Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons is the name of one of my favorite novels in Russian literature. The plot of this work by Ivan Turgenev revolves around the relationships between two young men and their fathers. That's also one of the main themes of Fireflies at Midnight.

Of the four principal characters in the Crossed Lines series—Neal, Peter, Dean, and Sam—only Peter has a father who could have stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Luke Burke is like his son, as solid and dependable as it gets. The others have not been as fortunate.

Once Neal discovered the truth about his father James, he avoided father figures and instead latched onto a succession of mentors. That period in his life is first referenced in Caffrey Conversation and continues to be a factor in current stories. Neal made some bad choices in those early years, but he recognizes that taking a chance on Peter was the best decision he made. Neal not only chose him as a mentor but also as a father figure—much to Mozzie's amazement. (See Caffrey Conversation). In return, Peter did more than offer him a job. He became his surrogate dad. Peter's role crystallized for me in The Woman in Blue when I described Family Day at Columbia University. I wrestled with how Neal would introduce Peter. Father figure is an honorary title that doesn't imply any responsibility. But Peter is much more than that. He's taken an interest in Neal's welfare to a level Neal wouldn't have dreamed of in Caffrey Conversation.

Unlike Neal, Dean and Sam had a father while they were growing up, but their relationship was a difficult one. Since he was a hunter, John Winchester was often not around. He hid the nature of his job from his sons, particularly Sam, for a long time. Bobby Singer, a friend and fellow hunter, stepped in during John's absences. With John's death, Bobby continues to act as a surrogate dad. Like Peter, Bobby doesn't hesitate to call the boys to task when he sees them heading in the wrong direction. As Dean explains, he knows when to give them "a swift kick in the butt."

I've mused over why Mozzie never became a father figure to Neal. His devotion to Neal and his dependability are unparalleled, and Neal is equally attached to him. I suspect it may be because Neal understands that Mozzie would never call him to account like a father would, and subconsciously Neal knows he needs that discipline. Mozzie sees himself as Neal's mentor and guide—even his love advisor on occasion—but he is too opposed to authority figures to become one himself. Penna and I discussed Mozzie's place in Neal's life. She observed that Mozzie's attitude may be explained by his experiences as an orphan which left him disillusioned with parents. In Arkham Files, I've chosen a slightly different role for Mozzie. His role in Neal's life is more sharply defined in the upcoming Arkham Files story, The Crypt.

In the canon series of Supernatural, the Winchesters' dad was able to revisit his sons. After all, anything is possible when you're dealing with the paranormal. In the Caffrey Conversation AU, Neal's dad James is still waiting in the wings. Penna and I have charted a course for him, but it will be a while before he makes his appearance. In the meantime, on this non-traditional Father's Day, I'd like to honor Peter, Bobby, and all those other surrogate fathers who volunteer to help kids in need.

Some of our other posts on the father-son dynamic:
Bloodlines
Neal and Peter and Regrets
Peter Burke: AU versus Canon
James Bennett: Can Neal’s father be redeemed? Should he?

Fireflies at Midnight on Archive of Our Own
Fireflies at Midnight on FanFiction