Title: The Brake Lights Faded in the Distance
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: FRT
Summary: A decision had been made
Series: Brake Lights in the Distance, The Bodyguard, Evil Lurks, November 2nd, Family Business
***
He stood in the doorway and stared at the scene in quiet horror. There was no way he had heard those words issue from either man’s mouth.
‘I’m going to college!’
‘Fine, then leave and never come back.’
Sam had turned and looked directly at Dean. The older brother just stared back at him in shock, for once his mask slipping. It couldn’t be right. All these months Dean had planned; stocked the Impala, adding more weapons – even some of Sam’s favorites. He had found a few hunts to ease into, and began building his own journal of information. He even had ideas about upgrading Sammy’s laptop so they would be more high tech. But it seemed all those ideas and plans were for nothing.
Dean watched as Sam stormed by him and out the door. He then watched as his father turned his back on his sons, grabbed a bottle of whiskey and headed to the back of the apartment. Turning, Dean looked down the small steps out to the driveway watching Sam toss his bags into a waiting taxi.
“So that’s it?”
Sam stopped and looked over at his brother. “I want a life Dean.”
“And this isn’t good enough?” he asked stepping off the porch. “You’re too good for us?” The ‘for me’, was left unspoken
“I don’t want to be a hunter, never asked to be one.” Sam yelled. “This is dad’s fight, not mine.”
“What about us?” Dean stood a few feet from him. “All this time while I’ve been planning a future for us, rambling on like a moron about hunts, weapons, and the road. You’ve been planning your future; one that didn’t include any Winchester but yourself.”
Sam sighed. “I got a full scholarship to Stanford.”
“Well isn’t that nice.” Dean spat out. “You’re so special then, aren’t you? College boy. Smarter than your dumb grease monkey of a brother.”
“I don’t expect you to understand,” he sighed.
Dean stared at him for a few moments, and then motioned towards the taxi. “You better go. Your new life awaits.”
“Dean…”
“You made your choice Sam take it and don’t look back.” Dean clapped Sam on the shoulder as he moved towards the Impala.
He slipped behind the wheel, leaning back in the seat watching as Sam settled into the cab. As the brake lights faded from sight, he felt a coldness spread through his chest. The parts of him that Sam had filled were now empty and dead. He had been such a fool; a new life had been offered to him on a silver platter. MIT – a full scholarship. And he had turned it down for Sam, who was now starting his new life — without Dean.
He started the engine, taking comfort from her low purr. Like he told Sam – he had made a choice and it was time he learned to live with it. He grabbed the paper from the passenger seat, scanning the article quickly; it looked like a typical salt and burn down in Texas. He put the Impala into gear and headed out of town.
John Winchester stood in the living room watching from the window as his sons drove out of each other’s life, and out of his. He took another swallow of the whiskey, relishing the burn as it went down. Lifting his eyes heavenward, for the sake of the world he prayed they would find their way back to each other.