That Cat Looks Familiar

[ashleywin]

WARNING: Contains the corporal punishment of a young boy by his father.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters from (or anything related to) the show Supernatural. I only want to play with them for a little while. I promise to return them in (almost) the same condition.

TITLE: That Cat Looks Familiar (or The Cat From Hell)

CHARACTERS: Sam (12) and Dean (16) Winchester, John Winchester

IMPLEMENT: Hand, Wooden Spoon

AUTHOR’S NOTE: It would help if you read “Mary Had A Little Sam” (6/30/13) before this one, so that the background would be explained.

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Twelve year-old Sam Winchester had just gotten out of lockdown when he decided to head for the woods where his father and brother had found him two weeks earlier. He still hadn’t wrapped his head around the facts of what had occurred in these trees and he thought that by coming here, he might find some answers. He slowly entered the clearing where it had all begun and sighed out loud.

“Damn you!” Sam suddenly screamed into the empty woods. “I hate you and I hope my dad made you suffer, you bitch!” His anger had returned full-force and he felt the need for release.

Sam sunk to the ground, burying his face in his arms, and prayed, asking God for a sign that she was thinking of him. He laid there a long time, feeling the warm sun on his back.

A noise startled Sam and he raised his head to glance around. He couldn’t see anything at first, but then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned for a closer look and nearly jumped out of his skin when a ball of fur landed right beside him. It was a cat! No wait--it wasn’t just any cat, it was Desajo! The black cat purred loudly and rubbed up against Sam, obviously happy to see him. Sam couldn’t believe the cat was acting so friendly: the first time they met, she had tried to take a chunk out of his hand.

“What are you doing here, Desajo?” Sam asked as he rubbed the soft fur, nuzzling her gently, which caused the purring to get louder. He petted her a long time debating about what to do with her.

Sam was at a loss. He couldn’t bring this cat home, his dad would have a fit! Besides, it had belonged to her and he wasn’t sure he could deal with that right now. Maybe Dean would have an idea. Sam decided he would go home to get his brother and maybe together they could figure it out.

Desajo meowed pitifully when Sam started to leave and it nearly broke his heart. He stooped down and petted the furry animal and assured her he would be back. He turned to depart when he realized that Desajo was following him.

“No, you stay here. I’ll be back in a little while,” Sam coaxed, stooping again to give her a rub. Once again, he made his way towards the edge of the clearing and had only gone a few steps when Desajo began following him again. This was going to be a problem. He couldn’t just show up with a cat, well, not this cat anyway. One more glance into the soft brown eyes and he changed his mind.

“Well, come on. I’ll figure something out,” Sam sighed as he scooped up the purring feline. This was going to be a major problem!

Sam approached the house that the Winchester family was currently renting with trepidation. He still didn’t know what he was going to do with this cat or how he was even going to get it into the house without his father or brother seeing it. When he reached the yard, Sam couldn’t believe his luck--the Impala was gone! Maybe the others were not even home: but because he did remember what had happened two weeks ago when he made the same assumption, he eased open the door and called out.

“Dean, are you home?” When he received no response, he called out again, “Dad?” No one answered, so Sam cautiously entered the kitchen and slammed the door hard. He knew that if one of the others was home they would come to yell at him about slamming the door. When no one appeared, Sam felt relieved.

Sam sat Desajo on the floor and reached into the refrigerator for the carton of milk. Cats drink milk, don’t they? Sam mused to himself. He poured some into a saucer and set it down in front of the cat, who meowed her thanks before drinking hungrily. Once satisfied, Desajo rubbed against Sam’s legs in a show of appreciation.

“What am I gonna do with you, Desajo? Dad’ll have my ass if he finds you here,” Sam informed the feline as she continued to wind herself around his legs. He bent to pet her again and her purring increased.

Sam hadn’t had time to decide what to do when he heard the unmistakable roar of the Impala’s powerful engine pulling up in front of the house. He could feel the panic rising and he hurriedly scooped up the cat and ran to his room. He opened the closet door and unceremoniously dumped her inside, begging her to keep silent.

“SHH! Quiet! I’ll come get you later,” Sam hissed to the cat, who meowed her protest at the dark, enclosed space. He shut the door and waited until the plaintive cries ceased. When he no longer heard anything, he went back into the kitchen where John and Dean had just entered the back door.

Sam tried to be nonchalant when he asked, “Where’ve you two been?” He tried to look casual as his gaze darted nervously around the room. John eyed him suspiciously before answering.

“We went out for some supplies. It’s right there in the note we left you on the table.” John studied his son closely before continuing. “You alright, Sammy?”

“Fine, Dad,” Sam responded somewhat shakily. Man, his ass was dead if that cat was discovered in his closet.

“You sure? You got somethin’ to tell me, son?” John questioned, determined to find out the truth.

“No, sir.” Sam tried to change the subject. “Why do you need supplies right now, you find a hunt?”

“Yeah, a banshee next state over. I leave day after tomorrow.”

“Why are you waiting? Don’t you need to leave tonight?” Sam inquired, hoping his dad would agree to leave so that he could figure out what to do with that damn cat!

“Bobby can’t meet me ‘til then. You seem anxious for me to go.”

“Yeah, Sammy. Why do you want Dad to leave now? You got a hot date or somethin’?” Dean interjected, causing Sam to throw him a sour look.

“I’m not telling him to go. I was just asking. Damn, how come everything I say you twist?” Sam yelled.

“That’s enough, Samuel. Dean, shut it, you hear me?” John glared at both his sons with disapproval.

“Yes, sir,” was the twin reply.

“Look, let’s just drop it, okay?” John demanded and two heads nodded their agreement. “Dean, do you know where that talisman I gave you last week is? We might need it.”

“Yes, sir. I put it in my closet. I’ll go get it.”

“NO!” Sam screamed, causing both John and Dean to jump.

“What the hell are you shouting about, Samuel?” John growled as he narrowed his eyes at his younger son.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that the closet’s messy and Dean probably won’t find what he’s looking for. I’d better go get it,” Sam stated lamely. He knew if Dean went into the closet, he was a dead man.

“Sammy, you’re such a dork. I know right where it’s at,” Dean scoffed as he headed toward the bedroom he shared with his little brother. Sam held his breath and waited for the inevitable shout from Dean when he discovered the cat. Soon, Dean returned, handed the talisman to John and shot Sam a strange look.

Sam was flabbergasted. Where was the cat? He waited until his father and brother were engrossed in their conversation before he stealthily left the room. He quietly approached the closet and opened it, expecting a cat to come barreling out, instead he was greeted with silence. ‘Crap where’s Desajo?’ Sam questioned himself. He looked all through the closet, but the cat was gone. He crept down the hall and into the bathroom, but no cat. The only place left to check was his father’s room. Sam prayed that the cat wasn’t in there, but when he pushed on the partially opened door, he gasped. Desajo had apparently tried to climb the curtains and had managed to rip down the sheers. They lay on the floor in tatters.

“Desajo! Bad kitty!” Sam hissed as he lunged for the cat, but the animal had no intention of being caught. She ran through Sam’s legs and headed down the hallway, with Sam in hot pursuit. The feisty feline made a beeline for the boys’ room just as Dean rounded the corner and collided with his little brother.

Dean grunted at the sudden contact and shook his head, unsure of what he had just seen. “What the hell was that?” he demanded. “And watch where you’re going, you little bitch.”

“Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

“You didn’t answer my question. I asked ‘what the hell was that?’”

“What was what? I didn’t see anything,” Sam answered innocently. “Maybe you hit your head.”

“I didn’t hit my head and I did see something run into our room. Now, what was it?” Dean growled, channeling his father in an attempt to get Sam to spill the beans.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t see anything!” Sam whined. Dean’s gaze almost bore a hole through his little brother, but the boy didn’t waiver in his protests.

“Maybe I’m losing my mind. I would have sworn I saw something run into my room,” Dean thought to himself. “Fine, whatever. Dad and I are going out for a while to pick up some more supplies, you think you can behave while we’re gone?”

“Sure, Dean. I’ll be fine.” Sam breathed a sigh of relief because now maybe he could figure out what to do with the cat.

As soon as he was certain he was alone, Sam went into his room in search of the elusive cat. “Desajo? Desajo, come here, girl,” Sam coaxed. He got down on his hands and knees and looked under the bed. Two brown eyes stared back at him and he reached as far as he could, trying to snag her, but the cat had other ideas. When Sam’s arm was within inches of her, Desajo ran from under the bed and disappeared out of the bedroom, causing a groan to escape from the boy’s lips.

“Well, hell!” Sam muttered, annoyed at the animal that had escaped yet again. There was nothing he could do now but go find her and hope she wasn’t into anything this time.

Sam was searching in his dad’s room, when he heard a ‘CRASH’ coming from the bathroom. He raced to investigate when he was hit with the overpowering smell of cologne and aftershave. Desajo sat beside two shattered glass bottles that had once held Dean’s favorite scent, swishing her tail in a taunting manner. Dean is going to kill me! Sam thought, worried what Dean might do when he discovered the accident.

Desajo looked at Sam with her big brown eyes before turning her attention to grooming herself, apparently unconcerned about the mess she had caused. “Damn cat!” Sam bellowed as he lunged for the animal who smartly fled from the bathroom with the preteen on her heels. She rounded the corner into the living room and dove under the television, pressing herself against the wall. Sam put his arm under the TV stand and was rewarded with a claw scratching a bloody line into his hand. The boy yelled, jerking his hand back to check the damage. Desajo took that opportunity to race from underneath the furniture and head back down the hall toward the bedrooms.

Sam sat stunned at the cat’s antics. He took a few seconds to catch his breath and wipe the blood from his hand before going in search of the cat. As he was walking toward the bedrooms he heard a commotion coming from his dad’s room and he ran toward the noise. When he reached the bedroom door, the explosion of a shotgun caused him to fall to the floor and cover his head. Sam waited a few seconds and when he didn’t hear anymore sounds, he cautiously rose to his feet to investigate the situation .

“Desajo? You alright, girl?” Sam called out, terrified that the cat had managed to hurt herself. When he ventured into the room, he could see the holes the shotgun had left in the wall, but he couldn’t see the cat.

“Desajo?” Sam repeated. “Where are you, girl?” The meowing coming from the closet was a relief. Sam found the cat huddled, trembling, near the loaded shotgun she had knocked over in her haste to get away from him.

Sam picked up the animal and stroked her black fur, thankful she wasn’t hurt. “Desajo, I’m dead when Dad gets back.” She just purred. Sam set the cat on the floor and turned to closely examine the damage to his father’s wall. Luckily, the gun was loaded with rock salt, so it could have been worse. He was contemplating on the story he was going to tell his father, when he heard another loud noise coming from the kitchen. Once again, Sam raced toward the sound, fully expecting to see more destruction. He was not disappointed.

Desajo had jumped onto the kitchen counters and knocked over the canisters containing sugar, flour and coffee. She was now brazenly prancing back and forth through the powdery mess, still swishing her tail. She looked up at Sam and meowed her obvious pleasure, but the boy was now beyond livid.

“Damnit! You stupid cat! I’m gonna kill you!” Sam roared as he picked up a wooden spoon off the counter and swung at the feline who was smart enough to leap to the floor and head back to the bedrooms, leaving a trail of footprints on the carpet. Sam gave chase and found her curled up on Dean’s bed, once again grooming herself in a nonchalant manner. The boy slowly approached the cat, and noted the hairs that now covered his brother’s pillow and blanket. He was dead for sure!

“Meow!” went the cat, as she eyed Sam’s advancement. Sam had just about reached her when the chase was on! Desajo seemed to think this was a game and she soared off the bed, racing once again toward the kitchen. Not again!

Sam about decided that since he was already dead meat, he might as well let the cat do as she pleased, when he realized the folly in that logic. The less destruction by the cat the better. He went toward the kitchen and found her curled up on top of the refrigerator, looking at him curiously. He was trying to determine the best way to get her down without escalating the situation when he heard the roar of the Impala returning. Sam was begging the feline to come down from her perch when the door opened and the two older Winchesters entered, engrossed in a conversation and unaware of what was happening.

The sudden presence of strangers startled Desajo and she leapt right on the head of John, causing a pained yell from the man. He reached up and dislodged the cat’s claws from his scalp as Sam stood frozen in place, unable to react.

“OW! WHAT THE HELL?!” John roared as the cat scurried once again under the television. John spun around to look at his younger son, infuriated. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? WHERE THE HELL DID THAT FRIGGIN’ CAT COME FROM?!” He rubbed at his sore head and was angry to see a small amount of blood on his hands from the cat’s claws.

John looked around the room and saw the disaster area that was once his home. He stalked over to his younger son, grabbed him by the collar and shook him, causing Sam to drop the wooden spoon on the floor with a clatter. “You had better start explaining right now!” John shouted as he shook his son again, lifting him partially off the floor.

Sam gulped as he stared at his furious father. He didn’t know where to begin, but another shake apparently loosened his tongue. “I’m so sorry, Dad. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought the cat here, but I felt sorry for her,” Sam explained, regretting he had ever seen the cat.

“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have brought that cat here! Just look at this mess!” John shouted at his younger son angrily. He took several deep breaths and tried to calm himself down.

Dean, who had been silently taking in the drama that was unfolding before him, chose to speak. “Sammy, is that what I saw running into our room earlier? Because I knew I saw something and you lied and said I was seeing things, you little bitch!” Dean growled as he took a step toward his brother. John put his hand on Dean’s chest and pushed back, halting his progress.

“Stand down, Dean! I got this,” John told his irate older son. When Dean reluctantly obeyed, John turned his focus back to his younger son. “Is that true? Was that cat in here before we left while ago?” John could feel the rage surging through him and he took several more deep breaths.

“Yes, sir,” Sam answered quietly. He knew he had just signed his own death warrant. John just stared at his son for several minutes trying to digest the whole situation. When he felt calmer, he addressed his son.

“Alright then. I guess there’s nothing left to discuss,” John stated matter-of-factly. “Or is there?” he went on as he saw the look of panic on Sam’s face.

Silence. “Sam? Is there something else I should know about?” John prodded as he narrowed his eyes. Sam couldn’t bring himself to fully confess, so he just nodded.

“What is it, boy?” John felt the anger rising again and he was afraid he was going to explode. “TELL ME NOW, YOUNG MAN!”

“Well, the cat sorta ripped down your sheers and broke Dean’s aftershave and tracked flour and sugar through the house and shed all over Dean’s bed,” Sam mumbled as he shrank from his father’s furious stare.

“Is that it?” John was trying hard not to kill his son and was barely able to control his temper.

“She knocked over the shotgun in your bedroom and blew some holes through the wall,” Sam whispered as he stared at the floor, unable to look his father in the eyes. John strained to hear, but his son spoke so quietly he didn’t catch everything.

“What the hell did you just say?” John barked as he gave Sam another shake.

“She knocked over the shotgun in your bedroom and blew some holes through the wall,” Sam repeated louder, his voice cracking. Dean stared at his little brother before bolting towards the bedroom to examine the extent of the damage for himself.

John kept a tight grip on his son’s shirt, pushing him toward the back of the house and certain doom. He didn’t say anything until they reached his bedroom, where Dean was already on his knees, touching the small holes with his fingers. John released his grip on Sam and bent down to see for himself.

“Well, Sammy?” John asked as he, too, traced the holes with his fingers and looked at the tattered sheers that lay in a heap underneath the window.

“I’m so sorry, Dad!” Sam wailed as a few tears gathered in his eyes. How he wished that damn cat had disappeared with her owner!

“You should be. You could have been killed!” When Sam opened his mouth to respond, John angrily cut him off. “Don’t even say ‘it was rock salt’ because it could have just as easily been buckshot.”

“Yes, sir,” Sam murmured in response.

“ I’ve seen enough in here, now let’s go see the damage in the rest of the house,” John ordered as he grabbed Sam by the arm and pulled him toward the bathroom, with Dean following close behind. The smell of the broken aftershave and cologne was still overpowering. Sam winced at his brother’s yell.

“What the hell, Sammy?! That damn cat broke all my stuff!” Dean ground out through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry, Dean! I didn’t mean for it to happen!” Sam answered sorrowfully.

“You’ll be paying to replace it out of your own money, Sammy,” John decreed as he gripped Sam’s arm harder to convey his displeasure.

“Yes, sir,” was the quiet reply. John and his two sons headed for the boys’ bedroom.

“But Dad, she didn’t do anything in here!” Sam insisted. Dean walked over and noticed the cat hair that decorated not only his blanket, but his pillow too. The teen turned to glare at his brother.

“Didn’t do anything? What the hell do you call this crap all over my bed, you little bitch?” Dean shouted angrily as he picked up his pillow to show his dad the short black hairs that covered the pillowcase.

“Oh,…” Sam started but when he saw the look on his brother’s face, he stopped.

“’Oh’, is that all you have to say?” Dean said as he lunged for his younger brother. John quickly stepped between the boys and pushed Dean onto the bed with an order to calm down.

“Sammy?” John looked at his son with expectation. “Well?” he said when Sam made no response. “Fine, we’ve seen the kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom, now let’s go see the living room.”

The trio made their way toward the front of the house and saw the white paw prints that seemed to cover the furniture, as well as the floor. John was at a loss for words. How could’ve all this damage occurred in such a short period of time?

“Where’s that damn cat at?” John demanded of his son. Sam cringed at his father’s tone and worried what his dad was gonna do to the feline.

“I think she’s under the TV,” Sam replied as he crouched down to check. He saw two eyes staring back at him, but he knew better than to try to grab for her, so he tried coaxing her out. “Here kitty, kitty,” Sam sing-songed as he tentatively inched his fingers forward. Desajo eyed him warily, meowing softly. Soon the cat allowed Sam to grab her and pull her out. She was trembling, and obviously scared, but she wasn’t nearly as scared as the boy holding her was. Sam stroked her fur and nuzzled her in an attempt to calm her.

“That’s what caused all this damage?” Dean asked incredulously. He shook his head and sighed.

John, who was beginning to feel more in control, studied the black cat his son was holding and a question came to mind. “Where did that cat come from?”

“I found her,” Sam hedged, staring at the floor. He sure didn’t want to tell his dad the whole truth.

“Found her, huh? Where?” John prodded, certain Sam was not sharing everything he knew.

“In the woods,” Sam answered as the cat began purring loudly.

“So it’s a stray? Son, that thing could have rabies!” John exclaimed.

“Desajo doesn’t have rabies!” Sam retorted. As soon as the words were out of his mouth , he realized what he had said and a small gasp escaped. It only took a few seconds before John remembered where he had heard that name before and exploded in rage.

“DID YOU SAY DESAJO? ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT CAT IS A WITCH’S FAMILIAR?” John bellowed. He felt himself shaking with anger as he stalked toward his son. Dean recognized the man was not in complete control of himself and he hurried to stand between his father and brother.

“Dad!” Dean said loudly. When John did not acknowledge him, Dean repeated himself forcefully as he grabbed for his father’s arm. “DAD!” John turned toward his older son.

“Let me go, son!” John said adamantly, as he twisted in his son’s grasp, but Dean held on tightly.

“Sam, go to your room,” Dean instructed, as he tried to maintain his grip on his father’s arm. “NOW!” he shouted when Sam did not immediately move.

“You stay right here, young man! I’m gonna beat you within an inch of your life!” John hollered angrily.

“Go, now, Sam!” Dean ordered. The wide-eyed youngster turned to flee to his room, terrified, still holding Desajo clutched to his chest.

John struggled to break the grip of his older son, clearly furious at being restrained. “Let me go, damnit!” John barked at his son.

“You need to calm down first,” Dean quietly stated as he shook his dad’s arm slightly and stared with concern into his eyes.

John realized he was not in complete control and he took numerous deep breaths until he felt himself more level-headed. “It’s okay, Dean. I’m fine now,” John finally said, embarrassed at his outburst. Dean let go of his arm and stepped back, giving his father some space. The two older Winchesters stood in awkward silence for several minutes until the teen decided to speak.

“What are you going to do, Dad?” Dean asked as he studied his father to be sure he wasn’t going to go ballistic again.

“Well, for starters, I’m gonna go for a drive to think things through. I may be gone for a while, so don‘t worry if I don‘t come back ‘til late,” John answered, turning and heading for the door. “Check on Sammy while I’m gone, okay?” he threw over his shoulder as he walked out the kitchen door toward the Impala.

When Dean heard the car pull out of the driveway, he made his way to the bedroom he shared with his younger brother and pushed open the door. Sam was curled up on his bed with the cat who looked up curiously at him when he entered the bedroom. It was hard to fathom that little ball of fur was really a demonic presence. It seemed so , well, normal.

“Where’s Dad?” Sam asked timidly, fully expecting his father to swoop in and start swatting.

“He needed to calm down, so he went for a drive, Sammy,” Dean answered quietly.

“Is he still really mad?” Sam inquired, not sure he wanted to know the answer. He concentrated on stroking Desajo, aware that he probably wouldn’t see her again after his father returned.

“Seriously? Are you kidding? He’s more pissed than I’ve seen him in along time. Your butt is toast when he gets back!” Dean snapped. He was upset with his brother but when he saw the first tears begin to make their way down Sam’s cheeks, he quickly morphed into ‘big brother mode’. He went and sat on Sam’s bed and stroked his face in a placating gesture.

“I’m sorry, Dean,” Sam wailed, as he leaned into his brother’s touch. He sobbed out his regret for acting so foolishly, as Dean pulled his little brother’s head into his lap and rubbed circles on his back.

“I know, Sammy. It’s gonna be okay, you’ll see,” Dean tried to reassure his brother. He wasn’t so sure himself, but he didn’t want Sam to worry anymore than he had to.

The daylight had faded into night by the time the sounds of the Impala returning were heard. Sam had cried himself to sleep some time earlier and Dean had continued stroke his back, but when he heard the door open, the teen made his way to kitchen to meet his father.

“Where’s Sammy?” John asked as his older son entered the room. “Where’s that cat?” he continued.

“He feel asleep a little while ago.” Dean answered. “It’s on the bed with Sammy.”

“You come with me and get that cat, okay? I don’t want it interfering while I talk to your brother,” John commanded his older son who reluctantly nodded. Dean watched his father bend down and pick up the wooden spoon that still lay where Sam had dropped it earlier.

“Dad, you gonna use the spoon?” Dean nervously questioned his dad.

“Damn right, I am! That boy brought a demonic being into this house and he’s lucky he’s only gonna get the spoon. I kicked around trying to find a razor strap while I was out driving, but after thinking about it for a while, I realized he didn’t really mean any harm. That boy just needs to learn to think before he does something this stupid. Of course that doesn’t mean he’s off the hook, either,” John stated adamantly. Dean breathed a sigh of relief that his father had taken the time to calm down before returning to punish his little brother because he would hate the thought of Sam getting whipped with a razor strap.

John and Dean walked to the boys’ bedroom and John opened the door. The lamp on the nightstand was on and both father and son could see the sleeping form of the youngest member of the family on the bed nearest the wall. Sam appeared to be resting peacefully, but John approached him, put the spoon down on the nightstand and shook his son’s shoulder to awaken him, all the time glaring at the cat snuggled up against the boy.

“Wake up, Sammy. We need to talk,” John said to his bleary-eyed son. Sam blinked a few times and sat up on his bed, pulling Desajo onto his lap.

“Dad,” Sam started, but was quickly silenced by his father’s upraised hand.

“Don’t even try it. I know what you were thinking. You wanted to try to figure out what to do with Desajo before I found it she had returned because you knew how I’d react if you brought her home, right?” John inquired of his younger son, who had the good sense to blush.

“She was all alone. I had to do something!” Sam whined, all the while stroking the feline on his lap.

“Do you not understand that’s a demonic animal?” John growled, his patience wearing thin.

“She can’t help it! She wasn’t given a choice!” Sam stated indignantly. John sighed in frustration.

“Sammy, I’m not going to debate the issue any further. Give Dean the cat and let’s get this over with before I lose my temper again,” John ordered as he motioned for Dean to come get Desajo. The teen walked over to his younger brother and gently pulled the meowing cat out of Sam’s grasp.

After Dean had left the room, John got down to business with Sam. “Now, that I have your full attention, let’s talk about all the big fat mistakes you made today. We’ve already discussed you bringing that particular cat into this house, so I don’t think we need to keep going over that. However, we do need to discuss your attempt at deception.”

“I didn’t deceive you!” Sam hotly retorted. “You knew she was here the minute you walked in the door!”

“Oh, really. You didn’t have her here before we left this afternoon?” John said, causing his son to cringe. Sam had almost forgotten about that.

“Yes, sir, but I really was gonna ask Dean what to do with her,” Sam replied as he studied the pattern on his bedspread.

“What to do with her? Seriously? You should’ve come told me and let me take care of it!” John rebuked.

“But you might have killed her!” Sam countered as he raised his eyes to stare at those of his father’s.

“We’ll never know will we?” John snapped in irritation. “I think we’re beating a dead horse here, so let’s talk about the rest of what went on today.”

“It was all an accident!” Sam tried. “She didn’t mean to do it!”

“If you hadn’t brought that damn thing in here in the first place, none of this would have happened!”

Sam bowed his head in shame. “Yes, sir. I know.”

“I think we both know what’s gonna happen now, so let’s just get it over with. Stand up and pull down your pants and underwear,” John ordered. He waited patiently while his younger son complied before pulling the boy over his knees and adjusting him into position.

“Sammy, what are you getting this spanking for?”

“Because I brought Desajo into the house when I knew she was a witch’s familiar,” Sam whimpered in anticipation of the upcoming punishment.

“And what else?” John prompted, causing Sam to squirm.

“And I tried to deceive you by hiding her here and not telling you.” Sam knew the hole he was digging was getting deeper and deeper.

“And?”

“And the cat really messed up the house and broke some stuff and could have hurt someone with the shotgun when it went off,” Sam finished, convinced his dad was going to change his mind and pull off his belt when Sam listed all his offenses.

“That’s quite a list, young man. Do you know of any reason I shouldn’t beat your ass so that you don’t sit down for a week?” John inquired as he patted his son on his back. Sam just shook his head ‘no’. “Then let’s finish this.”

John raised his hand and brought it down with a solid ‘SMACK’ on the preteen’s bare backside, causing the boy to yelp. The smacks fell until Sam was reduced to sobs and his backside was cherry red. There was no need for a lecture, Sam was well aware of why he was being spanked. The oldest Winchester paused for several seconds prior to picking up the wooden spoon off the nightstand to allow Sam to calm down. John didn’t like being this harsh with his sons, but Sam needed to learn a hard lesson, so he steeled himself and brought the spoon down with a ‘CRACK’ on the quivering backside across his lap. Twelve times the spoon fell before John decided his son had been punished enough and dropped the spoon onto the floor.

Sam was sobbing so hard he was having a difficult time catching his breath and John just shushed him while patting his back until the boy could get a hold of himself. Several minutes passed and John was becoming concerned about his son when his sobs finally turned to sniffles. Sam pushed himself off his father’s lap with a groan. John stood up with his son and helped him fix his pants before pulling him into a hug. The two stayed embraced until Sam took a step back and looked at his father.

“Will you promise me something, Dad?” Sam quietly asked as he brushed the tears off his cheeks.

“What’s that, son?” John questioned, his voice hitching a little. Spanking his sons was as much a punishment for him as it was for them.

“Promise me you won’t kill Desajo.” John took a deep breath before replying.

“I can’t make that promise, Sammy. That cat’s a witch’s familiar and I don’t know what the ramifications of letting it live would be,” John informed his son. When he saw the hurt in his baby’s eyes it almost brought him to his knees. “But I’ll do what I can, okay?”

“Please, Daddy, don’t kill her!” Sam pleaded as the tears fell. John pulled Sam into another brief hug before releasing him to stalk out of the room, closing the door behind himself with a loud click.

John entered the kitchen and liberated the cat from his older son’s arms. “I’ll be back later, Dean. Go check on your brother, okay?”

“Is he alright?” Dean asked worriedly.

“He’ll be fine eventually,” John answered cryptically.

“Where are you going with Desajo?”

“Never mind where I’m going. You just do what I told you to do! Understand?” John barked as he tightened his grip on the now struggling cat.

“Yes, sir.” Dean turned to obey his father as John opened up the door and left, heading toward the Impala.

Dean slowly opened the door to the bedroom and saw that his little brother had already cried himself to sleep. The emotions of the day had really done a number on the preteen, so Dean didn’t want to disturb his rest. The teen walked to the bed and pulled the blanket up over the slumbering boy and tucked the covers tightly around him and then patted his cheek. ‘He looks like an angel’ Dean mused, and then he caught himself. ‘What the hell am I saying?’ Dean chuckled to himself. He glanced one last time at his little brother and then quietly left the room and the sleeping boy.

He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep until his father returned, so Dean spent the rest of the night cleaning up the mess that Desajo had made. He didn’t want Sam or his dad to have to face the chaos that the cat had created, so he decided instead of pacing the floor all night, he would make himself useful. As he worked, he kept an eye on his little brother, checking on him frequently. Finally around dawn, Dean went into the kitchen and made coffee, hoping his father would return soon. The coffee had just finished when the Impala pulled into the driveway and soon an exhausted John came through the door alone.

“Dad?” Dean questioned, searching his father’s face for a hint at what had happened to Desajo.

“Sam asleep?” John asked, sounding very tired.

“Yes, sir. He cried himself to sleep right after you left last night,” Dean answered softly.

“It couldn’t be helped,” John replied before motioning around the room. “You do all this?”

“Yes, sir. I couldn’t sleep and it had to be done, so I decided ‘what the hell’.”

“Well, thanks. I really appreciate not having to do it myself. I guess all that’s left to be done is to patch the holes in my bedroom walls,” John said gratefully as he reached out and squeezed his son’s shoulder.

“You’re welcome, Dad.” Dean blushed at his dad’s praise. “Now, what about Desajo?”

“Come on, I want to tell both of you at the same time,” John said as he headed toward the bedroom and pushed open the door to see his sleeping son. He walked over to Sam’s bed and shook him awake. When the boy opened up his eyes, he just stared sadly up at his father. John sat down on the edge of the bed, gesturing for Dean to come over and stand by his side.

“Where’s Desajo, Dad?” Sam could feel the tears pricking at his eyes. John didn’t answer right away. “Dad? Did you kill her?” John just grabbed Sam and pulled him into a hug.

“I’m so sorry, son. I wish none of this had happened,” John said as he stroked the back of his son’s head.

“So you did kill her?” Sam sobbed as he clung to his father. John pushed Sam back slightly so he could look into his eyes.

“I didn’t kill her. She’s safe for now,” John replied quietly. Sam’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“But why? I thought you said you couldn’t let her live because she was a demonic presence,” Sam asked, puzzled at his father’s answer.

“I know a hunter who said he could take the spell off of her and make her a normal cat again,” John said. “But I was going to kill her, I really was, until she ‘meowed’ at me and I realized you would never forgive me if I did,” John finished softly. Sam gave John a watery smile and patted his cheek.

“Thanks, Dad,” Sam said, embarrassed at his lack of faith in his dad.

Dean coughed to remind the other two Winchesters he was still in the room. John and Sam exchanged a glance before both reaching up and pulling Dean onto the bed with them into a group hug, which caused an immediate protest from the sixteen year-old. John ignored him and just held on tightly to both of his sons.

I hope God can forgive me for what I did.

------------------------finis-----------------------------------