Outside and Around Town, Sunday Evening

[likethegun]

Sam was only slightly annoyed that he'd had to promise Dean and Dawn that he would straighten things out with his dad tonight. It was one thing for Dean to be upset that they'd been fighting, but Dawn hadn't seemed pleased either by how he'd acted, and that was just as concerning.

So now he and his dad were out walking Scout, and Sam was letting John take care of the leash while he tried to figure out what to say first.

[For demons_death.]

Comments

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John held onto Scout's leash and kept his eyes on the puppy as they walked. "He's a very good dog," he said to Sammy.

[likethegun]

"He really is," Sam agreed. "Dean has good taste in dogs. And you're doing a good job walking him," he added.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John flashed Sammy a grin at that. "Thanks."

[likethegun]

Sam watched his dad for a few moments and took a deep breath. "So...I want to apologize for this morning. I was really mean, and I shouldn't have been."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"You were," John said. "I'm not 'noxious." He paused and admitted, "I shouldn't have kicked you."

[likethegun]

"Especially not as hard as you did. I think my ankle might be broken," he said, smirking. "You're right, you're not obnoxious. You're just...seven."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"I kick good," John told him with a grin, but then sobered and said, "I can't help being seven. I just am."

[likethegun]

"I know. And that's why I'm sorry I got mad at you, because this isn't your fault."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John nodded and went back to watching Scout. Finally he got up the courage to ask, "Do you like me?"

[likethegun]

Sam could almost hear Dean saying I-told-you-so from here. "You're my dad. Of course I like you. What would make you think I didn't?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John gave a half shrug. "You just don't seem to want me around."

[likethegun]

"It's not that I don't want you around," Sam explained. "I'm just worried that you're going to hurt yourself, or that something's going to happen to you. I'm not used to having that worry."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"I'm not stupid y'know. I may be little but I know how to protect myself." He glanced up at Sammy. "And I know when to run away."

[likethegun]

"I'm not saying that you're stupid. And I know you can protect yourself. I just feel like I need to help you protect yourself right now."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"You could do it without yelling so much," John grumbled.

[likethegun]

"Yeah, I could. I'm sorry," Sam said sincerely. "Dean is a lot better at that sort of thing than I am."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"You're trying," John pointed out. "That's something. That's something big."

[likethegun]

"It's not that big. I just don't want you to be mad at me. I hate it when you're mad at me," he admitted.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"I'm not mad at you," John told him earnestly. "I just don't want you to hate me."

[likethegun]

"I can't hate you," Sam said. "I might not always like you as much as I do at other times, but I don't know if I could ever hate you. Do you honestly worry about that?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John nodded. "Yeah."

[likethegun]

"I do too," Sam admitted, before he could lose his nerve. "I worry about that all the time, that I'm not going to be good enough or strong enough, and you're going to hate me." Somehow, it was easier to say that to a kid.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"You're Sammy," John said, like he had to Dawn earlier. "That's all you need to be."

[likethegun]

"But that doesn't do much good when what you really want is another copy of Dean," Sam replied.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"What?" John shook his head, looking confused. "Dean's Dean. You're Sammy. If you were Dean then I wouldn't have a Sammy. And that would make me sad."

[likethegun]

Sam couldn't help but smile softly at that, before shaking his head. "If I was Dean, then you'd have two perfect soldiers instead of one."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

John shook his head again. "You're my sons. That's more important."

[likethegun]

Sam's smile got a bit wider at that. "That's really...I'm glad to hear that. And I'm going to try to remember you said that."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Good." They walked for a while then John asked, "Sammy?"

[likethegun]

Sam glanced over at him. "Yeah?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Can we stop for pizza? I'm hungry."

[likethegun]

Sam laughed. "Sure, we can stop on the way back. I'm kind of hungry too."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"But no anchoivies," John said. "'Cause they're yucky."

[likethegun]

"What's that? You want your half to be all anchovies?" Sam teased.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"You're going to make me think you can't hear up there again," John warned.

[likethegun]

Sam laughed. "The air is thicker all the way up here, so it's harder for me to hear."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"See, that's what I've been saying," John grinned up at him.

[likethegun]

"It's a good thing I like being tall, or I'd have some problems," Sam joked.

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Sammy?"

[likethegun]

"Yeah?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Can I have a piggy back ride?" John asked, looking up at Sammy wide-eyed.

[likethegun]

That was definitely going down in Sam's book of questions he never thought his father would ask him. "Seriously?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Yah-huh."

[likethegun]

"Dean is never, ever going to let me live this down," he said, taking Scout's leash and kneeling down. "All right, get on."

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

With a grin, John scrambled onto Sammy's back, wrapping his arms around Sammy's neck.

[likethegun]

Sam tucked his arms around John's legs, and shifted him just enough to be comfortable. "All right. Next stop, the pizza place?"

[demons-death.livejournal.com]

"Yep!" John said happily. "Pizza!"