Chapter 10

Dean was awake in the back seat and gazed absently out the window at the passing scenery. They were coming into a town, and he wondered how much farther they had to drive. His mind was in a turmoil and he couldn't seem to get it working right.

"I'm going to stop at the store for a few minutes Dean, to pick up a few things," Bobby told him glancing back over the backseat. "You can wait in the car with Rufus here." He watched Dean's expression quickly change to doubt and fear as his eyes darted to Rufus and back to Bobby like he was asking him not to leave him. "Don't worry boy, he won't bite," Bobby chuckled looking to Rufus who had a sour look on his face, like he always did.

"It's okay, I don't eat kids," Rufus grunted out. "Unless they irritate me."

"I won't be long," Bobby assured Dean as he parked and got out. He needed to pick up some basic supplies since he had another mouth to feed that might not like his menu. He hurried inside and grabbed a buggy and headed for the dairy and meat sections, and then the canned goods. He grabbed what he needed and went to the front to check out.

Bobby sat the bags in the back with Dean and went around to the driver's side and got in. He cranked the car and pulled out onto the main road to head for the salvage yard.

"Almost home kid," Bobby commented looking at him in the rearview mirror watching him sit up to look around.

"I'll be heading on out Bobby. Wanna get home before it gets dark," Rufus told Bobby as he turned on the road for the salvage yard.

"You sure?" Bobby asked.

"Yeah. I have a feeling you will have your hands full," he noted giving Dean a glance.

"Suit yourself." Bobby pulled through the gates of the salvage yard and up the driveway to the two-story house and stopped.

"See ya next time Bobby. Good luck with…" Rufus started darting his eyes to Dean but didn't continue.

"Yeah, yeah, you got the phones this week?" Bobby opened the trunk so Rufus could get his bag and he could unload some of Dean's things.

"Yep, bye Bobby."

"So long." He watched Rufus head to his truck and get in to drive away.

Dean opened the backdoor of the car and slowly got out looking around the salvage yard at the stacked, squashed cars, the storage buildings, the garage, and then to the house. The house could use a new coat of paint, and the yard needed a little mowing and trimming. He moved to take some of his clothes from the back and followed Bobby up the steps and waited for him to unlock the door so they could go inside.

"Okay kid, don't touch the decor, assume it's loaded," Bobby told Dean in a stern voice. "There's a bathroom and spare bedroom upstairs you can use. Let's take these things upstairs and get the rest out of the car."

Dean walked up the steps and down the hall to where Bobby had stopped at an open door. He looked inside and saw two twin beds separated by a nightstand with a lamp sitting on it and two dressers on either side of a closet door. He looked across the hall and saw a bathroom.

"We can hang these things in the closet, and I'll let you put away the clothes in your duffle in a dresser."

"Okay," Dean said quietly allowing Bobby to take the clothes he was carrying and hang them in the closet. He followed him back downstairs and they got everything else out of the car. Bobby put the food away while Dean took his duffle upstairs to unpack. When he was done, Dean put on some sweats to be more comfortable before heading back downstairs and wandered through the living room and into the kitchen. He was still too zoned out to really see the strange and unusual things that were scattered around the house or chance a look into Bobby's office to see all the stacks of books that took up every corner of the room.

"Are you hungry? I got some deli meat and cheese for sandwiches."

Dean shrugged he didn't care as Bobby set the meat and cheese on the counter and turned to get the bread. Dean pulled two pieces of bread out and took a slice of cheese and a couple of slices of meat for his sandwich. He chose mustard to squirt on it and took the plate to the table to sit down. He looked up at Bobby as he sat a glass of milk near his plate and took a seat across from him with a cup of coffee. Dean took a small bite of his sandwich and chewed slowly, his eyes glazed and dull looking.

"I know you've had a traumatic experience Dean and you've lost people you loved, but do you think you could answer a few questions for me?"

Dean kept staring at his sandwich as he nibbled another bite but didn't answer him. He was shutting out the world so he wouldn't have to feel the sorrow, pain, and grief once again. Something triggered in his mind that wanted to open a door to another time when he felt this way and Dean didn't want to see it, so he closed himself off.

"That's okay, we can maybe talk tomorrow," Bobby sighed not wanting to push the boy too much right now. "Go ahead and finish eating. I'll be in my office just off the living room if you want anything." Bobby got up to leave thinking Dean might need a little time to himself to come to terms with the tragedy in his life. What happened was a lot to process for one so young. He went into his office and dropped into the desk chair before opening a drawer and pulling out a worn journal, turning to a blank page, and began to note this last hunt.

Dean heard what the older man said, but it didn't really register with him. He automatically kept eating and sipping on the cold milk until the sandwich was gone. He got up and took his glass to the sink to wash it and leave it in the strainer. He wandered into the living room seeing his pillow and blankets were on the couch and sat down to wrap up and lay his head on the pillow. He buried down into the blankets making a nest for himself to hide in. He got warm and comfortable and before long went to sleep. He never heard Bobby come from the office to check on him and left him slumbering as he went to get another cup of coffee.

spn

A young boy's wails pierced the darkness of the house causing Bobby to hurry from his bedroom with gun in hand. He looked around for any danger before going to the couch to find Dean curled up in a ball as he cried hopelessly into his pillow. Bobby couldn't tell if he was awake or having a nightmare, but knew he needed to find out.

"Dean, hey kid, it's okay," Bobby mumbled to him laying a hand gently on his back only to have Dean wail again. "It's okay, you're safe, remember? I brought you home with me," he continued speaking a little louder.

Dean's body was trembling uncontrollably as his breath hitched and he opened his eyes in slits too dart glances to the side seeing the older man. His cries were softer now and he wiped an arm across his face to wipe the tears away before turning to his side to stare at Bobby with sorrowful eyes. Dean jumped when a crack of thunder sounded nearby and shook the windows of the old house.

"It's only a thunderstorm, nothing to worry about. You're safe kid, ain't nothing can get to you in here, I made sure of that," Bobby told him with confidence. "Do you want to go upstairs to bed?" he asked but saw a look of terror cross the boy's face and added. "It's okay if you want to sleep down here. Why don't you try and get some more rest? It's too early to be getting up. Want me to stay with you 'til you go back to sleep?"

Dean's breathing was calming now, and he shook his head no to the offer of Bobby staying with him. He didn't want to act like a baby asking him to stay until he fell asleep. He pulled the blankets back around him and followed the older man with his eyes until he disappeared down a hall. Dean lay still as he stared at the small lamp Bobby had left on for him, and let his mind wander away to a happy place as his eyes went out of focus until he finally closed them once again.

Dreams started running through Dean's mind of special times he had with his adopted parents. He mumbled in his sleep as he rolled over and buried deeper into the blankets. The last one had him hiding in the closet and listening to the fighting and gunfire going on at the front of the house. He suddenly woke with tears streaming down his face and lay on the couch as memories of the last twenty-four hours came back. He used the blanket to wipe his face and looked toward the kitchen when he heard noises coming from there. Dean got up and went upstairs to the bathroom before coming back down and stepping into the kitchen to find Bobby making coffee.

"Mornin' Dean," Bobby greeted him when he looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. "How 'bout some breakfast? Why don't you go ahead and take a seat?"

Dean moved to the table and sat down as he watched Bobby move to the fridge to take out eggs and milk. He sat a frying pan on the burner, added a little oil, and got out a bowl to crack the eggs in. Bobby put some bread in the toaster before beating the eggs and pouring them in the pan to cook. It wasn't long before the smell of breakfast had Dean's mouthwatering, and he looked hungrily at the plate sat in front of him.

"Go ahead Dean, eat up," Bobby told him going back to pour another cup of coffee and a glass of milk. He joined Dean at the table and started to eat glancing up at the boy. Dean had not taken a bite until Bobby was sitting and eating himself. He knew he needed to question Dean but decided to wait a little longer to let the boy settle in and get used to him. Bobby knew he was sometimes gruff and hard to get along with, but he would tread lightly with the skittish kid. "I got some cars to work on today in the garage, wanna come out and help?"

Dean looked up and some of the dullness left his eyes with the question and slowly nodded his head yes. He ate the last of his food and drained his glass of milk.

"Why don't you go change clothes and I'll get these dishes done?"

"Okay," Dean whispered barely loud enough to be heard. He got up and took his plate and glass to the sink and left the room to go upstairs and change. Dean looked through the clothes in the dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and socks. He changed slowly and slipped on his sneakers before going across to the bathroom to use it. Once he was done, Dean headed back downstairs as Bobby stepped from the kitchen. Bobby headed out the front door and Dean followed behind him at a safe distance. He looked around at the surroundings again, now that he could really see it in the light, as they walked toward the garage.

A/N: Dean has a new home now and a lot to learn. How is he going to deal with what he learns? Did Bobby make the right choice? Thanks for coming along for the ride. Thanks to any guests who have left reviews, I do appreciate them all. I do like reviews/comments. NC