"Offerings and Takings" by: Tidia

Beta: That Girl Six

Sam and Mackland sat on opposite ends of the bed as they kept watch, their cell phones at Caleb's feet. Mac checked his pulse every fifteen minutes, commenting at the deep sleep his son was in, but nothing more. Concern was etched on his face. Sam was just as worried.

They hadn't heard from Dean and Joshua yet; Sam had hoped his brother would check in at regular intervals, but something or someone was not making that possible. Sam's nervousness heightened, making him hyperaware that for at least the twentieth time Mac's cell phone glowed and vibrated. The doctor ignored it.

"Your cellphone is vibrating—a lot," Sam said, finally deciding to bring it to Mac's attention.

"Ignore it unless it is Dean or Joshua. This is more important."

"I can sit with him; hold his hand, if you want." Sam thought Mac needed a break to at least stretch his legs. However he didn't want to interfere with the father and son relationship, especially considering the strain it had been under. Neither he nor Dean would ever be a substitute for Mac.

"What I want is no more bedside vigils. What I want is not to see my son like this, not to see you like this or Dean." The doctor turned so he was looking at Sam, unshed tears in his eyes. "Not to get phone calls about your death, Dean's deal and Caleb being hurt."

"I don't want that either," Sam whispered, being affected by his emotions of picturing his brother dealing with his death, so unable to cope that he made a deal. Technically, Sam wasn't supposed to be there, but Dean had used their otherworldly knowledge to do the impossible. Since Sam was here, then he had to make a difference in the war.

"Samuel, I am glad you are here. When I see the three of you together, alive, well, making jokes that are in poor taste —" Mackland smirked. "That's more my son and Dean—but it gives me strength to see the best in The Brotherhood."

"It's hard to see anything clearly anymore." Sam was testing so many boundaries, moral and earthly, so Dean could live, The Brotherhood and The Triad continue.

"I don't think we'll get clarity until we see Dean through this latest trial. After that, anything else will pale in comparison."

"Who keeps calling you?"

"It's more than likely Brotherhood business." At Sam's questioning brow, Mac sighed. "I rarely get phone calls about someone needing help with locating a missing child or from my office concerning research."

"Something to look forward to?"

"I do the job of three men. The Guardian usually does most of the work. When Jim was alive. . ." Mac's breath hitched in a sigh of wistfulness for the past.

Sam recalled the way it used to be with Mac helping find missing people and working as a neurosurgeon. He had almost seemed bigger than life, but now his job as The Scholar seemed bigger than him.

Mac gave Sam a small smile, diverting some attention from Caleb but still hovering over his son. "Your Triad will be different. You have Caleb and your brother."

Sam pictured it in his mind. It was an image that had to come true. Dean would not die, couldn't if they were all going to take their rightful places. When he'd first been officially told about their futures, he had been so angry, but now he wanted nothing more than to see the plans of their fathers to come to fruition. "My brother will be a great Guardian."

"Yes, he will."

"I didn't realize you didn't help the police anymore," Sam commented, wanting to create some sort of conversation that had nothing to do with deals and Triads to make the time go by faster.

"I don't have the opportunity anymore, just like my interest in research is being limited. And there is some work being done in Russia which Naomi is working on under different parameters that. . .Sorry about the research talk." The doctor waved a hand in the air.

Sam smiled, admiring Mac's excitement for his work. "That's okay."

"You have to understand that my psychic abilities are different than yours. I can't enter someone's mind, although it is times like these that I wish I could. The telekinesis is somewhat useful, but the psychometry, being able to touch an object and save a person, is truly something I miss." Ames glanced at his son.

"Spoken like a true doctor." Sam decided he wanted to go into unfamiliar ground, a discussion about the future. "So when you retire, what will happen?"

Mackland looked up, staring straight into Sam's eyes. "I would like for you to continue your education."

"I don't know." Sam shook his head. That part of his life was over; he couldn't imagine the collegiate life without Jessica. He didn't want to.

"You can live with your brother at the farm, if that is what you want. Transfer to a school nearby," Mackland stated, not as suggestions but as statements of facts.

It sounded like he had been planning this for awhile. Sam played along, daring to believe in the possibilities. "Dean would like that, and it would make Caleb's job easier."

"I'll still be around, bridging the gap."

It was a normal conversation, a mentor providing guidance to a charge. It wasn't part of their reality. "It's something to think about. It's just hard to think about the future when there doesn't look like there will be much of a future." Sam hated that he had turned the conversation with Caleb lying so still.

"There will be a future. There always is." Mac wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "Maybe this is a good time for you to have an internship as The Scholar?"

"Or we could let them go to voicemail." Sam glanced at the phone with trepidation. The phone vibrated again, this time with a name shining in the box. Sam grinned. It was Mac's future, or at least that is what he and Dean thought would happen, no matter Caleb or Joshua's opinion. "Esme's calling. I think that's one you want to answer."

Mackland gestured for Sam to toss him the phone. His face softened as he placed the phone to his ear. Esme was the person who could make things a little better for the doctor. Jess had done that for him. "Esme? What? Are they all right? What happened?"

Sam leaned forward on his chair. "Dean? Did something happen?"

Mackland shook his head, making Sam feel relieved that Dean had not been injured. Mac placed a hand on Caleb's forehead. "Tell Dean he did momentarily and now seems to be in a deep sleep. Joshua did some sort of binding spell, but I don't know if that's enough…"

The doctor nodded again, removing his hand from Caleb. "I'll see you soon then." Mac shut the phone off, placing it on the nightstand instead of the bed. "They have the cure, and they're coming back."

Sam returned the smile. He squeezed Caleb's arm. "Esme's with Dean and Josh?" Joshua hadn't mentioned his mother. He assumed she was advising him via phone.

Mackland seemed just as confused. "Yes, she met up with them, and they have the cure. That's all that matters." The doctor put his hand on the top of Caleb's head.

Sam glanced at his watch, marking the time. Maybe the future was looking better.

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They were silent with Robert in their presence. Dean had his own thoughts after witnessing what had happened with the coven. It had been out of his control. Only the end result mattered. Caleb had to stay alive so Dean could go to Hell if need be and Sammy would still have someone watching over him. If he had to sacrifice Joshua along the way, so be it. Esme was safe with Mackland. He had to worry about his own.

No one waved goodbye to Robert as he melted back into the woods. In the Impala, Joshua gave up his passenger seat to his mother and parked himself sullenly in the backseat.

Dean cleared his throat. "Back there, you did good."

Joshua rested his head against the backseat, eyes closed, but he replied, "Oh, joy. I have to practically go to Hell to get your begrudging respect."

Dean didn't answer. Dealing with the coven couldn't compare to real Hell.

"Are you all right, Joshua?" Esme broke into the awkward silence that had descended once more.

"Yes, Mother."

"The mark?" She turned in her seat to look at her son.

"Doesn't hurt."

Silence ensued once more. Dean's fingers were edging towards the radio in nervousness.

"I should call Mackland, tell him we are in route," Esme stated.

She didn't wait for anyone's approval as she pulled her cellphone out and dialed the number. "Mackland, I'm with the boys and we have the counterspell."

"How's Caleb? Did he wake up?" Dean interrupted the phone call. He didn't care if he was being rude; Caleb was the reason they were here.

Esme smiled at Dean. "He did." She was listening again. "Joshua's binding will hold until we get there." She was quiet again, nodding her head. "See you soon."

Dean heard every exaggerated noise being made as Esme put her phone away into her purse. Joshua was moving around in the backseat, squeaking against the leather. Dean was having difficulty dealing with the quietness.

"You shouldn't have come, Mother."

Dean winced. Joshua was the only one who had a mom. Dean wanted to treat her with kid gloves. However, this time, painful as it was, he had to agree with Sawyer. "He's right. You shouldn't have come. It was dangerous and you could have jeopardized everything." He looked over, hoping he hadn't hurt her feelings. It was nice having a motherly figure around even if it was just a concept. It wasn't like she could replace his mother, no one could.

She tilted her head and played with the edge of the scarf she had around her neck. "Yes, I see that now. At the time it seemed in everyone's best interest that I attend."

Dean didn't press, but she had kept it a secret from her son, and probably Mackland, if he had to guess. "I guess what's important is that Caleb's going to be fine—right?"

"He will be fine. I can promise you that."

"Thanks to you and Josh." Dean hadn't participated in the bargaining. He had felt useless, a position he hated. It was also uncomfortable to leave everything up to Sawyer—a person he barely tolerated.

"Got stuck in your throat, didn't it?"

"Joshua."

Dean had to admit he enjoyed Joshua being reprimanded and wanted to encourage it. "I like having your mom around, and not because she is hot—"

"Dean!"

"Thank you!"

"Mother!"

"But because she keeps you in line." Dean grinned. This was too easy, and as a bonus, he had even flirted with Esme. Mac never needed to know.

Esme covered her mouth, but a chuckle escaped. It was a moment of frivolity that was needed. She sobered quickly, turning the conversation yet again after Dean's orchestrated respite. "Really, it was Joshua the coven was more interested in, and I placed him in an unenviable position."

"Mother, this is a conversation for another time."

He agreed with Joshua again, a strange occurrence, but he had to defer to Sawyer when it came to his mother-son knew best. It was a private matter. Dean again felt his fingers traveling towards the radio. He was in an awkward position of being a stranger in a family situation.

"No, this is something you should both hear." Dean felt her staring at him. He glanced over to show he was listening, however uncomfortable. "Parents will do anything for their children. It's a common thread among all parents, and when another person's child is threatened, I have to do anything within my power to help. Every mother's child should be safe. I know your father felt the same."

"Yeah, he did." Dean licked his lips. Usually people were disappointed in John's parenting skills, but Esme understood his father was a good father at a basic level.

"After everyone left Gideon's funeral, I stayed with his mother, Sandra. She's a good friend. We grew up together."

"Mother . . . "

Dean glanced out the window. Gideon had died saving him; saving the person he believed was going to be the next Guardian. Mostly, he felt guilty. Gideon's death had more repercussions than he thought his own would. Gideon had a complete family unit and others that cared for him. Dean's heart constricted painfully at reliving that moment that had gone so wrong. He was tired of things going wrong. He flinched, but no one noticed.

"Sandra and I know it's our fault, our legacy. We did this. Because of who you were born to, we raised you for this. We know what's out there and set our children on a path, thinking The Brotherhood could protect them. I taught you about crafting to protect you. But we were wrong. I wanted to help. I suggested the summit to Mackland as a way to have the coven on the side of The Brotherhood, against the demons." Esme took a deep breath. "I am so sorry."

Dean knew the apology wasn't for him. He tried to give the two of them privacy by humming a tune to himself.

"What's done is done," Joshua sighed. "I'd rather that you not be alone in the coven."

Esme sniffed, stretching her hand back to her son. At that act, the tension seemed to have dissipated. Esme cleared her throat, but her voice was still husky with emotion. "I am surprised the radio isn't on. Mackland has spoken of your fondness for music."

Joshua groaned, "Don't encourage him."

Dean snorted, returning to his new favorite sport of teasing Josh while with Esme. "How come you're so nice and he's not?"

The resulting frown on Esme's face in the limited light was all the answer Dean needed. It was true— mothers only believed the best about their children.

"Joshua, what impression have you given to Dean?"

"Not a good one." Dean shook his head in mock seriousness.

"Are you done?" Joshua retorted. His tone softened when speaking to his mother. "It's not my fault. They don't include me in their little club, and they instigate me."

"Joshua, you are beyond this childishness."

"He isn't," Dean interjected when Joshua was rendered speechless. "He makes a lot of snide comments."

"Did I raise you to make snide comments?"

"No."

Esme sighed, "I expect better. Can you do that for me?

"Yes."

Dean could not suppress the snort of laughter. He felt Joshua's eyes burring into his back.

"Dean, I like you, but stop instigating my son." Esme had her arms crossed.

"Yes, Ma'am," Dean said dutifully. He couldn't wait to tell Caleb and Sam how he had gotten Josh in trouble.