As Close as Family

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Summary: see chapter 1

Warnings/Ratings: see chapter 1

Author's Note: The important bit I missed when I posted chapter 1 is my thanks to Rae Artemis who acted as beta/coach/advisor as needed to ensure that this story kept going and that I didn't lost heart part way through – poor girl has the patience of a saint when it comes to my writing. Thanks Rae A.

Author's Note 2: Reviews continue to be welcomed.

Chapter 2 – Come on Sammy, be reasonable

I'd more or less finished the food in front of me although I hadn't really noticed it but I was no longer hungry. Suzi came to take the plate. 'Everything okay with that, sir?'

'Yes thank you.' The look I gave her was questioning.

'Right then. Will you be wanting anything else or shall I bring through your take-out order?'

'No, nothing else here, just the stuff to go, but could you put two coffees with it? Thanks.'

'Sure,' and away she walked as if we'd never met. I didn't need her to say anything out loud. I'd got the message. Whatever the problem was, it was in the diner now. I turned so I could look round casually as I waited. At first glance, no-one stood out as odd, a few people had left and new ones had taken their place but most of them were either chatting with friends or engrossed in eating. One or two were reading papers, then I saw him. Tucked away in the darkest corner of the diner, he was alone and he was watching Suzi with an intimidating level of concentration, possessive was only the start of it.

Then Suzi blocked my view of him before I could get a good enough look. I looked up at her. She gave me the check and a bag with Sammy's food in it. My eyes caught hers, she made sure our eyes were locked then lowered hers to the check. 'There you go, your check, sir.' I frowned; she looked at the check again. Not a word was spoken. I lowered my eyes to the check and saw there was a piece of paper folded with it. I opened the two together. Written on the paper were the words, 'Later. I promise. S x'

I folded the paper back up and put it in my pocket as I got my wallet out, paid and picked up the bag. 'Thanks,' I said as I walked out. You can't imagine how hard it was to walk away without looking back and without taking her with me. I promised silently that if she didn't come to the motel later, I would come back and get her. In the meantime, Sam needed to eat and I should probably try to prepare him for Suzi.

Amazingly, it appeared he'd been asleep when I let myself back into the room, although he'd woken with my key turning in the lock, 'Hey dude.'

'Yeah Sammy. I brought you some food.'

'Mmm, less of the Sammy, but that smells good. Where's yours?'

'I ate at the diner. This comes recommended – just for you.'

'For me? What do you mean?'

'Suzi.' It was out now. All I needed now was his reaction.

'Suzi,' Sam said quietly, 'What's in it?'

'It's fine, Sam. She's grown up now. She's past putting salt on your cereal and sugar on your fries. Trust me, she's got more on her mind than winding you up.'

'What's she doing here?'

'Working in the diner.'

'I didn't know you two were back in touch. When did that happen?'

'We weren't,' I left it at that.

'You expect me to believe you just bumped into her in some random diner in the middle of … Where are we exactly? You just pull off the road in some little town and you just meet Suzi. I find that hard to believe.'

'Look bro. I had no idea she was here until today. We were driving along. You were asleep. I was tired. I didn't want to fall asleep at the wheel and hurt my car so I pulled off at a motel. I went to restock the trunk's first aid kit and I stopped for food and there she was. Okay?' Well, I wasn't lying as such, just bending the truth.

'Yeah right,' and Sam wasn't buying it.

Well that went well. I turned my back and flopped on my bed. God! I really was tired. I could just close my eyes.

'Dean…Dean!' Nothing if not persistent our Sammy. I opened my eyes. 'The truth, Dean.'

'…is out there, Sammy. Now can I rest?'

'You could have told me you were coming to see her. Hell, you could have let me go see my friends, and we could have met up again afterwards.'

'Sammy.' He wore me out when he was in this whole 'dog with a bone' mood. 'We were driving. You were asleep. We came through this town. I decided to stop. I didn't know before then that Suzi was here. That is the truth,' and it is. Okay, I know I didn't mention the feeling but that didn't stop any of what I had said being the truth whatever Sam thought.

'Dean.' Disapproval, all I needed from Sam. 'Dean, you could have told me.'

'Told you what? I was tired. You know that, we both are. How many jobs have we done lately?'

'About Suzi.'

'I didn't know.'

'Why lie, Dean?'

I rolled over, raising myself up to look Sam straight in the eyes, all attempts at sleeping put aside for the moment, as I attempted to keep my temper in check. 'That is exactly my point. What do I stand to gain? Last time I heard from her she was still living with Max and Jason in Grant's Pass, Oregon. I didn't know she was in Missouri, let alone living in some town we were going to pass through.'

He paused, took a few bites of his dinner and nodded, 'She was right, this is good. Are you seeing her again?'

Grateful to move on, I nodded. 'Look, I really didn't know she was here, but I think she's in trouble and I've offered to help her.'

'She is.'

'What?'

'You're right, Dean. She is in trouble. You'll have to convince her to let you help. You know how stubborn she can be.'

'She wasn't that bad, Sam and look who's talking. You matched her and often outdid her, you know, when you were being awkward.'

'Well, like you said, she's grown up now and so have I.'

'You know she's in trouble. Why didn't you say anything?'

'I only felt it this afternoon when you were out. I would have told you.'

'Yeah, I know. I didn't mean that to sound so harsh. Sorry.'

'You've said a lot of stuff that's true, Dean and part of it was that you were tired. When are you meeting her and where? Back at the diner?'

'I…well… she didn't say when exactly and I think she's intending coming here. I guess I just wait and see for now.'

'What happened, Dean?'

'She's a mess and she's frightened. I saw some guy watching her. He looked rough and she wouldn't talk but she gave me this,' I passed the note over to Sam.

He nodded, 'Get some sleep dude. I'll wait up for her. You're exhausted; you'll be no good to anyone without some sleep.

'I guess.' I settled back and closed my eyes. Sam was right, I'd learnt that over the years, that no matter what I feel like, I'm more likely to be able to do something useful if I'm not absolutely exhausted and I pretty much was at that stage. I dreamt of when we were kids.

Over the weeks, the bruises on her body faded and as they did she seemed to come to life. She seemed to know we weren't going to hurt her; she was less frightened of Dad, although she still preferred to be with me. The only person she really didn't get on with was Sammy. The two of them would hurt one another; push one another on stairs, kicks under the table, and all that sort of thing. She'd been with us a week and a half before she spoke and like Sammy when he was little, the first thing she said was my name. It was Dad who pointed it out but it was Sammy's reaction that indelibly marked the memory for me. An angry shout, 'It's not the same, she does it on purpose.' Dad laughed, Sammy stormed back to the car and Suzi pulled on my sleeve and said my name again. I turned from watching Sammy to her eyes.

'Yeah?'

'Bathroom,' she almost whispered.

'Sure, come on.' I nodded at Dad and took her off to find the ladies. I pushed her toward the bathroom, saying, 'I'll be here.'

She started to walk then turned back, and still in barely more than a whisper she said, 'Dean, you'll wait, promise?' Her eyes were huge and I could see the fear in them.

I knelt down in front of her and looking straight into her eyes, I said, 'I'll be here, I promise.' She nodded and rushed in. I stood back up and leant against the wall waiting.

When she came back out, I saw the relief in her eyes as she saw me, 'You waited.'

'I promised.'

'Yeah.' She nodded, took my hand and started to walk towards the car.

Sam was slouched in the front seat, pointedly not responding to Dad's attempt to reason with him. I remember thinking that I was the teenager, wasn't I supposed to be the awkward one? We stopped to let a couple of cars pass and on a whim, I knelt down next to her again, 'So you're talking now?' She nodded. 'Do you think you could tell me your name if we're going to be talking now?'

'Do I have to?'

'No. But then you'd know when I was talking to you.'

She seemed to ponder the idea before replying, 'Maybe later.'

'Okay. Come on, the others are waiting for us. Looks like you and me got the back seat again.'

'Yeah,' she said with a small shy smile.

I remember that evening. We checked into a motel and Dad and Sammy went off to find something to eat. We sat down to watch cartoons. A couple of minutes passed and she moved from her bed to mine and curled into my side, 'Hey you.'

'Dean.'

'Uh-huh.'

'My name…' I waited for her to tell me. 'They…they called me Suzanne but...' I figured I could guess where she was going with this. 'I don't want to keep remembering what happened all the time.'

I pulled her tight and wiped away the lone tear which had rolled from her brimming eyes. 'Okay, well we could call you something different. How about Suzi?'

I remember the way she seemed to relax as she said, 'Yeah, Suzi's good.'

Author's Note: chapter 3 coming soon finally edits underway. Please review and let me know what you think.