Secrets Don't Have Tombstones

Chapter One

It was the day Sam Winchester turned 16.

That was the day he knew he was going to leave for good.

John came back from a hunt, tired and covered head to toe with blood, Dean trailing behind him silently the way he normally would.

That was the way he always was next to their father. A shadow. A shadow seemed to mirror John perfectly.

Well, almost perfectly.

Despite Dean's arduous efforts - the shadow he was next to him was abnormally small.

He didn't have a say in anything, didn't have a purpose besides surviving - and that was on a good day.

He had no choice but to be dragged around wherever his father went -

and obey.

Sam hated seeing his brother that way. He couldn't fathom why anyone would be content in living like that.

He watched as John went for the booze again, swiping a bottle of whisky off a cabinet.

"You almost got us killed."

His tone was impersonal and devoid of emotion, but both brothers froze in their spot, doing their best to keep their lungs working.

They knew a storm was coming.

"I'm sorry sir, I will never let that happen again. He came out of nowhere I-"

The sound of glass shattering against a wall reverberated around the room.

John stalked over to his eldest son, stopping a mere inch away from him.

"I don't want to hear your excuses Dean, real men should face the consequences of their actions head on."

It pained him, killed him to see his brother treated that way, but it killed him even more to see him just taking it.

"Dad!"

"Stay out of it Sam."

For once in his life - Sam wasn't willing to listen.

He stood up, leaving behind the birthday cake one of his friends baked for him. He was really hoping to eat it together with Dean. That was the only reason he was home right now, and not off somewhere with his friends.

Dean never forgot his birthday, he never forgot anything that Sam deemed important.

Dean made sure he believed in Santa until he was thirteen years old.

Dean hid his own allowance under his pillow when he lost his first tooth.

Dean deserved standing up for.

"Dad leave him alone. "

Both men turned around to look at him. John's frown was made of stone, as was his heart. The deep lines surrounding his mouth looked like they were physically carved into his skin, and the younger Winchester found it constantly surprising that the man bled blood and not tiny splinters of flint.

Dean on the other hand, looked terrified, and not because he was afraid of what his father would to to him, but what he would do to his little brother.

"Sam go to your room."

"No."
John finally put some space between him and his eldest.

"Sam, this is none of your business. Go to your room before I'll have make you."
"Do as he says, Sammy."