T H I N – B L U E – L I N E

I

There weren't many things Dean Winchester was afraid of. After graduating high school, the blonde found himself a place in the US Army as a Military Police Officer for four years. In those four years, Dean found that he was capable of doing things he could never even dream of doing; all because someone somewhere said it was the right thing to do, all because someone told him to do this. Forever a follower with leadership qualities, Dean couldn't help but relate this to his early childhood how he blindly followed his father around the Northern American continent in search of a nameless murderer. His father taught him many things that any shrink would deem worthy enough to toss him into a padded room with a tight fitting jacket. As much as he loved his father, he also deeply feared him.

After graduating high school, a series of unfortunate events forced his decision to enlist into the Army. He hated himself for leaving his little brother in his father's custody, but Dean found there was nothing he could do. Promising Sam he would return in four years, just in time for the little guy to graduate, Dean would have enough money for his baby brother to go to any school he wanted. At least that was the plan until Sam contacted his brother his senior year, a few months before Dean would be officially discharged, with the good news that he had a full ride to Stanford for law school. Dean couldn't have been prouder. Their father couldn't have been more upset.

Returning home eight months early due to a gunshot wound to his leg that resulted in the warrior breaking his tibia, Dean couldn't have been happier to hold his little… or not so little brother in his arms again. "You look like sasquatch's illegitimate offspring, Sammy!" Balancing his weight on his crutches, Dean buried his head into the crook of his brother's neck and inhaled the familiar calming smell that always reminded him of home. It only took one hateful look from their father for Dean to know that he was no longer the shining star in his father's eyes.

Through the rest of Sam's senior year, Dean found himself relaxing as he was forced to actually sit and focus on healing his broken bone. John was gone more than ever now, out hunting for the creature that killed their mother well over fifteen years ago. Trying not to think about his father, Dean focused on his apple pie life with his little brother, trying to be the father figure the brunette never had. Dropping Sam off at school, Dean couldn't help but smile as he watched his younger brother walk in with a group of friends every day. Deep down, Dean knew he and his brother were healing; they would be okay.

"Good morning, Mr. Winchester, how's the leg feeling today?" Dr. Myers asked as he slowly walked into the room, followed by a group of interns.

Dean wanted to roll his eyes in annoyance at the question, as his answer for the past few weeks had been the same. "It still hurts like a bitch, Doc."

"Have you been taking the Percocet?" Dean looked away, unable to admit to the doctor that he hadn't even filled the prescription. The Army doctors pumped him full of meds at the base when he was initially taken into the infirmary. He was never one who liked pain medications in the beginning, but until the drugs left his system Dean swore his mind was playing trick on him. Unwilling to suspect his brother to the hallucinations, Dean refused the medications.

"Yeah, I have," he quickly lied. "But the pain isn't what it used to be. I hope that mean's I'll be getting out of this thing here soon."

Dr. Myers and his interns all looked at Dean's chart, except for one student. Locking eyes with the student's chocolate brown eyes, Dean couldn't help but swallow back the lump in his throat. In the back of his mind, the soldier couldn't help but wonder if this student saw through his lie. "Depending upon how your scans go today, you may be able to start your physical therapy within the next week. I'll write you another script for some additional medication."

Leaving the hospital clinic, Dean paused just beside a trash can to quickly rip up the small piece of paper. Disposing of it, he found his way over to his black SUV. Taking an extra moment to hoist himself up into his Escape, the blonde quickly headed towards Sam's school to catch his football game. Sam had made quarterback.

Over the next several weeks, Dean and Sam found themselves at his physical therapists office going through his daily exercises to get the solider back to full strength. Sam would bury his nose into his text books, and work on homework while Dean would curse loudly at Dianna, his physical therapist, as he attempted to complete his exercises. He hated the weak feeling Dianna left him as she continually worked his leg, and he hated himself for being so weak in front of his brother. Gritting through the pain, Dean was thankful that three months later he was able to never step foot in that facility again.

Sam was in his final semester at school and their dad hadn't been seen for almost two months. The teen had a few weeks left until he graduated and he would be off to Stanford in the fall for classes. A part of that scared Dean because when Sam leaves, it would leave Dean alone in the dingy house his father got. He entertained the idea of reenlisting into the Army for a second tour. Those papers still sat upon the top of his dresser.

He had taken up a new activity. Finding that he required structure in his life when Sam was in school, Dean found himself pushing himself through the physical requirements of his basic training. Running around the park trail, his lungs burned and his muscles ached but he felt free. His feet thundered against the ground, his Metallica music blared loudly into his ears; Dean Winchester was free. Coming around to his tenth lap, the blonde slowed to a stop. Resting his palms on his knees, he focused on controlling his breathing.

"Phew, I feel good!" Dean exclaimed to himself, gaining a few looks from some on passing joggers. The past couple of weeks had been amazing; the fresh air really did the blonde good. He'd quickly befriended Mrs. Carter, the elderly woman who daily walked a lap around the park with her walker. For being in her late eighties, the woman was still as feisty as ever. There was also the Barbie-girls—blonde haired, blue eyes, and tight little bodies—that Dean found pleasure in watching run around the track. However, as much of an eye-candy treat they were, Dean couldn't help but always over hear them complain about how terrible their life was. He'd caught a few of them checking him out multiple times, and decided it would be wise to stay far, far away.

He'd made friends with some of the soccer moms who practiced yoga in the sun in the later hours of the mornings, and had been invited by their husbands to play basketball a few times. There were moments that Dean could see himself settling down in Kansas, staying accustomed to seeing these familiar and friendly faces on a daily basis. He and Sam had lived in Lawrence for the first few years of their lives and had always talked about returning to their roots. It was a chance for them to officially start anew without any drama.

Lightly jogging back over to his truck, Dean reached into his shorts pockets to pull free his keys. "Hey, Dean, wait up!" Startled, the blonde dropped his keys. They clattered loudly against the pavement. "Here, man, you dropped these." Handing his key set back, Michael smiled dumbly down at the shorter man.

"Thanks, what's up?" Taking his keys, Dean slipped them back into his pocket.

"Would you be interested in joining a softball team this year? My department team needs another player now that Frank is retired, and we need another person if we have hopes in beating the guys from the Tenth Division. Come on, you'd be an amazing addition to the team." Taking the flier in Michael's hand, Dean slowly read.

"Are you getting me a job or a spot on a tee-ball team, Mike?" Flipping the stapled leaflets over, Dean allowed his eyes to roam over the department application. Glancing back to the officer, who had accompanied him on a few runs in the past, Dean wasn't sure to be happy or put off about this.

"It's softball, Dean, not tee-ball." The officer corrected. He crossed his arms over his broad chest in a defensive manner.

"Tomato, tomato," Dean bit back harshly. "Thanks and all, but I'm good." Extending the papers back towards his running partner, Dean waited impatiently for the dark haired man to take them back.

"I thought it would be perfect for you, Dean. You said you were thinking about going back for another tour, but this way you'll still be protecting our country, just domestically. Also, you can stay close to Sam." Dean suddenly didn't want to let these papers out of his grasp. Not one to back down, he silently prayed Michael wouldn't take them back. "Look, the civil service test isn't until Monday, so you have all weekend to think about it. I already have a seat reserved for you, so all you have to do is show up and take the test."

Bringing the papers back into his reading line, Dean glanced over the application forms once again. "I don't know man…" He trailed off, silently reading to himself.

"Just show up and take the test so I don't feel like I just wasted fifty-bucks." Lightly punching the blond on his bicep, Michael turned to head back over towards Gage, who was his patrol partner. "Just think about it, talk it over with Sam, and we'll see you Monday at the station for the exam."

Looking back, Dean was happy he didn't tell Michael to shove those papers up his ass. He drove to Sam's school, the papers forgotten on the passenger's seat. Waiting in the parking lot for his baby brother to come out of the building, Dean didn't notice when the brunette opened the hatch on the back of the Escape to deposit his soccer gear and school bag before coming around to the front passenger's seat. Before climbing in, he moves the set of papers and buckles in. If Sam hadn't been so damn nosey, and had not read the papers, Dean was one hundred percent positive that he wouldn't have sat down to the exam that Monday. It would be the week before Sam graduates that Dean got a call back from the Fifteenth Division with a date for a psych evaluation.

Dean absolutely hated exams. In high school he was never an A student, like his baby brother, but he would study for the grades he got. Sitting down for his psychological exam, Dean couldn't help but feel like bacteria in a Petri dish. How was he supposed to know what was the correct answer when the psychologist asked if he'd rather have a cat or a dog as a pet, or if the color red was his favorite color. There had been a few questions about his time serving in the war, and also about his family, his high school career, and his nonexistent friends. Prying deeper, he was questioned about Sam, his favorite grade school teacher, favorite food, and if he had a dark spot on his skin how it would make him feel. By the time he left the test, nearly four hours later, Dean wanted to sleep in the driver's seat.

Picking up Sam that afternoon, the younger Winchester was convinced that the doctor had ninja'd his brother's brain. Conning his brother into allowing him to drive home, Dean didn't have it in him to argue with Sam about who was driving. Oddly enough, he felt safer with the non-experienced teenager driving than himself at the moment. They got Subway for dinner that night and Dean went straight to bed.

Sam graduated, and even though he couldn't out right afford it, Dean picked up a few side jobs doing some yard work in the neighborhood to pay for a graduation party for his little brother. Even if he didn't have the greatest experience in high school, Dean would be damned if Sam would be suspect to follow in his footsteps. Looking around their backyard, littered with teenagers and some of the school's faculty, Dean was happy he could throw Sam a party. He just wanted his little brother to be normal.

"Great party here, Winchester." Startled, Dean paused from his grilling to glance at Michael. He had invited some of his own friends from the park to come along, as some of them were the parents the teens who were running wildly around his backyard playing flag football. He didn't remember inviting Michael until he saw a flash of red hair across the yard. Her name was Anna and was one of Sam's lab partners. She was also Michael's little sister. "These hamburgers," he exclaimed through a huge mouthful, "fucking amazing."

"Thanks…" Turning back to his task, the soldier moved to flip the remaining hamburger patties. "I haven't seen you at the park in the past week, where you been?" Sure he was curious, but really Dean was searching for small talk.

"We're down so many people at work right now because of the Drop-program; I've been working overtime nearly every week." Michael swallowed. Dean nodded. "I saw you took our test, how'd the psych eval go?"

Dean shrugged. "I'm pretty sure they won't call back after that. Your sergeant said I scored in the top five percentile on my CSE, but I don't think I did so well on my eval. Damn, even when I enlisted into the Army, the psychological profiles they did were never that intense. How am I supposed to know what the right answer is when all you give me are two possible right answers?" Dean angrily transferred the last of the hamburgers onto a platter and set them on the food table for more hungry teenagers to devour.

"Dean, I came to drop my sister off, score some free food—which by the way is freaking amazing—and to give you this." Holding out a sealed envelope, Michael watched Dean cautiously take it into his hands. "Open it."

He held the letter in his hands tightly, hoping it was what he thought it was. Looking to the officer for guidance as to what the contents of the letter, he sighed inwardly when he saw no response on the older man's. Slowly, Dean worked his thumb under a loose flap and worked his finger along the seam. Carefully, he pulled out the letter, hoping it was an acceptance letter to the final stage of the hiring process. Reading it over, he turned and smiled up at Michael.

"I have an interview with the mayor and city officials on the 15th." The words sounded foreign to him as he was shocked that he'd even get hired. He always told himself he'd become a firefighter once he got out of the Army. As much as he hated what he did over seas, Dean couldn't get the thrill of a gun firing out of his head. He'd been brought up around weapons his whole life, and never before had they had an effect like this upon him. The first time he fired his weapon in the Army into enemy lines, Dean felt a rush over take him. Even now he couldn't shake the feeling.

Michael smiled. "I knew you'd do well. But, I have to go help my baby brother move into his new apartment just outside of campus, he starts his student teaching in the Fall. I'll bring him running with me sometime so you can meet him. If I don't see you before then, good luck at the interview!" Clapping his hand on Dean's shoulder, Michael bid his farewells before heading out to his truck.

"Why was Michael here?" Sam asked as he came to a stop next to his dazed brother. "What's that?" Taking the congratulatory paper from his brother's loose grasp, Sam's face broke out into a huge grin. "Dean, this is awesome!" Throwing his arm around his brother's shoulders, Sam followed Dean's line of sight to the back gate where Michael had just left. It took him an extra moment to recognize the scruffy man who stood at the gate. The Winchesters starred at their father for a moment, waiting for him to enter. He never did. Watching him turn on his heel and march down the driveway, both boys released a baited breath.

Looking back, Dean realized he hadn't seen his father again since that night. The cool, crisp autumn air wafted into his cruiser, sending a shiver down his spine. He always loved this time of the year when the leaves changed their colors, but he wasn't too particular about the temperature change. "I can't believe tonight is our last night together, rookie." Michael laughed as he lightly punched Dean in the shoulder. "My little boy has grown up so fast!"

"I can't wait to get my own cruiser, and not have to share with you anymore." Dean quipped lightly, throwing his field training officer a playful smirk. "We won't even be on the same shift tomorrow; do you realize how awesome this will be?"

"You keep telling yourself that, Winchester. You'll be calling me for every call for advice." Flipping through his field reports on a couple of traffic violations, Michael quickly spoke into his radio.

Dean smiled to himself as he knew a part of him would miss his safety blanket. Through the academy, the blonde officer had repeatedly told himself he couldn't do this and didn't want to do it. Stressed from losing Sam to Stanford and having his dad officially move out of house, Dean felt his walls quickly collapsing around him. A call everyday from his baby brother wasn't enough for him, and Michael quickly saw this and had taken it upon himself to pull Dean under his watchful wing.

"I got a call from Anna the other day. She loves medical school at Stanford, plus she gets to see Sam and Jess every day. It's good for them to have each other, the familiarity and all." Dean nodded at the mention of his baby brother. "They'll be back for Thanksgiving before you know it! Speaking of large family affairs, my family is having a huge get together this weekend for Gabriel's birthday, my brother. Some of the guys are coming over too, so you'll know a few people there."

"Yeah, sure, I'll go if I'm not working."

"Even if you are working, just swing by after your shift. No one will care if you're still in uniform." Quickly scribbling his parents address down for his partner, Michael handed it over to the blonde who pocketed it into his breast pocket on his uniform.

"3A… respond to 1482 Wabash for a signal 10."

"3A, copies." Speaking calmly into his radio, Dean glanced towards Michael who continued to look over his traffic reports he'd made earlier. Everyone else in the department who had Michael Novak as their FTO said it was the worst experience they ever had and that they didn't learn anything from him. Dean was slightly intimidated by this when he first started, but found it easy to speak with the elder Novak about anything that was on his mind. A part of him was going to miss his partner, but Dean knew this would be good for him because he was no longer afraid.

~S U P E R N A T U R A L~

Kira: So I've been toying with this idea for a while, not sure how this fandom would enjoy something like this. I know this chapter was kind of dry, but I wanted to catch the readers up as to what has been happening in the Winchesters lives since they graduated, especially Dean's. This is my first attempt at a Supernatural fiction, so please, I welcome constructive criticism. Read and review to let me know what you think!

~D A R K – A N G E L – K I R A~