AN: Sorry it's been so long since I last updated, it's just that with the Olympic Games being in my hometown, I virtually have no time for writing on anything other than my Blog.
The next three days went by without anything huge happening. The boys went to school, went home, did their homework, played soccer and basketball in their backyard when they got bored. Because Dean was extra-careful not to let Sam see his bruises again and not to talk about what had happened, the incident was almost forgotten. After all, Dean was amazing at keeping everything bottled up inside- he'd been doing it for years.
The following day, however, things changed from their usual routine. As Sam was waiting in front of his school for Dean to pick him up like usual, he noticed that Dean was walking towards him, with his shoulder hunched forward. He looked really upset.
"Hey, Dean," Sam said as his older brother came up to him. "What's up?"
"Oh, uh, nothing much. I'm fine," Dean said distractedly. He wasn't about to start talking about himself now.
"Dean," Sammy said plainly. "Don't lie. It's not like I'll tell Dad or anything."
"It's nothing, really, Sam. It has nothing to do with Dad."
"Then what is it about?"
"God, you're a nag. But, fine, if you must know, it has to do with that math test I wrote a couple of days ago. I failed."
"You failed? But you studied so hard!" Sam couldn't believe it.
"Apparently, all my answers are wrong because I've been working with radians when I was supposed to have been working with degrees," Dean said nonchalantly, while actually resisting an urge to cry.
"Oh, Dean," Sammy said, feeling really sorry for his brother. "You studied so hard."
"Yeah, well, whatever," Dean said, putting on his usual façade of not caring. "It's just a test."
"But, Dean…"
"Whatever, Sammy, can we switch the subject?" Dean interrupted him abruptly, so as not to continue this discussion.
"Fine…" Sammy sighed, knowing it was pretty much useless to get Dean talking when he wasn't in the mood for it. The boys walked in silence the rest of the way home.
At home, Sam quickly said hello to Mary and ran up to his room to do his homework. Normally Dean would have teased him for being a geek, but this time around he was preoccupied with wanting to talk to his mother.
"Hi, Dean," Mary said, not looking up from the letter she was writing. "How was school?"
"Um, fine. Mom, can I talk to you?"
"Just one second, honey, okay?"
"No, Mom, now." Dean had virtually no time to lose because the family never knew what time John might show up from work. Sometimes it was four, sometimes it was nine.
"Sure," Mary said, a bit shocked at Dean's antics, and finally looked up from her letter. It wasn't usual that Dean insisted on talking to her. Usually she had to pry things out of him. "What is it?"
"Um, I failed my math test," Dean said quietly, looking down at the scuffs on his shoes. "I'm sorry Mom, I did study hard, it's just that I've been using radians instead of degrees on my calculator and I got the wrong answer for every question even though I typed in the formula right… I'm sorry, Ma," Dean said again, pausing to take a breath.
"Dean, Dean," Mary shushed him. "Baby, it's okay. That was an honest mistake. I'll go talk to your teacher and ask for a re-write. I'm sure, Mr., uh…"
"Jenkins."
"I'm sure Mr. Jenkins will understand. He allows re-writes, right?"
"Sometimes."
"Well, I'm sure he'll let you have one. Nothing to get upset over. Just be more careful next time; check out the little sign at the top of the screen, make sure it says deg."
"Thanks, Mom," Dean said quietly. He loved how his mother could make everything seem like it wasn't a big deal And she was right, if Mary talked to the teacher, he'd allow him a re-write for sure.
"No problem, honey."
"I just wanted to do good on the test, to make you proud," Dean suddenly burst out, practically out of nowhere. "But then I messed up, again. I'm so stupid."
"Dean Winchester," Mary said, giving her son a look. "You're not stupid. You are very smart. Why are you so hard on yourself, anyways? You can make mistakes."
"But Sam doesn't…"
"Dean," Mary interrupted, giving her son a hug. "Would you stop comparing the two of you? You are very smart and very special in your own way. I love you more than air."
Mary ruffled Dean's hair and kissed his forehead.
"I guess," Dean said, hugging back. "I love you too, Mom."
"Me too, Dean, me too. Let's pray that you never forget that."
"I guess…" Dean's mind was already somewhere else. "Hey, Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not going to tell Dad about this, right?"
"As long as you get a decent grade on your re-write, this stays between us."
"Thanks, Mom," Dean sighed in relief.
"No problem," Mary sighed. "Now, run along, sweetheart. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
"OK," Dean replied, going up to his room. The relief of his father not finding out about his test made him feel generous, so he even offered to play a round of Sorry! with Sam. Sam was ecstatic; it wasn't often that Dean played board games with him. They were on their third round when they heard the front door slam. John was home and he didn't sound happy.
"DEAN!" John bellowed from downstairs.
Dean jumped up and turned to Sammy. "I wonder what he wants."
"I'll come with you," Sam said.
"Seriously, Sam, do you have a death wish? Consider yourself lucky that it's not you he's after."
"Where you go, I go," Sam said, quiet determination lining his little face.
"Well, OK," Dean said, silently amazed by his brother's loyalty. "Thanks, Sammy."
The boys ran downstairs as quickly as they could, where Mary was already arguing with her husband.
"Dean," John looked at his son. "You failed a freaking math test?"
Dean felt the colour drain from his face. "But… How did you?"
"Thought you'd hide it from me, huh? Well, Mr. Jenkins called me and told me he was concerned with your achievement!"
"John, please," Mary interrupted. "Dean made a mistake with his calculator. You know how algebra is. He'll get a re-write."
"Stop making excuses for him, Mary!"
"John, please. Calm down. It's not worth making a big deal out of."
Dean and Sam were standing together across from their father, feeling scared.
"Dad?" Sam piped up, against his better judgement. "It wasn't Dean's fault."
"Sam, if you don't want to get on my bad side, I'd suggest shutting up, NOW! Dean, come with me."
"John!" Mary exclaimed. "Let it go, please."
"Mary- shut up. Dean, follow me."
Dean shot a helpless look around the room and followed John into the other room.
