AN: I hope you all like this chapter... I promise we'll see some action later on (I know, I know, I said that before). Take care!


Jim and Bobby were waiting in the living room trying not to listen to the commotion that was coming from the boys' room, but since they weren't deaf it was practically impossible to ignore the yelling and screaming that was taking place. They knew though that if anyone had the right for some fits of anger it was the Winchester boys, but time was running out and they both wished that Dean and John would stop long enough to at least finish getting ready.

"Damn it Dean, just put on the damn tie so we can go." John yelled, truly fed up that he had to practically dress his brother. It was bad enough that they still hadn't figured out what really happened the night their parents died, but now they had to go in front of a judge to find out if they would be able to stay together.

Sammy watched his brothers face off and all he wanted to do was hide. Normally they all got along, but lately it seemed like no one liked each other anymore. He knew that Dean was angry at everyone and everything, but he couldn't figure out how to change that. John was trying to get everything done but somehow seemed more like a kid than he ever had before and that was scary. It didn't help though that everyday he and Dean had to talk to people about what happened and what they were feeling. Detectives would ask questions that Dean didn't have answers to and that he couldn't explain, doctors asked questions that made Dean mad and him more scared than ever. He just wished they all would leave them alone so they could be a family again, well as much of one since their Mom and Dad were gone. Sighing, he continued to watch the battle rage between his brothers and prayed that everything would be alright again soon; he really needed them right now.

"What does it matter what I'm wearing? They've already made up their minds, don't you get that?" Dean was yelling while trying to yank a tie off his neck. "What do you think all those appointments were really about? They don't care about us otherwise we wouldn't be going in front of a judge to talk about what Mom and Dad wanted for us!"

John had been over everything with an attorney that Jim and Bobby were acquainted with and he knew exactly why they were going in front of the judge today, he just wondered how Dean found out. "Look kiddo, no one's going to do anything that we don't want them to, ok? So calm down, you're upsetting Sammy."

Looking over towards his baby brother, Dean could tell that Sammy was more freaked than normal and it was due to the fact that he and John were at each other's throats. Sighing, he opened his arms and motioned for the youngest brother to give him a hug. It didn't take long for Sammy to wrap himself around him, but he didn't mind. In fact it was the only thing he could think of to help. Ever since Sammy was out of his crib he'd slept on the bottom bunk by himself, but lately he'd taken to having one of his brothers sleep next to him and neither he or John could figure out what he had seen that night that would have scared him that badly.

"Hey Sammy its going be alright. You know me, I can't seem to keep my mouth shut right now. So how about we get out of here and then when we're done we can come back and get on with our lives, alright?" Dean asked, watching Sammy for any other signs of distress. The idiot psychologist that they'd been forced to send him to had insisted that the kid was prone to panic attacks and needed to get everything out in the open so he could move on. 'Sure, like we haven't tried to talk to him about it.' Dean thought sourly as he recalled the withdrawl of their baby brother as soon as the subject was even casually mentioned.

Sam looked between his brothers then smiled weakly, hoping that everything was going to turn out alright today; he didn't think he could make it with either Dean or John not with him. Then again who was to say that John wasn't still planning on going back to school anyways and was just hoping the judge would rule in the state's favor. One thing for certain though, he was tired of everyone asking him questions, it wasn't as if he could answer them anyways. Following his brothers out the door he glanced back only to make sure his journal was still there; he didn't want anyone to read it ever again and knew that as long as Dean was around his secret was safe.

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"Dr. Trevor, is it your experience, that a child experiencing the trauma that Samuel has can still lead a normal and productive life?" the state's attorney asked the middle aged doctor while the judge made notes and listened carefully.

"Yes, with extensive therapy and time I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to grow up and become a fine contributor to society. There is no physical reason why he doesn't speak, he chooses not to. Combine that with the nightmares, it's easy enough to conclude that he was emotionally traumatized the night of his parents' death." Dr. Trevor stated with confidence. This part was easy, there was no other explanation for the boy's silence and it was obvious that he wasn't getting better even with the daily therapy sessions.

"Doctor, what would the next course of action be?"

The doctor took a moment as if contemplating the situation before speaking solemnly to convey the heavy burden the attorney had just laid on him. "I'm afraid that to properly treat the boy he'd first need a full assessment in an around the clock facility for an accurate diagnosis to be made. In my years of experience often family have a tendency to treat such instances casually with the pretense of 'moving on.'"

"Objection, your honor. Dr. Trevor is ignoring years of medical history to fit into his own observations. Sam Winchester has a long history of nightmares. There is no doubt that he was traumatized the night in questions, but for the doctor to claim that…"

"Mr. Johnson, please sit down. I do understand your objection and have to agree. Doctor, have you actually read Mr. Winchester's medical history? It states quite clearly that his family physician has not only seen him about these nightmares, but has noted in his file that it's because of the loving support of his parents and brothers that they have become less frequent as well as less intense. Now, would you care to explain to me why you are making him sound like a basket case in my courtroom?" Judge Anderson asked, while taking a moment to look around the room. His eyes caught the boy in question and wondered if there was a way to find out what was really going on in the boy's head.

Sammy was terrified to the point of shaking the bench that he and his brother were sitting on. The whole process was taking too long, there were too many people, and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep even though he knew what waited for him there. He knew the judge was watching him, but he'd already given his limited statement, their attorney asked yes and no questions for him much to the chagrin of the other attorney.

Dean hated what was happening. They had people making his little brother out to be some sort of lunatic and him out to be psychotic. Ok, so he hit the quack, he deserved it for calling his mom and dad ill fit parents; the guy had never met them, what did he know? Now though they had to listen to neighbors talk about their relationship with the family, and the teachers telling everyone about the meetings they had with their parents; it was enough to get on anyone's nerves but right now he was angry because this was making Sammy more agitated.

The afternoon continued with more testimony from school officials, the family physician, ER doctors that had treated them that night, more neighbors and friends until finally the judge recessed, made his decision and was ready to let everyone in on it.

"John, as you know your parents granted you sole custody of your brothers should anything happen to them. However, with you attending college and no actual job lined up I have to wonder how you could possibly take care of them in the manner that they both will need for quite awhile. As I look over the medical bills that have already accumulated, and even taking into account that there was a life insurance policy left… after deducting funeral costs as well as the current bills already accumulated, I have no idea how you could possibly think that you'd be able to give them even the most modest of means." Judge Anderson said as he looked at the small broken family. "However, after speaking to each of you separately as well as listening to the accounts of people who know your family best, I cannot in all good conscience ignore the request. This is a tough decision, and unfortunately I have to make unpopular ones when necessary. I want to meet back here in one month. In that time there needs to be some changes made; first, you must have steady employment, second, both boys must stay enrolled in school with a steady grade, third Dean needs to continue with his anger management classes, but the most important is that Sam needs to show some marked improvement. I know that this will take a lot of hard work, but I can assure you that if you manage these criteria then I will be able to rule favorably for your family."

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The house was quiet and John wasn't sure if he was happy about that or not. Jim and Bobby had taken it upon themselves to go to the store to stock up on supplies, aka fill the cabinets up to the brim, while Dean was still in process of trying to calm Sammy down after the shock of knowing that they all had to go back in four lousy weeks to prove they all were better off together than apart.

Looking once again at the phone on the kitchen wall, he knew that right now there was only one person he could talk to and he really needed to do that if he was going to get any sense of what he really needed to do. Pressing the numbers didn't take long, but it was a nerve wracking wait until he heard the familiar voice on the phone with him.

"Debby, it's me."

"Oh my God, Johnny! How are you, are you alright? When are you coming home baby?"

"We just went to court Deb and… dammit, the judge gave me a month to prove that I can take care of my brothers otherwise he's going to send them to a foster home." He said sadly, the weight of what he was actually facing hitting him so hard he felt as if he could collapse. He was just about to explain how he was going to ask for an extension on his leave from school when he heard something that hit him at his core.

"Johnny, maybe you should just come back… let them go for awhile. You can still visit them I'm sure, but what good are you going to do them if you drop out of college? I mean sure you can get a job, but what will it pay and what about your dreams of being an engineer? You can't give that up…"

"I know you did not just say that Deb. These are my little brothers and I'd give up everything for them, just like I know they'd give up anything and everything for me so don't…"

"Oh for Christ's sake… what could they really have to give up? They're little boys, baby… don't you get that? They're the reason why you're there and not here. They're the reason why you're thinking about throwing away your dream for nothing. They're the reason why…"

"Why I'm hanging up on you Deborah… don't call me, don't write me, don't think about me. You know, I called you because I thought you might help me figure out what was more important, and you know what… you have – my little brothers. We might not have much, but we have each other and I'm going to make sure it stays that way." John said tersly before he slammed the receiver on the hook. When he looked up he saw his baby brother looking at him with wide frightened eyes and knew instantly what he was afraid of. "C'mere kiddo, I'm not letting anything happen to you or Dean… not on my watch. They want to take you so damn bad, then they'll have to do it over my cold dead body… ok?"

Sam knew his big brother meant what he said, but he couldn't help but wonder just how much of that he would still mean once he found out what happened that night.