Author's Note: Thank you to everyone reading and to all of you who took them time to review my last two chapters. Thank you.
Warning: Child Abuse

Ignorance Is Bliss, Chapter 3

She was persuasive.

When Dean had woke up to find the bedroom door unlocked and open, then to see that Sam's bed was empty, he began to panic. He jumped up from the bed so fast, he was literally dizzy for a moment, but he brushed it off and exited the bedroom. It was surprising to see Sam sitting at the table, his head down and his hands out in front of him, resting on the table. His feet kicked slowly at the too far ground as he waited. Kris was on the other side of the small kitchen, her back turned to them. Dean pushed Sam's shoulder getting his attention.

"What're you doing?" Dean asked, confusion in his voice. He had no idea how she had gotten in without him noticing, and he sure as hell didn't know why Sam was at the table. Everything was beginning to mirror what had happened last night that made everything seem crazy. Dean could feel his heart racing a little. Something was wrong with Sam, and he could see it. The way he kept his head down. They way he tapped his small fingers on the table. The way he didn't look Dean in the eye.

He answered simply, "Kris said it's time to have breakfast."

Dean swallowed hard as he looked up at Kris again, her shoulders moving as she poured the bowl of cereal for Sam. What he didn't see was before he came into the kitchen she had removed a small pill bottle from her apron. She took out three, and crushed them with the spoon and left them there at the bottom of the bowl. She had poured the cereal over the crush white powder then poured the milk and watched as the substance mixed in with everything. She smiled to herself. As he took hold of the side of the bowl and sat it down in front of Sam. She touched the side of his face.

"There you go, baby," she says. Then she turns to Dean, the look in his eyes all but welcoming.

She sighed. "Look, Dean, I already apologized to Sam. I didn't mean it, I really didn't. I just... lost it for a second. I'm sorry. Really sorry."

Dean was quiet, so she kept going.

"I just... miss your father. I've never had to take care of two kids by myself before. It was a little overwhelming. I just wanted Sam to eat, then she said no, and I didn't know what to do."

"You hurt him," Dean's voice was cold.

Kris nodded. "I know. And I'm sorry. I just want you guys to like me. I just want to make you happy. I'm sorry, Dean. I really am."

She looked at him sincerely, and she could see he was going to give in. Both of these kids just wanted a mother, she could see that. And that was the way she was going to get it. The way she was going to invade to take control. That, was the easiest way to conquer . Dean had nodded. It was a small nod, almost unwilling, but he did it. Kris smiled at him, then turned to Sam.

"G'on and eat it, Sammy. Quickly, before your cereal gets all soggy."

Sam looked at Dean, almost for approval, like he wouldn't do it unless he said it was okay. Dean gave him a small shrug, not seeing anything wrong. So Sam took the spoon, dunked it into the bowl of cereal . She watched, almost enjoyably, as Sam took a spoonful of the cereal.. then another... and another. She giggled as she walked away toward the living room area.

As she walked, she could hear the rattle of her pills in her apron. It made her smile again.

As she looked over her shoulder at the brothers in the kitchen, she thumbed over the bottle. And as he watched Sam keep eating, she felt accomplished.

-Ignorance-Is-Bliss-

Hours later, Sam lay on the couch, his arms clutching his stomach. He called for his brother.

"Deeeannn," he whined, rolling over.

Almost instantly, Dean came out of the bedroom he and Sam shared and into the living room. He walked briskly, wanting to see why Sam was calling him. The first thing Dean noticed was the one of Sam's voice. He hurt it was filled with.

"What?" Dean asked, taking a seat next to his brother. He saw the way Sam was lying, like it hurt to even breathe. He looked pale- sick.

Sam tried to sit up, he could only lean against the arm of the chair.

"My tummy hurts," he cried.

Dean scratched the side of his face.

"You want some water?"

Sam nodded. "It just hurts."

Dean stood, walking toward the refrigerator. As soon as he opened it, Kris came out of her room.

"Hey Dean," she greeted. She noticed the concerned look on his face and she almost smiled again. But instead, she said, "What's wrong?"

Reaching in the refrigerator, Dean took out a bottle of water.

"Sam's stomach hurts. I'm getting him water."

Kris pouted a little. She put her arm around Dean and said, "C'mon. I'll help you."

-Ignorance-Is-Bliss-

It only got worse by the hour. Sam pressed his head into the couch, staring up at the cartoons on the screen. Kris sat beside him. She looked down as asked, "Do you want some soup, Sam? It might make you feel better."

Sam nodded slowly.

"Okay," he answered. His voice was hard to hear.

Kris stood, smiling at him and Dean softly.

"I'll be right back," she says.

In the kitchen, Kris grabs a can of chicken noodle soup and a pot. She puts it on the stove, dumping the contents of it into the pot, watching it heat up. She peeked over her shoulder. Dean's back was to her and Sam's attention was on the cartoon. She saw that as her chance.

Behind the cookie jar is where she kept the pill bottle. Slowly, she took hold of it. She kept her hand as steady as she could, as not to make the pills rattle and cause attention. She held her hand out, gliding out two of the pills into her palm and then dropped them into the soup liquid. They sunk to the bottle, already beginning to dissolve. With the wooden spoon she was using to stir the chunks of chicken and vegetables, she crushed the pills. The whiteness of them broke apart and mixed with the contents in the pot.

When it was hot enough, Kris got a bowl from the drainer and poured the soup into the bowl. She took hold of a spoon and carried it back into the living room.

She set the bowl down on the coffee table and helped Sam sit up.

"Here ya go, sweetie. Eat as much of that as you can, okay?"

Sam nodded at her, grabbing the spoon and beginning to eat.

"How 'bout you, Dean?" Kris asks.

Dean shrugs.

"I don't want soup."

She smiles. "That's fine. How about pizza? I know a really good place down the street we can order from."

Dean smirked at her.

"That sounds good."

-Ignorance-Is-Bliss-

He knew it was helpless, but Dean tried again. Dean sat in his and Sam's room. Sam was still in the living room with Kris, so Dean took advantage of his time alone. Dean picked up his phane again and dialed his father's number.

It rang once...

Twice...

Three times...

"Hey, this is John. Leave your name and number and I'll get back to you -"

He knew it.

Dean knew it, but it didn't stop him. He waited for the beep so he could begin his message.

Beep.

"Dad... you need to come back. I don't think I like Kris. And Sam's sick. Please just come back."

Dean thought about what he was doing, realizing that there was a slim chance that his father would even hear this. The man never picks up a phone. Dean continued anyway.

"Please , Dad."

So what'd you think? Kris is taking new risks, Sam's sick, and Dean still can't get in touch with John. Things can only get worse.

Please, please review.