Nightmares Are Real

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Note: Wow, so this is my first fic back in a long time…I've been crazy swamped and hopefully I haven't forgotten how to write fanfic…*shudders* scary thought. This one's been a work in progress for a long time, and I hope you all enjoy it. Lots more of fics to come…hopefully the semester doesn't get in the way of my writing plans…and remember folks, reviews are (almost) as good as Winchester love.

OH! Please don't sue. I don't own Supernatural. EK's got the edge on that market, damn him.

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"DEAN!" Sam banged his fist on the bathroom door. "Dean! You've been in there for an hour-You're going to be late for school!"

More importantly, his brother was going to make him late for school. This would be the eighth sixth grade he'd gone to this year, and things were just starting to get good. The last thing he wanted was a detention for being late because his brother was standing around the bathroom trying to make himself look pretty.

"Oh well." Dean laughed through the door, after all what was one more detention that he wouldn't be attending anyways? Either they'd be gone before the school could enforce it, or they'd give him a few days of suspension. "No big loss, Sammy-kins."

Sam groaned and banged on the door. "Dean! Dad told you that if you missed any more school you'd be grounded from hunting for a month."

Okay, Dean thought, Sammy was right on that front. He tugged the bathroom door open, and looked down on his pint sized brother.

"And who," Dean asked pointedly, "Would be opening their big mouth and telling dad?"

"If I'm so much as a second late for class…" Sam tried narrowing his eyes threateningly, but it hurt too much. He'd got his face cut on the last hunt and his eye was still a little swollen. "I'll tell dad that you're skipping school and about Kate O'Connell in the back seat of the Impala yesterday when you were supposed to be in your math class."

Dean looked at his brother wide mouthed, what was with his brother? He was like…the ultimate stalker. "You know what, Sammy?" Dean smirked at his brother, "That would almost be threatening if you didn't look like you lost a fight with a girl."

Sam picked up his backpack and tossed his brother the car keys. "You can skip class all you want, but I'm not a truant."

Dean sighed, catching the keys easily. Sometimes he wondered how he and Sam were even related.

"Fine, fine." Dean glanced at his brother, on second glance Sam's eye still wasn't looking so hot. "How's your eye doing, kid?"

Sam grumbled about being late. "Fine." He muttered. "I told everyone that I tripped in the garage."

Dean stifled a laugh, that really was Sam's favorite excuse. Maybe he liked it because it made him sound like a boy.

"Your backpack's by the stairs."

"Taking the day off." Dean grinned, after all, there was an upside to their life, he sure as hell wasn't going to miss out on a chance to skip school.

"Whatever." Sam shrugged, "Better tell your girlfriend that, she called while you were in the bathroom and said she'd meet you in the parking lot after third period."

In one swift move, Dean ducked down and grabbed his bag. "Little bitch." He told Sam good naturedly, "Could have told me that earlier."

And missed the fun that Dean would be in for as he sat in the parking lot only to be stood up by Kate 'I'm the Head Cheerleader' O'Connell who was going to be in New York with her parents all week? Nope, that was too good to pass up.

Besides, he owed Dean one.

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"Sam Winchester?" Mrs. Aderholt looked over the sea of heads until her eyes met his, and hung up the phone. "Go down to the counselors, please."

The room became a chorus of 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and 'Sam's in trouble'.

Sam really hoped that this didn't mean that Dean did something really stupid, like get himself expelled sort of stupid. Maybe he could give his brother some sort of alibi…maybe Dean was just being suspended for skipping so much school.

He really hoped that was it.

"Why?" Sam asked her, shoving his books into the bag, and tossing it over his shoulder. "Am I in trouble?"

"I'm sure you're not." Mrs. Alderholt held the door open. "Don't worry Sam, everything's fine."

He couldn't help a little bubble of worry for his dad and brother when he heard her say that. The last time that someone had told him everything was fine, his brother ended up in the hospital for nearly a week with hunting injuries.

Besides, grownups always never looked at you when they lied, and she hadn't looked him in the eyes since he left his desk.

Something was definitely not okay.

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"Dean." Sam could almost breathe a sigh of relief when he saw his brother sprawled out in one of the chairs outside the guidance office.

It was funny, but he always felt safe with Dean. No matter what was wrong, as long as Dean was there, it was like nothing bad could happen-it was like he was untouchable. Dean was everything. His brother could be a dick, a lot, to a lot of people…he knew it was true. He knew about the bad things his brother did; stealing, and conning people, and he was pretty sure that the way his brother messed around with girls was wrong but…that wasn't Dean's fault. He blamed his dad for the bad stuff, if they had a normal life…if John hadn't taught Dean all that stuff his brother wouldn't ever do it.

Sam didn't begrudge his brother any of those things. Dean was the one who took care of him, and he had no right to judge his brother…after everything Dean did for him, he'd never do that. All he had to do was ask, and Dean would do anything for him.

"Sam?" Dean looked surprised to see him there.

Dean was surprised, he wasn't sure that Sam had ever made it to the counselor's office at any time over his school career. Ahh…first time for everything. They'd celebrate tonight.

"Dude, what'd you do?" He asked with the trademark smirk. "Look up a girl's skirt? Kick some ass?"

Sam frowned and shook his head. He loved his brother but Dean suffered from a severe lack of maturity.

Dean's eyes widened teasingly ignoring the disapproving look of the secretary at the desk, watching over them.

"Look up the teacher's skirt?" Dean whistled, "Way to go, Sammy!"

"Idiot." Sam muttered taking a seat to his brother. "What'd you do this time?"

Good question, Dean thought. He didn't have a damn idea of what he'd done wrong. Skip class? He'd actually been in class when his presence was requested…and totally great timing too, he was supposed to be taking a pop quiz on French verbs.

"Sam Winchester?" an attractive young woman with curly red hair popped out of the farthest office door.

Sam got up and looked at Dean. He'd never been called to the counselor before, he wondered how big of a baby he'd look like if he begged Dean to come along.

He didn't even need to ask. Dean jumped up.

"C'mon, kid, lets see what brand of trouble you're in." Dean grinned, looking up at the pretty redhead. God, he couldn't believe that his own brother was afraid of a counselor, these people couldn't do anything.

"Please take your seat, Dean." The red head said, and started looking less pretty to him by the second. "Mrs. Carter will be out in a moment to see you."

Dean's eyes narrowed. "But that's my brother."

Sam cursed himself silently, now he was going to get Dean in trouble. "Its okay Dean…I'll see you after."

Dean sat back down begrudgingly. "Fine."

He watched Sam walk down the short hall and the door close. Was it too much to hope she was a demon that he could stab just to make himself feel better?

Dean sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, and shooting the sour looking secretary a dirty look. He was only there a moment before a portly older woman stepped out of another door and looked down her nose at him.

"Dean Winchester?"

He nodded his head. Naturally, Sam would get the hot chick.

She waved her hand, "In my office please, dear."

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