Supernatural short stories

GWH Problem 6

A week goes by and Cas hasn't seen Dean since, but he has not stopped thinking about him. He wished he could've gotten to know Dean more, but then he let that stupid comment slip. He didn't mean to be insulting by his blunt nature, but Dean never gave him a chance. Cas can't blame him, he only wished there was something he could do about it. Cas sighed. Right now he was grading math quizzes. He liked teaching, but grading was a different story. It could be very monotonous at times. Then he came across an interesting test from a girl named Charlie. She had gotten the right answer, but he'd never before seen the method she used. Cas is pretty sure that this was still a valid way to get the solution, but he wanted to double-check with Professor Haden. His office was just down the hall. He picked up the test and headed over.

When he was a couple of feet away, professor Haden's door opened. Out stepped an extremely frustrated Sam Winchester.

"Sam?" Cas asked, "what's wrong?"

Sam sighed, "Nothing Professor I-" he stopped when he saw the look on Cas's face. It was kind, but it would not accept a lie. "I'm not doing too good in analytical geometry, and Professor Haden isn't really helping me get my grade back up."

"Can't you ask your brother for help?"

"Dean? I mean, I don't know if he could."

Cas gave a small smile, "you'd be surprised."

Sam nodded and started walking away.

"Oh and Sam," Cas called, causing Sam to turn around, "please tell Dean I'm sorry."

Sam nodded, now more confused than ever. Cas entered Professor Haden's office as Sam left the building. Dean had texted Sam that someone called with car trouble and he wouldn't be able to pick him up that day. Sam didn't mind, their apartment was close to the school anyways. When he got home he dropped on the couch and turned the tv on. He needed a break from math. His phone beeped, it was a message from Dean.

All finished. Want me to pick up something for dinner?

We still have all those leftovers we need to eat.

True. I'll grab some beers. Be home soon

OK

When Sam put his phone down he remembered what Professor Novak had said. First, how did he even know about Dean? I mean yeah Sam had mentioned him, but he also asked Sam to apologize for him. He definitely needed to confront Dean about this.

"I made a stirfry from last night's Chinese and some of that chicken," Sam called from the kitchen once he heard the door open. As promised, Dean brought a 6-pack and some blueberry pie.

"Perfect," he smiled placing his groceries on the table, "let me get cleaned up."

Dean was still wearing his dirty work clothes but quickly changed into some random shirt and pants while Sam made Dean and himself a plate.

They sat down and began eating.

"So what was this house call? Everything all right."

Dean smiled, "yeah actually the girl was super funny. So she popped a tire and she fixed it up herself correctly but then her battery dies. I just gave her a quick jump and was on my way. She was super nice though, her name is Charlie, we even exchanged numbers."

"Oh," Sam raised his eyebrows.

"Woah wait, not like that ok. She's more like a sister. Besides she's like your age and gay."

"Well, congrats Dean you made your first friend."

"Shut up, anyways how was your day?"

"Haden is still being a dick. If I do bad on one more quiz I'm done for."

"Stop going to him for help then. You liked your math professor from last year, why not go to him."

"Professor Novak?"

"Yeah, I'm sure he'd help you."

"Actually Dean," Sam laughed at how awkward it sounded, "he told me to go to you for help and to tell you that he's sorry."

Dean looked down at his plate while chewing his food. When he finally swallowed he looked up at Sam, "Why?"

"I don't know. Honestly I didn't know you guys ever met before. What happened between you too."

"Nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"Fine, I mean, I've only seen him once or twice. Last time I was waiting outside Haden's office for you and he thought I was homeless or something. He yelled at me and I cursed at him and left"

"Then how'd he find out who you were?"

Dean paused, "he saw you get in my car, I guess."

"Come on Dean, don't lie."

"I'm not."

"Then why'd you pause like that?"

"Can't a man take a moment to chew his food?"

"Fine, what about the math then?"

"It's 'cause I'm the oldest, and therefore superior."

Sam rolled his eyes, "He probably just assumed you went to college."

Dean half-laughed, half-grunted.

The subject changed and they continued talking and eating dinner. When they're done, Sam sprawled out his homework on the kitchen table while Dean washed the dishes.

After minutes of intense pencil scribbling and calculator clicking, Sam let out a frustrated, "damn it." He put his pencil down and rubbed his face in his hands.

"Come on can't be that bad," Dean smiled as he dried his hands.

"Dean I've been working on this same problem for like 10 minutes and I can't even do part a."

"Well let me take a look."

"Thanks, Dean, but I'm good."

"You just said you're struggling."

"Exactly, I'm struggling and, no offense Dean, you barely made it through high school. If I can't do it, what makes you think you can?"

Dean pursed his lips, "well Professor Haden can't help you, and staring at the problem for another 10 minutes won't magically make you understand so why not let me take a crack at it?"

"Fine whatever," Sam turned the textbox towards Dean, "it's problem number 6."

Dean read the problem. Tilted his head up like he was thinking for a moment, then turned the book back towards Sam.

Sam nodded, thinking Dean was admitting defeat, "that's what I thought."

"You draw an auxiliary line in the second trapezoid, then you have two congruent 3, 4, 5 triangles. That gives you part a."

Sam gapped at his brother. He quickly took the book and read the problem. He looked up at Dean, then at the problem again.

"Dude," Sam laughed, "you're right! That works!"

Dean smiled and shrugged.

"How did you do that Dean?"

"Well, you know, it's just shapes. And you can put them together and take them apart, just like cars."

"Heh, yeah. Thanks, Dean."

"Don't mention it. I'll be in the other room. Holler if you need more help."

"Yup."

Dean walked into the living room, beer in hand, and relaxed onto the couch. He turned on the football game, but he couldn't distract himself. Why'd that idiot tell Sam? Did he really want to apologize? He didn't know Castiel, but what he said really hurt. Dean starts to think back to what he said. That he was wasting his life. Heard that one a million times. It felt different coming from a complete stranger. Dean couldn't tell if it was better or worse than his father. Nah his father was definitely worse.

"I finished number 6!" Sam called giddily from the kitchen.

"Nice job, buddy!" Dean yelled back. He took a swing of his beer. Nah, he wasn't wasting his life.