amount of apologies will ever make up for this. None."

John stared at his second oldest son, eyes unreadable. He exhaled and slowly nodded his head. "You're right, Sam."

Sam's defensive posture faltered for a handful of seconds, the words catching him alarmingly off guard. "What?"

John looked at his son, suddenly looking so much older than he already was, his face sunken in and eyes worn and tired like that of an old doll. "You're right." He repeated tiredly. "I didn't...I didn't come here...to try and dispute that. I came here to talk to Dean."

"Why the hell should he talk to you?" Kevin said angrily.

John eyed Kevin with an uninterested gaze. "This doesn't concern you or anyone else in this room besides me and my children."

"The hell it doesn't!" Charlie snapped, her small frame stalking over until she was directly in front of John. "As far as I'm concerned, we've been more of a family to him then you ever have!"

"Guys." Dean spoke calmly. Everyone's gaze turned to Dean, his eyes tired but firm and earnest. "He's not gonna leave till he talks to me. So let him talk."

"I'd like to speak to him alone." John said quietly.

"Hell no!" They all, but Dean, exclaimed.

"Guys." Dean warned. "Just wait outside. I'll yell if I need you."

Castiel didn't say anything, but the objection to that idea was clear in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

Dean gently kissed Castiel on the lips, a silent plea for the alpha to trust him. Castiel nodded hesitantly, deliberately walking slow to the door. The others slowly followed suit, glaring directly at John as they passed. Gabriel wrapped his hand around Sam's wrist to get the stubborn alpha to move away from John.

He maintained eye contact the whole way out, a slight snarl on his lips and the barest hint of gold flashing in his irises.

"Hurt him, and I swear to God I'll rip your spine out through your throat." Sam hissed.

John didn't even flinch, he had enough sense to know that his son would kill him, regardless of what consequences would come his way.

With the others out of the room, John turned his attention to his eldest son and carefully made his way to his bedside. He came within about a foot of the end of the bed before Dean growled quietly, a warning that he had gotten close enough.