Chapter 52: Let Sleeping Dog's Lie

Dean current age: 19

Sam current age: 14

Dean sat on the bench in the park as he watched his father toss the baseball he had gotten him a few months ago. He took a swig of his water and poured a little on his hand as he rubbed the cold liquid on the back of his neck. It was a hot and muggy April day and the temperature in their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas had risen to 90 degrees even. John had bought a small house about a month ago and the family had packed up and moved, having their own home for the first time in years. Sure John still hunted often, but he was never gone for weeks at a time like he had been when the boys were younger and so far he hadn't forced either of the boys to come with them if they didn't want to.

Sam smiled as he threw the ball to his father. It had been so long since Dean had seen Sam so happy and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that he hadn't been the one to cause it. A slight cool breeze picked up and Dean took a deep breath as he closed his eyes, thankful for a relief from the heat. He knew if Sam hadn't gotten his hair cut a few days ago, it probably would have been too hot for him to play today. It know fell just above his ears and Dean could actually see his eyes for once without them being hidden behind thick dark bangs. Dean leaned back against the bench and relaxed as he felt his eyes began to drift closed, but as he leaned a sharp pain travelled into his shoulder and his vision blurred as he clenched his jaw. He slammed the knuckles of his good arm down onto the bench in frustration. Nowadays the pain had gotten so bad that Dean was unable to sleep and unable to ever feel comfortable. The longest he went without feeling the nerve damage travel was an hour or so.

"Dean!" Sam called as he ran over to him. "Come throw a few." His cheeks were ruddy from the heat and his hair stuck to his forehead.

"Yeah sure" Dean replied as he ignored his pain unable to turn Sam down. John backed up a little as Dean walked over to the spot where he and Sam had been throwing. He knew Dean hated to be around him, and he was respecting his space.

As Dean and Sam began throwing and John took a break as he sat down on the ground, he couldn't help but notice Dean wince each time he caught the ball. He noticed even when Dean switched arms that the left arm would always dangle limply by his side as if Dean was being extra cautious of jostling it. As Dean threw yet another ball the pain came rapidly, and flared up becoming so intense that he fell. As he hit the ground his shoulder dislocated and Dean shouted in pain.

"Dean!" Sam and John shouted simultaneously.

"Dean what happened?" John asked as he kneeled down next to his son. "What hurts?"

"Get away from me!" Dean bit back as he pulled his arm closer to him, his body beginning to shake.

"Sam what's happening to your brother?" he questioned.

"He'd been diagnosed with neuropathy a few years ago, and he'd dislocated his shoulder a few times but he never got treated for it and he never let his shoulder mend like the doctor had told him" Sam explained. John instantly remembered when both the boys had landed in the hospital and how John had refused to pay for medication for them both, and how Dean had said it was okay and that Sam needed it more. He also remembered the first time Dean had dislocated his shoulder at his hand, and how he had done it repeatedly due to his harsh training of the boys.

"Come on Dean, let me help, you shoulder needs to be set" John said urgently.

"No!" Dean yelled, "I…d-don't need your… help" he stuttered as the shaking got worse and sweat began to pool on his forehead.

"Dammit Dean let him help you!" Sam shouted, unable to stand to see his brother in pain any longer.

"I'm helping him whether he likes it or not" John said gruffly as he leaned over Dean and gripped his arm in his large, calloused hands.

"Let go!" Dean yelled as he suddenly let an ear splitting cry escape from his lips as his father quickly set his shoulder back in place, the nerve pain shot off wildly and Dean felt his vision begin to go dark.

"Stay with us Dean" John instructed, but it was too late, Dean slipped into the blackness.

Dean awoke to find himself in his bed. His arm was resting in a sling now, and the pain he had felt in his arm and shoulder was gone. He stood up and walked down the hall. He heard John and Sam laughing in the living room as they watched TV. Upon hearing Dean's footsteps they both turned their heads to look over at him.

"Dean your awake!" Sam said as he ran over to his brother and embraced him.

"Yeah…it looks like it" he said.

"How's the pain?" John asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know" Dean replied distrustfully.

"Dean…" Sam started, a slight scold in his tone. Dean sighed and shrugged.

"It's gone" Dean answered.

"Here" John said as he reached over to the table in the middle of the living room and grabbed a pill bottle. "Take one of these every 4 hours for pain" he said. The bottle read Tapentadol. "Now they usually don't write prescriptions for these kind of opioid induced drugs unless you've got yourself a severe case of neuropathy which according to your doctor, you do" he explained. Dean reached for the bottle and John hesitated. "Listen Dean, because of the opioid in this drug it can become highly addictive, but since you're an adult I'm gonna trust that you know to handle this."

"Course I do" Dean replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Now you've already had one about 2 and a half hours ago so you won't need another one for a while okay?" John said.

"Great" Dean said as he took the bottle and sat down on the couch.

"Do you think we could go play some more?" Sam asked rather shyly as he glanced up at his dad.

"Sure" John replied as he smiled a little.

"Dean will you be okay staying here alone?" Sam asked.

"No Sammy I'm gonna start crying and rocking back and forth in a ball" Dean replied sarcastically.

"You're such a jerk" Sam said as he grabbed his glove and ball and headed outside.

"We'll be back in an hour" John called over his shoulder as he left. Dean watched them go and felt his stomach turn nervously as Sam disappeared from his sight. They'd been with John for only a couple of months, and he was positive no one could change years of being a monster that fast. But as he was about to get up and follow them he sat back down and decided to test his theory. He'd wait to see if Sam came back with a smile on his face or tears in his eyes. Then he'd know if John had really changed like he had claimed.

So what are your guys' opinions? Let me hear them! Do you think Sam will return in tact? Or was finally getting a moment alone with Sam been part of John's plan all along?