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Winchesters and other SPN characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW. This story is being written for Entertainment only, not money

Abandoned

Chapter 7

Safe Harbors

Dean woke up when the truck stopped. He didn't want to move. Everything hurt and his legs were stuck together uncomfortably. He waited just to see what was going to happen next.

The truck doors slammed and after a while Ron appeared and lowered the truck tailgate. He slid Dean towards him by pulling on Dean's blanket and when Dean was close enough Ron simply picked him up and carried him like a bride.

Corey was standing by an open door and Dean summoned enough interest to raise his head and realize that they were parked at a motel. Once inside Ron put Dean on a bed and started to unwrap him like tamale. The man peeled back Dean's blanket, then started working on his clothes. Dean fought weakly at Ron's hands and Ron tried to sooth him.

"No Dean. It's alright. I'm just going to get you into a warm bath. It'll be OK. Take it easy." Ron's soft, low voice helped take some of Dean's fear away. He was pretty sure that Ron wouldn't hurt him.

"Carey, is his bath ready yet?" Ron called out and Carey appeared right at the edge of Dean's line of sight.

"Yes, the water's running but the tub's already about half full. Is he awake?" Carey stood beside Ron looking at the near naked teenager on the bed. Dean felt embarrassed but didn't want to wake up all the way; it seemed like too much trouble.

He woke again when his body was placed into warm, soapy water and Ron made an effort to clean his face. Dean put up his hands then and tried to push the man's hands away. Carey held Dean's hands away and murmured more soothing words. Finally Dean just relaxed and let the scrapes on his face be cleaned.

Later he was wrapped in a warm towel and placed back on the bed. At that point he decided to stop acting like a fluffy puppy and started to sit up and take an interest.

Ron stood at one side of the bed and Carey was at the other. "Good, you're awake." Ron said. "I want to check you over for wounds. We'll see if you need a hospital trip. Get on your belly."

"What? Hell no," Dean snapped. "I've been treated like a piece of meat already today."

Cory pitched in, "Dean, would you be more comfortable at a hospital? We'll take you if you want to go but if you just let Ron take a look, maybe we can skip that part." Corey ran a hand over Dean's head and massaged Dean's neck. "Come on, it won't be bad. I'm right here."

Ron split Dean's legs and Dean felt more than just exposed. He was being inspected. He hid his face in his pillow and waited to be poked and prodded.

"Hey Dean," Ron finally said. "I don't see any major wounds and you don't seem to be bleeding. Put your hand out."

Dean flipped an arm back on the bed and felt a smoother glass object placed in his hand.

"I don't want to touch you, man. Please. This is an antibiotic cream. Please coat your opening with it and, if you can, try to get some up in you. Maybe we can avoid a trip to a medical facility if you help." Ron slapped Dean's calf. "Corey and I are going out to pick up some food. You can have some privacy that way."

Dean listened to his friends leave. Carey was chattering away and every now and then Ron's deep voice broke up the flow. Dean slid up the bed and propped his back on the headboard. He had thought of Ron and Carey as friends and he was pleased by the idea.

Ever since John had dumped him in the snow Dean had felt abandoned by the world and by everyone he had ever known. Now he felt safe with these two men, with these two friends. If he counted Bobby, and he felt he could safely count Bobby as a friend, there were now four people in the world he could trust, if he added Emma in the total.

He applied Ron's salve and then gingerly checked out how his body felt. Other than a sore ass and shoulder strains from having his arms tied behind him, he thought he felt good. Good enough to get up and get dressed, at least. He didn't want Ron to keep carrying him around like a broken doll, weak and pitiful. He never wanted to be looked at like that.

When Ron and Carey came back with white paper bags full of hot fast food, Dean was up, dressed and drinking motel instant coffee.

"So, Dean," Ron said. "I think we should just rest for the evening and get some regular sleep. We could push on to Bobby's now but we already have the room and there's no pressure to get over to Bobby's. What do you say? Do you agree?"

"Ron, you have taken care of us so far. I don't see any problem with anything you decide. I only wonder about the effect this is having on your own priorities. Don't you have anything you need to get back to?"

Ron sat down at the table and leaned forward, his scarred hands hanging between his knees. Dean noticed that Carey moved behind the man and put his hands on Ron's shoulders in a gesture that seemed to offer comfort.

"Dean, you must have wondered about my hands." Ron started out sadly. "I burned my hands trying to rescue my partner, Nathan, from the trunk of a burning car. We had been partners for almost ten years and yes, he was an Omega. He was my Omega and my friend. Some drunken assholes dragged him out of the truck when I was at a gas station paying for the pump and kidnapped him. I chased after them and they crashed. The car exploded and I could hear Nathan screaming but I couldn't get into that trunk. I tried, I tried everything but he died in that dark, enclosed coffin, screaming."

"I wished I had died then but the doctors patched me up. Made me live when I didn't want to. Covered my burns and fixed my skin but I was hurt where they couldn't help. Every day I wake up and miss him. Every day I wake up and wonder why I bother. Now I have you and Carey to protect and I don't seem to be doing any better at the job. I let you get raped. I'm a great protector." Ron stood up. Carey's hands dropped off Ron's shoulders and Ron went to the window to look at the stars. "Nathan was pregnant. It was going to be our first."

Carey went to Ron and wrapped his arms around Ron's waist and leaned against the older man. Ron's combed his fingers through Carey's hair. "So, to answer your question, no, I don't have anything better to do than see to it that you both are safe. It's all I want to do."

Dean watched Ron and Carey. There was something there and Dean didn't know if he hoped he was right or not. If Ron was developing feelings for Carey Dean didn't knew what to think. Carey was susceptible. He had been hiding for over a year and now this genuinely nice man with a sad story was taking an interest in the young Omega. Dean decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Unless someone asked his opinion he was going to keep his mouth shut.

They spent the rest of the day eating dinner and watching T.V. Ron called Bobby just to say that they were on their way but were taking their time and they would be in by lunch time tomorrow. Carey spent the evening asleep on the motel couch wrapped up in Ron's arms.

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Lunch time the next day they pulled up in front of Bobby's house. The good man stood on the front porch, trucker hat in hand and waited for his visitors to get out of the vehicle,

"Well, come on in." he said. "We don't have a lot of time before I have to go get Sam from school so you better hurry up. As Dean reached Bobby's side the man pulled the teenager into his arms.

"Boy, I thought you were dead. Damn that John. He doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself."

Bobby kept his arm around Dean and they all made their way inside to Bobby's kitchen.

"This is going to be a bit tricky." Bobby went on. "I got rooms for Ron and Carey but, Dean, unless you trust Sam not to spill the beans to your father, we're going to have to think of something to do with you."

Ron sat and pulled Carey into his side. "Bobby, you don't have to worry about me and Carey. Carey has decided to stay with me. "

Bobby cast a doubting eye over Ron. "Now, Ron, you sure about this? Carey's awfully young to be making decisions like that and, not to be rude, but are you sure you're not just still grieving over Nathan?"

"I appreciate your concern, Bobby, but Carey's not jumping into Nathan's spot. Carey's going to become my friend first. I'll watch over him and protect him and keep him safe. He needs to go back to school and graduate, one way or another and then he needs to catch up to life. He's been pretty isolated for a long time. We'll see what develops along the way."

Carey smiled at his new friend, Bobby. "Thank you Mr. Singer but I don't think I could find a better friend than Ron. I swear, he's never touched me when I didn't want him to. He's been kind and careful and made me take another look at life. He's made me see that maybe it's not all bad."

Dean sat silent, happy for his new friends but, once again, feeling left out.

They went on with Ron making plans to move here to Sioux Falls to be close to Bobby and Dean. He wanted Carey to have friends and he didn't want to feel so isolated either. Dean was pleased for Carey.

Carey broke into another big smile. "In a little while, after we're settled maybe my Mom will come to visit too. The only thing I'm really worried about is Dean."

Everyone turned to Dean, sitting silently, taking it all in. "Don't worry about me. I'll survive. I can always use help but I know that I can do it on my own too."

"No need, boy," Bobby said. "I'm not going to let you fight this on your own. Trust me."

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Bobby had an isolated cabin on the hillside behind the house and Dean moved in. He liked the cabin as it had an unobstructed view and he could see trouble, or his brother, coming from far away. In the mornings he helped Bobby in the yard while Sam was in school to pay the man back for his generosity. Bobby would take Dean with him sometimes on runs to parts suppliers and out on the occasional hunt as long as Sam was otherwise occupied. Dean watched his little brother grow up from a somewhat pudgy twelve year old into a tall and gawky teenager.

Dean kept watch over Bobby and always over Sam. He did become silent and withdrawn but Bobby understood the reasons for it and didn't create problems for the young man hiding out on the property. Once or twice during the following years John Winchester pulled up. Dean had been in the garage one time and got an earful of Bobby cursing his father out. Bobby had taken action and gained legal guardianship of Sam due to his father's abandonment. John hadn't even bothered to show up for any of the court dates.

Now the man had lost both sons but not even that woke John Winchester up from his dream of never ending vengeance. As far as Bobby knew, John never mentioned Dean to anyone after spreading the story of Dean's "death'. It was like Dean had never existed. The only person who grieved was Sam.

Ron and Carey became a devoted couple and in their third year Carey presented Ron with the long missing son that Ron had always wanted. Emma Starling did make the trip up from Illinois to see her grandson and that family seemed to heal. Ron never let Carey out of his sight. There was never a moment that Carey was not jealously guarded. Ron had learned a hard lesson of the Omega world and he was not going to lose another love.

They came to see Dean at least once a month and they often brought him over to stay with them. They grew concerned with how quiet the once loud and brash Hunter had become but Dean brightened right up around their little boy, David. Dean loved children and they were one of the things he really missed in his solitary life.

Dean was truly lonely but he had Bobby to talk to and Sam to watch over. Sam sometimes acted as if he knew he was being watched but the few times Sam had gone looking for his phantom observer Dean had melted away and Sam couldn't find any sign of him. Bobby half way convinced Sam that it was coyotes or owls or other cautious creatures watching him.

In the five years that Dean spent in Bobby's cabin some small progress was made in the treatment of Omegas. They still could not vote because they were "too stupid" but they were now able to marry their Alphas. This law got passed after some rather horrendous and public atrocities when "mother" omegas were ripped from their children and sold as chattel at estate sales.

Of course, it was the power of the Alphas who wanted their Omegas to stay with their children in the event of the Alpha's death that got that law passed. A married Omega now was tattooed with a "window's mark", an armband tattoo around their left bicep when they married to signify their status. The "window's mark" protected them and gave them status as possible property owners.

That didn't make it any safer for a lone Omega on the street. They still needed some Alpha to be their protector. Of course "widows" were highly prized as mates. They were generally guaranteed as fertile as proved by their children and there was a good chance that they either owned real estate or had money outright. Forging of a "widow's mark" was a felony, punished by prison time. Few Omegas ever survived prison sentences or, if they did survive, they were generally insane from having been brutalized.

One day when Sam was just turning eighteen and Dean was twenty two Bobby told Dean in the shop one morning that Sam was going off to college in the fall. Dean put down his tools and stared at the shop wall, paralyzed at the thought that he was going to lose a part of his very small world.

"I think it might be time, Dean," Bobby said, "to let your brother know that you aren't dead. He's been grieving for you all this time and it's only fair to let him know. He's all grown up and I'm pretty sure he can handle the shock. John hasn't been heard of by anybody for the past year and a half. I know because I've been checking."

"You think Dad's dead?" Dean whispered.

"No one's seen him since the last time he was banging around the Hunter's bars looking for leads on that demon of his." Bobby said. "I think I'd have heard about it if he made it back from that kind of a hunt."

"Sam doesn't even ask about his father anymore." Bobby went on. "As far as the kid seems to be concerned he's grateful not to see the man ever again. I think it's a good time to tell him. It's Friday night and next week's graduation. That would give you both time to catch up and maybe I can take you next week to see him get his diploma. I know Sam would love that."

"You mean, tell him tonight?" Dean promptly got nervous and rubbed his hands with a shop rag, over and over.

"Don't see any reason to wait now that we've agreed." Bobby responded. "Get it over with. I'll tell you what. When I go to pick him up later you go and stay in his room. I'll break the news and then, when he's gotten over the shock, I'll send him up to see you. How's that sound?"

Dean dropped his head. "You're probably right. No reason to wait except me being a coward. I'll go take a shower and get cleaned up. When you leave I know where you hide the key. I'll wait for him in his room."

"You're no coward, Dean." Bobby shook his head. "It's a big move for you but I think not only does Sam need to know his brother's alive, you need to have Sam back in your life. No more hiding and watching from the edges of Sam's world. Jump in with both feet."

Dean trailed off up the hill and when he saw Bobby pull out of the yard a couple of hours later he went back down and let himself into the house. He went into Sam's room, which he had very rarely done. Sam was a true Alpha and Dean's Omega scent would have alerted him immediately. Dean only went into Sam's room when he knew Sam would be gone and he made a point of never touching anything.

Now he needed to get over that self-restraint. Sam would have to get used to the idea of his brother as an Omega and that would include learning the smell. Dean threw himself down on Sam's bed to wait.

Dean actually drifted off into a light sleep which was interrupted by the sounds of loud voices in the house. He could hear Bobby responding to Sam's raised voice. There was the noise of something being thrown and the low rumple of Bobby's voice. The only words Dean could pick out were "no right" and "calm down, boy".

Dean smiled. It sounded like little brother was giving Bobby what-for. There was a long period of low pitched voices that Dean could not make out and then feet pounded up the stairs. The bedroom door was thrown open so hard it slammed against the wall and Dean was confronted by a huge, somewhat angry little brother who was by no means "little" anymore.

This was the closest Dean had been to Sam in years and he was somewhat stunned by Sam's sheer size.

Sam moved quickly across the room and pulled Dean up from the bed into his arms.

"Dean, dammit, Dean." Sam clutched his brother to his chest and shook him. "How could you hide from me? All these years I thought you were dead. How could you do that to me?" Sam shook him again.

In just that moment both brothers breathed in deeply. Dean was swamped by the scent of Alpha and Sam froze for a moment. The shaking stopped and Sam looked at the man in his arms. There was no way to stop it. Biology overruled both brothers 'senses and Sam leaned in and kissed Dean full on the mouth and moaned.

Behind them Bobby stood in the open door. He made a decision and backed out and closed the door behind him. Whatever was going to happen didn't need him.

"Never again," Sam said. "You are never leaving me again. Do you understand?"

Dean could only respond, "Yes, Alpha."