Faltered Chapter 11

"Won't you please reconsider Ellen?" Jim was pleading with the school teacher for his charge.

"No Pastor I can't, it's been a hard decision but I've made up my mind. "

Jim was devastated by the verdict. "If it's a discipline problem I can get him straightened out Ellen."

"It's not that, Jim, it's not Dean. It's just things before weren't perfect you know but after the fire the other children well they're scared of him. His presence has been a constant disruption in my classroom ever since. They gawk at him and pick at him, tease him and his Samuel."

"They're just children Ellen their interest will wane eventually." Dean had been working so hard recently. All he wanted was to please Sam.

"Jim it's been three and a half months and it's only gotten worse. He's a sweet boy but I really think the school is not the best place for him."

"Ellen he deserve an education just like any of the others."

"Yes well the other children have parents who are paying." Ellen caught herself. "I'm sorry Jim that was uncalled for. It, it's just that I'm so frustrated. That poor boy he does virtually nothing to defend himself, and Samuel who would be a model student keeps getting into fights on account of Dean. I just can't have that Jim." She shook her head.

"I gave both Sam and Dean tests in math and reading when you brought them to me to determine how far along they were in their schooling, they both passed, which is amazing considering they were raised by John Winchester. Jim there probably is not much more I could teach him anyway."

Jim was silent for a moment trying to think about how he should handle all this.

Ellen spoke again before he could. "When we were young I loved Mary like a sister, I was sad to see her marry John man, he seemed beneath her. There was something about him that never set right with me. But those boys are Mary's boys Jim and I want what's best for them. I don't want Dean hurt anymore." With that Ellen excused herself and left Jim to his thoughts.

Jim's thought's led him into town and to Bobby Singer's doorstep.

"He's a smart kid Bobby he'd make a good apprentice." Jim tried to sell the Gunsmith the idea of taking Dean on as a student.

"Why doesn't he stay in school then?" Bobby pushed his hat up a little and scratched at his forehead.

"I would have kept him in school but Mrs. Ellen says that she's taught him all she can. She says he's smart Bobby he just doesn't get along real well with the other children." Jim sugarcoated it the best he could.

"Anyway I figured maybe learning a trade of his own would be good for the boy. Set him on the path to God you know." Pastor Jim smiled at the other man, who eyed him suspiciously.

He would be taking a chance if he took Dean Winchester on as an apprentice.

Bobby didn't want to refuse the Pastor but the kid was definitely a charity case that Bobby didn't see amount to anything.

He knew John Winchesters, he'd turned out to be a fine hunter, Bobby knew he'd been a fine blacksmith before his wife had died.

Even if the boy knew anything about blacksmithing gunsmithing was a bit more delicate art.

Bobby had seen the boy around town and he didn't look like much. In fact Bobby'd heard the kid was sickly and didn't talk.

He wasn't sure how he was suppose to work with the boy or what he could do for him and he told Pastor Jim so.

"That's a bit of an exaggeration Bobby, the boy's been through some tough times and he doesn't say a whole lot but that should suit you fine." In the past few months all the words Dean had uttered could be counted on two hands. Still that was an improvement

"Alright Pastor" Bobby relented. "You have him here tomorrow morning by seven, I'll keep him till supper. If it goes well I'll take him on. If it doesn't well maybe there's a place for him down at the stables or over at the mill." Bobby pulled his hat down low, he knew he'd probably just got himself into something.

"Thank you Bobby that's very christian of you, Thank you." Bobby rolled his eyes and the pastor hurried off before the Gunsmith could change his mind.

"You should have just belted him one in the eye, dumb old Gordan." Sam huffed as he walked a few steps ahead of his brother. Sam was frustrated again like he was most days now when he and Dean got back from school.

They went into Jim's house through the back door.

"Good afternoon boys." Sam stopped dead in his tracks, Dean bumped into the back of Sam and stumbled to a stop grimacing. The Pastor was not usually waiting for them in the kitchen when they got there in the afternoon.

"Good afternoon Pastor Jim." Sam smiled innocently. Dean looked up for a second and then focused back down at the floor.

"How was your day boys. Come here and sit down." Jim sat at the head of the kitchen table and indicated to the two empty chairs. The boys did as they were told taking seats across the table from one another.

"Boys I talked to your teacher today." Both Winchesters got solemn looks on their faces. "Why didn't you tell me you were having so much trouble with the other students?"

Sam got very serious even a bit defensive. "It's nothing we can't handle."

"Well the way you handled it, with the fighting and the disruptions has upset Mrs. Ellen. She's well... she has decided that Dean can't come back to school." Jim announced unceremoniously, there was no point in drawing it out.

"What!? No..."The nine year old got upset.

Jim thought Dean looked distraught over the news.

Sam continued to be outraged. "She can't do that can she?"

Jim looked sadly at the boys. "She can. It's her school. She was gracious enough to teach you boys for free, but she says Dean is too much of a disruption in the class."

"It's not his fault that the other kids are mean to him." It really wasn't Dean hadn't done anything on purpose, he couldn't help what happened to him.

"Dean..." Pastor Jim placed a hand on the older boy's arm and ignored when the boy flinched back a little.

"I talked to Mr. Singer today and he's agreed to try you out as an apprentice over at his shop." Dean turned to Jim and Jim thought he saw a hint of a smile before it faded and he turned to his brother.

"Sammy..." Sam instinctively knew what Dean was asking.

"I'll be alright Dean if you are." Sam conceded.

Dean was torn, he needed to be able to look after Sammy, but maybe Sammy would be better off without him.

Dean didn't seem to have much choice in the matter.

Pastor Jim hurried Dean through the streets of Lawrence down to Singer's Gunsmithing.

The boy was dragging his feet. He wasn't very happy about being separated from his brother.

"Don't worry Dean, Bobby may come off as gruff but I've known him for a while now and he's a good man." Jim stopped them out in front of the shop, "Alright stand up straight, and be respectful." Jim reminded the boy, even though he didn't know if it would do any good. Dean just looked nervous.

"You'll do fine and you'll see Sam later." Dean's eyes didn't quite reach the Pastors but he nodded.

"Alright Dean." Jim opened the door and stepped into the small shop, Dean followed after him.

"Morning Bobby." Jim called to the back of the shop. The other man came down the stairs.

"Morning." He grumbled back, coffee in hand. Making his way through the shop's tables and shelves Bobby set his coffee down on his work bench and came to get a good look at Dean.

"Morning boy." Bobby stopped in front of Dean.

Dean didn't look up at him but after a second, a second that Jim held his breath, he replied. "Good morning Sir." Bobby looked to Jim who smiled with relief.

"Well then I'll be going now, I have work to do. Dean I'll see you back at the house tonight. Bobby, thank you." Jim back up to the door and was gone.

Dean tensed up a bit, which threatened to cause Bobby to tense up. But the older man caught himself and relaxed.

"So boy did your daddy teach you to shoot?" Dean nodded.

"What was that?" Bobby eyed the kid.

Dean raised his head and then his eyes and then his eyes found Bobby's and Bobby was taken aback by the intensity that hadn't been there before.

"Yes, Sir. He did."

TBC…