"We've never done this with three before," Sam said to Dean.

Dean didn't take his eyes off the road as he replied, "The back floorboard's flat and he's small," he said, "he can get the blanket."

Adam knew "he" was the one Dean was referring to but was completely confused as to what his brothers were talking about.

Before long, Dean pulled the car off into a desolate looking parking lot. Sam got out of the front seat. Dean then slid over, stretching himself across the entirety of the seat, leaning back against the passenger side door.

Adam heard Sam open and close the trunk, and he was soon unceremoniously pushed further across the backseat when Sam opened the back door and got back in the car. Sam shoved the blanket into Adam's chest as the younger boy stared at him blankly.

"Lay down," Sam said, nodding toward the floor of the car.

Adam stared down at his feet. The floorboards in the car were flat, unlike in newer model cars, and yes he was physically small, or at least smaller than his older brothers, but what he couldn't comprehend was why he was being told lay down and presumably go to sleep.

Adam remained motionless and finally Dean spoke up from the front seat, not opening his eyes or moving from his position.

"Kid, it's 2am. Lay the fuck down and go to sleep," Dean murmured tiredly.

Seeing no other option Adam slid off the cushion of the back seat and into the floorboard. He squirmed to get the blanket up into a makeshift pillow and under his head. Adam was distantly thankful that it wasn't a cold night, since the one blanket seemed to be all his brothers had for comfort in the car.

He stared up at Sam as the older boy attempted to get comfortable on the back seat, contorting his 6 foot 1 frame into a semi-reclined position. Sam gave him a weak smile, one that said, "this sucks, but it's okay,"

Adam wished he could sneak a look at his oldest brother in the front. He could imagine him, leaning against the passenger side door, arms folded, head against the glass, bruise in the shape of their father's fist blooming on his cheek. Adam squeezed his eyes closed tightly, trying not to see the moment of impact in his mind's eye.

Adam of course knew that some kids got hit growing up. Over the course of the past six months with his father and new older brothers, he'd witnessed John give the boys a few light cuffs to the back of the head. Hell he'd even gotten a few himself when he had been disrespectful. But he honestly never expected to see his father like he had tonight. So completely consumed with rage and alcohol that John was a different person. Adam never expected Dean to stand between himself and their father and take a punch for him. Certainly not after all the months of disdain and distance between them. Dean hardly ever even used Adam's name, preferring to call him "kid" or "squirt" or some other slightly derogatory term.

To be honest Adam felt like he was still getting used to this whole "brother" thing. Until a few months ago he was an only child, a lonely existence sometimes sure, especially when his mom worked long shifts at the hospital, yet it was one he was comfortable in. Since he'd been thrown in with these two new older brothers he found himself on unsure footing. Should he thank Dean for protecting him? Was that something brothers did?

From what little Adam had been able to glean about the depths of Dean's personality he didn't seem appreciate any show of emotions. Anytime Adam got upset, thinking about his mom, or the things he was failing at during their training, Dean told him to "suck it up." So no, a thank you was probably not due. It felt strange especially since the cause of this whole mess was Dad. Dad who hit Dean. Dad who was coming after Adam.

Adam felt the cold fear of the moment again in his stomach. He hadn't known. He didn't know the signs. Sam and Dean did apparently. They had been quiet and careful from the moment their father walked in the door around midnight. Adam had woken up, excited to hear about the latest hunt. He'd never been around someone who came home drunk; he didn't notice the slow, slightly slurred words. He was more interested in hearing about the Woman in White his dad had discovered two towns over. Thinking back, he realized Sam tried to shush him. Dean had hissed at him to go back to bed. Adam felt stupid now having not listened to them.

But the Dad he knew- he wasn't that guy. The Dad he knew was a take-you-for-ice-cream-ask-about-school kinda dad. He was not the dangerous angry man Adam had seen tonight.

Adam lay on the floorboard of the Impala listening to his brother's soft breathing desperately wanting wake Sam and ask him more about what happened. Why it happened. What he should do if it happened again. Adam wanted to ask but he was scared. If they talked about it then there was no denying it. It did happen. He knew enough to know that voicing his fears could make them real. His ice-cream dad was a scam, a person who probably never really existed and the hateful drunk Adam saw tonight was his real father.

Nothing about this new life with the Winchesters made sense.

Adam knew his dad. Well he thought he did. Up until tonight he was always a hard but fair man, with a deep gentle voice. He was never a man to be disrespected sure, but he wasn't outright frightening and unreasonably violent.

Tonight though…

Adam wished he could pinpoint what he had done to set his father off. He really didn't know. If he did, he sure as hell wouldn't do it again. He'd been asking about the hunt, receiving short, gruff answers from their father in return. That in itself wasn't unusual. Dad was always tired and it was late so that all made sense. It seemed like out of nowhere that John had turned on him, snapping at him, suddenly yelling and flipping the motel room table.

Adam had been shocked into stillness, too startled to move away from what was quickly spiraling into a dangerous scene. Dean had appeared in front of him from nowhere, hands open in a nonthreatening manner, voice calm and respectful. It wasn't enough though, John's switch had flipped and there was no going back. Adam didn't even see the punch, instead only hearing the sickening sound of fist meeting flesh so forcefully that Dean was driven to the ground. Sam was there instantly, picking Dean off the floor with one arm and shoving Adam out the door with the other.

Adam twisted uncomfortably on the floor of the Impala earning himself a concerned and slightly annoyed look from Sam.

He closed his eyes, wishing for what must have been the millionth time that he was home in his bed, listening for his mom to come in from a late night shift. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stop thinking of her. Instead he went back to trick he'd taught himself over the last few months to clear his mind- spelling Latin exorcisms.

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A/N- Don't own Supernatural

Thank you to lunaslushie for the beta! Also if anyone is interested in taking these one-shots to create a proper story please do! I'd love to have more time to write but these are all I can manage now. I've got lots of plot ideas but no time to create them in the way they deserve. PM if you want to chat! Thanks for reading!