John crossed his arms, staring down at the brothers. "Mind explaining what the hell you were thinking?" he demanded of Dean.
Dean stiffened, annoyance flashing in his eyes. Sam was surprised. Even after everything, he was so used to Dean doing whatever their dad said like a good little soldier. But now, the older brother was in clear disagreement with the hunter.
Dean clenched a fist. "He's not going to learn anything if we just lock him up all day. And I was watching out for him. No one ever saw him in my hood."
John scowled. Sam shrank a little closer to Dean, intimidated by the angry glare. No matter how much he understood intellectually that he wasn't going to be hurt, it was hard to see someone bigger than a building so angry.
Dean's hand scooped Sam off the table when he wasn't looking, too distracted by their father. He was cupped protectively by Dean's chest while the boy continued arguing. "Dad, if we just keep him locked up like that, he's going to get bored and he needs to stay sharp if he's going to be this size, at least until we find a cure. You can't watch him all day. At least if he's with me, he's safe."
John didn't move for a minute, sizing both his sons up with his arms crossed. "If anything happens to him, you're responsible," he snapped at Dean before stalking away.
Sam could feel the tension leak out of Dean the moment he was turned away. He didn't say a word, holding his tongue as gratitude filled him. He wouldn't be stuck in a massive room all day with nowhere to go.
Thanks to Dean, who'd stood up to their father for the first time.
Dean groaned as he read over the text. "This is boring," he grumbled. "We should sneak out and get ice cream."
Sam scoffed, taking a few steps on Dean's back. He'd started out perched on Dean's head so he could read over the assignment, but Dean spent so much of his time grumbling over the work, he was still on the same page five minutes after Sam had finished.
After being this size for a few weeks, he was beginning to find it far more intriguing than frightening. So long as their dad wasn't yelling at them, of course. Even now, he could feel the muscles shift under his feet as Dean finally went to turn the page. He was massively outsized, but perfectly safe where he was.
"Y'know that I can't give you all the answers," Sam pointed out, walking back up to a shoulder so he could peer off. "You need to do some of it for yourself."
No one had spotted Sam yet, not even during a test. He was small enough to use the folds in the shirt to hide in, and his voice was soft enough that the other students couldn't hear him. Dean's grades had taken an upswing, even with the course material a few years ahead of where Sam was. It was a welcome challenge that he could use to keep his mind off things.
Dean reached the end of the reading and grabbed a notebook. "Whatever. But you're still helping me with the homework, pint-size. Can't have you slacking off either."
Sam hid a smirk as he swung his legs off the edge of the shoulder, letting them dangle before he dropped down to the soft mattress below. He landed in a pile, bouncing slightly before he caught his balance. From this angle, he was completely bathed in shadow from above, Dean's shoulders blocking the light.
Making his way over to the book, he glanced up at Dean. "Do you at least have something my size to write with?"
Dean looked like a deer in headlights when he was put on the spot. He glanced between Sam, who stood all of two and a half inches tall, and the pencil in his hand, which was easily five inches, if not longer.
"Uhh…" Dean trailed off.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Looks like you'll still be doing the work," he jabbed.