A/N: Thanks so much to everyone's support so far!
Fanfiction Writing Month: October [1289]
If You Dare Challenge - #418 (Broken Past)
Are You Crazy Enough To Do It Challenge - #150 (silver)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Sonny rushed into the dressing room area; as soon as Dean had not responded to Castiel's words, he had gone to get him. Now he entered a terrifying scene. Sam was wild and crazed in desperation to reach Dean, hitting the employee (her silver nametag read Cherie) with all of his might. Dean was screaming bloody murder inside his dressing room, and Sonny yanked at the door handle in an attempt to reach him. It was locked. "Dean!" he cried out, slamming his palm against the door. "Dean!" Suddenly, it dawned on him. "Key…" Just as Sam tore from Cherie's grasp and crawled beneath the door, Sonny turned to her with an outstretched hand, angry. "Key!"
She threw it at him immediately, and he stuck the key into the lock as the screaming made way for a round of hysterical sobs. He swung open the door to find Sam and Dean, foreheads pressed together and rocking. Sam, seemed far older than his seven years as he comforted his older brother, smoothing his hair down and whispering to him. "It's okay, Dean," said Sam, trying to keep himself together as well. "You're okay. He's not here. He's not here. You're okay. You're safe." When he received no response, he tried again, this time in Latin. "Non est hic, Dean, obsecro… Et dixistis liberati sumus." He is not here, Dean, please... And you're safe. Slowly, Dean began to uncurl from his fetal position, eyes trained on his brother, sobs fading. "Hie ego sum, Dean, ego huc…" I'm here, Dean, I'm here. Sonny watched the younger boy and realized that he signed as he spoke and was careful not to trap or confine Dean in any way. OKAY YOU, Sam signed gently. D-M NOT HERE. SAFE YOU. SAFE ME. D-M NOT HERE. NO HURT YOU. OKAY YOU. I LOVE YOU. SAFE YOU. NO LEAVE YOU ME. When Dean's eyes refocused on Sam's hands, he repeated his words, adding, YOUR SAMMY HERE AND NO LEAVE YOU.
Sonny watched the boys' strange interactions, remembering what Dr. Gilmore had told him about them. They're very...codependent on one another, she had said, her tone careful and concerned. They can barely function when the other is absent, but I think it's more than that. They've grown up in an environment so violent that… that they only knew they were safe when the other was physically there. Sam needed Dean to protect him, and Dean… Dean needed to know that Sam was okay. When they didn't have each other, it meant… Well, it could only mean something was wrong.
Codependency was the only way he could think to describe it. Sam's reliance on Dean for protection had been obvious when they had first arrived, but now he realized that this codependency had many more bridges between the two boys. They needed to always be around each other; he'd never seen them more than a foot away from each other unless they were forced to be. It seemed to Sonny that Dean relied on Sam to be his sole purpose in life. And as he had seen in this moment, Dean depended completely on Sam for his mental and emotional stability.
As Cas explained to him at the end of their outing, Dean also relied on Sam to do all of the talking. When faced with an uncomfortable situation, Dean either switched into sign language or refused to speak at all. Sam simply took over as a sort of translator for Dean.
As Sonny learned the following week, Sam was not only translated for Dean, but did something for Dean that explained even more of their codependency.
Sonny received the Winchester's school records, personal information, and medication on Saturday. He began giving Dean his painkillers and other pills alongside his meals. At first, his reaction was quite violent, but as soon as Dr. Gilmore arrived and explained the necessity of the medication to the boys, Dean finally began to listen, taking it when he was told. Dean also began to eat more, mostly after Sam's pleading, but it put him in a much more vulnerable state around Sonny. Sonny wasn't sure that Dean would ever feel comfortable around him.
Sonny flipped open Dean's file. Maybe, just maybe, something inside of here would help Sonny make the boys feel safe at his home.
The file started at preschool when Dean was three and extended to the present year.
DEAN WINCHESTER
Age: 3
Teacher: Mrs. Wong
Dean is a bright boy. He seems to be overly attached to his mother. He has a little trouble listening but is generally a very happy and excited child. He plays with all of the other students, even those who are more shy than the others. He's clearly intelligent; he's learned to speak with one of the other boys in Spanish so that they could play games together. I'm very proud of his work this year.
The progress report at four-year-old Dean was similar, although it was shorter, and the records stopped around November. There were none after that until Dean was ten.
DEAN WINCHESTER
Age: 10
Teacher: Ms. Daniels
Social Worker: Mr. Lennon
There were only a few progress reports and a couple grades, but what drew Sonny's attention was the conversation with a social worker inside.
MR. LENNON
Dean, have a seat. How was your day?
DEAN
Fine.
MR. LENNON
Did you have any tests?
DEAN
No.
Sonny squinted. Written in the margins were some scrawled phrases. Didn't let go of backpack. Wouldn't look me in the eyes. Shook a lot. Flinched when I approached him. There were repeated shows signs of abuse near Dean's words.
MR. LENNON
What about at home? How's your family?
Sonny found did not respond and more phrases in the margins.
Dean? Dean? Dean!
DEAN
Yes, sir.
MR. LENNON
Did you hear my question? I just want to know how life for you at home is like.
DEAN
Fine. Can I—sir?
MR. LENNON
There's no need to call me 'sir,' Dean. What did you want to ask me?
DEAN
Can I go now? My brother… He's waiting for me, sir, and I… I don't want him to be alone.
MR. LENNON
Don't worry about Sam. I asked a teacher to stay with him until our meeting ended.
DEAN
No.
MR. LENNON
What?
There was something scribbled about hyperventilation and panic above the next words.
DEAN
I can't… I need… I have to get to Sam…
MR. LENNON
Dean, just calm down. Sam is fine. Everything is fine.
DEAN
No… No! I have to get… I need Sam! I need—
MR. LENNON
Dean, calm down! You—Dean! Dean!
There were no more printed words after that, but there were many written ones explaining that Dean had a violent reaction and that they followed up with a visit to the home, but by that time, the Winchesters were gone. Dean didn't register for any schools between the ages of four and ten, and there were reports of skipping school, strange behavior, physical aggression, and injuries from unknown sources. There were even records of Dean obtaining injuries so terrible that he was hospitalized. Broken bones, stab wounds, gunshot wounds, claw wounds, head injuries, malnutrition, even strangulation… Dean never stayed at a single school for more than a month; each time, he left a string of concerned teachers and staff in his wake. They reported bruises in the shape of hands and shoes, odd behavior, and, like Sonny had observed, an intense dependency on his little brother. He read further into Dean's medical records; he'd never experienced a child with such a violent past.
Sonny didn't know how to handle him. Dean was afraid of everything: people, crowds, confined spaces, food… He just hoped that going to school would help them adjust to a safe, carefree life.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!