The funny thing about writing is . . . sometimes I feel like the characters has their own mind and will. Even if I had planned the story plot, there's always a distraction here and there, sometimes it's perfecting the plot, but most of the time they're ruining it. And I found Adam always trying to plan his own path.

Btw, thank you so much for the follows, reviews, and favorites for my story. It's always makes me grinning like an idiot every time I open my email and see the notifications. I've been busy with my thesis and part time job, but I promise to finish this one. Please, need some support here.

So, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, sorry for taking so long. -April-

Chapter 4

It started with a jealousy. That kind of bond would never end up well, or so they used to think. But this one is rare, this is a kind of relationship that begin with an ignorance then hate then understand then care then love then attachment. You know you're in that last stage with someone if you already can't tell whether you really love him or just really hate him. Because that someone is just there, like the air, the stars, the sky, the universe, you don't feel the need to define or question their existence for you. It is just it is, like you won't be you because they're not as they are.

At least, that's what Sam has in his jumbled mind while glancing at Adam, who slumping at the back seat of the car next to him. Until now, even with Dean still trying find his way to put the kid in his heart, Sam just accept the fact that Adam is part of his life. He hate the kid at first, for absorbing too much attention he used to get, especially from Dean. Well, it's always just about Dean's actually. For so many time, Dean tried to convince him that Adam is not a threat, that he will always be Dean's favorite brother, the number one and only, jokingly spoke but truly honest. Easier to said than done, heart has its own unique way to make a space for someone in it. So, the two younger Winchesters learned the hard way, bumping head at each other, bleed, hurt and bruised together through the process trying to fit at one another for some times. It took months for the two to settle like they are now. Sam came to enjoying his new role every day, of showing Adam all the ropes and routes of literally everything, despite the so many times of cold or rude ways he dealt with the kid at first. Eventually, it's fun to see the wide eyed amazement written on Adam's face while his mouth hanging open saying "you're crazy", "I don't believe you", "that's genius" or "You can do something like that? For real?" Yet it's an addictive feeling to make the kid annoyed, pouted, moped or even make him angry. He just can't believe himself sometimes, maybe that's why people love to tease kid 'till they cry, just because they can. And suddenly all those Dean's acts become make senses and reasonably accepted to him. This good side of being responsible of someone's life allured him, he wondered how Dean felt of being the top of the chain command is.

On the other side, Adam used to be an independent smart ass kid, he knows know and how to take care of himself. Like he used to say "I cook myself dinner, I put myself to bed", or the unsaid "I can earned my own pocket money", he practically can live by himself and survived if the law said so. Or, if he has no Winchester blood in his veins, which is the number one reason why he has to stuck with Dean and Sam in the first place. He was so hating it, just as Sam, to always being told what to do and more in the way they treat him like he can't do anything. At the beginning, he dislike the idea that he has to tell his two brothers about his everything including his feelings, or asking permission before doing literally anything, or the constant pats, ruffles and kisses on his head, or the 'good boy' compliment, or the fact that he has to share food and bed, or that repetitive 'you okay? 'question, or the nonstop errand he has to do at any time, or all the bullying he has to endure. But in the end he has to admit that he came to like all of the above. He loves his mom to death but he knows that he grew up with a lack of consistent figures by his side, for so many years he learned to do everything on his own, to be on his own, and to stand on his own. Then, he likes these new feelings, of being the center of attention, being taken care of, being taught how to do and what to do so he doesn't need to figure it out all by himself, the feeling of secure because someone always has his back and the fact that he can trust them whole fully. So Adam definitely use all the advantages that he can take from Sam's weaknesses and protectiveness also. The feeling of both's are mutual, they can't help not to make an attachment between them. And guess who's happy of seeing the two get along good other than the first brother himself.

Adam seems trying to look pretty much awake and aware for a recently gunshot victim, he even can't stop arguing about nothing and everything with Dean. He groans, hisses, winces, and mostly curse under his breath when the road get a bit rough and bumpy. He's really in pain, he didn't need to state it 'coz it shows all over his face and up bringing better than through his words and his big brothers know that.

"What? No way. You're such a sociopath, Dean." Adam grunted while his brothers only chuckled back at his reaction, teasing your younger sibling is way much fun when they get oppressed. "You can't make me wash the car, don't you see I'm in bad shape right now?"

"Yeah.. bla..bla..bla.. You can call me whatever you want, dude. As long as you don't make a mess with my baby." Dean retorted, highlighting every word in the last sentences for the hundred times.

"Buuut . . . The jacket is fine. Sam will get you a new one." Smirk Adam at Sam, who can't help not to recognize the growing blackness that hanging under his brother's eyes. They were just about halfway from their destination, despite his wrecked body Adam tried his best to put up smiles to ease the situation and his brothers concern. "Right, Sammy?"

"And why do you think I would want to do that?" said Sam, he was boring his eyes at the map in his lap, busying himself looking for the fastest route. "Drink up again, man. Chip, sandwich or biscuit..?"

"Nah, my tongue feel weird. This one's better." Adam took a ship of his drink with his left hand, which is a box of cold strawberry milkshake. Keep him awake, keep him hydrate, said Dean. So Sam feed him anything he could find at the motel's dining and vending machine before the ride, though not much that Adam could down at the moment, while Dean's job is to keep the youngest's mind busy by doing their best trait, arguing. Adam just following the game. "Dean, why don't you make Sam wash the car?"

"Dude. Why me again?" Sam glare again at his left, Adam grin his teeth in return before taking another ship and said. "Coz you're the most awesome big brother, Sammy."

"The sinner bear his own fate, man. And bleeding on my seat is a very bad sin." Dean drives as fast as he could, carefully but also doing his job nicely. "Don't give in, Sammy. He's a manipulator. Since when you trust the kid more than me, huh?" said Dean.

Sam snapped his head at Dean, sensing the start of The Sammy Battle between his two brothers. "How could you think that…?" But then he brushed the thought away. "Whatever, man. Take the left turn at the second cross road."

"Ha ha…good one." Feeling the implicit victory in Sam's ignorance support, Adam lightly chuckle and raised his drink at Dean for a second. But then a wave of blackness make him slumped back farther in his seat. He closed his eyes tried to overcome the pain, the dizziness and nausea that suddenly surrounding him, he slightly resting his head on the windshield on his left side. He muttered something, still have the gut to win the battle even when he knows his consciousness only lingered on a thin thread here. "Sam's the best. You can't never beat him, Dean."

Detect the slurring in Adam's voice, Dean cave in in purpose. "Alright, Sam it is." He glance at the back seat using the rear mirror. "You okay back there, champ?"

But when Adam did not stir, he motion to Sam to check on him.

Sam noted too right away and carefully move closer, almost sitting in front of Adam while make a gentle pat on his tight. "Hey, man. Hey, come on wake up. Hey, Adam. Come on, buddy."

Few pats later, the kid's blinking his eyes in tiredness. "I'm so sleepy, Sammy."

"I know, man. But you know that you have to stay awake, right?"

"Yeah. Okay. No out or no way out." He murmuring the motto from 'Being Hunter 101', Chapter: Staying alive, author: Dean Winchester himself. It means when you lost so much blood or feel like having head injuries, your first aid kit is staying awake as long as you can before the medical team handle you. It sounds more dramatic when you watch on TV scenes. But the act actually is an important medical procedure. The alertness is one of the indication of the brain function, if you fall asleep, your heart beats weaker than usual so the rush of blood to the head also getting slower, the brain lacking oxygen supply, then the patient's very prone to go into coma. At least by staying alert, you prevent yourself to slip into a veggie state.

Adam understood the theory very well, maybe even better than Sam or Dean. His mother use to share a cup or two of her medical knowledge. But the theory is just a theory when you are the subject of the said theory, he didn't know that staying awake could be this hard. But he keep trying nonetheless, with a thought that they will let him sleeping for a week after this thirty minute ride.

"Oookay. I'm up, everybody. I'm good." Adam overdoingly cleared his throat, open his eyes widely in order to shake away the sleepiness. Then straighten himself back on his seat with Sam's assist, his right side still uselessly hanging, and the throbbing pain on his right chest came and go as it will. He tried to crane his neck up to support his head, but eventually failed to do so, why a simple task become so impossible by now.

This is a cue for big brother Sam come to save the day. With a slight move, Sam's left hand snake around behind Adam's back and pull the kid closer to his chest. The gesture make Adam flinched and hissed in sudden pain, but when they finally settled, he found himself eventually feel better. Adam's head lean around Sam's neck. His wounded right chest nicely rest on top of Sam's warm body and somehow it feels less painful than before. Sam's left arm support his whole body from the back while Sam's hand firmly stays on Adam's left lap, after taking the milkshake box from his hand. The pose makes Adam more comfortable but surely by doing this, it means Sam would never ever let him fall asleep at the slightest. "Alright, people. What was the question again? I'm feeling so superb right now." He said.

Dean and Sam smiles eagerly at that, the air always smells better when the youngest is in a good mood.

"Okay. Then we proceed." Dean said, eyeing back to the two comfy couple from the mirror. "Hmmm… Adam, why don't you tell us about your girlfriend?"

"Huh..?." exclaim Adam and Sam at the same time. This kind of talk always make a neat pinch in every hunter's heart, talking about the people that they need to leave behind is unquestioningly bring up an instant big lump down their throat, chocking them from the inside. Adam thought Dean should know it better than him. "Why do I have to tell you about that? Not like I can meet them again anyway."

Dean knew he made a mistake for asking the question but the answer from Adam sounds like an interesting invitation for a bullying topic. "Wait . . . them . . ? You too a little prick, aren't you..?"

"Yeah, I had a jump or two. Or three maybe, if a kindergarten crush included here. They are all just ex-es now anyway." Replied Adam, lazily thinking while looking at the windows to nothing in particular. "I used to be pretty much confident in the relationship kind of thing. But why does it sounds silly when I said it out loud?"

"Maybe because Dean think, you are included in his prick player douchebag circle somehow." Sam involved himself. From all of good side of his big brother, this is one of the thing that annoyed him the most, Dean always do well with women, sometimes even too good maybe.

"I don't do playing, thou..." Adam retorted at that, Sam only pat his tight.

"Ha-ha . . . Let's see how well you can play when you know all of your good card later, kid." Dean feels the victory this time. "Besides, blood don't lie. Three for a sixteen is a good start, wait fifteen more or less I guess. And you still have all the time in the world to bloom, but don't get too tall like Sam there, buddy. That's not healthy."

Sam snorted back at him through the mirror. "Oh, really…?"

"I don't do playing too, Sammy. I would never let any women fall all alone, I was just there to help you know." Dean continued.

"Yeah, very well, Dean. Help them put their panties back on." Said Sam, and the both younger brothers laughed in unison.

"Hey . . . glad we play different league here, Sam. You don't swing my bat, I won't do yours either." Sure Dean and Sam has their own taste in women department, the thick line to cross over. "We're all fine, as long as you don't jump the river, ladies. 'Cause that's the only places I would never come to save your asses."

"What the hell is that mean . . .?" Adam confused, he understand what Dean tried to implied by saying that but somehow he just want to clarify that he's at the same page here. While Sam suddenly become uninterested to involves, he just boring back at the map in his hand.

"You know . . ." Dean started. "I don't doubt both of you are straight, but the scene back there smells pretty smoking. Got to admit that I'm a bit hurt and jealous driver here. But I swear to God you guys are so cute together."

Took few second before the realization hits Adam, and when it does, he snatched his strawberry milkshake from Sam's hand then shout to Dean "Ooh, shut up, man."

"Adam, don't . . ." Sam immediately knows what's going to happened.

But before he can prevent the unexpected, Adam has already throw the drink box to the driver seat. The kid's aiming might suck but that's enough to make Dean shock in surprised. Because the next thing he knew, he and Adam hardly tossed aside as the car swirl around to the right and off the road. They stopped a few meters from the asphalt high way, luckily no trees or houses around, the car simply landing on the grass field. Dean, who's now wet in sweet flavor, angrily turn his face toward Adam who can only stare back at him with stunned guilty expression. "Ooops . . . Sorry."