July Fic 1: Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (P2)
Part One
*~*~*
“That was lame,” Matt said through a mouthful of chocolate.
Adam looked away from the running girl. “Shut up,” he mumbled, turning towards Matt and once again grabbing at his coat to get him moving.
*~*~*
Arriving home, Adam was kind of pleased with how his plan had worked out for him. Jostling Matt awake and off of his back, Adam got his keys out. He planned on feeding himself and his brother and then maybe sitting down for a movie or something until his dad got home.
Of course, no one had told him about Winchester Luck. Or the lack thereof.
“Hi Daddy,” he heard Matt mutter as he was closing the door back up.
“There you are!” came John’s booming, not pleased voice.
“Adam Logan Milligan!” his mother’s voice called out.
With a deep groan, Adam rolled his head and glared upwards. He pulled off his jacket, kicked off his boots.
“Mom, you’re home early,” he said, coming into the kitchen.
Kate Milligan was seated at the table, John was standing, Matt perched on his hip. The bag from 7-11 was on the counter.
“Where have you been?” John glared over at him.
“Adam!” Kate stood up walking over to him. She gathered him up in a hug.
He hadn’t even been gone a full hour. Well - maybe just over an hour, now that he actually looked at a clock.
“I believe I told you, you were not to leave this house tonight.”
“Well, I,” Adam started, looking up from where his mother was now holding him by the shoulders.
“I was hungry,” Matt said instead. “And there wasn’t anything here for me to eat.”
John turned his head enough to glare at his youngest son.
“Bullshit,” John growled. “There’s food here.”
“And you shouldn’t be outside with the flu!” Kate chided the boy. She released Adam to go over and touch Matt’s forehead and cheeks. “You’re burning up!”
“Am not,” Matt muttered.
“I was making him soup,” Adam tried to defend himself.
“There’s plenty of soup in the cabinets, Adam Milligan!” his mother retorted as she took Matt from John’s arms.
John frowned, but let his son go. Kate hadn’t carried a child in many years, but Matt was on the skinny side. He held his tongue and let her ‘mother’ the boy. She certainly knew enough as a nurse to do it.
“He doesn’t like those,” Adam explained.
“Doesn’t like what?” frowned John.
“Tomato and onion soup. It’s all we had,” Adam told them. “He wanted chicken.”
“He doesn’t like those, huh?” John crossed his arms and glared at his boy in question. “Well, this is news to me - seeing as, just last week Bobby got you through the weekend with tomato and I know onion is Jim’s specialty.”
“You lied to me?” Adam turned to look at his little brother.
Matt, for his part, turned to hide his face against Kate’s shoulder.
“That still doesn’t change the fact that I told you not to leave the house. And I specifically said Matt couldn’t leave in his condition.”
“Illness is not something we play with, Adam,” he mother continued, pulling the thermometer out of Matt’s mouth. “Doesn’t look too bad,” she sighed relieved.
“And how was candy supposed to help in his healing exactly?”
“Um, well, that,” Adam turned to look at the bag on the counter. “That is a great question.”
John just shook his head.
“This is not funny, Adam!” Kate turned towards her son. “I got out of work early so that I could help you take care of your brother. Your dad rushed back here because he felt bad leaving you two alone like this. We get home, and what do we find?”
“That we were gone?” Adam answered, not certain if he was supposed to respond or not.
“Exactly!” Kate yelled at him.
“Kate,” John turned her away from glaring at him. “Remember what we talked about?”
His mother sighed and nodded. She glanced over at Adam and shook her head. Letting out a heavy sigh, she gathered up Matt and proceeded to take him upstairs.
“You and I will talk later, buddy,” John told him as they were leaving. Matt just hid his face.
“And you,” John pointed at him and then pointed in front of himself.
Sighing, Adam moved to comply.
“Dad,” he started. “I know what you’re going to say.”
“You do?” he frowned.
“That I shouldn’t have left the house,” Adam said with a slow nod. “And I shouldn’t have taken Mattie. But he didn’t want to be left alone. Besides, I really did think he couldn’t eat those soups. I was trying to do good by him.”
“Do well,” John corrected.
“Huh?”
“Never mind,” John rolled his eyes. “And you’re right. I would have said that. I also would have said, that even though we haven’t known each other very long, I have grown to love and care for you very much. You are my son, like Matt is my son. Like Dean and Nick, and Sam are my sons.
“I would have said that I was talking with your mother earlier. Well, the last few times I’ve been around actually, and that I don’t agree with a lot of the things she has let you do. For one, she should be able to know where you are at all times.
“And Kate’s telling me that she had no idea that you were spending so much time over at the library. Imagine her surprise when she heard that you were staying there until seven, or sometimes nine at night.”
“She knew,” Adam crossed his arms. “I’ve told her!”
“A few times,” John held his hand up. “Asking her permission a few times, does not mean that you’re allowed to do it every day. Adam, you’re just a kid! You have no business being out so late at night.”
“It’s not that late!” retorted Adam.
“It is almost nine!” John started to yell. He took a deep breath and looked away from him for a moment. “It’s almost nine,” he repeated, turning back to Adam and trying to maintain his calm. “It is incredibly cold and dark out. Michigan isn’t exactly known for its favorable weather either.”
“We didn’t go out naked dad,” Adam sighed. “Jeesh.”
“And this,” John’s voice shot out again. “This attitude thing. This last month, you’ve got me and your mother puzzled. And I’ve raised three boys through their teens already, kiddo. So trust me when I saw, I know a temper tantrum when I see one brewing.”
“I’m not tantrumming!” he clutched his fists at his side.
John reached out and grabbed at Adam’s arm. At first, Adam thought that he was going to get smacked or something. It wouldn’t be the first time, but it hadn’t been a pleasant occasion the last time.
However, John just led them over to the table. He sat himself down and gathered Adam’s hands into his own, standing him between his legs.
“I get it, kiddo,” he started to say. “I really do. This last year has been a lot of changes for you.
“Now, I agree with you all the way. I think your mom did us both wrong by not telling us about each other earlier. I’m really sorry I’ve missed out on so much of your life, kid, but there isn’t much we can do about that now, is there?”
Adam looked down and at his feet. It was true, he was plenty mad at his mom about that still. He didn’t think he was ever going to get over that.
He felt a bit justified, hearing his dad express the same feelings.
“And even now,” John continued. “Knowing who I am, what you’re missing out on, it doesn’t exactly make things easier, does it?
“I mean, when I leave here, I get to take Matthew with me. I get to go back to Dean and my grandson, and they are always around. You get left out of a lot of that, don’t you?”
Adam sniffed back tears he hadn’t noticed he was feeling. He moved his face to his shoulder, wiping what he could from his reach.
“You’ve got a hell of a mom, son. She’s doing a lot to keep you two together. If she wasn’t where she is, we never would have met. Never would’ve had you.”
John took Adam’s face in his hands now. He tilted it up until they locked eyes.
“I don’t stop being your dad, just because I’m not around, Adam.”
“I’ve seen you like four times. It’s not fair,” he blubbered, feeling his cheeks blaze from the useless effort of trying not to cry.
“It’s very not fair. Which is why I try and stay for as long as I can. But you know that what I do is dangerous. I can’t bring that back here to you. To your mom. I have to keep you guys out of it.”
“No you don’t,” Adam wiped at his face again. “You weren’t ever here and those, those things they still attacked us.”
“I know,” John sighed. “And I’m sorry.”
“And it’s not like I have to see you every day. I just,” he sighed deeply. “Other kids know when they’re going to see their dads. And they get to stay over. And they show for things, and they’re like dads.”
John couldn’t help but smile. Twelve was a tricky age. He should be so flattered that the kid still wanted him around. At twelve, his older boys had been see-sawing between being young enough to still need him to care for them and feed them and take care of wounds and nightmares, to being completely mortified at being seen with him.
“Dads get to do a lot of cool things,” he nodded. “And I’m sorry we haven’t managed to do a lot of stuff together, Addy. But, the truth is, we’re not exactly normal, us Winchesters. I can’t really set up a schedule, or guarantee I could follow it.
“Dads have a lot of responsibilities. They have to look out for their brats,” he teased. “Feed them, clothe them, stop them from killing each other. It’s a full time gig, and it doesn’t all fit into some time grid. But, I wouldn’t trade it, kid. Not one of you. Not any one.”
Adam nodded. He was trying to regain composure and stop his crying. It was nice to know that his dad got that he needed him around. It sucked not having his dad around. And it wasn’t even like the guy was in war, or had died when he was a babe. He just hadn’t known the man.
And now, John was just never really around. Their relationship was still so fresh. Adam felt he barely knew the man that he called father. And John didn’t know so many things about him either. They were just at the point where they weren’t so awkward around one another.
It wasn’t fair that he was the only one of the kids that didn’t get to spend time with his dad.
“And another responsibility of a father,” John continued. He gathered Adam’s hands back up again. “Of a good dad. Is to know where to set the boundaries.
“I’d love to be your friend, Adam. You’re a great kid, got a lot going for you. You’re smart, handsome as hell, funny, creative, and caring. I am damn proud to have you as a son. But you’re my son, not my friend. I don’t intend to be your friend. At least not for the next decade or so.
“I’m a pretty easy going guy, Adam. Contrary to what a lot of people might think, I don’t always blow my fuse. But, there are certain things, I just can’t tolerate kid.”
“I said I was sorry,” he muttered, not liking the turn the conversation was starting to take.
“I know,” John nodded. “I believe you. I believe you meant to do good by your brother, but you’ve got to understand, there really wasn’t leeway to my instructions. I don’t usually allow for exceptions. When I tell you to do something, I expect that you will do it. And when I tell you not to do something, same thing.
“I talked with your mom, and she’s not exactly happy about this. But she agrees with me. You’re growing up, and I’m not the only one that’s been missing out on it. You and she both have.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been dealt a lousy stick, son. You’ve got a lot on your shoulders you never asked for, and it’s not fair. There isn’t much we can do just yet; but I want you to know that your mom and I are aware of it and will be trying to do better by you.”
“Okay,” Adam said, feeling completely confused.
“For my part,” John continued. “I can guarantee to you a level of discipline you have been missing out on.”
“um.”
“It’s not really up for debate,” John shook his head. “Ask your brothers. I’m kind of set on this. And, unlike your mom, I know this works. At least, for me it does.”
“Dad? What are we talking about?”
“I’m talking about, you - Adam Milligan. You my son, have been incredibly disobedient today. You scared the crap out of your mother and I didn’t find myself too happy with you either. I expected the both of you to remain on the premise, but you left. You decided, out of your own accord, to leave even though I told you not to. There is a pretty set punishment for disobeying me; one that you and I haven’t really faced yet.”
“Oh God,” cringed Adam. He really hoped his dad wasn’t talking about what he thought he was talking about. “Is this about the car thing?”
“About you running out in front of that car like a thoughtless three year old and earning yourself a spanking? Yeah, it’s kind of about that.”
Adam lifted one of his hands and covered his face.
“Oh God,” he repeated. “Dad, you can’t be serious. That was a reaction thing, I get that.”
“True,” he nodded. “But it’s pretty much a default reaction for me and the stupid things my kids do.”
“Oh no,” Adam shook his head and took a step back. John grabbed his hands again.
“I haven’t really dealt with your behavior before, so in a way, this is a first for the both of us.”
“Dad, please. Let’s talk about this.”
“Sorry, Addy. This isn’t really the kind of thing I discuss with the likes of my kids. Any one of them. And, like I told your mom, it isn’t fair to treat you any differently. Is it?”
“That’s kind of a loaded question, don’t you think?” Adam tried to take another step back, but John just tugged him forward.
“You’re getting this spanking, Adam (Oh God!) because you’ve disobeyed me. As your father, I take it as the highest responsibility to ensure your welfare and wellbeing. You won’t always be happy about it, but at the end of the day, I hope you know you have a father who cares too much about you, about what you do, to let you just do anything.”
Adam briefly had Montie’s words fleeting through his mind. His mother not caring enough to know his whereabouts. But his mom did care. And clearly, so did his dad.
But it was only a moment, because just as quick, Adam found himself tugged and placed over his father’s left leg.
Crap, crap, crap, crap…
“I know you’re likely not a first offender. But I don’t want to start off with you on the wrong foot. So, I’ll let you know that, normally, disobeying me gets you the spanking on the bare. But,” John continued before Adam could set himself into full panic. “Since this is the first time, you get to keep your pants on.”
With that preamble, John raised his hand, and like a shot, lowered it to strike against the nervously expectant denim bottom before him.
Adam yelped at the first smack. And the next nine or so. He started wiggling instantly, his whole body in the conclusion that this was must unkind of a treatment bestowed upon it.
By the tenth one, he felt his eyes well up again. Cripes but it hurt!
“Ow!” he muttered, cringing his eyes shut. Not that it helped. “Dad! Ow! Stop, please!”
But he didn’t. Five more and Adam was starting to freak out. This was a lot! Even after the car thing, it had only been maybe a dozen smacks. It was horrifying and in public and his mother and Matt and even Dean had been right there. And Dean’s sons, and it was so embarrassing.
“Dad! Please! Owwww! I’m sorry! Please, it hurts!”
The last time, he had been standing and John had gripped his arm and he had tried to get out of range. Dean said that their dad had way too much practice for a simply thing like swaying to falter him. Or running. And he shouldn’t try the running bit.
“Da-ad!”
Twenty-five smacks in total to his blazing rear. He was not happy and as he was righted, he was sure that his face showed his displeasure.
John’s hands came up to his hips. It unsettled Adam for an instant, but then it was gone.
“You do not disobey your parents,” John repeated. “Are we clear?”
Adam rubbed at his eyes and nodded.
“Cat got your tongue?” And at Adam’s puzzled look, John smiled fondly. “I want to hear you say it, not just you nodding.”
“We’re clear,” he said, through a few gasps.
“Good,” John smiled, tugging him close and into a deep bear hug. “Don’t forget.”
*~*~*
Adam led them up the stairs. He hoped without any real hope that his mom and Matt hadn’t heard all of that.
They entered the room that John and Matt were sharing to find Kate leaning up against the Queen’s headboard, the little boy in question laying beside her as she read one of Adam’s old books to him.
“Lewis?” John asked from behind him.
“There’s an evil witch, Daddy,” came Matt’s sleepy reply.
“It’s one of my favorites,” Adam muttered, looking at the tattered book, and avoiding his mother’s glance.
“Do you want to help me read it?” he glanced over to her. It had been years since she had read to him. Even once he had been able to read himself, she had kept reading to him. Up until two years back. She was never around anymore for his bedtime, and there really wasn’t any other time for it.
Now he would just feel foolish asking for it.
“It’s okay,” he shook his head.
But John bent down, kissed his head, and ignored his comment.
“I think there’s some more comfortable clothes he should change into first. I’ll get dinner situated. You get your pjs on and help your mom out for a bit, will ya?”
Kate smiled as John left. She motioned him over and with heavy feet, he walked closer.
“Are you okay?” she asked once he was beside them.
He scoffed and barely glanced up at her.
“Well, I for one am glad to see your alive.”
“I told her Daddy wouldn’t kill you,” Matt glanced up from the pages to declare. “It just always sounds like it.”
Adam blushed and looked away again.
“John said I shouldn’t make a big deal about it, so I won’t,” Kate said. “I just want you to know, that I love you. Your dad really loves you, he does. And we just want you to be safe.”
“Okay,” he smiled just barely looking at her from the corner of his eye. “Thanks.”
She picked up his hand and gave it a small kiss. “PJs first, then you can join us.”
Nodding, Adam turned and went to his room. By the time he had his sleepwear on, John’s version of ‘dinner’ had made its way into the room.
Adam found himself that night, laying on his belly beside his little brother, his mom on one side of them, his dad at the desk on the other. Resting on his back, Matt’s idea of a joke, was a bowl of popcorn, the kit kat stash, a whole tray of grilled cheese sandwiches on the nightstand and Matt beside him eating a mighty bowl of tomato soup silently.
It was one of the best nights in his life.
End.
*~*~*
“That was lame,” Matt said through a mouthful of chocolate.
Adam looked away from the running girl. “Shut up,” he mumbled, turning towards Matt and once again grabbing at his coat to get him moving.
*~*~*
Arriving home, Adam was kind of pleased with how his plan had worked out for him. Jostling Matt awake and off of his back, Adam got his keys out. He planned on feeding himself and his brother and then maybe sitting down for a movie or something until his dad got home.
Of course, no one had told him about Winchester Luck. Or the lack thereof.
“Hi Daddy,” he heard Matt mutter as he was closing the door back up.
“There you are!” came John’s booming, not pleased voice.
“Adam Logan Milligan!” his mother’s voice called out.
With a deep groan, Adam rolled his head and glared upwards. He pulled off his jacket, kicked off his boots.
“Mom, you’re home early,” he said, coming into the kitchen.
Kate Milligan was seated at the table, John was standing, Matt perched on his hip. The bag from 7-11 was on the counter.
“Where have you been?” John glared over at him.
“Adam!” Kate stood up walking over to him. She gathered him up in a hug.
He hadn’t even been gone a full hour. Well - maybe just over an hour, now that he actually looked at a clock.
“I believe I told you, you were not to leave this house tonight.”
“Well, I,” Adam started, looking up from where his mother was now holding him by the shoulders.
“I was hungry,” Matt said instead. “And there wasn’t anything here for me to eat.”
John turned his head enough to glare at his youngest son.
“Bullshit,” John growled. “There’s food here.”
“And you shouldn’t be outside with the flu!” Kate chided the boy. She released Adam to go over and touch Matt’s forehead and cheeks. “You’re burning up!”
“Am not,” Matt muttered.
“I was making him soup,” Adam tried to defend himself.
“There’s plenty of soup in the cabinets, Adam Milligan!” his mother retorted as she took Matt from John’s arms.
John frowned, but let his son go. Kate hadn’t carried a child in many years, but Matt was on the skinny side. He held his tongue and let her ‘mother’ the boy. She certainly knew enough as a nurse to do it.
“He doesn’t like those,” Adam explained.
“Doesn’t like what?” frowned John.
“Tomato and onion soup. It’s all we had,” Adam told them. “He wanted chicken.”
“He doesn’t like those, huh?” John crossed his arms and glared at his boy in question. “Well, this is news to me - seeing as, just last week Bobby got you through the weekend with tomato and I know onion is Jim’s specialty.”
“You lied to me?” Adam turned to look at his little brother.
Matt, for his part, turned to hide his face against Kate’s shoulder.
“That still doesn’t change the fact that I told you not to leave the house. And I specifically said Matt couldn’t leave in his condition.”
“Illness is not something we play with, Adam,” he mother continued, pulling the thermometer out of Matt’s mouth. “Doesn’t look too bad,” she sighed relieved.
“And how was candy supposed to help in his healing exactly?”
“Um, well, that,” Adam turned to look at the bag on the counter. “That is a great question.”
John just shook his head.
“This is not funny, Adam!” Kate turned towards her son. “I got out of work early so that I could help you take care of your brother. Your dad rushed back here because he felt bad leaving you two alone like this. We get home, and what do we find?”
“That we were gone?” Adam answered, not certain if he was supposed to respond or not.
“Exactly!” Kate yelled at him.
“Kate,” John turned her away from glaring at him. “Remember what we talked about?”
His mother sighed and nodded. She glanced over at Adam and shook her head. Letting out a heavy sigh, she gathered up Matt and proceeded to take him upstairs.
“You and I will talk later, buddy,” John told him as they were leaving. Matt just hid his face.
“And you,” John pointed at him and then pointed in front of himself.
Sighing, Adam moved to comply.
“Dad,” he started. “I know what you’re going to say.”
“You do?” he frowned.
“That I shouldn’t have left the house,” Adam said with a slow nod. “And I shouldn’t have taken Mattie. But he didn’t want to be left alone. Besides, I really did think he couldn’t eat those soups. I was trying to do good by him.”
“Do well,” John corrected.
“Huh?”
“Never mind,” John rolled his eyes. “And you’re right. I would have said that. I also would have said, that even though we haven’t known each other very long, I have grown to love and care for you very much. You are my son, like Matt is my son. Like Dean and Nick, and Sam are my sons.
“I would have said that I was talking with your mother earlier. Well, the last few times I’ve been around actually, and that I don’t agree with a lot of the things she has let you do. For one, she should be able to know where you are at all times.
“And Kate’s telling me that she had no idea that you were spending so much time over at the library. Imagine her surprise when she heard that you were staying there until seven, or sometimes nine at night.”
“She knew,” Adam crossed his arms. “I’ve told her!”
“A few times,” John held his hand up. “Asking her permission a few times, does not mean that you’re allowed to do it every day. Adam, you’re just a kid! You have no business being out so late at night.”
“It’s not that late!” retorted Adam.
“It is almost nine!” John started to yell. He took a deep breath and looked away from him for a moment. “It’s almost nine,” he repeated, turning back to Adam and trying to maintain his calm. “It is incredibly cold and dark out. Michigan isn’t exactly known for its favorable weather either.”
“We didn’t go out naked dad,” Adam sighed. “Jeesh.”
“And this,” John’s voice shot out again. “This attitude thing. This last month, you’ve got me and your mother puzzled. And I’ve raised three boys through their teens already, kiddo. So trust me when I saw, I know a temper tantrum when I see one brewing.”
“I’m not tantrumming!” he clutched his fists at his side.
John reached out and grabbed at Adam’s arm. At first, Adam thought that he was going to get smacked or something. It wouldn’t be the first time, but it hadn’t been a pleasant occasion the last time.
However, John just led them over to the table. He sat himself down and gathered Adam’s hands into his own, standing him between his legs.
“I get it, kiddo,” he started to say. “I really do. This last year has been a lot of changes for you.
“Now, I agree with you all the way. I think your mom did us both wrong by not telling us about each other earlier. I’m really sorry I’ve missed out on so much of your life, kid, but there isn’t much we can do about that now, is there?”
Adam looked down and at his feet. It was true, he was plenty mad at his mom about that still. He didn’t think he was ever going to get over that.
He felt a bit justified, hearing his dad express the same feelings.
“And even now,” John continued. “Knowing who I am, what you’re missing out on, it doesn’t exactly make things easier, does it?
“I mean, when I leave here, I get to take Matthew with me. I get to go back to Dean and my grandson, and they are always around. You get left out of a lot of that, don’t you?”
Adam sniffed back tears he hadn’t noticed he was feeling. He moved his face to his shoulder, wiping what he could from his reach.
“You’ve got a hell of a mom, son. She’s doing a lot to keep you two together. If she wasn’t where she is, we never would have met. Never would’ve had you.”
John took Adam’s face in his hands now. He tilted it up until they locked eyes.
“I don’t stop being your dad, just because I’m not around, Adam.”
“I’ve seen you like four times. It’s not fair,” he blubbered, feeling his cheeks blaze from the useless effort of trying not to cry.
“It’s very not fair. Which is why I try and stay for as long as I can. But you know that what I do is dangerous. I can’t bring that back here to you. To your mom. I have to keep you guys out of it.”
“No you don’t,” Adam wiped at his face again. “You weren’t ever here and those, those things they still attacked us.”
“I know,” John sighed. “And I’m sorry.”
“And it’s not like I have to see you every day. I just,” he sighed deeply. “Other kids know when they’re going to see their dads. And they get to stay over. And they show for things, and they’re like dads.”
John couldn’t help but smile. Twelve was a tricky age. He should be so flattered that the kid still wanted him around. At twelve, his older boys had been see-sawing between being young enough to still need him to care for them and feed them and take care of wounds and nightmares, to being completely mortified at being seen with him.
“Dads get to do a lot of cool things,” he nodded. “And I’m sorry we haven’t managed to do a lot of stuff together, Addy. But, the truth is, we’re not exactly normal, us Winchesters. I can’t really set up a schedule, or guarantee I could follow it.
“Dads have a lot of responsibilities. They have to look out for their brats,” he teased. “Feed them, clothe them, stop them from killing each other. It’s a full time gig, and it doesn’t all fit into some time grid. But, I wouldn’t trade it, kid. Not one of you. Not any one.”
Adam nodded. He was trying to regain composure and stop his crying. It was nice to know that his dad got that he needed him around. It sucked not having his dad around. And it wasn’t even like the guy was in war, or had died when he was a babe. He just hadn’t known the man.
And now, John was just never really around. Their relationship was still so fresh. Adam felt he barely knew the man that he called father. And John didn’t know so many things about him either. They were just at the point where they weren’t so awkward around one another.
It wasn’t fair that he was the only one of the kids that didn’t get to spend time with his dad.
“And another responsibility of a father,” John continued. He gathered Adam’s hands back up again. “Of a good dad. Is to know where to set the boundaries.
“I’d love to be your friend, Adam. You’re a great kid, got a lot going for you. You’re smart, handsome as hell, funny, creative, and caring. I am damn proud to have you as a son. But you’re my son, not my friend. I don’t intend to be your friend. At least not for the next decade or so.
“I’m a pretty easy going guy, Adam. Contrary to what a lot of people might think, I don’t always blow my fuse. But, there are certain things, I just can’t tolerate kid.”
“I said I was sorry,” he muttered, not liking the turn the conversation was starting to take.
“I know,” John nodded. “I believe you. I believe you meant to do good by your brother, but you’ve got to understand, there really wasn’t leeway to my instructions. I don’t usually allow for exceptions. When I tell you to do something, I expect that you will do it. And when I tell you not to do something, same thing.
“I talked with your mom, and she’s not exactly happy about this. But she agrees with me. You’re growing up, and I’m not the only one that’s been missing out on it. You and she both have.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been dealt a lousy stick, son. You’ve got a lot on your shoulders you never asked for, and it’s not fair. There isn’t much we can do just yet; but I want you to know that your mom and I are aware of it and will be trying to do better by you.”
“Okay,” Adam said, feeling completely confused.
“For my part,” John continued. “I can guarantee to you a level of discipline you have been missing out on.”
“um.”
“It’s not really up for debate,” John shook his head. “Ask your brothers. I’m kind of set on this. And, unlike your mom, I know this works. At least, for me it does.”
“Dad? What are we talking about?”
“I’m talking about, you - Adam Milligan. You my son, have been incredibly disobedient today. You scared the crap out of your mother and I didn’t find myself too happy with you either. I expected the both of you to remain on the premise, but you left. You decided, out of your own accord, to leave even though I told you not to. There is a pretty set punishment for disobeying me; one that you and I haven’t really faced yet.”
“Oh God,” cringed Adam. He really hoped his dad wasn’t talking about what he thought he was talking about. “Is this about the car thing?”
“About you running out in front of that car like a thoughtless three year old and earning yourself a spanking? Yeah, it’s kind of about that.”
Adam lifted one of his hands and covered his face.
“Oh God,” he repeated. “Dad, you can’t be serious. That was a reaction thing, I get that.”
“True,” he nodded. “But it’s pretty much a default reaction for me and the stupid things my kids do.”
“Oh no,” Adam shook his head and took a step back. John grabbed his hands again.
“I haven’t really dealt with your behavior before, so in a way, this is a first for the both of us.”
“Dad, please. Let’s talk about this.”
“Sorry, Addy. This isn’t really the kind of thing I discuss with the likes of my kids. Any one of them. And, like I told your mom, it isn’t fair to treat you any differently. Is it?”
“That’s kind of a loaded question, don’t you think?” Adam tried to take another step back, but John just tugged him forward.
“You’re getting this spanking, Adam (Oh God!) because you’ve disobeyed me. As your father, I take it as the highest responsibility to ensure your welfare and wellbeing. You won’t always be happy about it, but at the end of the day, I hope you know you have a father who cares too much about you, about what you do, to let you just do anything.”
Adam briefly had Montie’s words fleeting through his mind. His mother not caring enough to know his whereabouts. But his mom did care. And clearly, so did his dad.
But it was only a moment, because just as quick, Adam found himself tugged and placed over his father’s left leg.
Crap, crap, crap, crap…
“I know you’re likely not a first offender. But I don’t want to start off with you on the wrong foot. So, I’ll let you know that, normally, disobeying me gets you the spanking on the bare. But,” John continued before Adam could set himself into full panic. “Since this is the first time, you get to keep your pants on.”
With that preamble, John raised his hand, and like a shot, lowered it to strike against the nervously expectant denim bottom before him.
Adam yelped at the first smack. And the next nine or so. He started wiggling instantly, his whole body in the conclusion that this was must unkind of a treatment bestowed upon it.
By the tenth one, he felt his eyes well up again. Cripes but it hurt!
“Ow!” he muttered, cringing his eyes shut. Not that it helped. “Dad! Ow! Stop, please!”
But he didn’t. Five more and Adam was starting to freak out. This was a lot! Even after the car thing, it had only been maybe a dozen smacks. It was horrifying and in public and his mother and Matt and even Dean had been right there. And Dean’s sons, and it was so embarrassing.
“Dad! Please! Owwww! I’m sorry! Please, it hurts!”
The last time, he had been standing and John had gripped his arm and he had tried to get out of range. Dean said that their dad had way too much practice for a simply thing like swaying to falter him. Or running. And he shouldn’t try the running bit.
“Da-ad!”
Twenty-five smacks in total to his blazing rear. He was not happy and as he was righted, he was sure that his face showed his displeasure.
John’s hands came up to his hips. It unsettled Adam for an instant, but then it was gone.
“You do not disobey your parents,” John repeated. “Are we clear?”
Adam rubbed at his eyes and nodded.
“Cat got your tongue?” And at Adam’s puzzled look, John smiled fondly. “I want to hear you say it, not just you nodding.”
“We’re clear,” he said, through a few gasps.
“Good,” John smiled, tugging him close and into a deep bear hug. “Don’t forget.”
*~*~*
Adam led them up the stairs. He hoped without any real hope that his mom and Matt hadn’t heard all of that.
They entered the room that John and Matt were sharing to find Kate leaning up against the Queen’s headboard, the little boy in question laying beside her as she read one of Adam’s old books to him.
“Lewis?” John asked from behind him.
“There’s an evil witch, Daddy,” came Matt’s sleepy reply.
“It’s one of my favorites,” Adam muttered, looking at the tattered book, and avoiding his mother’s glance.
“Do you want to help me read it?” he glanced over to her. It had been years since she had read to him. Even once he had been able to read himself, she had kept reading to him. Up until two years back. She was never around anymore for his bedtime, and there really wasn’t any other time for it.
Now he would just feel foolish asking for it.
“It’s okay,” he shook his head.
But John bent down, kissed his head, and ignored his comment.
“I think there’s some more comfortable clothes he should change into first. I’ll get dinner situated. You get your pjs on and help your mom out for a bit, will ya?”
Kate smiled as John left. She motioned him over and with heavy feet, he walked closer.
“Are you okay?” she asked once he was beside them.
He scoffed and barely glanced up at her.
“Well, I for one am glad to see your alive.”
“I told her Daddy wouldn’t kill you,” Matt glanced up from the pages to declare. “It just always sounds like it.”
Adam blushed and looked away again.
“John said I shouldn’t make a big deal about it, so I won’t,” Kate said. “I just want you to know, that I love you. Your dad really loves you, he does. And we just want you to be safe.”
“Okay,” he smiled just barely looking at her from the corner of his eye. “Thanks.”
She picked up his hand and gave it a small kiss. “PJs first, then you can join us.”
Nodding, Adam turned and went to his room. By the time he had his sleepwear on, John’s version of ‘dinner’ had made its way into the room.
Adam found himself that night, laying on his belly beside his little brother, his mom on one side of them, his dad at the desk on the other. Resting on his back, Matt’s idea of a joke, was a bowl of popcorn, the kit kat stash, a whole tray of grilled cheese sandwiches on the nightstand and Matt beside him eating a mighty bowl of tomato soup silently.
It was one of the best nights in his life.
End.