Here's the next chapter! Thanks for reviewing! Lots of stuff is going to happen in these next three chapters so get ready! Oh and I'm going to start my new story soon! Don't forget to vote in the poll! Whatever gets the most votes wins!

Dean, Sam and Jess all had a wonderful Christmas. In addition to the tapes Sam already got Dean, he also gave Dean a leather jacket and an amulet he found in a store a while ago. "I found this shopping one day a little while after I moved into Stanford." Sam had told Dean "The store clerk saw me looking at it and explained to me that the amulet stands for safety and love. I bought it then, wanting to give it to you to show you that I love you and that I want you to stay safe. But I never saw you after I moved in. I know it seems cheesy but I want you to have it."

But Dean hadn't found it cheesy at all. He told Sam that he loved the gift. He treasured it dearly and never took it off.

Jess had given Dean a bunch of things to put in his new car and also gave him his very own laptop. Dean seemed upset though, looking at all his gifts. Even Jess's parents gave him money and Dean didn't have anything before to spend on gifts.

"Dean, it's fine. We didn't want you to give us anything." Sam had reassured him

"But…I did give you something, you and Jess…it's just nothing special. I didn't pay for it or anything."

"Dean, just because you didn't buy something doesn't mean it's not special. Some of the greatest gifts aren't bought." Jess had told him and Sam agreed

"It's just…you both mean so much to me, and I suck trying to tell you so I wrote it down. You both saved me from my father and from killing myself. I owe you so much more." And then Dean had handed them both a neatly folded sheet of paper. They opened it and were both brought to tears by what they read. Dean had completely opened up to them in this letter. Not only did he tell them how much he loved them and cared for him, but he also told them some of the stuff his father did to him, not much, but it was something. He wrote how happy he was to finally have a family that cared and wanted him around, and how excited he was for his future.

Both Jess and Sam embraced Dean after reading the letter, crying tears of joy. They told him it was the best present either of them had ever received, and that was the truth.

It was now a week and a half later and Dean was coming out of a building after taking his first attempt at passing the GED. Sam had ridden with him here as an offer of support and Dean would never admit how much it truly helped him. Sam was waiting patiently for Dean to be finished and spent the hours grocery shopping nearby and stopping at the local library to get his homework done. He was now waiting in the car and smiled when he saw Dean limping over to the car. He watched his older brother come around the car and slip into the driver's side. He let out a huge breath.

"So, how do you think it went?" Sam asked him

"Well, I can't be sure but I think I did pretty good. It wasn't too hard." Dean informed him and Sam noticed that his hands were slightly shaking from nervousness

"I bet you did great Dean. You were acing the practice exams this past week." Sam praised him and put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him

"I hope you're right." was Dean's reply. He leaned back in his seat and lifted up his glasses to rub his eyes with his unsteady hands. It was obvious that he was stressed out.

"Dean. Just relax. It's no big deal if you didn't pass even though I'm confident that you did. If you didn't then you can take it over again as many times as you want until you pass. Did they say when the results would come in?" Sam asked him

"Umm…they said about a week." Dean said and then added as a thought 'Great, right before my birthday.' Not that his birthday was a big deal anyway. He never thought anything of it and he's sure Sam won't remember it; he has better things to worry about. But still, it would be nice to have Sam and Jess celebrate his birthday with him, go somewhere to eat or something. But he realized that Jess didn't even know when his birthday was, he never told her and he's sure Sam wouldn't have told her. Oh well, he can dream can't he?

"Dean. If you're not going to relax then I'm going to be forced to drive. I'm not letting you drive with your hands shaking so bad." Sam warned and watched Dean sit up straight in his seat immediately and glare at Sam with playful anger written on his face.

"Uh-uh. Don't you even dare say that again! I'm not having you drive my baby again! Do you know how dirty you got her on Christmas?! I had to spend hours caking off the mud from your reckless driving!" Dean told him and Sam's plan worked. He got Dean's mind off the subject of the GED and onto his car. It was crazy how attached Dean was to this thing already. Sam thought it was bad when he yelled at him for the little bit of mud but when Dean started calling the Impala 'his baby' Sam knew he was over the line.

Sam just laughed at Dean's annoyance as Dean started up the car and they drove away and Sam didn't fail to notice the twinkle in Dean's eyes whenever the engine started.

One Week Later

Dean was practically bouncing off the walls with frustration these last couple of days, eager to get his test results. And it was also because next week would be John's court hearing and they would find out what sort of sentence he would get. There was barley a moment where he wasn't fidgeting or pacing around the apartment. Sam didn't know what to do to get Dean to settle down, but luckily Jess had a plan.

The three of them have been hanging out with Sandy a lot and Jess could tell that Dean had feelings for her. It was the cutest thing watching Dean blush when she hugged him and laugh when she said a joke. And Sandy liked Dean, she said he was such a sweetie and Jess wanted to hook them up so bad. Maybe today would be the day, she knew Dean was too shy to ask Sandy out but maybe Sandy would ask him, knowing how shy he is. She told Sam her plan to invite Sandy with them to go see a movie and then pretend that she wasn't feeling well and needed some fresh air and Sam would go with her. That would then leave Sandy and Dean would have time alone. Maybe they would just talk but Jess really hoped Sandy would take this time to maybe ask Dean on a date. That was her plan.

"Hey Dean!" She casually said sitting down on the couch next to a jittery Dean.

"Hmm?" Dean mumbled and turned to face Jess with huge eyes, his hands gripping the coffee mug he was holding like it was his lifeline.

Jess smiled and pulled the coffee mug from Dean's hands and had had to hold Dean back from lunging for his coffee. "You mister, have had way too much coffee. How many cups have you had anyway?" Jess asked him, eyeing him sternly.

"Umm uhh four, five? When I get anxious I don't sleep much and when I don't sleep much I need coffee."

"Well you should try getting some sleep because I think we should go out tonight. What do you say? We could ask Sandy if she wants to come and we can go see a movie." She informed him while slipping an arm around his shoulders in an attempt to calm him a bit.

"Sandy's coming?" Dean asked and seemed to look a little more coherent.

"I'll call her and ask. I'm sure she'll want to come. You like her don't you Dean?" She said gently

"What?! No..no..I mean I do but…" Dean stuttered and it made Jess laugh.

"Dean, it's okay if you like her. I think it's really cute. You can admit it to me Dean, don't worry I totally approve big brother."

Dean smiled at the use of 'big brother'. "I…guess I do like her. But…she wouldn't like me."

"What are you talking about Dean? She thinks you're sweet. Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you." She truthfully told him

"Will you call her?" Dean asked hopefully

"Yep, I'll call her right now." Jess told him and dialed Sandy's cell number.

"Hey Jess! What's up?" Sandy asked in her bubbly voice

"Hey Sandy. I was just wondering if you wanted to come with Sam, Dean and I to go see a movie later on today."

"Sure! Hey do you mind if I bring a new friend of mine along?" She giggled

"Yea, it's not a problem." Jess told her. She wondered who this new friend of Sandy's was. Sandy never introduced her to anyone lately "Do you want to meet at our apartment or yours?"

"We could walk over to yours. What time and movie?"

"Umm how about the 8:00 showing of that new comedy?"

"Sounds good to me. We'll see you then. Can't wait for you guys to meet my new friend! See you then Jess!" Sandy laughed and hung up

"Hey Dean, Sandy said she could make it and she's going to bring a friend." Jess told Dean who was looking at her anxiously

"Cool." Dean said and couldn't fight the happy smile that was forming on his face. "Who's this friend? Is it someone I know?" He asked, he was still uncomfortable with new people.

"I don't even know who it is. She said it's a new friend she wanted to introduce us to. Now why don't you get some sleep before we go?" She told him and ruffled his light brown hair

"Alright." Dean said and grinned. It made Jess so happy to see Dean in such a good mood.

Dean was just finishing putting gel into his hair to spike it up and took a good look at himself. He was that he asked Sam to pick up some hair gel from the store; he liked how it looked on him. His clothes actually fit him because he was actually at a normal healthy weight. He was always so skinny and now he actually looked normal. He didn't look like such a loser anymore he decided. And these new glasses he got a while ago really fit his face well. But he still wore a long sleeved shirt to hide the scars he had from his father's beatings.

The doorbell rang and Dean slowly limped out of the bathroom and into the main room. There was no point in trying to hide his limp anymore, Sandy already saw it. Plus it wasn't like he had much control over how badly he limped. Jess went to open the door and Sam walked in from his bedroom and stood beside Dean.

"Hey Sandy!" Jess smiled and hugged her friend

"Hey Jess!" She said and then walked into the room and smiled and Sam and Dean. "Hey Sam Hey Dean!"

Sam and Dean both greeted her and she hugged the both of them. Then she turned back to the door where a young blonde man was standing.

"Josh, this is my best friend Jess, her fiancé Sam his brother Dean. You guys, this is my new boyfriend Josh."

Sam and Jess both took a deep breath; this was not good, and turned to see Dean's reaction.

But Dean had already left.