Sam looked up from his book as the motel room door swung open and Dean sauntered in, Adam shuffling slowly behind him. Dean tossed his duffle of weapons on the floor with a thud and Sam watched as Adam flopped down across the motel bed and promptly fell asleep.
"Jesus Dean what'd you do to the kid?" Sam asked, eyeing his little brother's still form, his chest rising and falling slowly in an already deep sleep.
"Nothing man," Dean replied, grabbing a beer from the room's mini fridge and cracking off the cap with his ring, "I think the training is just catching up to him."
Sam didn't take his eyes off his younger brother, he knew the kid was exhausted; P.T. every morning at 5, school all day, training with Dean, and finally, research with Sam at night. It seemed like too much to ask of an adult much less a 12 year-old.
"It's too much Dean," Sam said putting a voice to his concerns.
Dean glanced over at his passed out little brother, lying horizontally across the mattress, one arm under his head, his mouth open in sleep.
"I know," Dean said sitting down across from Sam at the small table. "I know," he said again with a sigh.
Dean took a long pull at the beer, swallowing slowly before continuing, "But Dad wants him to be prepared- to be able to protect himself."
"I get that," Sam agreed, for once not directly arguing with their father's orders, "But it's too much too soon you know? I mean look at the kid! He's dead on his feet. He can't remember half of the lore I'm trying to teach him cause he's so tired. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a call from school this week about him falling asleep in class,"
"Shit." Dean said leaning forward in his seat, putting his forearms on his knees. "That's the last thing we need."
The brothers were silent, each trying to think of a solution. Adam had to be trained, Dad had ordered it, but the breakneck pace of trying to get him up to speed was undoing most of the work they put in.
Dean took another long sip from his beer and stood up.
"Well look, I'm gonna go grab some burgers for dinner, let him sleep," he said sitting the beer on the table and grabbing the keys to the Impala. He walked out without another word.
Sam sighed, grabbing the beer Dean left and finishing it off. He shook his head and grabbed Adam's backpack from under the table. Taking out a stack of books and papers Sam spread them out on top of his own homework and research on the tiny motel table.
Before long Dean was back and gently shaking Adam awake.
"Come on kid. Wake up. We've got dinner," he said, grabbing his own burger out of the bag he had placed next to Adam's head.
Adam stirred slightly, grumbling and turning his face away to hide in the crook of his arm.
"Yeah and you've got homework too Adam," Sam said, still sitting at table.
Adam groaned again loudly but didn't move.
"You can't just do it for him Sammy?" Dean asked, opening his burger.
"I did Dean," Sam said in a huff, "But he still has to study these algebra formulas for his test tomorrow. "I can't take the damn test,"
"I wish you could" Adam mumbled, finally pushing himself up and into a sitting position on the bed. "I'm gonna fail," he said, rubbing his face trying to wake himself up somewhat.
"You're not gonna fail," Sam said reassuringly.
"Yeah you better not," Dean said around a mouthful of burger, "Cause Dad will kick your ass and then he'll kick Sam's."
Adam looked over at Dean questioningly and then at Sam who only sorta sighed with a sad look.
"Ugh," was the only word Adam could muster.
He'd only been living with his dad and brothers for a month or so now, but he'd never felt so completely worn out and exhausted in all his life. Every day was the same: get shaken awake by Dean or Sam at 5am for a three mile run, then hurry back for a shower and breakfast before getting to school, trying paying attention all day till 3 when Dean came to pick him up for either sparring or weapons training, dinner, then homework and as much research, Latin and lore as Sam could manage to stuff into him before he fell asleep with his head on the books.
Sam looked at Dean sympathetically, but the older boy just shrugged taking his burger and going to sit on the falling down motel couch in front of the television.
Adam dug into the bag of fast food Dean had set near him and although his stomach ravenously growled for it, he had no interest in the burger. He brought it over to the table with Sam and ate mechanically as his older brother pointed out the algebra formulas he'd need to know for tomorrow's test.
After several hours Adam couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and Sam gratefully excused him from studying the history of the kitsunie and Adam threw himself into bed and into a deep and dreamless sleep.
All too soon Adam felt himself being shaken awake and he groaned, not wanting the day to begin.
"Come on son," a deep voice said, smoothing his hair back from his face.
Adam's eyes flew open to see his dad standing above him, a soft smile on his face in the dim morning light.
"You're back," Adam said, pushing himself up onto his elbows.
"Time to get rolling," John said, nodding to his other two boys who were already awake and in various stages of dress. "Four miles today boys," he said sitting down next to Adam to lace up his own sneakers.
Adam grit his teeth to hold in a groan of displeasure. He couldn't even run the three miles his dad wanted without having to stop every 10 minutes, how was he gonna make it four?
"Come on," John said, patting Adams back to encourage him to get moving.
Adam got out of bed and tossed on his running clothes and shoes not even bothering to look in the mirror and in a few moments all the Winchesters were headed down the road.
John and Dean set the pace and Adam struggled to keep up from the beginning. Sam ran beside him, quietly whispering words of encouragement on the otherwise silent run. They didn't seem to make it very far before John noticed Adam lagging behind.
"Come on boy! Step it up!" He yelled back at his youngest who was red faced and panting.
Adam pushed harder, closing the gap between them that had arisen. A few minutes later however his body revolted and he was forced to stop and throw up into the grass on the side of the road.
John heard the sound and jogged back to his youngest who was on his knees in the gravel, retching and panting.
The other boys came back as well and Dean crouched down to inspect his younger brother and pat his back.
"What the hell Dean?" John said, unexpectedly angry.
Dean looked up in surprise, "Sir?" He questioned in confusion.
"I thought you were training him! We are barely over three miles and he's up chucking?"
Dean stood to face his father, his own breath coming short due to the run and the shocking anger laced through John's voice
"We are training sir," Dean replied, risking a glance down at Adam, who had at least stopped throwing up and was beginning to stand up on his own "He's doing better, he's just not used to it yet,"
"God Dammit! Is this how it's going?" John yelled, pacing around in front of the boys.
Dean and Sam exchanged a worried glance behind their father's back and Dean surreptitiously moved so that he was standing slightly in front of Adam, on guard.
"Adam!" John yelled suddenly, stopping his pacing and turning to face his youngest. "How do you kill a Wendiego?"
Adam stared back, hands on his hips trying to stretch out his body enough to let some oxygen into his lungs. "Umm," he said slowly between labored breaths.
John looked at him expectantly. Adam glanced over at Sam who stood beside him
"No." John commanded. "Don't look at him; answer the question."
Adam's mind spun 'Wendigo, Wendigo, Wendigo' he repeated internally ' Silver right? No no, something in blood, no. Shit! What was it? Fire?'.
Adam's mouth went completely dry and he stuttered aloud, "I uh.. Umm." He was terrified to be wrong in the face of the furious man in front of him.
"Jesus!" John yelled, spinning away from all the boys and kicking at the gravel in a rage.
"This shit is important!" He growled, turning back to face them "It's life or death here! I know you know that!"
Dean straightened, putting his chin up a little in a small gesture of defiance "Of course we know that, sir," he said "and we are all working really hard here."
"It sure as hell don't look like it!" John bellowed.
"Dad!" Sam yelled back, unable to keep his own temper in check any longer "We are working! And Adam is doing great! But he's just a kid!"
"Just a kid!?" John rumbled, taking a menacing step toward Sam, "Just a kid?! You think some fucking werewolf is gonna care that he's a kid?"
John took another step and Dean moved from his position by Adam to step over closer to Sam.
"Did those fucking ghouls care that he's just a kid?!" John was nearly screaming now, gesturing wildly in Adam's direction.
Sam risked a sidelong glance at his younger brother and found him pale white, eyes wide in shock.
"No!" John yelled again "No. All they care about is that he's a Winchester and he's fair game! So all three of you better get fucking serious about this!" He said pointing at the boys before he spun and walked away, ending the conversation abruptly and leaving them in a stunned silence.
"Fuck off..." Sam said quietly, glaring at his father's back. Dean turned quickly to look at Sam, shock and disbelief all over his face.
John froze mid stride and turned back around, "What did you say boy?"
Sam straightened up to his full height, glaring daggers at his father.
"How dare you?! How dare you bring up those fucking ghouls and use it as an excuse. Don't try make us to feel like shit cause you weren't there! It's not our fault! It's not Adam's fault!"
John crossed the space between them in two long strides and had his fists wrapped in the front of Sam's t-shirt before he even had a moment to realize he'd moved.
"You disrespectful little shit," he growled, shaking Sam slightly with each word.
"Hey! Hey!" Dean said forcing himself between the two "Come on! It's too early for this!"
John let Sam go with a small shove. "Four miles Sam! Now!" John yelled, pointing down the road and fixing Sam with a threatening stare.
Sam hesitated, clenching his jaw and fists, but after a quick side glance at Dean he took off down the road.
John huffed angrily, rubbing a hand through his two-day stubble trying to get ahold of his temper.
"Let's finish this and get back," he said to his two remaining sons with a forced calmness he didn't truly feel. "You gonna be ok Adam?"
Adam, his color somewhat returned to normal, nodded.
With that, John took off determined to finish the run, Dean and Adam behind him.
When Sam made it back to the motel about an hour later Adam was dozing on the couch with his math textbook in his lap. Dean was cleaning weapons he had spread out on the coffee table.
"Where's Dad?" Sam asked when he walked in.
"Right here," came a reply from the bathroom door. "Get yourself a shower, we need to talk before you leave for school."
Sam bit the inside of his lip and didn't meet his father's eye as he grabbed his bag and walked past into the bathroom.
"Dean, do the boys need a note or something for school?" John asked.
Dean didn't look up from his weapons, "Nahh I dont think so, they aren't gonna be that late."
A few minutes later Sam was out of the shower, dressed, and packing up his own schoolbooks. Dean shook Adam awake and told him to get his stuff together for school. Before the trio could sneak out the door however, John called out from his place at the motel table.
"Sam, we need to have that talk," he said slowly, standing up from the table and undoing the buckle of his belt, pulling it through the loops of his jeans.
Adam's stomach dropped as he watched the well-practiced motion and he pulled quickly on the back of Dean's shirt, hoping Dean would say or do something.
"Dad," Dean said hesitantly, "Is that really necessary?"
John doubled the belt over in his hand, gripping the leather.
"You think I'm just gonna let my son tell me to 'Fuck off' and get away with only a run as punishment?" he said calmly.
Dean looked over at Sam, who was standing stock still nervously clenching his jaw and staring at his father's boots. Sam's blatant disrespect had struck a nerve with their father and now he was going to pay dearly for it. Dean was at least thankful that his father had calmed down since the run and would likely only punish Sam instead of beating the daylights out of him.
Dean licked his dry lips, "Dad..." he started.
"Dean! Don't start!" John growled, cutting him off. "You're brother's gonna learn some respect."
"Dad! Please!" Adam called out quietly from Dean's side.
"Dean, take Adam outside." John said; his eyes locked on Sam who still had not moved, but was now glaring daggers at the motel room carpet.
Dean hesitated. It was against every brotherly instinct he had to leave Sam to their father's wrath, but he knew there was no way out of this one and that nothing he could say or do would change John's mind. Any more defiance from himself or Adam would only end in all three of them getting beaten and Dean knew Sam didn't want that.
"Now." John said forcefully.
Sighing Dean tossed a sympathetic look at the back of Sam's head before grabbing his keys off the coffee table.
"Come on Adam,"
Adam followed shortly behind, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to look at either Sam or his dad as they walked past and out the door.
Sitting in the Impala outside, Adam was thankful he couldn't hear whatever "talk" they were having inside.
He was still struggling to keep tears from falling when Dean asked him, "You ok kid?"
Adam could only give a noncommittal shrug as a response.
"Sam'll be ok. Don't worry." Dean said propping his elbow on the windowsill of the car and running a hand through his hair.
Finally Adam could keep quiet no longer and although he knew Dean's hatred of 'chick-flick moments', he stuttered out "He's in trouble 'cause of me."
Dean turned and looked at him, "No kid, Sam's in trouble 'cause of his own big mouth. You didn't do anything wrong."
Adam looked over at him, unconvinced.
Sneering at the fact he was going to have do this stupid emotional crap, Dean continued "Sam and Dad are a lot alike. They've both got a temper and they both can't keep their stupid mouths shut when they get mad. It's not you. Dad's just mad that he wasn't there to protect you from those ghouls. That's why he's pushing so hard on this training thing. Sam's just pissed cause he wants to protect you from Dad."
Adam carefully watched Dean's face, scrutinizing him for any sign of a lie. After being convinced he was telling the truth, he sighed deeply and slumped further into the front seat, "Still feels like it's my fault."
Dean rolled his eyes, "Well it ain't so shut up about it."
At that moment, the door of the motel opened and Sam came out, red rimmed eyes, and dark expression across his face. He opened the backdoor of the Impala and gingerly sat down in the seat. Dean watched in the rearview and didn't miss the pained look that crossed his brother's face.
Adam wished he could melt into the seat of the car, he wanted so badly to apologize to Sam but he sensed that now wasn't the time. He vowed to himself to work harder on his training and do whatever he could to prevent his brothers from getting into trouble on his behalf. It wasn't their fault he was so terrible at all this. He knew he had to step up his game or they would all pay the price.