The Winchester Three (S1): The Beginning

Ch 10 Section 5

In the hotel hallway...

As the three walked back to their room Dean looked over his little brother who was holding the duffle bags in his hands, "Why didn't you just leave that stuff in the car?"

"I said it before, and I'll say it again- better safe than sorry."

"Well I for one don't mind." Angel grimaced a little as sh walked beside them, "That seemed a little bit too easy."

Deans brows furrowed as he unlocked the door, "What about that was easy?" As they entered the room they saw the outline of a man standing by the window, "Hey!"

Sam quickly turned on the light and when the man turned they saw it was their father.

The three of them stood there stunned for a few seconds before Angel hobbled forward, "D- Dad?"

He smiled at the sight of them, "Hey."

Angel and John walked toward eachother and shared a long, emotional hug as tears fell down Angels face. Letting her go he turned and took Dean into an equally emotional hug. Sam watched on sadly as they pulled apart.

John turned to his youngest with a loving smile, "Hi, Sam."

Sam's voice was soft, "Hey, Dad."

The two of them don't hug. Instead they share an emotional look as Sam placed the bags of weapons on the floor.

"Dad, it was a trap." Dean frowned, "I didn't know, I'm sorry."

"It's all right." He dismissed, "I thought it might've been."

Angel studied him, "Were you there?"

"Yeah, I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive. She was the bad guy, right?"

The three of them answered in unison, "Yes, sir."

"Good. Well, it doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before."

Sam eyebrows raised, "The demon has?"

"It knows I'm close. It knows I'm gonna kill it. Not just exorcise it or send it back to hell- actually kill it."

"How?"

John smiled at Dean, "I'm workin' on that."

"Let us come with you." Sam shuffled forward earning a warning look from Dean, "We'll help."

Angel regarded him as well, "Sam."

"No, Sam." John automatically dismissed him, "Not yet. Just try to understand. This demon is a scary son of a bitch. I don't want you caught in a crossfire. I don't want you hurt."

"Dad, you don't have to worry about us."

"Of course I do. I'm your father." He paused as he stared at Sam with a little regret, "Listen, Sammy... Last time we were together, we had one hell of a fight."

"Yes, sir."

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long time."

Sam nodded a little, "Too long."

As they both teared up they took each other in for a tight hug. When they pulled apart, the four of them looked around at each other tearfully.

"Well..." Angel wiped her face of the tears, "This is a better family reunion than I expected."

Suddenly, the shadow demon appeared and attacked John. He was thrown into a set of cabinets and fell to the ground before Sam was painfully tossed aside.

"Sammy!"

Angel tried to run to him but was instantly thrown into the mirror on the other side of the wall. It shattered on impact, cutting her up as she collapsed on top of the rubble.

"No!"

Dean screamed at the sight of his family being attacked before he too is thrown to the floor. They all groaned and screamed in pain as they were flung around the room. Fresh scratches appeared on each of their faces as the shadow demon attacked.

Sam made his way to the bag of weapons on the floor and removed a flare from the bag, "Shut your eyes! These things are shadow demons, so let's light 'em up!"

He lit the flare, and the room was instantly filled with smoke as a brilliant white light blinded everyone in the room. The shadow demon instantly vanished. Once it was gone, the three of them flailed around as they coughed and sputtered trying to feel their way around the room.

Dean coughed and spun around, "Dad!"

"Over here!" John yelled back, Dean made his way to him and helped him up, "Where's Angel?"

Sam answered as he followed them out of the room, carrying the bag of weapons as well as helping Angel limp her way out, "I've got her."

They quickly hurried out of the building and down an alley to the Impala. Sam put the bag in the backseat of the car before helping Angel get in the back.

"Alright, come on." He instructed hurriedly, "We don't have much time. As soon as the flare's out, they'll be back."

"Sam, wait." Dean yelled before turning to their father, "Dad, you can't come with us."

Sam scoffed, "What?"

Angel leaned out of the car, "Dean, what the hell are you talking about?"

John shook his head, "The three of you are beat to hell."

"We'll be alright."

"Dean, we should stick together."

"Sams right." Angel grimaced her way out of the car, getting help from John, "We'll go after those demons-"

"Listen to me! We almost got Dad killed in there. Don't you guys understand? They're not gonna stop. They're gonna try again. They're gonna use us to get to him. I mean, Meg was right. Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He- he's stronger without us around."

Angel, realizing Dean was right, looked to her father with sad eyes.

But Sam shook his head, "Dad- no." He put a hand on his father's shoulder as the other two watched sadly, "After everything- after all the time we spent lookin' for you... Please. I gotta be a part of this fight."

"Sammy, this fight is just starting. And we are all gonna have a part to play. For now, you've got to trust me, son." Sam shook his head in disagreement as John nodded, "You've gotta let me go."

All four of them were silent for a moment, all close to tears. Finally, Sam conceded and patted his fathers shoulder before he leaned back and let him go. John and Dean share an emotional look before John gently hugged his daughter and kissed her cheek.

He walked to his truck, turning to look at them one more time, "Be careful."

The three of them sadly watched him get into his truck and drive away

"Come on."

Dean helped Angel into the backseat before he and Sam got into the car and drove away.