It was about quarter after seven by the time they crossed the line into the township of Hatford. Their clothes had long since dried off and Dean was humming along with the radio while Sam alternated between watching Dean and looking out the window. House of the Rising Sun was just fading out when Dean reached down and turned the radio off.

"How ya feelin?" Dean asked, going for casual.

"Fine, why?" Sam answered

"Cause I was just thinking-"

"This plan doesn't involve us getting soaked again does it?" Sam cut in with a chuckle.

"It could if you wanted it to." Dean joked. Sam only grinned and shook his head. "So anyway I was thinking that visiting hours start at eight and we could just grab a coffee in the lobby and go see Johnny."

"I don't know about you Dean, but us mere mortals need more than three hours sleep."

"No Sam really, just hear me out. We're already out, and if we go see him early then the poor kid won't tie himself in knots all day wondering if we're coming." Sam gave him a look that reflected his thoughts on the idea. "No really, you see this way we get everything out of the way and then we got nothin better to do than stay in bed all day." Dean wiggled his eyebrows in mock seduction.

"You cad!" Sam retorted with feigned shock and both men laughed. "Actually, when you put it like that it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all."

"Hey, you knew there had to be a reason you keep me around and the fact that I am brilliant is just a bonus."

"That and you know, you have a car." As much as he tried he just couldn't keep a straight face. "To the hospital Jeeves!" Sam ordered pretentiously and then leaned back and laughed when Dean only gave him a scowl and turned the radio back on.

As they entered the hospital lobby Sam made for the Starbucks while Dean stopped to grab a copy of the Hatford Bugle out of the paper box. Sam thought it was a bit odd but he had given up on trying to figure Dean out. They placed their orders and Dean grabbed a table while Sam stopped at the condiment station to add sugar to his Cafe Mocha. When Sam finally took a seat Dean had his face buried in the paper.

"No way you get to sit there and read the paper. This was your idea and if I gotta wait around here you are going to entertain me." Sam stated sternly as he gave Dean a light kick.

"You want entertainment Sammy? Check this out." Dean told him with a shit eating grin on his face.

Sam huffed and grabbed the paper not quite knowing what to expect. If he was more awake he may have been a quicker on the up take. "How well do you know your neighbours?" He read aloud and proceeded to read the article below the headline. "Local authorities in cooperation with the federal... hhhmm... mlllammto ansam... mmm" his reading faded into a garbles of non comprehensible blabber that one makes when they are sort of reading aloud to themselves. "Hmgla... hilpormmo... OH MY GOD! Dean what did you...-" He stopped himself when everyone in the place turned to look at him and he noticed the warning look on Dean's face. "...get me this time? This is sooo good!" he finished and took a long sip of his coffee.

The other patron's of the coffee shop looked at him like he was retarded and then just shook their heads and went back to what they were doing. Sam couldn't take his eyes off Dean. He gave him a what the fuck look but Dean only shook his head and pointed at the paper like he wanted him to continue reading. If Sam didn't do something he was going to go out of his mind, so he continued the read the paper with much more interest than when he had started.

It was unbelievable. The article detailed a raid on in an upscale residence of Hatford that resulted in the arrest of one Chip Edward Parker. The FBI had been monitoring Parker for some time for suspicious activities related to an internet child pornography ring. Mr Parker's computer was taken by the FBI to be analysed by their computer specialists. In the process of searching Mr. Parker's residence the authorities also found an unspecified amount of drugs, a large amount of cash and an unregistered firearm. The FBI was not at liberty to disclose any further details at this time.

Holy shit!

Sam was dumbfounded. What the fuck was going on? He knew that Dean was up to something, but this couldn't be it. Could it? It's not like Dean was working with the FBI. What the fuck! Sam read the article thoroughly again but still had no more clue as to what the hell was going on as he did before. Logic dictated that this was some huge coincidence but the sinister smirk Dean still had on his face told another story.

"It's past eight Sam, let's go. Bring the paper with you; I think Nell might want to read it." Dean got up and started to head across the lobby like nothing was going on at all. Sam had no idea how long he sat there before an impatient Dean came up behind him and gave him a poke. "C'mon, let's go."

Sam followed Dean in a haze. His head was reeling and he certainly no longer felt tired. He wanted to walk up to Dean and beat him down until he got some answers but this was neither the time nor the place. That was made crystal clear when they rounded the corner to Johnny's room and saw Nell standing in the hallway talking to Detective Hendrickson. Sam's stomach jumped so far into his throat that he thought he was actually going to puke it out right onto the hospital floor. Turning around would look more than suspicious though and Sam had to start reciting the alphabet in Latin in his head to calm himself down.

Dean didn't look the slightest bit phased.

When Nell saw them approach she smiled and told them she would just be a few minutes.

"Actually I think we are done." Hendrickson stated as he saw the two men. He turned back to Nell. "I'll be sure to let you know if there is anything else that comes to light."

"Thank you Detective, I know you are doing your best." Nell answered honestly and then shook his hand.

The darker man then turned to the pair who were now standing in the hallway, his eyes landing on the shorter of the two. "Dean Winchester."

"Detective" Dean answered with a nod. "Any news on Johnny's case?"

Hendrickson let out a huff that was half an exasperated laugh. "The victim doesn't remember anything and anyone who may have any useful information doesn't seem to want to share."

"So that would be a no then."

"Unless a video shows up on YouTube it doesn't look like this case is gonna crack any time soon. Plus we're a bit short on manpower; it seems that more pressing matters have recently come to light." Hendrickson stated

"You mean the Chip Parker thing?" Dean asked. The Detective raised his eyebrows in question. "Yeah read it in the paper this morning, nasty affair. They saddle you with the case?" Sam was barely holding it together and couldn't believe that Dean could be so smug.

Hendrickson laughed and shook his head. "What kind of pertinent information could a simple Hatford county Detective possibly offer the FBI?" He paused in thought for a moment. "I am curious on what they'll find on that computer though, aren't you Dean?"

It was a loaded question and Sam could only stand and watch the exchange wondering what the hell he was missing.

"Don't really give a shit to tell you the truth." Dean replied with his patented I'm an ass smile. "Ain't my problem."

"Mine either." Hendrickson said with a grin. The two men shared a knowing look.

"Well Johnny and Nell are waiting." Dean threw out to break the silence as he waved his hand in the general direction of the hospital room door.

"Don't let me stop you; you are a free man after all." The Detective turned and walked away but just before they got to Johnny's room Hendrickson turned back to them. "I like you Dean." He said like he was stating an obvious fact. "And I sincerely hope that our paths never cross again."

Dean held his hand up to his heart. "That hurts." He told the older man with feigned sincerity. Hendrickson only shook his head and walked away.

Sam's eyes darted back and forth between the two men. It was obvious that something had just happened right in front of him and he had no clue as to what it was. He was still standing there wondering when he noticed that the hallway was now empty.

XXXXX

The visit with Johnny went well. They learned that he was going to be released on Friday. He still had no memory of the horrific event and the Doctors had told him that there was only a small chance that he ever would. Johnny and Nell would be leaving for Iowa on Saturday. The school administrators were sympathetic and agreed to keep Johnny's scholarship; he would be returning in January for the new semester. Dean had told Johnny that he couldn't leave without seeing Deloris and the four of them had plans to go to the diner for breakfast before Johnny and Nell left to catch their flight.

The entire visit Nell kept looking at the paper that now sat on the chair and staring at Sam and Dean with curiosity. She may have had her own suspicions, but she never asked about it. Sam and Dean finally said their goodbye's and promised to visit as often as their schedule would allow. By the time they got in the car Sam was nearly going out of his mind.

"Ok spill." Sam said before Dean was even fully seated.

"Spill what?" Dean asked innocently.

"Dean." Sam growled, not even trying to hide his irritation.

Dean let out a heavy breath. "It was worth a try wasn't it?"

"How about trying to explain what the fuck is going on. Coincidences happen Dean, but this is just too much to ignore."

Dean let out another defeated sigh. "I have a friend named Ash. Fucking nutcase but the guy is brilliant. When I saw that things might get ugly I gave him a call." Sam waited a moment for him to continue. He didn't.

"And..." Sam demanded impatiently.

"And his field of expertise happens to be computers." Dean said vaguely.

"You didn't?" Sam said disbelievingly.

"No, I didn't. I simply implied what could be done if the situation should call for it." He spoke in that somewhat condescending tone where you know that the other person knows that you're full of shit.

Sam had to close his eyes and take a deep breath to control himself. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke."If you don't start giving me some straight answers I swear I am going to hit you."

"You're better off not knowing Sammy." Dean told him in a last ditch effort to dissuade his line of questioning.

"Maybe so but you owe me Dean. You swore to me that you would come clean."

Dean nodded slowly. "Fair enough." He started the car and pulled out of the hospital parking lot. Just when Sam was beginning to think Dean wasn't going to say anything else he began to speak. "I saved Ash's ass way back from a few douche bags not unlike our buddy Chip. For whatever reason we stayed in touch. We didn't see each other often but we became good friends. He always said he owed me for what I did for him back then. I'm not one for keeping score but I needed his help so I gave him a call and he was more than happy to oblige." Dean threw Sam a sideward glance and returned his focus to the road.

"By bringing in the FBI?" Sam asked incredulously.

"Not directly no." His eyes stayed on the road as he spoke. "You gotta understand that Ash is a fucking computer genius. Bill gates would be jealous of this guy. He could have been some real hotshot at some million dollar software company but he has a rather paranoid dislike for authority. He's one of the best if not the best hacker in the world. There isn't a wannabe hacker anywhere who hasn't heard of Dr. Badass."

"That's the Doctor you were talking to?" Sam asked with disbelief remembering the conversation he had eavesdropped on what seemed like an eternity ago.

"What?" Dean asked, confused by the odd question.

"Never mind go on."

"So anyway he liked the idea of dishing out some pain to a loser like Chip. All he needed was his computer IP and the game was on. Of course Chip would be the type to buy a new computer every year for school. Ash hacked in and re-dated some file transfers to make it look like the information was uploaded just after the purchase, you know, just like anyone would transfer all their information from the old computer to the new one. He would monitor his usage and add new file transfers only when Chip was on line. Don't ask me how, but he really knows his stuff. After Johnny I knew that the Chip situation was only going to escalate, so I asked Ash to step up the game. He would choose times when Chip was on line and use his IP to log onto known kiddy porn sites that were flagged by the FBI, it wasn't long before the Feds were monitoring his activities. Ash then hacked in and raised some priority level red flags in the Fed's database. The rest is the front page news." Dean dared a quick glance at his passenger to try and gauge his reaction.

"And you're sure all this is gonna stand up to inspection by the Feds?"

"Sure it will." Dean said confidently. "It was all done through his computer, no idea how but if that's what Ash says then that's the way it is. If they bother to dig deep enough they may find an inconsistency or two, but it would be circumstantial at best to be used in Chip's defence. The best case they can make is possible doubt."

"That's all it takes for someone to be acquitted." Sam stated, knowing all too well the influence that power and money could have on a jury.

"And he probably will be, but it won't matter by then. I know better than most that all it takes is the accusation and it will follow you around for the rest of your life. Do you really think that there are going to be very many high society bigwigs willing to back a guy who was possibly not into child pornography?"

Sam burst out laughing. Maybe there should have been some part of him that felt bad for Chip but he just couldn't seem to find it. After all Dean was right, he most likely would be acquitted if it ever went to court but his name and social status that he loved to swing around to get his way were the exact things that were going to be against him now. There wasn't a person in the world who would ever again give Chip Parker so much as the time of day.

"I still can't believe that something like that is even possible." Sam stated with awe as they pulled into the school parking lot.

"With the right know how and the right amount of money anything is possible Sammy."

The smile instantly fell from Sam's face. "I thought you said this Ash guy was doing you a favour." Sam stated coldly.

Dean sighed. "He was. This wasn't exactly a simple thing and I needed it done fast. That means other people to do the grunt work, finding the right sites, downloading the appropriate files and with that kind of subject matter no one works cheap. Ash never charged me for his part."

Sam just stared at him and Dean removed the keys from the ignition and shifted so he was looking directly at Sam; his right arm slung over the back of the seat. "Look Sammy if you're worried about this getting back to me don't. You don't know him but I do. He was the only one growing up that knew I was gay and he never said a word. He may be a bit crazy and look like a stand in for Joe Dirt but he's loyal and, as I mentioned, paranoid. The money will be laundered down the line about four times before it ever touches anybody's palm. He never deals with anyone directly. Even the guys who worked with him to get this done couldn't point the finger if they wanted to. Trust me Sammy it's good."

"Just how much money are we talking about Dean?"

"I don't care about the money Sam. I have money. Mom came from a very wealthy family and when she died she left it all to me." Dean huffed in disgust. "I think that's the reason my father hated me so much, even before he found out I was gay."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you Dean." Sam knew that Dean's relationship with his father was strenuous at best but he didn't think that any father could truly hate his son.

That was a statement that Dean was nowhere near ready to deal with at the moment, or any time soon so he went on like he never heard it. "So yeah, I got money. All Johnny's hospital bills are paid. Nell doesn't know yet and I'm sure she's gonna freak when she finds out. Fortunately she will be in a different state by then. She may be little but I wouldn't wanna take her on." Dean stated with a smile as he looked at Sam hoping that he would still see love reflected in his eyes.

Sam nodded in agreement with a smile while briefly glancing out the window. He took a deep breath and turned back to Dean. "So how did he get the IP?"

"What do you mean?" Dean responded like a six year old trying to convince his mother that he had not been the one who attempted to flush the rubber duck down the toilet.

Sam rolled his eyes. "You said all he needed was Chip's IP." Sam answered like Dean was in fact six years old. "So how did he get it?"

"I'm a boy scout Sammy, remember? I'm always prepared." Dean gave Sam a wink.

"You know Dean, I'm not really sure which disturbs me more; that you just pretty much admitted to breaking and entering or the fact that you looked so damn adorable while saying it." Sam had to laugh because he wasn't just saying that to lighten the mood; it also happened to be true.

"I'm a man of many talents." Dean beamed.

"Apparently." He chuckled again and then took a deep breath. "God, Chip is so fucked."

"Yup." Dean agreed looking like the proverbial cat that ate the canary.

"So what if Chip tells the Feds that it was all you?" Sam asked with concern. "I mean he's gonna put the pieces together eventually if he hasn't already. Even he can't be that stupid."

Dean just shrugged. "Let him, he'll just look like a desperate man grasping at straws. It's common knowledge that he doesn't think too highly of me. The Feds can search me all they want; I don't even own a fucking computer."

"What about the money? Can't they trace that?" Sam was trying to think of every possible scenario that would link Dean to what happened. It wasn't like he thought Dean was stupid but he had to put his mind at ease.

"I keep a descent chunk of cash in a safe deposit box. If they want to check it out all they'll find now is my grandfathers watch, my favourite picture of me and my mother and a half dozen bearer bonds. One of which I happened to cash at the bank and donate to the World Wildlife Foundation the very same day I took out all the cash, giving me a valid reason to go into it in the first place. Don't worry Sammy, I thought this all through."

"Wow." Sam stated, seriously impressed. "So Dean look... don't take this the wrong way, I get it, I really do. But... isn't that a whole lot of trouble to go through just to take down one pompous dick?"

Dean's expression sobered. "You can't take on a guy like Chip head on Sammy. He has too much money and too much influence and he will use both every chance he gets. To even entertain the idea that you can win you have to take those away. If you're gonna hunt the big game Sam, you better make damned sure they fall with the first shot."

"You didn't plant the gun and the drugs did you?" Sam asked, just now recalling the details in the news article.

"No!" Dean spat out half offended. "Look Sam If I'm going to go to this much trouble to do something I'm certainly not going to risk fucking it up over non important details. The gun and drugs are nothing; all anyone will ever remember about this whole thing is that Chip is a fucking pervert."

Sam's gaze was locked on Dean's intent green eyes. He looked every bit the soldier that he had been trained to be. "Remind me never to piss you off."

"Yeah right Sammy, you piss me off all the time." Dean told him playfully. "But you're a great lay so I let you get away with it." Sam let out a huff and Dean grinned. "So we gonna sit in the car all day or do you wanna go home?" It was something that Dean never thought he would hear himself say. Home. He never had a home except for a few vague memories of before his mother died. Their tiny shared dorm room hardly qualified as such but as long as he had Sam with him he would be perfectly content to live there forever, even if he did have to share the bathroom.

Sam grabbed Dean's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Let's go home Dean."

Dean felt relief wash over him in waves. He knew that what he had done had some pretty serious implications and he had been worried that Sam wouldn't be able to look at him the same after he found out. Dean knew that he would have done it anyway just to protect him, even if it meant that he ended up losing him over it. He would choose Sam's safety over his own happiness any day, but with that one simple gesture Sam had told him that they were good, that he understood, that he still loved him. Dean hadn't realized how worried he had actually been until he felt the pressure of it lift.

Sam got out of the car and fell in step beside Dean as they walked across the grounds. He could feel his lack of sleep and the stress of recent events catching up with him and staying in bed all day definitely sounded like the best idea he had ever heard. It was an incredible relief to know that Chip Parker was no longer a looming threat. It was poetic justice at its finest. Chip would never be held accountable for what he had done to Johnny or countless other's no doubt, but he would never again be in the position to hurt anyone else.

Dean's plan may have been somewhat extreme but Sam agreed with the logic of it; it did seem that it was the only way that justice would be served. The illegal methods to this particular brand of justice didn't bother Sam one bit. As far as he was concerned Chip was getting off easy. He had no doubt committed numerous unspeakable acts of cruelty long before his attack on Johnny and a lifetime of scorn seemed a small price to pay.

Groups of students were gathered everywhere on the grounds, no doubt discussing the grand revelation about the school's most notorious resident. Dean's pace toward their dorm slowed when he saw Trey Mathis heading their direction with clear intent. When Trey was several feet away Dean stopped, automatically standing at an angle that put him between Sam and Trey.

"I got no issue with you Trey." Dean stated sternly at the obviously angry man before him.

"Bullshit!" Trey hissed. "What the fuck did you do Winchester!?" Trey's eyes were wide and his jaw was clenched tight, his nostrils flared wildly and his face was a deep shade of red.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dean asked with such sincerity that Sam might have laughed if not for the possibly volatile situation that he now found himself in.

"You know damned well!" Trey shouted; spittle flying from his mouth. He noticed quite a few heads turn his way and he lowered his voice, but it was still laced with venom and righteous anger. "The fucking Feds came to see me and now everyone is lookin at me like I might be some kinda baby fucker!"

Sam nerves were going into overdrive but he stayed still and outwardly calm, trusting Dean to either defuse or deal with the situation.

"I'm tired Trey and I really don't have time to deal with your personal issues." Dean stated with obvious irritation. "Talk to a school councillor, that's what they get paid for." Dean started forward as if to walk around him but it was clear even to Sam that Trey wasn't going to let things go.

As soon as Dean was close enough Trey lunged but Dean easily shifted his weight and swept his leg around causing Trey to land flat on his ass with a heavy thud. The commotion brought the attention of everyone close by who were already keeping half an eye out for action from the moment they heard Trey yelling. Students flowed around them like water, encircling the three men and looking on like gawkers at a horrific car accident. Sam couldn't help thinking that Dean had been right; people really are entertained by the misfortune of others.

"Stay down Trey." Dean ordered in a deep commanding voice. "Just stay down and this ends here."

Trey was beyond reason. He jumped up and grabbed a knife from his back pocket and ran at Dean like a wild man screaming as he raced forward. The crowd gasped and Dean stepped forward, knocking the knife out of Trey's hand with his left and then punching him in the face with his right. Trey fell again.

"Fuck you Winchester you fucking queer!" Trey reached up and wiped the blood off his nose like a kid wiping snot on their sleeve. "That's right!" Trey screamed to anyone who might be listening. "He's a fucking queer! These two are fucking butt buddies!"

Shouts from the crowd could be heard even before he finished with his accusations.

"Shut up!"

"Who cares?!"

"Fuck off!"

"It's true!" Trey screamed to the crowd, looking everywhere among the milling faces for someone who would back him up. The crowd was less than sympathetic and more and more students joined in, throwing insults and curses at the pathetic man who lay bleeding on the grass. Everyone went silent when Dean began to laugh.

"What the fuck is so funny you fuckin homo!" Trey literally spat out.

"You." Dean said with a sinister grin. "Screaming at the top of your lungs that you just got your ass kicked by a fucking faggot!"

The crowd went into hysterics and Trey's eyes grew wide at the truth of Dean's statement. He then realized what Dean had said and stood up. "He admitted it!" he yelled as he went around in circles trying to catch the attention of anyone in the crowd. "See I told you!"

Trey looked insane; like a crazy bum screaming to anyone who might listen about the end of the world. He looked at Dean with pleading eyes. "Tell them!" He demanded, so far gone in his tantrum that he didn't even notice he was now asking for help from the person that he had been trying to hurt. Dean only stared at him with amusement, shaking his head and Trey stilled with rage. "Fine! Run off and try to explain to your little moped fuck toy why he wasn't good enough to admit to being with!" He screamed as he pointed to Sam.

The smile never left Dean's face. "I don't have to Trey, cause I never denied it." The mutual gasp of shock was so loud Dean swore it could be heard on the other side of campus. He then turned and reached up, grabbed the back of Sam's head and pulled him down for kiss.

Sam's heart jumped into his throat and he immediately wrapped his arms around his lover. The joy and pride that he felt at that moment was indescribable. It felt as if he was standing in a bubble and he could barely make out the noise from the crowd.

There were a few shouts of disgust, but most of the crowd was whooping and whistling and shouting crude suggestions as Sam explored Dean's mouth. Sam could just make out flashes from behind his closed eyes, no doubt from hastily grabbed cameras and cell phones, but Sam couldn't have cared less. They were bound to have more than their fare share of trials and tribulations in the years to come, but as long as he had the man who he now held in his arms none of that would ever matter.

The End.

I thank everyone who took the time to read this and would be incredibly great full if you would let me know what you think.