A/N: FF being a pain the past few days can't see or answer your reviews. Here's a long chapter for your reading pleasure. The brothers don't even have to go hunting to find monsters, they come in all kinds. Thanks you for following, favoring and reviews. Leave a review. NC

Warning: This chapter has talk of abuse.

Chapter 25

Sam wandered down the aisle of the store trying to keep his mind on what he was suppose to be looking for, instead of the dream he had been having and not paying attention as he rounded a corner not seeing the woman coming from the other direction. They collided and part of the contents of her basket fell to the floor.

"Oh man! I'm so sorry!" he said bending down to help her pick up the items on the floor.

"That's okay really." she said looking around in fright and clutching a small boy to her side. She was dressed in faded and ragged, but clean jeans and long sleeved shirt over a tank top even thought the weather was warm for the time of year. The small boy's clothes weren't much better looking but they too were clean. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail but strands had escaped and fell into her flushed face. She looked to be maybe Dean's age or a little older, but not by much and the boy looked to be about four years old.

"It was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was goin'." he continued frowning slightly when he saw the look of fear in her eyes and what looked like a bruise on her cheek she was trying to cover with makeup. He looked closer and saw she was trembling and pulling the small boy closer to her as she tried to back away from him.

"Please go." she hissed in a quiet voice, a look of desperation on her face. "Go!" she mouthed urgently to him.

"Sarah, who you talking to Babe?" a loud male voice asked from behind her.

Sam saw her cringe and jump in fright and quickly turned to the man that had come up behind her. He was shorter than Sam and slightly overweight. Sam could tell with one look at him that he was not a nice man. There was a scowl on his face as he looked at the woman in disgust. He looked to be probably six or seven years old than she was and was dressed nicely compared to her and her son.

"No one, he just accidentally bumped into me. It's nothing Clark." she quickly told him trying to smile as her voice trembled and she put herself between the man and Sam while pushing her son behind her.

"It was my fault." Sam said to the man who eyed him suspiciously before looking back at Sarah. He couldn't believe this Sarah girl was trying to protect him by getting between them. "I was just hel..." Sam started but was cut off by the guy's rough voice.

"Why don't you get the hell away from my wife?" Clark spat at Sam as he balled his hands into fist but kept them to his side.

Sam saw total terror on Sarah's face and then noticed the bruising on her arm when her sleeve slipped up as she laid a hand on Clark's upper arm to try and calm him. He also got a distinct smell of whiskey coming off the guy and could tell he had been drinking. Anger began to build inside of him when he realized why this woman was so terrified. She was being abused by her husband and he was sure it wasn't the first time.

"Honey, let's go I'm done." she told her husband. "He wasn't doing anything but being polite."

"Do you know him? Is this who you've been seeing behind my back?" Clark yelled at Sarah roughly grabbing her arm making her cry out in pain. "I can't let you go anywhere that you're not coming on to every damn guy with a dick!"

"Momma!" the little boy whined seeming as scared as his Momma. He tried to sidle away from his father but kept a grip on his mother's shirt.

"Look, I don't know your wife, like she said I accidentally bumped into her. There's no need to be so rough with her." Sam told him trying to defend her.

"You need to keep your f-ing nose out of other people's business punk." Clark stated jerking his wife so hard she dropped her basket and nearly fell if he hadn't been holding her arm in his tight grip.

Sam heard the small whimper that escaped Sarah's lips as she tried to remain quiet and take the abuse. He couldn't just stand there and let this man harm his wife liked it seemed he had been doing and recently.

"Hey!" Sam yelled with force behind his voice. "Why don't ya pick on someone your own size who can fight back you sonovabitch!"

"What'd you say to me?" Clark demanded turning back to Sam who stood boldly ready to defend himself.

Neither of them saw Dean strolling up behind them taking in the situation until he spoke. He was only an aisle over and heard Sam raise his voice and came in investigate.

"We got a problem here?" he asked stopping just short of Sam and eyeing the guy who looked ready to attack Sam. He was ready to take the guy down without any qualms if he started making any moves toward Sam.

"You better take your boy toy and get the hell away from my family." Clark insisted deciding he didn't like the odds now and was ready to leave. "Sarah pick that crap up and let's go now!" he ordered kicking at the things on the floor almost kicking her.

"Yes Clark." she whispered not looking at the brothers as she knelt in the floor to gather the items putting them back in her basket.

"Hurry it up! Can't you do anything right?" he asked jerking her down the aisle and dragging the kid with him who had started to cry. "You're useless bitch, you know that?"

"Sam, no." Dean told him stopping Sam from going after them.

"But Dean she's in trouble. Didn't you see the bruising on her face and arm? He needs to be stopped." Sam complained trying to pull from his grasp.

"Look, we never saw him hit her. Why don't we call the sheriff and see if she knows them and have her check it out." he suggested.

"I guess, but I don't understand why she stays with him or hasn't called the cops to have him arrested. I know this isn't the first time he's hit her and won't be the last."

"Maybe she thinks she can't get away or is too afraid to call the cops in. People in abusive relationships can find it hard to seek the help they need Sammy. But ya can't attack him, he could file charges against you and have you thrown in jail." Dean told him remembering a couple of the women from his time with Aunt Fay. They had been badly abused one by her husband and the other by her boyfriend. He had asked Aunt Fay about them and why they didn't leave sooner and remembered her telling him some felt so lost and alone with no one to turn to for help they don't know what to do. They are beaten down and degraded with the physical and mental abuse that they don't see a way out and all they can do is stay and take the abuse.

"Isn't there something we can do to help her and her son? That's not right; no one should have to suffer like that." Sam complained madly wanting to go after them.

"C'mon, let's finish up and get on back home. I put a call in to Sheriff Mills, that's 'bout all we can do." Dean told him placing a brotherly hand on his shoulder and leading him to the front of the store.

"Alright, I guess it's better than nothing." Sam sighed feeling helpless and worried about the woman and her son. He couldn't get the look of desperation on the boy's face out of his mind. He looked over at his brother and saw a shadow of darkness pass over his face for a moment wondering if Dean was remembering the abuse that he had endured when he was young.

spn

The parking lot was crowded and Dean had to park near the back of the lot. The brothers walked slowly toward the Impala each carrying a bag when the small boy from the store darted out from between two cars into their path. He was crying and stumbling trying to stay on his feet when Sam caught him.

"Hey, hey where's your Mom?" Sam asked him looking around for Sarah.

"Daddy hurt Momma." he cried in a hitched voice pointing from the way he had come.

Without another word, Sam stormed between the cars looking for her with only one thought in mind and that was to give Clark a beating. He heard a soft cry and saw Sarah being slapped hard enough to knock her back into a car. Her husband grabbed a hand full of hair and was trying to force her into the car not caring how much he hurt her. In four long strides, Sam was on him grabbing an arm and spinning him around followed by several hard punches to the face and body. He grabbed a hand full of the man's shirt and drew back to deliver another blow to the face before letting him slump to the ground between the cars.

Dean ran up carrying the boy to see Sam standing over a moaning Clark with a killer look in his eyes. He was heaving heavily with fists ready to land additional blow if he got up.

"Easy there Sammy." Dean cautioned him. "Here kid, go to your Momma." he told the boy handing him to his trembling mother. He saw blood trickling down her chin from a split lip and the impression of a handprint, red on her cheek. "I'll call the cops."

"No! Please you can't!" Sarah begged looking down at her husband who was trying to hoist himself off the ground. "It'll only make him madder."

"Ma'am, you need to get away from him. We know the sheriff; you can have him arrested for attacking you." Sam explained to her.

"I can't do that, what are we suppose to do? I have no money to take care of us. He controls everything, who I see, where I go, what we buy, I have nothing." she whispered hugging her son close.

"Do you have family?" Dean asked as he waited for his call to be answered.

"I haven't spoken to them in years, Clark wouldn't let me. He says they were a bad influence on me. They've never even seen their grandson." she sobs softly. "They wouldn't want me back after what he did."

"Sheriff Mills, Dean Winchester, think you can swing by Publix parking lot? Got a small situation here."

"Sarah, why don't you come sit in our car until Sheriff Mills gets here?" Sam offered helping her to stand and scooping the boy into his arms so she could walk easier.

"If I was you asshole, I'd stay down." Dean told the husband as he tried to get up. "My brother took it easy on ya; I'm not feeling as generous."

Clark looked up at Dean's angry expression and into his burning eyes deciding to do as he was told. If looks could kill, he would already be dead. Dean was not someone you wanted to mess with or get on the wrong side of if you valued your health.

"I don't take kindly to bullies beating up on defenseless women either." Dean stated leaving no room for error. "If it was up to me, I'd put you down like the bastard you are."

spn

"Mind if I take a couple for the sheriff." Sam asked taking out his cell.

She nodded yes and wiped her face before holding still while Sam snapped a couple of shots showing her split lip and the hand impression still visible on her face. He gently pushed up her shirt sleeve and took a picture of that also. When he was done, he looked down at her with compassion.

"Here, why don't you call your folks?" Sam told her holding out his cell. "You might be surprised."

Sarah took the cell and dialed the number waiting for it to ring. She looked up into Sam's kind face wanting to thank him but her mother answered the phone first.

"Mom, hi it's Sarah." she started listening to the surprised voice on the other end. "I've missed you so much...Can Ethan and I come home?...I'm leaving him...He's been bad to both of us..." Sarah cried her voice cracking at the end. She couldn't talk and handed the phone to Sam as she sobbed into her hands.

"Hello, ma'am... Yes she's okay...We've called the sheriff so she can press charges...I'm just a concerned friend...I'll be sure they gets on a bus as soon as they can...I will ma'am you too." Sam said hanging up.

"Thanks." she whispered wiping her face on her shirt sleeve.

"Would you like me to go to the sheriff department with you?" Sam asked looking up when the sheriff's SUV pulled slowly toward them. "I know Sheriff Mills; she's good people and can help you if you let her."

"I don't know how to thank you for all you've done. My Mom wants me to come home, she said her and Dad still love me. They never stopped." she told him a hitch in her breathe.

"You don't need to thank me. I told your mother I'd be sure you got a bus. After you talk to the sheriff we'll go get you two tickets to go back home."

"I can't ask that of you. It's more than I deserve and I can't pay you back."

"Hey don't talk like that; you deserve a hell of a lot better than that dick. I never asked to be paid back. This is my gift to you to help you start a new life away from him. No one should be treated like he was treating you, no one." Sam assured her. "I just glad it's working out."

spn

"Hello Dean, what's going on?" Sheriff Mills asked as she got out of the SUV looking down at the bleeding man on the ground.

"Sheriff seems this guy likes to use his wife and kid as a punching bag."

"Well Clark Lewis, wondered when I'd see you again." Sheriff Mills told the man looking down at him.

"I wanna file assault charges on that creep over there who's trying to make out with my wife." he jeered madly finally pulling himself to a standing position.

"Better watch yer mouth ass hole, that's my brother." Dean warned him taking a threatening step toward him.

"Cool it Lewis! You've bullied enough people and I'd advise you not to try it with these brothers, they'll chew you up and spit you out in a heart beat." Sheriff Mills cautioned him. "Don't make this any harder on yourself, now put your hands behind your back." she told him taking out her cuffs from their holder.

"C'mon Sheriff, Sarah'll tell you she fell is all. Sarah! Tell the sheriff!" he yelled as he was cuffed and put in back of the SUV. "Sarah!"

"So you've had dealings with him before?" Dean asked as the sheriff turned to him.

"Yep, couldn't get his wife to press charges. She was at the emergency room with a broken arm, said she feel down the steps. Believe me I know when they're lying, but I couldn't do anything without her help."

"He can complain all he wants, both of us saw him hit her." Dean informed her.

"Good to know. How's that adopted Dad of your's, still as ornery as ever?"

"Yep, he can be that way." Dean chuckled. "Other than that, he's doing good."

"Tell him I said hello and to stay out of trouble."

"Will do Sheriff. Guess you'll need to get a statement from the wife. Why don't ya let us bring her by?"

"Sure that's fine. Does she need medical attention?"

"Don't think so, but we'll check."

"Thanks for the help, I'll be seeing you."

"You'll have to come over for Sunday lunch sometime."

"I'll take ya up on that offer Dean. You boys take care."

"Always." Dean replied throwing her a wave before she drove off. He turned and looked over at his brother talking to the woman who was sitting in the passenger seat of the Impala. Sam had kneeled down so he wouldn't be towering over her as he talked. Dean smiled at them knowing how his brother was when it came to protecting the innocent. He always pulled for the underdog and could not stand a bully and it didn't matter how big they were, he would take them out without a second thought. He was proud of him for standing up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. Dean made his way over to them to let them know what the sheriff said and to see if she needed medical attention.

"Hey Sammy, she need to see a doctor?" Dean asked looking from his brother to the young woman and boy.

"Sarah, do you need to see a doctor?" Sam asked softly.

"No, I'm okay." she said absently touching her lip.

"At least let us clean that up." Dean told her stepping to the trunk to get the first aid kit. "Here Sammy, you take care of her and I'll see if the kid wants something to eat." he said handing Sam the kit. "What say kiddo; wanna go get something to eat while my brother fixes up your Mom?"

The boy looked up at his Mom who nodded it was okay for him to go. He looked back up at Dean and took his offered hand allowing him to lead him away.

"We'll come over when I get her patched and cleaned up." Sam told his brother as he opened up the kit to get out what he needed.

"Ethan, you behave." Sarah called to her son.

"Yes, Momma." he answered looking back at her over his shoulder and then up at Dean who was talking to him.

"They've got really good burgers and fries at the diner and if you're still hungry, how 'bout some pie with maybe ice cream on top?" Dean was rattling on the boy looking at him in wonder. No one had been this nice to him before and he was still a little shell shocked from everything that had just happened. Before they were out of the parking lot, Dean had scooped the small boy into his arms and was carrying him the rest of the way to the diner still talking to him.

"Your brother is good with kids." Sarah commented and winced when Sam dabbed her lip.

"That's 'cause he's still a kid at heart." Sam laughed. "Sorry, I'm almost done." he apologized to her checking to be sure her lip didn't need a stitch or anything. "I can put a small butterfly on it, it'll heal faster."

"Alright."

"After you guys eat, we'll take you to the police station and get that over with."

"Okay." she said letting Sam tilt her face upward so he could apply a small bandage to her lip. He took a cloth and wet it with holy water since that was all he had and wiped her face and neck of the blood that had run down them. Once he was satisfied, he put away the kit and helped her up so they could head to the diner and join Dean and Ethan. "I have to warn you, my brother will let Ethan have whatever he wants to eat and it may not be healthy."

"That's okay, he deserves to have what he wants today." she giggled softly allowing Sam to guide her toward the diner. There was something about theses two brothers that told her she could trust them. She didn't have anyone to turn to since Clark wouldn't let her have friends or do anything without him being there. Sarah had to admit to herself, it felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders now and she could finally breathe. Just maybe their lives were going to change for the better and they could have some inkling of a normal one.