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It killed Sam to see Dean eating so timidly. He took small bites and it between each one he would look around the room as if someone would punish him for eating. But as long as Dean was eating, Sam was happy. Dean looked nearly starved and Sam wondered if their father had given Dean anything to eat at all, or if Dean had to rummage for scraps of food.

When Dean was finally finished Sam handed him some vitamins to take to get his body healthy again. He also gave him some kind of protein shake that Jess had bought while they were sleeping. She had gone out and bought anything and everything she thought Dean would need, his body needed so many nutrients that he hadn't been getting.

Sam told Dean he could go take a shower but it would be wiser if he took a bath because of his injuries. The pounding spray from the shower would probably hurt Dean's chest and Sam didn't know if Dean would even be able to keep his footing in the shower. Dean ended up taking a bath and fifteen minutes after Sam heard the water drain, Dean still wasn't out. He was beginning to worry so he knocked on the door.

"Dean? You alright?" Sam asked, concern lacing his voice

All Sam got was a muffled response that he couldn't make out so he turned the door handle and luckily they didn't have a lock on their bathroom door just yet. Sam walked in to find Dean sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, looking distressed. He had a pair of oversized jeans on that Sam had given him but no shirt over his wrapped up chest. Sam saw Dean holding the shirt in his hands, looking down at it.

"Dean, what's wrong?" Sam asked him, now that he realized that Dean was injured or anything; the concern in his voice was slowly replaced by confusion.

"Nothing..." Dean mumbled but Sam knew it was something

"Dean, it's not nothing. Tell me what's wrong."

"It's not important." Dean sighed

"Dean, if something is bothering you, then it definitely is important. Now tell me." Sam demanded but still used a gentle voice. He knew raising his voice to Dean would be a bad idea.

"Can't...can't get my shirt on..." He whispered so quietly that Sam almost missed it

"That's it Dean? Why didn't you ask me for help?" Sam asked and helped Dean get his broken arm through the shirt sleeve. He slowly lifted Dean's arms, knowing that if he lifted them too high or too quickly it would send pain shooting through his chest.

"I'm a failure, can't even get a shirt on..." Dean mumbled and hid his face in his hands. Sam pulled Deans head upright again so that he could look him in the eyes.

"Dean, how in the world does that make you a failure?! You're injured Dean! That's the only reason why you couldn't get it on. You are not a failure."

Dean just pulled his head out of Sam's grasp and looked down again. Sam sighed. He didn't know how to make Dean better but he wasn't giving up. He would never give up. It would be hard, but he owed Dean so much. He wouldn't let his brother down again.

"Come on Dean. Let's do something." Sam told him and helped Dean up

"Do what?" He asked

"I don't know. Anything. What do you want to do? Play cards, watch TV?" Sam asked

Dean shrugged. "Don't you have to be at class?" He asked

"No. I took the week off for a family emergency. Anyway, me and Jess are getting our classes switched, so one of us will always be home with you at all times." Sam explained

"I'm ruining everything. You guys don't have to do this because of me." Dean seemed to relax at the fact that someone would always be there with him but he was still more distressed thinking he was ruining their lives.

"Ugh, Dean! You're not ruining anything! I already know everything in my classes. It's actually better that I don't have to hear the professors drone on and on. Now I can learn much quicker by just reading from my book and doing my work. And me and Jess both want you here Dean. This is something we want to do."

Dean was quiet for a moment and then he spoke up. "There is something I wanted to do."

Sam was filled with joy that his brother was suggesting something. Maybe even wanting to get better a little. "Sure Dean, what is it?" He asked happily

"I don't want to be stupid anymore. I want to be smart, if that is even possible for me. I just don't want to be stupid anymore."

"You're not stupid Dean. And do you want me to help you study for your GED?" Sam asked him

"You don't have to help me. I can just try by myself." Dean responded

"Of course I want to help you Dean. I'm more than eager to help you." Sam smiled. They walked over to Sam's desk and Sam pulled up a chair for Dean. "There's some practice sites online where you can practice." He told Dean and smiled. Maybe he would be able to fix Dean...

John Winchester was furious when he walked into the abandoned building where according to people on the streets, they had seen a beaten and bloody man stumble into the building. But he became beyond furious when he saw that Dean was nowhere to be found. He did find a small pool of blood in the corner of the room, which must have been where Dean was hiding.

But from the peoples description of Dean's appearance, John had no idea how Dean would've been able to run away any further. Someone must have found him. Could it be...Sam?

No, Sam wouldn't bother with Dean. His older brother was a loser, worthless. Even though John could tell Sam had loved Dean, he was still embarrassed by him and left without him for college. Sam had enough brains to leave Dean. Anyway, how in the world would Sam have known that Dean was here? He had crushed Dean's cell phone that Sam had given him.

He decided he'd call Sam anyway. See if he had heard from Dean. He still wanted Sam back with him to help him find the demon that had killed Mary, but he didn't know exactly where Sam lived. And he couldn't go busting into random people's houses looking for him. Plus, he was so close to finding the demon. If Sam didn't know where Dean was, then John would concentrate on the demon for now and wait to track down Dean and kill that little brat later. How dare that worthless piece of scum knock him out and run away!

He would find him eventually. He was positive on that. He picked up his cell phone and dialed Sam's number.

"I can't do it Sammy!" Dean cried and slammed his fists on the desk. "It's too hard!"

"Dean, learning new things takes time. No one fully understands something the first time they see it. It will take some time but I know you can get it." Sam told him

Jess walked out of the kitchen upon hearing Dean's distress. "Dean, it's alright. It might not make sense at first, but we will help you. You can do this. We can buy some practice books too. I'll sit down with you and help you any time you want." She calmly told him.

'I...I never got to practice anything much with schoolwork..." Dean was directing this to both Sam and Jess but looking directly at Sam "Dad...he...wouldn't let me do my homework..said I was too stupid anyway, only wanted me to hunt. And...I couldn't keep going to school with all the bruises on me...teachers would ask questions and I was afraid they wouldn't understand, I was afraid they'd take you away from me." Dean told Sam

This was the first little bit of insight Sam received from Dean. He didn't explain much of what John did to him, but he was letting them know, he was opening himself up, ever so slowly. "It's okay Dean. It's not your fault. It's his, everything is his fault." Sam told him. He was going to continue but was stopped by the ringing of his cell phone. He saw who was calling and froze.

"Sam...?" Jess asked

"It's my father." He spat

Dean let out a mangled scream and ran into the bed, cowering. "I don't want to go back with him!" He yelled.

Jess saw what was happening and quickly ran to Dean. She wrapped his arms around him and Dean let her. "Shhh, Dean. It's alright. You're not going back to him. Don't worry sweetie." She looked up at Sam. "You have to answer it, let him think that Dean's not here."

Dean then looked up slowly at Sam. His eyes filled with tears and fear.

"Don't worry Dean. I'll make sure he believes that you're not here. You just gotta be very quiet alright?"

Dean nodded and hid his face in Jess's shirt. She rubbed comforting hands over his back, still looking up at Sam.

"Dad?" Sam asked, trying to sound casual.

"Hey, Sam. Do you have any idea where your brother might be?"

"No...Dad...Is he alright? What's going on?" He was proud of his attempt to sound confused

"Oh, nothing. I just sent him on a hunt around in your area and he's not answering his phone. He's just taking a little longer than usual. Wanted to ask if you saw him by any chance. I'm a little worried."

Like hell you are! "No dad, I haven't seen him. But I'll promise to keep an eye out for him. I'm sure he just got caught up in the hunt or something. But let me know if you find him. I'm sure he's fine."

"Yea, me too. You let me know if you run into him."

Yea, right. "I will. Bye." He hung up the phone. Anger flashed in his eyes. He had wanted so bad to scream at his father. To tell him that he wasn't going to get away with this, but he couldn't. He needed to sound like he didn't know what was going on. He needed to keep Dean safe.

"Don't worry Dean. He has no idea." And Sam hoped he never would