CHAPTER 12
Dean had gone out again as soon as they were done with the lunch. Sam was washing the dishes. Collin had insisted to wash them but Sam hadn't allowed him. So he was now sitting on the bed with Ryan.
"What are you doing Rye ? Snapping at Dean again and again." Collin didn't mean to sound angry with his brother. But in truth he was really angry. He was afraid that if Ryan continued this behaviour anymore then Dean would definitely hurt his little brother and as much as he would like to , he is not strong enough to fight a hunter. And then the Winchester brothers would kick them both out. He hated more than anything in the world the feeling of helplessness he gets when his brother is hurt and he can't do anything.
"He hurt you. I don't like him." Ryan said fiddling with the hem of his tshirt. It shows how nervous he was. Collin knew his brother enough to know that it was Ryan's nervous tic. Whenever the kid was nervous , he can't keep his hands still.
"What are you saying Rye ? Dean didn't hurt me." Collin replied. Sure Dean was a little stern than Sam but he hadn't hurt him once. So Collin was confused as to where Ryan got the idea that Dean had hurt him.
"You said that your stomach wasn't feeling good and still he forced you to eat." Ryan replied looking at Collin. His tone clearly implying that it should be something Collin should have already known.
Collin wanted to smack himself at that. He had lied to Ryan about his stomach to make the kid eat. Ryan was refusing to eat without him and he wasn't sure how much food they were allowed to eat. So as always he had given Ryan the food and decided to stay hungry. And now Ryan thought he had actual stomach ache and still Dean forced him to eat. That was freaking awesome. He thought. But he needs to explain to Ryan that Dean hadn't hurt him.
"My stomach was feeling a little uneasy. But when I saw the sesame chicken and fried rice. I got really hungry. You know how chinese is my favourite , right ?" Collin said and Ryan nodded.
"So Dean wasn't hurting me , kiddo. My stomach felt fine seeing all the tasty food. And I was really hungry. And Dean was just telling me to eat as much as I like. You remember how my dad used to get angry when I ate without his permission."
Ryan nodded sadly at that. He remembered his uncle saying really mean things to Collin and beating him for eating without his permission. He used to say that Collin eats a lot. But he knew his brother doesn't. Sometimes Collin even gives his food to him and he then goes to sleep hungry.
"So I wasn't sure how much food I was allowed to eat here. And Dean was just telling me that I can eat as much as I like."
It was the truth. Dean and Sam had made sure that both he and Ryan ate enough food. At the end both Sam and Dean had also said that in this family when it comes to food , no one is allowed to go to bed hungry. Though Dean ordered him to eat instead of encouraging him softly like Sam but he got the message that atleast while living here he wouldn't be starving.
Ryan thought about that. He now understood and he felt a little guilty for being rude to Dean.
"So you are fine , Cole ?" Ryan asked.
"Ofcourse kiddo. I have you to look after me. I will always be fine." Collin replied smiling and ruffling Ryan's hair.
"Yep." Ryan also smiled.
"But listen to me , Ryan. While we live here , you will not yell at Dean or Sam. If anything is bothering you. You will come and talk to me. Okay ?" Collin asked.
"Okay." Ryan replied and then he asked in a quiet voice while looking at the floor , "I should apologise to Dean."
Collin knew his Ryan had a big heart. He is a nice kid who cannot do anything to hurt others. If he makes a mistake , he would not sit still until he had apologised and for that he was proud of his brother. Even living with an abusive father and an uncle hadn't changed Ryan's good heart. So he nodded and said,
"Okay. Once Dean comes back you can go and talk to him. But be nice, okay. They are helping us." Collin said remembering Dean's earlier warning that he would not tolerate any disrespect.
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Dean had gone to a bar for some pool hustling. Now with two kids , their money was draining swiftly. He needed cash. He wanted to get drunk too but something tells him that wouldn't be a wise choice. What with having two kids and all. It still feels surreal that they have two kids to look after. He and Sam used to hate it when his dad used to come home drunk and smelling of booze. While he wasn't the dad here but he didn't want the kids to see him drunk either. They were enough scared of him already and he didn't want to scare them more. Besides if he gets drunk , he was sure that the next morning Sam would chew his head out. So after winning some pool games and making a couple of hundreds , he decided to go back.
When Sam saw Dean entering the motel room. He was more than surprised. He knew his brother had gone to a bar which usually meant that Dean would not come till wee hours of the morning and also drunk out of his senses. So seeing Dean back from the bar within just a few hours and that too not that drunk was pretty shocking. But he knew that it was because of Collin and Ryan. He smiled to himself. 'Maybe the kids staying with them will benefit not only the kids but them too.'
Dean noticed Sam's shocked expression but chose to ignore it. He himself knew that he had been drinking a lot lately so he cannot blame Sam for being shocked. Instead he took a seat on the couch and decided to watch some television.
Sam sat on the bed and opened his laptop to search for some cases. He was sitting on Dean's bed as the kids were sitting on his. Dean and he decided to leave this place tomorrow morning so he was searching for a new case.
"Should I go now ?" Ryan whispered in Collin's ear.
Collin looked closely at Dean and tried to figure out the man's mood but as usual he got nothing. Dean's face was completely blank. Unlike Dean , Sam was easy to read not always but definitely sometimes. His face showed all the expressions he was feeling inside but that wasn't the case with Dean. And atlast Collin nodded. He really hoped that Dean would accept his brother's apology and not yell at him.
Ryan made his way cautiously towards Dean. He was looking really afraid and ready to cry at any second. He kept glancing back at his brother. And Collin kept giving him thumbs up and a reassuring smile.
Sam was really confused as to what was happening. He saw that Ryan was walking towards Dean and that too without Collin and Collin was giving a thumbs up to Ryan to go ahead. He abandoned his laptop in the curiosity to figure out the scene in front of him.
Dean noticed Ryan standing in front of him. But the kid was not looking at him , he was looking at Collin. Dean didn't know what was happening. So he used the gentlest tone he could muster to ask Ryan,
"Something wrong , kiddo ?"
Ryan wasn't looking at Dean. Sure , he was standing besides Dean but he was looking at Collin. So he jumped at Dean's voice.
"N-no , S-sir." Ryan replied with a shaking voice. He was looking at his shoes still not making eye contact with Dean.
Dean looked at Sam and Collin raising his eyebrows questioningly. But when he got no answer from either of them. He sighed silently.
"Look at me , Ryan." Dean said in a soft but firm voice.
Ryan hesistently met Dean's eyes. And Dean continued , "Now tell me whats bothering you, son ?"
"I am s-sorry, sir. I d-didn't mean to be rude, earlier." Ryan replied. He was really worried. What if Dean didn't accept his apology and yell or hit at him instead ?
Dean's face softened at Ryan's apology. He didn't expect it at all. But he could see Ryan was worried about his reaction. So he gently reached for Ryan. Ryan flinched at the contact but Dean didn't let go of Ryan's hand. He didn't want to scare the kid but more than that he wanted to offer some comfort.
Collin stood from the bed when he saw Dean reaching for Ryan and Ryan flinching. He was ready to attack Dean if the man hurt his brother. Well, he would never win in a fight with Dean but he would not just sit and let anyone hurt his brother either. But what happened next surprised him.
Dean pulled Ryan to sit next to him on the couch. He could feel the kid trembling with fear. He carefully released Ryan's wrist and instead draped his arm over Ryan's shoulder rubbing it soothingly.
"I am not gonna hurt you. Its ok, kiddo. I am not angry either. I am also sorry for raising my voice at you." Dean said softly.
Ryan looked at Dean with wide tear filled eyes. He thought Dean would hit him. A few tears spilled down his cheeks and Dean wiped them gently with his thumb. He was surprised that Dean was talking to him softly like his brother talks with him whenever he is sad. He was also rubbing his shoulder just like Collin. It felt really nice and Ryan leaned into Dean a little.
"You are n-not angry ?" Ryan asked in a small voice.
"Nope. You are one cute kid. No-one can stay angry at you." Dean said and smiled at Ryan. He couldn't explain why but he felt ridiculously happy when he saw Ryan leaning into him.
Ryan smiled at Dean. It was the first time , Dean saw the kid smiling at him and Dean felt light like a weight has been lifted from his heart.
Sam smiled at Dean and Ryan. He knew his brother may appear as a hardass but in truth he was just a big ol' softy like him. He saw Collin standing with his mouth open in shock. Sam looked at his laptop and closed it. Research could wait but this could not. And with that he made his way towards Collin and just like Dean , he draped his arm over Collin's shoulder and they both made their way towards Dean and Ryan.
Collin jumped when he felt Sam's arm around him but seeing Sam smiling at him. He couldn't help but return the smile. He allowed Sam to guide him to the couch. He sat on the couch next to Ryan in the middle while Dean and Sam were at the corners. Dean's arm was still around Ryan's shoulder while Sam's arm was around his. Collin couldn't help when his eyes filled with tears. He forced himself not to cry like a baby but it was difficult to control his emotions. This was what he had always dreamt , always wanted. They didn't know Dean and Sam much but he still feels safe with them more than he had ever felt with anyone in his life , more than he had ever felt with his own real family.
Sam looked at Dean over the kids' heads and smiled. Dean returned the smile not as big as Sam but it was a smile nonetheless. His brother wasn't great in showing his emotions but he was trying. They didn't know much about the kids and there are still a lot of questions as to how they will manage their lives on the road with two kids in tow but none of them mattered in this moment. They were all happy and thats all that mattered. Sam couldn't hope for much.
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