Warnings and disclaimers see chapter 1

Chapter 11 Stung

Dean was quiet on the way to the store and Sam decided to bypass the local smaller store in favor of the bigger store closer to town just to keep Dean out with him longer and for him to have more selection. At the store Sam grabbed a cart and rolled up and down the aisles without a plan in mind except to get some food Dean would like and some to fill Bobby's cupboards up. Dean stayed close to Sam's side and Sam tried to get his cues from Dean on what he thought he wanted. It took some work to find out what Dean wanted not what he thought Sam would want. After an hour they finally had enough in the cart for Sam to be happy with their outing.

Dean was quiet again as they packed the groceries in the car so Sam decided to have lunch in town. He called Bobby and let him know what they were up to and Bobby gave his approval that Sam was trying to connect with Dean. Sam picked a family style restaurant rather than a diner knowing even at ten Dean had seen his fair share of them. They sat quietly and looked at the menus then Sam ordered for them after asking Dean what he wanted. Sam wasn't happy that Dean only wanted an order of fries but decided not to pressure him too much. He wanted Dean to treat him like a brother not a parent.

Dean seemed to loosen up slightly over his lunch even laughing when Sam spilt his coffee in an attack of the clumsy's. Dean didn't eat all his lunch but he had a good enough try and they headed back to Bobby's Sam feeling a little better than when they left. Dean helped Sam unload the shopping then Sam went downstairs to find Bobby making silver bullets. Sam offered to help and Bobby pointed him to the furnace and he went over with Dean at his elbow. Sam went to work at the furnace making bullets and Dean showed signs of wanting to help but Sam was worried about Dean getting burned so he told him to go over to Bobby to learn how to put the bullets together. Of course Dean already knew how to put bullets together but he didn't fuss.

Dean walked over to Bobby and watched the older hunter putting bullets together but he didn't ask to help as Sam had already made him feel like he was in the way. Dean couldn't blame him he just wanted his brother back how he was. Dean waited until Sam was absorbed in what he was doing and Bobby had gone to the store cupboard for more parts then slipped out of the room and went up to their room. Dean sat morosely on the smaller bed looking out the window.

Dean wasn't generally one to mope around and feel sorry for himself but the truth was he just didn't want to be here. He loved his brother very much but the sudden change of standings was difficult for him to get his head around. Sam was more like a parent at the moment not a brother. The only time he had felt happy was when they sleeping in the same bed and they weren't doing that now that they were at Bobby's. Dean had taken some comfort from Sam but now they were here Sam seemed all business. He had tried of course but it felt a little forced to Dean and he was still stinging after being told off for wandering in the junkyard. Even his dad had never gone at him for playing in the yard. In fact most of the time he had the impression his father wanted him to go out there. Except when he wanted him to look after Sam. But their dad tended to look after Sam himself most of the time when they were there like he was trying to show Bobby he always did it. The only problem was Sam always looked freaked out when John did things with him. Sam had been short with him all day and Dean was a little tired from not much sleep himself so he understood a little. Sam had asked him to make a list of things he wanted to do but in all honesty he had no idea where to start. His life consisted of what his dad and Sam wanted and needed not what he wanted.

About an hour later Sam came into the room with a cloth rubbing it between his fingers. Dean looked up and saw a flash of silver amongst the blue of the cloth as he looked up.
"Dean you wanna come help us clean up?"
Dean nodded and stood and followed Sam downstairs. He didn't feel like helping not after not being allowed to help make the bullets but he thought it would be childish of him not to help. After all Sam could have ordered him to help out as his dad often did at least Sam had given him a choice and he didn't want to be a brat about it. Bobby looked up as Sam came back in with Dean and handed Dean a wooden cartridge holder and showed him a pile of made up rounds on a cloth. With no need for guidance Dean set to work putting the rounds in the holder which he thought a trained monkey could do but at least he was helping out. Once the holders were full Bobby tossed Dean a stack of clips for a handgun and Dean filled them with the speed of a trained soldier. Even Sam looked up at the speed the rounds were being loaded and smiled at Bobby shaking his head. They had both been concerned when they found Dean had slipped away.

Sam grabbed up the rounds and put them away in Bobby's ammo locker and Dean helped Bobby put away the bullet making tools. Dean saw that the small furnace had cooled down enough for him to pick up so he checked with Bobby and after donning gloves he picked it up carefully to move to a back bench out of the way. While he was moving the furnace Sam came in and took one look at Dean handling the warm silver and he cried out.
"Dean what are you doing?"
Dean stopped dead used to doing so when his dad yelled at him and the liquid slopped lazily to the edges then settled back down. Sam stepped up and took the furnace from between Dean's hands and placed it on the bench.
"Sam it's okay. I told Dean to move that."

Sam turned to apologize to Dean but Dean had left the room quickly after pulling the gloves off with fast jerking moments and slamming them down where the furnace had been.
"Well that went well." Sam sighed staring at where Dean had made his exit.
"Sorry Sam that was my fault. I just wanted to give him something to do."
"It's my fault Bobby I was worried about him getting hurt. If he spilled that stuff on himself…"

TBC