Okay, trying to get back on track here with the regular updates. Thanks to Brigid Tanner for her help with this chapter. Oh, and a FYI – hotshow and I are working on a non-amnesia sequel to Lil' Sammy. Thanks to everyone following this!

Chapter 21

Sam rushed up to the receptionist, explaining as quickly as he could that he was late for his niece's appointment. He barely noticed Sarah taking a seat as the receptionist led him to Susan's office. She rapped smartly on the door before ushering him inside. Once in, she shut the door behind him, leaving Sam with four pairs of eyes riveted to him.

"Uh, sorry I'm late. Did I miss everything?" Sam stood nervously in the doorway, wondering just how much he was going to be reamed out now. Oh, great, Bobby was here too? Perfect. And it had been such a nice day, too.

"Actually, we've covered Rae's nightmare last night," Susan motioned for him to sit in a chair, "and we just got to the visit from Family Services last night. You were there for that, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Sam sunk uncomfortably into the chair, Rae's eyes boring into him. He expected Dean to be upset as well, but his brother seemed kind of – relieved. Bobby was always hard to read, and at the moment it was just impossible.

"Rae?" Susan turned around to face his niece. "You said something the man from Family Services said confused you. What was that?"

Rae's brow furrowed under her soft brown bangs and her eyes narrowed, an expression Sam always found just damned cute. "Well," she started, glancing back to Dean for permission like she usually did. Dean put a hand on her back, resting it there as he nodded to her. Dean's expression showed his brother was just as curious as he was.

Rae took a deep breath before speaking again. "Well, it was confusing. He asked me if Dad or Uncle Sam ever hurt me twice, in two different ways, and then he wanted to know if they ever made me feel uncomfortable."

"So which part was confusing?" Susan asked.

"Why would he ask twice if they ever hurt me? I mean, wouldn't just asking once do it? Or did he think I was lying?" Rae leaned back into Dean's hand.

Susan frowned. "Rae, can you remember what exactly he asked? What those two questions were?"

Rae nodded. "Pretty much. First he said he needed to see if Dad or Uncle Sam ever hurt me or took care of me the wrong way. Whatever that's supposed to mean." Dean stifled a chuckle behind her, sobering when he caught the glare Sam shot his way. "And then he asked if they ever touched me the wrong way."

"He what?" Dean bolted upright, both hands holding Rae by the shoulders. "He asked you what?"

Rae looked back at Dean, clearly confused. "If you ever touched me the wrong way. But he already asked if you hurt me, so I didn't get why he had to ask it twice."

Dean looked right at him then, a silent conversation passing between them. Sam shook his head. Beating up the Family Services guy was definitely not a good idea. "Quick way to get them to take her," he pointed out.

Dean grimaced. "Like I'd let that happen."

"You promised," Sam pointed out, referring to Dean's promise not to have them disappear unless it was as a last resort.

Dean's jaw muscle twitched a few times before he replied, "Fine. But if he does it again…"

Sam nodded. They would have to keep a closer eye on that Family Services dude from now on. No more private conversations.

"Gentlemen?" Susan asked, waving a hand to get their attention. "What's going on?"

Dean shook his head. "She didn't understand the second question."

"Rae, do you know what it means for someone to touch you inappropriately?" Susan asked.

Rae nodded. "Like when someone hits you or grabs your butt."

Susan shook her head, lower lip tucked under her front teeth. "Not exactly."

"Sex," Dean blurted, so unexpected Susan actually jumped in her seat. "He was talking about sex."

"Sex? But Dad, he asked if you ever…" her voice trailed off as Dean nodded to her. "Oh, come on! That's…that's…"

"Wrong, sick, disgusting?" Sam suggested.

Rae looked at him gratefully this time. "Yeah! I mean, that'd be… Is there a word for that?"

"Yes." Susan blinked slowly, rotating her head to take them all in. "It's called incest." She cleared her throat. "Rae? You've really never heard of incest? Or child molestation?"

Rae shook her head. "People really do crap like that? They should be locked up. Or shot."

"Shot," Dean and Bobby replied in unison with Sam's automatic response.

Susan laughed. They all looked at her. "I'm sorry, but this," she waved a hand at them all, "was totally unexpected." She looked down at the notebook in her lap before meeting Dean's gaze. "You should get legal representation if you can, just to be on the safe side. I don't think it would be good for Rae to be separated from her family even for a couple of days, though it would not surprise me if Family Services suggests doing just that."

"But why?" Rae demanded. "Nobody hurts me. I'm happy with Dad and Uncle Sam, even if he did show up late." Sam winced. He had that one coming. "Why would they do that?"

"Rae," Susan's voice took on the same serious tone as when they discussed the confusing question, "I've spoken with Kevin about you. You appear very differently in school than you do here. In school, you show all the symptoms of an individual who has suffered a great trauma. Kids who are currently being mistreated, in any of the ways we just discussed, can also display those same symptoms."

"But… I didn't know…" Rae looked around the room frantically, her gaze finally resting on Dean. "Dad, I'm sorry. I'll try, really hard. Honest."

"Hey, hey," Dean pulled her into an embrace, "it's all right. You've been doing great." He glared at Susan, made a quick gesture toward Rae with his hand.

"Rae," Susan said softly moving to kneel by her, "you've done nothing wrong."

Rae looked up with a tear-streaked face. That sight was far too common lately. Maybe they were better off on the road. Sam would have to rethink Dean's suggestion to disappear.

"But I'm the reason that man is investigating. It's because of me!" She did not look away this time but fresh tears fell, rolling down her round cheeks.

"Which is not your fault," Susan insisted. "According to your dad, you suffered a huge trauma, so it's only natural that you would act like it."

"I was six!" Rae shouted. "I should be over it by now!"

"Why?" Dean asked softly from her side. She turned to look at him. "I was four when my mom died. I don't think I'll ever get over it."

Sam stared after his brother's confession. He had heard Dean make allusions to the fact he never got over it, seen with his own eyes the weight his brother carried because of it, but he never heard Dean come right out and say it before. Wow. They should have tried this therapy stuff years ago.

Rae leaned into Dean, letting him comfort her. Sam ached to be on her other side, rubbing her back, but Bobby was seated there. Suddenly Bobby stood up, motioned for Sam to take his seat on the couch. Confused, Sam stared up at him before moving.

"Go on," Bobby said softly, tilting his head toward the couch, "looks like a family thing to me."

Sam tried not to rush over, not to look like he was in a hurry to join in, but he felt immediate relief when he sank onto the couch and could put a hand on Rae's back. She did not acknowledge him, but she did not pull away either. Sam took that as permission, continuing to rub her back while Dean held her. After a few minutes she wiped her face on Dean's shirt, sat up. Sam took his hand away, but she grabbed it and held it the same way she clutched Dean with her other hand.

"I guess your brother is right, then?" Susan asked softly, arching an eyebrow at him.

"About what?" Sam asked, massaging the back of Rae's hand lightly with his fingers.

"You are the mom."

Sam dropped his head as Rae giggled and Dean snorted with laughter. Susan was definitely good. He was punished for arriving so late and the tense mood was broken.

"Okay, looks like our time is up for the day. Next time, if you feel up to it Rae, I'd like to talk about how your parents died." She looked at them, silently asking for permission even though she just voiced her request.

"It's not like we've kept it a secret," Dean said evenly, standing up and hauling Rae with him. "The one who doesn't like to talk to people wrote a paper about it in English class. We can bring it next time."

Susan's face split in a broad smile. "You wrote a paper about it? That's really wonderful, Rae. I'd love to read it." The smile disappeared for a moment. "Oh, Dean, I almost forgot. Doctor Stuart said he needed to reschedule your next appointment, unless you've been experiencing more severe panic attacks?"

Dean cleared his throat, cheeks flushing pink. "That's fine. No problem. Have him call me."

Sam chuckled as they left the office. He guessed Bobby was not supposed to know about that.

"Sam? All done?" Sarah tossed aside a tattered golfing magazine to join them.

Rae turned accusing eyes on him. "You had a date? You were late because of a date?"

"It wasn't a date," Sam insisted. "She, uh, we were just book shopping."

Rae's eyes narrowed. "Riiiiight."

Damn. She was so much like Dean! "I'm sorry, I just lost track of time. I promise it won't happen again."

He noticed Dean nudge her. "Fine," she sighed. "Won't happen again?"

"I promise," Sam repeated, holding his arms out for the hug he did not get earlier. She fell into them, hugging him back.

"Hi, Dean," Sarah said, standing beside him. "Nice to see you again."

Dean grinned like he was hustling. "Really nice to see you, Sarah."

"So this must be Rae?" Sarah leaned down a little to talk to her. "I've heard an awful lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you."

Rae looked at him with hard eyes. "I take it this is Smokin' Sarah?"

Sam cleared his throat uncomfortably. "This is Sarah."

She looked up at Dean, rolling her eyes. "Does he still get the car?"

Dean grinned. "Oh, I guess so." His brother pulled out a set of car keys, dangled them in his face. "Want to see your new ride?"

Stunned, Sam took the keys. "New ride? But, I thought we were going to have to drop a rebuilt engine in the clunker?"

Dean scowled. "If Dolan is going to keep pushing the damn money on me, I might as well spend a little of it to make life easier on us." He pulled out his wallet and handed over what looked like a credit card in the name of Dean Cooper. "I think you should take Rae shopping for some new clothes, too. Maybe some stuff to girly up her room a bit."

"Dean?" Sam held the card. "You got a credit card?"

"Not exactly," Dean said, frowning. "We can talk about it later."

Sam understood that. It meant he did not want to discuss it in front of Rae. Fine. He headed outside, wondering what hunk of junk Dean stuck him with this time.

"Hey, Dean. I spotted something on my way in you'll want to see, if it's still here." Sam led them over to the blue car beside the Impala. "What do you think?"

Dean grinned like it was Christmas morning and Rae liked his gift best of all. "I think," Dean pointed to the keys dangling from Sam's hand, "you and Sarah should take it for a spin."