Title: The Road Less Travelled
Wordcount: 755
Spoilers: None
Fandom: SPN
By: [livejournal.com profile] kellifer_fic
Category: Gen (wee! to preseries Winchesters)
Rating/Warning: PG
Summary: Were they always on this road?



Brother is the name for God


“Dean!”

They all think it’s horribly cute that Sammy’s first word is his brother’s name and clear as a bell. What is a little less cute is how for four months it is Sammy’s only word.

“Dean!” he says, pointing at his brother.

“Dean!” he says, pointing at his blankie.

“Dean!” he says, pointing at mashed potatoes.

“Dean!” he says, pointing at John.

“You’ll get a kick out of this,” John says to Jim Murphy when they arrive at the church one blustery Tuesday. “Hey Sammich, who’s this?” John asks, tugging on Jim’s collar.

“Pastor Jim!” Sammy says with authority.

Three Letter Word


“Why?”

John is packing them up and Sammy is making life difficult by unpacking everything. Dean is in the motel’s bathroom, trying to make an errant cowlick sit down and is refusing to come out until it cooperates.

“I have a job to go to.”

“Billy’s Dad has a job and he doesn’t have to leave town in the middle of the night,” Sammy says, jutting his chin.

“My job is different. I save people.”

“Randy’s Dad saves people because he’s a fireman and he doesn’t-”

John cannot believe he is reduced to turning into his father, something he never wanted to do. “Because I said so, Sam,” he snaps and Sam hunches into himself, repacking the toys he was pulling out of his backpack.

John hates himself just a little that night.

Puppy dog tails


Sam never asks for a pet because he knows what the answer will be. Doesn’t mean John doesn’t find all manner of critters residing in Sam’s room, Sam’s bags, Sam’s pockets.

“Goldfish don’t belong in jeans,” John tries to explain, holding the tiny limp form in his palm and kneeling down in front of his son whose bottom lip is wobbling, eyes big and bright. Every now and again Sam will press the heels of his palms into his face as if he can physically hold off the crying and John wonders when Sam decided he didn’t want to cry in front of his Dad anymore.

“You’re such a dumbass,” Dean contributes from the front seat of the Impala, not even looking up from his comic.

“Shutup!” Sam growls, climbing into the back and not watching his father drop the ex-goldfish into the trash.

Princesses in waiting


John had always figured Dean and his tomcat tendencies would be the problem. He never really fathomed just how wrong he was.

He watches Sam lead the first girl he has ever brought home, Katherine Hilson, never Kate if you please, into the living room. She looks about the place with disdain in every line of her features, treading carefully over their worn rug with her shiny black shoes. She has a floaty blue dress on and ribbons in her hair and John sees the expression on her face change when she looks at Sam.

He’s going to marry a girl just like this, John thinks, and she’s never going to let Sam see us ever again.

Dropout


It’s an old argument.

“You go to school to keep the state off our backs but it isn’t your future, Sam,” John snaps, watching his youngest pace the room, rage fairly streaking off him in every jerky movement.

“It is,” Sam insists, voice fervent. John has seen people in Jim’s church like this. Sam is a believer. “It wasn’t your future and it may not be Dean’s but it is mine, it is!”

“Hey, leave me out of it,” Dean protests from the other side of the room and John cuts him a glance, seeing how Dean is backed up into a corner and looks more helpless than John has ever known.

“I don’t need you to help, I just need you to not be a wall,” Sam spits, slamming out of the room and John is left, hands clenched and shoulders up. Ready to fight but against what, he’s not sure.

Bad at goodbyes


John follows them to the bus station and almost gets out of the truck.

Almost.

Dean hands Sam’s duffle over and they are both staring at their feet. Then Dean kind of jerks forward and claps arms around Sam, stepping back so quick Sam hasn’t had time to get his own arms up. Dean jams hands deep into his pockets and is back to staring at his feet before Sam has really had time to blink.

Sam is on the bottom-step of the bus when he finally looks back.

Dean doesn’t see it.

John does and for the first time in a long time he feels hopeful.
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From: [identity profile] octavia-b.livejournal.com


Ooooh, ouch, but in a good way. It's ages since I read fic but this was glorious - so many perfect little moments.

From: [identity profile] adannu.livejournal.com


The first bit -- oh man. I can just see John's face when Sam comes out with that. And Sammich? Awww.

*calls grown up Sam Sammich just to see his face*

The other bits, though... oh. oh, *ow*.


From: [identity profile] eponin10.livejournal.com


Oh, wow. Painful. *winces*

And that first one is completely hysterical. Sammy is contrary enough to do that. *laugh*

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


Absolutely... John knows from a very early age that Sam will be the stubborn one... hehehee...

From: [identity profile] dolimir-k.livejournal.com


Ohhhh. All of these are perfect. The first one is hysterical and also a little sad.

And you know, in all the fic I've seen, I don't think I've ever seen John follow Dean and Sam to the bus station. I love the idea! A lot! And love that he might see Sam looking back!

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


I didn't think I had seen it either and I just totally think he would...

From: [identity profile] empressvesica.livejournal.com


*tears up*
*sniffles a little*

If this wasn't so eloquent in it's brevity - the way these little snapshots tell us volumes about the family dynamic and individuals role...

Basically if you weren't do darned good, I would totally be annoyed you just made me cry. Because I wish I was lj!acting up there...but there was actual welling up.

From: [identity profile] forgotten-pixie.livejournal.com


Awww, Sammich. That first part was a perfec mix of funny and heartbreaking. Lovely fic.

From: [identity profile] ultraviolet9a.livejournal.com


Gorgeous. Loved the first part best though, because it's so...Sam like.

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


Hehehee... knew Sam was going to be the stubborn one from a very early age... *grins*

From: [identity profile] cyndrarae.livejournal.com


Ohhhh. Beautiful!! Went from cuteness to angstness.. a vivid description of how Sammy must have changed over the years.

From: [identity profile] feral-faerie.livejournal.com


The only saying Dean thing really had beaming and wanting to muss up wee!Sammy's hair and go awwwww.

He’s going to marry a girl just like this, John thinks, and she’s never going to let Sam see us ever again.

Poor poor boys.

I like how you ended on a hopful note.

Thanks for writting.

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


Thankyou! I like a bit of hope mixed in with my angst... :D
amalthia: (Default)

From: [personal profile] amalthia


I liked every part here. :) I really felt for John.

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


Thankyou so much... I see him too often portrayed as an uncaring father and I don't think that's the case... I just think he has his priorities a little screwed...

From: [identity profile] iamstealthyone.livejournal.com


I really like all these glimpses of the family over the years. Love the opening one for its cuteness, and the other ones make me ache for the boys and for John.

Favorite lines:

“Goldfish don’t belong in jeans,” John tries to explain,

*winces* Poor goldfish! And poor Sam, so desperate for a pet that he resorts to this.

Every now and again Sam will press the heels of his palms into his face as if he can physically hold off the crying and John wonders when Sam decided he didn’t want to cry in front of his Dad anymore.

Ouch. Yeah, their relationship is changing in painful ways.

He’s going to marry a girl just like this, John thinks, and she’s never going to let Sam see us ever again.

*hugs John*

Sam is on the bottom-step of the bus when he finally looks back.

Dean doesn’t see it.

John does and for the first time in a long time he feels hopeful.


Great ending. I love John following them, and I can totally the boys having such an awkward good-bye. How I wish Dean had seen Sam look back at him. *hugs Dean*
ext_57392: (deanpensive)

From: [identity profile] 1aquaesulis76.livejournal.com


1001 ways to break your dad's heart, by Sam Winchester. Through the humour, all of these were perfect little 'ouchy' moments, John seeing Sam pull away from him, from the family; Dean not wanting to be caught in the middle, yet unable to pull them together; Sam just wanting what everyone else has. Thanks for sharing.

From: [identity profile] rory8.livejournal.com


So sad. You captured the angst and conflict perfectly in such brief glimpses. More angsty because the beginning was so adorable. . . .
Thank you for sharing.

From: [identity profile] brandifer.livejournal.com


Hey! I haven't had time to get into SPN fic, but A) it's you and B) the number of comments grabbed me, and I just had to come see.

So much color and texture and feeling in so few words. It's like you know these people and are just transcribing what you see. I was there in the beginning, if you recall, and I remember how good you were back then; you just keep getting better. Hoorah you! :)


From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


It's like you know these people and are just transcribing what you see.

Wow... that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said... *smishes you*

From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_minxy_/


Oh God. That's a lot of pressure to place on the boy's shoulders, but it's wonderful how John will let them be all that to each other and can even celebrate it.

Wow. This packed quite a punch. "He's going to marry a girl like this"? Wow.

From: [identity profile] kellifer-fic.livejournal.com


Hehehee... it is still new and fun to have you reading SPN... *hugs you tight*
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