𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 ❂ j. kline

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

DEAR JACK,
There are many things I have to say,
I still can't help but close you out.
Maybe one day, you can understand.
Eventually I'll be there for you.

❂

JACK HAD LAID IN HIS BED IN WONDER. He didn't have his chance to prove that he could even move a pencil much farther than an inch, but the two had seemed so proud of him still. He wasn't sure how to feel knowing that Dean was on his way home— he would have much to say about Jack's minimal accomplishment.

What he had noticed was that since Rose had told him he wasn't evil, she had been more distant than usual. Every time he had passed her room, hoping to stop by and say hello, music had drowned out his knocks and a locked door told him he was not openly invited in. Sam had assured him multiple times that Rose was not always the easiest to understand. This had only confused Jack more and he wanted to find out for himself.

His excitement had peaked when he had seen that tonight, there was no music coming from her room and the door had been left open. If anything, he believed this was a solid invitation to come in. So he did.

Allowing himself into the room, he held on to a large smile but after a quick glance around the room, he had noticed it was empty. Dropping his smile, he slumped his shoulders as he had headed out and decided to go and talk to Sam to have some company. After all, Sam had been showing him a lot about this world, and he did always enjoy learning more.

When he had gotten closer, he had realized that Dean had been back from his hunt. Wanting to know how it went, he was already preparing his list of questions when he had spotted Rose. Curious as to why she was sitting outside the door, he made her way towards her and took a seat.

Not giving him a second glance, Rose had tried to keep her focus on listening in on Sam and Dean talk about the two. Already Dean was wondering how evil Jack was despite being anything but. Of course Sam was quick to defend each of them every time but that did not stop his older brother from pushing his limits.

Leaning back in his chair, Sam had been unaware of the two listening in, and even if he did know, it wouldn't change what he had said. He told Dean exactly how he had felt even if it wasn't what he wanted to hear. However, Dean was just the same, and he laid out his truth clearly. "See, you and Rose, you think you two can use this freak, but I know how it ends, and it ends bad."

"I didn't," Sam spoke up, staring his brother down. "I didn't end bad when I was the freak," Sam stood up as he continued, "when I was drinking demon blood."

"Come on, man, that's totally different."

"Was it? Because you could've put a bullet in me. Dad told you to put a bullet in me, but you didn't. You saved me. So help me save him."

Despite Sam's begging and the pleading look in his eyes, Dean couldn't bring himself to listen. Instead, his anger had only risen. After what he had lost, he did not believe in losing anymore and if Jack was around, he felt that he would. "You deserve to be saved. They don't."

Biting down on the inside of his cheek, Sam shook his head lightly from both confusion and heartbreak. "They?"

"I didn't mean that," he whispered. His words still were out there and they were clear enough. The two that had sat outside the room listening had heard it, feeling a pain inside that hurt worse than they had ever imagined.

"You know what, Dean, today, I was thinking about how great it's been here. How good this is for Rose to have someone that's not just us, you know, someone to connect with. Someone who can understand her. Having Jack here is good for her. Don't turn on her for being on my side of things here."

"Is that what you think? Because what I think is that this is some way of dealing with what happened. Once she realizes that if it weren't for that kid, Crowley and Cas, they'd be here right now. Or how about when she realizes that he's the kid of the same guy that killed Rowena. Her family is gone because of Jack."

Sam refused to accept that. But he had wondered these last few days if Rose would believe that of Jack. To blame him for something that he had no control over, but seemed to be a part of. "Dean, you can't use them to make her hate him." Sam had remained rather calm as he had spoke, but inside, he was crushed. "I don't think you know her like you want to."

Those words had hurt Dean but he was not going to show that to his little brother. Instead, he gave a nod. "Maybe you're right, Sam. But when she does think that, and she will, how are you gonna handle it?"

"She cares about him."

"Both of you only care about what he can do for you," Dean snapped back. "You two can pretend. But me? I can hardly look at the kid! Cause when I do, all I see is everybody we've lost."

"Mom chose to take that shot at Lucifer. This is not on Jack," Sam said calmly despite his brother's actions.

"And what about Cas? He manipulated him. He made him promises. Said Paradise on Earth, and Cas bought it. And you know what that got him? It got him dead! Now you might be able to forget about that, but I can't!" Pausing, Dean had ran his fingers through his hair as he attempted to cool down. Though he had meant every word of his explosion, he knew it wasn't Sam that had deserved it. "You're making her believe the same crap like he is," he said softly. "You're wrong. Rose is wrong. And when things go from bad to worse, it's not just his fault anymore, it's on both of you too."

Unable to listen to Dean's words any longer, Rose got up from her spot, not giving a second look to Jack in fear he would see how upset she really was. He sat there as she had walked back to her room, most likely locking herself away and playing her music just like before. Right then, he had wished that Castiel had been there. Not just for him, but to make things right between the three. He was certain that Castiel would've been able to bring them all back together when he was tearing them all apart.