CHAPTER 9

Ryan woke up and rubbed his eyes. All colour left his face when he realised what he had done. He looked down at the wet spot in front of his jeans and the damp bedsheet under him. 'No , no, no...' he thought and searched for his brother desperately. He found Collin asleep besides him. He shook his brother's shoulder urgently. "Collin , please wake up" he whispered tearfully.

Collin woke with a start when he heard Ryan's tearful plea. "Ryan ,you okay ?" He asked urgently checking over his brother for any possible injury. He also looked around the room for any immediate danger. But the room was empty. He could hear the shower running so he figured either Sam or Dean was in the shower and the other one was out.

"Sorr-ry I didn't meant to." Ryan was crying , tears were rolling down his face.

"Hey what hap"

Collin stopped mid sentence when his eyes fell on the damp spot on the bedsheet and in front of his brother's jeans. He needed no further explanation.

"Its okay. It was an accident. Nothing to be afraid of." Collin rubbed Ryan's back in order to calm him down but the kid was not listening. Ryan was constantly watching the bathroom door in fear of what would happen when Sam and Dean would know.

At that moment the bathroom door opened and Sam came out rubbing a towel over his head. He stopped when he took the sight in front of him. Ryan was watching him with wide eyes with tears streaming down his face. Collin was looking panicked.

"Please I can explain." Collin said standing from the bed and placing himself between Sam and his brother.

"What happened , kiddo ?" Sam asked calmly to Ryan but when the kid didn't reply he turned towards Collin questioningly.

"Sam here are..." Dean entered the motel room at that moment carrying the bags of food. The rain had slowed down a little and it was already late afternoon so he had made a trip to a diner nearby to bring some food. But he stopped when he looked at the scene in front of him.

Sam and Collin were standing face to face. Collin looking panicked and Sam looking concerned while Ryan was on the bed crying.

"What happened, Sam ?"

"I don't know, Dean. I just came out of the shower and found Ryan crying."

"It was an accident , sir. Please , sir. It wasn't his fault." Collin said and with that he took a step backwards towards his brother.

"Hey , hey calm down, kids." Sam said softly but it had no effect on either of the kids. Ryan was now crying and shaking uncontrollably while Collin was apologizing rapidly.

Dean hated himself for what he was going to do but it was necessary. The kids were not even listening to them it was like they were lost in a flashback or something. Sam looked at him helplessly. Dean took a deep breath and then banged his fist loudly at the table near the door. It would scare the kids badly but this would also help him to get their full attention.

Collin and Ryan along with Sam jumped at the noise. When Dean saw that he had the full attention of both the kids , he asked in an authoritative tone , "Why is Ryan crying ?". Dean looked at Collin for an answer because Ryan hadn't said a word to them. He always looked scared and the only person he talks with was Collin. Collin speaks for both of them.

"He is afraid , Sir. Please you can punish me. But he is a kid and that was an accident." Collin said fearfully.

"What accident , kiddo ?" It was Sam who asked. His voice completely soft in contrast to Dean.

Collin took a deep breath and looked back at his brother and said quietly , "He had wet the bed."

Sam and Dean looked at eachother. Well this wasn't at all what they expected. The way Ryan was crying you would think someone had beaten him or something. That was just another side-effect of the kid's past.

"Its okay. Nobody will be punished. It was an accident and it can happen with anyone." Dean said and this time he said that , looking at Ryan.

"Dean's right, Ryan. Why don't you go change your clothes and I will take off the bedsheet." Sam said smiling a soft smile at Ryan.

"Y-you w-wouldn't punish me ?" Ryan asked in a trembling voice. It was the first thing he had ever said to the Winchesters.

"Ofcourse not. It wasn't your fault." Dean said smiling.

When Collin went to follow his brother to the bathroom. Dean stopped him.

"Ryan can do that alone." Dean said to Collin. Ryan looked at his brother and then at Dean in fear.

"Collin.." Ryan said but he was looking at Dean. He looked like he was ready to cry again.

Collin looked at Dean and then at his brother at a loss of what to do.

"Go ahead , change your clothes and take a bath too. Your brother can stay here." Dean said in a voice that brooks no argument.

"I want my brother.." Ryan said in a small voice with a few tears spilling down his cheeks.

Sam's heart clenched hearing that fearful voice and seeing the little tear streaked face.

"Dean , come on man." Sam said. But Dean just shook his head.

"You don't need your brother in the bathroom. He will be here when you come out. Now go , son."

Dean said jerking his head towards the bathroom. He knew that he was being hard on the kids. But it was necessary. He needed to talk to Collin alone. The kids are joined at the hip. It was expected since they don't have anyone except eachother but it wasn't healthy all the time. They needed Collin and Ryan to open up. To gain some confidence and behave somewhat like normal kids and not like a person on his death row. And for that they needed to know about the kids' past.

"Please , sir. We will be out soon." Collin said looking pleadingly at Dean.

"Don't make me repeat myself. We need to talk to you Collin. And while we do that Ryan can take a bath." Dean was now losing his patience. He was just sending the kid to take a bath and not in a war. He knew he needed to be patient but he wasn't a patient man.

Collin looked at Ryan and tried to smile reassuringly. "Hey kiddo , go ahead. I'll be right here."

Dean is just like all others , ordering them around. Collin thought.

"But I don't want to. I will not go without Collin." Ryan yelled at Dean. Ryan was sure that once he was in the shower , Dean would punish his brother. He would not let that happen. It was his fault not his brother's.

Now Collin was a little surprised at Ryan's outburst. His brother has never even talked much to any adult so to yell at one was pretty shocking itself.

Sam was shocked and he looked at Dean who was just as shocked as him. And even Collin looked shock.

Dean wanted to help the kids but he had lost all his patience with Ryan. If he would allow Collin to go with Ryan just like Ryan wanted. Then it would be like he was supporting the kid's outburst. He knew the kids had a tough start and only for that reason he wanted to talk to Collin. So that he and Sam could get just a glimpse of what they are dealing with. Ryan always looked scared and uncomfortable in their presence so Dean wanted to talk to Collin alone.

"You would go and take a shower without your brother." Dean said in a commanding voice.

Ryan didn't say anything and he didn't even take a step towards the bathroom.

"Don't make me repeat myself kid. I would count till three and if you're not in the bathroom by then..." Dean didn't finish.

"Ryan , go." Collin said desperately to his brother. He would not let anything happen to Ryan. But right now they needed the Winchester's help. Also it would not be wise to be in the bad books of hunters. They had plenty of experience with that and it didn't end well. But this doesn't mean that he wasn't angry at Dean.

"One..." Dean began counting , silently begging for Ryan to not push him. He didn't know what he would do. But ofcourse he wouldn't hit the kid.

Sam looked at Ryan and realised that the kid was presenting a brave front but in truth he was trembling with fear. He and Dean would have a detailed discussion about his brother's stupid behaviour. This way the kids would resent them and not open up to them. He had told Dean to be patient but like always Dean hadn't listened to him.

"Two..."

"Ryan , go." Collin was now pleading to his brother. What had gotten into Ryan was beyond him.

'Come on , kid.' Dean prayed desperately for the kid to follow him but his face remained stoic.

With a start Sam realised something and as Dean said "Three" , he placed himself between his brother and Ryan. Collin did that too.

Sam took a step towards Dean. He grabbed Dean's arm and began pushing him out of the room.

"You go Dean. Let me handle it." Sam said still pushing his brother towards the door.

"Sam.." Dean began and now he was angry.

"Don't just don't, Dean. Listen to me. I said I have got it. You and me would have a detailed discussion later. But just go now please." Sam said angrily to his brother but he knew that wouldn't work so he changed tactics at the end. He used his ultimate weapon 'his puppy dog eyes.'

Dean jerked out of Sam's hold which caused both the kids to flinch. And he made his way out slamming the door.

Sam took a deep breath to calm himself and turned to look towards the kids.

"I know why you are doing that kiddo. I am a younger brother too. I understand. You think that once we are alone with your brother , we would punish him. Right ?" Sam asked gently with a smile to put the kids at ease and to undo the damage that his stupid brother had made.

Ryan was shocked that Sam knew. In truth he was really afraid of Dean. He wasn't challenging him. But he just wanted to protect Collin like he always protects him. In the past his brother had taken punishment for him many times. He didn't want that to happen. He looked at Sam and the man was smiling gently at him , he wasn't looking angry like Dean. So he nodded.

"I promised Collin and I promise you too that no matter what happens we would not hurt you or your brother."

"B-but Dean.." Ryan said looking at the door fearfully.

"Dean wouldn't either. I know my brother. He just gets angry easily but he means no harm. We just wanted to talk to Collin and you know Dean thought that since you are always a little scared and uncomfortable around us. So it would be better if we talk with Collin alone. Thats all kiddo. I promise."

Now that makes a little sense. But Collin wasn't happy at all with the way Dean reacted. Why couldn't he just explain like Sam ?

"Now why don't you take a shower , Ryan. And Collin can help me with changing the bedsheet. I promise nothing will happen to your brother." Sam said and this time he smiled a dimpled grin.

Ryan looked unsure. But Sam understood him. Dean and Sam hadn't harm them. He wasn't sure about Dean but Sam looked nice. He looked at his brother and Collin smiled at him and nodded. Collin was feeling warmth inside him that Ryan was doing that to protect him.

Ryan reluctantly nodded and made his way towards the bathroom.

"I am sorry about Dean. He isn't like that." Sam said.

"If he just would have explained like you. Instead of yelling at us." Collin shook his head. He was pissed at Dean.

Sam didn't say anything. He would talk with Dean about that.

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