(Chapter 13!
I hope you guys like this chapter.
Unbeated so all mistakes are mine and mine alone.
I do not own Supernatural.
Thank you so much to EmilyAnnMcGarrett-Winchester, ArtistKurai, PriWinchester and LilyBolt for your reviews.)
"Sam, come on shake a leg or we're going to be late!" Dean hollered to Sam as he grabbed his wallet and the apartment keys and backpack from the hall closet.
"Ok, ok, jezz. I don't see why we have to be at the college by seven thirty." Sam grumbled as he came out of his own bedroom with his backpack slung over his back.
"Because I have work at seven thirty Ready?" Dean asked.
"What if I said no?" Sam questioned shooting a nervous look at Dean. Dean gave him a smile.
"Well, we have to whether we want to or not." Dean said and with one last look to make sure the lights where shut off Dean shut the door and started the short walk to the subway.
March had come in like a lamb and there was a soft spring breeze blowing. The sun was just starting to peek up in the east causing the windows on skyscrapers to shine bright orange and pink. People bustled about on their way to work or where ever they needed to go in light jackets and hats, trying not to get sprayed by the murky water the melting snow caused.
"I'm surprised there is this much run off," Dean told Sam as they made their way down the subway steps "It didn't look like it snowed that much."
"I guess it's coming off of the roofs and whatnot." Sam said shrugging. Dean nodded absentmindedly in agreement. The rest of the way to the college was quiet.
"Ok, now you have two options, one you can attend some of my classes with me just as long as you are quiet or I can give you my ID card and password and you can go to the library until I come and get you for the hearing." Dean said once they got to the college.
"I think I'll go to the library, it's only for a few hours right?" Sam asked. Dean looked at his watch.
"Yeah." Dean said "I'll pick you up here at noon ok. Here's some money for a snack if you get hungry." Dean took out his wallet and handed Sam a ten and five dollar bill.
"Thanks Dean." Sam took the money and slipped it into his pocket.
"I'll see you in a bit." Dean said and as Sam went off to look at the books Dean went out the doors to get to work.
All that morning Dean was distracted he answered basic engine questions wrong in his automotive class and in English Mr. Hood had to repeat a question three times before Dean understood what he was asking.
"Dean, can you please stay after a minute?" Mr. Hood asked. Dean looked at him with and bit his lip.
"If it really is a minute Mr. Hood, my brother and I have a meeting to go to and it's very important that we're not late." Dean said. Mr. Hood nodded.
"I understand, Dean what has gotten into you today? Most of the time you're on the ball with the answers and join in the discussions. Today though it was like you're off in your own world. Is everything alright at home?" Mr. Hood asked. Dean licked his lips wondering if he should tell him what was up. Finally he decided to tell the truth, at least a little bit of it.
"Everything's fine sir. Just some family problems nothing to major." Dean said.
"Ok, well if they get any worse my office door is always open to talk, even if it's not about school work." Mr. Hood smiled gave Dean a pat on the shoulder and signaled that the talk was over by picking up some quizzes from a different class he taught. Dean made his way out the door and to his study hall wondering how his school work was going to do if he lost Sam.
OoO
Dean turned sharply as he reached the wall and went back the way he had come fiddling with the apartment keys. His brother sat slumped on the uncomfortable pine bench that the court provided for people who were waiting.
"It'll be ok Sam, don't worry." Dean smiled as he turned again and made his way back across the floor. Sam nodded as he watched Dean pace. A door opened to the right and a lady in a charcoal gray tweedy suit, her brown hair, streaked with gray, in a bun stuck her head out and looked around.
"Are you the ten O' clock appointment?" She asked raising an eyebrow. Dean nodded. She opened the door further and said in a crisp voice "They're ready for you." Dean gulped and grabbed Sam's hand.
"Don't worry." Dean said again wondering if he was saying it to comfort Sam or himself. The lady led the way down the hall to a large meeting room. There was a long table with four people, Samantha Johnson was one of them, sitting at one end and two empty chairs at the other. Dean ushered Sam forward and into one of the chairs and he took the other.
"Hello Dean, Sam." Samantha said smiling. Dean gave a weak smile Sam did nothing.
"This is Judge Harrison," Samantha pointed to an older man with white hair on her right. Judge Harrison inclined his head. "Nicholas Kelly from Child services," the other man, younger then Judge Harrison, but his brown hair was peppered with gray smiled and the boys "And Ginny West from the family court." Samantha introduced the last person in the room. Ginny was a middle aged blond women she smiled at Sam and Dean as well.
"Your honor, Mr. Kelly, Mrs. West. This is Mr. Dean Winchester and his younger brother Sam." Samantha said opening up her file. "Dean Winchester is a nineteen year old male, applying for sole guardianship of his fourteen year old brother Sam. Dean and his younger brother moved to New York City last August and seemed to adjust to living here in the city quit well. Dean said that he is going to college to become a mechanic and open his own shop someday. Right now he is working as a janitor at the college where he goes to school. He got the job through his financial aid. It was obvious during the interview that he cares about his younger brother Sam very much. He make sure that Sam has enough food to eat and gets to school on time. Not only that but the reason why he came to New York, besides going to college, is to get Sam away from their father John Winchester. John Winchester has been abusing the boys, mainly Sam, since Sam was four. I have looked into it and there has been numerous reports made by a Robert Singer from Sioux Falls South Dakota to police and trips to the local Emergency room documenting child abuse on Sam. There is far less reports of abuse done to Dean but he has his share. Some of the injuries look like Dean had been protecting his younger brother. Dean is also in a relationship with a girl named Rachelle Bryan. It does not seem that Miss. Bryan is turning Dean's attention away from Sam at all. Quit the opposite. She seems to of injected herself into their life. Miss. Bryan will pick Sam up from school if Dean has to work late and they have been invited over to her house on numerous occasions. She has also helped Sam make supper for Dean and has taken him shopping. Dean is the only source of income to the family right now although Sam had mentioned wanting to get a summer job. Dean has said that he gets their clothing from the Goodwill and he is on county assistants for food and shelter." Here Samantha paused to let that sink in then flipped the page and begin talking about Sam.
"Sam Winchester is a fourteen year old male living with his brother Dean. Sam is very smart and is taking some tenth grade courses at the local high school where he is enrolled. Sam does not seem to have very many friends. He says and I quote 'what's the point, you just move away and never see them again.' This may be because his family moved around a lot before Dean took him with to New York. Sam like his older brother Dean was the victim of child abuse. More so then his brother. It seems like there Father John has been taking all his anger out on his youngest son. Nether Winchester brother is very clear as to why that is. Dean has said that it could have something to do with how their mother, Mary Winchester died. Sam has told me that he does not think that having Dean as a parent will affect their relationship in any way because Dean has practically raised him and he has a good balance of older brother and parent. The house that the Winchester brothers are living in is clean and in a good healthy environment. It is locked from the outside and only once people have identified themselves before they can be let in. it is my belief, as a social worker, if you remove Sam Winchester from his brothers care and put him into foster care or give him back to John-" At this part Sam paled Dean reached over and grabbed Sam's hand under the table and gave it a squeeze "You will be causing more harm than good to both of them but especially Sam." She looked over the report at the brothers and smiled.
"And the house is fit to live in?" Ginny asked looking at Dean.
"Yes, like I said before, the house is a secure apartment. It is clean, well as clean as it can be for a guardian who is working." Samantha said "The boys seem to have made friends in the community and Dean is devoted to raising Sam. There is no doubt in my mind that Dean will do what is best to raise Sam to the best of his ability."
"Hmmm." Judge Harrison looked at the boys. "Mr. Winchester."
"Yes sir?" Both Dean and Sam asked looking at him. The judge smile "Dean Winchester."
"Oh, sorry." Sam whispered blushing.
"That's alright." The judge smiled at Sam.
"You do know that it is a big responsibility to raise a child. If we grant you custody you are the one who needs to look out for your brothers' wellbeing, take care of him when he gets sick, scold him when he has done wrong, and teach him right from wrong."
"Yes sir, I understand completely. To be honest with you, I've been doing that almost my whole life." Dean said looking Judge Harrison in the eye.
"Ok, I announce a two minute recess discuss the case." Judge Harrison got up and made his way over to a corner Mrs. West, Samantha and Mr. Kelly followed. Mr. Kelly looked back over his shoulder and called out.
"You two can go wait in the hall way until we come to a verdict." Dean nodded and got up followed by Sam. They both exited the room and Sam leaned up against the wall and Dean started his pacing again. After what seemed like hours to Dean, but a quick look at his watch told him that it had only been two minutes Samantha called them back in. Sam and Dean took the seats that they had been in before and waited. Judge Harrison cleared his throat.
"As judge presiding over this case in Family court," Judge Harrison said looking at Dean and his brother "I rule that Mr. Dean Winchester be able to raise his brother Sam Winchester provided that he and his brother have a six month check up with the county to make sure everything is going alright." He banged the hammer down on the desk and got up. Dean and Sam looked at each other with wide eyes.
"You mean I get to stay with Dean?" Sam asked.
"Yes, you get to stay with your brother." Judge Harrison said smiling. Sam let out a whoop of happiness and gave Dean a hug, which Dean returned in full force.
"Come on Sammy, let's get out of here." Dean said taking Sam's hand and leading him down the hallway and out the door.
Both brothers where quiet on the way home, both too happy to say anything.
"When we get home, do you want to call up Bobby and tell him?" Dean finally asked as they got to their apartment.
"Yeah!" Sam said happily as he reached the apartment door, then froze. The apartment door was open and stuff was scattered all over.