The Changing Lights of the Rainbow

Chapter 10

"Well, maybe if you'd let me come along I could have helped!"

"Absolutely not! What in the world makes you think it would have been safe for you, when Dean and I both walked away with injuries?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you would have had an extra hand digging up all those graves and keeping an eye open for spirits. Then maybe, just maybe my brother wouldn't be laying there dying!"

"Damn it boy! Your brother is NOT dying!"

"Yeah, no thanks to you!"

Sam and John had been at each other ever since they woke up. Bobby went to bed and John took over watching Dean. He still hadn't woken from his injuries. He looked pale, and broken. Lifeless, laying on the couch.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean boy?"

"I mean it's not exactly like you did everything you could do to protect him, did you? If you had, he would have woken up by now, and wouldn't have the injuries he has. But you chose to continue 'the job' despite the fact your son was laying there, bleeding to death!"

"When the hell are you going to get it through your thick skull, boy? Your brother is not dying!"

"Like I said, no thanks to you. You're one hell of a dad, you know that? Most dads would actually give a shit, but noooo not our great and wonderful dad! you just let your kid lay there and bleed all over the place while you finish your precious work! Then you don't even get him the proper care! Instead you make us pack up and move… again! Just so no one will know you allowed your son to be injured."

"Sam, I don't know what the hell has crawled inside you, but I suggest you get it out before I put you in your place!"

"Oh, so I can join my brother in the world of injured unconsciousness?"

There voices were rising with their anger at each other.

"Stop fighting"

Dean's voice sounded so quiet and broken. He was barely able to get the words out through the pain that ran through is body. His eyes felt heavy, barely able to stay opened. He looked exhausted.

"DEAN!" Sam ran to his brother's side, throwing his arms around him.

Dean didn't have the heart to ask him to stop, but the grimace on his face spoke how much his brother's hug hurt him.

"Sam, get off your brother, you're hurting him"

Sam looked up at Dean with his dad's words, seeing the pain written across his face. He released his brother. "Sorry, Dean"

"It's okay" he mumbled, trying to keep his voice steady and calm.

"Hey there, Bud, how you feeling?"

"Like I was thrown against a tree, repeatedly." Dean answered with a slight grin. He grabbed his head, trying to stop the pain that shot through with the dizziness and wave of nausea, as he tried to adjust his position on the couch.

"Hey, easy there, Champ!" John stopped him with a gentle hand to the shoulder. Accompanied by a groan of pain from his son.

"Dean, I'm so happy you're awake!" Sam exclaimed

"I'm not dying, Sammy" Dean's voice sounded like he was dying, but he tried to reassure him that he was okay.

"Yeah, no thanks to Dad!" Sam repeated, anger still fuming

"Damn it Sammy, would you stop already?" John shouted back

"Both of you, stop!" Dean's frustration was getting the best of him.

Sam and Dad seemed to start bumping heads about six months ago and it has only gotten worse with time. Sam was never satisfied, and blamed everything on their dad, John stayed exhausted and frustrated, drowning his emotions in alcohol, which didn't help matters any. Dean always seemed to be in the middle. There's even been a few times he found himself on the receiving end of his dad's fist as he stepped between the two, blocking a punch that was meant for his little brother.

"Okay, calm down, son." John pleaded "Sammy, just let it go, at least for now."

"Fine, whatever" Sam crossed his arms across his chest and sat in the nearby chair with a huff.

All the commotion woke Bobby, who seemed none the happier to be coming down the stairs, but did look pleased that Dean had woken too.

"Well, at least I'm not the only one you two idjits woke up with your bickering." Bobby huffed. "How you feeling, boy?" He directed his question to Dean.

"been better" Dean replied, his voice sounding weaker than before.

"Yeah, well, you look like hell" Bobby replied.

"Back at ya" Dean said with a grin

The days came in a blur, Dean seemed to go in and out of consciousness over the next few days, his injuries healing. Sam stayed upset with their dad, he refused to speak to him, when he did it always ended in an argument, which resulted in waking Dean and him having to stop the two.

He was getting real tired of constantly having to stop his dad and brother from arguing.

"Look, I'm fine, honest, I'm feeling better. I've even been awake all day. My head doesn't feel fuzzy, and I don't feel like puking anymore. We can go, move on to our next stop, get little brother back in school"

All Dean wanted was for his family to get back to normal. He loved being at Bobby's. He always made sure the boys were taken care of. He knew once they left, their dad would leave too, and Dean would be responsible for taking care of his brother. But, it sure as hell beat their constant bickering.

"John, you know the boy isn't healed. He needs more time. How about, leaving them here for a little while, you can go on the hunt you found, and it'll give you and Sam a break from each other."

"Bobby, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my own boys."

"I didn't say you were, you idjit, but Dean don't need the added stress the two of you keep putting on him."

"I'm not putting anything on the boy"

"Oh really? You don't think you and Sam's arguing isn't adding stress to him? Not to mention the fact you've drilled 'take care of Sammy' into that boy's head enough times that he doesn't have much of a choice but to get in between the two of you."

John gave a sigh

"All I'm saying is I think it would do all you some good. And, Dean don't need to be worrying about his brother while you go hunt some other creature, not yet, he isn't healed enough. Hell, today is the first time he's stayed awake all day, and you're gonna expect him to be able to take care of himself and Sam?"

"Okay, fine, maybe you're right. But, Sam needs to be in school. Dean can't go, not yet, not until he's healed enough no one will be asking any questions."

"You don't think I don't know that?"

Sam and Dean were both relieved when they were told they were staying with Bobby. The days settled down once John got Sam enrolled in school and left for a hunt. He kept in contact, informing them of another hunt he had found, followed by another. The boys stayed with Bobby for 3 months. It was enough time for the end of the school year to approach.

Dean was healed, and ready to hunt again. John returned, and left with Dean. Sam didn't mind, he got to stay the summer with Bobby and his endless library.

"But Dad, I don't want to go!"

Summer had gone by way too fast. Sam enjoyed it there. He enjoyed the three months before summer too, but Dad insisted he had to leave, move with the family. He would, once again, be starting a new school. He would be leaving friends he made, and have to make new ones.

He tried to convince them to let him stay, but John wouldn't budge on his decision. Sam huffed and puffed all night, and the next morning. He sat in the backseat, sulking in his own self-pity. Dean just rolled his eyes as Sam, giving him a smile,

"Dude, its not going to be that bad, you should be used to it by now, besides, I'll be going back to school this time too"

Life went back to normal. Their maximum time in one spot was three months. During school holidays and breaks, Dean and John would go on hunts, leaving Sam to himself. It was finally the end of another school year.

"FIVE, I've been to five different schools this year!" Sam complained as they drove to Bobby's.

"Yeah, me too, so what's your point?" Dean tried to calm his brother, but didn't seem to have much effect.

"My point is, I've been to five different schools this year! How do you expect me to learn anything?"

"Well, I can tell you what you haven't learned, how to shut your piehole" Dean replied, irritated by his brother's outburst.

"Jerk!"

"Bitch!"

"Okay, you two stop it, now!" John shouted, stopping the two brothers instantly.

"Yes sir" Dean replied

"suck up" Sam groaned under his breath to Dean, receiving a much-deserved hateful glance from his older brother.

Summer came and went, the new school year started in a new school. Sam couldn't let it go when they beat last year's record. It was six schools this year. They barely stayed in one place longer than a month.

Dean didn't seem to mind. He had developed a cocky attitude. When he went to a new school, he didn't care. He found as many girls as he could to make out with, and didn't even bother doing his homework, he knew he wouldn't be there long enough for it to matter.

Sam tried. He kept up his grades and made as many friends as he could, which proved to be harder the older he got. He was tired of moving so much. Tired of feeling like a freak. He couldn't explain to the kids why they moved so much, so he found it easier to not make too many friends. He just concentrated on trying to keep his head low, and his grades up.

It wasn't like they were allowed to have a social life anyhow. They were under strict orders to return straight from school. The only place they were allowed to go was the library, for Sam's schoolwork. They weren't allowed to hang out anywhere, with anyone. It was a life of solitude, a life Sam hated.

He had plans. He was going to leave the family as soon as he was old enough. As soon as he graduated. He was going to go to college, to make something of himself, to become someone besides a hunter. But, he didn't dare tell anyone his plans. If he did, he was afraid Dad would make him stop going to school, block him from escaping the life he hated.

He tried once, he ran away for 2 weeks. But when Dad and Dean found him they weren't too happy. Actually, Dean seemed more relieved than mad, but Dad was pissed. He decided it best to not try that again, plus Dean had told him he'd get a hold of his ass himself if he ever tried something that stupid again.

Honestly, Sam was a little relieved when Dad started letting him go hunting with them. But, that was only because he didn't have to stay alone anymore, he wasn't thrilled about hunting. He loved the research part of it, but not so much the blood and gore that went along with killing the creatures. He didn't think he would ever get used to the smell of dead bodies, especially the ones they had to dig up and burn. The smell of burning flesh, was a unique smell, one that would never leave Sam's nasal passages.

He was jealous of Dean when he dropped out of school. But, he also had goals that required him to finish school. Dean's only goal was to hunt and kill the sons of bitches that hurt others. He didn't see a life beyond hunting. He didn't have any interest in anything else. No matter how tough the training got, or how unfair Dad's punishments were, he would stand strong and not leave their dad's side. He would fight till death.

Sam couldn't understand that. He couldn't understand how someone could have so much blind faith in someone else. He always made fun of his big brother, he called him 'Dad's little soldier' for years. He didn't see him as anything else. He couldn't see Dad as anything but a drill Sargent, he wasn't a dad anymore, that stopped a long time ago. But, Dean didn't seem to notice, or care.

It was Sam's first year of high school, and his first year without Dean there with him. He hated the emptiness he felt, but also loved the thought of freedom. Sure, he would still be watched, and have strict orders, but he wouldn't have anyone breathing down his neck while he was at school.

For once, he had a positive outlook on life. He had goals he was determined to see fulfilled and a new found freedom that he wouldn't take for granted. He even talked Dad into not making him move so much. He argued his case hard, and in the end, he won. He argued he was in high school and old enough to stay alone, they've left him alone for years, so why should this be any different. Just because they were going on a long hunt, far away, didn't matter, not with him being so much older. He could handle things himself. He knew the rules, knew the routine of salt lines and locks and weapons. He was surprised when Dad agreed. He was relieved that he wasn't going to be changing schools every month.

He was able to spend his first semester of high school in the same school. Then, he had to move, which was okay with him, as long as it wasn't in the middle of a semester. He was okay, for the time being, with the life he had. Dad and Dean seemed to be satisfied with their hunting life, for once, all was good in the Winchester family.