Now Chew

Dean directed his gaze back out the windshield, his eyes on the road again, knowing something was up with his little brother and vowing that he would find out what it was even if it was the last thing he did. Sam's well-being always took center stage with Dean. Well hell, Sam was his—had been ever since his dad had put the squirming 6 month old in his arms and told him to run. Most people wouldn't have taken that quite so literally but Dean's not most people—Sam's Dean's responsibility, end of story.

Its midnight when John Winchester pulls into the motel parking lot with the sleek black impala mirroring his moves. John is out of the truck and holding up a hand, in a gesture of "stay", to his sons. Two minutes later, he's coming back towards the vehicles with room keys in his hands motioning to his boys to get out and retrieve their things from the trunk. The boys do just that, the unspoken order heard loud and clear. Walking up to his sons, John is the first one to speak.

"Boys, you're in room 10"

Dangling the key from his finger, waiting for Dean to take it; John takes note of Sam. His youngest has grown into quite a striking individual and as Sam feels eyes on him, he pulls himself to full height—all 6 foot 4 of him—creating an even more impressive figure, all that quiet strength and more brains than he and Dean put together. If Sam only knew what an imposing figure he made, John's sure he wouldn't want to meet up with him in a dark alley, the boy could go far in this life but then John remembers that Sam doesn't want this life and his anger and aggravation come flooding back.

"Dean, you take yours and Sam's things in. Sam, you come with me"

Dean takes the key and shoots a quick glance at Sam, who has looked up and locked eyes with their dad a questioning tilt to his head. Dean wonders what the hell is going on; dad and Sam haven't even been in each other's company today, so what's got his dad all worked up?

"Yes Sir. What are you and Sam gonna be doing, dad?"

"Oh, I'm not gonna be doing anything but Sam here is gonna run me some laps—right Sammy?"

Without even looking at his dad, Sam squares his shoulders and rolls his eyes. Dean thinks "This is it. They're gonna go at it now, should've already happened, what with the news of a new hunt and all." But Sam flexes his shoulders and answers his dad.

"Yes Sir. How many do you want?"

"10 around the perimeter should do it and Sam don't slack off because I'm gonna be watching."

"Yes Sir"

The last is said through gritted teeth and Dean can't believe what he's seeing or hearing. Seriously, what the hell is going on with his little brother this is not Sam. Sam doesn't blindly follow dad, no, Sam fights him tooth and nail on everything and when Dean says everything he means everything. What the hell?

Sam takes off at a jog and dad turns to Dean with a smug look on his face and winks. Dean just shakes his head and carries the bags into the motel room. Bound and determined to find out what's going on with Sam when the boy comes in from his laps.

Bobby pulls into the same parking lot about 20 minutes later and is greeted with a scene out of his worst nightmares. "What the hell is Sam running from? Surely Winchester didn't go looking for this thing without him" Bobby thinks as he clamors from his truck pulling his weapon and crouching down waiting for the thing that is chasing Sam to come into view. He is so focused that he startles when he hears the chuckling coming from up against the side of the motel.

"Ah Singer, should see your face!"

"You damn idjit! Ya think that's funny, John? Give an old man a heart attack. What the hell is that boy doin out here running at this late or early, however the hell way ya wanna look at it?"

John comes from the shadows still smirking at the old coot and shaking his head. "Dang fool" Bobby thinks and what he wouldn't give to wipe that smirk off Winchester's face. Bobby bellows,

"Smug sonofabitch!"

"Easy—easy old timer, Sammy's just about done. A little extra training never hurts. Room 12, old man, I'll be in in just a second soon as Sam gets back. You know yet, what we're up against?

"I got a pretty good idea. Where's Dean?"

"Room 10, should be asleep but he's probably still up waiting on Sam."

Bobby dismisses John and heads for room 10 and knocks, hoping Dean can shed some light on what he just saw. Bobby tries to stay out of other people's lives but he can't when it comes to the Winchesters. John is just too harsh with his boys and Bobby knows what that's like from personal experience. Bobby's own father was a hard man but that's neither here nor there.

"Dean, you up boy?"

"Bobby?"

"Yeah, it's me. Mind telling me what's going on out here, why yer brother is running laps at this hour?"

The door opens and Dean steps out into the crisp air. The look on his face is guarded. It always is when it comes to Dean.

"I wish I knew, Bobby, but I don't. Sam's acting off and dad couldn't be happier. It's kinda scary"

Bobby takes off his hat and scratches at his scalp wondering at Dean's words. Just then, Sam comes back with a blur of motion jumping into the bed of Bobby's truck and vaulting down to the other side, chuckling as he catches his breath.

"Who the hell parked a truck in my way?"

"Shut the hell up, boy"

More chuckling as Sam bends and puts his hands on his knees shaking his head in mirth.

"Show off"

Dean says as he rolls his eyes at his little brother's antics and comes up to give the boy bottled water and clap him on the back. Dean pushes Sam toward their room without giving his dad or Bobby a second glance. Dean's got questions he wants answers to and Sam's gonna give them if he knows what's good for him. Once they are in the room with the door locked, Dean rounds on Sam.

"Sam, what's going on?"

"What do you mean, Dean?"

Dean sits down on his bed and gives Sam a concerned look gesturing with his hand towards the door.

"That. I mean that! What's up with that? You don't usually give in so easily. What's going on with you little brother?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Dean. It was just some laps. I'm gonna take a shower"

Without waiting, Sam goes into the bathroom and shuts the door effectively stopping the conversation and Dean sighs, no closer to finding out what's wrong.

"You do that little brother"

Tbc

A/N: Wednesday's episode left me reeling. I want caring Dean back and big brother worshipping Sam, too.

I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Got them all together now so the fun can begin, grins evilly. Review please