CHAPTER 20

Sam entered the living room and saw his brother nursing a drink. He made his way towards Dean and sat next to him.

"Hey man , you alright ?" Sam asked. Dean had a serious expression on his face. It looked like his brother was deep in thought.

"How is DJ ?" Dean didn't answer his question but instead asked his own. It was an annoying habit of his brother whenever he was trying to avoid talking about his feelings. But Sam had a great experience in getting answers out of Dean.

"He is alright. I said as a punishment , he cannot come out from his room until dinner. But he will be fine. Now back to subject , how are you ?" Sam asked.

"I wasn't the one who got his ass beaten. I am fine." Dean replied looking at the bottle in his hand.

"You aren't Dean. I know something is bothering you. Now tell me , what is it ?" Sam asked. Doesn't matter how hard Dean tries but Sam could read him like a book. To anyone his brother would look fine now but Sam knew Dean wasn't. He was beating himself for hurting Adam even when it was necessary.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Sammy." Dean said but when Sam gave him the look that clearly said 'I know you are lying. So stop.' He sighed. Dean hated sometimes how well Sam knew him. It was like he couldn't get anything past his kid brother.

"I am worried about Adam. I know what I did was to teach him a lesson. But now the kid probably hates me." Dean said shaking his head. It was true that Adam probably hated him now. It wouldn't have mattered to him a few days back. But now it did. He had slowly but gradually had accepted Adam as a part of his family. He didn't want his relationship with Adam to be like the one between his dad and Sam. They could not stay in a room for more than half an hour without arguing. He didn't want that at all.

"He doesn't hate you, Dean. I didn't hate you after every time you beat my ass. I didn't know at that time but now as a father I understand that it is all a part of raising a kid and as much as you like to you cannot be roses and sunshine everytime. Sometimes you need to toughen your heart a little. I was a stubborn kid who needed to be taught lessons and from what I can tell Adam would be too. But he will come around." Sam said in a gentle tone willing Dean to stop blaming himself. God knows his brother had a habit of blaming himself for everything.

"Yeah, well you were a stubborn kid. Your teenage years were nothing less of a headache for me. I hope we really don't have to relive that with DJ and Adam." Dean said rubbing his forehead. It was annoying how well Sam knew him but his baby brother always knew just how to make him feel better too.

"Hey now , I wasn't that difficult to manage." Sam said pretending to be offended but in truth he was glad that he was able to bring Dean out of his guilt on Adam.

"Oh you were, Sammy. I remember sometimes Dad used to call me before entering the motel to ask if you were asleep or he needs to wait a few more hours to make his appearance. He used to do that mostly after you and he fought so that he could avoid handling an angry teenage Sam Winchester." Dean replied chuckling at the memories. Dad could not handle Sam sometimes. The man could handle monsters on a regular basis but when it comes to handling his younger son , he could be completely clueless.

"I can't believe that. I used to wonder after every argument I had with dad that no matter how late I tried to stay up , he always managed to come after I was asleep or something." Sam said. He couldn't help when a small laugh broke out of him. John Winchester used to be a little afraid of an angry Sam. The man was like made of steel. But no matter how much he used to argue with his dad. God knows that he really missed the man.

"Yeah. Listen, I am gonna go bring some blueberry and oreo ice-cream. And we will be having some roasted chicken for dinner, okay ?" Dean asked standing and picking up his wallet.

"Alright ,see ya." Sam replied and hid his smile. Oreo icecream was DJ's favourite and blueberry was Adam's. And well in their family everyone loves chicken. Everytime as a kid after he was spanked or punished in anyway by his brother. He used to get his favourite dish and icecream for dinner and dessert. Dean was continuing that tradition. As much as Sam hated Dean's hard hand beating his butt , he couldn't deny the fact that he loved the aftercare and attention he received from his brother. Dean may act as a hard and strict man but inside he was a softie.

"Alright time to check on another Winchester." Sam said to himself and with that he made his way towards Adam's room.

Adam was lying on his stomach on the bed. He was in his boxers because no way in hell he could manage wearing a jeans now. Even sweatpants hurt. He thought about discarding his boxers too. But he was in no mood to get himself seen naked by Dean , Sam or DJ. He was enough embarrassed already. He was really pissed at Dean at the moment. He decided he would stay in his room for the rest of the night. Screw dinner ! And he would completely ignore Dean the next day.

Adam looked up when he heard a knock. Sam entered Adam's room and he got a sense of deja vu seeing Adam lying on his stomach. He remembered himself in that position everytime he used to get his ass beaten when he was a kid. Sam sat on the foot of Adam's bed and said,

"You okay , kiddo ?"

"I had just gotten my ass beaten by your brother. I am awesome." Adam replied with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Sam sighed and ignored Adam's tone and said , "Yeah I remember that. I used to feel angry too. Dean's right hand is heavy ain't it." At the end he gave a understanding smile to Adam.

"He used to do this to you too ?" Adam asked. He couldn't say the word 'spanking'. It was embarrassing. But Sam understood him nonetheless.

"You kidding ?. Dad rarely spanked me. He was out for work a lot. Dean practically raised me since I was a baby. So when it comes to disciplining me it was his responsibility. Dean used to be the one to punish me , you know. And never once I didn't deserve it." Sam said and carefully left the hunting part out which was the real reason his dad didn't have time to raise him. But he didn't regret Dean raising him at all.

Adam thought about what Sam had said. He was feeling jealous of DJ because he thought that Dean could never spank him when the kid would be a little older and had done the same mistake as him. It was only him to get this special treatment from Dean. But now Sam saying that Dean used to punish him in the same way too. It helped a little.

"It is embarrassing. And it hurts a lot. He would never do that to DJ." Adam said whining.

In that moment to Sam Adam looked like a little five year old kid instead of a twelve year old whining about his punishment. He smiled. He also understood that Adam was a little jealous of DJ. Sam couldn't blame him. Kids do that. He used to get jealous of Dean thinking that his father loved his brother more than him. But he understood that in time that no parent in the world could love their one kid more than the other.

If his dad was here now. Then they could both really repair their relationship a little. Because now that Sam was a father too, he was able to understand his dad a little. He was thinking a lot about his dad today. 'Focus on Adam Sam.' Sam thought to himself.

"If DJ had lied to me or Dean. We would have punished him too. He is a toddler so his punishment would have been decided accordingly. But I can assure you it would be enough for him to learn a lesson." Sam replied with a serious expression. But then his face softened.

"And I know it hurts , kiddo. But it is so that you can remember not to make the same mistakes in the future. And believe me when I say this punishment hurts more to the one who is delivering it. And as for the embarrassment , there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You made some mistakes and for that you were punished."

It really helps talking with Sam. Sam could work as a therapist and he could be really good at that too. Thought Adam.

"Thank you , Sam." Adam said smiling. Sam always comes to check on him. He was still angry at Dean but not as much as before.

"Hey thats what family is for. Now Dean is making roast chicken for dinner. And then for dessert you will have your favourite blueberry icecream." Sam said smiling. He was relieved that he was able to explain to Adam. But he knew it would take sometime for the kid to get used to living with them.

"Thank you again." Adam said smiling. He was seriously considering his decision to not have dinner. Dean could be a 'hitler' but he was an awesome cook too.

"Nope. For that you have to thank Dean. All his idea. You know to make you understand that we all care about you and that punishment was for your own good because we love you. " Sam said and with that he stood up and left the room.

Okay , Adam was now feeling guilty. He shouldn't have blamed DJ for something he did. And he was really rude with Dean too. Maybe the man isn't that bad. He did deserve to be punished. And though it hurt but it was nothing he didn't deserve.

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