CHAPTER 9

Sam came out of his bedroom. He looked at his son's room and he found him coloring. His son loves to colour, maybe he could get him a new coloring book and a biggest set of crayons he could find for this Christmas. He needed to apologise to the kid too.

At that moment someone rang his door bell breaking him from his thoughts. Soon the sound of ringing bell was followed by a loud knocking more like pounding. Who would that be ? thought Sam. Sam made his way cautiously towards the front door. Whoever that was , he was surely desperate. He peeked through the peephole and saw a very furious looking Dean. He was more than surprised. Dean was supposed to be back in 3-4 days and more than that Why was he looking so furious as if someone had stolen his baby ?.

Dean was getting impatient , he was never a patient man. He was glad that on his way he decided to meet a supplier for some parts so he wasn't that far away when he talked with DJ.

Sam opened the door and before he could even open his mouth. Dean rushed past him and towards DJ's room. "Dean , what are ya doing here ?" He asked following his brother but the glare Dean shot him was enough to halt his steps as well as shut his mouth.

"We need to talk but first I wanna see the kid." Dean said sternly making his way towards his nephew.

Dean entered DJ's room and found the kid coloring. But as soon as DJ saw him he ran towards him and Dean picked him up. The kid was trembling so Dean rubbed his back and sat on the bed with DJ in his lap. "Hey , kiddo. Look at me." he said gently , wiping the tears that were running down the little chubby cheeks and put his finger under DJ's chin lifting it so that the kid was looking at him.

"Unca Dean , I missed you." DJ said. "I missed ya too buddy."

"Daddy don't love me no more. I's a bad boy." DJ said hiding his face under Dean's arm.

"Hey now , your Daddy loves you. And you ain't a bad boy either."

"But daddy said he shouldn't pick me from the daycare." DJ said still not convinced.

"You know he was just having a real bad day. He loves you more than anything in the world. Remember when you told me your friend Logan said he didn't want to be your friend and next day he came to play with ya." DJ nodded and Dean continued. "Sometimes adults have bad day too. They say things they didn't mean. And as for the daycare, your Daddy meant that because he was working and couldn't play with you , it would have been better if you were at the daycare playing with your friends. So you wouldn't get bored while he worked."

"Really , Unca Dean ?" DJ asked. His voice was still quiet but he seems convinced now. "Now would I lie to my favourite nephew ?"

"Nope " DJ said and laughed when Dean tickled his little belly.

Sam was a little afraid. He knew he made a mistake and there was no excuse to that but he didn't know how Dean knew that. He was feeling like a little kid who was told to stand in a corner waiting for his scolding that he was sure to get from his parents.

Dean came and was still looking pissed. Sam noticed the door of his son's room was closed. Great , it was a sure sign of what was about to come. But nothing he didn't deserve. He swallowed and made his way cautiously towards his brother.

"Have you lost your freaking mind Sam ? I called your cell and the kid was crying his little heart out. You know the poor child didn't even understand what he did wrong ?".Dean said trying to keep his voice down but failing.

Sam was looking down. What can he say ? He must have really lost it. He scared his kid so bad, the kid even flinched when he came near. And what worst was that he didn't even explain the reason to his son that why his father was so mad at him. Maybe because Sam knew there was nothing to explain as the kid did nothing wrong , it was all his fault.

"You look at me when I am talking to you , Sam." Sam looked at him and Dean continued , "What got you so riled up ?" Sam opened his mouth only to be interrupted by Dean , "And so help me god Sam if you say that this was because you were tired. I know there's more to that."

Sam was just about to make the 'being tired' excuse but he wisely shut his mouth. The real reason was that he had no money to pay for the expenses that were sure to come at the end of this month. He was still afraid of the embarrassment that he would be feeling when Dean would know that he had failed in taking careof his son.

Dean could see whatever it was , it would take Sam sometime to talk about it but first Sam need to talk to DJ.

"You are gonna tell me Sam. But first you need to talk to the kid." Sam nodded he wanted to apologise to his son as soon as possible.

"And remember Sam , if you ever and I mean ever make a repeat performance of tonight , I would make sure that you are not gonna be sitting comfortably for the whole month. You aren't too old for me to put you over my knee. Understand ?"

"Yes Sir." Sam replied. He wouldn't put past Dean to do that besides he himself had no intention of having a repeat of tonight. Dean was a little surprised as being referred to 'Sir' but Sam wasn't.

It wasn't the first time he had called Dean 'Sir'. His father was never around much so his big brother wasn't just his brother. He was Sam's father , mother , best friend , protector and when the situation requires he was his disciplinarian too. Dean had punished him a few times , and everytime Sam had called him 'Sir'. He could handle an angry John but he couldn't ever handle an angry Dean. And also he hadn't disobeyed Dean once in his life, his father sure but Dean never. He respected Dean and whenever he made a mistake while growing up he always confessed it only to Dean and never once to his father. And later he would just accept whatever punishment Dean dished out for him.

Dean just nodded. And waved his hand towards DJ's room , "I will be waiting outside , Sam. I wanna know whats going on in that big head of yours. Now go."

"Yes Sir. " Sam replied and made his way towards his son's room.

Dean was watching the whole exchange between Sam and DJ. First when Sam entered the room DJ looked scared and by judging Sam's expression his brother was feeling worse. But after Sam apologized well as best as you could to a three year old kid , and assured him that nothing in the world could make him not love his son and explained that he was just having a bad day , DJ was back to normal. He was again talking to Sam without being scared and even gave a kiss on his father's cheek when Sam asked if he could get one.

Sam put his son to bed and kissed his forehead. He was glad that DJ understood and forgave him and more than that he didn't flinched when Sam came near him. And it certainly helped that Dean had already talked to his son and helped him understand the whole situation. He made his way out towards Dean knowing there was no way he could get out of this.

Dean was waiting for him with a beer in his hand. He was still looking a little pissed but not as much when he came. Sam took the beer and took a seat besides Dean on the couch.

Dean looked at him and said , "Talk." Sam was still a little nervous and Dean could see that so he said a little more forcefully. "Sam"

Not wanting to irate his brother anymore Sam began , "You sure have noticed that money is a little tight. I used to work two jobs but the law firm that I used to work for is shifting to next town. I cannot travel that far. And I searched but there is no vacancy nearby. I need two jobs to pay the bills. My interview that was this afternoon didn't go well , and I was worried and angry at myself and I took it all out on DJ." He gave a self depreciating laugh and said , "You must think I am a failure. I am pathetic , I couldn't even take care of my kid. I know you are embarrassed at me hell I am embarrassed at myself."

Dean knew that money was tight. He should have asked his brother. It was his fault , he should have known. He was cursing at himself for not doing something and for leaving when his brother was obviously sad. But when he heard the last part of what Sam had said , he saw red.

He gripped his brother's shoulders and when he had Sam's full attention he began sternly ,

"Samuel William Winchester. You are not pathetic. And I am anything but embarrassed at you. I am proud at ya , ya moron."

He took a deep breath and again started on the task of infusing some sense in his brother's thick head.

"You are taking care of your kid as best as you can. DJ has food to eat , clothes to wear , toys to play. You should be proud at yourself. You know Sam when we were kids dad used fraud credit cards to pay for food and stuff. He was involved in hunting so much that he forgot that he was a father too." When his brother looked at him in disbelief , as Dean admitting John was not father of the year and that he had made some mistakes too as it was the last thing Sam expected he said , "I realise it now Sam. But looking at you , you doing two jobs and still making time for your kid. Making an honest living , its not easy. But you are trying , Sammy and thats something , ain't it. That makes me damn proud of ya kid. Dad would be proud too , ya know. And life is all about challenges. We just need to keep going. And you know Sam , You are the strongest person I ever know. You fought with Dad to come here , to be normal. You never settle for less and even after Jessica dying , you keep on fighting for your son. That makes you the strongest man in my eyes. And I am damn proud of ya."

Sam looked at his brother through tears in his eyes , leave it to Dean to lift Sam's spirit like no one can whenever he was feeling at his lowest. His big brother was proud of him. He thought his brother was the strongest but hearing the same from his brother it certainly felt good no not good , it felt great.

"Now Sam , I don't wanna hear Sam and words like pathetic , failure and embarrassment in the same sentence ever. Am I making myself clear ?" He asked in a commanding voice making sure that Sam knew he was damn serious about this.

Dean knew that his brother was far from those things. But he needed Sam to know that too. When Sam just nodded , Dean shook his head. "I wanna hear you say it , Sammy."

"Yes Sir." Sam replied. "Not enough I want you to say , 'I am neither an embarrassment nor a failure and certainly not pathetic."

"Dean." Sam tried but when his brother shook his head he knew Dean would not drop it. He took a deep breath and said , "I am neither an embarrassment nor a failure and certainly not pathetic."

Dean smiled and patted his shoulder.

"And why you were embarrassed of me is beyond me Sammy. I have changed your diapers and bathed you. Dude , I have seen you without clothes countless times too. Hell I was the one who potty trained you too. We are way past the embarrassment train , brother."

"Dean" said Sam whining. He was blushing a little too. "You know thats not same."

"I know know , Samantha. Now stop blushing like a sixteen year old girl on her prom night. I don't know about you but I am tired. I am gonna hit the sack." Dean said.

"Thank you Dean , you know for everything." Said Sam sincerely. Dean just waved him off and said , "Just go to sleep Sam."

Watching his little brother go , Dean just knew what he had to do but it had been a long night . He would talk to Sam about it in the morning.

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Okay. It was a pretty intense chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Review it so that I know.