Moving On

Chapter 14 - Progress

Dean has been going to the school for three weeks and the change in him is amazing. He seems more like himself, some degree of self-confidence is back along with laughter. I realise how much that had been missing before, how much I had missed it. It makes me realise how desperate Dean must have been feeling for there to have been no laughter in so long.

He still hasn't told Sam what he's doing and we've managed to keep the mornings at school a secret and he has hidden both his pile of books and the time he is spending studying.

Sam's attitude has improved and he's making a real effort not to upset Dean most of the time, but he is still unobservant and hasn't realised how great an improvement Dean has made over these last weeks. He still relies too much on me to ask the right questions in front of Dean to keep him informed but given the current situation with Dean having sworn me to secrecy, Sam is wrong to rely on me as his source of information and I can't exactly tell him that so the stalemate continues.

Another good outcome is that Dean at least appears to be sleeping better. He complained that Mark had limited him to two mornings at the school and some self-study for now but I figure Mark must know what he's doing because Dean comes out of those mornings exhausted and by the time he's packed away and hidden all his books and Sam's home, he's weary and ready to sleep. I figure he's not waking up so much either as the bags beneath his eyes have almost vanished.

Mark came out to the truck with him this morning, apparently to arrange for me to pick up some stuff from his brother, but I think he had an ulterior motive. As Dean climbed into the truck, I asked him how the morning had gone and he said, "Fine. It was interesting. I've got more reading to do."

Mark cut in with a sigh, as he leant on my open window, "Dean, that's an opportunity to show off. He's smart, Bobby. I'm glad you brought him in. He'll have this under his belt in no time, then we'll have to find something else to keep him out of trouble! Now Dean, I'll see you Monday, in the meantime, show off for an hour then back to work! Have a good weekend, guys!"

As we drive away, I ask "So what was Mark talking about?"

"I handed in an assignment last time and he's marked it. He's given it an A, but I figure it's like encouragement to spur me on, not a real A."

"I don't think he'd do that. I think if he says it's good then it must be. He certainly sounded pleased. So how'd the rest of the morning go?"

"Pretty good actually. I joined a class, it's only a small one but..."

"That's good then. More work though, huh?"

"I guess."

"You going to tell Sam now?"

"No, not yet."

"Things are going well. Hell you got an A, we should be celebrating." He smiles but shakes his head. "Why not?"

"I don't want to jinx it. Things are going well."

"Why would telling Sam change that?"

"I don't know."

"Your mind works in mysterious ways, Dean."

"I thought that was supposed to be a woman's mind."

"Maybe you're in touch with your feminine side."

"In that case, I'm not cooking anymore, you two can do it."

"Definitely in touch with the feminine side. The evidence is all there, don't know how we missed it for so long!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Irrational lines of thinking, threatening other people with jobs like cooking, moody at certain times. Dean, you are..."

"Just don't say it, old man, if you want to live to see another day."

"Methinks, the lady doth protest too much."

"Ha, bloody ha!" I glance across and see him relaxed and smiling and know that things are looking up.