AN: Hello Eveyone, thank you so much for all your support and encouagement it means the world to me. I apologize for the delay in getting this out to you but please know I will never forget about you!
I have realized after writing this that timellines don't exactly match up with the technological advances I have thown in here, and after thorough debate I decided I'll keep the inconsistansy (it is fiction after all) and apologize if this bugs anyone.
Bobby greeted them at the door, their father had called ahead (which was a good thing because Dean didn't even think about it.)
Sam made his way wordlessly inside, Dean directing him to the spare bedroom where he wordlessly curled up on the bed, wrapping himself into such a tight ball it should have been impossible to fall asleep. Dean stood over, caressing the boy with a gentle hand before letting out a deep sigh and turning to have the conversation he wished he could put off.
Bobby greeted Dean in the kitchen with a bowl of chili and a cup of coffee which Dean greedily took."The blazes happened to you boys?" Bobby asked, pulling up a chair beside Dean with his own coffee. It was well into the night but Dean didn't feel like sleeping, the events of the day still pressed harshly into the forefront of his mind.
"I don't know." Dean sighed, holding the mug between his hands like a lifeline. "I don't fucking know what happened."
Bobby gave him a sympathetic nod "Your daddy wouldn't say nothin about it, just said you boys needed a place to hang low for a few days."
"God Bobby" Dean groaned as the memory flashed back "The way he looked at Sam, you would have killed him for giving such a look."
That statement caught Bobby's attention. "What kind of look?" He leaned forward, eyes focused on Dean.
Dean stared into his cup, letting the dark liquid ground him. "It's like he detested Sammy. An abhorrence, like Sam was some sort of abomination."
"Those are some strong words there." Bobby grimaced.
"It was more than hatred" Dean closed his eyes, remembering the way Sam cowered. "Then he just left us, told us to go to you. I don't know what to do." Dean ran a shaky hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do." He breathed, words coming out like a horse whisper.
Bobby took a long pull of his coffee eyebrows furrowed. "Me either." He admitted "But I remember, you walked in here once with that same look Sam had."
Dean looked up in surprise. "I was never-"
"Yeah you were." Bobby gave a sad smile. "You had that exact same lost look in your eyes, right after ya mum died, it's like the life drained out of ya, your voice froze up for a while."
"I don't remember." Dean admitted. He had been old enough to remember, but all the memories of the time after the fire were like a fog.
"It's not uncommon, especially since you were so young. Sure scared the bejeezus out of me and ya father though. But you got through it, and whatever is going on with Sam, he'll get through it too."
Dean nodded, even if he didn't know where to start, knowing he had Bobby on his side was a greater comfort than he had expected. He retired for the night, crawling into the bed next to Sam and taking comfort in knowing he wasn't alone, that someone else was willing to take some of the load, it wasn't a feeling he was used to.
Sam woke with a start, the fragments of his nightmare filtering through his mind.
"Just relax Sammy, I'll be gentle."
He shuddered, and looked around, confused by his surroundings until he remembered that they were at Bobby's, Dean was snoring in bed at the otherside of the room. Sam took a moment to take control of his shaking limbs, and calm his breath until the rapid pants turned gentle, though his heart continued to race.
A touch at his shoulder had Sam flinching around, jumping from the bed to look at the intruder, but no one was there. Another touch, this one gliding up his neck and hot breath and the smell, the sickly sweet smell of cologne was suffocated.
He had to get away
Had to get out.
No way he could ever let Dean see him like this
Sam slipped out the door as quietly as he could, tiptoeing down stairs, trying to keep himself from sprinting and waking up the house. his heart thudding as the old wood creaked under his steps, but Dean must have been exhausted because he slept through the noise. He entered the kitchen, planning to headout the connected side door, but stopped when he saw a green flashing light from the table, drawing closer he identified his brother's flip phone, the light indicating a missed message. He picked up the phone and flipped it open, a pit of dread settling in his stomach as the text notification popped up and 'dad' sat at the top of it, followed by a 'missed call' notification which Sam didn't have to guess at the caller.
Sam limply slipping into a chair as he clicked open the message. It ended up being unneeded, the message was (to their dad's taste) short.
'call me.'
This did nothing to ease Sam's racing heart as he couldn't only imagine what his dad would tell Dean. Or worse, maybe his dad wanted to talk to him.
"You going to call him back?"
Sam sprung up at the voice, hand instantly going into 'fight' position. the phone and the chair falling to the ground in a clatter. Bobby was standing at the entrance way, leaning casually against the wall. "Bobby." Sam breathed, hating the tremble in his voice. He lowered his shaky hands.
Bobby walked over, picking up the chair and setting the phone back on the table. "DIdn't mean to frighten you, guess you were pretty lost in thought and didn't hear me coming in." He sat himself down and motioned for Sam to do the same.
Sam briefly considered bolting, but figured his escape could be delayed at least a bit. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"Ya didn't." Bobby said in his gruff but comforting voice. "I got a call from John right after he tried to call Dean bout 20 minutes ago, haven't been able to get back to sleep, damn bastard has to call in the middle of the night when I know he had the chance hours ago."
Sam paled at that information. "What'd he say?" he asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
"You want something to drink? Ya to young for beer, least when I'm around, but I think i got some milk or something." Bobby stood and went over to the fridge, his silhouette illuminated by the light harsh light.
"Um, sure." Sam didn't feel as though he had much of a choice in his answer, Bobby was already pouring a glass from the half gallon jug, he grabbed a beer on his way back.
"I know i shouldn't drink so late but you Winchesters be killing me anyway might as well go down happy." He gave a grim chuckle as he sat down, not hesitating to pop the cap off and take a swig.
Sam took his cup, holding it in front of him with both hands (to hide the small tremors that still raked him every few moments) and stared into the opaque liquid.
As if reading Sam's fears, Bobby spoke "I don't know what happened."
Sam looked up to see Bobby looking intensely at his beer bottle. "What did he say?" Sam asked, trying to act like his whole world didn't hinge on the answer.
Bobby gave a shrug "Nothing much, just that I needed to keep an eye on you boys for the next few days, specially you." He looked up, eyes seeming to dig into Sam, analyze all his flaws. For a moment, Sam swore Bobby knew. "Got the impression something big went down between you and him, you wouldn't want to talk about any of that now would ya?"
Sam looked down, shame coloring his sheeks 'push it down. Don't you fucking dare cry.'
"I thought as much, if it's not something you'd tell Dean it must be pretty bad." he took a sip of beer. "Though, if you wanted to, I wouldn't be telling nobody."
"I know." Sam whispered, not daring to look up.
There was a crash from upstairs, followed immediately by loud shuffling. Bobby and Sam had only left their seats before a frantic Dean was flying down the stairs, eyes falling first on Bobby, then on Sam. Dean deflated on seeing his brother, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Christ Sam you scared the shit out of me." he gasped, out of breath from the short emotional theme park.
"Sorry." Sam mumbled, settling back in his seat. "Couldn't sleep"
"You guys having a secret party down here or something?" Dean sauntered over to the fridge.
"You better not be grabbing a beer boy." Bobby gruffed.
"Oh come on!" Dean whined, closing the fridge he had just opened. "I'm old enough and you know it."
"I don't care what your daddy allows, you're under my roof and no 16 year old needs alcohol at 3am."
Sam shrugged "He's got a point Dean."
"Point my ass." Dean grumbled, slipping in the seat next to Sam. "So what's up?"
"Dad called." Sam said, sliding the phone over to Dean, and taking advantage of his brother's distraction to scoot just a couple inches away.
"What'd he want?" Dean asked, flipping the phone open.
"Dunno, missed it." If Dean noticed the fear in Sam's voice he didn't comment on it.
Dean seemed turn between calling their Dad back immediately or waiting till morning. He gave Sam a 'I'm worried about you, will you be ok?' look which Sam shrugged off.
"It's fine, I'm gonna go back to sleep." Sam slipped up the stairs before either of them could protest, he made a show of going up and closing the bedroom door before crouching down by the heat vent, which lay over the kitchen. Opening it up he could hear most conversations (be it a muffled version)
Dean wasted no time in calling their dad back, though Sam got very little out of the conversation other than "Yes Sir." and "No Sir." Thankfully Bobby asked the question Sam needed, his heart pounded so hard he half expected Dean to hear it.
"So what'd he say."
"Nothing really, least nothing useful, said we'd be staying with you for a few weeks till he came back and to watch over Sam. Didn't say shit about what happened."
"Guess that's to be expected, Sam was pretty clammed up about it too." Bobby sighed. "Guess we'll have to play the long game, pretty sure that boy was about to sneak off before I caught him, looked like shit too. Balls you boys be getting into trouble is going to be the death of me."
Sam wished Bobby hadn't told Dean that part, he could hear the desperation in Dean's voice. "Sam was gonna run? Why?"
Not your fault. God Dean it's never your fault.'
Bobby didn't reply and Sam heard a large sigh. "I'm gonna go get our stuff from the Impala, might as well unpack if we're here that long."
"Long as you need, always." Bobby replied.
Sam heard the side door shut and Bobby make his way to the living room (no doubt to camp out in his recliner) Sam made his own way back to bed, intent on at least pretending sleep to help Dean's nerves, but as soon as he laid down exhaustion overtook him and he drifted into queasy darkness.
Dean grabbed the duffle and made his way back upstairs, giving a gentle sigh at the figure of Sam, asleep in bed. He himself could still feel the effects of the adrenaline that shot through him like lightning at waking to find his brother missing. He never expected Sam to run, not when they were at Bobby's of all places, Sam should feel safe there.
Not safe enough.
Dean set the duffle on the bed and opened it, figuring he might as well unpack until exhaustion returned to him. Upon opening however where his and Sam's clothes should be there were instead various possessions belonging to his father, confused Dean shifted through the objects and clothing. His Dad must have put the duffles in the wrong vehicles. He was about to close the bag up when he noticed the professional looking camera wrapped in a flannel shirt. Confused, he brought it out for inspection.
"Dad didn't have a camera." Dean mumbled, turning the object over in examination. It was possible his father had picked up the thing for a hunt, some monsters turning up on tape where they wouldn't to the eye, still this looked far too expensive for his Dad's taste.
He found the film casing but knew enough not to open it. "The fuck do I look at the photos?" He mused, wondering what kind of monster his father may have managed to capture. "Guess I'll have to ask Bobby if he knows a place."