Chapter 8
Dean woke up the next day with a dull ache in his head and a slight throb in his leg. He also noticed Sammy was asleep next to him. Dean let out a small amused huff of laughter and poked Sammy in the shoulder.
Sam made a grumble sort of noise and ignored Dean’s poke.
“What are you doing in here?” Dean continued.
Sam rolled over to face Dean and began, “You have a concussion and you had surgery yesterday. I stayed to make sure you didn’t die.” He said pointedly.
Dean just gave a small breath of laughter before swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, which was slightly harder because of the added weight of the cast.
He hopped out of bed, grabbed the crutches and said, “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Wait a second,” Sam replied. Dean turned expectantly towards him. Sam reached over the side of the bed and resurfaced with a plastic bag, “You’re gonna need to put this around your cast.” He said.
Dean took the bag and headed to the bathroom.
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Dean exited the bathroom and made his way to his bedroom to get dressed.
When he entered the room, he noted that Sam was gone.
Dean walked to his closet and pulled out some black joggers, ‘easier to get over the cast’ he thought to himself. He also pulled out a plain black t-shirt and a white AC/DC jumper.
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Dean made his way downstairs to see Sam sat at the kitchen table, reading his biology textbook. He also noted that his father was passed out on the couch.
Dean quietly made his way to grab and apple for each him and Sam before motioning Sam to the front door. Sam stood without question and walked to the door, Dean following behind.
The brothers exited the house and made their way to the impala in silence.
“What about breakfast?” Sam asked once they were seated.
Dean just pulled out the apple and gave it to Sam.
“I know it’s not a lot, but I wanted to get out the house without Dad waking up,” Dean stated coolly.
Sam just nodded and took the apple from Dean, taking a big bite from it while Dean sped off in the direction of school.
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The avengers woke up grumbling in the living area to the sound of FRIDAY’s voice.
“I have found Dean Winchester,” the AI stated calmly.
The team were immediately on their feet, completely awake.
“Where is he?” Steve asked urgently.
“I picked him up on a parking lot camera at Lincoln High,” she said.
“Ok,” Tony started, “Let’s go get him.”
“What? Just stroll into his school?” Bucky asked.
“Yes,” Tony stated seriously. “We need to help him as soon as we can.”
“Ok,” Steve said calmly, “Should we put on our suits or…?”
“No,” Natasha started, “That’ll probably just freak him out more.”
“Fine, now let’s go,” Tony said impatiently.
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Dean was just heading out of his first class and walking towards his second, he was let out early to avoid the crowds because of his broken leg, when he saw Steve fucking Rogers stood at the end of the hallway.
He tried to turn quickly but struggled because of his broken leg.
When he managed to turn, he saw Steve’s mouth move out of the corner of his eye. He ignored it in favour of getting the hell out of there.
He started to walk away, but before he could make it far, Steve was overtaking him and stopping in front him, halting his escape.
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Steve saw Dean and said to the team over the comms, “Found him. He’s in the English block.”
He heard a series of affirmations on the other end and made his way towards Dean, who he noted was trying to get away.
Steve overtook the boy and stood in front of him.
“Hello Dean,” he said.
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‘Fucking great,’ Dean thought to himself, ‘stupid fucking crutches.’
“Hi,” Dean answered coldly. He made a move to turn around and leave but was met by the rest of the team.
“Is this what you guys like to do in your spare time? Stalk high school kids?” Dean asked sarcastically.
“Dean you were hurt, badly,” Tony began but was interrupted by Dean.
“Yeah thanks, I can see that. But I’m fine, so I’ll just be leaving now.”
“Dean wait,” Steve called out as Dean made a move to leave, “We know what’s happening.”
Dean froze. ‘Oh god no please’ he kept thinking.
“I don’t know what you think you know but I’m sure your wrong.” He replied with slight panic.
Natasha stepped forward and whispered, “We know what your Dad does, and we know about New Jersey.”
Dean really started to panic, and it started to show. ‘How the hell could they know anything about New Jersey?’ he thought.
“Let’s talk outside. I don’t want the other kids to see you,” Dean said through a shaky breath.
The team just nodded and allowed Dean to lead the way out.
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They were all stood behind the school in somewhat of a circle.
“Look,” Dean began, “You don’t know anything, so please leave me alone.”
“Dean, we ran your name when you left…” Tony began.
“You what?!” Dean interrupted.
“It was so we could help you. We saw the scars Dean,” Steve added.
“You didn’t see anything. Please you don’t know what will happen if you try to help. Please leave me alone,” Dean practically begged.
“I told you we know about New Jersey,” Natasha stepped forward, “Did that happen because of the social workers?”
Dean stayed silent but gave a small nod. ‘Why the hell am I even talking to them?’ Dean thought.
“Listen kid,” Tony also walked forward, “We could help you. Get you out.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need help,” he said.
“Kid,” Steve began, “You need to get out of that house, but if you’re not ready to get help, then just…keep in contact please. And if things get too bad, call us,” he finished with a sigh.
“Yeah, look, as much as we want to call CPS right now, we don’t want you to get that badly hurt again, so please just get in contact if it gets too bad.” Clint said, “And give your brother our numbers as well, just in case.”
Dean froze again, “How the hell do you know about Sammy?” he asked with some anger. ‘I will protect Sammy if it’s the last thing I do,” he thought to himself.
The team startled a bit from the silent teen’s sudden outburst, but quickly recovered.
“I told you, we ran your name. Didn’t know his name though, only that he existed,” Tony said calmly.
Dean relaxed, but only slightly. “Fine, I’ll keep in touch,” he said.
The team seemed to relax as well.
“Alright, give me your phone so I can put our numbers in,” Tony said with his hand out.
Dean flinched slightly at the hand, which didn’t go unnoticed by the team, but handed his phone over anyway.
Soon the phone was handed back and Dean took it from Tony.
“By the way, sorry I took you down before man,” Dean directed at Clint, “It was just instinct.”
Clint smiled kindly, “It was nothing, no lasting damage.”
Dean smiled back, but not as genuinely as Clint.
“Alright,” he started, “Can I get back to school now?”
“Sure,” Steve answered, also with a kind smile.
Dean exited the circle of people and headed back to class.
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“Are you sure we can just do that?” Bucky asked, “I thought the plan was get him and his brother out immediately?”
“It was,” Clint started, “But he just looked so terrified, so I figured this could let us know he’s still safe while we think of a way to help.”
“Ok that’s actually kinda smart…” Bucky conceded.
The team made their way back to the tower.
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When school finished, Dean was already at the impala when Sam walked over.
“Hey,” Sam said happily.
“Hey man,” Dean replied, “Gimme your phone I gotta add a few numbers to it.”
“Why?” Sam asked but still handed the phone over without hesitation.
Dean took it and started to put the numbers in. “It’s each of the avengers’ numbers, they came to the school and tried to get me too accept help. I said no, but they made me take the numbers in case shit gets too bad.” He replied nonchalantly.
“What?!” Sam practically yelled, surprised. “You have the avengers’ numbers?”
“Would you keep it down Sammy?” Dean whisper shouted.
Sammy stayed silent until they were in impala and immediately exploded with questions that Dean had to answer.