Hey guys! This is the chapter most of you have been waiting for. All of you who've been trying to guess how Dean and John find out (oh, how I loved messing with you with ominous hints that got you nowhere) this will give you your answers.

Also, thank you guys so much for the reviews! You floored me this last chapter! Keep it up, they make me so ridiculously happy!

Sorry it's short, but know that I was tempted to leave it where the *** are and that would have been much worse (well, for you anyway)

There's also another little hint of something supernatural going on in this chapter, let me know if you spot it ;)

Warnings: Bullying, self-harm, swearing
Disclaimer: See chap 1
Beta: Little Miss Artist
Word Count: 1,600
Chapter: 16/21
Next Update: Tuesday

Enjoy!

Textus

Chapter 16: Dog In The Headlights

Rain splashed against the windshield as the wipers tried desperately to keep up.

The car ride was beyond awkward. Dean and Sam hadn't said a single word all day to each other. Sam was beyond embarrassed about his lit tantrum the previous night and Dean was still unsure how Sam was feeling about him at the moment.

It was Friday afternoon and Dean was driving them to the house for the weekend. John had asked Dean to pick Sam up so they'd both be home early to do some training. Sam stared out the window, watching the rain splatter on the sidewalk chasing all but the most adventurous people indoors.

Two weeks. It'd been two weeks since they'd gotten to this town, the town the changed everything. Who knew such a small town could have such a big impact on the life of one person? It was like he was an entirely different person. Sam didn't like this new person. He was sad and tired and so damn lonely all the time. He'd given up trying to force himself to draw. It was a dying ember in him now. A dying ember that was quickly being extinguished by the desire to cut.

"Sam, we have to talk."

"Dean-"

"No, Sam, no more excuses. No more avoiding the conversation. Something's up with you, probably has been for a while, and I need to know what."

It was inevitable. Sam knew this conversation would have to happen, but that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. For the first time ever, Sam felt like a stranger to his brother. Really, Dean didn't know all that much about him, he still knew more than anyone else, but still… It made Sam wonder just how well he actually knew Dean.

"Sammy, please," Dean was practically begging at that point, "please, tell me what's going on! You promised you would come to me if you needed help-"

"And I don't so I haven't," Sam replied curtly.

"Sammy," Dean whispered so quietly Sam had to strain to hear his brother. Sam's eyes involuntarily slid over to his brother.

Dean had a death grip on the steering wheel and his body was tense. His eyes were glittering with a mysterious moisture…there was no way…Dean? Crying?

"Dean?" Sam said quietly. He wanted to throw himself at his brother. He wanted to go back a few years when Sam was innocent and oblivious to the world of evil that surrounded him. Back when his biggest problem was a nightmare and that could easily be solved by slipping into bed next to his brother who'd throw his arm around Sam and they'd just lay there, calming each other. Sam wanted to go back to the times when that was all it took, just a little big brother medicine and the world's problems were solved, at least for Sam.

But not anymore. Now Sam lived in a harsh world with no big brother medicine. And really, he had no one to blame but himself. He had dug himself into a hole and left his shovel at the top. The longer he avoided telling Dean about Mike, the harder it'd be to do it. Because then Dean would ask why he hadn't come before. And that would break Dean's trust in Sam to always come to him with his problems. And if Dean found out about his new habit…Dean would be so disgusted…he'd want nothing to do with his little brother. Sam fiercely told himself no, Dean would always love him, but there was still that tiny corner of his mind that held all his self-doubt which assured him that Dean wouldn't like him anymore. After all, who'd want a needy, selfish little brother who couldn't even handle everyday problems without turning it into some huge drama fest? God, he was pathetic.

"-listening?"

"What?" Sam asked as he pulled himself back to the now, where his brother was asking him something.

"I'll take that as a no, you weren't listening then," Dean said with a slight chuckle, though it lacked his usual mirth.

"Sorry, I was distracted, what were you saying?"

"Distracted? By what? There a certain someone I need to know about, Sam?" Dean joked.

"Shut up," Sam said quietly, turning to look back out the window.

"But seriously Sammy..."

Suddenly something caught Sam's eye. Dean was lost in whatever he was saying and didn't notice Sam or what had caught Sam's attention. As the muscle car had crested a hill, the headlights danced across an electrical wire which had shoes hanging from it…very familiar shoes. Dean was going to see his sneakers hanging from the wire!

Sam began to panic, they were still a little ways away…Dean wouldn't notice until they were a bit closer…Sam just had to distract him for the few seconds it took to pass the wire. Sam could hear his heart pounding in his chest, beating out a staccato rhythm. Just as they got close enough for the details of the shoes to come clearer into view, Sam shot his hand out the left, very nearly whacking Dean in the arm.

"Look!" Sam cried. Exactly as planned, Dean's head whipped around to look where Sam had pointed.

"What? I don't see anything!" Dean said, sounding almost desperate.

"I could have sworn I saw something!" Sam said before letting his eyes drift back over to the shoes. He jolted back in alarm.

"Dean, look out!" Sam screamed. A large, scruffy brown dog had streaked in front of the car and now stood frozen as the huge car sped towards it.

Dean jerked back to face the road and his eyes widened at the sight before.

"Shit!" he shouted as he spun the wheel.

Sam was thrown up against the window as the car lurched to the left.

"Look out! Look out!" Sam shouted but it was too late. The front of the large car slammed into the base of the very pole from which the shoes hung.

Sam's head slammed against the window and he knew no more.

When Sam's eyes flickered open it was to the all too familiar scene of a hospital ceiling. The smell of antiseptic was strong in the air and the mattress was hard. Sam started to sit up but the motion made his head spin. Instead he looked around while still lying down. It was a relatively small room with the usual white walls. The only splash of color was the light pink curtains hanging on either side of the two windows. There were a few cabinets along the wall opposite Sam but other than that the room was empty except for the two beds. The beds were more like tall cots than true hospital beds because they were clearly only meant for temporary usage; for patients who'd be released in a few hours. Sam's eyes eventually found Dean lying next to him, still unconscious, on the other bed. Immediately Sam did a visual sweep of Dean, trying to ascertain how hurt his older brother was.

Besides being slightly pale, Dean looked relatively unhurt. In fact, Sam would have said he was sleeping if not for the small square of gauze on his forehead. Sam brought his hand up to the side of his own forehead and also felt soft gauze there. Based on his headache, Sam deduced it was a slight concussion.

This was Sam's fault. If Sam hadn't drawn Dean's attention from the road then Dean wouldn't have missed the dog and they wouldn't be in this mess. The only relief Sam could find was in knowing neither of them was hurt terribly and the car couldn't be that bad either.

It could have been so much worse.

Dean made a small noise than shifted slightly on the bed.

"Dean?" Sam asked gently, trying to help pull his brother towards awareness. Dean groaned and his face scrunched up a bit like it usually did right before he awoke. One of these days Sam was going to take a picture of that face and show Dean his very own bitch face.

"Sammy," Dean mumbled under his breath before he even opened his eyes. Sam felt something swell inside him. Even after everything Sam was still the first thing Dean always thought of.

Dean's eyes slid open and then he blinked a few times before realization spread across his face. Dean's looked over the room, unknowingly copying his little brother's movements, before his eyes finally settled on Sam.

"Hey."

"Hi," Sam said with a small smile. Sam watched as Dean looked him up and down checking for injuries just as Sam had done to Dean not two minutes previous.

"Just a minor concussion, I think" Sam supplied.

"Same here."

"We were lucky."

"Yeah." It was strange, you'd think that after years of hunting the Winchesters would be used to near death experiences, but every time it still blew away Sam. It was strange to think that he could very well have been dead at that moment. Life could have stopped for him. There would be no more Sam Winchester. He would have never have found out how the crazy story called his life turned out. Just the very thought floored him every time.

"What about the car?" Sam asked, hoping he'd been right in his assumption that it wasn't too bad. They were so dead if it had been badly damaged. John would be pissed, no beyond pissed at Sam.

"Probably not much more than a dented hood and maybe a cracked windshield. It's not like we were going that fast," Dean said with a shrug.

"Dad's still gonna be pissed though," Sam said nervously. What horrible punishment would he come up with? He was already mad at Sam before, Sam hated to think how he'd be now.

"We're going to be in for some serious ass-kicking. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but lo and behold, asses will be kicked in four score," Dean said, trying to sound wise.

"Four score is eighty years, Dean."

"Oh…I knew that."

TBC…

Last Chapter Review Replies:

LeighAnnWallace: Well thank you! I'm glad you feel that way.

supernaturalrenegade: Lucifer, I know right? Just like John to shove poor Sam aside. The worse is yet to come, well actually this chapter was kind of the worst, then I might actually let things get a bit better for Sammy! I try not to work too hard, I mean then I wouldn't have energy to write! ;)

jennytork: I think the clue bus just ran into Dean ;) There, now he can finally start to know what's wrong! Woo! Glad you enjoyed the flashback, they typically cause me trouble!

Cartoon Cow: That's all good, sometimes you just laugh. It just happens sometimes :)

Gord and V: It's sad that that is what we expect from John…I felt John wouldn't chase after Sam just to yell at him more at the moment. I do that all the time when I'm upset, like a rollercoaster of emotions!

Hummingfox: Well there, this chapter gave you the answers. I don't think it'll take you long to figure things out from here. It wasn't Bobby or Caleb, though those were both interesting guesses. That's Dean for you, even if he doesn't know exactly what's wrong, he's not gonna let little Sammy suffer!

TinTin11: So did this chapter live up to it's pre-assigned title of fabulous? Dean will finally get a bit more clued in soon, thankfully.

LisaRosa: Thanks! Flames will be used for smores in the future! Sorry to hear about the bullying, it's an all too real situation for a lot of people sadly. But you (people in general, not just you) keep going, you know? Keep fighting and it'll get better. :)

judyann: I couldn't agree more. Don't read something you don't like just so you can attack the writer personally. Anyway, thanks a bunch! But you know our Dean, he'll get some hope in Sam if it's the last thing he does!

D767468: Exactly, I totally agree. Well thank you for reading! A story wouldn't be a story without someone to read it!

Elric2007: Aww, thank you! For me, updating this fast is really quick, just ask someone whose read my older stories and they'll tell you I'm awful about updating! Sometimes it's a whole week between updates!

Alex Kerr: Was that soon enough for you? I typically do everyother day (for this story, other one's are a whole different story!) I do enjoy insightful reviews, so I look forward to it! This will be 21 chapters, but you're gonna have to wait a bit for it to get there ;)

Sparkiebunny, Sarah, jwinchesterkent, phyllis16: Thanks, you guys totally rock!