Eighteen Candles (PG)
Another quick jog back in the timeline, prequel to Graduation Day. Warning for serious schmoop.
Summary: May of 2001 is a season of celebration and transition. And it all starts with a certain someone's birthday.
Eighteen Candles
By Enola Jones and San Antonio Rose
April 2, 2001
It was the first Monday in April when Cooper stuck his head into Dean’s classroom before the first bell rang. “Hey, got a minute?”
“Hey, Mr. C. Yeah, come on in.”
Cooper walked in and frowned. “Is that... silly string?” His head tilted as he took in Dean’s desk’s new decoration.
Dean chuckled. “Yeah. April Fool’s got a little out of hand yesterday.
Cooper huffed a laugh. “Need some help with that?”
“Nah, I got it, thanks. What’s up?”
“Word has it that someone has a birthday comin’ up.”
“Yeah, Sammy turns the big 1-8 a month from today.” Dean shook his head, smiling fondly. “Can’t believe he’s nearly 18 already.”
“Nearly legal for almost anything. Which brings me to why I’m here.”
“What, you want him to enlist?”
Cooper’s eyes went huge. “Not HARDLY.”
Dean chuckled. “Didn’t think so.”
“No, I was thinking more along the lines of a party fit for his new stature.”
“What, Texas-sized?”
“Legal.”
“Not legal for booze, if that’s what you’re thinking. Well, I guess he can consume, but still... think Tricia’s parents would have kittens.”
“No, no booze.” He grinned. “More like... like you said. Texas-sized.”
Dean nodded. “Yeah, we could do that. Only problem is, his birthday’s on a Wednesday this year.”
Cooper hummed, then his face lit. He opened his mouth to talk, but the bell rang. He glared up at it as if it had personally offended him.
Dean laughed and glanced at the clock. “We’ve still got a minute.”
“What if we stretch it out?”
“For how long?”
“Till Saturday night.”
Dean chewed on his lip as he considered, then nodded. “Might work. He’s got a soccer game that Thursday, but I think the other nights are free.”
“I’ll talk to the coach. See if we can’t make him have a birthday week starting on his birthday!”
Dean grinned. “Awesome. Thanks, Mr. C!”
“I’ll get a few things together. Oh, and don’t tell Sammy, okay?”
“I won’t. We never have gotten a lot of good surprises, so I’m happy to play my part in this one.”
Cooper’s smile turned sad. “No, I bet you haven’t, have you?”
The second bell rang and Cooper shot it a death glare.
Dean laughed. “I will say this: most of the best ones have come here in Cazadore. And I thank you again for the ones you’ve helped with-and for thinkin’ of Sammy this time.”
“I always think of him,” Cooper said as the students started filing into their classrooms. As he left, he called over his shoulder, “But things are in place now!”
Dean blinked after him. “Things are in place”? Whatever could that mean?
Then he shook his head and went back to cleaning the silly string off his desk.
One of the main perpetrators came over and offered to help.
“You’d better,” Dean replied with a mock glare. “You caused it.”
He nodded and got to work.
As Cooper wandered down the now-empty hallway, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the motel.
“Starlight Motel. This is Tricia. How may I help you?”
“Hey, Tricia, it’s me.”
“Hey, Mr. Cooper!”
“Look, I know you’re comin’ off work in about fifteen - what do you say I blow off my classes and take you to brunch?”
Her blink was almost audible. “Really? Thanks... don’t want Sam getting jealous though,” she added as a tease.
“Oh, don’t worry about him. He’s actually the REASON for this. I’ll explain at the diner.”
With that, he went into his first period class and taught for twenty minutes. Then a surreptitious snap of his fingers caused his phone to go off and he answered it. “Class, I need to take off. We’ll pick this up right here tomorrow.”
As he left the room, he snagged Mrs. Ramirez and got her to sit in on her free period.
Tricia had already gotten a booth when Cooper arrived at Maggie’s, and she looked up at him in concern as he approached. “Is... is something wrong with Sam, Mr. Cooper?”
“Completely the opposite. Sweet tea, please, Garnet? Thank you.”
Tricia relaxed slightly. “Sorry, it’s just... you said you were calling about Sam, so....”
“I am.” His fingers curled around her wrist. “Tricia. Not everything about them is bad news.”
“No! No, I know that-that’s why I love them-I just... I guess I worry too much.”
“I know that feeling. Truth is, I need your help.” He smiled as the sweet tea arrived. “Pancakes, please, with strawberries and maple syrup. And whatever the young lady wants.”
Tricia thought for a moment. “Chocolate chip pancakes with extra whipped cream, please.”
“Atta girl!” Cooper crowed.
Garnet laughed and moved off.
Cooper beamed at Tricia. “I knew I could convert you!”
Tricia laughed. “So what do you need my help with?”
“Word on the street is that somebody’ll be 18 in a few weeks.”
“Yes, I think we’re planning to go to Olive Garden in Beaumont, just the four of us.”
“Perfect. Then this will still work. How about we stretch his celebration to... oh... Saturday night?”
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “What do you have in mind?”
“See? That is why I need your help.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to find things to fill that weekend!”
“Bueno.” Tricia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Well, if we need some kind of diversion, graduation is coming up. Daphne and Dean and I can keep Sam distracted making plans for that; I figure at least Mr. Singer and Father Jim will want to come down, maybe Mr. Turner and Mr. Hamilton. And with both of them graduating, there’ll probably be some of Dean’s friends who want a party as well as Sam’s. But as far as birthday party stuff....” She drummed a little riff on the table. “Lemme talk to Josh.”
He nodded. “Thursday he has a soccer game.”
“Right, and that’s also Daphne’s long day; she gets out of class at 4, and she’s usually pretty wiped by the time she gets back to town. That leaves us Friday and Saturday.”
“Do either of you work Friday or Saturday? Dean and I have in-service on Friday, but I expect I can get at least Dean out of it.”
“Yes, Sam and I both work Saturday morning. Daphne works Fridays, but she’s off by 5:30.” She paused. “I think Sam might want to go to the baseball game on Friday; I can’t remember why.”
“We’ll find out and make that special.”
Tricia nodded. “Sweet. That leaves Saturday-afternoon and evening, probably.”
“And Sunday,” he tested her.
She shook her head. “No, Sunday we’ve got church, and Sam likes to take a long nap in the afternoon.”
Cooper smiled. “Priorities are straight. Good.”
She ducked her head and smiled back, slightly embarrassed.
“God first, family second.”
“Exactly.”
Just then Garnet arrived with the pancakes, and the conversation was put on hold while they dug in.
“So we have a month,” said Daphne when Tricia talked to her that afternoon.
“We have a month to plan a fantastic weekend.”
“Supper Wednesday, soccer game Thursday, baseball game Friday...”
“And then Saturday... hm.”
“Maybe there’s something we can go do in Houston for most of the day, have the big blowout at suppertime. You think Sam would enjoy the zoo?”
“I think he would!”
“And the Science and Natural History Museum-Dean would love that, and I bet Sam would, too.”
“Sounds like we’ve got ourselves a plan!”
Daphne laughed. “Most of one, anyway! What about this shindig Saturday night?”
Tricia grinned.
Daphne blinked. “Uh-oh. That’s the Hannibal Smith grin.”
“The what?”
“The one that goes before your really crazy plans.”
Tricia laughed.
Spill, sister.
Tricia’s eyes glittered with mirth as she started signing back. By the time she finished, Daphne was grinning back at her.
“¿Bueno?”
“¡Bueno!”
Tricia whipped out her cell phone to start making arrangements.
At 6 AM on May 2 - the start of the long birthday weekend - Dean knocked smartly on Sam’s door.
A sleepy mumble answered him.
Taking that as permission, Dean walked in. “Happy birthday, Sammy!”
Sam rolled over and waved sleepily. “’Sit mornin’ already?”
“Yup.” He sat on Sam’s bed and smiled. “It’s morning!”
Sam made a visible effort not to roll over and grumble into his pillows like he usually did on those few occasions when Dean was awake early and too cheerful and Sam could barely get moving. After all, it was his birthday, and this was their tradition.
Dean sat there and waited patiently.
Go ahead, Sam signed.
Dean smiled and bent forward, hugging his now-adult brother tightly. “Happy birthday, Sammy.”
Sam hugged back. “Thanks, dude.”
“The card is downstairs. The song will wait.”
“Really? I mean, I don’t mind....”
“Really. Now come on.”
Sam rubbed his eyes and got up. Dean left the room and waited. A few minutes later, still yawning his head off but fully dressed, Sam shuffled out of his room.
And into a triple-voiced chorus of “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMMY!”
And then Dean, Daphne and Tricia all burst into song, singing “Happy Birthday” as a round. When it was over, Sam laughed and kissed Tricia before hugging Daphne and Dean. They hugged him back.
The card was HUGE this year. And it was signed not just by his nearest and dearest, but by practically the entire high school.
Sam felt tears pooling.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Tricia whispered to him again and kissed his cheek.
Sam hugged her. He signed, as his words had been stolen. Thank you. Thank you.
She kissed him again and steered him to the table.
Best birthday ever, Sam signed and they all smiled at each other.
He had no idea...
Sam walked into school and down the hall and into his homeroom. He heard his name over the announcements, to report to the office. Bewildered, he obeyed.
He was met by the secretary. “Boy, are you in trouble,” she teased.
His eyebrows shot up. “Me? In trouble? Neeeever.” Then he winked at her.
“You are,” she sing-songed. “PDA!”
Sam blinked rapidly. “But-but I haven’t....”
Her laughter told him he’d been royally had.
Sam blushed as his mouth tightened against the laughter that threatened to bubble out.
Jensen Jones, the principal, stuck his head out. “Come on in, Sam.”
Sam finally dared to smile as he walked into Mr. Jones’ office.
“Mariah giving you trouble?”
“Ah, no worse than usual. What’s up?”
“You’re excused from all your classes today. You’re to go assist Mr. Cooper today.”
Sam blinked again. “Okay... um, may I ask why?”
“He will tell you.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Yes.” He slid an envelope to him. “Happy birthday, Sam.”
Sam smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Jones.”
“Open that at home.”
And Mariah gave him a kiss to his cheek as he walked out. They had saved her brother from a poltergeist attack over the summer.
Humming a little under his breath, Sam went back to his homeroom to pick up his backpack, then went to Mr. Cooper’s room.
Cooper beamed as he came in. “Guess what, Samwise?”
“Um, you’re drafting Dean and me to go to Mount Doom?”
Cooper laughed heartily. “Nope! You’re going to be my aide today!”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Anything and everything.”
Sam nodded. “Where do I start?”
“By going to get your assignments.”
“From each teacher, or does Dean have them?”
“Dean has them.”
Sam nodded again. “I’ll be right back, then.”
Cooper nodded and watched him go. “You are going to be fantastic, Samwise,” he whispered.
It wasn’t until Sam was almost to Dean’s classroom that he recognized the song he was humming as a Metallica tune. He shook his head a little, amused.
Dean excused himself from his ASL 1 class and brought a folder out to Sam. “I’ll keep your backpack in here. We’ll have lunch together unless the Coop needs you.”
“Sounds good.” Sam handed over his backpack.
Dean took it. “Come say hi to my class. All in sign. Let them see how it’s done.”
Sam grinned and followed Dean to the front of the classroom. Most of these students were freshmen, and the girls were a little obviously star-struck.
Dean signed and spoke. “This is my brother Sam. He’s a student here.” Then he turned to Sam. Tell class about you.
Hello, Sam signed. I’m a senior. Next year I hope go to Lamar University, study education and history. I am captain of the soccer team, and I hunt.
Dean translated and that last phrase had the entire class gasping aloud.
Sorry, ladies, Sam added with a chuckle. Taken.
“DAMMIT!” one cheerleader wannabe from the corner burst out, before clapping a hand over her mouth.
Sam laughed. You find someone, Darla. You have time.
Dean put the backpack under his desk and spoke. “Okay, time to get back to work. Thank Sam the way I taught you, class.”
The entire class signed Thank you, and Sam signed it back. Then he headed back to Cooper’s classroom.
“Okay,” he said, “assignments gathered, backpack delivered, and the hopes of the girls of the entire freshman class crushed. Now what?”
“What?” Cooper laughed. “Explain that last one?”
When it was explained, he burst out into a huge laugh and nearly toppled over.
Sam laughed, too. “I can’t wait to tell Tricia!”
“She’ll plotz! Okay, let’s get down to business.”
“Right.”
“How good are you at essays?”
“Writing or grading?”
“Grading.”
Sam shrugged. “Never tried, but give me a rubric, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Here you go.” He handed over a rubric and a stack of essays. “Those are for the 2 PM class.”
Sam glanced at the rubric and the top essay on the stack and nodded. “Yeah, I remember this assignment. No problem.”
“All right, then. I’ll leave you to it.”
Some ten minutes later, the first class of the day trickled in. Sam watched Cooper teach - never once losing his temper and always keeping the class on track and engaged.
It hadn’t occurred to him to pay attention to how someone taught; he’d been having too much fun learning in the good classes. He decided to take notes if he finished grading soon enough.
And sure enough - he did.
Sam found himself jotting down notes not only about what kinds of activities Cooper assigned and the kinds of questions he asked, but also how he turned questions around if it looked like a student was closer to the right answer than he or she realized and how he rephrased questions that lost the class. Much less how he knew he HAD lost the class. He timed pauses. He noted jokes-when he could keep up with Cooper’s quick puns.
By lunch, he was watching Cooper more readily than ever.
At the end of class, Cooper came over and clapped Sam on the shoulder. “Learning a lot?”
“I am, actually!”
“Getting ideas?”
Sam just smiled.
Cooper chuckled. “C’mon. Let’s grab Dean and get some lunch.”
Sam put the books away and stood.
Before they could leave the room, though, Dean walked in. “Hey! How’s the morning been?”
Fantastic! Learn learn learn!
Dean laughed. Time to eat eat eat-feed that brain!
Sam raised his hands and his stomach growled. All three of them laughed.
The envelope from Mr. Jones turned out to contain a card and a check. They had helped him out with a poltergeist problem and he was using the birthday to pay them even though they’d refused it before. Sam just shook his head and chuckled.
That night, the Olive Garden was everything they had thought it would be. Worth the reservations. The waitstaff even brought Sam a slice of rich chocolate cake and sang the restaurant’s signature version of “Happy Birthday.”
Sam was still beaming with joy when he fell asleep in the car on the way home.
Thursday started out like a normal morning, although Dean teased him about being 18 at last, but Mr. Jones caught the brothers on the way in the door.
“Dean, go get your brother’s assignments for today. Sam, you did so well as Cooper’s shadow yesterday, I’d like you to do it again today.”
Sam’s eyes lit with delighted surprise. “Really? Awesome! Thanks, Mr. Jones!”
He nodded and let them go.
Mr. Cooper had lots of legwork for Sam to do that morning-making photocopies, delivering paperwork, and so on-but that afternoon he sent Sam to the library with a textbook, a floppy disk, and instructions to write a final exam for the regular US History class.
Sam just stared at it, his eyes growing larger and larger. Finally he looked up at Cooper, struck dumb.
“What? You know what my tests are like. It’s comprehensive. Go.”
He grinned and all but floated down the hall.
The short answer and multiple choice questions were easy enough to write, but he was still trying to come up with an essay question when the bell rang at the end of the day. Groaning, Sam dropped his head into his hands.
“Hey,” Cooper said, walking up at that moment. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m stuck.”
“Essay questions?”
“Yup.”
“Yeah, those are tough. But look, I don’t want to make you late for your soccer game, so save what you’ve got, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Sam nodded and just - stood up. He smiled at Cooper. “Already saved.”
Cooper grinned. “Good job. Now go on, get down to the locker room!”
Laughing, Sam bolted, his long legs eating up the corridors in a matter of seconds.
The soccer game was good as usual. They lost, but only by one point. Sam was on his game, but the forward for Elliott was just a shade better. Sam was in too good a mood not to be a good sport about it, though, and he made sure the rest of the team followed his lead in congratulating the Elliott team.
As they were getting cleaned up, Josh nudged his shoulder. “I just wish you coulda had a win for your birthday.”
Sam laughed. “It’s just a game, dude. We’ve still got a few more to win.”
Josh grinned. “Get dressed, huh?”
“Right.”
Once he was dressed, Josh grabbed him by the arm. “C’mon!”
Sam frowned. “What’s the rush?”
“Tiffany and Tricia are waiting!”
“What for?”
“Surprise, surprise,” Josh sing-songed.
“Josh, what the hell....”
He froze, seeing his girlfriend and Josh’s leaning against the Impala, which Dean and Daphne were quickly loading with sleeping bags and things.
“Uh, guys? What’s... what’s goin’ on?”
“We are goin’ campin!” Dean chirped.
“Camping?! Now? Where? I thought-”
“You thought what, Sammy?” Dean asked, closing the trunk.
“You’ve got-y’know-in-service tomorrow.”
“Nope. Not this time.”
“Huh. So where are we going?”
“Mr. C found us a good campground up in the Davy Crockett National Forest. No chupacabras, guaranteed,” Dean added with a wink.
“Good. That one nearly took your leg.”
“Don’t remind me.”
They piled in - three in front and three in the back - and headed west.
The night was, as promised, uneventful in the supernatural sense, though the six friends had a blast making s’mores around their campfire and being their usual silly, friendly selves. The three boys treated the girls to a three-way spar, both of them attacking Dean. He held his own remarkably well until they managed to sweep his feet out from under him... and he quickly returned the favor.
Then suddenly each girl attacked a guy. “Okay!” Josh spat out once he was on the ground again. “Who the HELL taught Tiffany to SPAR?”
Daphne laughed maniacally.
“Figures.” Josh was laughing as he pushed at Tricia. “Get off before Sam gets ideas.”
“Ha!” Sam replied. “Like anybody could steal that girl.”
“True,” Tricia laughed.
The sparring wore them out enough that they turned in early, guys in one tent, girls in the other.
They woke at the crack of dawn to the smell of bacon frying. Exchanging confused looks, the two groups crawled out of their respective tents to find Mr. Cooper busily preparing a chuck wagon-style breakfast.
“... the hell?” Dean breathed. “Thought you had in-service!”
“Ah, I’ll go in later,” Cooper replied. “Sam got me far enough ahead yesterday that I don’t have to be there first thing.”
Dean clapped him on the shoulder. “Way to go, hotshot!”
Sam beamed. “I just wish I could have gotten that exam finished for you, Mr. C.”
“Only one question left. All of a half hour’s work. Without that, I’d have been up most of the night.”
Somehow, Sam’s grin managed to get even sunnier.
“So, Samwise,” Cooper grinned. “I hear a kidnapping is in the works.”
Sam blinked. “Kidnapping?”
“Yup,” Josh said, popping the p like Cooper did.
Sam eyed his best friend suspiciously. “Y’all are kidnapping me, is that it?”
Dean tapped his nose, grinning.
Sam heaved a dramatic sigh. “Where are you taking me?”
“Astroworld!” five voices chorused.
Sam’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?!”
Seriously, Dean signed. We have fun!
Sam laughed. Damn straight we will! As long as you stay off the Texas Cyclone, he added with a wink.
Dean raised both hands, shaking his head. All yours, Sammy.
At Tricia’s curious look, Sam explained, “Dean and rollercoasters don’t mix too well.”
Translate: Not at ALL.
“Oh, but there’s tons of stuff to do at Astroworld besides the rides,” Daphne assured him.
Dean’s happy smile said it all.
After a hearty breakfast, Cooper helped them load the cars again and saw them on their way to Houston. He watched them till they were out of sight, then he snapped his fingers and appeared in his apartment, laughing heartily as he realized he’d badly startled his little brother.
Astroworld was gleaming bright and merry when the little band arrived. Much as the boys had done at Sea World years before and at Fiesta Texas since, the couples did their best to pack as much fun as possible into the day, going to shows, visiting shops, and ensuring that Dean had something to do while Sam and Josh went on all the rides. Dean had a fantastic time - he won prize after prize at the arcade and just HAD to try every thing the food court had to offer. It was hard for the group to tear themselves away, but they needed to be back in Cazadore in time for the baseball game.
They made it just in time. And it was well worth the effort-the game went eleven scoreless innings before the Eagles finally scored with a walk-off home run. Maggie’s stayed open later than usual so they could celebrate.
Saturday morning, since Tricia had arranged time off for both Sam and herself, the Winchesters and their girlfriends went back to Houston to hit museums and the zoo before returning to the brothers’ house to relax and chat about plans for graduation. Sam couldn’t stop grinning. Their celebration had been days long and he was so full of fun that he was giddy with it.
But before he could suggest something for supper, Dean looked at his watch and announced that it was time to go.
“Go?” Sam frowned. “Go where?”
Dean just grinned and grabbed his keys.
“Dean! What’s goin- where are we...” Dean, come on!
Daphne laughed, and Tricia grinned and grabbed both of Sam’s hands to pull him out to the Impala.
Sam kept asking over and over where they were going. In ASL. Spanish. Latin, even. But Dean cranked up Metallica so he wouldn’t have to answer and kept it blaring until they pulled up in front of the barn at the Martinez place.
Sam frowned at him.
Dean shut off the engine, signed Trust me, and got out.
I do trust you, Sam signed when Dean opened the passenger door. I just don’t like not KNOWING.
Dean’s eyes glittered with amusement. Just this once.
Fine.
The girls followed them as they walked up to the barn door. Dean’s grin widened as he threw the door open... and Sam was nearly bowled over by a shout of “SURPRISE!!!”
Sam froze in the doorway, gawping. The barn was ablaze with lights and colorful streamers and balloons, and there was a huge feast set out, culminating with a massive birthday cake, and standing and applauding around the tables were all of Sam’s friends from Cazadore and most of their hunting friends.
“I... I....” Too much... Dean....
“You’re only old once, dude,” Dean returned with a wink.
Sam glared at him.
Dean pulled him into a hug. “Happy birthday, little brother,” he whispered.
Sam hugged him back, and Dean could feel him shaking slightly.
“You okay?”
Too much, too much.
You deserve.
Nononono...
Yes. More.
Sam’s eyes filled.
“Hey,” Josh said gently as he walked up. “C’mon, everybody’s waiting-we can’t eat without the birthday boy.”
A minute.
Tricia rubbed Sam’s back slowly.
When he had control, he nodded and walked over to the table.
“Hey, Sam,” said Bobby. “Ain’t you quit growin’ yet?”
“We’re gonna have to put a brick on his head, get him to stop,” Dean laughed.
That forced a laugh that was half hiccup out of Sam.
“Blow your candles out before the place catches fire!” Rufus hollered.
That made Sam laugh a little harder. He blew out his candles and took the applause and hair-ruffling in stride.
The evening passed in conversation and fun. Tricia kept his plate filled with barbeque and “fixin’s” while Cooper kept his cup filled with tea that would have been too sweet to drink if there hadn’t been ice in it. And all too soon, it was past midnight and Cooper broke up the party so people could get home and get some sleep before church. Everyone said their goodnights and slowly drifted away.
Sam was quiet all the way home.
“You okay there?” Dean asked after they dropped the girls at the Vaughns’ house.
“Yeah. I’m great. It’s just... kind of hard to process it all.”
“What?”
“I mean, yeah, I kind of always wanted a big birthday bash, but to actually get it... I just... I dunno. I guess I’m overwhelmed, still.”
“We wanted to do it for you. On this special one.”
“It was awesome. Thanks.” Sam looked at Dean for a minute. “I just wish I’d thought to do the same for you.”
Dean shook his head. “It’s not a competition, Sammy.”
“No, I know that. But... you deserve that kind of celebration, too.”
“Nah.” He turned into their driveway and turned off the car. “Busy day tomorrow. Head on in.”
“Dean....”
“Head IN.”
Sam sighed. “Okay.” But he paused with his hand on the handle of the car door. “This really was the best birthday ever, Dean. Thank you.”
You’re welcome, Dean signed with a smile.
Sam smiled back and went into the house.
John Winchester was not a stupid man. Far from it.
His so-called friends might have been keeping him distracted, keeping him from Texas, but he’d managed to narrow down some possibilities for where his boys were.
Searching Dean’s name just kept bringing up that teacher in Cazadore, so he’d finally given that up. Instead, he began searching for Sam’s in 2001.
Turns out there were 37600 Sam Winchesters in Texas. He refined his search to Samuel Francis Winchester.
That brought it down to 3000.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. 1983 brought it to 240.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. May 1983 brought it to 53.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. May 2 1983 brought it to 2. One had died as an infant.
The other was graduating May 26, 2001.
In Cazadore, Texas.
John ran a hand over his nose and mouth as he sat back. Cazadore. He’d heard that name before, and not just from the anomalous hit that kept turning up in his search for Dean. There were rumors about that town.
If that was where his boys had settled... and if the rumors were true....
A stone sank into his stomach. Of course Sammy would be at the heart of it.
Of-freaking-course.
He looked again at the date of the graduation. At the hunt he was considering taking in Arkansas. At the calendar.
Close. Very, very close.
Workable.
He wasn’t sure what hunters he could trust, so he wouldn’t tell anyone what he was planning. But he could take a week off before trying to follow up on the potential lead on Yellow Eyes... if it really was Sammy. If the boys hadn’t changed their names.
He pulled out his maps and triangulated his position now with the hunt in Arkansas - and then he located Cazadore.
Beaumont was the closest large town, and it had a university. Perfect - he could use that library while he was down there to maybe get a jump on Yellow Eyes.
There was just one more thing he needed to do before he took off.
Hours later, he was in Lawrence, knocking on Missouri Mosely’s door.
Missouri opened her door and glared at him. “Don’t do this.”
John blinked. “What?”
“This hare-brained scheme... oh, come inside.”
John followed her in. “What hare-brained scheme? I mean, which one do you think is hare-brained?”
“You know which one I mean. They aren’t your little boys any more, John.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever they might be, they are still my sons. Now are they in Cazadore or not?”
Her chin raised. “You know the answer to that.”
“All right, then. I’m going after them.”
Missouri shook her head. “John, you ain’t gonna find what you’re lookin’ for down there.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re going after children who you think don’t know what they’re up against. That ain’t what you’re gonna find.”
“I don’t care. They need me.” And I need them, he added mentally, knowing Missouri would catch the thought but still not wanting to say it out loud.
“Seems t’me that one’s the more important of the two.”
John sighed. “Well, thank you for confirming the intel. Sorry I can’t stay for supper.”
“You’ll be sorrier if you don’t stay.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You go out now, you’ll get caught up in that pileup that’s fixin’ to happen on I-70. And you’ll never get to your boys.” She smiled closed-mouthed at him. “Course, maybe I should let you go and get your truck jacked up. Serve you right.”
Setting his jaw in determination, John turned and walked out. But he didn’t leave Lawrence right away; instead, he got supper at a drive-through, spent the night in a motel far from the parts of town where he used to live, and left by a different route.
Nobody was always right. Missouri had to be wrong about this. She had to be.
And he was going to Cazadore to prove it.
Summary: May of 2001 is a season of celebration and transition. And it all starts with a certain someone's birthday.
Eighteen Candles
By Enola Jones and San Antonio Rose
April 2, 2001
It was the first Monday in April when Cooper stuck his head into Dean’s classroom before the first bell rang. “Hey, got a minute?”
“Hey, Mr. C. Yeah, come on in.”
Cooper walked in and frowned. “Is that... silly string?” His head tilted as he took in Dean’s desk’s new decoration.
Dean chuckled. “Yeah. April Fool’s got a little out of hand yesterday.
Cooper huffed a laugh. “Need some help with that?”
“Nah, I got it, thanks. What’s up?”
“Word has it that someone has a birthday comin’ up.”
“Yeah, Sammy turns the big 1-8 a month from today.” Dean shook his head, smiling fondly. “Can’t believe he’s nearly 18 already.”
“Nearly legal for almost anything. Which brings me to why I’m here.”
“What, you want him to enlist?”
Cooper’s eyes went huge. “Not HARDLY.”
Dean chuckled. “Didn’t think so.”
“No, I was thinking more along the lines of a party fit for his new stature.”
“What, Texas-sized?”
“Legal.”
“Not legal for booze, if that’s what you’re thinking. Well, I guess he can consume, but still... think Tricia’s parents would have kittens.”
“No, no booze.” He grinned. “More like... like you said. Texas-sized.”
Dean nodded. “Yeah, we could do that. Only problem is, his birthday’s on a Wednesday this year.”
Cooper hummed, then his face lit. He opened his mouth to talk, but the bell rang. He glared up at it as if it had personally offended him.
Dean laughed and glanced at the clock. “We’ve still got a minute.”
“What if we stretch it out?”
“For how long?”
“Till Saturday night.”
Dean chewed on his lip as he considered, then nodded. “Might work. He’s got a soccer game that Thursday, but I think the other nights are free.”
“I’ll talk to the coach. See if we can’t make him have a birthday week starting on his birthday!”
Dean grinned. “Awesome. Thanks, Mr. C!”
“I’ll get a few things together. Oh, and don’t tell Sammy, okay?”
“I won’t. We never have gotten a lot of good surprises, so I’m happy to play my part in this one.”
Cooper’s smile turned sad. “No, I bet you haven’t, have you?”
The second bell rang and Cooper shot it a death glare.
Dean laughed. “I will say this: most of the best ones have come here in Cazadore. And I thank you again for the ones you’ve helped with-and for thinkin’ of Sammy this time.”
“I always think of him,” Cooper said as the students started filing into their classrooms. As he left, he called over his shoulder, “But things are in place now!”
Dean blinked after him. “Things are in place”? Whatever could that mean?
Then he shook his head and went back to cleaning the silly string off his desk.
One of the main perpetrators came over and offered to help.
“You’d better,” Dean replied with a mock glare. “You caused it.”
He nodded and got to work.
As Cooper wandered down the now-empty hallway, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the motel.
“Starlight Motel. This is Tricia. How may I help you?”
“Hey, Tricia, it’s me.”
“Hey, Mr. Cooper!”
“Look, I know you’re comin’ off work in about fifteen - what do you say I blow off my classes and take you to brunch?”
Her blink was almost audible. “Really? Thanks... don’t want Sam getting jealous though,” she added as a tease.
“Oh, don’t worry about him. He’s actually the REASON for this. I’ll explain at the diner.”
With that, he went into his first period class and taught for twenty minutes. Then a surreptitious snap of his fingers caused his phone to go off and he answered it. “Class, I need to take off. We’ll pick this up right here tomorrow.”
As he left the room, he snagged Mrs. Ramirez and got her to sit in on her free period.
Tricia had already gotten a booth when Cooper arrived at Maggie’s, and she looked up at him in concern as he approached. “Is... is something wrong with Sam, Mr. Cooper?”
“Completely the opposite. Sweet tea, please, Garnet? Thank you.”
Tricia relaxed slightly. “Sorry, it’s just... you said you were calling about Sam, so....”
“I am.” His fingers curled around her wrist. “Tricia. Not everything about them is bad news.”
“No! No, I know that-that’s why I love them-I just... I guess I worry too much.”
“I know that feeling. Truth is, I need your help.” He smiled as the sweet tea arrived. “Pancakes, please, with strawberries and maple syrup. And whatever the young lady wants.”
Tricia thought for a moment. “Chocolate chip pancakes with extra whipped cream, please.”
“Atta girl!” Cooper crowed.
Garnet laughed and moved off.
Cooper beamed at Tricia. “I knew I could convert you!”
Tricia laughed. “So what do you need my help with?”
“Word on the street is that somebody’ll be 18 in a few weeks.”
“Yes, I think we’re planning to go to Olive Garden in Beaumont, just the four of us.”
“Perfect. Then this will still work. How about we stretch his celebration to... oh... Saturday night?”
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “What do you have in mind?”
“See? That is why I need your help.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to find things to fill that weekend!”
“Bueno.” Tricia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Well, if we need some kind of diversion, graduation is coming up. Daphne and Dean and I can keep Sam distracted making plans for that; I figure at least Mr. Singer and Father Jim will want to come down, maybe Mr. Turner and Mr. Hamilton. And with both of them graduating, there’ll probably be some of Dean’s friends who want a party as well as Sam’s. But as far as birthday party stuff....” She drummed a little riff on the table. “Lemme talk to Josh.”
He nodded. “Thursday he has a soccer game.”
“Right, and that’s also Daphne’s long day; she gets out of class at 4, and she’s usually pretty wiped by the time she gets back to town. That leaves us Friday and Saturday.”
“Do either of you work Friday or Saturday? Dean and I have in-service on Friday, but I expect I can get at least Dean out of it.”
“Yes, Sam and I both work Saturday morning. Daphne works Fridays, but she’s off by 5:30.” She paused. “I think Sam might want to go to the baseball game on Friday; I can’t remember why.”
“We’ll find out and make that special.”
Tricia nodded. “Sweet. That leaves Saturday-afternoon and evening, probably.”
“And Sunday,” he tested her.
She shook her head. “No, Sunday we’ve got church, and Sam likes to take a long nap in the afternoon.”
Cooper smiled. “Priorities are straight. Good.”
She ducked her head and smiled back, slightly embarrassed.
“God first, family second.”
“Exactly.”
Just then Garnet arrived with the pancakes, and the conversation was put on hold while they dug in.
“So we have a month,” said Daphne when Tricia talked to her that afternoon.
“We have a month to plan a fantastic weekend.”
“Supper Wednesday, soccer game Thursday, baseball game Friday...”
“And then Saturday... hm.”
“Maybe there’s something we can go do in Houston for most of the day, have the big blowout at suppertime. You think Sam would enjoy the zoo?”
“I think he would!”
“And the Science and Natural History Museum-Dean would love that, and I bet Sam would, too.”
“Sounds like we’ve got ourselves a plan!”
Daphne laughed. “Most of one, anyway! What about this shindig Saturday night?”
Tricia grinned.
Daphne blinked. “Uh-oh. That’s the Hannibal Smith grin.”
“The what?”
“The one that goes before your really crazy plans.”
Tricia laughed.
Spill, sister.
Tricia’s eyes glittered with mirth as she started signing back. By the time she finished, Daphne was grinning back at her.
“¿Bueno?”
“¡Bueno!”
Tricia whipped out her cell phone to start making arrangements.
At 6 AM on May 2 - the start of the long birthday weekend - Dean knocked smartly on Sam’s door.
A sleepy mumble answered him.
Taking that as permission, Dean walked in. “Happy birthday, Sammy!”
Sam rolled over and waved sleepily. “’Sit mornin’ already?”
“Yup.” He sat on Sam’s bed and smiled. “It’s morning!”
Sam made a visible effort not to roll over and grumble into his pillows like he usually did on those few occasions when Dean was awake early and too cheerful and Sam could barely get moving. After all, it was his birthday, and this was their tradition.
Dean sat there and waited patiently.
Go ahead, Sam signed.
Dean smiled and bent forward, hugging his now-adult brother tightly. “Happy birthday, Sammy.”
Sam hugged back. “Thanks, dude.”
“The card is downstairs. The song will wait.”
“Really? I mean, I don’t mind....”
“Really. Now come on.”
Sam rubbed his eyes and got up. Dean left the room and waited. A few minutes later, still yawning his head off but fully dressed, Sam shuffled out of his room.
And into a triple-voiced chorus of “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMMY!”
And then Dean, Daphne and Tricia all burst into song, singing “Happy Birthday” as a round. When it was over, Sam laughed and kissed Tricia before hugging Daphne and Dean. They hugged him back.
The card was HUGE this year. And it was signed not just by his nearest and dearest, but by practically the entire high school.
Sam felt tears pooling.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Tricia whispered to him again and kissed his cheek.
Sam hugged her. He signed, as his words had been stolen. Thank you. Thank you.
She kissed him again and steered him to the table.
Best birthday ever, Sam signed and they all smiled at each other.
He had no idea...
Sam walked into school and down the hall and into his homeroom. He heard his name over the announcements, to report to the office. Bewildered, he obeyed.
He was met by the secretary. “Boy, are you in trouble,” she teased.
His eyebrows shot up. “Me? In trouble? Neeeever.” Then he winked at her.
“You are,” she sing-songed. “PDA!”
Sam blinked rapidly. “But-but I haven’t....”
Her laughter told him he’d been royally had.
Sam blushed as his mouth tightened against the laughter that threatened to bubble out.
Jensen Jones, the principal, stuck his head out. “Come on in, Sam.”
Sam finally dared to smile as he walked into Mr. Jones’ office.
“Mariah giving you trouble?”
“Ah, no worse than usual. What’s up?”
“You’re excused from all your classes today. You’re to go assist Mr. Cooper today.”
Sam blinked again. “Okay... um, may I ask why?”
“He will tell you.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Yes.” He slid an envelope to him. “Happy birthday, Sam.”
Sam smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Jones.”
“Open that at home.”
And Mariah gave him a kiss to his cheek as he walked out. They had saved her brother from a poltergeist attack over the summer.
Humming a little under his breath, Sam went back to his homeroom to pick up his backpack, then went to Mr. Cooper’s room.
Cooper beamed as he came in. “Guess what, Samwise?”
“Um, you’re drafting Dean and me to go to Mount Doom?”
Cooper laughed heartily. “Nope! You’re going to be my aide today!”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Anything and everything.”
Sam nodded. “Where do I start?”
“By going to get your assignments.”
“From each teacher, or does Dean have them?”
“Dean has them.”
Sam nodded again. “I’ll be right back, then.”
Cooper nodded and watched him go. “You are going to be fantastic, Samwise,” he whispered.
It wasn’t until Sam was almost to Dean’s classroom that he recognized the song he was humming as a Metallica tune. He shook his head a little, amused.
Dean excused himself from his ASL 1 class and brought a folder out to Sam. “I’ll keep your backpack in here. We’ll have lunch together unless the Coop needs you.”
“Sounds good.” Sam handed over his backpack.
Dean took it. “Come say hi to my class. All in sign. Let them see how it’s done.”
Sam grinned and followed Dean to the front of the classroom. Most of these students were freshmen, and the girls were a little obviously star-struck.
Dean signed and spoke. “This is my brother Sam. He’s a student here.” Then he turned to Sam. Tell class about you.
Hello, Sam signed. I’m a senior. Next year I hope go to Lamar University, study education and history. I am captain of the soccer team, and I hunt.
Dean translated and that last phrase had the entire class gasping aloud.
Sorry, ladies, Sam added with a chuckle. Taken.
“DAMMIT!” one cheerleader wannabe from the corner burst out, before clapping a hand over her mouth.
Sam laughed. You find someone, Darla. You have time.
Dean put the backpack under his desk and spoke. “Okay, time to get back to work. Thank Sam the way I taught you, class.”
The entire class signed Thank you, and Sam signed it back. Then he headed back to Cooper’s classroom.
“Okay,” he said, “assignments gathered, backpack delivered, and the hopes of the girls of the entire freshman class crushed. Now what?”
“What?” Cooper laughed. “Explain that last one?”
When it was explained, he burst out into a huge laugh and nearly toppled over.
Sam laughed, too. “I can’t wait to tell Tricia!”
“She’ll plotz! Okay, let’s get down to business.”
“Right.”
“How good are you at essays?”
“Writing or grading?”
“Grading.”
Sam shrugged. “Never tried, but give me a rubric, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Here you go.” He handed over a rubric and a stack of essays. “Those are for the 2 PM class.”
Sam glanced at the rubric and the top essay on the stack and nodded. “Yeah, I remember this assignment. No problem.”
“All right, then. I’ll leave you to it.”
Some ten minutes later, the first class of the day trickled in. Sam watched Cooper teach - never once losing his temper and always keeping the class on track and engaged.
It hadn’t occurred to him to pay attention to how someone taught; he’d been having too much fun learning in the good classes. He decided to take notes if he finished grading soon enough.
And sure enough - he did.
Sam found himself jotting down notes not only about what kinds of activities Cooper assigned and the kinds of questions he asked, but also how he turned questions around if it looked like a student was closer to the right answer than he or she realized and how he rephrased questions that lost the class. Much less how he knew he HAD lost the class. He timed pauses. He noted jokes-when he could keep up with Cooper’s quick puns.
By lunch, he was watching Cooper more readily than ever.
At the end of class, Cooper came over and clapped Sam on the shoulder. “Learning a lot?”
“I am, actually!”
“Getting ideas?”
Sam just smiled.
Cooper chuckled. “C’mon. Let’s grab Dean and get some lunch.”
Sam put the books away and stood.
Before they could leave the room, though, Dean walked in. “Hey! How’s the morning been?”
Fantastic! Learn learn learn!
Dean laughed. Time to eat eat eat-feed that brain!
Sam raised his hands and his stomach growled. All three of them laughed.
The envelope from Mr. Jones turned out to contain a card and a check. They had helped him out with a poltergeist problem and he was using the birthday to pay them even though they’d refused it before. Sam just shook his head and chuckled.
That night, the Olive Garden was everything they had thought it would be. Worth the reservations. The waitstaff even brought Sam a slice of rich chocolate cake and sang the restaurant’s signature version of “Happy Birthday.”
Sam was still beaming with joy when he fell asleep in the car on the way home.
Thursday started out like a normal morning, although Dean teased him about being 18 at last, but Mr. Jones caught the brothers on the way in the door.
“Dean, go get your brother’s assignments for today. Sam, you did so well as Cooper’s shadow yesterday, I’d like you to do it again today.”
Sam’s eyes lit with delighted surprise. “Really? Awesome! Thanks, Mr. Jones!”
He nodded and let them go.
Mr. Cooper had lots of legwork for Sam to do that morning-making photocopies, delivering paperwork, and so on-but that afternoon he sent Sam to the library with a textbook, a floppy disk, and instructions to write a final exam for the regular US History class.
Sam just stared at it, his eyes growing larger and larger. Finally he looked up at Cooper, struck dumb.
“What? You know what my tests are like. It’s comprehensive. Go.”
He grinned and all but floated down the hall.
The short answer and multiple choice questions were easy enough to write, but he was still trying to come up with an essay question when the bell rang at the end of the day. Groaning, Sam dropped his head into his hands.
“Hey,” Cooper said, walking up at that moment. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m stuck.”
“Essay questions?”
“Yup.”
“Yeah, those are tough. But look, I don’t want to make you late for your soccer game, so save what you’ve got, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Sam nodded and just - stood up. He smiled at Cooper. “Already saved.”
Cooper grinned. “Good job. Now go on, get down to the locker room!”
Laughing, Sam bolted, his long legs eating up the corridors in a matter of seconds.
The soccer game was good as usual. They lost, but only by one point. Sam was on his game, but the forward for Elliott was just a shade better. Sam was in too good a mood not to be a good sport about it, though, and he made sure the rest of the team followed his lead in congratulating the Elliott team.
As they were getting cleaned up, Josh nudged his shoulder. “I just wish you coulda had a win for your birthday.”
Sam laughed. “It’s just a game, dude. We’ve still got a few more to win.”
Josh grinned. “Get dressed, huh?”
“Right.”
Once he was dressed, Josh grabbed him by the arm. “C’mon!”
Sam frowned. “What’s the rush?”
“Tiffany and Tricia are waiting!”
“What for?”
“Surprise, surprise,” Josh sing-songed.
“Josh, what the hell....”
He froze, seeing his girlfriend and Josh’s leaning against the Impala, which Dean and Daphne were quickly loading with sleeping bags and things.
“Uh, guys? What’s... what’s goin’ on?”
“We are goin’ campin!” Dean chirped.
“Camping?! Now? Where? I thought-”
“You thought what, Sammy?” Dean asked, closing the trunk.
“You’ve got-y’know-in-service tomorrow.”
“Nope. Not this time.”
“Huh. So where are we going?”
“Mr. C found us a good campground up in the Davy Crockett National Forest. No chupacabras, guaranteed,” Dean added with a wink.
“Good. That one nearly took your leg.”
“Don’t remind me.”
They piled in - three in front and three in the back - and headed west.
The night was, as promised, uneventful in the supernatural sense, though the six friends had a blast making s’mores around their campfire and being their usual silly, friendly selves. The three boys treated the girls to a three-way spar, both of them attacking Dean. He held his own remarkably well until they managed to sweep his feet out from under him... and he quickly returned the favor.
Then suddenly each girl attacked a guy. “Okay!” Josh spat out once he was on the ground again. “Who the HELL taught Tiffany to SPAR?”
Daphne laughed maniacally.
“Figures.” Josh was laughing as he pushed at Tricia. “Get off before Sam gets ideas.”
“Ha!” Sam replied. “Like anybody could steal that girl.”
“True,” Tricia laughed.
The sparring wore them out enough that they turned in early, guys in one tent, girls in the other.
They woke at the crack of dawn to the smell of bacon frying. Exchanging confused looks, the two groups crawled out of their respective tents to find Mr. Cooper busily preparing a chuck wagon-style breakfast.
“... the hell?” Dean breathed. “Thought you had in-service!”
“Ah, I’ll go in later,” Cooper replied. “Sam got me far enough ahead yesterday that I don’t have to be there first thing.”
Dean clapped him on the shoulder. “Way to go, hotshot!”
Sam beamed. “I just wish I could have gotten that exam finished for you, Mr. C.”
“Only one question left. All of a half hour’s work. Without that, I’d have been up most of the night.”
Somehow, Sam’s grin managed to get even sunnier.
“So, Samwise,” Cooper grinned. “I hear a kidnapping is in the works.”
Sam blinked. “Kidnapping?”
“Yup,” Josh said, popping the p like Cooper did.
Sam eyed his best friend suspiciously. “Y’all are kidnapping me, is that it?”
Dean tapped his nose, grinning.
Sam heaved a dramatic sigh. “Where are you taking me?”
“Astroworld!” five voices chorused.
Sam’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?!”
Seriously, Dean signed. We have fun!
Sam laughed. Damn straight we will! As long as you stay off the Texas Cyclone, he added with a wink.
Dean raised both hands, shaking his head. All yours, Sammy.
At Tricia’s curious look, Sam explained, “Dean and rollercoasters don’t mix too well.”
Translate: Not at ALL.
“Oh, but there’s tons of stuff to do at Astroworld besides the rides,” Daphne assured him.
Dean’s happy smile said it all.
After a hearty breakfast, Cooper helped them load the cars again and saw them on their way to Houston. He watched them till they were out of sight, then he snapped his fingers and appeared in his apartment, laughing heartily as he realized he’d badly startled his little brother.
Astroworld was gleaming bright and merry when the little band arrived. Much as the boys had done at Sea World years before and at Fiesta Texas since, the couples did their best to pack as much fun as possible into the day, going to shows, visiting shops, and ensuring that Dean had something to do while Sam and Josh went on all the rides. Dean had a fantastic time - he won prize after prize at the arcade and just HAD to try every thing the food court had to offer. It was hard for the group to tear themselves away, but they needed to be back in Cazadore in time for the baseball game.
They made it just in time. And it was well worth the effort-the game went eleven scoreless innings before the Eagles finally scored with a walk-off home run. Maggie’s stayed open later than usual so they could celebrate.
Saturday morning, since Tricia had arranged time off for both Sam and herself, the Winchesters and their girlfriends went back to Houston to hit museums and the zoo before returning to the brothers’ house to relax and chat about plans for graduation. Sam couldn’t stop grinning. Their celebration had been days long and he was so full of fun that he was giddy with it.
But before he could suggest something for supper, Dean looked at his watch and announced that it was time to go.
“Go?” Sam frowned. “Go where?”
Dean just grinned and grabbed his keys.
“Dean! What’s goin- where are we...” Dean, come on!
Daphne laughed, and Tricia grinned and grabbed both of Sam’s hands to pull him out to the Impala.
Sam kept asking over and over where they were going. In ASL. Spanish. Latin, even. But Dean cranked up Metallica so he wouldn’t have to answer and kept it blaring until they pulled up in front of the barn at the Martinez place.
Sam frowned at him.
Dean shut off the engine, signed Trust me, and got out.
I do trust you, Sam signed when Dean opened the passenger door. I just don’t like not KNOWING.
Dean’s eyes glittered with amusement. Just this once.
Fine.
The girls followed them as they walked up to the barn door. Dean’s grin widened as he threw the door open... and Sam was nearly bowled over by a shout of “SURPRISE!!!”
Sam froze in the doorway, gawping. The barn was ablaze with lights and colorful streamers and balloons, and there was a huge feast set out, culminating with a massive birthday cake, and standing and applauding around the tables were all of Sam’s friends from Cazadore and most of their hunting friends.
“I... I....” Too much... Dean....
“You’re only old once, dude,” Dean returned with a wink.
Sam glared at him.
Dean pulled him into a hug. “Happy birthday, little brother,” he whispered.
Sam hugged him back, and Dean could feel him shaking slightly.
“You okay?”
Too much, too much.
You deserve.
Nononono...
Yes. More.
Sam’s eyes filled.
“Hey,” Josh said gently as he walked up. “C’mon, everybody’s waiting-we can’t eat without the birthday boy.”
A minute.
Tricia rubbed Sam’s back slowly.
When he had control, he nodded and walked over to the table.
“Hey, Sam,” said Bobby. “Ain’t you quit growin’ yet?”
“We’re gonna have to put a brick on his head, get him to stop,” Dean laughed.
That forced a laugh that was half hiccup out of Sam.
“Blow your candles out before the place catches fire!” Rufus hollered.
That made Sam laugh a little harder. He blew out his candles and took the applause and hair-ruffling in stride.
The evening passed in conversation and fun. Tricia kept his plate filled with barbeque and “fixin’s” while Cooper kept his cup filled with tea that would have been too sweet to drink if there hadn’t been ice in it. And all too soon, it was past midnight and Cooper broke up the party so people could get home and get some sleep before church. Everyone said their goodnights and slowly drifted away.
Sam was quiet all the way home.
“You okay there?” Dean asked after they dropped the girls at the Vaughns’ house.
“Yeah. I’m great. It’s just... kind of hard to process it all.”
“What?”
“I mean, yeah, I kind of always wanted a big birthday bash, but to actually get it... I just... I dunno. I guess I’m overwhelmed, still.”
“We wanted to do it for you. On this special one.”
“It was awesome. Thanks.” Sam looked at Dean for a minute. “I just wish I’d thought to do the same for you.”
Dean shook his head. “It’s not a competition, Sammy.”
“No, I know that. But... you deserve that kind of celebration, too.”
“Nah.” He turned into their driveway and turned off the car. “Busy day tomorrow. Head on in.”
“Dean....”
“Head IN.”
Sam sighed. “Okay.” But he paused with his hand on the handle of the car door. “This really was the best birthday ever, Dean. Thank you.”
You’re welcome, Dean signed with a smile.
Sam smiled back and went into the house.
John Winchester was not a stupid man. Far from it.
His so-called friends might have been keeping him distracted, keeping him from Texas, but he’d managed to narrow down some possibilities for where his boys were.
Searching Dean’s name just kept bringing up that teacher in Cazadore, so he’d finally given that up. Instead, he began searching for Sam’s in 2001.
Turns out there were 37600 Sam Winchesters in Texas. He refined his search to Samuel Francis Winchester.
That brought it down to 3000.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. 1983 brought it to 240.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. May 1983 brought it to 53.
Samuel Francis Winchester b. May 2 1983 brought it to 2. One had died as an infant.
The other was graduating May 26, 2001.
In Cazadore, Texas.
John ran a hand over his nose and mouth as he sat back. Cazadore. He’d heard that name before, and not just from the anomalous hit that kept turning up in his search for Dean. There were rumors about that town.
If that was where his boys had settled... and if the rumors were true....
A stone sank into his stomach. Of course Sammy would be at the heart of it.
Of-freaking-course.
He looked again at the date of the graduation. At the hunt he was considering taking in Arkansas. At the calendar.
Close. Very, very close.
Workable.
He wasn’t sure what hunters he could trust, so he wouldn’t tell anyone what he was planning. But he could take a week off before trying to follow up on the potential lead on Yellow Eyes... if it really was Sammy. If the boys hadn’t changed their names.
He pulled out his maps and triangulated his position now with the hunt in Arkansas - and then he located Cazadore.
Beaumont was the closest large town, and it had a university. Perfect - he could use that library while he was down there to maybe get a jump on Yellow Eyes.
There was just one more thing he needed to do before he took off.
Hours later, he was in Lawrence, knocking on Missouri Mosely’s door.
Missouri opened her door and glared at him. “Don’t do this.”
John blinked. “What?”
“This hare-brained scheme... oh, come inside.”
John followed her in. “What hare-brained scheme? I mean, which one do you think is hare-brained?”
“You know which one I mean. They aren’t your little boys any more, John.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever they might be, they are still my sons. Now are they in Cazadore or not?”
Her chin raised. “You know the answer to that.”
“All right, then. I’m going after them.”
Missouri shook her head. “John, you ain’t gonna find what you’re lookin’ for down there.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re going after children who you think don’t know what they’re up against. That ain’t what you’re gonna find.”
“I don’t care. They need me.” And I need them, he added mentally, knowing Missouri would catch the thought but still not wanting to say it out loud.
“Seems t’me that one’s the more important of the two.”
John sighed. “Well, thank you for confirming the intel. Sorry I can’t stay for supper.”
“You’ll be sorrier if you don’t stay.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You go out now, you’ll get caught up in that pileup that’s fixin’ to happen on I-70. And you’ll never get to your boys.” She smiled closed-mouthed at him. “Course, maybe I should let you go and get your truck jacked up. Serve you right.”
Setting his jaw in determination, John turned and walked out. But he didn’t leave Lawrence right away; instead, he got supper at a drive-through, spent the night in a motel far from the parts of town where he used to live, and left by a different route.
Nobody was always right. Missouri had to be wrong about this. She had to be.
And he was going to Cazadore to prove it.