Chapter 11

Once a week Mattie took the kids to the library during the summer to keep them active in reading. Seth always sat in on story time while Hope and Dean looked through the books hunting some to check out. Dean liked the time he got to spend at the library. He loved to look through all the different kinds of books and find new things to read about. He found a couple books about rebuilding car engines and decided to give them a read. Building things and learning how they worked really peaked his interest. He was a hands on kid who liked learning by doing.

"Dean." Seth whispered hurrying up behind him. "Story time's over will you help me find a couple of books?"

"Sure, come on what are you interested in reading this time?"

"I don't know maybe something with animals. I liked going to the zoo and seeing all the animals."

"Ok, come on let's go see what we can find." Dean said leading him over to the children's books section. He waved to Hope to let her know where they were going. She waved back and mouthed she would be over in a minute.

Dean helped Seth look through several shelves of books until he found three that he wanted to read. They met Hope at the desk and checked out their books and went to the front to wait for Mattie who was in a book club meeting in the auditorium. They were going to the grocery store afterwards and Mattie was going to let them stop for a milk shake once they were done.

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"Honey, I got a text from my Mom, Dad's sick and she wanted me to come help out for a few days." Mattie explained to Tom while they were having dinner. "I thought I would head over there Thursday and come back on Monday. I can take the kids and they can stay with Holly and visit their cousins."

"Why don't you leave Dean here and I'll take him on a fishing trip, have some bonding time with him." Tom suggested. "No use dragging him alone to visit total strangers. You like fishing Dean?"

"Don't know sir." he mumbled since he had never been fishing.

"Well I don't see why not, it'll only be for a few days." she agreed. "I'll lay out a couple of casseroles you can heat up and you can always get takeout."

"Then it's settled, I'll go ahead and take a couple days vacation and get our trip planned." he smiled looking over at Dean with hungry eyes.

"You hear that kids? I want you to pack a bag for a few days you're going to visit your cousins."

"Ok Momma." Hope said.

"Seth you be sure to pack socks this time. Dean could you help him?"

"Yes ma'am." Dean said finishing up his meal. "Come on Seth." he told him taking their plates to the kitchen before heading for their bedroom followed by Seth. Dean helped him pack a bag and sat it by the door for tomorrow. "You want me to get your bath ready?"

"Ok, thank you." Seth said digging around for some clean pajamas and underwear. "Will you help me read later?"

"Sure, I'll wait for you to get finished." Dean replied from the bathroom. He got the bath ready and left Seth alone to bathe. He settled on his bed with a book and waited for Seth to finish in the bathroom. He could hear him playing in the tub with his boats and toys. Dean wondered if this was how it would of been if Sammy and him had stayed together. Would he be helping him with his baths and his reading? He was lost in thought when Seth came out of the bathroom dressed in his pajamas.

"I'm done Dean."

"Did you let the water out?"

"Yes and I put my toys away."

"Ok, get your book and we'll read." he told him scooting over on his bed making room for him. Seth got his book and crawled up on the bed with Dean settling down beside him and opening the book. Dean helped him read the book and they played a couple of card games before getting ready for bed.

"Night Dean."

"Night Seth."

"Dean I like you for an older brother."

"I'm glad." he replied softly. "Now go to sleep."

"Ok."

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"Have a safe trip and call me when you get there. Don't worry about us, we'll be just fine." Tom told Mattie kissing her before she got in the car. "You guys behave and have a good time."

"Bye Daddy." Hope and Seth called to their father from the back seat.

"I'll call halfway and when I get to Mom and Dad's."

Dean stood to the side and waved to them as Mattie backed out of the driveway and headed out.

"Well Dean looks like it's just you and me for a few days." Tom said clapping Dean on his back. "So you wanna head to the mall do a little shopping?"

"I guess." he said stepping slightly away from him.

"Go grab your jacket and we'll head out maybe get some lunch while we're there." Tom told him. "I'll meet you at the truck."

Dean nodded and went into the house to get his jacket. He came back out and locked the door behind him. Tom was sitting in the truck waiting for him and Dean headed for the truck getting in. Tom drove to the mall and they walked around it going in most of the stores. They grabbed a burger and fries at the Food Court before heading back home.

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"So, I'll put one of the casseroles in the oven for dinner tonight you have any requests?" Tom asked Dean.

"No sir, that's fine." Dean replied. "I'm gonna go for a run at the park."

"Alright but be careful."

"I will." he said slipping to his room to change clothes. Dean liked to run; it helped clear his mind and got his blood pumping. He found the park near the house had a good jogging path and he wanted to keep in shape for when school started back. Since he would be going to a different school, he would have to try out all over again for track and baseball.

The air outside was a little humid, but there was a gentle breeze blowing keeping it comfortable. Dean stretched on the porch and jogged down the driveway heading toward the park. He carried a water bottle in one hand and set out at a steady pace down the road. Dean felt all the tension slowly working its way from his body. When he got to the park, he saw there were others using the path too. He joined them and went into the zone tuning everything out around him as his shoes softly slapped the blacktop in a steady rhythm. He ran for four miles letting calmness wash over him with the feel of freedom and release.

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Dean drank his water and walked slowly back toward his house letting his body cool down after the run. He stopped at the mail box and gathered the mail to take inside. Dean laid the mail on the kitchen counter and headed to his room to shower. He didn't see Tom standing in the shadows watching his every move and taking in his lean sweaty body in his shorts and tee shirt that was plastered to his body.

"Is that you Dean?"

"Yes sir."

"Dinner will be ready in an hour."

"Alright." he called back.

Dean shut the door to his bedroom and rummaged in his dresser for clean clothes before heading to the bathroom to shower. The hot water felt good on his tired body and he was looking forward to an early night; he wanted to finish his library book and turn in. He wasn't really looking forward to dinner alone with Tom, but there wasn't much he could do about it but go ahead and get it over with.

After getting dressed and towel drying his hair, he checked the time and headed for the kitchen. The smell of the casserole wafted around the room. There were two plate settings at the bar along with a small basket of rolls.

"Good, you're here. It'll be ready in ten minutes. What would you like to drink?"

"Milk's fine."

"Milk it is, did you have a good run?"

"Yes sir."

"Are you going to try out for track at your new school?"

"Probably and baseball."

"Well I don't think you'll have any problem getting on the team and that'll mean we get to come to your games to cheer you on."

"If you like."

"That sounds good, ok here we go." Tom said sitting the casserole on a hot plate on the counter. "Let's dig in while it's hot." he told him spooning some into his plate.

Dean waited until he was done before getting some out for himself. He choose a roll and began to eat hoping Tom wouldn't try to make small talk with him. All he wanted to do was eat and escape to his room away from him. He still wasn't sure why Tom made him feel so uncomfortable but he hoped he could keep his feelings to himself until the others came back. Mattie, Hope and Seth all seemed fine and didn't throw up any warning flags that there was anything going on in the house. He was sure if things weren't good it would of shown by now. If it got too bad, he was going to tell the social worker he was still seeing every other week that he wanted to go back to the home.

Maybe he wasn't meant to be happy. He had let so many people down in his short life that he felt he didn't deserve a nice home with people who actually cared about him. He still held so much guilt inside of him for Sammy and for Billy. The weight on his shoulders was so heavy at times it felt like he couldn't breathe. He still dreamed of Sammy and now he had nightmares about Billy and not being able to save him from his fate.

"I'm gonna catch the game tonight, would you like to watch it?" he asked inviting him to his man cave.

"No, thought I'd read." Dean answered wondering why Tom was being so nice and asking him to his man cave too. "Thought I'd get to bed early and all."

"Alright then. If you need me, you know where to find me. We'll talk about that fishing trip tomorrow."

"Ok." Dean said getting up and rinsing his plate before putting it in the dishwasher. He grabbed a bottle of water before heading for his room not looking back at Tom as he sat in his chair watching Dean's every move licking his lips in anticipation.

"I'll see ya later Dean." he mumbled to himself while rubbing his fingers together ever so slowly.

A/N: Thanks so much to all who are following and have favored this story. Your thoughts are so appreciated and I want to thank all for the reviews you have left especially the guests who I can't personally thank. Your continued interest has prompted me to post more often and I hope you will have the time to leave me a review.

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