CHAPTER FOUR
"Sammy?" The creak of the door roused the younger Winchester from his sleep. Glancing around, he realized Dean wasn't entangled in the sheets next to him, but the one just now entering the room. "Morning sunshine," he chuckled.
Sam made a discontented noise as his brother sat on the edge of the bed.
"How ya doing, little bro?"
He shrugged.
"Get past the nightmares?"
He visibly shivered at the question and that told Dean all he needed to know.
"I take it you're not ready to go back to school just yet, huh, bud?"
"Everyone saw what happened; I probably looked like a big baby."
"They don't know the situation, Sammy, just ignore 'em," he stated.
"I wanna stay home."
"I'm not gonna be here. You know that, don't you? I've gotta go to school or Emily's gonna go parental on my ass. So you'll be here with her, you okay with that?"
Sam hesitated for a moment and nodded. "I can call you, right?"
"You qualify as a family emergency so yes you can call me."
"'Kay. Thanks, Dean."
"Go back to sleep," Dean stated, ruffling his brother's hair before he left the room.
In the living room, Emily was curled up in the armchair, reading a book with a very intent look upon her soft features.
"Alright, I'm out, Em," Dean called from the foyer.
"I'll check in on you! I find out you skipped—"
"You'll extend my grounding?"
"Have a nice day!" she called back with a smirk before the front door shut. A few moments later, she heard the rumble of the Impala start. With a sigh, she closed her book and decided it'd be a good reward – to Dean, for surviving his first day – if there were some baked goods at the house when he came home. That is, IF he came home from school. In addition to that, she had some cooking to do for the neighborhood picnic that weekend. Their conversation the night before had foretold a mutual respect for one another, though; she was sure he'd learn to respect her husband in a similar way, even if it seemed like he was a replacement for the father the boys had lost.
"Emily?"
The brunette was startled by the twelve year old hiding behind the doorjamb. "Hey, sweetie," she said with a smile.
"I um…I couldn't go back to sleep…," he said quietly.
"I was gonna bake some cookies for the picnic this weekend, you wanna help?"
"What picnic?"
"Robert and I are hosting a picnic here at the house; sort of a welcome to the family kind of thing for you guys. Dean doesn't suspect anything of it being for you two, but I thought you could keep that secret." She smiled. "The entire neighborhood's coming… Maybe you'll make some new friends."
Sam shrugged. "I never really had time to make a lot of friends. We moved around a lot."
"And now you can. I know there are a few kids your age in the neighborhood; and I'm sure you'll meet more at school."
He made a face at the mention of it.
"Still a sore subject?"
"I just felt stupid."
Emily's face fell as she bent down so she was at eye level with him. "Hey," she curled a finger under his chin, gently, so he'd look up at her. "You have a right to be upset over what happened to him, Sam; don't let anyone tell you different. Witnessing something like that isn't a wound that heals easily, but don't feel like you have to hide it from us; Rob and I. I know you feel most comfortable talking to Dean, but we're here, too. Okay? Don't let that escape your attention."
He nodded. "Dean doesn't hate you."
She stared at him blankly for a moment before her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"He has trust issues."
Emily couldn't help but smile at that. "I figured that out," she chuckled, ruffling his hair as she stood up. "So are you gonna help me make some baked goods or what?"
Sam nodded, a smile gracing his lips for the first time she'd seen as he pulled a chair over next to her at the counter and crawled into it.
LALALALALALALALALA—
Third period was going rather slow since the teacher – Mr. Ross, U.S. History – was dulling his way through a lecture about what…? God only knew. Dean had taken up an interest in the shy red-head sitting a few seats over from him. She seemed like she'd be the smart type that studied until the cows LEFT the next day, but he still couldn't take his attention away from her.
"Mr. Winchester?"
Dean snapped out of his daze and looked up at the elder man with salt and pepper colored hair. "What?"
"Staring at Miss Fry isn't going to help you catch up. Eyes up here, please," he said with a polite but agitated tone.
The seventeen year old sighed dramatically and turned in his seat to face the front, even if his eyes were still straying to the side to catch a glimpse at the girl that was now blushing at the sudden spotlight – whether only from Dean, or the rest of the class' laughs.
Their eyes were locked for all of five seconds, but it wasn't just pure infatuation. When she finally turned her attention to the front of the room where Mr. Ross was, she tucked a lock of curly red hair behind her ear; which only accented the silver hoop earrings she was wearing that clearly had a yellow lightning bolt diagonal through the center with similar black lettering of the name AC/DC fitted around the yellow. That kept Dean amused for the rest of the period; someone so shy liking the same music as he did.
After class, Dean took his time getting out of his seat, waiting for her to move before he followed her out into the hallway. "Hey," he said, all smiles, as he slowed to a walk so they kept the same pace with her shorter legs.
"Hi," she said shyly.
"So I wanted to talk to you…" he trailed off, hoping she wouldn't shut him down completely.
"That's nice."
"My name's Dean," he offered.
The red-head hesitated for a moment as she stopped in front of a set of lockers by one of many stairwells in the Senior High. "Amy," she replied quietly. "I can't really talk; I have to get to class."
A sudden thought occurred to him; she was a book worm; one of the good girls who would go suicidal if they ever got detention, have a panic attack if they forgot to study, and probably dreaded being late to class as if it was as horrible as death could be so talking to her during school would be a lost cause unless they had the same lunch – which he doubted since this so-called God didn't seem to be on his side a lot lately. With that, he blurted out, "Look, I know you don't know me, but I'm new here and I don't really know my way around…"
"Dean, I have to get to class; you're gonna make me late," she said suddenly, surprising him when her voice came out a bit hurried.
"Okay, fine, you don't have to show me around. I can get lost by myself just fine, but my uh m," he almost stuck with mom, but it was too awkward for him, "adopted mother—Emily, her and her husband are having this huge picnic at the house and I thought maybe—"
"I'll think about it, but I really have to go," she stated. "Goodbye, Dean!" she added with a call over her shoulder as she ran up the stairs to get to her next class.
He grinned triumphantly, but his face fell when the bell rang, telling him he was already supposed to be IN class. "Shit," he murmured as he took off in the direction he assumed was right.
LALALALALALALALALALALA—
The third batch of cookies was in the oven already while Emily prepared a pan of brownie mix for when the cookies finished. Sam was happily lapping at the spatula she'd been using for the brownies with a contented smile on his face when the phone rang.
Sam pushed the talk button and put the phone to Emily's ear so she didn't get the messy mix all over the cordless.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Em, I'm on my way home."
"You're like…four hours early," she said confused, glancing at the worried look on Sam's face.
"There's construction going on next door, it'll be easier to work at home."
"Oh. Okay," his wife replied. "How long?"
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Hey, do me a favor and drive by the school. See if Dean's car's there."
Robert chuckled. "Alright. Bye, Em."
"Love you."
"You too." The line clicked and Sam hung up the phone for her before setting it back on the counter.
"Robert's coming home?"
"There's construction going on at his office, they're making lots of noise so he's gonna work here. Is that okay with you? Don't mind sharing the uncooked batter, do ya?" the brunette smiled.
He shook his head, but said nothing else.
Emily immediately took notice of his change in attitude. "What's wrong, Sam?"
"Nothing."
"C'mon, bud, what's on your mind?"
"How come you guys wanted to adopt us?"
The brunette glanced over at him with the ghost of a frown on her face. "What do you mean, sweetie?"
"You and Robert seem like you'd be happier without us."
"What in the world would make you think that?"
"Well, if that's not the case then…I…don't understand why you'd take in older kids when you can have your own… Especially when one of those kids is Dean…"
Emily couldn't help but chuckle at that last part, but it wasn't a completely happy laugh. "C'mere, honey." She held out her hand for him to take and when he did so, she led him to the den where she and Dean had spoken of this topic the previous night. Turning on the light, she sat him in her lap in the chair and pointed out the portrait on the wall. "See the picture?"
"That's you and…who's the little girl?" he asked curiously.
"That's my daughter Lily," she replied softly. "Just after this picture was taken, she was taken from us and even though I loved her very much, I didn't feel like dwelling on her disappearance was going to help. Then I met you guys and I thought even if there is a chance Lily'll come back and need her mom's full attention, I got the feeling you guys needed a good family to grow up in. So despite the fact that I know Dean could've taken great care of you, I secretly think he wanted someone to look after him like he looks after you."
"I don't know…" Sam sighed. "Dean's a stubborn pain in the butt."
Emily couldn't contain the laugh that escaped her. "Yeah, well, I can be, too so he'll get a taste of his own medicine."
"I think he needs it."
"Well, then maybe you can help me dish it out, huh? Would putting rats in his bed freak him out?"
Sam couldn't help but grin. Dean HATED rats. He nodded excitedly. "He hates them!"
"Alright," she grinned, high fiving the twelve year old just before Robert peeked in with a subtle, but upset look on his face.
"Hey, Em," he said hesitantly. "What're you guys up to?"
"Nothing, I was just showing Sam the office," she smiled, sliding Sam off her lap and standing up to give her husband a kiss.
"Lily has your smile," Sam stated innocently, glancing between Rob and the photograph hanging six inches above his head, oblivious to how much that comment would hurt the elder man.
Robert's face fell, at first, but despite the tears forming at the rims of his dark green eyes, he knelt in front of Sam with a sad smile. "You two would've gotten along great," he replied hoarsely. "She loved school."
Emily couldn't help but smile herself. The younger Winchester didn't seem genuinely terrified to be alone with the two of them like he normally did. And he looked somewhat happy, but she was more surprised with her husband. He hadn't even spoken to her about their missing five year old since it had upset him so greatly, but he was opening up a little to their newly adopted children more than she'd hoped.
"We made some chocolate chip cookies, Rob," she interjected. "I'm sure we can spare a few."
Now smiling again, the tears disappearing from his eyes, but the hoarseness of his voice still remaining, he kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Emily," he said sweetly. "I'm gonna go change first, though."
"'Kay."
As Robert left the room, Sam turned to grin at the brunette in the doorway. "Did I upset him?"
She shook her head. "I think you're helping him."
LALALALALALALALALALALA—
Amy Fry was start her walk home from Lawrence Senior High when the rumble of a muscle car's engine pulled up next to her and she recognized the familiar smile she'd been introduced to earlier that day.
"Hey, Amy," Dean grinned. "I was thinking, you told me to come find you, but I'm sure my…," he hesitated with saying Mom again and corrected himself, "Emily wouldn't mind if I had someone over for dinner."
"I um…" she clammed up. "I can't."
"Oh. Well, you haven't declined my invitation for the picnic, too, I hope."
The red-head shook her head. "No, it's Saturday, right?"
He nodded. "Saturday at two."
"Yeah, that's okay."
"D'you need a ride home?"
She shook her head. "No. My dad's not fond of…you know. He's just a typical father," Amy replied. "Thank you, though."
"Maybe some other time."
Amy nodded. "Bye, Dean."
"See you tomorrow," he stated before driving off in his beloved Impala.
LALALALALALALALALA—
Sam heard the rumble of the Impala engine in the driveway and ran to the front door to greet him. "Dean!"
Dean was more than surprised to see his little brother's smile again. "Hey, bud," he grinned. "What's with all the smiles?"
"Emily and me made cookies and brownies," Sam replied happily. "Robert showed me how to lawyer."
"You mean to BE a lawyer?"
"Yeah! It's not easy."
"Well, I guess you didn't need me today, after all, huh?"
Sam shook his head. "I saved you a cookie, though!" he exclaimed, dragging his big brother into the kitchen where Emily and Robert were seated in their normal places.
"Hey, Dean," Emily greeted. "How was your FIRST day of school?"
"Good. I uh, I invited someone to the picnic Saturday, if that's alright."
"Of course it is. I'm sure there's enough food."
"A girl, I'm assuming?" Robert chuckled. "By the grin on your face, it's kind of easy to tell."
Dean laughed. "Amy Fry," he stated.
Emily's smile faltered for a moment and then returned. "You got her to talk?"
"Sure… Is that a hard thing to do?"
"She's always very quiet and concealed when I see her around, but I'm glad someone did."
Dean gave her an inquisitive look.
"Nothing, she just…I don't know. It's not her; I just think there's something going on with her family… Her father… He's a very aggressive man, so I'm always a little concerned about her. But I'm glad you invited, Dean. Happy to hear you're making friends here now that you're showing up for school."
The elder Winchester brother tried to give her a smile, but the way Amy had faltered when talking about her father combined with what Emily had just told him set something off in his head.
Maybe all wasn't well with her family.
A/N: Holy crabapples. I wrote this in one day and its seven pages long. Hot damn.
It excites me what's going on in the story.
I'm proud of myself; I didn't get any writing assistance, just an opinion on one paragraph from Monte. God Bless that girl, she puts up with me and my annoyance constantly just for you guys.
Leave a review, please?
XxCrash.And.BurnXx