Chapter Text
Dean usually tried to avoid John’s rage. He didn’t like making him mad. None of the monsters Dean had dealt with made Dean afraid in the way his father did.
Usually, when things went wrong John blamed Dean. Dean was alright with that, even if that meant tending to more wounds than necessary. But, today John actually hit Sam. He hadn’t hit Sam as hard as he would hit Dean, but he hit him hard enough to draw blood. Dean had gone out to grab ice, per his father’s request, and he came back to John screaming in Sam’s face. He was able to calm his dad down but he couldn’t consol Sam. Dean sat with Sam after their father decided to leave Sam alone. It took Sam a bit to admit what had happened. He only admitted it after John left their hotel room.
“Dad hit me,” Sam had admitted softly.
“Why did he hit you?” Dean asks, he keeps his voice down. He wants Sam to know he cares and that he’s not angry at him.
“I said I didn’t want to hunt for the rest of my life.” Sam looks and sounds hurt and confused, and honestly Dean can’t blame him for it.
“And he hit you?” Dean stares at Sam. He feels anger bubbling up in his chest.
“Well, we argued for a minute and… I said something about how mom wouldn’t have wanted us living our lives like this. I’ve never seen dad like that.” Dean hugs Sam.
“It will be okay soon Sam. I promise.” Dean promises. He made Sam dinner and got him layed down.
Dean had Sam layed down and asleep by 10.
“Dean?” John asks. He’s sitting in a chair near the window in their room.
“Yeah dad?” Dean asks cautiously.
“We’re gonna leave tomorrow at 10.” John states. Dean just nods. Dean layed down after their brief conversation. John sat and drank until at least one. Dean knew his dad well enough to know he wouldn’t wake up until his alarm went off, and even when it did go off it was up to Sam and Dean to get their father up.
Dean got out of his bed, checked to ensure their father was sleeping, and started quietly collecting their things. He didn’t have much of a plan, he just had a small idea and hope. Dean grabbed their clothes, and the few other items they had.
“Sammy.” Dean shook Sam softly after he got their things collected.
“Dean…?” Sam looked confused.
“Come on, we have to go.” Dean kept his voice low. He knew the chances of John waking up were slim, but he still didn’t want to risk it.
“Why?” Sam sits up and rubs his eyes. He’s confused, but he trusts his big brother.
“Just… Trust me, okay?” Dean pleads softly. Sam takes a moment but nods and grabs his shoes. Dean snags the keys to the Impala and they leave quietly. Dean throws their things in the backseat and gets into the front. He turns on the Impala and takes off. Dean feels small in the seat that his father typically filled.
“Dean… Where are we going?” Sam’s voice is so quiet compared to everything around them.
Dean stayed silent for a moment. There were several people they could go too, but he didn’t know if he could trust any of them. He doesn’t answer Sam for a while, just driving in silence. He could attempt to get a job and support Sam, but if it is just the pair of them living alone they run the risk of John finding them and taking them back into his care. He runs through a mental list of other hunters, he knew a lot of them well, like Will Barnett or Clarissa Lane, but he knew the chances of them taking in two kids was slim.
After more thinking, Dean decides on Bobby Singer.
“We’re going to Bobby’s.” Dean states.
“Really?” Sam sounds happy.
“Yeah.” Dean smiles back at Sam.
“Lets just hope he takes us in,” Dean thinks to himself as he continues driving. Sam had fallen asleep sometime during the drive, and Dean had to fight back the exhaustion that had found a home in his bones.
After a long, uneventful drive, Dean finally made it to Bobby’s. He pulled into the property before parking and taking a deep breath. It was still early and the sun was only just starting to rise. Dean and Sam hadn’t been to Bobby’s in a while, partially because Bobby and John had a fight and partially because Dean was old enough to care for his brother alone.
Dean gently woke Sam up after taking a few minutes to compose himself.
“Sammy, come on we’re here.” Dean shakes Sam again to wake him up.
Sam grumbles a bit but wakes up. He rubs his eyes and looks at Dean.
“Come on Sammy.” Dean says again. Sam unbuckles and follows Dean to Bobby’s front door. Dean has an internal struggle with himself, debating on whether or not they should even be there. Dean finally decides to knock. There was nothing the first time Dean knocked, so Dean knocked again. This time, Bobby answered the door. It was clear he had just gotten out of bed.
“Do you know wh-” Bobby starts saying as he opens the door. When he sees that it’s Sam and Dean though, he falls silent.
“Hi Bobby!” Sam says happily. He’s energetic for someone who just woke up and Dean is slightly envious of his energy.
“Sorry Bobby… I know it’s early.” Dean says softly, he doesn’t look at Bobby.
“Dean? Sam?” Bobby looks around. “Where's your old man?”
“Passed out in our hotel room,” Sam answers before Dean can.
“What?” Bobby asks as they continue to stand there.
“Can we… Come in?” Dean asks sheepishly. He feels ashamed of himself for bugging Bobby.
Bobby paused for a moment before letting the boys in. Bobby understood something was wrong.
“Hey Sam, how about you head upstairs and try to get some more sleep while I talk to your brother here?” Bobby smiles at Sam.
“Do I have to?” Sam looks kinda sad, but Bobby nods. “Fine.” Sam puffs before listening and heading up to sleep more.
“He’s a good kid,” Bobby says with a small smile. Dean simply nods.
“Alright. Come sit down.” Bobby says, realizing Dean isn’t one for small talk. “I got a pot of coffee brewin, do you want some?”
“Yes please.” Dean nods a bit as he says this.
“How do you take your coffee?” Bobby raises an eyebrow.
Dean hesitates again before answering the question. “Relatively sweet?” He doesn’t know how else to describe how he likes his coffee. Bobby simply nods and walks to the kitchen. Dean follows him.
“I’ll get us some coffee and we can talk on the porch.” Bobby starts getting them both coffee. After he gets their coffee, he hands Dean his and they head out to the porch. They both sit down.
“Alright Dean,” Bobby takes a drink of his coffee. “What’s going on?”
Dean looks down at his feet before taking a drink of his coffee. “Me and Sam ran away.”
“I can see that. Why?” Bobby doesn’t sound upset, just curious if not a little worried.
“Dad hit Sam last night.” Dean tries to make himself seem less upset about the situation, but he is upset. He’s extremely upset, not only because Sam got hurt, but because he failed him. Sam might be okay, but at that moment he wasn’t, and where was Dean? Off getting ice because he was asked too. He knows Sam won’t hold it against him, but he will hold it against himself.
“John hit Sam?” Bobby doesn’t even look surprised.
“Yeah. So I… I grabbed our things and stole the Impala.” Dean says as he takes a drink of his coffee. It’s sweet and warm, and it makes Dean feel a little less terrible about everything going on.
“What’s your plan here, Dean?” Bobby looks over at him.
“I was hoping you could help me with that.” Dean doesn’t look at Bobby.
“Dean…” Bobby’s eyebrows furrow.
“I know, you never wanted kids but… I just need a bit to get on my feet so I can take care of me and Sam. Please Bobby.” Dean hates feeling desperate, but right now he is.
“You’re asking a lot of me, boy.” Bobby looks away. No matter how hard he tried, he could never turn Dean nor Sam away. They weren’t his kids but sometimes he wished they were.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Dean looks away. He hates it but he can feel tears filling his eyes. There's a familiar feeling of disappointment in his chest and he can’t seem to take a full deep breath.
“I’ll let you stay, Dean. I trust you can get on your feet quickly.” Bobby smiles at Dean.
“Really?” Dean looks at Bobby again. His voice comes out choked.
“Sure.” Bobby nods. He wasn’t much for physical affection but he gave Dean a gentle pat on the back. “Now finish your coffee and go try and sleep. I’m sure you're exhausted.”
All Dean can do is look at his knees with tears running down his face. He wasn’t much of a crier, but the exhaustion mixed with stress was really getting to him. He and Bobby sit on the porch for a bit longer before Dean finishes his coffee and heads inside to go to sleep.
Dean slept until almost 3 p.m. that afternoon. When he went downstairs, Bobby and Sam were sitting at the table playing scrabble.
“I think you’re cheating.” Bobby states gruffly.
“Maybe I just know more words than you do.” Sam is smiling. Dean watches them play for a few minutes longer. He only goes to sit down when Sam notices him.
“Dean! You’re up.” Sam motions Dean over. “We’re playing Scrabble.”
“Are you winning?” Dean asks as he sits down.
“He’s cheating is what he is.” Bobby shakes his head. Dean laughs at them both.
They all sit like that for a while, Sam and Bobby playing Scrabble while Dean watches and actually checks some of their words. It’s the most peace Dean has felt in days.