CHAPTER TWO
Dean woke up with a stiff neck, thanks to his position sleeping upright against the headboard of his bed. Without disturbing Sammy, he threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from his still-to-be-unpacked duffle and closed the door behind him as he trudged towards the staircase. Approaching the bottom, he crossed the hall to the kitchen, grinning to himself at the smell of bacon and eggs wafting throughout the downstairs.
Emily, clad obviously in one of her husband's t-shirts, a pair of shorts with her hair thrown back messily in a clip, was sitting at the counter, quietly eating her breakfast. She smiled at Dean as he entered the room. "You want some breakfast?"
"Sounds good," he said with a sigh, relaxing in a bar stool next to her while trying to relieve the tight muscles in his neck. Only moments later, she set down a plate full of bacon, scrambled eggs and two slices of burnt toast. "Just the way I like it," he grinned, taking a bite of the charcoal-colored bread.
"Where's Sam?"
Swallowing, he answered, "He got a little freaked out in his room last night. He's sleeping in my room."
The brunette's face fell. "Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine now. Nightmares lumped with new territory just didn't go over well." Dean took a huge bite out of a strip of bacon and shoved a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
Just then, the sliding glass door in the living room behind them pulled open. Robert came in from the back yard in swim trunks, towel-drying his hair. He draped the towel over his broad shoulders, his arm muscles flexing as he tightened his hands around the ends draped over his chest. His wife didn't seem to mind that his shorts were dripping all over the hardwood as he approached her. "Mornin'," he greeted both of them, placing a swift kiss on Emily's cheek as he plucked a piece of bacon from her plate.
"Hey!" she squeaked. "Hands off the grub!"
He chuckled, continuing to chew the stolen food as he wrapped his arms around her, purposely getting her all wet.
She made a face. "Rob!"
Dean couldn't help but roll his eyes. This man's right bicep was in his face and the tattoo—the tattoo certainly caught his attention. In black ink was the date 11.02. The exact date of his mother's death, only lacking the year; his brother's half birthday, but Robert Connor wouldn't have had it there for the same reason. No; thinking that would be idiotic. But Dean was curious.
"Eleven oh two?"
The room seemed to quiet as the smiles on the adults' faces dissipated.
"I'm gonna go jump in the shower…" Robert murmured before immediately disappearing into the front hall, towards the stairs.
Just as Dean was about to ask what he'd said, Emily quietly stated, "It is…," she swallowed hard, "was," she forced the word out, eyes closed and her jaw set as if she didn't believe it, "our daughter's birthday."
Before either one of them could say anything more, Sam silently entered the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "M'rin'," he mumbled.
"Good morning to you, too, man," Dean chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair and hoping to stray away from the subject that had just been at hand. If Emily shed even a tear, that conversation would turn awkward real fast.
"So you didn't make any plans for today, yet, did you?" she asked, her generally friendly voice back to normal.
"I think Sammy and me were gonna check out the neighborhood," the elder brother said quickly, glancing over at the twelve year old to his right.
Sam nodded in agreement.
"Alright, um, don't stay gone for too long. I'll say be back before dinner."
"Okay."
--
Dean liked the calm the drive brought on. Surprisingly, he felt a familiar vibe from the streets of Lawrence even with having not been there in thirteen years so between the rumble of the Impala's engine and his baby brother in the passenger seat with the ghost of a smile on his face, Dean was content.
One street he felt bizarrely attached to, though. Even just after looking at the sign, it rang bells but nothing came together until he saw the house. The house he'd spent the first four years of his life in. One corner of the house was still black as coal, yet to be repaired so it could be sold to some other family he had a feeling would get their bad luck. Just looking at the damn thing upset him and he didn't realize he'd pulled over only to stare at it – almost longingly – until Sam touched his arm.
"Dean?"
"What?" The elder Winchester brother snapped out of his daze and looked at Sam's concerned expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Sammy," he replied, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "I'm okay. You wanna go to the park for a little bit before we head home?"
Sam blinked a few times, as if he was trying to understand what was hidden behind the crooked façade his brother wore. The masquerade fell into place as the car started even without an answer from the younger sibling. "Yeah, okay."
--
The Winchester brothers spent longer at the park than planned. When they finally arrived home, their adoptive parents were just sitting down for dinner.
Dean entered the dining room first. "Sorry we're late. Lost track of time at the park," he said immediately. He felt his brother grab a fistful of the back of his t-shirt, somehow desperately terrified they had their first item on the list of To-Don'ts, Done.
"It's alright, come on," Emily replied, gesturing for them to pick a chair. Sam's grip loosened, but he didn't move from his spot behind his big brother until Dean gave him the okay.
Dean ruffled his hair and gave him a gentle push towards the table to take a seat. His brother obliged, but didn't relax until Dean was settled into the chair next to him.
Robert sat at the opposite head of the table, facing the elder of the boys. "You guys have fun?" He seemed to be directing the question towards Sam.
In between scoops of mashed potatoes to his plate, he managed to nod. "Yeah," he answered quietly.
Dinner went on without a sound outside of the clanking silverware and occasional small conversation between husband and wife about typical-life things.
--
"C'mon, kiddo," Dean clapped his brother's shoulder and stood up. "Bedtime."
Sam let out a defeated sigh and glanced at the clock. "You're obeying a rule?" he asked at the realization that it was ten 'o clock.
"Nope, you are. C'mon," he urged, forcing him towards the stairs. "Get your ass in that bed, there's school tomorrow."
Sam rolled his eyes and trudged upstairs. Crawling into bed, he glared at his brother from across the room. "Happy?"
"I'm gonna watch TV up here for a little bit so if you need me, call me," Dean stated, clearly referring to nightmares.
"'Kay. Night, Dean."
"Night," he replied, switching off the light and closing the door behind him.
A/N: Hey, loves! I'm sorry this took longer than I expected. It's not even long but I decided that their first day of school – considering what I have planned for it – should be its own lengthy brother!awesome chapter, ha-ha.
Leave reviews anyway? (:
XxCrash.And.BurnXx