Shattered

Synopsis: Dean overhears a conversation between his father and Bobby that wasn't meant for him. Will John and Sam be able to figure out what's wrong with Dean in time? Will his stubbornness hurt him? Dean!Whump, John&Sam Angst!

Setting: Pre-series. Just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dean is 14 and Sam is 10.

Disclaimer: Supernatural and all associated content belong to Eric Kripke and the CW. If I owned the boys well….I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

A/N: So this is my first dive back into the fandom in a while but since I just finished Never Forget I need to get my feet wet again! I'm so sick of reading all of these MarySue sis fics etc UGH what happened to the good old fashioned whump?

"It was a mistake," you said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you."

― David Levithan


Dean hurried out of the school intent on meeting Sam on time. He'd been late the last three days and dad was getting pissed.

It wasn't his fault his teacher hated him & insisted on finding problems with his homework, his clothes, or his attitude. What did they know anyways? He wasn't cutout for school & he knew it. As soon as he was old enough he was going to drop out and get his GED so he could be a full-time hunter like his dad.

Things had been slow lately. The hunts hadn't been coming in like they usually did and that meant that to geek boys pleasure they'd been able to stay in this one school for an entire semester.

Sammy was destined for great things and everyone knew it. Today was the last day of school before summer vacation so Dean was more than ready to get out of this town.

John had picked up a job at a local auto-body shop in January and had been taking side hunts on the weekends when the shop was closed. It hadn't taken long before John became an assistant manager.

The normalcy was nice but Dean knew not to get too attached. Settling was one thing that hunters didn't do & John made his unhappiness known.

When he wasn't working he was out hustling, or researching hunts for Bobby or Jim.

As Dean approached Sammy's school he noticed that the yard which was usually full of running children, faculty, and parents was empty.

He looked at his watch and verified that the time was 3:15, Sammy should definitely have been out by now.

He walked up to the school and was thankful to see the secretary Ms. Ramirez at the desk.

"Hi Dean." She smiled when she saw him; she knew he picked his brother up from school every day. It wasn't often you saw siblings as close as those boys.

"Where is everybody?" Dean asked, worried about his little brother.

Ms. Ramirez frowned at Dean and gently remind him "The younger kids had a half-day today Dean. Didn't Sammy tell you? He called your dad to come and get him earlier. They got out at noon."

"Oh. Right." Dean said nervously "I forgot. Thanks Ms. Ramirez have a good summer!"

Dean took off at a run for the small house they were renting. Dad had already been so miserable lately with the lack of leads that this would surely be the icing on the cake. He was dead.

The jeans he was wearing with beat-up converse, and the black t-shirt quickly reminded him that this was the wrong attire for living in the desert. It was also definitely the wrong clothing to be running in.

The apartment was only 2 miles from the school but Dean had to pause half way and catch his breath when he got a stitch in his side.

He vaguely remembered John telling him to forge himself a note so he could get Sammy from school since his dad had been covering a lot of shifts lately. But between his finals and chores it had been forgotten.

Once he had somewhat caught his breath he took off running again. As he turned on to their street he noticed that the Impala was still there which meant that John hadn't gone back to work. "Shit" he was really done for now.

As soon as he got to the house he quickly ran into the living room where he knew he'd find his father in the recliner.

Once he saw that the living room was empty he frowned and called out "Sammy? Dad?"

After hearing no response he tossed his backpack down and ran upstairs "Sam?" Dad?" Still nothing.

Then he heard it, faintly a first but louder as he got back downstairs. Sam was yelling and John was….laughing?

He followed the noise to the small yard behind the house where Sam was running with a baseball out of the bushes followed by John.

"Dad I'm so sorry I forgot about today and I know you had to leave work and I'm so sorry and…."

Dean was cut off by John.

"It's alright Dean, it happens. Are you okay?" John asked when he noticed how flushed Dean looked. The poor kid's clothes were stuck to him with sweat and he was still struggling to catch his breath.

"I'm fine I just wanted to get home quick to make sure everything was okay and…." Dean felt funny for a moment. As he was focusing on his dad and Sam John suddenly split into two and his own voice became an echo and all he saw as he fell was blackness.

"Dean!" Sam cried as Dean collapsed. "Dad what happened?"

John frowned at Sam as he gently supported Dean, having caught him as he saw the color drain from his face.

"Hold on one sec Sam and I'll tell you." John said.

He laid Dean gently on the grass and felt his pulse. It was fast and erratic, Dean's skin was dry despite the amount of sweat covering his body and John bet that if he took Dean's temperature it'd be elevated.

"Idiot kid." John murmured affectionately as he picked Dean up and carried him into the house with Sam trailing beside him.

"He'll be okay Sammy the heat got the best of him. Could you go get some cold wash clothes and cold water in a bowl and meet me in the living room?"

Sam nodded and ran ahead of John to get the requested items.

John carried Dean into the living room and laid him down on the couch and set about removing his clothes, leaving his underwear on for Dean's sake.

Sammy was quick to bring the basin and cloths that John had asked him to. "Hey kiddo could you go get a glass of water from the kitchen too?"

Sam nodded and set off to get the water.

John turned the thermostat down even more and put a light blanket from the closet over Dean's waist.

John took one of the wash clothes and wrung it out before gently wiping it across Dean's face, cleaning the sweat off and cooling him down. The reaction was instant.

Dean's face morphed and he tried sitting up immediately. "Dad?" He questioned as he put a hand to his head and laid back "Ow."

"Ow is right Dean." John said as he continued to wipe the cold cloth along Dean's torso.

"What were you thinking? Running while you're dressed like that. Didn't I teach you better?"

"Yes sir." Dean mumbled as he tried to open his eyes again.

"Not now dad." Sam mumbled as he moved in to help Dean sit up.

John took the water from Sam and coached Dean "Nice and slow if you drink too fast you'll get sick."

Dean nodded and took slow cautious sips as he was directed.

"We can't afford hospital bills right now Dean." John told him "I need you to be more careful."

Dean just nodded and looked down, ashamed.

"Won't happen again sir."

John nodded, satisfied. "See that it doesn't."

"I'm going to wrestle up some burgers and fries do you feel up to eating?" John asked him as he stood

Dean felt nauseous as it was and shook his head no.

"Then get some sleep." John told him "You need it."

As John walked past Sam, Sam glared at him and stuck his tongue out.

"Are you really okay Dean?" Sammy whispered once John was out of earshot.

Dean smiled at his little brother "Yeah Sammy I'm okay. I'm sorry I forgot to get you today."

"It's okay Dean." Sammy assured him "Dad and I got burger king and we played ball and he's actually cooking his famous burgers so I'll try to save you one."

"Thanks Sammy." Dean said as he yawned "But I've got a headache from hell right now and can't even think about food."

Sammy took over the role of nurse and ordered Dean to close his eyes and he continued to bathe Dean in the now warmer water.

Dean fell asleep as the cool cloth went across his neck once more.

Once he was sure that Dean was sleeping Sam went to his room to read.


Dean woke up and looked at the clock it was 9:17PM and he was still exhausted but he wanted to take a shower and sleep in his own bed.

As he stood from the couch he noticed that the water was still in the glass beside him, so he took a few cautious sips and once he was content that the water was going to stay down he began to make his way to his bedroom.

Once upstairs he entered his and Sam's room and saw that Sammy was playing the Nintendo that Bobby had given them for Christmas last year.

"You okay Dean?" Sam asked when he noticed Dean in the doorway.

"Yeah kiddo much better. Just gonna take a leak and a shower and head to bed."

Sam yawned "Okay Dean I'm going to bed now just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Sam stood and shut the machine off and crawled under the covers while Dean gathered his night clothes and towel.

As he went back downstairs Dean noticed murmuring coming from John's room. His dad must be on the phone.

Dean began to walk towards his dad's room, going to again apologize for his mistake today but he was stopped when he noticed his dad's tone of voice and the subject.

"I know Bobby." John said "But it's just not working out. He's been lazy, he's not listening to me anymore, and he's just not the kid that he was."

Dean stopped and moved closer to the doorway to listen.

"I have given it time Bobby but…he's just gotta go I don't know how much longer I can play this game with him. He's screwed up so many times that I just can't trust him."

Where am I going to go? Dean wondered. Is dad really going to send me away?

"Yeah I'll think about it but…maybe some time with you will straighten him out because my hands are tied at this point. It's messing everything up and we just don't need that right now Sammy's been doing so good in school and…."

Dean wiped the tears from his eyes as he quickly turned and walked away from the bedroom, not wanting to hear anymore.

Once he made it to the staircase he sprinted up two at a time and crawled into his own bed. Intent on ignoring the conversation he'd just heard.

"You okay Dean?" Sam whispered having awoken when Dean slammed their door.

"I'm okay Sammy." Dean whispered back as he tried to hide the tears in his voice. "I'm just tired."

"Night Dean." Sam said as he rolled back over.

"Night Sammy."

Dean rolled over to face the wall and try to fall asleep. He'd prove to his dad that he could listen, that he wasn't a waste of time.


If Dean had been able to hear the other side of John's conversation he may have been spared the agony that he would put himself through.

"You gotta give the kid a chance John he's only been there for three months." Bobby said

"I know Bobby." John said "But it's just not working out. He's been lazy, he's not listening to me anymore, and he's just not the kid that he was."

"But three months is hardly any time John, we promised Rufus that we'd try to make it work. The kid obviously ain't cut out to be a hunter but your garage is the last chance he has at learning some type of trade."

"I have given it time Bobby but…he's just gotta go I don't know how much longer I can play this game with him. He's screwed up so many times that I just can't trust him."

"Well maybe if you don't have any luck you can send him my way and I can put him to work around the junkyard. I know Dean gave you a good scare tonight and you've been trying to spend more time with the boys."

"Yeah I'll think about it but…maybe some time with you will straighten him out because my hands are tied at this point. It's messing everything up and we just don't need that right now Sammy's been doing so good in school and…Dean has been really weird lately. I think it's hormones but Bobby you shoulda seen him tonight he thought I was going to beat him or something he really had himself all worked up."

"Alright John you go check on those boys and give me a call next week if things don't work out."

"Sound's good Bobby." John said as he hung up the phone.

He left his room intent on checking on Dean only to frown when he noticed that the couch was empty.

"Dean?" He called out quietly, thinking that the boy had gone to fix himself a burger.

Upon hearing the silence he went upstairs to check the bedroom.

He opened the door a crack and noticed that Sam was asleep and that Dean appeared to be asleep in his own bed as well.

Feeling content that all was settled for the night he checked the windows and salt lines before going to bed himself.


Reviews = Love!

Well I didn't expect such a long first chapter but I hope I have you all hooked!