BREAKING FREE

AUTHOR'S NOTE\DISCLAIMER

Started this 'cuz I've hit a writer's block in my Supernatural fic. My first Gilmore Girls fic. Please be kind. Takes place after "Paris is Burning". Story deals with physical abuse and I've made up Dean's parents' names. Just so you know, I'm a major R\D fan, so there will be plenty of that. GG belongs to the WB, which will soon be the CW. Special thanks to Rfb211 for being willing to help me make sure that the story is accurate.

CHAPTER ONE: THE CYCLE CONTINUES

Sixteen-year old Dean Forester quietly unlocked the back door of Taylor Doosey's store. He blew out a troubled breath. He really wished that this wasn't necessary, but it was. He couldn't let anybody find out.

"Dean, wait," his younger sister, Clara, whispered. I don't wanna stay here again, she thought unhappily. For the past few weeks, her older brother had been hiding her here. She had tried to convince him to let her stay at home, but it was a no-go. Dean remained firm.

"Ssssshhhh. If we got caught, I get fired, and then I get my butt kicked," Dean reminded her. He knew that his younger sister was just trying to help him out, but he didn't need it. He had protected her this long, and he wasn't about to stop now.

"Dean, let's just go home," Clara said.

"And expose you to that trash? No. Absolutely not," Dean responded.

"But Dean---" Clara began to protest.

"Clara, will you be quiet?" Dean interrupted. "It's simple. Dad can't hurt you if he can't find you," he continued, as they walked in.

"But what about you?" Clara wondered. She couldn't just let her brother get hurt.

"I'll be okay," Dean assured with a faint smile. He set her on top of a pile of coats he had left there. "Now, just stay here, and I'll come pick you up before Taylor opens the store," he instructed.

"Okay," she agreed softly. Her older brother kissed the top of her forehead and smoothed back her hair.

"Love you, Kiddo," he whispered.

"Love you too, Dean," came the response. They hugged briefly. Then, the boy left the shop. As Dean approached his house, his stride faltered. He really didn't want to go in. His dad was probably drunk again. And he wasn't in the mood to deal with the man tonight. But if he didn't go in now, he'd just get it worse later. And besides, maybe---maybe he had already fallen asleep. Maybe tonight would be a good night. Not that there were a lot of those anymore. Dad had been drinking a lot these days. Dean blew out a breath and walked up to the door. Please. Please just be asleep, he thought to himself. He opened the door and stepped inside. Hearing nothing but silence, Dean allowed himself a sigh of relief. Home free. He was home free. Yes. For once, he'd be safe.

"DEAN!" the teen jumped in surprise and fear at the anger in Andrew Forester's voice. Dean swallowed noisely and pressed himself against a wall.

"Where's your sister? Where's Clara?" Andrew demanded, stepping closer.

"Away from here. And away from you," Dean answered. This proved to be the wrong thing to say. The older man advanced. Dean put out his hands to protect himself, and was thrown to the ground. The boy grunted. No. Not again, he thought, wincing when he felt a shoe in his ribs. He couldn't---he couldn't let this happen again. But he also couldn't let his father get to Clara. No way. There was no way he was gonna let his little sister get hurt.

"Come on, you little punk. Get up," his father growled, kicking him again. Dean let out a moan.

"Oh, get real, Dean. I didn't kick you that hard," came the sneer. Dean painfully rose to his knees.

"I'll---make you pay---some---day," he groaned. There was a derisive laugh. A shoe came into the air. Dean raised an arm in an attempt to block the attack. Then, he fell back to the floor in a heap with a moan.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I know Dean is merely a bag boy. You'll learn how he got a key to Doosey's Market later.