Sorry peoples! I had such productive plans for my day off today, I got up at 8, had my breakfast, brushed my teeth yada yada, then somewhere along the line I fell asleep again and didn't wake up till 3 in the afternoon. I've only been up a few hours and I'm tired already. I blame college, you can too! Off to watch Friends now and probably fall back to sleep.

Badass Beta/Awesome Editor- Samanatha V

Pick up your feet and take me home

Dinner was filled with chit chatting about nonsense, every damn topic under the sun that didn't involve Dean and the subject of coming home, it was weird how many things they could come up with when avoiding stuff. Dean had to hand it to them, they were doing a pretty good job, even gotten a few words out of him at one point.

But all that changed when they were all sitting on front of the TV watching the big football game stuffed with Steve's surprisingly good dinner. Even Dean had more than just picked at it and now had more dessert in his bowl than he'd ever seen in his life and it was kinda funny, Mary seemed to want to fatten him up or something.

He had just started in on Mary's pumpkin pie when she spoke the dreaded subject like she was talking about the weather.

"So Dean, honey, when do you think you'll be packing up here?"

Everyone was struck speechless. Dean couldn't think of a single word to force from his mouth, not one - what language did he speak again?

No one else knew how to break the sudden vacuum of air in the room so they all stayed perfectly still with their forks frozen in mid air.

"I- uh... I do-... it's no-... I'm so-, I-I..." words Dean! Full words and then we'll work on sentences after!

"It's okay, if you're not ready we understand. I got you some Lucky Charms and brought them just in case 'cause Steve said he was running out."

The sharp vice tightening around his chest was slowly releasing and letting him breathe again.

"Sorry." He lowered his head in shame, he messed up everything. Ron was right, just one fuck up after another, it ran through his veins he used to say and now he was starting to understand what he meant.

Mary glanced at her husband, no words needed to convey the worry and concern they felt, while John patted Sam on the shoulder, who was looking blindly at his plate, all appetite seemingly lost.

"So, do you think your team is going to win this year?" Steve forced cheerfulness into his voice. Seeing the tense faces and Dean losing the small measure of ease he had gained, he was determined to keep things going so that the troubled family could learn to talk again.

"Well I'm sure that they can move the ball, I just hope that it's forward," John offered jokingly, and it was enough to break the awkwardness and fill the void.

Not long after, Mary and Sam were washing up in the kitchen, chatting softly, Sam staring intently at the pots he was methodically drying.

John, Steve and Dean had been watching the rest of the game, only Dean knew the other two had spent more time sneaking glances at him than watching the screen. By half-time he was sick of the staring so he cleared his throat to be excused.

"Uh... can I go out for a while?" Dean had rarely asked that, but since Steve told him he needed to know where he was heading from now on, it was only polite, but the thing was, he wasn't asking Steve, he was asking John, who looked more than shocked Dean was looking at him while he spoke.

"Uh, yeah sure kid, where you going?"

"To see Angus," he replied simply.

"Sure, just stick close and don't be long." John cocked a questioning eyebrow at Steve who shrugged at the unfamiliar name.

Dean nodded then left the house through the kitchen door, running past a startled Sam before he even had a chance to ask where he was going. He didn't even stick around for them to debate with each other who Angus was.

"Maybe he's a friend from school," Mary suggested, but shrugged it off quickly when she saw her youngest upset he wasn't invited to come along.

SPN

When Dean got to the park, he sat himself down on his claimed swing seat and stared at the grey wind whipped sky. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he shivered as a gust seeped through his jacket and wished he had put another sweater on. He'd left without anything so he sincerely hoped there was nothing other than normal wildlife in the rattling trees.

"Hey boy," he grinned when he saw a black nose under the far bushes. "Where you been Angus buddy?" he asked walking over to the pup that had yet to come out. That was strange, the dog had been starting to come out to meet him. "What's up?" he frowned when again, the dog still didn't move, head resting solidly on his paws. "Come on man don't tell me you're sick of me too," he bent down near the dog but far enough away so he wouldn't nip at him like he tried once when he got too close too soon.

When Angus whined though, his tail thumped with welcome, Dean's heart sunk in worry.

"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you boy, it's okay," he whispered, slowly reaching out a hand to stroke him behind the ears. Angus leaned into the touch then struggled to stand and move a little closer before yelping. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Dean was very quickly aware Angus wasn't walking straight, he wasn't walking at all really. He scooted closer and his friend moved in too before his back leg gave out and he landed on his side.

"Whoa, dude you don't look so good." He stroked Angus' belly and waited for him to stop trembling and try and stand up again but he couldn't.

Without changing the soothing motion of his hand he looked closely at the ragged, still seeping, gash on the hind leg beneath the bloody matted fur as well as the other numerous marks and abrasions. From the occasional twitch when he accidentally hit a sore spot the poor guy was also one big bruise.

"Who did this to you buddy? Jeez, that's gotta hurt," fury rose in him at the asshole who had done this to Angus. A black thought crossed his mind that maybe he should change the target of his intended hunt.

Dean hated that he wasn't as well educated in doggie first aid as he was in human. Shit, now what was he supposed to do? Vets cost money, he didn't have any, and he was pretty sure Angus would flip out anyway if he went to some creepy animal hospital. He didn't blame the little guy, he knew exactly what it felt like to wake up in a big white building alone, surrounded by strangers and misery. He couldn't let that happened to the poor dude, the Winchesters hadn't let that happen to him!

That gave him pause. Yeah, the Winchester's had taken him in when he was hurting and had nobody and nothing... Oh hell! The sudden burst of guilt was interrupted by the soft brush of a paw against his leg. Looking into the warm brown eyes he knew he had to make things right.

"It's okay Angus, we're gonna get you help, it's gonna be okay buddy, I promise you, you're gonna be fine."

Ignoring the cold he whipped his jacket off and wrapped Angus up in the fabric before he cradled him to his chest, praying he would be okay. He couldn't have anyone else die on his watch, he wouldn't! Angus might be just some stray but Dean understood what it was like to be unloved and a convenient punching bag.

He didn't know what he planned on doing after he got back to Steve's but maybe he or John would know what to do. They had to have had dogs when they were kids, right?

Furry head tucked under his chin, he walked as quickly as he could, careful not to jolt the pup too much, he'd been scared enough for one day.

Angus was whimpering but didn't wriggle much in his jacket. This wasn't a good sign, poor dog was freezing, hurting, and terrified. Dean started to jog, keeping his steps smooth but intent on getting the little guy some help as fast as possible. Alone and beaten - he'd been there many times before, it wasn't a pleasant place to be. He couldn't speak for Angus, but he knew what he needed in those times and what helped him, so he would do his best to get his new friend that same help.

He would make everything right.

SPN

Outside the house, Dean hesitated, not certain of either his or Angus' welcome. "It'll be okay," he whispered yet again, not sure whether he was talking to himself or the dog, he shifted to fit Angus under one arm so he could knock with the other, "Guys!" he yelled and then Steve's door swung open.

Mary was pleased, yet totally surprised and shocked at what she saw. Pleased that her son was back, though shivering in just a light sweater, surprised that he felt the need to knock, and shocked at the bundle which he carried in his arms. She could just see a pair of floppy ears and scared brown eyes in a rather battered, yet adorable face, hidden in the folds of his jacket.

Everyone always said Sam was King of the puppy dog eyes but right now Mary would have said Dean could have given him more than a run for the title as he turned them full force on her pleading for help.

"Oh honey what-, what happened?"

"I-I don't know, I just... I was at the park and I found him hurt... can you help him? I-, I don't know what to do." He'd never sounded so helpless, nor felt it in his life.

Dogs were a vets responsibility, she reminded herself. She didn't know where this dog had been and, as cruel as it sounded, she didn't know what germs or diseases he might be carrying, but Dean looked so hurt by this dog's condition she just couldn't tell him to put him down where he found him and come inside and wash his hands.

"John!" she called moving out of the way and signalling to Dean to bring the dog inside.

He stepped inside before moving into the kitchen next to Mary, unconsciously holding Angus tighter. Did he put him down on the floor? Did he lay him on the table? Did he take him upstairs to set him on a mattress? Such a pointless dilemma in all of this was making his mind spin so he decided to just stand there with Angus in the safest place for him right now - his arms.

Alarmed at the tone of Mary's voice, John was there in the doorway in record time. "Wha-, oh hell," he sighed when he saw the scene - one beaten to hell dog and one Dean doing his best to keep it together but barely being able to hide his shaking under the few layers of clothing he had left, what with the rest being wrapped around the bundle in his hold.

"I don't know what to do," to most people that would sound like a whine, but to John and Mary that was Dean doing his best efforts to beg for help, and make it sound like he wasn't.

"Steve, we need some help here man," John called around the door frame before he moved closer for a better look at the thing wrapped in his son's hold.

Not even Dean expected the dog to have enough energy to move so it was a big shock when he almost leaped from his arms and came close to tearing John's throat out. Dean scrambled to hold the suddenly struggling animal as he whined and tried to get away from the large, looming human.

"Whoa... I guess he likes me as much as you did when we first met... good job you came round huh?" John joked backing up for Dean to settle the mutt.

By now Sam and Steve had entered the room and both, like Mary and John, were trying to figure out a way to be helpful. But to everyone that came close, including Sam, Angus kicked up a fuss and ran the risk of hurting himself even more. His hind legs were kicking at Dean's ribs hard enough to leave some bruises and if it weren't for his heavy jacket being between him and Angus' nails, Dean would have been left with some damn deep scratches right now too.

"Hey boy, they're not gonna hurt you, why the hell would I bring you here if they would? You gotta relax, you're hurt and you're gonna make it worse."

That dog whisperer guy would come in really handy right now.

"Let me try," Sam moved in closer again, carefully he extended his hand with his fingers closed for the dog to sniff ready to snatch it back if Angus snapped at him. When the dog cautiously checked out his hand and gave a tentative lick he moved past the sharp teeth and gently began to stroke Angus' head in a soothing motion that the dog relaxed into. Despite Sam scaring him the other day, and ruining his time with Dean, he began to settle enough to close his eyes and fall in a seeming exhausted sleep.

"Jeez, you and this little guy are like two peas in a pod," John complimented as they all watched Sam calm the dog like he had done Dean many times over the years.

"He's bleeding," were the only words Dean could get out now that the lump he was holding had stilled.

Steve left for his linen cupboard for several thick towels before he ran back to the kitchen and laid them on the floor so Dean could finally set Angus down and leave Sam to pet him anywhere there wasn't a bruise or cut.

"Think he needs stitches but, it's been a while since we had to do them," John commented both on Steve and Mary's behalf too when examining Angus's leg. They'd all had more than basic first-aid training, and John had put his to practice while a marine, but distance of time meant a fair bit of rust in their skill-set.

"He'll be okay?" Dean was trying to just say it in a statement but it certainly didn't come off that way when everyone looked at him in sympathy.

"We'll clean him up and see how he is when he wakes up. Dean why don't you run upstairs and get some bandages?" John was taking charge then, good, that was good, because Dean was close to losing it right now. Orders, John telling him what to do, would help, having a focus, a job to do, always helped.

"Top cabinet in the bathroom," Steve told him.

He ran upstairs knowing Angus was in safe hands, and after collecting the red box, he leaned against the bathroom wall and took in a few deep breathes before running back downstairs. He was relieved when he got back to the kitchen, there was no awkward talk from anyone, just silence and concern.

It didn't take that long to clean the dog's cuts and cover the worse ones. They were doing the best they could but it looked like a vet trip was definitely in order. John's heart pinched when he took note of the many scars on the pup's body - seems like Sam's ability to sooth them wasn't the only thing the dog and Dean had in common. Maybe that's why Dean was so upset, why he looked so close to a dog they had never even heard the kid speak of until today; maybe Dean related to him in ways none of them could understand.

As Dean stood back knowing he would just get in the way, Mary turned him around, tugged him from the room and lifted up his sweater without warning. She ghosted her fingers over the red marks from Angus' back paws and tried not to sigh in sympathy when Dean flinched at even her lightest touch. "I don't think it's too bad, if you need ice just ask okay?"

Without nodding, he pushed away her hands not wanting to be exposed anymore, no matter how good her intentions were.

She smoothed his top back down knowing when to back off, rubbed his shoulders in a comforting manner before she let him go back to the kitchen with the others.

As he took his place again behind John, Dean could see Angus was still out. That all changed when John had a feel for any broken ribs. The dog woke with a yelp, but his fight wasn't long lived before he gave in, whimpering softly, to the ones stronger than him. He'd just been through too much. As the pup stilled his churning on the kitchen floor Dean knelt down, taking Sam's place as the kid moved back. Dean held Angus carefully while John carried on feeling for any serious injuries and everyone else watched, waiting.

"Alright little guy, doesn't look like there's anything too bad besides your leg. You should be fine huh? Tough guy like Dean here, right?"

Dean felt a bittersweet sensation in his chest, his cheeks turning a healthy shade of pink before he brushed it off like his ears had fallen deaf and went back to stroking Angus' belly, avoiding the cuts there at all costs. When John moved over a little, Sam sat back down on the floor.

"Wish we could give him doggy Tylenol or something," Steve sighed packing up the bandages and trashing the bloodied cotton balls.

"Do you know what happened to him Dean?" Mary asked taking a seat by her sons on the floor.

"No, I just went to see him at the park and... he was hurt when I got there, I swear the sons of bitches that did this to Angus are gonna pay," his volume was low for the dog's sake, but his tone was deadly.

"So this is Angus?" Sam asked, a relieved smile masquerading as a smirk. Dean wasn't ditching him or hanging around with any idiots then, that was good.

Dean nodded before he looked back down at the pained eyes that were killing him slowly, could they just turn it on and off or something? This was ridiculous!

"Stop looking at me like that! 'M not gonna let anyone else hurt you so you don't have to keep using your puppy eyes of doom. Come on Angus quit it," he grumbled when the dog wouldn't let up.

"I like that, Angus, good name," Sam smiled yet again stroking the dog that now either trusted him to be close or was too weak to snap at him again, he hoped it wasn't the latter.

The boys hadn't noticed the adults had left the room, they didn't know how much time had passed, how long they had watched Angus when he fell back to sleep while Sam stroked him and Dean muttered promises of how he was gonna take care of him - not un-like to the ones John had muttered to him a few years ago when he needed them.

When the dog snuffled awake, they fed him some left over Thanksgiving dinner and Dean smiled at the proof Angus' appetite was still intact when he almost ate his and Sam's hands as well as the turkey.

"Slow down dude, don't choke."

"I think he takes after you," Sam smiled angelically.

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

They stopped the banter when John, Mary and Steve all came back to the kitchen with rather sour looks on their faces. John kneeled down next to them and settled a hand on Dean's knee.

"Dean, uh... where did you find him?"

"The park," hadn't he said that already?

"Come on then."John stood up and took his keys from his pocket.

"What? Where?" shocked Dean looked to Mary and Steve for help but received none. It looked like Sam had even stopped breathing.

"The park, we gotta return this guy where you found him."

"Are you crazy?" he wasn't going to yell, he wasn't going to yell!

Angus' head snapped up and he barked loudly when he sensed Dean's distress.

"Dean, this might be stealing, he might belong to someone." Dean fumed, Mary was using her 'be reasonable' voice.

"So what if he does? It's not like they even care."

"Dean, he's gotta go back to the park son." John moved forward.

"So those bastard's can finish him off? Are you kidding me?" Dean hastily scooped the dog up and backing away towards the door, doing his best to sooth Angus when he began to whimper. His heart started to pound harder when out of the corner of his eye he could see Steve move to block his way.

"Dean, have you seen the scars on him? Who knows where he's been or what he might have done to-" John stopped himself deliberately.

"What? 'Who knows what he might have done to' what? To deserve them? What he might have done for someone to hurt him like that over and over again?"

"Yes," John nodded coldly.

Mary looked to the ground, it was hard to see the tears on Dean's face as John kept pushing his buttons, but they didn't know how else to get through to Dean. This was an unexpected, gold-plated, opportunity and, though it made her wince, they would use it. She just hoped this worked and didn't break their family forever.

Sam just couldn't bring himself to speak, what the hell was his dad playing at? He was upsetting Dean, why was he upsetting Dean? Hadn't he done enough?

"Dean, he might have hurt someone, many someone's, they might have retaliated, he might be dangerous," Steve offered.

"So, he's got some scars, big deal! He's never hurt me! The people that hurt him are just assholes!"

Dean looked down at the dog who was now shaking and hiding his head under his arm.

"It's not his fault," Dean forced as tears streamed his face and dripped into the fur beneath his chin.

"Is it yours?" John asked softening his tone and expression.

Dean let out a small choke as he was left speechless.

"Are your scars, where you came from, what happened to you, is it your fault?"

Silence.

"Dean?" John pressed, his head tilted to the side in sympathy.

"I-I don't know... I thought it was?" Dean sounded so much younger than his sixteen years right now.

"Give or take a tail, you and Angus have got a lot in common, you don't think its his fault, you know it's not. The same way we know none of your past problems - your anger, your scars, nothing - are your fault. You are not to blame for some asshole that thought he had the right to hurt you and leave you with a hell of a lot pain."

"But I-"

"Dean, if you could give Angus a clean slate, would you?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

"We want to give you a clean slate, we just want to help. Can you please let us help?"

"I-I... I don't know... what do I have to do?" Dean was as open and vulnerable as John had ever seen.

John smiled, he missed this kid, the Dean he loved, the Dean that had let him father him, teach him, look after him. "Well you can start by coming home... we'll work out the rest."

Dean nodded, without any hesitation he nodded, he fucking damn nodded for all his worth he did.

"Wait... can Angus come too?" his voice was back to its normal, tough teenager state, though his expression might need a couple of minutes.

"Yes, Angus can come too, as long as you clean him up before he walks on my carpet." Mary's voice was stern but softened with a radiant smile and everyone laughed a little.

"Thanks... thank you."

TBC...

Hope you like, I'm kinda nervous, chow folks!