Let it Snow

Chapter one

1 year later

December 1st,
24 days until Christmas

The engine was cut, and for a moment Dean's eyes stayed locked on the house he parked outside of. It was one floor, with white paneled walls, and a brown roof that was now covered in bright snow. Without even going inside he already knew what it was like, he'd long ago memorized the set up. Every hall, every room, every doorway, the colours of the walls, and the material that made the floor, the way the ceiling was just that little to low when you took the staircase to the unfinished basement. He knew every chip in the paint, and every scratch on wood.

He knew the house, yet staring at it, through the falling snowflakes, only brought dread. A deep unease that came every Friday night when he walked up the stairs to pick Jack up, and every Sunday evening when he walked back up them to drop Jack off.

Dread.

Discomfort.

Pain.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd walked up the front steps and felt ease.

"Dad?"

"Yah kid?" Dean hummed. His eyes still rested on the house to his left, more specifically the Christmas tree that glowed in the window, contrasting against the evening sky, and falling snow.

When no reply came Dean turned finally looked away from the window and instead to the back seat where Jack was sat. A wide grin was spread across the child's face, while his arms were wrapped around the teddy bear that sat in his lap.

"How about," Jack finally began in his usual high voice, "I can stay with you again!"

"Yah," Dean replied, "Next weekend."

"No now!"

Dean gave a shake of his head, something that only made Jack's smile drop into a pout. "But, we can watch the who movie!" Jack cried, causing Dean to raise an eyebrow.

"The who movie?"

"Yah with the mean green man, and the baby puppy," Jack babbled. "And the man sneaks into the houses, and takes Christmas!"

"The grinch?"

"Yah!"

Dean couldn't help the small tug of his lips, as he turned away from Jack, and instead faced forward, eyes on the front window of Baby, and the thin layer of snow already covered the glass. "We'll watch it next weekend," Dean said as he pulled out the keys, shoving them into his jacket pocket before he undid his seat belt.

"Tonight!"

"Jack-"

"Please!"

Dean glanced to the rear view mirror, getting a glimpse of Jack's pleading expression, a mix of puppy dog eyes, and a puckered out bottom lip.

For a moment he considered doing as Jack wanted, turning the engine back on, and driving back to his apartment, where they could spend the night watching movies and eating junk food. Fall asleep on the couch then make pancakes for breakfast. Just one more night that Dean could spend with Jack, one more night where his apartment would be filled by giggles and stories instead of the heavy silence that usually weighed throughout it.

Dean wanted so badly to do as Jack asked though no matter how much he wanted he knew he couldn't and instead pushed open his door. A low crunching coming as he stepped out of the car and into the snow, the noise continuing with each step he took, from his door and to Jack's.

"You gonna walk yourself?" Dean asked as he pulled open Jack's door, leaning down so he could peer into the backseat of the car, where Jack was still sitting, somehow more pouty than before.