Well, here's some more Sam and Dean bonding! Thanks for all the reviews! :)
Sorry for the long wait! I have a big clean check for my dorm tonight and I've been cleaning all weekend on top of finishing off two big projects and studying for finals! Thanks for your patience! :)
"What?"
Dean's shocked tone caught Sam's attention from where he was lying, pretending to sleep, on the bed he and Dean were sharing.
Dean's dad, John, made an exasperated sound. "Dean, we can't just drag the kid along with us. He's not a hunter, he's not prepared for this life and I'm not prepared to raise another kid."
"I'll raise him then!"
The room was silent for a moment, everyone frozen in shock.
"Dean, you aren't old enough to raise a kid."
"I don't care."
"We can drop him off at a police station. Maybe an retired hunter's house. We can make sure he's comfortable-"
"Comfortable?" Dean sounded infuriated. "Dad, Sam has abilities that no one is going to understand. With the exception of the few hunters we count as friends, no one is going to let him live. It doesn't matter that he didn't do anything wrong, too many hunters see only black and white. The kid is as innocent as they come! He isn't going to be safe-"
"You think you can keep him safe? Huh, Dean? With our life?"
Dean's voice was cold as he answered. "I've kept you safe all these years."
"Yes. But not without help. I've never been helpless."
"Sam isn't helpless."
"I disagree."
"You kick him out, you're kicking me out too!"
Another frozen silence, then John's angry and confused voice broke it. "Where the heck is this coming from, Dean? You barely know the kid!"
"I don't know and I don't care. I feel a connection to him, dad. I want...I need to help him. He's like...he's like my other half."
John was quiet a moment, then sighed. "Fine. I don't understand your level of attachment with him, but he can stick around. But he's your responsibility, Dean. You have to teach him, you have to keep him safe. You understand?"
"Clearly." A door closed and silence reigned.
"You know how I feel now, Sam, but ultimately it's your choice."
How in the world did he know I wasn't sleeping?
"You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
Sam finally managed to find his voice.
"I-I don't want to leave."
...
Bobby groaned as he sat down on the bed across from the tv. He was getting a little old for all this.
"A-are..." the softly spoken word had him looking up in surprise at the unfamiliar voice. Sam was looking at him, a strange mix of unease and concern on his face. "...are you okay?"
Bobby wouldn't have been more stunned if the boy had started screaming and shooting up the place. The kid was thoroughly freaked by them all, except perhaps Dean, yet he was concerned enough to ask...
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. Just gettin' old."
Dean snorted. "Understatement of the year. You're more than old, you're like-"
Bobby raised an eyebrow. "Finish that sentence, Dean. I dare you. I'll have you screamin' like a little girl in seconds."
Dean snorted again, watching Sam's wide-eyed reaction carefully. "What ya gonna do, huh?"
"It'll involve cold water and other nameless horrors."
When Sam's lips quirked, Dean fought a happy grin.
"That's okay, old man. Sammy here'll protect me. Won't ya, Sammy?"
Sam quirked his head, a tiny smile breaking through, whether at the idea of protecting Dean or the nickname, the older boy wasn't sure. "Um," was all he managed before Bobby was in and out of the bathroom with surprising speed, a cup of cold water in his hand.
Dean shrieked (manly, it was a very manly shriek, dang it!) and darted quickly over to Sam, grabbing the kid and pulling him close. "Protect me, Sam! Save me!"
The giggles that Sam let loose then made the slight loss of dignity worth it.
Bobby looked slightly startled at the happy sound from the sober child, but recovered quickly, determining to not only get revenge on Dean Winchester but make the poor child happy in the process.
It was a game after that, Dean hiding behind Sam, Bobby trying to get around.
A laugh from behind was the only warning Dean got before large arms wrapped around his chest, pulling him away from Sam and pushing him towards Bobby.
"Dad!"
Sam watched, startled, as Bobby took the opportunity and dumped the cold water on Dean's head. Even Dean was startled at the high-pitched squeak that came out of his mouth at the impact of the cold water on his head.
"You two suck."
Another giggle from Sam had all of them smiling.
...
There was an unspoken reason that they hadn't left the motel yet.
Dean knew that Sam was unaware. He also knew that Bobby and John were quite aware.
The minute Sam fell asleep that night, Dean left a note for him (just in case), nodded in John's direction, and took the Impala.
...
The small shack that passed as a bar in North Grove was easy to find. Unfortunately, small bars meant audience in what he wanted to do.
So, he would obviously have to play it cool.
The second he walked in, there was a chorus of shouts from the group of men in the corner that Dean recognized as being Kearn and his friends. The men responsible for Sam's suffering.
"Hey, you're, um...Dean! The hunter's son! Why don't you come join us? The monster dead yet? Bet he went screaming, huh? Glad to see you didn't get yourself roasted! Little freak."
Only years of practicing restraint allowed Dean not to explode and just shoot them right there.
That "little freak" is a child that you have traumatized for life! Dean swore violently in his mind.
His hand twitched towards his gun before he stopped himself and pasted a smile on his face.
"Sounds like fun. However, I have to pass. Working, don't drink on the job, all that. When you guys have a minute, why don't you go meet me out back? I have something to give you that I thought you might appreciate."
The men looked interested.
They were just drunk enough not to notice the deadly gleam in the hunter's eyes as they followed him out of the bar.
...
It was too easy.
Dean aimed one last final kick at Kearn's chest, snapping another couple of ribs. "Not so tough when you're fighting someone who can fight back, huh?" he snarled.
Kearn's friends lay moaning or unconscious around the alley.
"You destroyed lives. You proud? You happy now? Sam's mom is dead, Sam is traumatized forever. People like you freaking make me sick, Kearn."
Dean turned to leave, then paused and crouched beside Kearn roughly by his shirt, ignoring the whimper of pain the man gave in response to the movement.
"If you come after me or the kid, I will kill you. I'm not you, I'm not a blood-thirsty monster that loves to torment women and children who won't or can't fight back. So, I'm not going to kill you here. However. I am a hunter. And I will defend myself and my family." Dean pulled him close, softening his voice till it was a fierce whisper. "Sam counts as family, Kearn. You remember that. I see you again, you're dead. Understand?"
A desperate nod and Dean pushed him away, releasing him.
He stood and casually walked out of the alley, leaving six moaning men behind him.
...
When Dean walked into the motel room, John was sitting at the table, pretending not to wait for him to come home. Sam was asleep, though he was restless, shifting in his sleep.
Dean took a minute to wash up and discard of his bloody clothes (luckily none of it his own), changing into sweats and a t-shirt to sleep in.
Climbing into bed, he frowned over at Sam a moment, then hesitantly reached over. "Sam. You're okay, kiddo." he soothed softly.
Slowly, Sam settled, relaxing into a deep sleep once more.
Hiding a small pleased grin (maybe the kid's gonna trust me), Dean turned over and closed his eyes.
He had a new responsibility, heck a new life, to start tomorrow.
...
Bobby got ready to leave the next morning. He wasn't needed there anymore and he had other things he had to get back to.
However, there was one more thing to do before he left.
He knelt cautiously in front of Sam.
"I know it's been a, uh, a rough couple of days for you, kid. We haven't really had much opportunity to get to know each other. But I want you to know...you call if you ever need anything alright? Dean has the number, so does John. Either one of them can give it to you. You need anything, you call."
Sam blushed, but nodded. "Thank you."
Bobby gave a grunt that Sam was beginning to realize was a sign of gratitude or acknowledgment, then stood.
"Later, Bobby." Dean called.
Bobby nodded in his direction, then closed the door behind him.
...
This was Sam's first day on the road with them.
In deference to his inexperience, Dean kept his music soft, not wanting to blow out his young charge's ears on the first day.
It was very different to have someone in the passenger seat with him, no matter how quiet the kid was, as his dad had gotten a truck a few months ago in order to allow them to separate if they needed to.
He liked it.
"Um, D-Dean?" the tentative word from his passenger had Dean glancing over.
"Yeah, Sammy?"
"Um, what are the, uh, the signs on the side of the road for? The ones with the little numbers?"
Dean's brows furrowed at the question, but immediately eased his expression into a smile at the nervous look on Sam's face.
"Haven't you ever been on a road trip, kiddo?"
Sam just shook his head.
"Those are mile markers. They mark the miles the road covers." The young hunter kept his voice encouraging and light, not wanting to frighten Sam off.
Sam considered that, then offered a small smile and went back to watching the scenery.
A few hours passed in silence that was comfortable enough.
Then, "Dean?"
"Yeah?"
A little less hesitant this time, "Why do the towns have such weird names?"
Dean snorted in amusement at the question. "Because people are weird."
Sam blinked, then shrugged and turned to look out the window.
An hour later, "Dean?"
"Yeah?"
No hesitation this time, "Why is your car so loud and big?"
Dean's eyes widened. "My car is a classic."
"What does that mean?"
"It means it's awesome."
"Do awesome cars have to be loud?"
Dean laughed. "Heck yeah."
"But what makes it loud?"
"The engine does. All the moving parts end up being kinda loud when put together."
Sam "hmm"ed, then turned to look out at the scenery again.
Not even half an hour later, "Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"What's Godzilla?"
"What? You don't know what Godzilla is?"
"Um, no...it was on an ad just now..."
"Dang, kid. That's like a crime."
"The ad?"
"No, the fact that you haven't seen it! We're so gonna have to find it now. There's no way I can let you grow up without watching Godzilla!"
"But what is it?"
"He's a monster lizard that destroys things."
"...okay..."
"Seriously deprived. I'm gonna have to educate you in Godzilla and all the good movies out there."
"Mom didn't like tv and movies much. We never had it."
Dean paused, sensing the sorrow, the grief, in the words. "I'm sorry, Sam."
Sam glanced over with large, wet eyes at his new friend. "Well, I-I can just m-make n-new memories with you."
Dean nodded, swallowing his own tears forcibly. "Yeah. Yeah, you can. We'll have fun together, Sam. You'll be okay. You'll see."
...
"I've got a hunt, Dean."
Dean glanced up at his father, hearing the question in the words.
"I'm staying with Sam. I'm not going to hunt until he's trained. If he wants to train."
John raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do if he doesn't want to?" Disapproval leaked into the words.
Dean forced himself to keep his temper in check. "Whatever I need to."
John left without another word.
Dean sighed, used to his father's foul mood by now.
"Dean?"
Dean turned in surprise. He had thought Sam was asleep this time. "Yeah, Sammy?"
"I...I want to train to hunt."
Dean frowned. "Are you sure, kiddo? You don't have to do it. Not if you don't want to. I don't care what he says and you shouldn't either."
Sam nodded. "I want to help you, to help people. Mom taught me that I have...I have a responsibility because of my abilities. I should learn to use them. We used to train to use them. I just...you...can you be the one to..."
Dean nodded. "Of course, Sam. I can train you."
Sam gave a small smile.
...
The next morning, Dean took Sam with him and his father to the closest diner for breakfast.
Sam glanced uneasily at all the people in the diner, shying away from any who approached the boys as they waited for a seat.
Dean took note of this and was careful to seat Sam on the inside of the booth when they finally got a seat, placing himself between the kid and the rest of the diner.
If John noticed, he didn't say anything.
"What can I get for you boys?" The kind older waitress came up, smiling easily at them.
"Eggs with a side of toast for me." John ordered.
Dean glanced once more down at the menu. "I think I'll have some pancakes." he finally decided.
"And for you, sweetie?" the waitress addressed Sam.
Sam stiffened, his mouth open to answer, but nothing was coming out.
Brow furrowing, Dean quickly spoke. "Do you want some pancakes, Sam? I'll bet they even have some chocolate chips or something to put in it for you."
The waitress seemed to notice Sam's intense shyness and smiled gently at him when he glanced at Dean then her.
"I'll put in a special order for you, Sam, if you'd like."
Slowly relaxing, Sam nodded, offering a small smile of gratitude.
"Alright, I'll be back in a few minutes with your food!" The waitress hurried off.
Dean gently bumped Sam's shoulder with his own. "Hey. You okay?"
Sam shrugged. "Yeah, I just..." he couldn't seem to find the right words.
"You're just a little nervous." Dean guessed.
Sam nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.
"That's just fine, Sam. Nothing wrong with that at this point."
...
When they finished, John went off to research at the library and the boys decided to walk around town a little.
Dean glanced up as the commotion ahead of them registered, relaxing as he saw it was a fair.
"What is that?" Sam asked, looking at the fair ahead of them with large eyes.
Dean glanced over at him, stunned. Will this kid ever stop surprising me? "You've never been to a fair?"
Even Dean with his less than ideal childhood had been a fair.
Sam shook his head. "I guess they don't come to North Grove."
Dean took only a moment to decide. "Come on."
"Where we going?" Sam hurried to catch up with his suddenly moving friend.
"To the fair."
...
It was crowded, which didn't bother Dean much. Sam, however, was suddenly pressed against his side, pale and looking uncomfortable, cringing away from the touch of the crowd.
Dean drapped an arm over Sam's shoulders, guiding them through the crowd easily.
"Let's try some rides. Sound like fun?" Dean asked.
Sam looked around them at all the stands with wide eyes, a little overwhelmed at all the sights and sounds around them.
"Thank you, Dean." he said, flashing his friend a bright smile.
Dean returned it, squeezing Sam's shoulders gently. "You're welcome, kiddo. Let's go have some fun."
