(A/N: This chapter includes bullying, and an account of a sexual assault. Please be advised. Teen sexual assault at high school is unfortunately not as uncommon as I would like.)
The track coach watches the skinny little new kid leave the rest of the runners behind as he pounds through the 3200 meter like he has mad dogs in his wake. When he had first approached the kid, Wednesday, to ask him if he wanted to try out for the team, he was thinking maybe the kid would be a sprinter. What changed his mind was the quirky little half smile when the kid learned in these events 3200 meters was distance running.
"That's like, not quite two miles, right, Coach Turner?" The kid, Dean, asked. Like a two mile run was a stroll in the park, but the kid added his dad had been a Marine and liked to keep his kids in shape running. Kid said he'd be willing to try the javelin, too, but turned down high jump and pole vaulting with a faint shudder. They both figure his height will make hurdling difficult, and his slight form puts him at a disadvantage for discus or shot put.
"Don't like heights, huh?" Coach Turners asks and gets a definite response with a grin. "Just rather keep my feet on the ground as much as possible, sir."
This is Friday, the week's almost over; it's day 11 of his transformation, and Dean is looking forward to Sam coming to pick him up because he's bringing Baby. George and Ricky, the two guys who are in first and seventh periods with him, are waiting to see his beloved car that he talks about every day. The week hasn't been as sucky as he remembers high school being, with the exception of Joe and his goons from advanced placement English and government classes, who also share the seventh hour athletics period. Fortunately, they are baseball, and Dean's been hanging out with the track and field team and the trainers, who are impressed by "the kid's" knowledge and ability at first aid.
Being called "kid" by most of them doesn't bother him. He recognizes it as an earned nickname. In body, he is just turned 14. Joe and his group are the only ones being jerks about it, but Dean's been ignoring their remarks about how he looks like a little girl, their comments on his physique, and their mention of the amount of hair he may or may not have in places they shouldn't be looking.
With most of the kids sneaking out as early as they can get away with Friday afternoon, Dean doesn't realize the gym has pretty well cleared out as he goes to shower. He's actually feeling pretty relaxed – partly due to the better living through chemistry anti-anxiety meds – and he's humming a little as he turns his face up under the spray. Later, he'll blame himself for letting his guard down.
"I swear it's like having a pretty girl naked in our locker room," Joe says, startling Dean who whirls to find four older teens watching him. "I mean, look at that mouth. Tell me that ain't a mouth made for sucking dick." Dean turns off the water and moves to put his back to the wall. "And that ass…that ass belongs on a pretty girl." Joe has the other kids laughing and cat-calling too. Dean reaches for his towel, but one of the other guys snatches it away from him.
Dean doesn't know why Joe has taken a dislike to him, that the older boy feels like he's being upstaged by the younger one in his classes where he makes advanced placement look easy, and with the high school girls who have cooed over this cute new kid, or with the teachers who used to treat him as their pet. It was just one thing too many to have this skinny androgynous boy wow the coaches too. No one should have it as easy as this weirdo with his tattoo and strange birthmark seems to have it.
"C'mon pretty boy, suck my cock. Pucker up those pretty pink lips. You know you want to." Joe and two of his friends move toward Dean who lashes out, bloodying the nose of one of them, before he gets tackled to the ground. Dean is in a frenzy fighting back. He kicks, punches, scratches, and is as punishing as he can be while outnumbered by four bigger teens. He tells them he'll bite off the dick of anyone who places it near him, baring his teeth and suffering several punishing blows to his head and face. He blackens one kid's eye, breaks another's nose, and kicks hard against another's knee, sending him howling to the ground. Dean can no longer tell who is doing what for sure, but he feels someone pulling at his buttocks, and there are fingers…
Dean keeps struggling, and biting at the hand someone has over his mouth trying to yell for help. The hand slips when Dean applies a punishing wrist lock. Dean yells as he kicks at that kid's head and scrambles into the corner of the shower, a trapped tiger, wild and dangerous.
His friends from auto shop, George and Ricky, had heard the ruckus and ran to get coaches to help break this up. While in his mind the assault was endless, it took less than five minutes. The coaches called the campus police officer and the assistant principal, who grabbed Mr. Roberts as they all descend on the locker room.
The four older boys all required medical attention. One has lost two teeth; two have black eyes and broken noses. Joe's face has also suffered – and he cannot move his head from a possible neck injury and his wrist is swollen. The authorities know the boy in the shower, the kid with a split lip and panicked look is the real victim, but they are amazed at the amount of carnage he doled out.
Into the middle of this chaos, Sam comes bursting in. Dean's friends remembered that the kid's brother was supposed to be there in the Impala to pick him up. They had run into the parking lot to find him, knowing they'd recognize the car from Dean's descriptions. They are almost afraid when they tell the giant because he looks ready to kill. No one knows when or how Mr. Moore, Dean's godfather, gets there, but he is suddenly and he glares around as though he is ready to kill someone.
Sam pushes everyone away from his brother, who is still completely panicked, lashing out at anyone who comes near him. "Dean, hey, Dean. It's Sammy." He murmurs soothingly. "C'mon buddy. Stand down. Let me help." Much of what Sam is saying is nonsense, just spoken softly, and he gets through to his brother.
"Sam? Sammy?... Need some help here." Dean mutters. "Let my guard down. They jumped me. Bad touch, Sammy." Sam is not the only one close enough to hear; the school police officer jots a note and looks grim. He has confirmed from the victim what the witnesses said. These four boys will be charged with felonies.
Cas hands Sam Dean's clothes, and the taller Winchester gently calms and dresses his brother who is still stunned; Sam can feel his heart racing, and he is sweating but pale, making Sam worry that he is going into shock. Paramedics on the scene, called by the school police officer, offer to take a look at him, but Sam waves them away, saying he'll take his brother to the hospital.
"Dean, C'mon man. I'll get you out of here. C'mon, Dean. Look at me." But Dean has closed down and appears dazed. Sam half sobs with anger and frustration as he lifts his brother's slight body, using a towel to staunch the blood flowing from his nose. Dean's counselor hands Cas Dean's backpack as the two hunters head toward the car. Sam wishes the locker room and gym weren't so crowded with people. He knows the staring is making things worse for his brother. He bundles Dean into the front seat, supported by Cas on the other side as Sam heads to the local hospital.