Dont Fear the Reaper Chapter 2, a supernatural fanfic

He couldn't believe he'd been signed up for this. This was awful. And he was never forgiving his dad for that.

"Just sign me up for props or something." Dean had mumbled, only to be informed that that was a different club. And this club was for the ahc-teurs or some bullshit. So he slouched in his seat when auditions were announced...and everyone had to audition.

He was never forgiving his dad for this one.

Guys and Dolls. He'd never even HEARD of that one. Not that he'd heard of a lot of musicals, but that was beyond the point. This was going to suck big hairy rocks. Then cough up a hair ball. Of that he was certain.

Of course, Dean didn't know any broadway songs. Or any musical songs. In fact, when push came to shove and he was put on the spot, he only could remember a couple of songs when his mind completely blanked and he hoped the school would be overtaken by rabid lunch aides hopped up on steroids and caffeine before he got to his turn.

John couldn't resist. He had to watch. This was his boy after all. Guys and Dolls... could be a lot worse in the land of musicals. Sinatra and Brando after all. He slipped in with Sam into the balcony and they sat in the back in the shadows.

"Winchester, you're up." Said the instructor.

Dean got up from his seat and headed out to the stage, looking for all the world like a man walking his last few feet before entering the gas chamber. The school wasn't taken over by Nazis, or even a good poltergeist. "You know, I'm not feeling well..." He started

"Either today or tomorrow." The instructor said as he looked over his list. Dean gave a heavy sigh as the piano player looked at him.

"Trust me, you don't know it." He grumbled. Not about to use anything along the lines of anything the others had used, he blanked his mind. And imagined himself driving down the highway, windows down, stereo blaring. He stared straight ahead at the door at the back of the auditorium and could nearly feel the steering wheel vibrate underneath his hands. "So close no matter how far. Couldn't be much more from the heart. Forever trusting who we are. And nothing else matters."

Okay, so it wasn't musical theater. But it was one of his favorite songs by one of his favorite bands, and he was able to pretend he was somewhere else.

The instructor raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected him to come up with that of all things but it worked. The kid had potential if he grew into his voice. He would be a good Nathan Detroit. Maybe the understudy depended on how things went. "Alright, take your seat." He said.

Dean gratefully hopped off the stage and slouched far down in his seat. It was over. Which was good. Hey, he'd 'tried', right? Counted for something.

"What was that?" One of the kids next to him whispered. Dean looked at him unbelievingly.

"Excuse me?"

"What play was that from?"

"Dude are you serious?" Dean asked. What kind of freaks was his dad sticking him with? "You know what, never mind." Dean said, closing his eyes. "Obviously it's out of your league."

Halloran sat down next to him, chuckling softly. "Out of their league...right." He whispered. "You gotta forgive these guys. Most of them have been in private school all their lives."

"Dude, no excuse." Dean said with a chuckle of his own. "That's just down right blasphemy. Hopefully it was enough to convince that guy that he really doesn't want me part of his freaking play." He said with a shrug. "Dad 'talked' me into this."

"Dads have a way of doing that. That's my kid brother up there now. He gets off on this stuff. Makes me worry about him." He said with a chuckle.

"If he at least has heard of Metallica, he's ahead of some of the guys here." Dean said with a chuckle as the kid brother sang. Something from "The Sound of Music" which unfortunately Dean was able to recognize. They were stuck in more than one motel over an Easter holiday, and sometimes, that's all that was on TV. Kind of like "It's a Wonderful Life" at Christmas time.

"Guys and Dolls won't be so bad. It's about gamblers after all. Hey Sinatra and Brando were in it... yeah it's a musical but at least it's not completely girly."

Dean laughed. "So you're auditioning too, right?" He said with a grin. "After all, it's not so bad, and not so girly. Sinatra and Brando were in it, and they were guys that in their day definitely scored with anyone worth scoring with. Even if they did sing and dance."

"Well they sang and danced, no one said they did it well." He said. "Yeah, I'm stuck auditioning, too." Halloran said. "With any luck, we'll have limited time on stage."

"If there is any luck, we'll end up the guys that walk across the stage a couple of times, pretending we're a crowd." Dean said with a laugh. "So, the dolls in this play. I'm assuming that means girls. We don't have to play girls, do we?"

"Naw, they like to tease the newbies about that, but the girls' school puts on the play with us every year. The proceeds pay for the military ball and the summer ball they have over there."

"Then this won't be so bad." Dean said with a grin. "I came from a co-ed school, I'm in serious withdrawl, dude."

"It's the real reason to be in drama, man. I tell you they have to come over here to rehearse now don't they?" Halloran said with a grin of his own. "Besides, I hear you already have a date lined up. Not a lot of withdrawl going on if you already have one lined up on the second day."

Dean chuckled. "Okay, point taken. But still." He said. "So what did you have all prepared for your audition? I didn't even know I had to audition." While it was obvious that some of these kids had been preparing all summer for it.

"Okay... you gotta understand.." He said, blushing. "My mother... has a doctorate in music. She found out we were doing musicals this year and went nuts over summer break. " He said, giving the lead in.

Dean did his best not to laugh. "Somehow I doubt Metallica is in her repetoire." He said, keeping a straight face. "So, let me guess from what I've heard here so far today. My Fair Lady? Camelot? Your brother did Sound of Music. Okay, I give up. Les Miserables?"

"Oh god no... " he said wrinkling his nose. "It sounds worse than it is... Jesus Christ Superstar. Song called 'Heaven On Their Minds'. My mom drug us to see it in an offBroadwayrevival one Christmas break." He said rolling his eyes. "But hey, it's not all girly so it's good."

"True. I'll take your word for it. And if it is, I'll mock you." Dean said with a laugh. "So you've done this drama thing all the way? Know the kid that decided to shish ka bob himself last year?"

"Yeah I did. He was a senior last year. Didn't think for a minute he was the sort of guy that would do that. He had girls eating out of his hands, great parents as far as any of us could tell. I mean they actually showed up to visit, sent letters and stuff. He'd just gotten the letter that he was accepted into Annapolis."

"So seemed completely out of the blue." Dean said. And a gory way to go at that, gutting yourself. "Oh hey, you're up. Remember, don't be girly, or I will mock you, colonel or not."

"If you think this is girly, YOU can go live with my dad. He would love you." Halloran said as he got up and headed that way, handing over a tape to one of the other students to put into the PA system. "Sorry can't doit a capella." He said sheepishly and took his position in the middle of the stage, not bothering with a microphone.

A steady rock rift filled the room, a powerful background strangely fitting the voice that came from the young man on stage. A voice that betrayed his youth, yet the power that was currently buried within potential poured forth as he relaxed in the lyrics, the words of a pleading Judas.

"Listen Jesus, do you care for your race? Don't you see we must keep in our place? We are occupied. Have you forgotten how put down we are? I am frightened by the crowd. For we are getting much too loud. And they'll crush us if we go too far. If we go too far..."

Dean chuckled and looked at the drama kid next to him. "Dude, you're so toast. Think you've been demoted to chorus." He said as the kid grumbledto himself. Brad was good, even Dean could tell that. And he'd even admit it wasn't a girly song, a chance always taken with musicals.

The teacher stopped and listened, not bothering with his papers anymore. That was certainly a surprise. "Thank you." He said to Brad when he was done. Well, he'd found his Sky, that was for certain.

Brad went back to his seat, half expecting to be razzed as he went. He had gone a little over the top with the audition he knew but his parents would be coming to the play and even though there was nothing about a musical that would make his father proud, his mother would be disappointed if he didn't succeed.

Dean grinned at him as he returned to his seat. "Dude, that was worth it just to hear the grumbles from the drama geeks." They might have been pressured into this by their parents, for different reasons, but getting to the 'drama establishment' was always a good thing.

Brad chuckled. Yeah there were a lot of his fellow drama students that he would love the chance to rub their noses in it. Some of them were good actors for their age, Brad was passable at acting, but musicals weren't just about the acting. This time he had the edge. "They'll live."

Dean chuckled and looked around. "Oh shit." He said. "My dad is here. And my brother. We can haze the underclassmen, right? It's encouraged? A lot?"

"Why? Looking for a way to get away with harrassing your little brother?" He asked.

"Oh yeah. Big time. You know, before he gets insubordinate and all." Dean said. "Dad signed me up for this. I'm hoping for a nice non speaking, non singing part myself."

"Good luck with that." Brad said with a soft laugh. "If I wind up with a good part, I can please mom and rub my dad's nose in it at the same time. So I'm hoping for at least a little time on stage."

"I don't remember what my mom liked." Dean said. "She died when I was four." He shrugged off the mood. "So you're not into the whole GI Joe thing? You sure got the underclassmen fooled."

"Yeah well, it goes with the territory. Besides, might as well do a good job of it while I'm here. Figure I can make Dad happy until I'm 18 then it's all about me. That's what I tell myself anyway."

Dean chuckled. "Good plan." Dean said, though he couldn't imagine it for himself. Not in the near future, and definitely not when he turned 18 in a few short months. "So when are they going to post the roster or list or whatever it is?"

"Tomorrow morning." He said. "Come on, let's get out of here." Brad didn't want to stick around for the stragglers. Class was over, and he was not at all interested in hanging out just to listen.

"Sounds like a plan." Dean said as he looked at his watch. "Okay, we should be able to make happy hour at the bar a couple miles down the road. Ten to one, I've got the cooler car, I'll drive." He said, waving at his father and brother up in the balcony. That was so humiliating.

"Don't know if you have noticed, but I'm not exactly 21 and people around here know the uniforms and what they mean." Brad pointed out.

Dean laughed. "That's why we change. And I show you how to get around bouncers." Dean said with a grin. "Meet you in the parking lot in fifteen minutes. Wear normal clothes. Nothing too pressed or starched or military."

"Yeah okay." He said figuring what the hell. the worst that could happen was that they got refused and had to find something else to do with their time.

Dean chuckled. Brad had no faith, but he would. Dean hadn't found a bar he couldn't get into, and couldn't get served in, since he was fifteen. So he went back to his room, changed, and left a note for Sam, asking him to jimmy the east door, just in case, and waited in the parking lot, sitting on the hood of the Impala as he waited for his latest protege.

Brad joined him 15 minutes later, having pulled his civilian clothing out ofthe duffel bag in the bottom of his closet. It felt strange to be wearing them again. "Okay... but if this plan of yours doesn't pan out, I know a great place to get pizza and the waitresses are worth the time."

"Then we'll hit that place next." Dean said with a grin as he unlocked the car and headed down to the bar, parking in the lot. The bar was filling up. "Ah, here we go." He said as he quick talked the bouncer until both their hands were stamped with the 'over 21' stamp. "See? Told you it didn't matter."

"That's crazy." Brad said with a grin. "Where did you learn how to pull the wool over people's eyes like that?"

"It's a gift from God." Dean said with a laugh. "Come on, let's grab some beer and play some pool. So the waitresses at the pizza place are really worth the time, or just worth the time?"

"One of them is really worth the time, a couple are worth the time.. a couple are not worth the time." He said with a laugh.

"Sounds like you've got your eye on the one that's really worth the time." Dean teased. "Tell me you've talked to her at least."

"Well ... yeah... kinda." Brad said with a shrug. "We talked a little when she brought over the pizza."

Dean chuckled as he got their beers and handed one to Brad as they headed over to the pool table. "Dude, gotta do better than that. I talked a little with the girl at the burger stand and ended up with a date."

"Yeah but I am not the sort of guy that girls fall over themselves for. " He wasn't a bad looking kid, like his voice his features were all in potential of becoming something more.

Dean shook his head. "It's all on the presentation." He said as he drank his beer, pool forgotten. "Actually, you know what, come on. Let's go get some pizza. And you a date."

"Oh come on... I'm not that pathetic... really." Brad said as he finished off his beer. "You know, I was considered one of the cool kids before you arrived." He laughed.

Dean laughed. "You're still one of the cool kids. You're hanging out with me, right?" He said with a grin. "Come on, let's go chat up the girl that's really really worth your time."

Brad grinned. "Sure, why not?" He said as he got and started for the door. "So where did you guys live before coming here?" He asked.

Where had they been? It took Dean a moment as he fished his car keys out and unlocked the car. "South Dakota." Dean said. "Believe me, absolutely nothing there. At all. I was bored to tears most of the time."

"My family is from New York. Dad decided we needed to man up a few years ago and sent us here. Pretty much been here since except for a week at Christmas and two in the summer."

"Dude, my whole life is manning up. If I ever got a break from manning up, it would be not being around my dad." Dean said. "I don't know, maybe we should trade families. We'll keep our brothers though."

"Yeah, I wouldnt trade in Joe for a newer model for anything. The rest of the guys think I'm nuts. They all claim to want free of their little brothers."

"Sam's a pain in my ass. Big time. But let me tell you, he's the one that keeps me out of trouble." Dean said. "If I had to trade him, well, I wouldn't. I'd get violent."

"Don't get me wrong. Joe is a pain in the ass. Not just to me either. But I almost lost him a few years ago. Really puts the pain in the ass thing into perspective. The rest of the guys don't get that. They never had to fight to keep theirs alive. "

"Believe me,I get it." Dean said. His whole mission in life was keeping Sammy safe from harm and everything else that crossed their paths. From bullies to demons. He knew what it meant to keep your brother alive.

Brad was relieved to find that someone finally understood. "He's kinda desperate for my attention sometimes. So... I don't know.. maybe we should see if the kids get along."

"Would make it easier to watch out for the both of them." Dean agreed as he pulled up to the pizza place. If it was possible to make friends in a place he knew he'd be leaving sooner rather than later, then right now he did.

"Yeah. I got the lecture before coming back after summer that I was supposed to lighten up on watching over Joey, but it doesn't just go away. So yeah, anything that makes it easier to keep an eye on him without him knowing I am keeping an eye on him is great."

"I'm supposed to stop babying Sam or something." Dean said with a chuckle. "Says the same guy who made sure we were roommates." He rolled his eyes at that one, because sometimes his dad made no sense.

"And if anything like my parents, the same guy that said to keep an eye on him, make sure he stays safe and doesn't hurt himself too." Brad said.

"Got it in one!" Dean said with a laugh as he pulled into the pizza shop Brad indicated. "Okay, so you ready? Hey, maybe you'll get lucky and she's got a little sister. Tina at the burger place did."

"Joe is so not ready for dating." Brad said with a laugh. "Besides there is only so much embarrassment I am willing to endure even for Joey."

Dean laughed. "I'm going to train Sam myself. Someone has to, right?" He said with a grin as they headed into the pizza place. "Okay, so where's her section?"

"Over here." He said and led the way to a table in her section and took a seat. "The combo is great here."

Dean slid into his chair. "Okay, so I'll talk you up, don't argue with me." Dean said with a laugh. He already had a date for Friday, so he was set. "Combo, huh? Course I'll eat just about anything."

Kayla smiled as she walked over with their menus and two glasses of water "Hi." She said. "Can I get you a soda or anything while you decide?"

"I would love a soda." Dean said easily.

"Um..yeah, a soda, you know, sounds good." Brad said, then Dean kicked him under the table. "So how have you been?" He asked, doing his best not to reach down and rub his shin.

"Not bad, how about you guys... how's your brother doing? "

"He's doing good this year." Brad said. "You know... back to normal."

"Great, I'll be right back with your drinks."

"Dude. Lame." Dean said with a chuckle. "This is going to take some work I see. You're lucky I didn't have any plans for the afternoon."

"What? She asked about him." He said in confusion, not knowing what he had done wrong. "I spoke... even managed not to stammer."

"Well, that's a start." Dean said, shaking his head when Kayla returned with their drinks. Where he quickly engaged her in conversation about Dean being the new kid and Brad showing him all the ropes, turning the conversation back to Brad at every turn.

Brad joined in the conversation a little at a time, getting past his nerves a little with Dean there. This wasn't just any girl. This was the one he had a crush on for the last two years.

"You know, my brother Sam and I are checking out that new horror movie playing this Friday." Dean said. "Actually I'm chaperoning my brother's first date. Could use the company so I don't watch him like a hawk. You two should come with me and Tina."

She smiled and looked over at Brad, gauging his reaction. Then nodded. "Yeah sure, if Brad's going too, why not? Could be fun."

"You ahm... want me to pick you up?" Brad asked.

Dean grinned. Fifteen minutes. Had to be a new record for him. He drank his soda in quiet as he watched the two make plans for the movie, transportation, dinner and pick up. Then, when Kayla got up to check on another table, Dean grinned wider. "See? That wasn't so hard."

"Yeah, especially with you doing the asking for me. If there is a next time it should come much easier." He rolled his eyes but he grinned in a way that said thanks without having to get all sappy and say it.

Dean laughed. "Yeah, well, you're on your own for the actual date. I'm hoping I'll have my hands full. Besides, by then the cast should be posted, and you can blow her over with taking Marlon Brando's role." He said with a chuckle, though he actually had no idea who Marlon Brando played. "I remember last year, we had to watch A Streetcar Named Desire in english, and the girls were just making all sorts of comments about a young Marlon Brando, treating him as if he were nothing more than a side of beefcake for them to leer at. Women have no respect, man." He said with a grin.

Brad laughed. "Somehow I doubt having a lead in a musical is going to impress a girl." He said. "At least not a high school musical." He was having fun, he was relaxing and letting himself just be a kid, not worried about rank or who was watching.

"Dude, girls get impressed by the strangest things." Dean said with a laugh. "I had a girl go out with me just because of my car. Weird, huh?"

"Are you kidding? There are straight guys that would go out with you for that car." He teased in return. "That is so not a strange thing."

"My brother doesn't understand. He just sees a hunk of metal on four rubber tires. He's such a child." Dean said with a laugh. "But I've been known to use it to my advantage. Hey, a guy uses whatever he can, right?"

"Exactly. Little brothers don't get a lot of things but it's okay. They'll grow up eventually." Brad said, then smiled up as Kayla returned with their drinks.

"You two made up your minds what you want to order?" She asked.

"Combo." Brad said. "And bread sticks." He looked to Dean to see if he wanted anything else.

"Some garbage bread too." Dean added as Kayla wrote in on her pad and headed to the kitchen to put in the order. "Dude, in case I didn't say it before, good taste."

Brad smiled. "Yeah I think so. You can see why I was so nervous." He said. "She goes to the public school in town so if she wants to go out with me again, it will take special permission to get her into the military ball. But it would be worth it."

"You can't be nervous. Because chicks smell it like blood on the water." Dean said with a laugh. "That's when they go in for the kill. She's just a girl, you're just a guy, and it's just a Friday night. Now take a deep breath."

Brad did just that and laughed. "Yeah I guess. Easy for you to say. They seem to eat out of your hand." Although he was relieved that Kayla didn't seem overly interested in Dean at all.

"Oh yeah, Kayla was hanging on my every word." Dean scoffed with a laugh. It wasn't the point for Kayla to hang on Dean's every word, so it wasn't insulting or ego blowing that she didn't. If she did, it would actually have been disasterous. "It shouldn't be hard to get her into the military ball. You're the head of the class, all that rank stuff and everything. Flaunt your power, dude!"

"You are trying to create a monster. It's a good thing Halloween is coming up." He said with a laugh.

"Well, you gotta learn to talk to the girl before Friday." Dean said with a laugh. "Maybe she'll take her break with us."

"Here's hoping." He said then smiled up at her as she brought over their food. "Thanks." He thought a moment. "How late do you work tonight?"

"I'm on until six, I'm just covering part of a shift for someone." Kayla said.

"The important question is do you drive?" Dean asked with a grin.

"Um...yeah...why?" She asked.

"Because I drove here, and I might have to ditch him to go check on mylittle brother." Dean said.

"Yeah, I left my car back at the school." He said, not wanting to give her the impression he was the friend always in need of a lift from someone else.

"Oh sure, that's no problem." Kayla said with a smile, and Dean shot Brad a grin at that.

"Thanks. I really appreciate that." He told her. "Besides then you can show me where to pick you up on Friday."

Dean looked at his watch. "Crap, I gotta go." Dean said. "I'm late and my dad will kill me, and you'll have to take Sammy out on his date." He said with a chuckle as he laid down the money for his share of the food and tip. "See you later." Dean said, more than happy to leave the new couple to their own endeavors and go check up on his brother and father.

DFTR-DFTR-DFTR

Sam had finished his homework in record time, and had gone in search of his father once more, finding him in the gym. He still worried about John. It had been great having their heart to heart earlier, and going to watch Dean tryout for the play. It had felt normal.

But if there was one thing that Sam knew about his father and brother, normal was alien to them, and if either of them appeared to be striving for normal... they were either hiding something... or ... they were trying to protect Sam. Given the current circumstances, he doubted it had anything to do with protection at this stage of the game.

"Hey Dad." He said entering the gymnasium.

"Hey, Sammy." John said as he rolled up another mat to store away for the day. Today was a nice normal day in the scheme of things. Mary would have been proud, he was sure.

"You seem to like this job." He said as he started to help his dad. It was an old habit. One of the reasons the family worked as well as it did. Dean and Sam currently both lacked the typical lazy teenager gene.

"It's not bad." John agreed. "Could have been a lot worse. Plus you two boys seem to be settling in okay."

"Yeah. I guess. It's a new school. " He shrugged. "Dean is off with friends tonight so that's a good sign." He figured any bit of normal Dean could have was good. "We get to see more of you, and Dean isn't always figuring I need walked home from school still." He laughed at the last. "I figure when I'm a senior, he will still be showing up to pick me up from school."

"It's a good compromise." John said with a laugh. "Boarding school. Hard to walk you home from that, right? And it's good to see you boys doing normal things for once." Something they rarely got to do because of how he chose to live their lives.

"Yeah. leave it to Winchesters to have to live at a military academy to fit in and be normal." He said with a laugh. "It's good to see more of you too."

"It's good to be able to be around more." John said with a sigh. He didn't like leaving his kids as often as he did. Every time he did, he drove away with a sense of failure and guilt.

"Yeah... I suppose there could be worse things than finishing out the year here after all." Sam said. "Besides, then I would have all summer to grow out enough hair to hide my ears."

That made John laugh, a real laugh. "And here I've been worried that Dean was too centered on his appearance." He said with a grin. "Your hair is fine, and your ears are fine, Sam."

"My ears are twice the size of normal people ears. I look like the kid on the cover of Mad magazine. And while everyone here is fine with Dumbo ears cause they have no room to talk, out there... away from the military influence... Dumbo ears are not a sign of fitting in."

John chuckled and shook his head. "You're in an awkward phase. It'll pass. I promise. The rest of your head will grow into your ears, and the rest of your body will grow into your head. When I was your age, I had Dumbo ears, and legs like twigs, and arms way too long. Believe me, I know what you're going through. But it does pass."

Sam laughed at that, that was something he had never really thought about with his dad. "I have more legs and ears than anything else." He said with a grin.

"You're probably going to be tall." John said with certainty. Sam was already sprouting like a weed. Last year he'd been a chubby preadolscent. He was 'growing into his weight' as the saying went.

"Either tall or deformed. Hoping for tall. You're tall, it makes sense." Sam said with a nod as he put away the last of the mats.

John chuckled. "Your mother wasn't. Not overly so." He said. Not that Sam knew his mother. And Dean's memories of her height weren't valid, since they were from a four year old's perspective. "I think Dean's going to get a bit above six feet tall, that's a good height."

"Definitely not short,. He used to get teased about being short when we were little." Sam said. "Gotta say they have stealth bullies around here or they have better things to be doing with their time at the moment. Keep expecting 'em around the next corner."

"This isn't like every other school." John said. "It's a military boarding school. There'sa whole other behavior. They know they're being watched when they least expect it. If they decide to bully you or your brother, they'll definitely be stealth about it."

"Which means they will be worse when they do finally get around to it. Cause, you know, some how it's our fault they don't get to do it in the open like the public school bullies."

"Don't worry so much. It might end up being like the prank war you and your brother are masters at." John said. And there was nothing like getting caught in the middle of aWinchester prank war, especially if you were a parent. You weren't supposed to laugh while yelling at your kids!

Sam chuckled. "I think Dean and I could win a prank war against anyone if we teamed up." Sam said with a grin.

"You definitely would." John said. "So I say they should bring it on. It'll be fun to watch, even if I do it with a disapproving glare."

"That's only if you find proof of who did it after all." Sam said with a shrug. "When 'just me and Dean, it's pretty safe bet who is doing what to whom... not even a chance of hiding it."

"I'm your father. I think I'll have a pretty good idea." John said. "Don't worry, I'll feign innocence if questioned." Nearly like a secret conspiracy, and weirdly enough, that was normal behavior. Something he had missed most of the time.

Sam smiled. "Did you get anything to eat?" He asked, having not seen his father or brother in the mess hall that evening.

"Um...I think I ate at lunch." John said with a chuckle. "Come on, let's go see what we can scrounge up."

Sam smiled and let his dad lead the way. It was like having a real family for a while and Sam wasnt going to let that go easily. Who knew what would happen when they left there?

Dinner was over, but as faculty, John could get into the kitchen. So he opened it up and started pulling out food to make. "So what do you feel like?" He asked his youngest.

He shrugged. "Grilled cheese and tomato soup is always a winner but I am betting there is no such thing as a small can of tomato soup around here."

John laughed. "Who cares? The tuition they charge for this place lately, they can afford another can of soup." He said as he found the cheese, bread, and supersized can of tomato soup.

Sam got out the milk, because Dean always made it cream of tomato and that's the way Sam liked it best. Hard to say at this point if the habit started because Sam liked it best that way or if he liked it best because that was how Dean made it. "How long did you go to school here? Some of the kids here are pretty young."

"Just high school." John said. "My dad thought I needed a bit of discipline in my life, and applied for a scholarship, I got it, and off I went. It was good for me though. I learned a lot here, a lot that served me well later, and still does now."

Sam nodded. "It's sure made it easier on Dean and I here. I'm trying out for the football team tomorrow after class, and then have to run over to the shooting range for marksmanship trials. It's kinda weird doing all that at school. Usually I am meeting you and Dean out of town somewhere for that sort of thing."

"Makes it a lot easier for me." John said with a chuckle. "Now I don't have to find those out of the way places." He had no fear about his sons in the marksmenship trials. Given their education at his hands, they'd breeze through that just as easily as they did the obstacle course.

"Yeah, I guess it does. And someone else gets to do the teaching this time." He took his seat at the table. "Are any of the teachers the same here as when you were in school?" It hadn't been that long ago after all.

John finished making the soup and sandwiches and came to the table himself. "The math teacher is, and he's just as cranky as he ever was." John said with a chuckle. "The librarian is the same, wife of the provost when I was in school. He's dead now, of course, but they let her keep her post."

Sam made a mental note to talk to her the following day during his free period. Librarians and old ladies liked Sam. Might as well work it to his favor for a change. "Yeah, the math teacher really needs to retire before he gives himself a stroke or something. That vein gets going on his forehead and I am sure it's gonna blow."

John laughed. "That vein's been going since I was in high school. He's probably going to outlive us all." He commented.

"That's scary. Sounds like one of those B movies I used to turn on when Dean finally went to sleep at night. Math teacher zombies from hell or something. Cause... that man is old." Sam said as he picked up one of the cheese sandwiches and dipped the corner into his tomato soup.

John laughed. "Don't let your brother know he fell asleep on you." He said with a chuckle. "He'll never sleep again. And he'll need to be rested for his dramatic debut." He said with a grin, though he was surprised how well Dean had held his own with such a unique choice and no preparation.

"Yeah no kidding." Sam said. "He's kinda funny that way. I think the only reason he got me a date was so that he didn't have to leave me at home." He added with a laugh.

John felt more than a little stab of guilt at that. Was he making his oldest grow up too fast to take care of his youngest? He probably was, and there really wasn't anything he could about that.

"Dad? You okay?" He asked again, catching that look in his father's eyes again. The one that had him worried the day before.

"Yeah, Sammy, I'm fine." John said. "Just tired. This teaching thing is a lot more tiring than I thought it woul dbe." He said. Sounded good.

Sam had never known his father to tire easily. The man was a juggernaught. He never slowed down no matter how tired he was, no matter how hurt he was. "Yeah, okay, Dad. Guess hunting at night and getting up before dawn the next day would be pretty exhausting." He hoped that was all it was but he really didn't believe it.

John chuckled. "It eventually wears on you." He said as he cleaned up their meal. "Okay, let's get you in the dorms before lights out."

Sam nodded. "Okay." He said. "Maybe you should get some rest too, Dad. We got a lot done and tomorrow I'm gonna hit the library in town after school so we'll get more information soon."

"Taking your brother?" John asked. He was still leery on letting Sam out and about unsupervised.

"Dad... When Dean was my age, he was watching over me all the time. I think I can manage to go to the library on my own. I'm a freshman in highschool now."

"Dean is Dean and you're Sam." John said. "Fine, I'll go with you. Final offer."

"What? I'm some sort of irresponsible idiot or something? " Sam asked sharply, losing a lot of the feeling of connection he had started feeling with his father. "Forget it. I'm probably too irresponsible or stupid to do the research in the first place. Do it yourself." He said and turned to storm away.

"Sam!" John said, getting up. "Samuel, I'm talking to you!" He said, though it wasn't hard to catch up to Sam. "What's gotten into you now?" He always felt like he was treading on a floor of fragile glass with Sam. No matter what he said, it always ended up being wrong.

"Dean at 13 was responsible enough to watch over a 9 year old for days on end all by himself but I'm not responsible enough to go to the library by myself. What ever Dad. I get it. I won't ever be as good as Dean. But I'm not an idiot and I'm not a little boy anymore."

"You're my son and I'm your father!" John shot back. "That puts me in charge, and for once I would like to be able to do that without you automatically falling back on some adolescent inferiority complex that's not based in reality. You're smarter than that!"

"Then what the hell reality is it that makes me the one that can't tie his own shoes in your eyes?" Sam countered. "The reality is that you don't trust me to go on my own. What ever your reasoning is... obviously you aren't sharing."

"And I don't have to!" John snapped. "I'm your father. That's enough. Now if you want to go to the damn library, meet me after your last class."

"And you wonder where I get the inferiority complex. No I don't want to go to the library. I don't want to be a hunter. That's your hang up. Not mine. You can't have it both ways, Dad. You can't put me in this place where I could wind up being the next suicide and then tell me I'm not capable of taking care of myself. Make up your mind."

"You're not going to be the next suicide. You're smarter than that. You're supposed to watch the other kids and see if anyone is being affected by any of it. Need me to explain your job anymore?"

"Suicide has nothing to do with intelligence." Sam said indignantly, having done his share of research the year previous. "In fact amongst teenagers, it's more common amongst the more intelligent kids. Besides... we're talking about supernaturally influenced kids. All bets go out the window. What I need is for you to stop treating me like I'm a little kid."

"Then you need to stop acting like a little kid." John said. "Do your research, but you're not going off alone. End of discussion."

"What ever Dad." Sam said as he entered his room and managed some how to slam the door without a sound.

"Dude." Dean said from his desk where he was attempting to do some homework. He'd been attempting all night, actually, once he got back from the diner. "What's wrong now?"

"You'd just take his side." Sam said as he picked up his own books and got onto the bed to work on his own home work.

"Whatever." Dean said. "Hey, Sam...got a big favor to ask. See, I kinda want to go out and about, but after Dad finds out I took his car keys and dumped all the booze...I'm definitely going to be grounded. Think I can drop you off at the library, and pretend to stay with you?" He asked, honestly having no idea what John and Sam had argued about (this time).

Sam groaned. "Yeah okay... if Dad doesn't insist on going along with me anyway. The man thinks I'm 5 or something."

"Well, that's Dad's hang up." Dean said. "I know you're not. I also know he won't let me go anywhere unless it's for his benefit or watching you...so this works on both fronts...right? I mean, you said before you wanted to go to the library..." Was he taking advantage of Sam? Because Sam could blow the whole thing out of the water and get Dean in even deeper trouble. Dean was just stir crazy (already) was all.

"Yeah what ever." Sam said a little sullenly. "We had been talking so well earlier - then all the sudden he decides I can't be trusted on my own."

He understood that Sam was thirteen. He remembered thirteen, it hadn't been all that fun. But dammit, he was seventeen, nearly eighteen, and he was sick of getting pulled between Sam and Dad all the time. Or breaking them up all the other times. So he closed his book and climbed up on the bunk above Sam. "Whatever. You don't want to go, you don't want to go."

"Forget I said anything." Sam said. It hurt that he couldn't even talk to his brother about these things. It always pissed Dean off, which only served to make Sam feel even more like a stranger in his own family. "Yeah I will cover for you. Might as well make the best of it."

"Forget it." Dean said as he squirmed to find a comfortable spot on the bed. Sam wanted to mope about being treated like a kid. Sometimes Dean wished he was treated like a kid. But no, while Sam was off being treated like a kid, Dean was detoxing his father's room and taking the keys. And he was supposed to commiserate about being treated like a kid? He wished he could, he really did.

"Fine, whatever." Sam sighed and rolled over to face the wall. Maybe his dad and Dean should leave him here. Maybe he could make himself fit into a boarding school where he obviously couldn't in his own family.

Dean grumbled to himself. He didn't sleep much that night. And when they came to wake them up in the morning, he pushed past the guy with the trash can lids. "Whatever dude, shut up." He said as he made his way to the showers.

Sam moved on auto pilot to get ready for classes, doing his best to avoid both his father and brother at breakfast, choosing instead to sit next to his newfound friend from typing class "Hey." He said a glummly.

"Well you look all happy this morning." He said. "This is why I'm glad sometimes my parents are in Florida, and my sister is across town at the girls' school."

"Don't you miss having her around?" Sam asked, thinking that he would miss Dean more than anything when they finally were both grown and getting on with their lives. He had no doubt Dean would be a hunter like their father. But Sam wanted nothing to do with hunting. Wanted nothing to do with the demons and monsters that had and still were destroying his family.

Rob shrugged. "Nah. I have an older brother, he was here before. Graduated last year. Now he's off at college, I don't know, we're just not that close."

"Dad and I aren't close at all. Sometimes it's like... I don't know... like I'm living with a total stranger. And with Dean it depends on the day of the week whether he is my best friend or someone that is stuck with me."

Rob laughed. "Did you miss that stupid health class that I had to take last year?" He said with a grin. "When the adolescent male goes through puberty, starting around the age of 12, his body goes through immense changes up until the age of 21, at least." He said, sounding like he was quoting an instructional video, which he was. "During this time, it can seem like living with a complete stranger, the adolescent male is prone to sudden mood changes and moodiness. It is best just to be patient, and not react like the adolescent male is a rabid animal."

"Yeah well, Dean gets to be his age at least. They both treat me like I'm 8 or something. It makes me crazy. There are days that I really just want to be anywhere that they aren't."

"Who are you kidding? You worship your brother." Rob said, then shrugged. "I worship mine. Only difference is, I get to do it from afar. Other than holidays, don't think I've been actually in the same room with him for years. Oh we do the email and letters and stuff like that, but it's not the same."

"I know." He said with a sigh. "It's what makes it so hard. I know they care about me... I'm not that much of a bone head. I just... don't fit in. I'm not who or what they want me to be or even what they think I am. Ya know?"

"You know what I think? You need to chill. Seriously." Rob said. "You're barely in high school. You gotta relax, or you're going to end up like the science club kid from last year. His parents had him on track to be Nobel winner by the time he was 25."

How did you chill when your father expected you to be a hunter one minute and practically in diapers the next? He wasn't good at pretending all the time. He needed to be himself some of the time. But himself wasn't acceptable. "My dad would probably be happy if I had a C average. It's not that. ... school used to be where I felt normal."

"Well this school isn't normal." Rob said with a chuckle. "Look around, we're all in uniforms with buzzcuts. And none of us should have buzzcuts. I didn't know how small my head was compared to my neck until I got this thing." He said, running a hand over his hair.

Sam couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Yeah, unfortunately I knew how big my ears are but that didn't make any difference. Last time I had this hair cut, the other kids were calling me Dumbo." He said quietly so only Rob could hear.

Rob shrugged. "Last year I was called Pinhead." He said, then he grinned. "Then I stomped a sophomore who thought he could push around an eighth grader, and I haven't heard it since."

"Yeah. Don't blame them." He said with a grin. "I think around here, there is just an excess of dumbo ears so no one wants to start that particular finger pointing."

"Exactly. So you got off easy." Rob said with a chuckle.

"Yeah. I didn't start here a couple of years ago when my legs were too long for the rest of me." He said with a genuine laugh.

Rob laughed. "That was probably funny." He said.

Dean scarfed down breakfast. He was well aware his brother was avoiding him, so he ate it before he was even fully out of the line, disposed of his tray and left the cafeteria. Now he just had to avoid his father as he went outside the auditorium for the posting of the cast list. He personally didn't really care, but he said he'd meet Brad there, so he was meeting Brad there, wondering if John had noticed that his room had been carefully gone through.

Brad was already there looking over the list. "Hey man, don't know if I should congratulate you or not." He said and showed Dean the list. "Me... I'm playing Skye Masterson. Should be a blast. "

Dean looked at the list. "Remember, I'm a complete new kid on this thing." He said with a chuckle. "What does understudy for Nathan Detroit mean? Is that good or bad? Do I actually have to go on stage?"

"So long as the guy who is playing Nathan Detroit is able to go on stage, you don't have to, but you have to learn the part just like he does, because if he trips over his big feet and falls of the stage and breaks his leg or something, you have to go on instead of him."

"Okay, note to self. Wrap that guy in bubble wrap." Dean said witha chuckle. "Well, that's good. I get credit without actually having to do something. Can't beat that. So your mom should be over the moon when you tell her."

"Yeah. Mom will. Dad'll have kittens but I guess it's inevitable since I'm not gonna go into the service either." He said with a faint grin. Or was it a grimace.

Dean laughed. "I better not hear jack about it from my dad. Considering that he signed me up for this damn thing in the first place!" Dean pointed out. Given their lifestyle, he was sure John didn't have aspirations of either of his sons joining the Corp when they were adults. Just as well too...Dean didn't deal well with authority in general, and only his father in specifics.

Brad laughed. "Come on, we're gonna be late for first bell." He said. "And don't worry. It's great fun to bait fathers. Well it is from a distance. Not sure I would want to bait mine if he were on hand to dish out the push ups. Would you believe I did my first push up at 4?"

Dean laughed hard at that. "Actually, I would." Dean said. Push ups at four. Extreme outdoor camping at eight. Modifying fire arms at twelve. Participated in his first exorcism at nine, killed his first 'evil son of a bitch' on his own at fourteen. Push ups at four? He could completely believe that.

"Guess you got the same problem I do... a Marine for a father." Brad said with a grin. "Well it isn't all bad. I mean...he could have been regular army or something."

"Or, dude, Coast Guard." Dean said with a chuckle as they headed toward their class. He saw his father out of the corner of his eye, and rushed into the room, sliding into the seat. "So these rehearsals, the girls get to come, right?"

"Yeah, the girls get to come." He said with a grin. "That's why so many guys sign up for drama once they hit puberty."

"Yeah, I can see why." Being sentenced to an all boys school after all. That had to be wearing after a while. It was already nearly driving him nuts. "So, dude, the rest of those guys are seriously going to be hating on you, you know." Dean didn't care. He didn't want ANY part, really.

"They'll get over it. They did last year. Started spreading rumors I was gay, until I pounded one of 'em." Brad said with a shrug.

Dean laughed. "Oh god, gay rumors. Love it." Dean said. "I haven't been in a fight since the last school, so hopefully someone will call me gay."

"It's not that hard to get in a fight around here. Trust me."

The teacher cleared his throat as the bell rang and Brad grinned at Dean a moment then turned to face the front of the class as was expected.

Dean grinned back, and flashed his grin at the teacher as he paid minimal attention throughout the class. Enough to be able to pass a test, he guessed, but not much more than that. He called Sam the brainchild of the family, but Dean knew he wasn't dumb. He just lacked the ability to pay attention to things he wasn't interested in. If they had stayed in one place long enough, he was convinced he would have been put on Ritalin a long time ago.

The first half of the day passed quickly and soon both brothers found themselves staring at one another in the lunch line. "Hey." Sam said quietly.

"Hey." Dean said. "Look, you want to bitch about Dad, fine, I'll let you. I'll stare blankly at the ceiling, but I'll let you." He just wasn't up to it last night. He'd spent a few hours being a normal teenager, something that so rarely happened, that getting stuck between his father and his brother again felt like someone was holding his head under freezing cold water.

"You know... sometimes... most of the time... I don't want you to take sides. I just want you to be my brother... to let me bitch and maybe be a little supportive. It'snot about betraying Dad you know... it really isn't." Sam said looking down at his feet.

"And sometimes, on the rare times, when I get to be a normal kid, for a bit after I like to pretend I'm still a normal kid." Dean said, shaking his head.

"What? You don't think normal kids have to listen to their little brothers complain about their fathers? Get real, it's probably the one normal thing out there we consistantly have. But what the hell, sorry I interfered in your chance to be normal. You know what... find me someone else to talk to about all those things that bug me and I won't bother you with it ... oh wait... I can't. Because it's all a big secret. Guess that means I don't get to talk to anyone, doesn't it?"

Now Dean felt guilty, and his foot tapped a bit at that. "I said I'd listen! What do you want from me, Sam? Come on, I always listen. One night that I just don't want to, one single night since you were born, and suddenly I'm the bad, uncaring, insenstive one?"

"You said you would stare blankly at the ceiling and let me. That's not listening Dean. That's ignoring me while I talk. Look, I get it. Okay. I do. Dad is your hero, he's pretty high on my list too, believe it or not. I just ... never mind. It doesn't matter."

"No, you don't get it." Dean shot back. "Look, you talk, I listen,I try to think of solutions. Then you get mad, and Dad gets mad, and I'm already ducking him." He dug into his pocket and pulled out their father's keys. "You know how many bottles I emptied last night?" He asked in a hushed whispered. "You don't want to know. You don't want to know how many empty ones I found. I hate changing schools. There, I said it. I can do it, but I hate it. And if Dad gets fired because he's drinking, we'll have to change, this time with no back up plan, because I don't think he has one. He's drinking, I don't know why. So with all that on my mind, you want me to listen to you bitch because Dad treats you like a toddler. Fine, whatever. I'll listen. If it will make everyone happy, I'll listen and be able to repeat every word you say. Of course, then I'll add my own commentary to it, which will just piss you off. Then I'll end up having the same conversation with Dad, because I hate it when you're pissed off, which will just piss him off, but hey, then you'll be able to have something in common, because you'll both be pissed at me." He said with a shrug, shoving the keys back in his pocket.

No one, except Dean, knew how heavy the weight on his shoulders was. The sad thing, really, was that he was used to it. Came to expect it. And never expected it to go away, at least not anytime soon. Possibly not even while he was alive.

"Dean..." Sam said. "I don't expect you to get between me and Dad... you don't have to make things right for us. You don't have to do that. If he is mad at me about something, there isn't anything you can do. I know that."

"Fine. Look, I offered to let you talk out your frustrations so we both stay sane. You're just picky." Dean said with a bit of a grin. Dean sighed. "Yeah, well, I'll try to figure out a way anyway." Because it was horrible to have your entire family at each other's throats. And Sam and their father...they were his entire family.

"Yeah well, I can't stop you I guess but... that isn't what I am after when I try and talk to you about stuff, Dean. I just want to talk out the frustration is all."

"Then does it make a difference if I'm staring at the ceiling? Because otherwise I'll try to come up with solutions." He pointed out.

"Because then it doesn't feel like ... never mind. It's okay. I'm sorry." Sam said. "Come on... let's get something to eat."

"Now you're speaking my language." Dean said with a laugh as they grabbed trays. "So I'm an understudy. Which means I get to keep an eye on the drama club without actually having to go up on stage. And that's all right by me."

"I thought you were pretty good. But I don't blame you for not wanting to be up there. " He was glad to let the subject drop. Nothing hadchanged but at least he had said something. "Which part are you understudying?"

Dean shrugged. "Nathan Detroit. So I guess that's okay." He could tell a big blow up between Sam and their dad was right around the corner. He hated that. He hated that they came, and he hated that he could tell when they were coming.

"Could be worse, you could be playing the cop. or understudying the cop or what ever. That would really be contrary to the Winchester family ideal." He said with a laugh.

"There's a cop in it?" Dean asked. "Wow. Well, that sucks. Have to find out who's playing him, see if I like him or not. If not, well, then it is the Winchester ideal to give them hell."

"Yeah... there is. When you take me to the library tonight I'll see if it's on the list of movies to borrow." Sam said.

Dean shook his head. "I'm going to watch a musical." Dean said. "My life as I know it is over."

"Dude, if the other guy gets the flu or something you are going to be IN a musical." Sam teased.

"Dude, don't remind me." Dean said with a scowl. "This is going to suck. I've met the guy. Don't really like him. Yet it is my personal mission to make sure he stays healthy and uninjured."

"Good luck with that." Sam said as he got his tray of food. "For all we know, he wants out of the part as much as you don't want into it."

"Well, too bad, he had it first." Dean said with a laugh. "So he can keep it. Besides, I'm just there to watch the girls. I mean the drama club. And look for suicidal behavior."

Sam laughed. "Yeah... the drama club." He said shaking his head. "Turns out the librarian here at the school was the same librarian as when Dad went here. She wasmarried to the head master back then."

"Wow." Dean said with a laugh. "Well, that's your gig. Librarians love you. You also love them. It's one big lovefest. But if you score cookies, save one for me."

"Hey if I do all the work why should I share the score?" Sam asked with a grin.

"Because I'm older and I said so." Dean said with a laugh. "Because every time I go into the library, they start checking the book covers for grafitti." He'd never actually done that, but for some odd reason they expected him to.

"Weird. I'll think about it." He said. "I'll check it out tomorrow during free period. Tonight the big library though."

"Am I takingyou or are you going with Dad?" Dean said. Would work if he took Sam. Could get off the grounds for a bit.

"Heh...I'm going with you. I want to avoid Dad for a while. I really did try getting along with him, Dean. I did."

Dean sighed. "I know." He said. "Dad's just...he's Dad." There wasn't really any other way to describe it.

"Yeah... I know... It'll work out. It always does. He's just depressed. Maybe it's this place. Too structured for him these days or something."

"You've got a point. It might not be all he remembered it was, that whole military life." Dean said with a shrug as he sat down and started to eat. "So right after last period we'll go, how's that sound?"

"Sounds like a plan." Sam said. "Might want to do that tonight for sure, don't know when you are going to have to start rehearsals."

"Dude, that's starting to sound like a swear word." Dean said. "I've had to endure class with idiots who are excited about it. Whatever. I'll just, I don't know, read a book or something."

Sam laughed. "If I had your luck, I would start studying the part hard core. You'll wind up on stage at least once."

"Dude, no." Dean said, horrified at the thought. It was one thing to be the center of attention, quite another to be on stage. "Think I might get sick and let my understudy handle it. I'm sure they'd find one if they had to. Maybe you should learn the part."

Sam laughed. "Dean... I'm the science geek. Not in drama remember. And besides you are the understudy. Understudies don't get understudies. "

"Well they should." Dean grumbled. "It's completely unfair. I mean, there are kids who really wanted a part that didn't get one, and I got stuck with one because my dad made me try out so I could be on the scene for anything weird that might happen."

"You'll survive it I promise." Sam said with a laugh. "It won't kill you. You might even like it." He said repeating words he heard every time he was stuck with something he didn't want to do.

Dean scowled. "Sam, we're not talking about carrots at dinner time." He said. "We're talking about a potentially humiliating experience from which I might not ever recover."

"Like shaving my head, trying out for football, band... god, remember when he tried to get me to play the trumpet?"

Dean laughed. "Oh yeah. And the band teacher wrote a polite note home that perhaps you should take up another hobby." Dean said. Well, it was true. Sam had been unteachable at the trumpet.

"And Dad wrote a polite note back telling him that I wasnt there to take up a hobby I was there to learn music and he was there to teach it. Oh yeah... that was a great year. So cheer up. You can't be any worse at acting than I am at trumpet."

"I'm awesome at acting." Dean said. It would be just like pulling a con pretty much, right? "It's the singing. And dancing." He said, making a face of distaste. "That's what I'm worried about."

"Well apparently you sang well enough to get the part." Sam pointed out. "So you will be fine. Just learn the part and pray a lot that the other guy doesn't get sick. "

"Unless he's dead, he'll be on that stage. And maybe even if he's dead, I'll figure out something." Dean said with a chuckle. "Why should a little cold or small pox deprive him of the limelight? Honestly, I'm looking after his best interests."

"With this family's luck... learn the part." Sam said. "And with that I have to get to class. Dad hates it when I miss his class." Sam rolled his eyes. "Tomorrow I get to try out for the foot ball team. Oh Joy of Joys."

"Could be worse. You could be learning to dance on stage." Dean said with a scowl. "Yeah, I should make a class or two. Let me know what kind of mood he's in so I know whether to avoid him."

"Dean... I don't think he has noticed anything... which to be honest scares the hell out of me."

Dean looked at surprise while gathering up his tray. Their dad not notice? The guy who had an eagle's eye for the smallest detail? "Oh man." He said. "Yeah, now I'm worried."

"Something is going on with him... you don't think..." Sam didn't want to think that maybe their father was the first victim this year for what ever it was that was driving people to suicide.

Dean's jaw clenched and he looked away. "No, of course not." He said. Because it was what Sam wanted and needed to hear. "We'll keep an eye on him, everything will be fine, okay? I'll handle it."

Sam nodded. "I've been trying but... Well... he and I just seem to always make each other worse." He was glad that Dean would look after their father. Dean was the one he trusted to take care of them all. It wasn't fair, but it was how things were.

"I'll keep an eye on him." Dean said. And you too he added silently. "It'll be fine, Sam. We know what we're looking for, and since you were all into suicide research last year, you can help."

Sam nodded ."Okay. Yeah... we'll make sure Dad is okay... " Sam frowned, and looked at the clock again. "I gotta get to class. Wanna get there a little early to see how he is."

"Yeah good luck with that." Dean said. His father could be as transparent as a brick wall when he wanted to be. And Dean would lay money on this being one of those times that he wanted to be.

Sam ran to the gymnasium, to find his father. They hadn't parted on the best of terms the night before. They hadn't gotten along well since Sam had found out the truth about the world around them, but he still loved his dad and part of him wanted to have a normal relationship with him, but the truth was that John had lied to him about some pretty major stuff for years and Sam wasn't sure he could trust him to tell him what was going on most of the time.

John nodded to Sam as he joined the line up in the class. He looked even more tired, his eyes one step away from being blood shot. But his shoulders were straight, though whether that was natural or by pure force of will was debateable. He knew Sam feltbad about their argument, so did he. There was so much Sam didn't know, that John couldn't tell him. Because John didn't know the whole story yet.

Sam paid close attention to his father through out the class, and once again lagged back when the others went on to their next class. It was convenient to have a free period after PE.

John looked at Sam hanging behind and sighed as he started to pick up and set up for the next class. Dragging mats back into the storage room and bringing out the basketballs. "What is it, Sam?" He asked, sounding more tired than sharp.

"Just wanted to see you today is all." Sam said as he started to help his dad with the mats. "You look tired... did you get any sleep last night?"

"I got enough." John said. All his equipment, as ramshod as it was, wasn't picking up anything. It should have been picking up something. And he was mad beyond belief at Dean. That was the only option for where the keys to his truck went.

"I'm sorry we fought last night. I just... it gets to me some times. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, really."

"Sam, I'm fine. I've got a thicker skin than you think." John said. "But apology accepted. And I'm not changing my mind. Because you and your brother are different, in what you can handle."

"Yeah I obviously can't handle the library. Dangerous place with all those books and librarians. I hear they're hella evil." Sam said rolling his eyes "Worse than the hunts you drag me along for. So if I hadn't already gotten Dean to agree to take me I would bow out entirely, trembling in fear." He said in a bland tone that indicated exactly where his father could put his low opinion of him. "So since the apology was accepted and I have once more been told I am lacking, I'm gonna go to class." Not that he had one, he was on his free hour. But right then he was wishing he hadnt apologized in the first place. "Later." He said turning on his heel to leave.

"Sam!" John called after him. "Samuel! You do not take that tone with me. I am your father and I am entitled to more respect than that."

"Sorry Dad, I must be too stupid to know that. After all, I cantdeal with things as well asDean does." Sam grumbled. "Guess that includes you."

"Why do you feel the need to pick a fight with me every single day? And question my authority? And my decisions?" John demanded. "What's gotten into you?" He didn't remember Dean being like this.

Sam turned back to face his father. "Why do you feel the need to point out that you think I am irresponsible and empty headed? Why else wouldn't I be able to handle things as well as a freaking 9 year old? You remember that, right? Me... Dean... alone... hotel rooms... he was 9 and I was 5. Yeah... you had more faith in Dean at 9 than you do in me now. And you point it out every chance you get. THAT is why I challenge you. Because I am sick of feeling like the retarded brat you never wanted in the first place. "

John's jaw twitched. Dangerously twitched. His teeth grinding made almost an audible sound to Sam across the room. "Watch your tone." He said in a low voice. "You are the child, I am the adult, that is the only thing you need to know."

"That's the problem Dad... I already know too much. " Sam said' "And you can't make me unlearn it. You can't make me respect you when you aren't around enough for me to earn it. You don't know me. You don't even want to. Hell you don't even know Dean, and he worships the ground you walk on. When I found out the truth... when I dug out your book and found out the truth... he told me our Dad was like a super hero- out fighting the bad guys. Better than James Bond he said. I think he still believes it. All I knew was that you had lied to me my whole life. You still do. You lie to me and you try and make me feel stupid and useless. Being an adult doesn't change that. Doesn't make it right. No matter how much you try and convince me it does."

"What do you want me to do, Sam? Not do my damn job?" John said. "I thought you were old enough to accept that along with this responsibility comes sacrifice. It stinks, but we all have to do it."

"How can you say that when not 5 minutes ago you were saying I'm not responsible enough to go to the library on my own? I don't know what you expect of me." Sam said in exasperation. "I can handle that you do the job. I can handle that you are never around. I can't handle what you think of me. I'm sick of the double standards. I'm a little kid when it suits you, and a soldier in your war when it suits you. I'm old enough to kill and die but I'm not old enough to act like a normal 14 year old. Screw that. Make up your mind."

"Watch your tone." John growled again. "I made my decision, you're the one who has to have his way or he's going to throwa childish temper tantrum. That's hardly going to convince me that you're mature enough to cut your own meat, never mind go out alone."

Dean watched fora few moments from the door way. "Okay, that's enough. Both of you." He said. "I'm taking Sam to the library, for that I need gas money. Sam will do his research. You'll do yours. And you two will stopyelling at each other for five minutes."

Sam turned on his heel and walked out. He was on the verge of tears and that was the last thing he wanted his father or brother to see. Dean would think less of him and it would just give his father more amunition. He swore the man hated him.

Every time they started to get along, it got worse the next day, as if there was some cosmic force out there trying to balance the scales back out again. Hell, everything John had said to him before was probably another lie anyway.He probably did hate him for Mary's death. It was the only thing that made sense.

"I'll meet you at the car." He said, for Dean's benefit.

Dean nodded and waited until Sam was gone. "Why do you do that?" Dean asked softly, just in case Sam was hanging around. "He's having a tough enough time as it is, new school, new routine, new friends, being thirteen..."

"He won't take no for an answer." John said. "Argues with me at every turn. I'm not going to put up with that from either of you."

"Fine." Dean said, backing down as he usually did where John was concerned. Probably why he pushed every limit in every other area of his life. "I'll watch after Sam, no worries."

"you do that. He isnt thinking clearly. Starting to wonder if the place isnt starting to effect him. One of the early stages of that sort of depression is anger. And Sam has alot of it. "

He couldn't believe he'd been signed up for this. This was awful. And he was never forgiving his dad for that.

He was never forgiving his dad for this one.

"Winchester, you're up." Said the instructor.

"Either today or tomorrow." The instructor said as he looked over his list. Dean gave a heavy sigh as the piano player looked at him.

Okay, so it wasn't musical theater. But it was one of his favorite songs by one of his favorite bands, and he was able to pretend he was somewhere else.

Dean gratefully hopped off the stage and slouched far down in his seat. It was over. Which was good. Hey, he'd 'tried', right? Counted for something.

"What was that?" One of the kids next to him whispered. Dean looked at him unbelievingly.

"Excuse me?"

"What play was that from?"

"Dude are you serious?" Dean asked. What kind of freaks was his dad sticking him with? "You know what, never mind." Dean said, closing his eyes. "Obviously it's out of your league."

Halloran sat down next to him, chuckling softly. "Out of their league...right." He whispered. "You gotta forgive these guys. Most of them have been in private school all their lives."

"Dads have a way of doing that. That's my kid brother up there now. He gets off on this stuff. Makes me worry about him." He said with a chuckle.

"Guys and Dolls won't be so bad. It's about gamblers after all. Hey Sinatra and Brando were in it... yeah it's a musical but at least it's not completely girly."

"Well they sang and danced, no one said they did it well." He said. "Yeah, I'm stuck auditioning, too." Halleran said. "With any luck, we'll have limited time on stage."

"Naw, they like to tease the newbies about that, but the girls' school puts on the play with us every year. The proceeds pay for the military ball and the summer ball they have over there."

"Then this won't be so bad." Dean said with a grin. "I came from a co-ed school, I'm in serious withdrawl, dude."

"It's the real reason to be in drama, man. I tell you they have to come over here to rehearse now dont they " Halleran said with a grin of his own. "Besides, I hear you already have a date lined up. Not a lot of withdrawl going on if you already have one lined up on the second day."

"Oh god no... " he said wrinkling his nose. "It sounds worse than it is... Jesus Christ superstar. Song called 'Heaven On Their Minds'. My mom drug us to see it in an offBroadwayrevival one Christmas break." He said rolling his eyes. "But hey, it's not all girly so it's good."

"True. I'll take your word for it. And if it is, I'll mock you." Dean said with a laugh. "So you've done this drama thing all the way? Know the kid that decided to shish ka bob himself last year?"

"So seemed completely out of the blue." Dean said. And a gory way to go at that, gutting yourself. "Oh hey, you're up. Remember, don't be girly, or I will mock you, colonel or not."

The teacher stopped and listened, not bothering with his papers anymore. That was certainly a surprise. "Thank you." He said to Brad when he was done. Well, he'd found his Sky, that was for certain.

Brad chuckled. Yeah there were a lot of his fellow drama students that he would love the chance to rub their noses in it. Some of them were good actors for their age, Brad was passible at acting, but musicals weren't just about the acting. This time he had the edge "They'll live."