What if John didn't come back when he did?

"Have you heard from Dad?" Sam asked for the millionth time.

"Not since two days ago," Dean responded. He was getting worried. This job was only supposed to take a week and it had already been three. Plus, he usually called every day when he was gone this long.

There was a knock at the door. Dean got up to answer it.

"Is your Dad here?" Dean recognized the motel manager.

"Not right now," Dean answered.

"Have him come and see me when he gets back. Your room isn't paid up and if he doesn't pay me by tomorrow morning, you're going to have to leave," the man said.

"OK, I'll tell him. He'll come by first thing in the morning," Dean lied.

"He'd better," the man said and left. He really should have kicked them out now, but he felt bad doing that to two kids. It wasn't their fault. He knew the dad probably wouldn't pay, but at least he could take them away in the daylight. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember seeing the dad since they checked in. If there was still no sign of him tomorrow, he would call children's services. He would hate to think that they had been on their own for two weeks. The younger one looked barely 13.

"We'll have to leave in the morning, Sammy," Dean said.

"Where?" Sam asked. Their father had only left them fifty dollars and some groceries. Even though Dean hadn't said anything, he knew they were low. He was pretty sure Dean hadn't been eating lunch in order to make sure he had food.

"You let me worry about that," Dean said and smiled. The smile was just for Sam. He had no idea where they were going to go.

They got up early and packed their stuff and left. Dean realized it was cold in November in Indiana. "Sammy, give me your stuff. You're going to go to school and it would look weird if you're carrying two bags."

"What about you?" Sam asked.

"I'll figure something out."

Sam was torn. He wanted to go to school, but if Dean needed help with something, he wanted to help him.

"It's OK, Sammy. You'll be warmer at school and I'll have an easier time trying to figure something out if I'm not worried about your chattering teeth."

"Are you sure?"

"Go," Dean ordered. He watched as Sam walked off in the direction of school and then sat down on a bench to figure out what to do.

"Winchester," he heard from behind him.

"Jerry, hey." Jerry was the one male friend he had made at that school. He guarded the supply closet door so he could make out with Amanda and then that other chick. He couldn't even remember her name.

"Aren't you going to school today?" Jerry asked as he plopped down beside him.

"No, I'm dropping out," Dean answered. He might as well. He was flunking out and you didn't need a diploma to hunt. He had yet to meet a werewolf that made him take a test before he could gank it.

"How do your parents feel about that?"

"It's just my dad. He doesn't know yet, but I highly doubt he'll care." John Winchester was not big on their schooling. Sam had told their dad that Dean was flunking most of his classes. Dean had been mad at him, but he realized that Sammy meant well. To him, getting good grades was the most important thing ever. His dad had said it didn't matter though. They were only going to school to keep child services off his tail. The only reason Dean hadn't dropped out yet was so that he could keep an eye on Sam.

"What are you going to do if you're not in school?" Jerry asked.

"Good question. Speaking of which, you're going to be late."

"I hardly ever go to school. Your first day was just one I happened to show up. It was fun to watch you operate, and you said you weren't sticking around long, so I'd figure I'd get all my school going in at once this year. "

"Maybe they should put me on stay in school posters," Dean joked.

Jerry laughed. "So, do you want to make some money?"

"That would be great. Do you know about a job or something?" Dean asked. If he couldn't make some money quick, Sam would be eating his last meal at lunch today.

"Not exactly a job."

"What, then?" Dean asked suspiciously. He wasn't going to sell drugs or join a gang.

"I know a place where we can hustle pool."

Dean relaxed. That was right up his alley. "I don't have a stake," he realized. He was completely out of money.

"I'll cover you, if you're any good. I can't play, but I know where all the best marks are."

"I'm not good. I'm great," Dean said. He didn't believe in modesty.

"We'll see about that," Jerry said. "Let's go."

Dean and Jerry walked into the bar. "Aren't they going to kick us out?" Dean had fake ID, but realistically, he knew he couldn't really pass for 21.

"Nobody in this town cards," Jerry assured him.

They headed over to the pool table. A game was in process. Jerry put $50 on the table. "My friend has next game," he said.

When Dean's turn was up, he was told to rack the balls. That meant the other guy got the first turn. That was always bad as there was a chance they could clear the table on their first turn. Dean had done that himself a couple of times. He racked up the balls and waited to see what happened.

The other guy broke and sent three striped balls into the pocket. Dean was worried. This guy was good. The next turn, he sent in two more balls. Then he sent in another one of his balls, but luckily he also sunk the cue ball, so it was Dean's turn.

Dean kept going until he had sunk all his solids. "8 ball in the corner pocket," he said pointing. He made the shot easily and breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have admitted it, but he had been nervous playing with someone else's money.

Dean kept playing the rest of the day, winning every game. At 2:00 he went up to Jerry. "OK, give me my cut, Sammy's going to get out of school soon." Sam didn't have a cell phone. His dad had said he could have one when he was responsible. Dean never argued with John, but he thought that was ridiculous. Nobody was more responsible than Sam.

"You don't get a cut," Jerry said.

"Of course I do. I've been playing pool for you, and winning, all day." Dean was about to lose it. He needed that money.

"I know, but these are all my friends. This was just to test your skills. You're good enough to play for real now."

Dean decided to let the matter drop. He couldn't afford to get arrested if he got in a fight and he had to go after Sam. "Never mind. I'm going to get my brother, he'll be out of school soon."

"Actually, I set the clock back. He's already out of school."

"What?" Dean asked. "Why would you do that?"

"Turn around," Jerry said.

Dean turned around and saw Sam flanked by two other seniors he knew from the school. "Come on, Sam, we're leaving," he said. What had he gotten them into?