"Dammit Sammy—don't you ever do that again" Dean growls as he's putting the last stitches into Sam's scalp, his voice shaking with anger while his hands stay steady. Dean has a right to be angry, he knows what's coming up in a few days while Sammy remains in the dark—being older is not all it's cracked up to be.
"Don't Dean—I don't care what you say. If I had to do it again I would—you're a hypocrite" seethes Sam from his position on the bed wincing when Dean hits a tender spot. It didn't escape Sam's attention that Dean was too lost in thought to realize what was happening tonight.
"Fine—I'm a hypocrite but nobody's gonna take a hit for me—especially my little brother, not while I've got breath in my body" Dean not so calmly states as he puts a bandage over the stitches so Sam can take a shower. Don't misunderstand, part of Dean is proud that Sam had his back but the other part—the protective part—is at odds with it.
Sam knowing that was Dean's final word on the subject, mumbles, "You're a big—JERK" moving to go into the bathroom bitchface firmly in place and that is one of the reasons that Dean loves the kid, chuckling, "Leave me some hot water—BITCH" he moves to put up their first aid kit earning him another glare from Sam.
It's another story when dad comes into the room two hours—smelling of booze and one black eye later. "Lights out—boys, gotta get a move on—first thing and before you ask—Sam—yes, it's another hunt and you are going—it's not negotiable" John exhaustedly says as he pinches the bridge of his nose and waits for the fall-out that miraculously doesn't come. When he opens his eyes to see what's gotten into the boy, he sees Sam nod his head at him and then he notices the bandage on his youngest' head, "Sam—what happened—are ya okay?" John asks worriedly as he moves his hand over the teenager's head inspecting for injuries his self.
"Got on the bad side of a walking wall, dad—looks badder than it feels—promise" Sam says while looking at his dad through his bangs. "Dean—report!" orders John. Sheepishly Dean answers, "Friendly game of pool—got a little out of hand—some people don't know how to lose with grace. The 'wall' Sam mentioned—tried to sneak up on me and Sammy, here—got in the way." "Dad…" whines Sam. "Sounds to me like Sam-o had your six, Dean-o—a little gratitude would be nice, don't you think?" John says surprising both boys as he turns and heads towards his room intent on getting some shut eye, "Nice job with the stitches, Ace and Sammy, I hope that wall has a crack in it now—night boys" John says on a yawn smirking and both boys turn in.
"Boy, dad was right when he said ass crack of dawn" Dean groans sleepily and tries to pull the cover back over his head as Sam jerks the cover off of him, "Come on, Dean—you want dad to wake you up?" "No course not—I'm up—I'm up. How's the noggin, Sammy?" responds Dean as he stretches like a big ole fat house cat. "M fine, Dean" answers Sam. Dean goes into the bathroom to get ready to leave when he spots the clothes and toiletries bag that Sam has set out for him having packed everything else up, "Wow Sam, you're like my personal valet or something" digs Dean. "Shut up, Jerk" Sam bitchfaces and Dean smirks, "Make me, bitch" earning an eye roll from Sam.
John's already in his truck when the boys come out twenty minutes later, ready to hit the road. They play a game of follow the leader for the next two hundred miles—stopping here and there for food and necessities. Sam notices that they have entered the Saint Francis National Forest which borders the Ozark mountain range in Oklahoma—the Lake Fort Smith State Park to be exact which means camping—oh joy, Dean's gonna be thrilled. Ten minutes later when they park up and Sam spots Caleb Johnson's jeep, he's already regretting being there. It's not that he doesn't like Caleb, he does, it's just that when Dean and the older guy get together they tend to forget that Sam exists and he's having enough problems with his dad and trying to find where he fits in with all of this that he doesn't need one more thing piled on his plate (Sam's seventeen—he shouldn't have anything piled on his plate) then he notices Bobby's Chevelle and he can't keep the grin off his face. It's been awhile since they've seen Bobby Singer and Sam loves the old guy—he calls him Uncle Bobby for Christ' sake, this hunt is starting to look up for Sam.
Dean has taken notice of the other vehicles too and he turns to Sam (he knows what's going on but he can't tell Sam and boy, he wishes he could—he went through the same thing four years ago when Sam was left with Pastor Jim) he schools his features hoping Sam doesn't read him like a book. To tell the truth, that's why he got so angry when Sam took on that guy at the bar and got himself hurt in the process—he doesn't need to go into this with an injury; Dean was healthy and he still had problems. See, this is a test—a Hunter's test—a rite of passage (if you will) and Dean's not sure that Sam is ready for it, but they wouldn't listen to Dean when he said as much. So if Dean is feeling a little uneasy—cut him some slack—he's not being over protective and he's not mother henning. Sammy's his little brother—no one knows how he feels, not even dad…
Tbc
A/N: Just a plot bunny hopping around in my head. Review please makes me update faster.