The Winchester Three (S1): The Beginning

Ch 4 Section 4

Department of Anthropology...

The Winchesters pulled up outside the local university and got out of the car. Angel took the box of bones out from the backseat and followed her brothers toward the building.

Angel put her jacket over the box so they didn't cause any attention, "Alright, well the skeletons in an unmarked grave thing are definitely screaming haunting to me."

"Pissed off spirits?" Dean asked, "Some unfinished business?"

"Probably."

"Question is, why bugs?" Sam asked, "And why now?"

"That's two questions." Dean pointed out but Sam actively ignored him, "Yeah, so with that kid back there... why'd you tell him to just ditch his family like that?"

"Just, uh..." Sam frowned looking everywhere but to Dean, "I know what the kid's going through."\

Dean's jaw tensed, "How about telling him to respect his old man, how's that for advice?"

Angel sighed heavily as they all came to a stop, her in the middle, "Here we go..."

"This isn't about his old man." Sam looked to Dean pointedly, "You think I didn't respect Dad. That's what this is about."

"Just forget it, alright?" Dean dismissed, trying to walk away, "Sorry I brought it up."

Sam's voice stopped him, "I respected him. But no matter what I did, it was never good enough."

"Sam... that's not true." Angel shook her head as sadness clouded her eyes, "Dad loves you. I mean, you're talking like he was disappointed in you or something."

"Was? Is." He scoffed at her, "Always has been."

Dean shook his head, "Why would you think that?"

"Because I didn't wanna bowhunt, hustle pool, or pick pockets. Because I wanted to go to school and live my life, which, to our whacked-out family, made me the freak."

"Yeah..." Dean smirked as he thought about it for a second, "You were kind of like the blonde chick in The Munsters."

"Okay, you shut up." She pointed to Dean before turning to Sam, "So you were a little different. You grew up in the hunting life since you were a baby. It's okay for you to strive for a little normalcy. Even Dad understands that. He's not and has never been disappointed in you, Sammy."

He centered his eyes to her, "Angel, you know what most dads are when their kids score a full ride? Proud. Most dads don't toss their kids out of the house." He raised a brow at her, "And i'm sure you didn't get a warm 'Welcome Home' when you came back after dropping me off."

She sighed, looking away from him sadly, "Sam..."

"I remember that fight." Dean caught his attention, "In fact, I seem to recall a few choice phrases coming out of your mouth."

Sam stared at him for a beat before looking off with a shake of his head, "You know, truth is, when we finally do find Dad... I don't know if he's even gonna wanna see me."

"Sam, Angels right. Dad was never disappointed in you. Never. He was scared."

Sam looked between them curiously, "What are you talking about?"

"He was afraid of what could've happened to you if he wasn't around. But even when you two weren't talking... he and Angel used to swing by Stanford whenever they could."