Another chapter and another apology. I'm sorry it's taken so long, but I'm going to come clean with you guys. Yes the story will be updated and finished, I really do love writing it, but I need you all to understand I suffer with ADHD and it's acting up like a bitch so concentrating on one thing at a time is proving impossible with my hectic life. I promise this will be finished, please bare with me and be patient.
Thank you for all the lovely reviews that are still coming in, I really am still in awe.
Also; warning! This chapter has mentions of rape. Nothing to crazy but there is small section talking about it, so please be careful if you need to be.
Love to you all.
There was no alarm to wake Seth up on the Sunday morning, and as much as he would have loved to just roll over and hide his head back into the fluffy pillows and go straight back to sleep for a few hours, he just wasn't able to. He had woken up at about three in the morning after having some not so pleasant dreams; mainly to do with what had happened the previous day. He had turned to look at Dean to assure himself that he was alive and that yesterday had not ended in the terrifying ways that the nightmare had proposed it had. But Dean wasn't there. He shot up into a sitting position and scanned the whole room. It was empty except for him. Panic was setting in as Seth tried to tell himself that the dreams were not real, that Dean was alive. It wasn't working though, somewhere in the back of his mind was the nagging feeling that as much as he wanted everything to be okay, it really wasn't.
He threw the light fleece blanket, that had somehow become wrapped him, off to the side and practically jumped off the bed. Maybe Dean was just in the bathroom or something. He started to stride quickly across his bedroom when something stopped him, out of the corner of his eye he spotted Deans bedroom light on. He let out a long breath he hadn't even realised he had been holding in, his body slumped and he dropped himself onto the edge of his bed. He wasn't sure if Dean being back in his own house was a good thing or not. Seth found he was relieved to know where his friend was but at the same time wasn't entirely sure if that meant the vulnerable teen was safe or not. Dean hadn't necessarily said that anything bad had happened over there, for all Seth knew it could have all been in his head and that Dean really was just a messed up kid hanging out with the wrong crowd. Maybe Seth's little crush really was blinding him to the truth.
Still he couldn't help but think that something wasn't right.
He grabbed the fleece blanket and draped it over his shoulders, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep any time soon. Seth spent the next few hours staring into space until he heard a car pull up outside the opposite house. Laughter poured out and Mr. Ambrose climbed out the cab. He wasn't alone, a tall and extremely skinny woman followed him out and slammed the door behind her. Seth couldn't help but note that she was dressed like a cheap hooker, but with how drunk she seemed he doubted this was any sort of business she'd be getting paid for. The two drunken adults laughed together and she wrapped her arms flimsily around his neck as the cab drove away leaving the two outside in the street alone in the night to make out like two noisy sloppy teenagers. It was like an disturbing episode of Car Crash TV or something, but it didn't take long for the kiss to turn into something much more as the woman went down to her knees and started unzipping Mr. Ambrose's pants. Seth turned around quickly feeling more and more uncomfortable as the noises outside the window grew louder and louder. Seth thought maybe they'd stop and move it into the house; but no. Right there, outside his front door, Deans dad was getting a blow job. He honestly didn't know which one of them he felt more sorry for.
Seth's skin crawled, he dragged himself off the bed and sat on the floor in front of the television and turned his PlayStation on, it was weird to think that only a few hours ago Dean had been sat in this exact spot, oddly he found comfort in that. He drifted thinking about Dean for a second, the look on his face when he had called him "friend", the helplessness he had let Seth see (that he doubted anyone else had seen in a very long time) and the defiant face that had confronted him when he had dared to stare at the boys scars a second too long. A disgusting groan drifted its way in from outside and trying to force back a shiver; Seth put on his gaming headset and spent the next few hours trying his hardest to forget what was happening just across the road right outside of his friends bedroom (he hoped for Deans sake that he couldn't hear what his dad was up to).
Seth must have lost track of time because before he knew it there was a gentle tap on his shoulder and Roman was sitting next to him on the floor in the bright autumn light. He must have come home and showered straight away because his hair was hanging in wet locks around his face. Seth paused his game and pulled his headset down so he could hear his brother talk.
"You been up all night?" Roman asked, "you look like crap."
"Thanks," Seth muttered sarcastically. He wasn't sure if he was in the mood for company from anyone today, except maybe Dean. "I thought you where at Randy's for the weekend?"
Roman leaned over and picked up the other white game controller off the charging dock and switched it on before logging into his gaming profile and jumping in on the game without asking, he did it all the time but right now he wished Roman would just leave him be. "Came home early, Randy's off to stay at his Grans for the day so I figured I'd just come home since Galina was off out with her parents too."
They sat in silence for a little while and played the game, the only noise breaking the silence came from the gun shots and explosions on the television screen.
Seth had noticed Roman trying to start a conversation on several occasions from the corner of his eyes, but every time the Samoan's mouth opened it shut just as quick. It hadn't bothered him at first but it was just becoming more annoying as he felt more tired and more stressed. He was trying to forget about Dean, forget about what had happened just yesterday.
"You can speak, you know?" He knew it wasn't Roman's fault and he tried to say it jokingly but there was no denying the slight edge his words had taken on, and he could tell by the slightly shocked and hurt look in those grey eyes that Roman had noticed it too.
The big guy sighed but didn't say anything about the harshness. Instead he opened his mouth and asked a question that nobody had asked Seth in a while. "Are you having nightmares again?"
Seth wasn't expecting that and his body tensed briefly out of his control before it was forced to relax, he didn't take his eyes of the screen though and just kept shooting anyone who got in his way. Roman took that as a sign to carry on, when it really wasn't. "It's just mum and dad said they heard you last night. You were making noises a lot. Dad swore that he even heard you leave the house at some point. You're okay, right?"
Shit!
What was he meant to say to that? Oh no, that wasn't me leaving the house last night it was the boy who was hiding in my bedroom after practically passing out after taking god knows what. He had a feeling that wouldn't go down well with any of them. Seth knew that he was having nightmares a bit more than he had been for quite a while but he didn't want any of them to ask him questions about it, he didn't want to lie about it to his mum and dad like that but telling them the truth seemed just as bad. So instead, in a flat monotone voice, he told Roman a different lie. "Needed fresh air."
Seth didn't like this either, he wasn't used to lying to Roman, in fact he can't remember the last time he had. Once he had started to feel better from his horrible bout of depression he had made a promise to be truthful to him even if times got bad again, but he didn't want to explain that the boy he has a crush on also has some huge issues and isn't exactly known to be one of the "nice" guys. Roman was too protective for that and he'd hate to be Dean if his brother found out.
But somehow Roman knew it wasn't the truth (that or he was eerily good at asking just the right questions). "You and Dean hang out yesterday?"
He didn't know what happened to him in that moment, someone had shot him on screen and he just lost it. Anger boiled up from no where, and he was more pissed than he had been in a very long time. Scared of what he might say or attempt to do to Roman, he slammed the controller down and got up and he snapped at Roman, "I'm going to toilet."
Roman was left behind sitting and staring after him in total confusion, but Seth just didn't have it in him to give a crap. He stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. He sat on top of the toilet seat and drew his legs up to himself and was suddenly filled with the urge to scream and cry at the same. Seth really didn't get what was happening to him, he stared at his own shaking hands. All the fear and anger from the day before seemed to catch up with him and it terrified him. Why did it feel like parts of his life were beginning to fall apart again after all the hard work he'd put into getting better? All the therapy, the medication, the groups? Poof, it was gone just like that. Was it Deans fault? He didn't even really know the guy yet and already it felt like he was aching being away from him, not just because he really liked the guy but because he was also frightened. So bloody frightened. And the worst part was that he wasn't entirely sure what he was so scared of, the shaking tear only knew who he was scared for. Dean hadn't admitted anything but Seth already knew him better than that, something awful was happening to his friend and he had no real idea what it was and not even the slightest clue of how to fix it.
He groaned loudly and leaned his head back, he felt some errant tear fall down his face. When had he started crying?
Looking around the bathroom for a distraction he caught a glimpse at the shower, memories of yesterday flooded his senses. Dean standing under the cascade of the showers water came to mind first. Usually the idea would have awoken something within him but instead he twisted his head slightly, as if looking at the memory from a different angle. His breath caught briefly, and then he let it slowly escape his from his lips angrily and cursed himself. If he had been paying attention properly he would have noticed the dark red marks across Deans back, the bruises that popped a variety of colours all over his pale skin and the fresh cuts that he couldn't have made him self in the middle of his back. The back of his legs had little red blistery looking burn marks that had obviously been caused by cigarette burns. Now that the steam in the bathroom and the steam in his mind had finally cleared it was all there as bright as day, right in front of his face and all he had done was got a hard on because some guy was naked in his shower. He didn't know what was worse the fact that he was too much of a horny hormonal teenager to have noticed or that he had let Dean slip away in the middle of the night while he slept.
Taking a deep breath Seth stood up and left the bathroom, he shot downstairs and grabbed his camo jacket from the coat hook. He could hear Patricia's foot steps drawing closer as her sweet voice carried through to him, "Seth?"
Before she could reach him to ask him any questions that just couldn't be answered right now, he opened the door and left.
Though it was sunny outside there was also a harsh icy cold wind running through the air. He took a deep breath, hoping the fresh air would calm his nerves and drain the tightness that was forming inside his chest. He wrapped his jacket tighter while he put his hands in his pockets regretting not picking up a beanie or at least some gloves. He felt guilty about running from Mama Reigns but was glad that she didn't follow him. Seth took a second to look at the house across the street, it looked empty, almost like a ghost house and it sent chills down his spine. After one more deep breath of the biting air, he turned and walked down the street not knowing where he was going, he just knew that he needed to get away for a little while.
He took turn after turn after turn, which he was starting to realise was probably not the best idea he has ever had seen as he had only be living in the area a couple of weeks now. Seth was about to turn around and see if he could retrace his steps or at least find his way back to a main street when he looked around and noticed a desolate row of broken houses that only housed rats and the broken toys that had been left behind. He was about to turn on his heels when something caught his attention. At the end of the street was a small barren field which was only occupied with on house, it was slightly bigger than the rest, most of the front walls looked like they had collapsed in on themselves and several burnt out cars where situated in the front yard. He should have walked away, found his way back home or at least find a way to call someone seen as he had stupidly left his phone in the rush to escape. But instead he was walking towards it, he told himself it was because he wanted to get out of the cold for just a few minutes, even if he knew deep down that wasn't really true.
He walked through the rotted wooden and twisted metal gates and climbed over the collapsed walls, the insides had been coated in graffiti and that bits of furniture that still remained in tact had candles and beer cans that all looked recently left. The old couch was covered in less dirty but obviously used bed covers and the rotten wooden cupboards housed even more melted candles. It was becoming obvious that this was obviously a spot where teenagers or druggies came to get away and do the things that teenagers did away from adult eyes. And when he noticed the corner of the room filled with empty hypodermic needles and used condoms he realised it was probably a place he shouldn't be. Especially not on his own.
He turned to leave and brace the cold outside, it was starting to get darker again and was obvious that the rain was making its way over. A noise startled him from behind and a bunch of young male voices started to get closer. He knew he should have just left and they probably wouldn't have given a second thought to him but something inside him panicked and forced him to run to the small cupboard underneath the stairs. He realised what he was doing but it was too late and the group of guys had made there way into the house. He could leave the cupboard but god knows what they would have thought he was doing by himself in a cupboard under that stairs, he could have made a Harry Potter joke about it all but he doubted that they wouldn't have really gotten it or cared.
Seth pushed the door open slightly and quietly, maybe he could catch them leaving the room and run out past them quick and get away. Through the small gap a trace of candle light and industrial torch light steamed in. He could see a group of guys, who all looked like they were all in their early twenties passing around beers while leaning and sitting in various parts of the room. There was at least four of them, maybe five. He really couldn't tell.
This is just fucking great.
It was obvious that some of them had already had a drink or two, and when the flicker of lighter caught his attention he noticed that a guy was lighting what suspiciously looked like a joint.
One of the boys laughed, he looked like a quarter back who was on steroids, the guy was massive. He made Roman look like a toddler in comparison. Another one had a smarmy sly voice and there was a dark look in his eye that didn't quite settle right with Seth. No way was he leaving just yet. Hopefully, they'd get bored and move on soon.
"So when does he get here?" Another guy with a huge ginger beard and a thick Irish accent said before chugging down a beer proudly.
The smarmy guy laughed towards him. "Be patient, the guys never too late."
"He better be worth it." The quarter back stated.
"He is, he is. Tell him Paul." Smarmy said to another big guy.
The other guy, Paul, was big too and he was typing away on his phone. "Oh trust me, he's definitely worth it." The smile was all wrong. He pushed his phone in the Gingers hands, "just watch."
Ginger hit the phone and Seth could hear Pauls voice husky voice coming in from the small speakers, Smarmy was there too laughing in the background.
"I think he likes it, don't you?" There was other noises from the video, shuffling and a muffled voice. "That's right take it all in there." Paul's voice was thick with lust and he moaned with pleasure.
"When's it my go?" Smarmy whispered, his voice dark and full of need.
Paul laughed and moaned again as someone choked. "I think he could handle the both of us."
Another voice came through, it was breathless and he choked out barely a whisper. "You didn't pay for that."
There was a loud thud of a smack as Paul shouted, "What do you mean we didn't pay for it? Mike, grab his legs!"
There was loud crashing and screams that soon become muffled as Mike and Paul cheered and jeered, moaned and groaned. It seemed like forever for the guys to finish but once they did it went nearly silent, except for the quiet shuffles and the small whimper before another loud slap could be heard.
"Here," Paul said, the smile evident in his voice, "have the extra cash, you earned it fuckboy. Oh, one more thing, smile for the camera."
Mike laughed loud.
The video went dead and Seth stood there, not sure what to do. He had just heard a video of someone being raped. He felt sick to his stomach. This was wrong he needed to get out here.
"Hey Paul," Mike laughed. "I think he liked it."
The others laughed at Ginger, he grinned back at them obviously starting to the feel the effects of what he had smoked. "Shut up," he said but he really didn't mean it, his hands went over his own face as he laughed.
"What about you?" Paul asked the big guy, "You ever had a tight little teenage asshole?"
Seth couldn't see the face of the quarter back and he was kind of glad when Paul got up and smacked his broad chest playfully, "This guy gets it. Nothing quite like it."
Taking in his choices Seth looked around the room from his tiny cupboard. He could hurry and make a dash for it but he doubted that he'd get very far, and honestly he was terrified what would happen if they caught him. All thoughts of his escape had been put to a stop though when he heard another set of footsteps. "Here's the star himself," Mike joked before chugging down another drink.
It only took a few seconds for Seth to put some of the puzzle pieces together, and he realised why the video had scared him so much, the voice that was barely a whisper. He had known that voice, he had heard that voice in his bedroom only the day before and when he saw the heavy black boots walk across the floor and hear the false confident voice of Dean his heart skipped and his stomach threated to empty its contents then and there. He looked down, trying to steady his spinning head and his own breath when he noticed a large brown rat running over his shoe, he involuntarily jumped back and instantly regretted it, the boys went silent and not only a few seconds later the door wrenched open and he was being dragged out by the quarter back. "Looks like we got some company guys."
Seth held onto tight to the guys arms trying to pry them off but they wouldn't budge.
"What the fuck? Blondie?" Dean shouted.
"You now this guy?" Paul asked incredulously. "What the fuck man? Is this a trap or something?"
"What?" Dean asked, "no, I have no idea what he's doing here."
Ginger leered, "he can stay if he wants?"
Seth's eyes opened wide and terrified , Dean whipped his head around. "NO! That's not part of the deal. He goes."
The quarter back didn't let him go until Paul nodded, "Loosen up Lesnar."
Seth didn't realise he how far off the ground he was until his feet hit the floor and his knees gave. He stood up and Dean was walking over to him, his face a mixture of terror and rage. He all but growled towards the other guys, "give me a sec".
Seth felt him being pulled out by the arm, like a naughty toddler by his angry mother. The other guys just watched before Ginger laughed.
He was out the front gate and pretty much thrown away to the road. "Have you been following me?" Dean shouted.
Seth shook his head, he had heard Dean had a temperament but he had never been on this side of it. Had never really seen it, and he was glad he hadn't because right now Dean looked like a crazed man.
"No, I promise. I was just walking and I..." Seth paused his explanation briefly, his hand reaching out to touch the angry teens face without even realising that he was doing it, "...that wasn't there yesterday." His voice barely audible as he touched below Deans fresh black eye. For a second they stood there silent, Deans eyes glazed slightly as if tears were trying to escape but before they could the false bravado returned and he slapped Seth's hand away and punched Seth square in the jaw.
Seth hit the floor hard and his head buzzed slightly, his vision covered by his own blonde messed up hair and the metallic tang of blood hit the back of his mouth. Seth held his face, too shocked to move. He looked up to Dean, but it wasn't the angry insane version staring back at him it was the broken version. This time he wasn't trying to hide it though, he was breathing heavy and held his own hand. Deans mouth opened and closed several times but he didn't say anything. Seth made a move to get up and Dean rushed forward ready to attack again before stopping himself.
"S...s...sorry, I didn't mean..." but whatever he was trying to say it never came out. Instead, Dean turned away and pulled his hood up against the slight cold rain that had made an appearance. "Go home Seth, you don't belong here."
When Seth spoke it was quiet, "neither do you." But at that moment, he wasn't too sure himself.
Dean stopped and turned to face him then stared at the house looking anywhere than at the boy he'd knocked to the floor, "stop trying to save me Seth, I'm not worth it."
Seth didn't argue. He stood there as the rain picked up, his hand dropped from his jaw and really for the first time since meeting Dean he wondered why on earth was he bothering really. Was he worth it if he was already that far gone? The more the teen pondered the answers, the less everything seemed to make sense. With his head down he headed down the street and found his way back on the main street. He didn't care where he was going though, it was cold and wet and miserable. He had stopped wrapping himself up in his own arms for warmth it wasn't working, instead he just let the feel of the rain soak him through him thoroughly.
A bright light blurred his vision and he noticed the familiar car pull up beside him. He stood there, considering if he should get in or if he should just keep walking lost. He could see Roman looking at him from the drivers seat, those grey eyes held nothing but worry in them and the idea he was doing this to his brother hurt him. Seth left out a long exasperated breath and trudged to the other side of the car and jumped in.
Roman never spoke, he just sat and watched carefully, letting Seth get himself settled in the car. Sometimes he wasn't too sure if he deserved having a brother like Roman, the guy would jump of a cliff for him if he said it would make him feel better. The light in the car was left on as Roman leaned over quietly and took Seth's face into his hand carefully. "Do I even want to see the other guy?" He joked.
Seth didn't reply or pull away. He couldn't force himself to do anything, as soon as he sat in the car Roman's presence had drained any emotions and all he could feel was exhausted. He knew this feeling, he hated this feeling and he knew that Roman hated it too. The caring brother voice was put on full force, "You gave us all a fright. Dad's looking out for you too. You left your phone, what was our deal?"
Seth didn't answer so Roman repeated the question. "What was our deal little bro?"
This time Seth pulled away and bowed his head ashamed to even look at the guy, "Always have my phone on me."
"And?" Roman wasn't satisfied yet.
Seth didn't want to answer but he knew Roman wouldn't let him stay quiet just yet, "Tell you if I need you."
Roman nodded. "Good. I need a honest answer, okay? How bad is it?"
Seth didn't need to see Roman's face to know what he was talking about. "I haven't done anything stupid." His voice was flat, lacking of real emotion. Before Roman could ask the next question, Seth whispered "I'm not going to."
That satisfied Roman and he started the engine again, "Is this something we need to keep an eye on?"
The car was off and the rain hit the window noisily with the speed. "No. Promise. Just a bad day. Don't know what came over me."
Roman raised his eyebrow and hit a button on his dashboard, the phone dialling tone filled the car. "I think I got an idea. Just be careful okay? You need me, I'm here remember that."
Seth nodded and leaned on the window, watching the dark world outside blur past as Sika's voice came through the loudspeaker. "Roman?"
"I got him Dad, he's okay I'm bringing him home."
The two spoke a little more but he honestly couldn't be bothered listening to them, instead he thought about Dean. Thought about what he had heard. About the guys he had left him with. He wasn't sure if it was the right move but he was damn sure Dean hadn't wanted him there. The journey felt like it had taken forever, how far had he actually gone out? The car finally came to a stop and the porch light lit up with the movement. Roman got out of the car, before he could be man handled out of the car he unbuckled and got out. Roman was heading inside and Seth followed him, until the living room light of the Deans house caught his attention. Mr. Ambrose was sitting there drinking and laughing at the television. Seth took a step forward as anger surged through him once more. Roman must have mistaken it for an attempt to escape again and put his hand on his soaked shoulder gently. "Let's go inside, hey."
Seth hated that voice, that was voice that Roman used on him when he was treating him like he going to fall apart any second. Yeah, he probably was going to if any past experiences had taught him that this was feeling when he was teetering on the edge. How had he let Dean get under his skin like this and so quick. At least someone cared for him, he doubted that Mr. Ambrose actually cared enough about Dean to know where he was and if he did know what was going on he was a sick and twisted as Seth believed.
He was being directed gently into the house and Roman shut the door behind him quietly. Sika was sat on the chair and Patricia was hovering around nervously. Both of them had enough dealings with this side of Seth to know that if they smothered him it would only freak him out. Just like Dean did, his jaw ached with the memory. Patricia was the first to really speak, but she stayed where she was. "Oh Seth, sweetie, you had me worried."
"Sorry." And he realised he genuinely was, recognizing that as a good thing he pretty much ran to Mama Reigns and hugged her. She wrapped her hands around him back and stroked his wet hair. Seth knew this meant he wasn't as close to the edge as he felt right now, whenever he had been before it was almost impossible to actually feel anything that was going on. But right now he felt, he felt bad for scaring his family. "Sorry", he said again.
Mama Reigns pulled away first and pulled his face into her, "look at your face? What happened?" she didn't wait for an answer, she just stood up on her tip toes and placed a kiss carefully on his forehead. "Just a bad day sweetie?"
Mama Reigns always seemed to know the difference, her smile was soft and genuine and as a tear rolled down his face again he nodded. Sika and Roman seemed to slink away from the room and Seth was grateful, he needed this. He needed his mum.
"Looks like you had a little run in with the wrong side of a fist there." She laughed and Seth automatically relaxed at the sound as she wiped away his wondering tears. "It doesn't look as bad as it probably feels. The swelling will be gone in no time but it's going to leave a nice bruise."
The benefits of having a parent who used to be a doctor sometimes came in use. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up and fix that cut." She took his hand and led him upstairs to the bathroom. Roman was in his room, Seth could see Roman sitting on his bed pretending to be on his phone typing, but it was obvious he was trying to listen in on what was going on. "That boys not exactly subtle" Mama Reigns said as her eyes rolled.
Seth smiled as he was pulled into the bathroom, "sit!" She demanded softly and pointed to the toilet seat, and Seth did as he was told as she shut the bathroom door making sure no one could hear what was going on. "Right, who throws the mean hook?"
"Just some guy," Seth shivered noticing just how cold he actually was. Patricia leaned over the bath and turned the taps on, after a few seconds of making sure it was the right temperature she placed the plug inside the bath tub.
"I see," she stated thoughtfully as she began to inspect his face properly. She pulled his hair out of the way and grabbing a band she tied it up into a loose pony at the back so she could see what she was working with properly in her usual motherly fashion. "And did you deserve it?"
Seth looked at her, his hazel eyes unsure. "I don't think so. I don't know. Maybe."
She smiled again, "is this boy trouble?"
Seth didn't answer and just kept staring at her trying not to give her too much info. Humming in reply of his silence she placed some antiseptic spray on to a cotton pad and placed it on his face softly. He hissed at the sting but didn't pull away.
"So that's a yes." She observed. Seth had to wonder how she did it sometimes. "Want to hear what I think?"
"You're going to tell me anyway," Seth smirked.
"Yes I am, so shut your cake hole and listen. Right now you're going through a lot. We knew the move might take a toll on you, we know how change can upset you sometimes." He didn't protest, she was speaking the truth, he guessed that's what happens when you watch your family die in front of you. "But I am looking at you right now and do you want to know what I feel? Pride. Yes, you're having a bad day, and sweetie we knew these would happen. Getting over something as horrible as what you went through doesn't just vanish and never return, you know what though. You're still standing. You're still here and I'm looking at you right now and I can see that yes you're having a bad time right now but I also see that this isn't the worse you've ever been. I see you fighting it and that is what makes you the strongest person I know." She leaned in and kissed his forehead again, "And if you decide that you think Dean is worth fighting for, then he's one of the luckiest people I know."
"What?" Seth jumped a little at the name. He didn't even know what to do except gawp like a fish.
Mama Reigns turned off the running water, and dragged his wet coat from him like a child. "Please, a mother always knows. Now get in that bath before you catch a damn cold."
He didn't know what to say to that except. "Yes, Mama." He smiled at her, and she began to open the door. "Mama Reigns? Don't tell anyone please?"
He was answered with a nod, she pursed her lips and pretended to lock her mouth and throw away an invisible key before mouthing the words, "bath" and shutting the door behind her.
And just like that, that gloom that had clung to his mind seemed to have lifted a bit. That woman was pure magic and he knew it. He shrugged out of his wet clothes and peeled his soaked through boxers from his skin before stepping in and sitting in to the bath. He hadn't realised how cold he was until the warmth of the bath stung his skin. The burning sensation subsided quickly and he felt amazing as the warmth spread throughout.
Mama Reigns had been right, he had a lot going on right now. New house, new school...and now Dean. It was no wonder his head had taken a little dip into the dark waters. Now he could see a bit more clearly though, it was just the pressure of all this change, and though he still felt like crap and emotionally exhausted he knew it was something he could fight through after all he'd been through worse. He let his body sink below the water and he closed his eyes as he dragged his head under, holding his breath and enjoying the peaceful sounds around him. He could get through this. After all he never did like giving up too easy.