Not that much happens in this chapter, but it had to be done to show how difficult things are for Dean. I couldn't resist the Dean angst! Oh and be sure to check out the poll in my profile! It will set the direction for where I am going in this story! Thanks for all the reviews!! Oh yeah, Jess really isn't in this chapter, she's sleeping during the whole thing lol. But she will be in the next one! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about her!

Dean had been attending therapy for his leg with the prosthetic knee ever since they returned home. He still had a hard time bending it sometimes, but it was getting a lot better. He was getting better at hopping on his crutches; he didn't need his knee to bend for that. The burns on his back were feeling much better and didn't need to be covered up with gauze anymore. Also, his hair had grown back to it's normal length which Dean was happy about. There was a couple small patches that didn't grow back but it was covered up by the rest of his hair now.

However, with two crutches in both hands, it was harder for Dean to do everyday things. He didn't have the type of crutches that went under his armpits, but rather the kind that strapped around his arms. But it was still hard to grab things and hold onto them while trying to get somewhere.

Dean was getting sick of not being able to do anything to help. He was living with Sam and Jess and he couldn't help them around with anything around the house, which made him feel like crap. He couldn't get a job yet, the least he could do was simple every-day things to help out.

Sam and Jess were paying his hospital and therapy bills, along with Jess's parents. Dean felt like a burden and he had tried telling them not to waste their money on him, and that he would find a way to pay. That had only caused everyone to yell at him. Everyone told him not to worry about it, that he had been through so much and had done so much for them. Now Dean deserved people to do something for him.

"Dean, you saved mine and Jess's lives more than once. Let us do something for you. Don't worry about the bills, we'll pay them and get you whatever you need. Just take it easy." Sam had told him.

Yeah, Dean did save their lives more than once, but he was the big brother, it was his job after all. He couldn't jest sit back while everyone worked their butts off. He couldn't even go to school with the therapy going on. He had to quit the summer semester he was taking that went from May to late July. He'd have to wait until September to take the fall classes. He was bored out of his mind.

So today, Dean was determined to help. He woke up early, took a shower, which was a hassle, but it was easier now that Sam had bars installed in the shower to help him balance. There was also a stool in which Dean could sit on, so he doesn't fall and slip. Then he hobbled downstairs just in time to catch Sam before he headed out the door.

"Where are you goin'? Dean asked him

"I was just going to head to the mailbox down the street to mail these before I forget." Sam told him and held out his hand with a couple of envelopes in them.

"I'll do it." Dean told him

"What? Dean, no it's okay. I've got this, you just relax." Sam said and went to head out the door again.

"Sam. That's all I have been doing is relaxing! I'm sick of it! I want to help out." Dean growled

"I know but Dean…"

"What? Are you trying to tell me that I can't do anything now that I'm crippled?" Dean asked him, full on knowing that Sam didn't mean that. But it was the only way to make Sam give in.

"Dean of course not!"

"Then let me go, I'll be fine Sam. It's just a quick trip down the street."

"Alright." Sam sighed and gave in. He placed the envelopes in Dean's jacket pocket and zipped it up. "Call me if you…"

"I'll be fine Sam, God you sound like a mother." Dean rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smirk a little bit. "I'll be back in a bit. Try not to miss me too much."

Sam huffed as he held their door for Dean. Their apartment was now on the first floor which Dean was grateful for, it made everything so much easier. He was also glad that the door that led into and out of the apartment had a handicap button that opened the door automatically. But still, he couldn't wait for the day when he wouldn't need it anymore. He was scheduled to get his leg in just three days and he was so excited.

He hopped down the street and about halfway down he heard someone walking behind him. He turned his head to see a couple kids walking with backpacks. Huh, oh yeah, summer school was going on and the kids were walking to school. Ugh, that was not what he needed right now, a bunch of smart-ass kids to laugh at him and make fun of him.

Whatever though, Dean continued to make his way down the street. It had rained a great deal the other day and he was almost at the mailbox when he slipped in one of the puddles. Without his other leg to balance him, he came tumbling down, his glasses slipped down his nose and his stump hit the ground sending waves of pain up his short leg.

He looked up through pain-filled eyes to see a girl that had been walking behind him tiptoeing over him. She looked at him with pity in her eyes and it also looked like she was about to chuckle. She simply stepped over him and continued on her way.

What the hell? Dean could not believe it. She clearly saw a one-legged man slip and fall, his crutches falling off of his arms, and she didn't offer to help him, she didn't even ask if he was okay! Was this the way his life was going to be now? People ignoring him like he was some freak?!

Dean sighed and tried to get up only to fall on his butt once again. He looked to the side and saw a tough-looking kid walking his way. He looked like he would be a football player. Great, just great.

But when he kid reached him he offered him a hand.

"Need some help man?" He asked

"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Dean responded grabbing his hand and letting the kid haul him up.

But then suddenly the kid reached into Dean's pocket, where the indentation of his wallet was clearly visible and took it out. He smiled and pushed Dean back onto the ground.

"Thanks for the money cripple." He laughed, waving Dean's wallet to show his victory.

Dean was fuming, god it was one bad thing after the other! Why did it seem that these things only happened to him! Would he ever catch a break?

Then as if to answer his question a man walked up to the kid and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Huh?" The kid said, turning around.

"I'll be taking that." The man growled and swiped Dean's wallet out of his hand before the kid could blink.

"Hey!" The kid shouted but started backing up.

"That's right! You better run before I call the police!" The man shouted at the kid as he took off down the road.

Dean thought the man was going to take his wallet and run but then the man turned around and Dean recognized the man as their neighbor, Rob, who lived in the apartment next to them.

"God Dean, are you okay?" Rob asked as he helped Dean stand up and handed him his crutches.

" 'M fine." Dean mumbled. He was past embarrassed, he just got mugged and knocked down by a teenager for god's sake! "Just mailing some letters."

"You want me to mail them for you? It's kind of slippery out here…" Rob suggested

"I can do it! It's just mailing some letters! I don't need your help!" Dean growled as he clutched his crutches tightly and hobbled off. He hated the way people were treating him, he was not an invalid! He had gotten so confident in himself over the past months and now it was all being swiped away. Would he ever be able to be the man he wanted to be?

Sam was eating a bowl of cereal when Dean knocked on the door. Sam went to open it and was met with a very angry-looking Dean whose shorts were soaking wet. He wore shorts now because it was much easier for him to get on and he didn't have to pin the extra material up, plus it was summer.

"Dean! What happened!?" Sam gasped as Dean stormed over to the couch and angrily fell onto the couch. He immediately started rubbing his stump.

"What does it look like Sam? I fell!" Dean growled angrily

Sam rushed into the other room and handed Dean some pain pills which he swallowed dry. Sam took a look at the stump and sighed when he saw it was bruised.

"It's okay Dean. You just fell; it's nothing to get so upset about…."

"I'm not mad because I fell! I'm sick of the way everyone is treating me!" Dean heaved as he held his head in his hands

"What do you mean Dean?" Sam asked, coming to sit down next to Dean

"First it was the looks on the plane; I didn't mind that though, really. But every time I get into the car to go to therapy people are staring at me on the street like I'm some kind of freak."

"Dean, that hasn't bothered you before. Those people are assholes; don't worry about what they think." Sam told him

"I know! I can handle that even though it bugs the crap out of me! I really can." Dean sighed

"Then what's wrong Dean? Come on, talk to me."

"You don't want to know."

"Yes I do. Dean, tell me."

"No." Dean grunted

"Fine, then I'll never tell you anything again. When I'm hurting, I won't let you help."

"Ugh…fine! You really want to know? When I fell a girl was walking right behind me. But instead of helping me up she walked over me. Then this kid went to help me up but he was just pretending so he could take my wallet and push me back down."

"Dean…" Sam started but Dean cut him off.

"Well Rob our neighbor here, you see he helped me up. That was great in all been then he was like 'Why don't I mail those for you.' I know I'm a cripple but I'm not an invalid! I'm never going to be normal!"

Sam could tell Dean was on the brink of tears and was trying to hold them in so he wrapped an arm around Dean's shoulders.

"People don't think before they speak Dean. Don't worry, you'll get better, you've already come so far. It will get better Dean." Sam soothed him

"I just want to get the leg, I want this to stop." Dean sighed

Sam swallowed, even when Dean did get the leg, it wasn't going to be easy. It was going to take a lot of work and he wouldn't be up and walking perfectly right away. Things were already hard for Dean right now and they were not going to get much easier for a while.

He was going to do anything he could to have Dean walking as quickly as possible. Dean more than deserved to be worry-free for once in his life.