Bobby had known the boys for years so he could spot changes in behavior and sense when something was wrong. Dean was now agreeable about everything and he hadn't been a smart mouth in over a week, then there was Sam who was withdrawn and moody.

He asked them each privately what was wrong. Dean didn't try joking around or blowing off Bobby's questions, instead he sat ramrod straight and his expression unreadable. He assured his uncle that he was doing great and just a little nervous about school starting soon. The alpha's bullshit detector went off but if the kid didn't want to come clean there was no way of prying secrets out of him.

Sam was easier; the boy didn't have his brother's ability to shut down and block someone out. "I had a talk with Jamie and he's under the impression that you're going through the change. Is that true, are you a pup alpha?"

Sam lowered his head before nodding, "Yes Sir."

Bobby was as uncomfortable talking about puberty as Sam was but he sucked it up and did what he had to, "I went through the same thing about a lifetime ago. I remember being all sore and achy. Your emotions are over the place, first you're smiling and then you feel like beatin' up something or someone and sometimes you cry for no reason. It's a real bitch, especially at the beginning of presentation; I'd say anger was the thing that hit me the hardest. Are you feelin' angry, Sam?"

The baby alpha balled up his fists and growled, "I get so mad sometimes, like at the carnival there were these guys looking at Dean and I wanted to hit them until they stopped." Sam's voice softened and his hands relaxed, "I don't always feel like that but when I do it's like I'm not me."

Bobby was a little surprised Sam was already guarding his brother. Normally at Sam's age a kid was too busy figuring things out and finding their footing to be bothered with obsessive, guarding behavior of one person. It got Bobby curious as to how far along Sam's knot was but not enough to bring it up.

"You're a good kid and I trust you to handle yourself but if you're feelin' like you can't, you can always come and tell me." Bobby clapped his hands on his knees and stood up, "Good talk."

Sam peered at his uncle from behind his shaggy bangs, "What about the bump? I've got a bump and it hurts."

Bobby let out a deep sigh and sat back down, he'd almost gotten away. The alpha wished a whisky fairy would drop a bottle on his desk. "That old saying "popping a knot" isn't exactly true, it's a process and it feels like bad growing pains. Once it's formed it won't hurt anymore. While we're talking about delicate issues, it's time for you to start using deodorant. Sam, you get a little musky."

"Can I use your Old Spice deodorant?"

"I don't share pit stick. We'll pick some up."

Sam lifted his bare leg and rested his foot on the edge of his uncle's desk, "My legs are fuzzy so do I need a razor?"

"You don't need to shave your legs, your armpits or above your trouser snake. When you get older, you might want to shave your bojangles if they get hairy or do like me, keep it natural. Alright, that's all the puberty talk I got in me right now."

Sam smiled broadly, "trouser snake, I like that. So I'm an alpha now?"

"You've got a long dog paddle to the deep end of the alpha pool. You're still a pup, enjoy it because the older you get the more the world weighs heavy on your shoulders."

Bobby put Sam's mind more at easy. Talking to an elder alpha who had been through it all assured the boy that what he was feeling was normal. He almost brought up the dreams he'd been having but was afraid his uncle would think there was something wrong with him just as his father did. Dean was the keeper of that secret.

…..

Dean found Sam beneath his reading tree, also known as the big old maple in the backyard. He was reading a book on college prep courses. Sam patted the soft grass and his brother sat next to him and handed him a cold bottle of pop. Sam marked his page and set the book aside.

Some of their best times were the quiet moments like this where they watched the clouds and enjoyed the closeness. Sam spotted clouds that looked like an angel, a tree and a temple of sorts. Dean found an ax, a bucket of popcorn and a devil face. Sam walked his bare feet up the tree while on his back and Dean ran his hand along Sam's bare leg to the knee, feeling the fine, golden hairs starting to grow.

"Peach fuzz."

Sam said with some measure of pride, "I'm using deodorant now, it's called Woodland Mist and it smells like a forest."

"Squirrel turds and fungus?"

"You jerk. No, like pine trees and morning dew."

Dean immediately stuck his nose in his brother's pit and took an exaggerated breath in, which got Sam giggling. "Yup, that's woodsy alright but I like your natural smell better."

Sam curled his pinky around Dean's, "Bobby said I'm musky."

"Musky can be a good thing."

They went quiet until the pop bottles were empty.

"Dean, I had a bad dream last night."

"Yeah?"

"I couldn't find you. I was running down a road then through a forest and I ended up in some town asking strangers if they'd seen you but no one even looked at me. They just wandered around…all of them with dead eyes. When I woke up I was all sweaty and my heart was beating so hard I could hear it pounding in my ears. I went to check on you then."

"So that's why I woke up with you wrapped around me like an octopus."

"Yeah."

They raced each other to the house and this time Sam made it to the porch first because Dean held back to give his brother a victory, something he normally wouldn't do. Now more than ever it was important that his kid brother felt capable and strong.

Dean tried to fill every minute with Sam. He talked him through an oil change on the truck, they went fishing, swimming and even went to see Braveheart during the evening like two grownups then went out for pizza afterward. Every single moment with Sam and his smile, his laughter, scent and touch or the sound of his voice, absolutely every single bit of him was absorbed into the omega's sense memory.

….

It was quiet, so quiet that the only sound was the ticking of the carriage clock down the hall. This was Dean's time to prepare as he'd done for the past few nights. The rifle and pistol were both cleaned and ready to go. He packed the clothes Bobby bought him for school. They were pretty much the same as his old clothes, t shirts, flannels and jeans but the new ones actually fit him. There was a whole load of guilt associated with this, Bobby bought them with the assumption Dean was actually going to school. He'd leave the chambray dress shirt and black pants behind with the loafers.

"Sorry Bobby, there won't be any school dances or picture days where I'm headed…"

There were letters to be written but every time Dean put pen to paper nothing he wrote sounded right. How do you explain to the people you love why you're leaving them without it sounding like a sacrifice or causing more friction between Bobby and John or worse, a father and son? He downed a shot of Kentucky whiskey for some liquid courage.

"Dear Sam, I….fuck, I can't do this…"

The omega cried quiet, angry tears but blamed it on his heat instead of his breaking heart.

…..

September 1st 1995

Sam held up a dark green t-shirt to his chest, "What do think, Dean?"

"I think that's a great choice for the first day of school, green is your color."

Sam put the shirt back on a hanger, "Ok, your turn. I'll help you pick out your first day shirt."

Dean could see the excitement on his brother's face because school was Sammy's jam. Dean couldn't have felt prouder in part because he spent much of his own youth raising this kind, brilliant, and beautiful boy.

"At least I did something right…"

"Nah, that's ok. I'm gonna wear black jeans and my Aerosmith shirt."

Sam was a little disappointed but then Dean didn't make a big deal out of the first day like he did. "That's ok, I'm just glad you're going."

…

10 PM

Dean heard a soft knock on his door and Sam poked his head in, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"No, you have to sleep in your own bed."

The way Dean answered was abrupt and final. Though this was a small thing it stung coming from his brother.

"Oh, ok." Since the dream, Sam felt a need to be closer to his brother so Dean wouldn't vanish on him.

They ended up with a compromise, Sam in his own bed and Dean would sit with him until he fell asleep.

Once the omega was sure Sam was in a deep sleep he placed a letter on the nightstand along with a cassette.

Dean headed downstairs, carrying his shoes so he made no noise and then placed a letter for Bobby on the man's desk. The teenager took one last look around before exiting the home and tossing Rumsfeld a handful of treats to keep him quiet. Dean headed for the hiding place in the shed where he had his bags and rifle stored. He quickly dressed then checked the time on his field watch and hiked to the road where he waited.

He could hear Baby's low, comforting rumble before he spotted her and she emerged from the darkness and the lights came on. Dean stepped away from the glare and went to the passenger door, upon seeing his dad once again, the teen felt a surge of love that for the moment was stronger than all the bad things from the past. The omega slid into the passenger seat, a perfect fit, just like old times.

A smile played over the alpha's lips, "Hello Son."

"Hi Dad."

They didn't speak but listened to music until Singer Salvage was an hour behind them as if conversation would jinx the arrangement. John had visions of Bobby with a shotgun and Dean had thoughts of a broken Sam stuck in the backseat. Neither of them wanted those things to come true.

It wasn't until John stopped at a gas station that he allowed himself to relax. The two got out and John went to Dean, pulling him into a crushing hug and placed a hard kiss on the teen's mouth to claim what was taken from him and assert his dominance.

Dean didn't push him away in part because it felt good to have his distant father hug and kiss him no matter the reason for it.

TBC