In which Sam sees his father again, and Ruby meets the father-in-law
Sam yawned, leaning back in his bed as he flipped through the last pages of his book before putting it down and sighing. It was evening and he couldn't sleep, even if he was exhausted. his mind was working circles, trying to figure out what he was going to do once he got out of the hospital tomorrow. He was grateful that he would be able to drive as his injured leg wasn't the one that was used to control the gas and brake. He loved Ruby, but it wouldn't be right having her drive him around in the Impala.
He pulled the drawer out to stash the book and he noticed the copy of the bible sitting there. The same black cover, gold little cross... same bible that had been in every motel room, every place they ever went. He chuckled in amusement, then flipped open the pages to do some research on the history of his newly-angelic brother. He got absorbed into the Bible, losing track of time as well as if he was alone in the room.
John was actually nervous. Things had always been tense between him and Sam and he wasn't sure if now it would be better or worse, but he wanted to see his youngest son. His time with Dean had been short, but he hadn't had any time at all with Sam. He needed that, especially after everything they had been through lately. He appeared outside the room instead of it in, not wanting to startle Sam.
He knocked on the door frame and swallowed at the sight of his son. "Hey, Sammy."
Sam's head started to lift at the sound of footsteps and the knock, but it was the voice that snapped his eyes up the rest of the way. The Bible slipped from his fingers into his lap as Sam just stared across the room at his father standing there, looking almost exactly like the last time he had seen him. Suddenly he was twenty three again and Dad was there in a hospital doorway asking him to get him a cup of coffee and there was a hitch in his throat.
"... Dad?"
"Yeah, it's me." He gave a half smile, putting his hands in his pockets for something to do with them. "I thought it was time I stopped by to let you know I was around."
"Dean... Michael... he told me he'd seen you." Sam leaned forward a bit, being careful of his leg. His ribs were healed but his hip and leg could take months before they were pain free for him. He was still refusing angelic help on the healing because he was doing the stubborn Winchester thing. "Trying to join his ranks? And here it was us always wanting to be like you." He smirked a bit.
John's half smile bloomed into a real smile. If Sam was joking it meant he was doing better. He had been worried. "I had to do something after getting out of Hell. Trying to be an angel seemed like a good idea. How you feelin'? Everything okay?"
He moved closer so Sam wouldn't have to go anywhere. He really did look better than he had after Lucifer. Well, except for the injury.
"I'm doing much better than I probably should be. I mean, it's not like I was in a schoolyard fight with a bully." Sam shrugged, leaning back into his pillows. He swore Ruby kept bringing him more and more every day from who knew where. "I got a lot to readjust to. But I'd like to think that all this pulling me on the demon path is done. That's I've finished that path and I get to now try something better and away from it all. It's giving me a bit of hope for the future that I haven't had since Dean made his deal."
"You got a lot going for you, kid," John said with pride. Yes, he didn't agree with a lot of the choices Sam had made, but his time in Heaven had helped him get past a lot of those old feelings. His son, the Sam he remembered from when he was still a kid. "You gonna go back to hunting? Or you, uh, retiring?"
"Actually, I'm getting married." Sam looked at his hands. "I've done enough hunting for my lifetime. Maybe I'll help with research like Bobby does, but I got a second chance here. A chance to get something I wanted more than anything before it was taken from me. I... I don't want to lose that again."
"Married? Damn son." John really grinned now. "I'm going to have to kick Gabe's ass for keeping that from me. That bastard. Who's the girl? Does your old man get to meet her?"
Sam bit his lip. He had no idea of Dean or anyone in heaven might have told his father about his no-longer-demonic companion for the last 15 years. "Her name's Ruby. We've been together for a long time. I'm sure if you come visiting, you'll eventually meet her." John meeting Ruby. Sam wasn't sure he wanted to know how that meeting would go.
He shrug. "If Gabe will let me visit more, I can. They've got me on a short leash. It took a lot of convincing just to be able to stop in here."
"Well, I'm grateful. Last time... wasn't the best."
"Things have been rough for everyone lately." He was still struggling with Dean being Michael. Taking orders from his son was really just weird. "You should enjoy the peace while it lasts. It never seems to hang around."
"I'm hoping it does. I don't want my kids having to grow up like we did." Sam looked down, realizing that John might take that the wrong way. "What I mean is that I don't want them having to be afraid of the world."
John looked away for a second and then shrugged. "I know things were rough for you and Dean. I'm sorry, though that doesn't really change things."
"You did the best you could, Dad. I mean, you had to make a lot of hard choices. It wasn't until long after that I realized it. You sacrificed everything for us."
"I always wanted more for you and Dean. I guess that came true, just later than any of us wanted." He managed another half smile. "You're going to start a family and Dean's higher on the angelic food chain than I am."
"Not to mention Dean's kids. You should meet them."
"I've met Alec, but They've kept me from Ben since he took things with Dean badly." John looked off for a second, "I'm proud of you boys. I really am."
"I heard. Ben's lost a lot in the last two years, and this was probably his last straw. When I get out of here, I'm going to try and track him down. I've got a good idea of where he might be."
He bit his lip. "I always knew you were proud of Dean. I honestly didn't think anyone would be proud of me for what I was doing."
"We all made mistakes. You, me and Dean. One of those big lessons they've been trying to drill into my head is forgiveness." John sighed. "I'm not gonna stop loving you just because you screwed up."
"But aren't pride and love two different things?" John, this is Sam you're talking to. He's been lacking in intelligent theological conversation for awhile now. "I always knew you loved me, even when I was making it hard to. You're my father. You don't have to like me or my ideas to love me. But I'm a pretty big disappointment in following the right path and we both know it."
"Yeah son, you screwed up big time but that don't matter now," John said sincerely. "We might have choices, we might not. Hard to tell with all the crap I've seen and been doing for the angels, destiny makes some sense. So does lettin' it go. I'm not gonna waste time bein' pissed at ya. Sorry."
Sam looked down at his hands and shrugged, then laughed softly to himself. "Don't worry about it. Apparently I do enough for everyone, or so I'm told."
"You got a good heart, son." John reached out and ruffled Sam's hair. "Not always the best head on your shoulders, but a good heart. And hey, you can blame that on your old man."
The affection made Sam smile, and he looked up at John. "Which part do is that I get to blame on you then?"
"Hm, well, I'm gonna have to say you got your thick head from me. Good heart was all your mom." John grinned. It was good to see Sam smile.
It wasn't often that Sam gave a genuine smile, so he's lucky to see it. "It's weird... all of you are up in heaven and I'm still here." There was a bit of a wistful look in his eyes. "Kinda feel like I'm not allowed into the club these days. I miss you." He licked his lips. "You never let me say goodbye."
He sighed. "I didn't get much of a chance to let you. They yanked me up into Heaven after the Gate was opened. You're not alone down here, you know. And I'd rather you lived a long life before joining me and Dean. I want grandkids."
"Beyond the two you already have." Sam chuckled again. Angelic ordering of procreation. Ruby was not going to hear about that. "I'll see what I can do, but I don't think Ruby and childbirth are going to mix well."
"Son, take it from me childbirth and women don't mix well. Your mom cursed me a blue streak when you and Dean were born." It made John smile softly to think about Mary. He still loved his long dead wife. He'd never stop. "And if I can get more grandkids outta Dean, I'm gonna get 'em. I want huge Winchester family reunions in five years. Huge."
"You realize for Dean to have another kid, it's going to be half-Harvelle." Which Sam didn't mind in the least. He's hoped that Dean and Jo would have found each other sooner, but that was water under the bridge. "And Michael and Dean are going to have to reconcile more. Michael doesn't seem to be a very big ladies' man."
"Ain't nothing wrong with the Harvelles. Ellen was a good woman. So was her husband." John didn't like to think about what had happened there. "If Dean's in there, anywhere in there, Michael will manage."
"Dean's in there." Sam nodded, completely confident that Dean was still in Michael. He had experienced moments where he just knew it. "I miss it being him, but I can be patient. Giving up hunting to be a family man, I'm going to have enough to occupy myself that I can wait for that day where they are really one."
John nodded. He'd get Dean back eventually. Meanwhile, he was going to try and help Michael adjust. Maybe take the other angel to a bar, teach him how to play pool. Credit card scams would come later. "How you going to make a livin'? Going to get a respectable job?"
Good thing Sam wasn't able to see his father's thoughts, or he'd question the ethics of the angel he was trying to become. Sam shrugged. "Dunno. I'll figure something out. Maybe see if there's a chance I can finish college at least, or else maybe open a roadhouse kind of place. See if Jo wants to have a partner. I don't know, really."
John was slowly working on the angel thing. He was still mostly John Winchester. "College would be good. You could be the first Winchester to graduate one of those fine institutions. The world could probably use more places like the Roadhouse."
"Ben and I would probably graduate at the same time," Sam snorted. "And Jo would make me into her little Winchester slave just for fun."
"That would make it easy for us, one graduation ceremony to attend." John chuckled. "That's more than I wanted to know about your relationship with Jo, Sam."
"Jo lives to torture Dean and I at any opportunity she can."
"She's a good woman. She'll keep you two honest. If your wife don't do that for you."
"Oh, Ruby will keep me in line, don't worry about that. She's been doing that for fourteen years now." Sam rubbed the back of his neck.
John nodded. "She mind if your old man shows up at the wedding? An angel in training won't ruin things for her, right?"
"Dean's the best man, and she's fine with that. I don't think another angel in the outfield will bother her. It's not like we're doing a big ceremony. Probably just something quick and private."
"Just let me know when I need to show up." He smiled. "I should probably let you go, let you get some rest."
"I'm alright." Sam will never admit he's tired, but he did sink into his pillows more. "Tell me about Mom in heaven? Is there a chance I might get to see her one day?"
John swallowed and glanced up for a second before looking back at Sam. "Mom's resting. She likes to visit sometimes, but she mostly rests. She's at peace, Sam."
"Dean says he spends time with you two... I really want to get to meet her one day, besides that one time in the house with her ghost..."
"I'll talk to her. She'll want to come to your wedding." John could already imagine a whole day with his family and Mary. He'd been good lately. He could swing that. They'd let him have that.
Sam chuckled. "I'd like that, but Ruby will think she's stealing away from her day."
"Well, once your mother hears keeping her away will be impossible." John grinned. "But she'll be respectful."
"I think Mom'll like Ruby."
"Let me talk with her, see what I can do. You've got to get better first."
"I always pull through, Dad. I've got angels apparently watching over me too." Sam smiled, closing his eyes for a bit longer than a blink.
John chuckled. "Yeah, Sammy, you do. Now go to sleep. I'll stop by again when I can."
"It was good seeing you again, Dad."
As Sam dropped off to sleep, Ruby appeared in the doorway. She didn't want to bother them, and was planning on backing out and going the other way to give them some time alone. She didn't plan on getting between a boy and his dad.
John had those angel senses that let him know when people were around. He watched Sam sleeping for a moment and then looked over at Ruby with a smile. "You just missed him."
And busted. Ruby just took a breath before nodding. "So I see. But at least he's sleeping." She stepped into the room, edging her way around the angel as easily as she could -- even as a human, angels still made her antsy. She made her way over to Sam's side and looking him over slowly. "He can be a bit stubborn when it comes to his own health."
"It's a family trait." John stepped back to give her more room since she seemed nervous. He really didn't want to be one of those angels who just unsettled everyone. He left that to Castiel.
"Yeah, well, it's an annoying family trait," Ruby smirked slightly, brushing her fingers through Sam's hair lightly. "Not endearing in the slightest."
Chuckling softly, John smile. "Yeah, I can see that you're really pissed at him."
She shrugged. "Anger's wasted on him when he's not conscious to see that you're angry. And even then it doesn't always work."
"In one ear, out the other?" John didn't wait for her to agree. "That's another family trait."
"I got that one too. Spend enough time with Sam, Dean and Dean's kids and you pick these things up pretty quickly."
"So, you're Ruby?" John asked, cutting to the chase. He had only heard things about her, never actually met the girl. She was pretty and seemed like the no-nonsense girl Sam would need.
"Yup. That's me," she sighed, turning around to face him. "What have you heard about me, exactly?"
"That you're marrying my son. Congratulations. And good luck." He shrugged. "Other things, here and there. The angels, they don't share much."
"Oh. Course they're not." Ruby would probably never, ever like angels. It wasn't anything personal John, it was just the way her head worked. "Well. There's a probably a couple more things you ought to know. Since we're gonna be family and all."
"Such as?" John always liked it when people shared and he didn't have to.
"I'm older than you. And not exactly in the fun way."
He frowned slightly. "You've aged really well. Demon?"
"Was. I was a demon for about seven hundred years -- probably more considering I lost track on some of the hell years, but yeah. Then about six months ago one of your boys decided that it would be a good idea to make me human."
John was conflicted. This woman made Sam happy, but she had also been a demon and had probably done the sorts of things he'd killed other demons for and she had survived Hell, just like him. Damn, Winchesters knew how to pick them. "Well, guess that makes this family a little more interesting."
Ruby shook her head. "You have no idea. Look, I'm not exactly proud of all the things I've done, and I'm not saying I haven't screwed people over, but wouldn't have been with Sam for this long if I didn't care. He's pretty much stuck with me until he doesn't want me anymore."
He sighed and ran his hand over his mouth. "You aren't a demon now. I'll work on handling your past. More for Sammy's sake then yours."
Ruby couldn't help it. She was an instigator. "And if I was still a demon?"
"We'd have problems," John said honestly. "After what your kind did to my family, my wife and me in Hell, I wouldn't be very welcoming."
"Glad to see that demonic racism is still alive and well in the Winchester family," she snapped dryly. "I had almost forgotten what that was like."
John eyed her. "Wouldn't you feel the same way if you saw Sam killed the way my wife was? Wouldn't you hate just as much? I got my reasons and I ain't a full angel yet. Perfect forgiveness is still beyond me."
"Yeah, well, she made her bed," Ruby said with a bit of a snap. "She made her choices too. She was a hunter, she knew the risks. She was the one who made the deal with Azazel, she was the one who got soft when it came to protecting her family from things that went bump in the night. She wanted normal and she sure as shit got it, but no one ever thinks about that, do they?" She took a deep breath and continued to look John dead in the eye. "We all make our choices, and we all have to deal with the consequences of them. I've dealt with mine, I've kept your son alive for fifteen years, and I didn't have to sell my soul again to do it. So really, as far as demons go? I think I've pretty much earned my get out of Hell free card."
She glanced away from him after a moment, looking at Sam again as she did. "And you might want to drop the whole 'demons are all souless murders' thing before you come to the wedding. I think the one of us without blood on our hands might take a little offense that."
"Don't talk about my wife that way." Even after so many years, John couldn't stand people talking badly about Mary. His wife was a sacred topic for him, beyond reproach. He stood straighter and glared hard at Ruby. "You want me on your side, you best watch what you say about it or I'm just not going to like your personality, not just your past. I can treat you with respect and be polite fine for the sake of my son. Let's stick with being civil and pretend we don't have a life time of grudges and prejudices to get past."
John was glad Sam was asleep. He wouldn't like having his son hear this conversation.
"Hey, I just believe in giving credit where credit's due. Plus, if she hadn't made that deal, you wouldn't have Dean, so bonus. Then again, you'd also be dead, so maybe that's not so good." She cringed slightly, before dropping the subject as promised. "But sure. I can play civil. That'll be just peachy."
He gritted his teeth and dug his fingers into his arms to keep from saying something unpleasant. He really did not want to have a fight with his future daughter-in-law. Even if she was an ex-demon, Sam loved her. He was just going to have to live with the urge to start reciting the exorcism rite around her. "Yeah, peachy."
Ruby sighed slightly, turning her attention back to Sam again. With Sam she was softer and she knew it, and she let him get away with far more than she would anyone else, but he was also Sam and she knew that she'd have to make some allowances for his family. Because she wasn't going to have Sam suffer through having people being driven away because of her. But she wasn't going to roll over and take it either. She was capable of being nice, though. "You and him are a lot alike."
"Yeah, I know. It's why we fought so much." John nodded slightly. Sam was a lot closer to him personality wise than Dean.
"It's not all bad, though. There's a lot of good qualities that make up for the times when he's a stubborn jackass." As stated earlier, she wasn't really one to hold back. "I'm kinda glad this is all over for him now."
"Well, we can agree on that. All I wanted for my sons was some peace. He's gonna get that now."
Ruby had a comment about how John had a funny way of showing that, but she bit her tongue and just continued to keep his focus on Sam. "Yeah. Hopefully you're right."
"Yeah, me too," John said softly then he sighed. "I'll leave you two alone. Probably won't be long before the angels tug my leash anyway."
Ruby nodded. "Thanks for coming to see him. I'm sure he appreciated it."
"When he wakes up, mind telling him I'll stop by again when I can?"
"Not at all," she replied.
"Thanks." John smiled lovingly at Sam once more before he walked out of the room and disappeared.
Ruby sighed softly, before inching over and settling on Sam's good side, getting comfortable with a sigh. That could have gone much, much worse.
And Sam, having not heard a single word, just reacted to the warm body slipping into bed next to him and curled into her more and let himself fall even deeper into sleep.
He pulled the drawer out to stash the book and he noticed the copy of the bible sitting there. The same black cover, gold little cross... same bible that had been in every motel room, every place they ever went. He chuckled in amusement, then flipped open the pages to do some research on the history of his newly-angelic brother. He got absorbed into the Bible, losing track of time as well as if he was alone in the room.
John was actually nervous. Things had always been tense between him and Sam and he wasn't sure if now it would be better or worse, but he wanted to see his youngest son. His time with Dean had been short, but he hadn't had any time at all with Sam. He needed that, especially after everything they had been through lately. He appeared outside the room instead of it in, not wanting to startle Sam.
He knocked on the door frame and swallowed at the sight of his son. "Hey, Sammy."
Sam's head started to lift at the sound of footsteps and the knock, but it was the voice that snapped his eyes up the rest of the way. The Bible slipped from his fingers into his lap as Sam just stared across the room at his father standing there, looking almost exactly like the last time he had seen him. Suddenly he was twenty three again and Dad was there in a hospital doorway asking him to get him a cup of coffee and there was a hitch in his throat.
"... Dad?"
"Yeah, it's me." He gave a half smile, putting his hands in his pockets for something to do with them. "I thought it was time I stopped by to let you know I was around."
"Dean... Michael... he told me he'd seen you." Sam leaned forward a bit, being careful of his leg. His ribs were healed but his hip and leg could take months before they were pain free for him. He was still refusing angelic help on the healing because he was doing the stubborn Winchester thing. "Trying to join his ranks? And here it was us always wanting to be like you." He smirked a bit.
John's half smile bloomed into a real smile. If Sam was joking it meant he was doing better. He had been worried. "I had to do something after getting out of Hell. Trying to be an angel seemed like a good idea. How you feelin'? Everything okay?"
He moved closer so Sam wouldn't have to go anywhere. He really did look better than he had after Lucifer. Well, except for the injury.
"I'm doing much better than I probably should be. I mean, it's not like I was in a schoolyard fight with a bully." Sam shrugged, leaning back into his pillows. He swore Ruby kept bringing him more and more every day from who knew where. "I got a lot to readjust to. But I'd like to think that all this pulling me on the demon path is done. That's I've finished that path and I get to now try something better and away from it all. It's giving me a bit of hope for the future that I haven't had since Dean made his deal."
"You got a lot going for you, kid," John said with pride. Yes, he didn't agree with a lot of the choices Sam had made, but his time in Heaven had helped him get past a lot of those old feelings. His son, the Sam he remembered from when he was still a kid. "You gonna go back to hunting? Or you, uh, retiring?"
"Actually, I'm getting married." Sam looked at his hands. "I've done enough hunting for my lifetime. Maybe I'll help with research like Bobby does, but I got a second chance here. A chance to get something I wanted more than anything before it was taken from me. I... I don't want to lose that again."
"Married? Damn son." John really grinned now. "I'm going to have to kick Gabe's ass for keeping that from me. That bastard. Who's the girl? Does your old man get to meet her?"
Sam bit his lip. He had no idea of Dean or anyone in heaven might have told his father about his no-longer-demonic companion for the last 15 years. "Her name's Ruby. We've been together for a long time. I'm sure if you come visiting, you'll eventually meet her." John meeting Ruby. Sam wasn't sure he wanted to know how that meeting would go.
He shrug. "If Gabe will let me visit more, I can. They've got me on a short leash. It took a lot of convincing just to be able to stop in here."
"Well, I'm grateful. Last time... wasn't the best."
"Things have been rough for everyone lately." He was still struggling with Dean being Michael. Taking orders from his son was really just weird. "You should enjoy the peace while it lasts. It never seems to hang around."
"I'm hoping it does. I don't want my kids having to grow up like we did." Sam looked down, realizing that John might take that the wrong way. "What I mean is that I don't want them having to be afraid of the world."
John looked away for a second and then shrugged. "I know things were rough for you and Dean. I'm sorry, though that doesn't really change things."
"You did the best you could, Dad. I mean, you had to make a lot of hard choices. It wasn't until long after that I realized it. You sacrificed everything for us."
"I always wanted more for you and Dean. I guess that came true, just later than any of us wanted." He managed another half smile. "You're going to start a family and Dean's higher on the angelic food chain than I am."
"Not to mention Dean's kids. You should meet them."
"I've met Alec, but They've kept me from Ben since he took things with Dean badly." John looked off for a second, "I'm proud of you boys. I really am."
"I heard. Ben's lost a lot in the last two years, and this was probably his last straw. When I get out of here, I'm going to try and track him down. I've got a good idea of where he might be."
He bit his lip. "I always knew you were proud of Dean. I honestly didn't think anyone would be proud of me for what I was doing."
"We all made mistakes. You, me and Dean. One of those big lessons they've been trying to drill into my head is forgiveness." John sighed. "I'm not gonna stop loving you just because you screwed up."
"But aren't pride and love two different things?" John, this is Sam you're talking to. He's been lacking in intelligent theological conversation for awhile now. "I always knew you loved me, even when I was making it hard to. You're my father. You don't have to like me or my ideas to love me. But I'm a pretty big disappointment in following the right path and we both know it."
"Yeah son, you screwed up big time but that don't matter now," John said sincerely. "We might have choices, we might not. Hard to tell with all the crap I've seen and been doing for the angels, destiny makes some sense. So does lettin' it go. I'm not gonna waste time bein' pissed at ya. Sorry."
Sam looked down at his hands and shrugged, then laughed softly to himself. "Don't worry about it. Apparently I do enough for everyone, or so I'm told."
"You got a good heart, son." John reached out and ruffled Sam's hair. "Not always the best head on your shoulders, but a good heart. And hey, you can blame that on your old man."
The affection made Sam smile, and he looked up at John. "Which part do is that I get to blame on you then?"
"Hm, well, I'm gonna have to say you got your thick head from me. Good heart was all your mom." John grinned. It was good to see Sam smile.
It wasn't often that Sam gave a genuine smile, so he's lucky to see it. "It's weird... all of you are up in heaven and I'm still here." There was a bit of a wistful look in his eyes. "Kinda feel like I'm not allowed into the club these days. I miss you." He licked his lips. "You never let me say goodbye."
He sighed. "I didn't get much of a chance to let you. They yanked me up into Heaven after the Gate was opened. You're not alone down here, you know. And I'd rather you lived a long life before joining me and Dean. I want grandkids."
"Beyond the two you already have." Sam chuckled again. Angelic ordering of procreation. Ruby was not going to hear about that. "I'll see what I can do, but I don't think Ruby and childbirth are going to mix well."
"Son, take it from me childbirth and women don't mix well. Your mom cursed me a blue streak when you and Dean were born." It made John smile softly to think about Mary. He still loved his long dead wife. He'd never stop. "And if I can get more grandkids outta Dean, I'm gonna get 'em. I want huge Winchester family reunions in five years. Huge."
"You realize for Dean to have another kid, it's going to be half-Harvelle." Which Sam didn't mind in the least. He's hoped that Dean and Jo would have found each other sooner, but that was water under the bridge. "And Michael and Dean are going to have to reconcile more. Michael doesn't seem to be a very big ladies' man."
"Ain't nothing wrong with the Harvelles. Ellen was a good woman. So was her husband." John didn't like to think about what had happened there. "If Dean's in there, anywhere in there, Michael will manage."
"Dean's in there." Sam nodded, completely confident that Dean was still in Michael. He had experienced moments where he just knew it. "I miss it being him, but I can be patient. Giving up hunting to be a family man, I'm going to have enough to occupy myself that I can wait for that day where they are really one."
John nodded. He'd get Dean back eventually. Meanwhile, he was going to try and help Michael adjust. Maybe take the other angel to a bar, teach him how to play pool. Credit card scams would come later. "How you going to make a livin'? Going to get a respectable job?"
Good thing Sam wasn't able to see his father's thoughts, or he'd question the ethics of the angel he was trying to become. Sam shrugged. "Dunno. I'll figure something out. Maybe see if there's a chance I can finish college at least, or else maybe open a roadhouse kind of place. See if Jo wants to have a partner. I don't know, really."
John was slowly working on the angel thing. He was still mostly John Winchester. "College would be good. You could be the first Winchester to graduate one of those fine institutions. The world could probably use more places like the Roadhouse."
"Ben and I would probably graduate at the same time," Sam snorted. "And Jo would make me into her little Winchester slave just for fun."
"That would make it easy for us, one graduation ceremony to attend." John chuckled. "That's more than I wanted to know about your relationship with Jo, Sam."
"Jo lives to torture Dean and I at any opportunity she can."
"She's a good woman. She'll keep you two honest. If your wife don't do that for you."
"Oh, Ruby will keep me in line, don't worry about that. She's been doing that for fourteen years now." Sam rubbed the back of his neck.
John nodded. "She mind if your old man shows up at the wedding? An angel in training won't ruin things for her, right?"
"Dean's the best man, and she's fine with that. I don't think another angel in the outfield will bother her. It's not like we're doing a big ceremony. Probably just something quick and private."
"Just let me know when I need to show up." He smiled. "I should probably let you go, let you get some rest."
"I'm alright." Sam will never admit he's tired, but he did sink into his pillows more. "Tell me about Mom in heaven? Is there a chance I might get to see her one day?"
John swallowed and glanced up for a second before looking back at Sam. "Mom's resting. She likes to visit sometimes, but she mostly rests. She's at peace, Sam."
"Dean says he spends time with you two... I really want to get to meet her one day, besides that one time in the house with her ghost..."
"I'll talk to her. She'll want to come to your wedding." John could already imagine a whole day with his family and Mary. He'd been good lately. He could swing that. They'd let him have that.
Sam chuckled. "I'd like that, but Ruby will think she's stealing away from her day."
"Well, once your mother hears keeping her away will be impossible." John grinned. "But she'll be respectful."
"I think Mom'll like Ruby."
"Let me talk with her, see what I can do. You've got to get better first."
"I always pull through, Dad. I've got angels apparently watching over me too." Sam smiled, closing his eyes for a bit longer than a blink.
John chuckled. "Yeah, Sammy, you do. Now go to sleep. I'll stop by again when I can."
"It was good seeing you again, Dad."
As Sam dropped off to sleep, Ruby appeared in the doorway. She didn't want to bother them, and was planning on backing out and going the other way to give them some time alone. She didn't plan on getting between a boy and his dad.
John had those angel senses that let him know when people were around. He watched Sam sleeping for a moment and then looked over at Ruby with a smile. "You just missed him."
And busted. Ruby just took a breath before nodding. "So I see. But at least he's sleeping." She stepped into the room, edging her way around the angel as easily as she could -- even as a human, angels still made her antsy. She made her way over to Sam's side and looking him over slowly. "He can be a bit stubborn when it comes to his own health."
"It's a family trait." John stepped back to give her more room since she seemed nervous. He really didn't want to be one of those angels who just unsettled everyone. He left that to Castiel.
"Yeah, well, it's an annoying family trait," Ruby smirked slightly, brushing her fingers through Sam's hair lightly. "Not endearing in the slightest."
Chuckling softly, John smile. "Yeah, I can see that you're really pissed at him."
She shrugged. "Anger's wasted on him when he's not conscious to see that you're angry. And even then it doesn't always work."
"In one ear, out the other?" John didn't wait for her to agree. "That's another family trait."
"I got that one too. Spend enough time with Sam, Dean and Dean's kids and you pick these things up pretty quickly."
"So, you're Ruby?" John asked, cutting to the chase. He had only heard things about her, never actually met the girl. She was pretty and seemed like the no-nonsense girl Sam would need.
"Yup. That's me," she sighed, turning around to face him. "What have you heard about me, exactly?"
"That you're marrying my son. Congratulations. And good luck." He shrugged. "Other things, here and there. The angels, they don't share much."
"Oh. Course they're not." Ruby would probably never, ever like angels. It wasn't anything personal John, it was just the way her head worked. "Well. There's a probably a couple more things you ought to know. Since we're gonna be family and all."
"Such as?" John always liked it when people shared and he didn't have to.
"I'm older than you. And not exactly in the fun way."
He frowned slightly. "You've aged really well. Demon?"
"Was. I was a demon for about seven hundred years -- probably more considering I lost track on some of the hell years, but yeah. Then about six months ago one of your boys decided that it would be a good idea to make me human."
John was conflicted. This woman made Sam happy, but she had also been a demon and had probably done the sorts of things he'd killed other demons for and she had survived Hell, just like him. Damn, Winchesters knew how to pick them. "Well, guess that makes this family a little more interesting."
Ruby shook her head. "You have no idea. Look, I'm not exactly proud of all the things I've done, and I'm not saying I haven't screwed people over, but wouldn't have been with Sam for this long if I didn't care. He's pretty much stuck with me until he doesn't want me anymore."
He sighed and ran his hand over his mouth. "You aren't a demon now. I'll work on handling your past. More for Sammy's sake then yours."
Ruby couldn't help it. She was an instigator. "And if I was still a demon?"
"We'd have problems," John said honestly. "After what your kind did to my family, my wife and me in Hell, I wouldn't be very welcoming."
"Glad to see that demonic racism is still alive and well in the Winchester family," she snapped dryly. "I had almost forgotten what that was like."
John eyed her. "Wouldn't you feel the same way if you saw Sam killed the way my wife was? Wouldn't you hate just as much? I got my reasons and I ain't a full angel yet. Perfect forgiveness is still beyond me."
"Yeah, well, she made her bed," Ruby said with a bit of a snap. "She made her choices too. She was a hunter, she knew the risks. She was the one who made the deal with Azazel, she was the one who got soft when it came to protecting her family from things that went bump in the night. She wanted normal and she sure as shit got it, but no one ever thinks about that, do they?" She took a deep breath and continued to look John dead in the eye. "We all make our choices, and we all have to deal with the consequences of them. I've dealt with mine, I've kept your son alive for fifteen years, and I didn't have to sell my soul again to do it. So really, as far as demons go? I think I've pretty much earned my get out of Hell free card."
She glanced away from him after a moment, looking at Sam again as she did. "And you might want to drop the whole 'demons are all souless murders' thing before you come to the wedding. I think the one of us without blood on our hands might take a little offense that."
"Don't talk about my wife that way." Even after so many years, John couldn't stand people talking badly about Mary. His wife was a sacred topic for him, beyond reproach. He stood straighter and glared hard at Ruby. "You want me on your side, you best watch what you say about it or I'm just not going to like your personality, not just your past. I can treat you with respect and be polite fine for the sake of my son. Let's stick with being civil and pretend we don't have a life time of grudges and prejudices to get past."
John was glad Sam was asleep. He wouldn't like having his son hear this conversation.
"Hey, I just believe in giving credit where credit's due. Plus, if she hadn't made that deal, you wouldn't have Dean, so bonus. Then again, you'd also be dead, so maybe that's not so good." She cringed slightly, before dropping the subject as promised. "But sure. I can play civil. That'll be just peachy."
He gritted his teeth and dug his fingers into his arms to keep from saying something unpleasant. He really did not want to have a fight with his future daughter-in-law. Even if she was an ex-demon, Sam loved her. He was just going to have to live with the urge to start reciting the exorcism rite around her. "Yeah, peachy."
Ruby sighed slightly, turning her attention back to Sam again. With Sam she was softer and she knew it, and she let him get away with far more than she would anyone else, but he was also Sam and she knew that she'd have to make some allowances for his family. Because she wasn't going to have Sam suffer through having people being driven away because of her. But she wasn't going to roll over and take it either. She was capable of being nice, though. "You and him are a lot alike."
"Yeah, I know. It's why we fought so much." John nodded slightly. Sam was a lot closer to him personality wise than Dean.
"It's not all bad, though. There's a lot of good qualities that make up for the times when he's a stubborn jackass." As stated earlier, she wasn't really one to hold back. "I'm kinda glad this is all over for him now."
"Well, we can agree on that. All I wanted for my sons was some peace. He's gonna get that now."
Ruby had a comment about how John had a funny way of showing that, but she bit her tongue and just continued to keep his focus on Sam. "Yeah. Hopefully you're right."
"Yeah, me too," John said softly then he sighed. "I'll leave you two alone. Probably won't be long before the angels tug my leash anyway."
Ruby nodded. "Thanks for coming to see him. I'm sure he appreciated it."
"When he wakes up, mind telling him I'll stop by again when I can?"
"Not at all," she replied.
"Thanks." John smiled lovingly at Sam once more before he walked out of the room and disappeared.
Ruby sighed softly, before inching over and settling on Sam's good side, getting comfortable with a sigh. That could have gone much, much worse.
And Sam, having not heard a single word, just reacted to the warm body slipping into bed next to him and curled into her more and let himself fall even deeper into sleep.