Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.

School Days, Rule Days

Part 2

Sam sat on his knees beside his brother in the living room floor with school supplies scattered in a circle around them. "What are we doing, Dean?" Sam asked curiously.

"We have to pack your book bag so you are ready to go to school in the morning," Dean answered calmly as he opened the package containing Sam's green scissors.

A heavy sigh escaped the little boy's lips. "But Dean, I don't wanna go to school. I wanna stay with you."

Dean ruffled his kid brother's hair. "I know, buddy, but you have to go to school so you can learn how to read and write."

Sammy shook his head. "You can teach me, Dean. You teached me my letters and numbers and how to write my name and your name."

"I taught you those things," Dean corrected. "I don't know how to teach you to read, Sammy. You need a teacher for that."

"But I can learn, Dean. I promise!" Sammy wailed.

Dean finished putting the supplies in the backpack and placed it beside the backdoor before he scooped his sniffling little brother into his arms. "You are a smart boy, and you need to go to school. You'll be home in time for lunch with me and Uncle Bobby every day." Dean's arms tightened around the child. He missed Sammy already.

"Thorin will miss me," the boy whined as he pointed to the yellow lab snoozing on the floor in front of Bobby's recliner.

"I'm sure he will," Dean agreed, "but he will be waiting for you at the door after school."

Sam sighed and leaned against his brother, playing with the buttons on Dean's shirt. "What if something bad happens to you while I'm at school?" he nearly whispered. "What if a bad man tries to take me from school?"

Dean rested his lips against Sam's dark hair and settled on the sagging couch with the boy in his lap. "Look at me, Sammy." He waited until the child's tear-stained eyes were trained on his face. "Your teacher and your principal will keep you safe. No bad man is going to get you at school. Cletus can't hurt you anymore."

Sam nodded, but couldn't stop the tears that rolled down his cheeks.

Dean brushed them away gently with his thumb; he was so glad he'd called his brother's new teacher and explained as much of the boy's situation to her as he could. "And I promise I will be extra careful while you're at school. Uncle Bobby, Thorin, and I will watch out for each other while you're gone."

Sammy let out a quavering sigh. "Are you sure I have to go?"

"You have to go to school, dude," Dean told his little brother as he wiped away the last of the boy's tears.

"But-but what if I miss you too much?" Sammy wailed as another wave of tears began.

Dean held the child closer and rubbed a soothing hand on his back.

"I have an idea," Bobby spoke up from the doorway. "Sammy, come with me. I know a way you can take a little bit of Dean to school with you."

Sammy looked confused, but after giving his brother a quick hug he slid from Dean's lap and ran to Bobby's side. "I thought Dean couldn't go to kindergarten, Uncle Bobby," he sniffled.

"Well, no," he chuckled as he imagined the older Winchester brother squished into a tiny chair, "he can't, but…" he led Sammy into the kitchen and pointed to a picture on the refrigerator of Dean sitting on a weather-worn picnic table with a grinning Sammy in his lap, "you can take a picture with you."

"S'not the same," Sammy sighed as his finger traced Dean's face on the shiny photo.

"True," Bobby admitted, "but it's better than nothing." He took the photo off of the fridge and slid it into a baggie. "Now you can put this in the pocket of your backpack and look at it when you are missing your brother. Dean can tell your teacher about it tomorrow."

"Sure," Dean smiled, secretly glad for the other pictures of Sammy that adorned the kitchen appliance. He'd be missing his kid brother this time tomorrow.

Sammy clutched the picture in both of his small hands. "Can you pick me up in the 'Pala tomorrow?" he asked Dean hopefully.

"Sure," Dean grinned as he ruffled the boy's brown hair. "The other kids will be jealous of Baby."

Sammy gave a small giggle. "Yeah, 'cause she's the best car ever!"

"You'd better believe it!" Dean answered as he swung his little brother up into the air.

Sammy giggled and squealed. Thorin trotted into the kitchen and began to bark happily, jumping up against Dean as he tried to join in the fun.

"Get down, mutt," Bobby grumbled cheerfully as he rubbed the yellow lab behind its silky ears.

Sammy was pensive and quiet for the rest of the evening. After his bath, he crawled into bed and scratched Thorin's head when the dog curled up next to him. "Will you still read me a story, Dean?"

"Always, buddy," Dean answered. "Bobby checked out some new books from the library when he was in town today." He settled next to his little brother on the bed and relaxed happily when Sammy curled up under his arm.

"What books did he get?" Sammy yawned sleepily.

"If You Give A Moose A Muffin," Dean read while they both looked at the picture of a moose holding a muffin on the book's cover.

"That's silly," Sammy giggled.

"Yeah, it is," Dean agreed as he opened the book and began to read.

"Dean," his little interrupted him mid-way through the story.

"Yeah, buddy?" Dean replied quietly.

"Do I really have to go to school tomorrow?" Sam mumbled. The shirt that had belonged to Dean but that had now become Sammy's security blanket was tucked snuggly under the kid's arm.

"You really do," Dean told him. "Let me finish the story so you can go to sleep."

"Don't wanna leave you, Dean," Sammy murmured, his arm twining around his brother's.

"It will be all right, Sammy," Dean soothed. "The school will call me if you need me. I put my phone number and Uncle Bobby's number in the pocket of your backpack in the bag with the picture."

"Okay," Sammy whimpered.

When the soon-to-be kindergartener fell asleep, Dean slipped quietly from the bed and took a quick shower. His shoulders were taut with worry over Sammy and school. He let the hot water beat down on his back and loosen the knots in his muscles. Tomorrow was going to be a rough day; there was no way around it.

Dean crawled into bed and tried reading a muscle car magazine, but he couldn't seem to focus. Finally, his frustration with himself mounting, he tossed the magazine onto the bedside table and turned out the light.

Sleep eluded him. He turned first on one side and then to the other. He heard Bobby's clock downstairs chime one o'clock and then two.

Around two thirty, Sammy cried out from the room next door. Before Dean could untangle himself from the sheets and roll out of bed, Sammy and Thorin were in his room, the little boy clambering up into bed next to his big brother.

"Dean, I had a bad dream," Sammy sniffled.

"Want to talk about it?" Dean offered, wiping Sammy's tears away in the faint moonlight that shone through the blinds.

Sammy curled into Dean's side. "You and Uncle Bobby died while I was at school," he sobbed into Dean's white t-shirt.

"That's not going to happen, kiddo. It was a bad dream; that's all," Dean soothed as he wrapped an arm around his brother and held him close.

Sammy sniffled quite a while longer before his body relaxed in slumber. Dean wasn't sure he ever truly went to sleep although he dozed off from time to time. When morning arrived, he and Sam both groaned when the alarm went off.

"Don't wanna go to school, Dean," Sam grumbled as he buried his face in his brother's shoulder and twisted his fingers in Dean's t-shirt.

"Well, you have to," Dean informed him as he sat up and wiped a hand over his face. "Uh, it can't possibly be morning already."

"Sammy, I've got pancakes ready for your first day of school!" Bobby hollered up the stairs.

"Not hungry," the little boy pouted against Dean's neck.

The older Winchester sighed. "I know, kiddo. First days can be hard on the stomach."

Dean climbed out of bed with Sammy clinging to him and carried the small boy downstairs.

Bobby frowned at the sight of the Winchester brothers. "Balls! The two of you look like you didn't sleep a wink."

"That's because we didn't," Dean grouched as he plopped Sam down into the chair the boy always sat in at the table.

Sammy put his head down and refused to even look at the plate of pancakes Bobby placed in front of him.

Dean forced down his own pancakes and headed upstairs to get himself dressed while Bobby tried to get Sammy to eat.

Even with Bobby's prompting, Sammy only managed a few bites of his breakfast. Dean helped the boy wash his face and brush his teeth before sending him into his bedroom to dress in the outfit Dean had allowed him to choose for his first day of kindergarten – jeans and a green t-shirt.

After getting dressed, Sammy stood in front of his brother and twisted his small fingers in the hem of his new green shirt. "I can't go, Dean; I just can't. I miss you already, and I'm scared you're gonna die while I'm in school."

Dean sighed and felt a lump form in his throat. He loved the kid so much it made his chest ache. He scooped Sammy into his arms and held him close. "Listen, Sammy, you are going to have a lot of fun in kindergarten and make new friends to play with. I'm only a phone call away, okay? If you ever need me, your teacher can call and I'll come to school right away."

Tears rolled down the boy's face. "But Dean, what if another car falls on you or what if another mean man comes? What if you die like Daddy and my mommy?"

Dean brushed Sam's floppy bangs back from his face and pressed a kiss to the child's forehead. "Oh, Sammy," he sighed, "Uncle Bobby and I will be very careful, okay? We will watch out for each other while you are in school."

"Promise?" Sammy sniffled.

"I promise," Dean agreed, his throat tight with emotion. "Now, let's get you to school."

Sammy sighed and buried his face in Dean's shoulder. "I still don't wanna go," he grumbled.

Dean just gave him a squeeze and grabbed the book bag off of the doorknob, slinging it over his shoulder. "We're on our way to school, Bobby!" he called out as he reached the bottom of the steps.

Bobby appeared and handed Sammy his lunchbox. "Here's your snack, kiddo. I packed something special for your first day."

Sam kept his face buried in Dean's shoulder.

His brother poked him gently in the tummy. "What do you say, Sammy?"

"Thank you, Uncle Bobby," the boy mumbled into Dean's t-shirt.

The drive to school was silent. Sammy sat buckled into his booster seat with his backpack clutched tightly in his lap. His fingers twisted nervously in the green straps.

When Dean pulled into the parking lot of the school, he heard Sammy sigh heavily. He parked the Impala and turned to look at his brother. "It's show time, kiddo." Dean forced a smile even though his stomach twisted nervously.

Sammy allowed Dean to help him out of the backseat. He clutched his big brother's hand tightly and stared up at Dean. His brother made him feel safe and protected; he loved Dean more than anyone else in the whole wide world. If only Dean could stay with him in school everything would be all right.

Dean led his little brother into the school building and they slowly navigated the crowded halls. Lots of parents had brought their children to school for the first day, especially kindergarten parents. Dean led Sammy to the correct classroom. "Here we are, Sammy," he smiled.

Sammy looked up at his brother and swallowed hard. "Can you go in with me?" he managed to choke out through chattering teeth.

"Sure, buddy," Dean promised. He led Sammy inside a classroom brightly decorated in primary colors. Five rectangular tables were arranged in the middle of the room and had nametags taped securely around them. "Let's find your seat."

Sammy didn't let go of Dean's hand and allowed his brother to lead him toward the first table. He didn't see his name there or on the second table. When they reached the third table, however, he pointed silently to the name tag that had his name spelled out in carefully formed letters. "There's my name, Dean," he said softly.

"Good reading, kiddo!" Dean enthused. "Sit in your chair so I can take your picture for Uncle Bobby."

Sammy shrugged out of his backpack and handed it to his brother before sitting in the small metal chair and allowing Dean to take a picture. He wasn't able to muster much of a smile. He was dreading the moment when his brother walked out of the room.

"Hello, Sammy, Mr. Winchester. I am Mrs. Barnes." The kindergarten teacher, a blonde woman in her early fifties with an easy smile, shook Dean's hand and then knelt next to the trembling little boy. "I'm so happy you are in my class. Your big brother called me and talked to me and I have been so excited to meet you."

Sammy gripped the side of Dean's jeans as if terrified his brother was going to walk away and leave him now that the teacher had arrived.

Dean spoke up when he saw that his little brother was paralyzed with fear. "My phone number is in the pocket of his backpack. Please call me if he needs me; I will come right away. Also, there's a picture in there. We decided he could bring one to look at if he starts missing me too much."

Mrs. Barnes grinned. "Such a wonderful idea! Sammy, we can tape it on your desk next to your nametag if you'd like."

Sammy looked up at Dean before giving his new teacher a slight nod.

"Wonderful! You get it out of your backpack while I go find some tape." Mrs. Barnes hurried to her desk and returned with a roll of tape.

Sammy took the picture out of the pocket of his backpack and handed it to his teacher. She taped it carefully beside his nametag and then gave the boy's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I think it looks perfect, Sammy," she smiled. "Let me show you where you can hang your backpack."

Mrs. Barnes helped Sammy find the coat hook with his name above it. Then she smiled at Dean. "You said you would be picking him up today."

"Yes, ma'am," Dean replied. Sammy clung to his hand and Dean could feel the boy's tiny fingernails biting into his skin.

"Okay, well just pull around to the back door when you come. That's where the kindergarten parent pick up station is located. Sammy will meet you there at twelve."

Dean knelt beside his little brother. "All right, kiddo. I'm going to head out, but I'll see you in a few hours."

Huge tears rolled down Sammy's cheeks and he flung himself into Dean's arms. "Don't leave me, Dean," he sobbed.

"Sammy," Dean sighed, his own throat tight with emotion, "dude, you know you have to go to school."

"But you can stay with me," the little boy cried.

"I won't even fit in one of these little chairs, kiddo," Dean soothed as he brushed his little brother's brown hair back from the boy's damp face. "I'll see you in a few hours. You be good and listen to Mrs. Barnes."

Sammy sucked in a quivering breath and clung tighter as Dean tried prying the child's fingers from his arms. Sammy howled.

Mrs. Barnes assisted Dean and finally held Sammy in a hug while the little boy struggled to reach out for his brother. She gave Dean an encouraging smile. "I've been doing this a long time, Mr. Winchester. Your brother will be fine. Go on. I'll call you if there's a problem."

Dean nodded and hurried out of the room, his eyes burning. It was a relief to finally get in the relative privacy of the Impala. He gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white. It was so hard to leave Sammy with a complete stranger, especially after what had happened with Cletus last year. Dean found he couldn't bring himself to drive all the way back to Bobby's. Instead, he drove to a diner up the road a bit and had a cup of coffee. Then he stopped by the auto parts store and looked around a bit before going to the grocery store and picking up some Lucky Charms for his little brother. The morning passed slowly, but finally Dean could justify driving toward the school to wait for Sammy. He had been checking his phone all morning to ensure he hadn't missed any calls, but so far he hadn't received a one.

Dean couldn't wait to see Sammy's face and hear about the little boy's first day of school. He needed to know that his brother was safe and happy.

Sammy sat anxiously though carpet time and afterwards practiced writing his letters. He played quietly by himself during centers, glancing nervously at the other children from time to time. Next it was time for snack and then the children worked on sight words and counting. Sammy kept looking at the picture of Dean on his desk. He couldn't wait to see his brother. He glanced at the clock and wished he knew how to tell time so he'd know when he could see Dean again. Sammy decided to ask his brother and Uncle Bobby to help him learn how to tell time when he got home.

Sammy had only cried once when he went to the bathroom. He didn't want the other children to see him and laugh at him. He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand and returned to his seat. Putting his head down on his table, he stared at the picture of Dean.

"Is that your dad?" the little boy next to him asked curiously.

Sammy shook his head. "No, it's my brother, Dean."

"Oh," the kid answered, propping his chin on his hand. His dark brown eyes studied Sammy for a moment and then he rubbed a hand through his shaggy black hair. "Why do you got a picture of your brother on the table?"

"Because I miss him," Sammy sighed. "I didn't want to leave him to come to school today."

"Oh," the boy answered again. "I like school. I don't have anybody to play with at home. Maybe you can play with me at recess."

Sammy looked at the boy thoughtfully for a moment. "I'm Sammy," he finally said.

The boy smiled. "I'm Jeremy. Do you like cars?"

Sammy grinned. "Yes and so does Dean. He has a black 'Pala."

"What's that?" Jeremy asked curiously.

"A really cool car!" Sammy enthused. "Her name is Baby. I help Dean wash her and work on her."

"Maybe I can see her," said Jeremy. "My dad has a truck; he lets me help him wash it, too."

The day didn't seem quite as long once Sammy had met a friend. He still worried about his brother and Uncle Bobby, so he was relieved when Mrs. Barnes announced it was time to pack up and go home. He marched eagerly in line to the school's back door and waited to be called for dismissal.

Dean shifted from foot to foot anxiously in the line of parents as he waited for his baby brother. He gave the teacher at the backdoor his name and showed the ID card he'd been given the day he'd registered Sammy for school.

"Samuel Winchester," the teacher with the clipboard called through the backdoor of the school.

Sammy flew out of the door the moment his name was called. "DEAN!" he cried out as he saw his brother.

Dean knelt and caught Sammy as the boy catapulted himself into his arms. "Sammy, hey kiddo," he grinned, relief flowing through him when he had his kid in his arms once again.

"Dean, I missed you," the little boy called as he wrapped his arms so tightly around his brother's neck that Dean could barely breathe.

"I missed you, too," the older Winchester admitted. He brushed Sammy's bangs back from his flushed face. "Did you have a good day?"

The little boy nodded. "I made a friend. His name is Jeremy. He likes cars and I told him about Baby."

Dean grinned. "That's great, Sammy. Did you learn anything new today?"

The boy nodded eagerly. "We learned new sight words and practiced our letters and counting. You haveta sign my folder tonight, Dean, and I have homework. I have to practice my sight words."

Dean smiled. "Okay, kiddo. We'll go through your backpack when we get home. I know Uncle Bobby wants to hear all about your day. He told me to pick up a pizza to celebrate your first day of school."

"Pizza!" Sammy crowed as Dean buckled him into his booster seat. "Yay!"

He grew quiet as Dean climbed into the car and started her up. "Dean," he finally called softly, "do I really have to go back to school tomorrow?"

Dean nearly groaned. He'd hoped that Sammy would adjust after the first day of school. "Yeah, buddy, you really do."

Sammy sighed. "I like school and having a friend, but I miss you too much, Dean."

"I missed you, too, kiddo. I think it's going to take both of us a while to get used to school."

"And I wanna learn how to tell time so I know when it's time for you to come to school and get me," Sammy sighed. "Can you teach me?"

"Sure, dude. We can start working on that tonight," Dean replied, pride in his little brother coursing through him.

"Can we get our pizza now, Dean?" Sammy asked, changing the subject. "I'm hungry."

Dean chuckled, loving the way his little brother's mind hopped from thought to thought so quickly. 'Yeah, kiddo. I'm hungry, too." He turned into the parking lot of the pizza place and found himself, like Sammy, dreading the morning when they would have to part again.

The End