Author's notes: The reviews I got here overwhelming! I was thrilled! So thanks 'dartigen' for your review.You are so right! "If there were more big brothers like Dean and little brothers like Sam in the world, it would be a much better place". Thanks 'meilinglovesshaoran' for your review. Yes, there was a section in the last chapter where I acidently put "Jim" instead of "Caleb" so sorry for that guys! Thanks for letting me know. Thanks 'angelscovegirl' for your review. Yeah, Dean is starting to understand that sometimes even he needs someone like Sam to look after him. He sees that Sam is a lot tougher than he lets on at times. They're really bonding now.Thank 'lblficwriter' for your review.Yeah, the one tear and the talking, at elast Dean knows he has Sam now. Thanks 'sammygirl1963' for your review. Yeah, poor Caleb. Sam just couldn't help but notice! The end scene was my fave, glad you liked it too! Thanks 'cavetrollgrl' for your review. Caleb is very understanding to Dean's situation and knows how to help the bes the can, so it was good Dean had him.This is a very brotherly-bonding chapter and there will be more soon enough. The brotherly love just keeps coming! Thanks 'living in a fantasy' for your review. Dean did show is sad side, and hopefully he can continue to do that, but we know Dean...he's as stubborn as his father. Caleb was fun to write, so saying I ddi him well was really encouraging, thanks! Thanks 'Tuff man' for your review! Brotherly-love conquers all! Sam is very keen on being called 'Sammy' now so Dean won't have much choice in the matter if he refuses, guess that's how it becomes a habit.Your review was motivating as well, thanks.

Thankyou everyone for your reviews because they were probably the most i've recieved for one chapter in less than two weeks! So thanks, they motivated me to write more and inspired me so you're all wonderful! Now, enough from me...on with the chapter!

Chapter Ten: Pedal by Pedal

John parked the Impala just outside of Caleb's place the next day and got out, being cautious of his sore shoulder. That demon was one damned bitch! He inhaled sharply and braced himself because Sam was going to hug him, regardless of what he said about a sore shoulder. At least Dean as cautious of any injuries his dad might have before hugging him.

John stood outside the door for a moment and then pushed it open.

'Daddy!' Sam squealed in delight and rushed to him, hugging him hard.

'Oof!' John yelped and almost toppled backwards. He used the doorframe for support, which was probably just as well. It seems the longer he left Sam, the stronger his hugs.

'Hey dad' Dean grinned and pulled Sam off him.

John couldn't even respond as he kept his mind straight on breathing.

'Daddy okay?' Sam wondered.

'Oh yeah, great' John grumbled in sarcasm, thankful that the small boy wasn't able to pick up on sarcasm yet.

'Yay' Sam went to hug him again but Dean grabbed him.

'Ah, we going now dad?'

'Yeah Dean, go get your stuff' John sighed and Caleb came into the room.

'Hey John' he nodded and John smirked sarcastically.

'That bad huh?' Caleb smiled in amusement. 'Jim okay?'

'Oh he's great, thanks to me' John sighed. 'Old man is getting out of practice'

'Well it was hollowed ground' Caleb shrugged. 'What was it anyway?'

'Demon, and it wasn't in the church' John answered but went quiet again as Dean and Sam came back with their bags.

'Well thanks again' John smiled at his friend.

'No trouble, take care of yourselves' Caleb waved and shut the door. 'Damn Winchesters' he sighed and shook his head. 'Knock one down and he'll get up to bite you back'

John told the boys to wait in the car while he went up to the motel office.

'Hey um' he smiled at the clerk behind the counter.

'Need a room?' the lady asked. She wasn't an elderly lady, but at least a few years older than John.

'Yeah. You take MasterCard?'

'Sure do, hon' she smiled and accepted his card. 'Those your boys?'

'Yeah' John nodded but just wanted a room so he could rest.

'Where's their mother?' she asked and saw the pained look on his face. 'I'm sorry' she said. 'Would you like two singles, a single and a double or two doubles?' she wondered.

'Two doubles' John grunted and rubbed his face with his palm.

'Okay, there you go Mr Anderson' she smiled and handed him a key.

John went back to the car and drove it closer to the room, as usual it was the one he preferred: furtherest from office and away from the main road area. He got out and Dean soon followed close by with Sam at his side, annoyed at being woken up.

John yanked open the motel room door and collapsed onto the nearest bed, asleep instantly.

Dean sighed and guessed his dad had gone through a tough time saving Pastor Jim. He released Sam's hand and turned to shut the door, locking it as well.

Sam rubbed his eyes and yawned. Dean noticed and picked him up. He carried his sleepy brother over to the other bed and laid him on it. Sam was fast asleep in seconds, sucking his thumb happily. Dean was a bit tired too, but he sucked it up and got on with the job as his dad always told him.

Dean grabbed his dad's bag and yanked out the salt tin. He salted the door and all the windows in the entire motel room that he could find. He hung his head with another sigh and then returned the tin back to his dad's bag. After that he checked the salt lines and dragged his feet over to the bed and lay beside Sam as carefully as he could without waking him. Sam rolled over unconsciously and leaned against him, gripping Dean's shirt with his spare hand while the other one was occupied with the thumb sucking.

It was dark when John roused. He sat up and instantly regretted it. His shoulder was so damn painful. He shedded his jacket and over shirt, then his shirt and went into the bathroom to see how bad it was. It was really bad. He knew it meant it needed stitching up and John now regretted telling Jim it was fine. He sighed and went to his bag, grabbing the first aid kit and some stitching materials. Unfortunately though, the wound was too out of his reach. He shut his eyes and cursed at himself before glancing over at Dean, not wanting to have to do this but he was facing either that or the hospital and that option was really not a good idea…for many, endless reasons.

'Dean?' John asked but he was sound asleep. He used his good arm to scoop his eldest up off the bed, cautious not to wake Sam.

'D-dad?' Dean woke in surprise and was put on the floor. 'I salted the place' he said and John looked around, surprised he'd forgotten to do that.

'Good boy' John smiled. 'Ah, I know it's a bit early to be teaching you this…but ah, when I helped Pastor Jim…the thing got my shoulder pretty bad and I can't reach it to stitch it up'

'Oh…so you want me to?' Dean asked nervously and John nodded. 'Okay' Dean agreed, not wanting to let his dad down when he needed him.

Sam opened his eyes and rubbed his nose. He sat up and yawned loudly. His mouth staying hanging open once he saw his dad sitting on the bed shirtless and Dean standing on the bed behind him…stitching up the last part of his wound. John winced again and grinded his teeth but didn't want Dean to get the wrong idea so he bit down on his yelps and sucked it up.

Sam jumped off the bed and rushed over.

'What happened? What doing?' he demanded.

'Dad's just got bit of an owie' Dean said in a way Sam would understand and tied the knots like John had instructed earlier.

'That one big owie' Sam gasped after seeing it and walked in front of his dad. 'You kay daddy?'

'Yeah' John said through clenched teeth. 'Dean's doing a great job'

Dean finished and John got his shirt back on.

'So you boys up for pizza?' he asked and Sam grinned.

'Pizza! Pizza!' he jumped and Dean cracked a smile but was still a bit shaken up.

'You okay Dean?' John asked.

'Super' Dean nodded untruthfully and went to wash his hands.

John woke the boys up early the next morning to tell them he had to go out for the day to pick up some stuff. And that the lady at the motel reception was going to keep an eye on them but shouldn't bother them much, only with a snack or drink every few hours since she couldn't help herself.

'Sammy bored' Sam announced as he and Dean sat outside, leaning against their motel room door. They were currently watching some of the people clearing out for work or lunch, leaving the place mostly deserted.

'Ah okay' Dean thought for a moment. No TV because they needed some fresh air (plus nothing worth watching was on) and they never have any toys…

'Look Dean, look!' Sam grabbed him and pointed to the end of the car park. 'The lady has a bike' he smiled.

Dean saw the reception lady going through some of her old things in one of the small sheds and a small bike was one of the many items being removed. Dean grabbed Sam's hand and led him over.

'Excuse me? Can we play with that bike?' he asked politely, pointing to the discarded item.

'Oh sure, you boys can have it' the reception lady smiled at him and held out the red bike as well as a blue helmet.

'Still got your helmet on properly?' Dean asked as he came back outside, ready to teach Sam how to ride the bike since it was his perfect size for him and the helmet fitted perfectly. They had tried to before but never really got a good bike or enough time…this time Dean was going to teach Sam to ride a bike!

'Yes sir!' Sam cheered. 'Don't I need those other things? For knees and elbows?'

'Nah, you're not a cry-baby' Dean told him but it was mainly because the lady didn't have any. 'Ready?'

'Yup!' Sam was grinning happily. He was so excited to finally be able to ride a bike!

'Okay' Dean helped him onto the bike and steadied it for him.

'Go! Go!' Sam was saying, bouncing on his seat a bit. He'd tried to ride a bike before but only had it for a bit and with Dean's support. 'Go Dean!' he said.

'Hang on!' Dean frowned at his hyped up brother.

'To what?' Sam panicked.

'Huh?' Dean looked at him.

'You said hang on…to what?' Sam tipped his head sideways in confusion.

'Ah…' Dean sighed. 'The handlebars' he pointed and Sam gripped him so tight his knuckles paled. 'Good. Now, I'm going to push you for a bit but you have to steer and pedal okay?'

'Yup! Go!' Sam yelled and Dean started pushing the bike.

'Pedal Sam!' Dean reminded him as he was doing all the hard work here.

Sam looked at his feet and started pedalling.

'Watch where you're going!' Dean yelled and Sam looked up in time to watch as Dean grabbed the bike tighter, skidding it to a stop a few inches before a parked car.

'Again! Again!' Sam cheered and Dean sighed in relief of not getting his brother hurt or wrecking some stranger's car. Dean knew that Sam saw this as just another ride Dean was providing him and didn't seem to understand that he actually had to do something too. Dean thought how to explain this to his five-year-old brother.

'Sam?' he sighed.

'Yeah Dean?' Sam smiled at him.

'Riding a bike is a bit…different. Um, we need to work together as a team okay?'

'Okay' Sam nodded.

'Okay…now we each have a job to do. I'll push the bike and keep it steady while you pedal and make sure we don't crash…deal?'

'Deal' Sam nodded; feeling even more excited to have a very important job.

'Pedal' Dean ordered and Sam stuck his tongue out in concentration, pedalling as hard as he could. His steering was a bit wobbly at first while he tried to control the bike, but he got the hang of it and learnt to look where he was going and not at his feet or the ground.

'Way to go Sam!' Dean cheered and clapped. He'd just released the bike and Sam went pedalling away on his own.

'How do I stop?' Sam yelled as he saw a tree approaching fast and his feet kept going without his control.

Dean knew he had to learn but Sam was panicking so he just ran to the bike and grabbed it, pulling it to a sudden stop.

Sam sat there, pale hands gripping handlebars and his eyes scrunched tight, preparing for impact…that never came.

'Again, again!' Sam cheered.

'Promise you won't crash this time?' Dean sighed.

'I didn't crash' Sam crossed his arms and frowned at Dean.

'Because I stopped you'

'You can stop me again, so I won't crash' Sam nodded.

'Sam…'

'Go! Go!' Sam bounced on his seat again. 'Look! Daddy!' he jumped off as the Impala drove to park near their motel room.

'What are you boys doing?' John asked, looking a bit concerned that they were so far from the room.

'I riding bike, Dean stopping my crashing' Sam nodded.

'You're riding a bike?' John smiled proudly but it had been one thing he had wanted to teach Sam…oh well, at least someone taught him.

'Yup! Watch me daddy!' Sam grabbed Dean and pulled his brother over to where the bike lay.

'On!' Sam demanded and Dean helped him onto the bike. 'Push me and I show daddy!'

Dean nodded and helped Sam start off.

Sam drove around the car park without assistance or crashing. He was so determined to show his dad that he could do something too. Normally all the praise and encouragements from John were directed at Dean, So Sam felt this was his chance to get something from his dad for a change. He pedalled hard and gripped the handlebars to control his steering and was so proud that he could ride his bike around without needed Dean as the brakes or to prevent likely crashes. He heard Dean cheered and his dad clapping, so that made him feel really good. Sam kept riding as he spoke.

'How do I stop?' he asked Dean.

'You know how you're pedalling forward?' Dean asked, thinking quickly.

'Yup!' Sam replied.

'Well, pedal backwards' Dean instructed and Sam pulled a face.

Sam did not know how changing pedalling direction was going to make any difference but he trusted his brother and obeyed. The bike screeched to a sudden halt right beside Dean and John.

'I did it!' Sam jumped of and leapt in joy. 'I ride bike by myself!'

'Way to go, Sammy!' Dean grinned.

Sam nodded a "thanks" and looked up at his dad hopefully. Dean bit his lip and looked up at John as well, it wasn't common for Sam to get praise for his achievements so he just hoped that this time was different.

John didn't see how riding a bike was of any real use or how it was a big deal, but the looks he was getting from both the boys suggested it was a big deal to them.

'Ah…' he sighed and crouched down to Sam's level. 'High five' he held up his hand.

Sam grinned big and gave his dad a high five happily, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

'Again, again!' Sam then grabbed Dean's arm. 'Pleeeease?' he pleaded and remembered how certain faces get him his way and pulled the "cute" one.

'Okay' Dean nodded and helped Sam back onto the bike.

John watched the boys for another minute before going to unload some large books from the car.

The next day was a Friday and just as the day before, the boys were bored. John had made it clear that they would not be keeping the bike, so Sam wanted to ride it every chance he got. And that's what he did.

'Here you go' a voice reached Dean's ears, making him jump. He then looked up to see the reception lady was placing a plate of sandwiches beside him.

'Chicken and salad' she announced. 'I didn't know what you boys like, but they're really nice' she smiled and then placed two bottles of cold water next to the plate. 'If you need anything else, I'll be in the office'

Sam saw the lady walking off and spotted the food. He jumped off his bike, forgetting to hit the brakes and rushed over, causing the bike to crash to the ground loudly.

'Be careful' Dean sighed, but knew his brother wasn't listening.

'Yum!' Sam grinned at the taste of real food instead of heat-ups or takeaways.

'Um Sam? We need to hit the books soon…okay?' Dean asked. Since they were both home-schooled then they had to study the books their dad had given them and that had to be done three times a week. Today being one of the days in which from lunchtime to dinnertime…it was study, study and more study!

'Yup' Sam nodded. 'But I still can't read Dean'

'I'll teach you' Dean sighed, but he wasn't the best reader yet himself, being only nine-years-old.

John arrived back to the motel room on time for dinner that night and brought the boys some bought food to share, such as chips, pies and stuff. It wasn't the healthiest meal but if it filled them up then all was well.

'Tur…tle' Sam poked his tongue out again and focused hard on the word Dean was pointing to in one of their books. 'Turtle!' Sam grinned and looked at Dean.

'That's right' Dean confirmed and moved to the next word.

'Said' Sam smirked because he knew that one. 'Th-en th-the big cr…croc…oh…dile' Sam frowned. 'Crocodile!'

'Good!' Dean was very proud at how far Sam had come today, he was reading more words then Dean really could at his age.

John placed some things near the door and in his room, listening and watching his sons happily. But had Dean noticed the look…he wouldn't be as cheerful. John's expression was of someone whom was worried and even stressed about a decision he has reached.

'J…jum…jump-ed, an-and th-en he t-turn-ed…' Sam sighed and rubbed his eyes a bit.

'Okay, enough for today' Dean decided, seeing the strain on his brother's face.

Sam frowned in disappointment when Dean closed the book but smelt food. 'Hi daddy' he waved to him, noticing him for the first time. 'What wrong?'

Dean was in instant attention at those words and looked at his father's face.

'Um, nothing' John lied and tried to look happier, but he felt a sickening drop in his stomach. 'Boys ah…there's something I've got to tell you' he sat across from them.

Sam and Dean stared at him almost without blinking and while John tried to think of the right wording, Sam assumed it was another guessing game.

'Are we moving again?' he asked and John was actually relieved to do it this way.

'No Sam…well actually yes but only a short way…more into town' John sighed. 'There's something else' he added, so they knew the moving wasn't the main part of this conversation at all.

'We meeting Pasta Jim?' Sam asked hopefully.

'We've already met Pastor Jim' Dean reminded him.

'I wanna meet him again!' Sam frowned and saw John shake his head. 'Then we meet other friend like Uncle Bobby or Caleb?'

'No, nothing like that' John sighed.

'We're not going on plane again…are we?' Dean joined in, his voice a bit shaky though.

'I like planes' Sam felt the need to mention.

'Nope' John frowned, he'd have to just tell them. 'Ever since…for a while now you boys have been home-schooled' he said, starting to explain but every breath of air was Sam's assumption to say something.

'What's that?' he asked.

'Learning at home…not at a real school' Dean told him and continued to stare at his father's face.

'Sam, Dean…well, it's time you boys went to a proper school. To interact with kids your age and…yeah' he sighed. 'You both start real school on Monday, okay?'

Sam's eyes went huge and he was speechless. Dean however did not like the idea even the slightest.

'No! No, I don't wanna!' he screamed and Sam jumped.

'Too bad' John said firmly. 'Both of you are starting school Monday…final!' he then left the room to announce that the conversation was over.

'Real school bad?' Sam wondered, judging by his brother's outburst.

'No' Dean sighed, not wanting to ruin Sam's first school experience by scaring him. 'I've been a few times…it's okay. Just…' he sighed. 'Come on, time for dinner'

Sam nodded and reached over for a pie. 'We go real school' he said. 'Cool'

'If ya say so' Dean sighed with a shrug

'I say so!' Sam snapped and then sat back in his chair to enjoy his dinner.

Author's notes: They y'all go! I know some of you have been asking about Sam's first day of school and such, and now we're finally getting around to it. Dean has been the school a few times, but only for a week or so maximum. This time they'll be going like regular students...for now. Anyway, it's not all school stuff of course, I'm still going to bring in Bobby, Jim and Caleb whenever possible as they're so much fun! Please let me know what you all thought! Please review!