Can we meet please? I want to talk to you, Adam.

Sam.

So Dean is now using him? Did he tell Sam to text Adam? Is this- Will Dean be waiting with Sam if Adam agrees to go? He leans back on his seat and closes his eyes while a hand sweeps the stray strands falling over his forehead. He doesn't want to do anything immediately. He has his classes for today and a long shopping trip to do afterwards. Hell, he doesn't even feel comfortable going to school now. Benny and Michael have both told him before to maybe take it easy for a while but Adam decided to try and preserve some part of normalcy in his life at least in this form. Yet-

It has only been days since the fiasco, the newspapers and the headlines. He doesn't know what kind of reactions his presence will trigger today. He is sure he will receive a few comments here and there from other students, there will be some avoiding him altogether and there might even be a confrontation if someone is feeling excessively self-righteous and curious today. But what about the professeurs? What about the campus security he passes by and chats with everyday? What about the barista in his favorite coffee shop? What about tomorrow? What about the next week? How many will- How long is it going to last? Is it really okay now to try this immediately?

Adam isn't sure. He thinks showing his face and acting as if nothing ever happened should help people forget about the incident faster. If he doesn't go to school, the rumours will spread more and people will speculate why he might be missing which will cause another wave of fresh gossip to be passed around. So hard it might be, Adam has to try to bear whatever he will see and hear for a while. But- And now that Sam is inviting him to meet for the first time in months-

It is about Dean. He just told me a few things. We fought. I think I am going to move out. I can no longer stay with him. I am a mess, Adam. I think you might be also going through a similar phase now. I just want to talk a little. Maybe we can help each other.

With a start at the notification sound, Adam unlocks the screen once again and reads the longer text in one go. His eyes widen as he lets them travel on the lines again and again. Is this… real? Sam and Dean fought? After Dean 'told Sam things'? But for what? In the two years Adam has known them, his brothers were inseparable. They loved and depended on each other even a bit too much. They were the picture of perfect siblings. So why? Why now?

To think, Adam knows by now that Sam has always been relatively defiant in the family while Dean adored their mother and wanted to be the perfect son to their father. Sam was different. John Winchester had an auto repair shop for regular cars and trucks. Mary Winchester learned the business from her husband and helped maintain the place. Dean got a hold of the family business as soon as he could and even started a new place solely on classic cars all on his own. Sam is in turn a lawyer. Sam is a vegan Adam knows from their few chats when they had coffee together a few times in the last two years. Sam didn't hesitate to leave the state for school. Sam isn't really big on the whole family dad stereotype Dean wants to be. Sam is just… different. Worst, Sam has always been the one to ask after Adam, to try to invite him to holiday dinners at their house, to actually acknowledge him as another distant family member if not a brother on the same level as Dean. Of course he too didn't do much for Adam but Adam wouldn't have asked for anything nor would he have accepted anything from the older man anyway. He too wanted to keep his distance from his half brothers knowing Dean and Mary Winchester rightfully didn't want him around. But Sam-

Adam remembers being thirteen and actually happy on a birthday because his mom made a big cake for him that day and he didn't yet know his father was always going to be an absentee all through his life. John Winchester was there for Adam's birthday with two bags of gifts. One had a model car the man offered to help him build in a desperate effort to do something together and stay relevant in Adam's memory but confusing him with his oldest trophy child who liked getting his hands dirty with cars and parts. Still, Adam thanked him for it sincerely because he was a kid just getting to know his father and actually wanting to have one no matter who it was. Adam remembers tearing into the second gift just to find a medical kit that wasn't consisting of toys. For Future Doctors. There were stethoscopes and a blood pressure cuff set, a reflex hammer, a penlight examination light, an otoscope, a digital thermometer, an eye test chart, medical files and charts, examination gloves, face masks, and whatever else a doctor's office had. Adam remembers being overjoyed at it and being too busy trying to open the package of the thermometer to process what his father said. Something about Sam remembering Adam wanted to be a doctor when he grew up and helping his father choose that kit.

Now that Adam remembers that day, it is even more scandalous to him. It must have been so to Dean and their mother too. Of course the woman had chosen to stay married to John despite learning about Adam but was it really so easy to do? To ignore that other woman who also was raising a son of her husband? To allow him to visit them even if it's only once or twice per year? Was it easy to see one of her own children inquiring about that other boy to her husband? What did she feel when her husband talked about Adam to Sam and Sam helped him choose a birthday gift for Adam? Did she even know? What did Dean do when he saw that? He must have known, right? Scandalous indeed.

The thing is, Sam has always done what he wanted. And Dean has never fought him like this. So why now? Why?

Before he can stop himself, Adam finds himself pressing the dial button. It rings only once before he hears Sam taking a deep breath on the other side of the line and saying his name. And there is something in his voice. Something wrong. Something… broken. Despite everything in him telling him not to, Adam starts the engine and turns around on the road with the phone still held against his ear.

"I can't believe it, Adam. I just can't.-" Sam has an elbow braced against the small table between them and his forehead leaning into his hand. Adam averts his eyes and looks at the cooling cup of green tea in front of his brother then at his own half drunk coffee. He doesn't know what to feel looking at Sam's state now. "-It was after we saw that news. I was at the office. Dean was still home. He called me then got out of the house shouting on the phone. I returned home immediately because he wouldn't tell me where he was going but only said he would bring you home."

Bring Adam home. He bites his tongue not to throw a comeback at that. Sam isn't the one who deserves to hear that. No. It's Dean. "Adam he returned- He returned with another man. They were holding hands and talking in a way- I- Dean didn't know I would be home waiting for him and you. I think I didn't say anything in panic. He was- They kissed. Right in front of my eyes before they could see I opened the front door hearing Impala's engine. They- Dean- How could he do that? Michael- Michael didn't deserve that, Adam."

Sam raises his eyes to Adam's face and Adam is stunned to see them all tearful. What is happening? Sam didn't know… Why is he even reacting this way? Adam was expecting this talk to be all about him and Dean's nonsensical rage that unintentionally exploded at Sam too and maybe Sam would even notice he was being overly dramatic then return to his brother. But this?

"I don't understand this. I don't understand anything. Dean and Michael were best friends all through their lives. Even back when we were kids, everyone knew they would grow up to fall in love and get married someday. All those years, they were the happiest together. I- How could Dean go and- Why didn't he tell Michael he couldn't be in a relationship like that after- after- Adam even I wasn't myself for months after that accident. How was Michael supposed to- Lucifer was my friend. He used to help me study history. He would- He understood me better than my own family did at times. Michael raised his brothers, he helped raise me. How was he going to just forget about his brother? And Dean is all about being a protective big brother to me in everything. Why didn't he understand Michael's situation? How did he hide it all this time? Adam…"

Sam trails off there leaving Adam to consider his words in silence. Sam saw Dean with Castiel. That's how he found out. And according to how he seems to be on Michael's side rather than his own brother's-

"Sorry. I am sorry, Adam. I am all lamenting what happened to me and not even thinking to ask about you. I- How are you doing?" That last question surprises Adam more than anything else Sam said today. For some reason, Adam didn't expect to be asked- Sure he knew there would be lots of questions. He can see the unvoiced ones in Sam's eyes. Is it true that you were about to marry that man? How did you really meet him? How do you know Michael? Did he really come after you? Are you really working as a-

But no. Sam doesn't ask anything else instead to wait patiently for what Adam will say. So Adam takes a sip of his now lukewarm coffee not caring that it's no longer the right temperature for him if only to give himself two more seconds before he opens his mouth. Then without him comprehending how, everything flows out.

He starts from Michael. He talks all about how he met Michael and watches Sam's eyes widening and his lips parting in a silent 'o' as he reveals his previous occupation. Sam composes himself as Adam describes the two years he spent in that line of work and watches Adam's face with a now controlled expression. So Dean told him. He was only surprised to have it confirmed but this information is nothing new to him. Adam doesn't know himself how he keeps talking about his life he so wanted to keep to himself to none other than one of his half-brothers. Did Sam really have that much of an effect on him just a few minutes ago?

He doesn't know. Nonetheless, he continues his tale with what Dean did and what he assumed. He makes sure to emphasize again and again that Michael is only his friend, that they never had anything physical between them and that they met before the man found out about his ex-fiance and his doctor. Sam doesn't give any implication that he doubts Adam's words. Somehow that makes Adam keep talking and talking until he breaches the part about Zachariah. He doesn't hold himself back.

Maybe he needed to get it all out of his chest? Did he ever tell anyone about everything he lived there with so much detail? He remembers sitting and trading tales with Michael but-

He tells Sam about the fight he had with Michael and how he stupidly went to Zachariah when he should have taken some time off and waited his pitiful state out. He was vulnerable then. He let Zachariah trick and use him on his own. He tells Sam all about the other clients who asked him for the same thing in the past. One was an engineer in his forties. One was married like Zachariah but in the process of divorce anyway. One was again older. One was in early thirties and a widower. He tells Sam how he refused all of them but accepted that man just because he thought it was a way out of everything. Lastly, he talks about the wedding day. He tells Sam that Michael was there to get him out of one big mistake that was sure to ruin his life. There was nothing more.

When he is done, Adam leans back and turns his gaze to the window next to him to watch the cars and people out on the street. He doesn't know exactly how much time passes like that. He is still internally trying to resolve why he told everything to Sam all of a sudden like this. He is mulling over whether he did good or bad. Will Sam eventually decide to stay with Dean? Will he tell him all of these? Adam doesn't think so but still, life has long taught him to better be safe than sorry. And what will Sam even say to him now? Will he do what Dean did? Look down on him and-

"He has no right to withhold your belongings.-" Adam turns to face his brother so fast his own head spins with the sudden sharp movement. What? "-Legally, you can and should go and gather your property, Adam. You can't just let him get away with what he did to you and keep all those items vitally necessary to you on top of it. If you don't feel safe doing it alone a lawyer should-"

"Except there are lots and lots illegal about what I did with that man, Sam. Do you even know what you are telling me to do?" Sam raises his chin straightening his spine and puts both hands on the table before slightly leaning in. Adam would, if he isn't preoccupied with other thoughts now, marvel at the difference he sees between this Sam in front of him and the one from just a minute ago. The one talking now is the lawyer, he notices.

"What will Zachariah do about it? Risk carrying this to court? Your deeds aren't the only ones punishable by law, Adam. He was also in that chain. Also with what you told me, your boss must have found some way to look legal at the very least if he managed to keep the business up this long. You are probably aware how this topic is one of the most complicated debates in the country. Certain adult services are legal and others, partly so. Every state has differing laws on each specific subject. This in turn allows lots of leeway and loopholes to disguise other illegal parts pretty easily. Even if Zachariah blames you for your work, as long as this Crowley who he will claim acts as the middleman isn't caught, you too won't be. That is unless Zachariah has very solid evidence. And as I said, even if he proves it, he too would be severely punished along with you. Also, there is the matter of him being married at the start of your relationship. You mentioned he was abusive to his ex-wife too. With the woman now divorced and safer, we could convince her to come to court with her own case against the man since he would already be sure to do jail time. I know from experience that she would be braver. Then we could make sure this case leaks to the media. With a company as his, we will be sure to find complaints from the employees and maybe even business partners who we could also convince to be against him on a law level. With that, he will lose money and prestige which is worse than death to most businessmen. He won't reveal a thing, Adam."

Adam simply blinks at his brother's face. Of all the things he expected Sam to say, this- He is mostly shocked at how the older man is talking about this matter as if it's nothing. Sam didn't even bat an eyelash during that small speech. He didn't question anything. He didn't- The first matter he is concerned with is that Adam gets his things back from Zachariah instead of the obvious scandals of the man's age and relationship to Adam through Adam's choices that would be frowned upon by everyone. Why?

"Let me represent you. I can call him as your lawyer then go to retrieve everything from his address with you. You don't even have to get out of the car if you don't want to. You will just confirm it's everything you left there and I will of course warn him about police if he tries anything-"

"Stop!. Sam just… stop. Okay, you don't seem to hate me like Dean does and you have a more open mind I see but that's enough. I don't want your pity. I don't want-" Just as Adam starts to feel the first few sparks of anger lighting up in his chest, Sam shakes his head and sighs. Then he reaches over the table and puts a hand on Adam's arm.

"Do you think I pity you? Do you think I am trying to help out of guilt?-" Adam tries to respond but Sam beats him to speaking. Again with the determined stance of a lawyer, he locks his eyes with Adam's. "I am guilty, Adam. This society that left you no other choice is guilty. We, your family, are guilty for not being there for you. I never stopped to question anything when I should have made sure you were alright right after dad passed away at the latest. I thought of your aunt who you stayed with for years, I taught of your high grades and the scholarships you must have earned and I never asked myself how you were paying for school. I never tried to help out. I should have been there, I should have seen the signs. Then that man and all the others couldn't have hurt you. I kept saying we are family but I didn't do any of what family should have. I am guilty but it's not because of that."

Sam leans away, taps on his phone a few times then turns the screen to Adam. There is the picture of a woman whose face has been stitched in several places with bruises covering almost every inch of exposed skin on her arms, neck and chest. It's horrible. Adam can't bear to look at it for more than two seconds.

"See, this is one of my clients. She was also doing the same work as you. One day, a man beat her to half death when she refused to go home with him. He smashed a bottle and cut her face in a dirty alley behind a bar. When she was found and hospitalised, police arrested the man. I volunteered to help her when I heard about her case through a friend. We lost, Adam. We lost. The man got five months. Later, she got six months for being a 'first time offender' in what she had to do to survive and for her baby to survive. They took her child. She was assaulted in prison. You know what happened?" Adam does. He has seen this happen before. He has heard the same thing countless times. "She died. She committed suicide."

The raw fury in Sam's face nearly makes him flinch back. "This could have been you, Adam. Do you know how dangerous your work is? Do you know how many die like this and the real offenders don't even pay for it? This is- I don't pity you. I don't pity any of you. You got out, you got away with your life but I can't even imagine what you faced in those two years. How strong you had to be to bear everything and still keep your school and your dreams. Adam I am angry. I am angry at that Zachariah. I am angry at the man who killed my client. I am angry at everyone who ever was violent to you and others left desperate to fend for themselves. I am angry at Dean for how he reacted, for what he did to you. I am angry at myself for being so impotent. But now, I want to focus on the matter at hand. I am asking for a chance from you to be there with you, Adam. Let me represent you. Let me help. Let me be true to my word and be your brother. Let me help Michael too. Listen, I already made my mind. I am renting a place for myself as soon as I can. I will go to a hotel till then. Come with me. I am pretty sure this friend you are staying with now is great according to how you described him but… Please come with me. Let's get your belongings back, get a place and look forward. We can plan finances for your school together. You can get a new job. You can go to your classes. I don't know just- You don't even have to answer immediately. Just think."

Think?

To live with Sam? To go see Zachariah one more time? To really try to start over? To get another job out of that agency he spent most of his time in the last two years? Now, it doesn't really sound that terrible. Still- "Okay. I will do as you say and take my time to think. I will… call you?" He finishes rather meekly for which he would have berated himself on any other occasion. Now though, his attention is on the way Sam's lips twitch into a smile.

Just maybe…