A/N: Just so you know, Dean has one more dark valley to walk through before he can move forward. I'm sure you're going to realize what is going to happen with the subtle hints in the next few chapters. Don't send the demons after me, it will get better. Your thoughts are appreciated.
NC
Chapter 9
Dean was waiting on the bench outside the office door the next morning feeling slightly sick. His stomach was tied up in knots not knowing what to expect. He looked up when the supervisor and a couple walked toward him.
"Dean this is Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, they're going to be your foster parents." he introduced them.
Dean stood up and looked the couple over slowly. The woman was in her mid thirties with shoulder length brown hair and eyes. The man was the same age with darker brown hair and brown eyes.
"Hello Dean, it's nice to meet you." Mrs. Spencer said to him smiling.
"Hello Dean." Mr. Spencer said smiling too but Dean didn't think it reached his eyes and saw a hint of something else there that he couldn't explain.
"Hello." Dean said politely.
"Do you have everything?"
"Yes."
"Well then let's go." Mr. Spencer told Dean starting to put a hand out to rest it on his shoulder until Dean stepped back and walked toward the door.
"Thank you." Mrs. Spencer told the supervisor and followed her husband and Dean out the door.
spn
"Well Dean here we are." Mr. Spencer said opening the front door to a house.
Dean stepped in and looked around carefully inspecting the house. It was tidy and filled with simple furniture that looked comfortable. He stepped on into the room not sure what to do as he looked around.
"Let me show you to your room. You'll be sharing it with our youngest son, Seth." she told him leading him down a hall to a bedroom. "We have two children of our own, Seth and Hope. You are our fifth foster child we've had over the years." she continued as she opened a door. "After having two children of our own, we decided to help other children who needed parents instead of having another child ourselves."
Dean looked around the room and saw two twin beds, dressers, end tables with lamps and two desks. He could tell which side of the room was already taken by the posters and toys around the bed. Without being told, he went to the other bed and sat his pack on it.
"The kids will be back in an hour and we'll have lunch and introduce you. I'm sure you will get along just fine. There's a bathroom through that door and a closet over there you two share."
"Alright." he told her sitting on the bed.
"Why don't you relax for a bit before lunch Dean? We're so glad you've joined our family. I hope you will allow us to be one."
After looking around the room again, Dean went to the dresser that didn't have anything on it and looked inside to find it empty. He took his pack and removed the clothes placing them in the drawer before closing it back. He sat the pack in the closet after removing a book from the side pocket. With nothing else to do, Dean started reading where he left off.
spn
Fifty minutes had passed and Dean looked up to see a boy around six or seven run into the room skidding to a stop at Dean's bed. He had dark brown hair and eyes and looked excited.
"Hi, I'm Seth. Momma said to come and get you that dinner was ready."
"Dean." he replied quietly sizing the boy up. A tiny ache pinched his soul when he realized this boy was probably the same age as Sam. He could almost see him in his mind jumping and bouncing around with those huge hazel eyes and those cute little dimples grinning up at him.
"Dean, you hungry? Momma made fried chicken, you'll love it." he rattled on not realizing Dean wasn't listening to most of it. "Come on you have to wash up." he ended heading for their bathroom.
Once Seth came back out Dean went in closing the door for some privacy. He relieved himself and washed his hands quickly before heading back into the bedroom. Seth was sitting on his bed and jumped up when he came out.
"Come on." he told him starting to grab his hand but Dean pulled it away.
After the last foster home, Dean didn't let anyone touch him very often. He shielded away from other's contact as much as he could. It didn't seem to faze Seth who headed out the door waving for him to follow.
After a moment's hesitation, Dean followed him down the hall and through another door that led to a dining room. He could see a kitchen through an archway and movement in there.
"Ok you guys, take your seats." Mrs. Spencer told them. She was carrying bowls of food and was followed by a girl around Dean's age. Mr. Spencer was the last to emerge from the kitchen carrying a plate of fried chicken.
"I see you've met Seth our youngest and that is Hope out daughter." Mr. Spencer introduced them. "Guys this is Dean."
"Hi." Hope said sliding into a chair beside him.
"Hi." Dean mumbled keeping his head down while Mr. and Mrs. Spencer took a seat.
"Alright Dean, would you like white or dark meat?" Mr. Spencer asked holding the plate of chicken for him.
"Either is fine sir."
"Please, call us Tom and Mattie, we're not formal around here." he smiled at Dean placing a piece of breast meat on Dean's plate and a chicken leg on his before passing it along to his wife. "So Dean, I know this is awkward for you and all not really knowing us." Tom started as he forked a bite of chicken into his mouth. He chewed it slowly and continued. "So I work at a finance company, make pretty good money. I mean we're not rich at today's standards but we're doing ok. Mattie here works part time while the kids are in school. We both volunteer in the community and Mattie's active at the kid's school and church. We're just a typical America family here Dean, I think you should fit in just fine."
Dean listened and watched as bowls were passed around and he accepted them spooning a small amount onto his plate. Everyone began to eat and Dean followed suit, taking small bites and chewing quickly before swallowing. Having the least amount of food on his plate, Dean finished eating before the others.
"Come on Dean, you're a growing boy I know you can eat more than that." Tom told him putting another piece of chicken in his plate. "Have some more." he urged smiling at him. "Oh and we always take a family vacation in the summer when the kids are out of school. I think this year Mattie decided on the beach."
"Have you ever been to the beach Dean?" Mattie asked Dean.
"No ma'am." he replied quietly.
"You're gonna love it. The kids have a ball playing in the ocean and in the pool at the hotel and we always check out the attractions, play mini golf, shop and enjoy some local dining."
"Yes ma'am." he nodded to her.
"Dean honey, its ok to call me Mattie like Tom said."
"Yes Mattie." he replied.
"I usually do some fishing during the summer too, I'm sure you'll enjoy that being in the outdoors and catching our food and cooking it. There's nothing better than fish cooked over an open fire." Tom said a gleam in his eyes that spoke of more than fishing.
"Yes sir...I mean Tom." Dean corrected himself watching a dark shadow cross Tom's face for a moment as he gazed at him but it was gone in the blink of an eye. Dean felt chills go down his spine making him feel uneasy. They were all being nice to him and didn't seem to be hiding anything that he could tell. Yet, there was a just something that seemed off about Tom that made him uncomfortable. Dean looked back down at his plate wondering if he could eat the chicken without throwing up. They seemed so normal and nothing seemed out of place, but still some instinct told him to be wary.
"So Dean, I've talked with the school and they're going to let you finish this year at your school since there's less than a month left in this school year." Mattie told him. "We'll get you registered in our school district this fall."
"Alright ma'am." he replied.
The Spencers talked about family things and planning a family vacation once school was out and other mundane topics. Dean sat quietly and finished his meal while listening to their chatter. He didn't feel comfortable joining in, nor did he want to. He wasn't part of their family yet and he felt like an outsider intruding in their lives. He would bide his time and try to be invisible.
"Breakfast is at seven Dean and I'll take you to school and pick up you at three." Mattie told him. "Seth and Hope ride the bus to school so we won't have a problem with transportation."
"If you need anything for school let us know." Tom told him. "Ok guys help your Mom clear the table and get your homework done."
"Yes Dad." they said getting up and taking their plates to the kitchen.
Dean got up and took his plate in there too and watched Hope and Seth begin to load the dishwasher. He passed his plate to them and looked around for more to try and help.
"You can take the trash out if you want." Hope said nodding to the full trashcan. "It goes in the one out by the garage."
"Ok." he said pulling the bag out and tying it before heading for the back door. Dean walked out onto a small patio and looked around. To the left was a deck with a grill and picnic table and to the right was a two car garage and two large trash cans sitting beside them. He made his way to a can and deposited the bag into one of them. He started walking back to the house but paused at the window of the garage. He saw part of it had been remodeled. There was a large television sitting on a stand with a recliner centered in front of it.
"Oh that's my man cave." Tom said coming up behind him making him jump. "I fixed it up after Seth was born to give me a place to relax, watch a game, you know wind down."
"Better go help." Dean said backing away and heading inside. He didn't see the way Tom looked him over as he walked away. Dean was a good looking kid with blonde hair and green eyes and had a decent build. He had had a growth spurt a while back and was slightly taller than most ten, almost eleven year olds. He played soft ball and ran track at school to keep active and try to fit in.
spn
The days passed without any problems or any hints of danger for Dean as he tried to settle into his new routine with this family. The kids were nice and tried to help him fit in. He did have chores to do, but nothing like what he was made to do at the first foster home he had been put in. Dean hoped he had found a good foster home like when he was with the Harpers.
"Since this is the last day of school, we're going out to dinner tonight to celebrate." Mattie told Dean as she drove him to school. "Seth and Hope love to get pizza, is that alright with you?"
Dean was surprised that his opinion was being asked. He looked over at Mattie to be sure she really wanted an answer before responding.
"That's fine." he finally spoke.
"Good! Have a good day at school and I'll see you at three." she told him smiling sweetly at him.
spn
"Trevor, look there's a flyer about soccer camp starting next week, think you might be interested in going to it?" Enily asked him as they drove back home from school.
Trevor took the announcement and looked it over contemplating his answer. He was a very serious child who always thought anything he did before expressing his opinion.
"I think I'd like that." he said handing the flyer back. "Is there a team I can play on?"
"I'm sure there is; we'll check after camp and get you on one. This'll give you something to do this summer. Are there any other camps or things you'd like to do?"
"Could I go to computer camp?" he asked. "I want to learn more about them. It says you have to be ten but could you see if I can get in?"
"Of course, I think after they see how advanced you are there won't be a problem. I'll go in and see about it after dropping you off."
"Thanks Mom." Trevor told her as he got his backpack and lunch together so he could get out.
"You have a good day sweetie." she called to him as he waved before heading into the school. He was so intense at times it worried her how he was going to be when he got older. He already acted like a small adult so wise beyond his years that sometimes she wasn't sure how to treat him. There were times she knew he was more intelligent than she was regarding some topics and she hoped they could help him do whatever he wanted in this life.
