Chapter Text
John pulled up to his house, the house was dark since he hadn't left any lights on.
"We're here", he announced. The boys piled out of the car and followed behind him as he walked the short distance from the Impala to the door. The door opened to reveal a dark house, he turned on the lights as he walked through the living room and heard the front door close.
The inside of the house wasn't very showy, but it suited John and his boys. He turned to face the boys, "I have two spare rooms, upstairs", he announced, as he began walking up the stairs, the boys following behind him, quietly. Once he reached the top he passed the first two sets of doors, which stood across from each other, the one on the right was Dean's, while the left belonged to Sam.
He stopped at the second pair of doors, "Um, I guess two of you can sleep in each room", he said, turning to Michael.
The boy shook his head, "We'll share a room", Lucifer rolled his eyes and opened the door on the right, "We'll take this one", he announced as the smaller blonde boy, Gabriel, followed behind him, despite the glare Michael sent to the older blonde.
Michael sighed and turned to the left door, and opened it, "C'mon Cas", the small dark-haired boy entered the room, leaving Michael and John standing there in the hallway.
"My room's down the hall", John said, pointing to the last room at the end of the hallway, it stood between the two rooms. "I'll get you guys something to wear to bed"
Michael nodded and entered the room, watching as Cas bounced on the bed slightly.
John thought about what size the boys might wear, but ended up, picking out some of Dean's clothes, that he either didn't wear or didn't like, for the older boys. He then picked out some of Sam's clothes for the two younger boys. He returned to Micheal's room, knocking before entering because it seemed like these boys already had trust issues and he didn't want to make it worse by just barging in their rooms.
"I, uh, didn't know what size you boys wear, but my boys aren't much bigger, so these might fit", he said as he passed over the clothes. Michael thanked him and he left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen, just to give the boys some privacy upstairs.
He procrastinated in the kitchen for a few minutes, leaning against the counter, before his phone started blaring 'Back In Black' in his pocket. He smiled at the name, before answering
"What you missed your old man already?"
He heard Dean laugh on the other end " Always".
Since the boys had been at Bobby's Dean usually called or texted to let John know how they were doing.
"How's it going?" he asked
Dean, snorted on the other end, " Bobby's convinced he's the next Gordon Ramsey", John laughed, everyone knew Dean was the only one who could cook in their little family, but he was reminded of Gordon Walker, his laughter died down, which Dean must've noticed,
" Something wrong?", he asked
John shook his head, but realized Dean couldn't see him, "No, uh, nothing's wrong, how's Sam?", he quickly changed the subject.
Even though he was sure Dean noticed it, he answered his question, " Oh, y'know, he's brooding over everything, being a moody teenager"
No John didn't know because he'd never dealt with a moody teenager. Dean, even with his problems, was never a moody teen. "Just great", he muttered into the phone, and heard Dean sigh
" C'mon cut him some slack".
John sighed, "Yeah, yeah", he heard a loud crash on the other end of the phone, and then Dean was rushing him off the phone, " Sorry, Dad I think Bobby's trying to kill the oven, I'll call tomorrow, love you ", and with that, the phone hung up, before he got the chance to say 'love you' back.
John sighed and slide the phone back into his pocket, before pushing himself off the counter, and making his way back up the stairs. Once again he passed Sam and Dean's rooms, it seemed like Michael and his brothers, were already asleep, both doors were cracked slightly, just enough so that the hall light streamed into their rooms.
Thinking it was awkward to check on the sleeping boys, he barely knew them anyway, he headed straight to his room, and after the long day he'd had, he passed out on his bed.
The morning saw John up and early, unlike his two sons, who if they were here at the moment, would still be asleep. Though Sam was much more of a morning person, Dean didn't seem to know how to function before he had at least one cup of coffee. John didn't know when he started drinking it, but it quickly turned into an unhealthy habit.
But he couldn't talk, because here he was leaning on the kitchen counter sipping a black coffee. Michael and his brothers didn't seem to be up yet, John had the urge to check on them, but he ultimately decided against it. Instead, he turned his attention to breakfast. He decided on making pancakes, it was simple, he could handle it. But cooking was more of Dean's strong suit, not his or Sam's.
By the time he had made a full stack of pancakes, he heard the boys stirring around upstairs, and not long after Michael was descending the stairs and walking into the kitchen. He stood awkwardly at the door
"Morning", John greeted, noticing the boy had put back on the same clothes from the day before.
"I came to let you know that we were leaving", Michael announced. John stopped pouring the batter in the pan and turned to the boy, "I was hoping you guys were gonna stay for breakfast", John told him,
Michael looked surprised, "You probably want us out of your house as soon as possible".
John shook his head, "Kid, go grab your brothers and sit down and eat", Michael looked conflicted, he was glancing from John to the stairs, "I-uh", he cleared his throat, "Thank you", he then ran back up the stairs before John had the chance to reply.
John turned his attention back on the pancake...that was currently burning, "Shit", he cursed as he turned off the stove and took the pan off the stove. He heard a small laugh from behind him, he turned to see the small blonde boy hiding behind the doorway.
John raised an amused eyebrow, "You think that's funny?", the boy tensed and hid more behind the door.
John thought for a moment, before turning his back toward the boy, "Your name's Gabriel right?", he asked, the empty air in front of him, for a while there was no response, until, "Yes", a timid voice replied, it sounded like he was still hiding behind the door.
John nodded his head, "Well, Gabriel, if you're hungry I made pancakes", he said but got no response, "I promise they aren't all burnt", he added, which got a small laugh out of the boy.
John started to ask another question but was interrupted when he heard someone call the boy's name,
"Gabe", a young, but rough voice called, John turned his head to see the older blonde boy, Lucifer. He turned his icy glaze on John, but John had since been immune to teenage glares, he could thank Sam for that.
"There are pancakes if you want some", he offered again, Lucifer grabbed the smaller boy's hand and walked over to the table and took a seat, farthest from John, while he sat Gabe on his left.
John decided not to comment on that, he'd seen his fair share of overprotective brothers, instead, he made two plates both with three pancakes on each, and served each boy.
The boys ate in silence and soon Michael and Castiel joined them, and John served them too. The next few minutes were spent in silence.
John decided to speak up first, "Your parents aren't looking for you?", he asked. Lucifer scoffed and rolled his eyes, which got him a glare from Michael, and what John was sure was a kick under the table.
Michael turned to him, "We didn't live with our parents"
John nodded, "Any family, then?", Michael shook his head. John brows furrowed in confusion, No, family. Where the hell did they come from? he thought.
"Foster home?"
Lucifer dropped his fork and turned his scowl on John, "What the hell with all the questions?", the boy's voice had risen.
This time Michael definitely kicked him under the table, which made the other boy turn to him, "And stop fucking kicking me!".
John didn't even bat an eyelash, because he, unfortunately, was used to sudden outbursts now.
"Sorry about him", Michael had turned back to John.
"I'm just trying to figure out what's next for you boys", John answered truthfully. He didn't want them to end up in an even worse situation. The other two smaller boys had kept quiet
"Thank you, John", Michael said before he got up from his seat, the other boys wordlessly followed him, "But I think we've overstayed our welcome". He gave him a tight smile.
John stood and crossed his hands over his chest, "Where are you gonna go?", he asked Michael but Lucifer answered for him
"None of your business",
John ignored him and the slap to the back of the head, Michael had given the other boy. "I'll figure it out", he replied.
John looked at the two smaller boys, "Listen kid why don't you just stay here?", he said, but Michael was quick to respond, "We c-",
"You go back out there, the cops are eventually going to find you, and when they do they'll send you back to the last place you wanna see right now", John didn't know what had happened to these boys, but he could tell they didn't want to home. Wherever that was.
It was obvious they'd rather spend their night on the street than go back home, and if John could put a roof over their head, even just for the time being he would. He saw the gears turning in Michael's head, he was probably weighing the pro and cons of spending another night in a stranger's house.
Lucifer was still scowling at him and had a tight hold on the two smaller boys' hands, but Michael had a pensive look on his face.
John spoke up again, "It doesn't have to be permanent, you can leave anytime you want."
Michael's blue eyes found his, "Just temporary right?".
John nodded, "You can leave any time".
Micheal looked at Lucifer, who shook his head slightly, "We don't even know him" the blonde stressed.
At least these kids have some sort of self preservation, John thought.
Michael seemed frustrated, "Don't you think I know that?"
Lucifer let go of the two boys hands and stepped closer to Michael, "Then stop wasting our time and let's get the hell out of here!"
Michael scoffed, "Wasting time? Seriously? If you hadn't noticed we have nowhere to go.".
While Lucifer had raised his voice and seemed ready to blow, Michael seemed calm albeit a little frustrated.
John cleared his throat, gaining their attention, "Look you don’t have to stay if you don’t want too, but trust me, it’s looking like the only good option right now”
Lucifer huffed and scowled harder at him, “There is no way in hell that we’re-”
“Okay”, Michael cut him off smoothly
Lucifer turned his icy gaze onto him, ‘Have you fucking lost it?!”, Micheal met him with the same glare, “He’s right, unless you wanna spend the next few nights sleeping on a bench”, Lucifer clenched his jaw, but he didn’t say anything. “Then I suggest you let me handle this”.
John watched the interaction with barely concealed surprise at the authority MIcheal used over his brother. It was very different from the way Dean would handle Sam. Gabriel and Castiel, had quietly moved back into their seats. John guessed they were used to Michael and Lucifer's disagreements.
Michael turned back to him, his expression smoothing out to something more neutral. “We will take you up on your offer. Thank you, John”
John nodded, “Don’t mention it”.
He knew even if they had refused his invitation that he still would have paid for their hotel or something, he wouldn’t have just let them go back out on the street. He didn’t know what had happened to the four boys but whatever it was, he was sure it was pretty bad.
At least staying with him, they couldn’t get hurt anymore.