Supernatural 1996: The Goatman

Chapter 5

''Could you like not make those sounds,'' Sam whined. He had not touched his plate of eggs and was busy scribbling on a workbook, eyes skyward as he mumbled calculations.

''You mean chew, the stuff normal people do at breakfast.''

''Yeah,'' he replied, not bothering to look at him.

Dean tossed back another fry and stared at his brother's head, chewing as loudly as he could. It took a while for his brother to grow irritated enough to look up at him, and when he did Dean gave him a wide smile with half-chewed food. Sam looked away and gave a disgusted choke. Dean let out a nasty laugh before swallowing.

''What are you doing? Homework?''

He let out a murmur which vaguely sounded like yes.

''Doing your Homework just before school? Someone's slacking,'' he mocked.

''It's not mine,'' He explained. ''It's for this girl I know.''

That made Dean chuckle, ''Now I get it.''

''Word of advice little brother, doing her Homework is not going to score you any points, it'll just make you look like a desperate nerd.''

''It's not like that,'' he shook his head. ''We're just friends.''

Dean sighed. He understood how difficult it was to make friends for Sam, but he didn't want his brother to be doing other people's work just to fit in.

''Did you get any message from dad yet?'' Sam asked quietly, as though he already knew the answer.

Dean's heart sunk, ''Give him time, you know how wrapped up he can get in a hunt.''

Sam didn't say anything which made him somehow feel guiltier. The truth was that he felt his father had lost faith in him. He was supposed to be the rock in his family, the protector, the one his father and brother could rely on but down in Chicago he had nearly brought trouble down on them all. His father had never yelled or swore at him the way he usually did if he or Sam messed up but he could tell that his dad started to keep things from him as though he never completely trusted him. Things like where they were going next, messages from other hunters or even leads on monsters. Dean never told Sam but the last few nights he couldn't help but wonder if this hunt was just an excuse to get away from him... and he wouldn't be wrong to do it. Dean knew he had messed up; he could see it on Sam's face every day. That was why this was so important. If dad wanted them to stay put in this godforsaken town, then that was exactly what they were going to do, Sam's Science Fair could wait.

''You boys comfortable?'' Their waitress, a young woman with short cropped red hair and light freckles on her nose came up to them. She looked to be maybe five years Dean's senior with coal-colored eyes.

''Yeah, we're great thanks,'' he smiled and she sauntered back to the counter.

As usual the diner was pretty empty in the morning although he wasn't sure if that was because people breakfasted at home or because of the severed arm the Sheriff had found. Ever since that news report everyone in the Southgate seemed to have gone on hyper alert. Even brass tough Mr. Downey seemed a little skittish.

''So, what do you think?''

Sam looked at him expectantly.

''About what?''

He rolled his eyes, ''About the arm. Do you think this town's killer is back?''

''I don't know,'' he said earnestly. That was another problem he had to deal with, a potential killer in the town he and Sam were supposed to be laying low in.