greatest force on the planet
"So, tell me about it?" He asks hopefully, licking the chocolate off the back of his spoon.
"T-tell you about my first time? You don't want to hear 'bout that, boy. Shush up." He almost chokes on his coffee.
Who does he think he is, asking him questions like that? He's an old man, and people don't ask old men those things.
"'Sides, I'm old. Who says I can remember that far back?"
"You can remember, Uncle Bobby. You remember everything. Every single thing. And I just want to know 'bout love. Like, how it is. It's different from loving someone you're related to, ain't it? I mean, it has to be. Sometimes I just feel so obligated to love Dad. And Dean. Well..."
"I know. Trust me, I know." He sips more of the coffee he dumped sugar in this morning just to deal with the hyperactivity that is Sam Winchester this month. He's hoping this is a phase, and he'll get back to moody soon enough.
"Alright sit back. I'll tell you an old man's story 'bout a pretty girl."
"I want a true story, now, Bobby. Don't try to lie."
He, of course, was going to try to lie, but apparently he's more transparent than he thought.
He thinks back to the time before. He can't tell Sammy any of the stuff he's done, none of the stuff he's seen, but he can make sure he knows how to love somebody. Boy needs some kind of education, and ain't one person around can trust John Winchester to talk.
"Listen, Sammy, I dunno how much of a story you want, but-"
"Just want you to tell me what love's like, 's all. And I thought I asked you to call me 'Sam'. Please."
He has asked him. About three times.
"Well, Sam, love is not something I can explain to ya and make you understand. It's experienced and lived, and you just have to run out headlong till you hit that wall that tells you love lives here. Forces you to a halt to show you..."
"Show you what?"
Bobby thinks maybe Sam isn't ready for this conversation, but hell, he ain't been ready for half the things either of them asks him half the time.
They grow up too much in the times between. And he regrets... Well he regrets a lot of things.
"Shows you how life is s'posed to be lived. What kind of a man you're s'posed to be. Hell, Sam, don't ever let nobody tell you that loving someone makes you weak. It can't do nothin' of the sort. Just reinforces the fact that the Earth is made for you."
He watches his coffee swirl as Sam watches him--questions and wonder in his eyes.
Bobby falls silent, lost in too many memories no one ever asks him about.
Not that he'd ever tell 'em if they did.
"When am I..?" Sam practically whispers.
"Whenever, Sammy. It'll find you first. Don't worry 'bout seeking nothin' out. Let it find you. Let it make you. But don't let it kill you."
"Whatdya mean?"
He looks over at Sammy's too-long hair, too-big eyes. He can't ruin life for him, but Bobby knows the best way is always truth.
"It'll kill ya if you let it. It's that powerful."
"Greatest force on the planet."
He watches Sam toe the ground, spouting words he picked up from one or the other of them. Words he don't know the meaning behind. Probably the kickstart behind his current round of question and answer.
"Exactly." He says simply.
Bobby goes back to swinging, pushing toe-to-heel, rocking slowly.