Heya guys!
Are there other things I probably should be updating? Absolutely. 
But guess what, I wrote this instead!
You see while I'm bored at work I write fanfics in my head to cope and they very very very rarely make it onto paper but this one was SO CLEAR in my mind I couldn't NOT write it!
This a very different writing style than I normally write but I also kinda like it.
Doubt I'll ever do it again but it was something to mix it up and get my writing juices flowing.
Thanks to pricelesstrashpanda and Violin_0711 for reading it over for me and letting me rant out my thoughts <3 
Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

~TH~

The call wasn't unique. They received concerned calls all the time. Many of them were unfounded. Some of them weren't. It was days like today when she was relieved that they checked out every call.

"Our witness saw it happen Dean, you don't have to protect him."

"Witness? You mean Coach Montgomery. I'm not an idiot."

"He was worried about you, Dean."

"He's a good coach but he needs to learn to mind his own business."

"You were forcibly dragged from the gym."

"Yeah well he needs to learn to keep his trap shut."

Normally it would take a few days to check in on things, but a call from the hospital reporting a broken arm that didn't quite match the explanation given, rushed things along.

"How'd you break your arm, Dean?"

"I told you, I fell."

"And I told you, you don't have to protect him. Mr Montgomery saw him break your arm."

"It was my fault. I pulled away from him."

"Mr Montgomery said you never fought back."

"Well Mr Montgomery has the eyesight of a blind mole."

In the end. John would blame Dean. Sam would blame John. Dean would sit silently.

"This isn't your fault Dean."

"Yeah, you weren't there."

"No, but Mr Montgomery was."

"Yeah well he should stay out of our private lives."

"It was a public place, Dean."

"Well I shouldn't have screamed. I was overreacting."

"He broke your arm."

"Sprained it."

"Dean, he nearly snapped your arm in two."

"I've had worse."

The hospital claimed a father brought in his son with a broken arm. The man spoke for his son in most instances. Cause was labeled as a fall. The hand sized bruising spoke of something else.

"Dean, why did your father break your arm."

"He didn't."

"Your brother said it was because he didn't want you on the wrestling team."

"Yeah, well, Sam talks too much."

They'd only been at the school for four months. According to their transcripts, that was an impressive stay.

"Why didn't your dad want you on the wrestling team?"

"Don't have time for sports."

"You were at every practice and never missed a match. What changed?"

"Life happens lady."

"Is it true you've been living alone the last several weeks?"

"I'm seventeen. I'm plenty capable of taking care of myself."

"That's not why I was asking, Dean."

"Yeah he just got home, so?"

"Why doesn't he want you playing sports, Dean?"

"You make it sound like he intentionally broke my arm so I couldn't wrestle."

"Didn't he?"

Dean's coach had been livid. Not only had his practice been interrupted, but his best wrestler had been injured. By the boy's father. In front of the school.

"Dean, you have a right to be upset. This was your senior season."

"Doesn't matter, wasn't that good anyway."

"You were the best in your weight class. You were projected to win State."

"Well like I said, it doesn't matter."

The motel they were staying at could hardly be considered a home. It was a sleazy motel, known for its drug sales. It was supposed to be a simple visit just to canvas the family and decide how to proceed. Things escalated quickly.

"You never answered my question. Why doesn't your dad want you involved in sports?"

"I told you, we're a busy family."

"If you won, it would bring a lot of attention to your family."

"Would it?"

"Would that make your father uncomfortable?"

"He's a private man."

"Doesn't mean you can't do sports."

"It's easier for everyone if we just keep our heads down."

"That's not normal Dean."

"Works for me."

"Why is it best to keep your head down?"

"So freaks like you don't come 'round making pointless accusations."

"We're here to help you, Dean."

"I'd like to speak to my dad."

"You know you can't."

"You're making an awful big deal about a broken arm."

"Dean, you know this isn't about your arm."

They were approaching the room when they heard the shouting. A high pitched yelp followed by a deep, furious shout. They didn't wait to knock. They pushed open the door, ready for confrontation. What she saw still made her blood run cold.

"Dean, can you tell me what happened back at the motel?"

"Nothing happened."

"Dean."

"Nothing happened, I don't know what your problem is."

"Dean, he was holding a gun on you."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

The door was unlocked, bags were packed on the bed. John Winchester had Dean pinned against the wall with his left arm pressed against his son's chest. His right hand forced a pistol into the sensitive throat under Dean's chin. Dean had his head tilted up, emitting a slight wheezing sound. Fear shone in his eyes, but he held out his hands placatingly towards his brother.

"Dean, I was there. I saw what happened."

"Nothing happened."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Dean."

"I'm not ashamed, nothing happened."

"Can you tell me what was happening when we showed up?"

"We were eating dinner."

"Dean."

"Dad wouldn't hurt me."

"But he did."

"He's a good dad."

"A good dad doesn't hold a gun to his son's head with the safety off."

"He wouldn't do that."

"He did, Dean."

"No."

"Sam saw it too."

"No, he didn't."

"Dean."

"Where's Sam?"

"He's safe."

The deep shouting had stopped but the thirteen-year-old boy was still throwing out yelping please. Sam was crying, turning quickly towards the new people in the room. He begged them to do something. They did.

"Sam, can you tell me why your father attacked Dean?"

"I didn't want to leave."

"Why were you leaving?"

"Because Dad decided to break Dean's arm in front of a respectable adult."

"Your brother said that your dad didn't break his arm."

"Yeah well Dean would defend Dad if he tried to shoot him. Oh wait, he did."

"How did you not wanting to leave, end with Dean being held at gunpoint?"

"Dad was trying to make a point."

"To who?"

"I dunno, to both of us? Me not to whine, Dean not to bring attention to us. I dunno he was just mad."

"Does this sort of thing happen often?"

"The gun's a new one. The broken arm isn't."

"So he hurts you often."

"Me? No, not really. Dean? Yeah."

"Why not you?"

"Dean won't let him."

Dean seemed to be in shock for most of his physical examination. He remained silent and cooperative as if he was acting in a daze. The doctor's weren't pleased with the amount of bruising and scarring covering his body.

"What does your father do to Dean?"

"Depends. Hits him mostly. Sometimes it's worse if Dad's drunk. Dean could probably defend himself if he tried. He doesn't though. Says he deserves it."

"And does he?"

"What?! No! It's mostly stupid stuff. Like dinner not being cooked on time or Dean not getting his homework done. Sometimes the stuff's serious, Dean can be an idiot, especially around girls, but even when he deserves to get in trouble he doesn't deserve the way dad treats him. I give dad more trouble than Dean ever has. Dean pracitally worships the man. Dad says jump, Dean says 'yes sir' and jumps until he gets a crumb of approval."

The boy's unnatural thinness was concerning as well. He had muscle, but not enough to make up for Dean's too visible ribs.

"Does your father have a job, Sam?"

"I don't even know."

"You don't know?"

"No, but let me know if you find out."

"Does Dean have a job?"

"I mean... No... Not really, no."

"Sam you can tell me the truth. Dean won't get in trouble."

"I mean he doesn't have a real job. And he doesn't... sell drugs or anything like that. He just... hustles pool sometimes. Dad got him a fake ID when he turned sixteen. Says it's better than getting a job because no matter where we're at they'll always be a bar. Dean will still get one sometimes, depends on if Dad's home."

"How do you pay for things?"

"Dean takes care of it. Tells me not to worry about it."

"Do you have enough food?"

"Dean takes care of it."

"How?"

"He tells me not to worry about it."

The Winchesters' records were scattered. There were several half finished CPS reports that indicated they had been looked into. The family either disappeared or the case was dropped

"Sam, How often do you have run-ins with the law?"

"I dunno. Something CPS big only happens every few months. Think we had... three run-ins last year? Never got this far though. Been a couple of years since they actually brought us in, most of the time we're gone first. Never had enough proof to keep us anyway."

"Why is that, Sam? I appreciate it, but you've given me enough to remove you from your father's custody just in our conversation."

"We lie. Have an excuse for everything. Pretty sure Dean plans an excuse for every bruise he gets. I've never seen him caught off guard."

"Why lie? Don't you want to get away from him?"

"It's not... I mean he's my dad. And Dean's insistent. Doesn't want us to get separated. Convinced me I'd rather deal with dad then get stuck in the system. Then get taken from Dean."

"What changed? You've never offered information before."

"Dad never held a gun on my brother before."

Their files didn't have much on family. Their mother died in a house fire. No living grandparents.

"Dean, we're looking for a placement for you and your brother."

"No."

"Our hope is to find a group home that will take you both."

"No."

"Dean you're not going back with your father."

"I'm not going to a home. Sam's not going to become a casualty of the system."

"He won't be."

"I'll be legal in less than three months."

"But Sam won't be."

"But I will. I'll take custody."

"Dean, maybe that will happen in the future, but that doesn't help us right now."

"Then emancipate me."

"Dean. it's not that simple."

"Could be."

"No Dean."

"Fine. We'll stay with our uncle."

"Uncle? There's no uncle listed on your papers."

"Mom's brother. Uncle Bobby. Bobby Singer. Lives in South Dakota."

"I'll look into it."

"I wanna see Sam."

"Not yet, Dean."

There was a Robert Singler in South Dakota. A recluse old man. The town drunk. She wasn't sure this solution was any better. She wasn't sure Dean would accept another one.

"Sam, Dean is adamant you not be sent to a group home. Do you know of any relatives you could stay with?"

"I mean we have an uncle in South Dakota we could stay with. Be better than going into the system."

"Bobby Singer?"

"Yeah that's him."

"Do you stay with him often?"

"Yeah Bobby's great. Don't go there much anymore. Dad says we're too old to need babysitters. It's true but maybe things would be different if we stayed there more often. Dad won't touch Dean when Bobby's around. Bobby would kill him if he knew."

"So he doesn't know of your father's abuse?"

"Not that I know of. Not sure Dad would still be alive if he did."

Dean's psychological status was a large concern. He didn't seem to be lying. At best they were looking at extreme denial.

"Dean, we have your brother's full testimony. He's told us everything we need. You're not protecting anyone by lying to us."

"I'm not lying."

"Do you honestly not remember being held at gunpoint."

"We were eating dinner."

"Dean."

"We were eating dinner."

This case was taking its toll. As difficult as Dean was, Sam was helpful. Both aspects were emotionally draining. Sam's information painted a grim picture. And Dean's denial, or possibly rewritten memories, were difficult to navigate and indicated extreme trauma. The more she tried to help him the more he shut down.

"Dean, I need you to think. Try to remember. What happened to your arm."

"I fell."

"Before or after your father dragged you out of the gym by it."

"He didn't drag me."

"Why don't you tell me exactly what happened, Dean."

"Was supposed to be home. He got back from his trip early. Shouldn't have disobeyed to begin with."

"What did he do when you disobeyed?"

"He..... he came to get me."

"And how did you leave."

"He was angry. But he had every right to be!"

"Okay, he was angry. How did you get out of the gym."

"We walked."

"You walked?"

"Yes."

"Did you walk by yourself?"

...

"Dean. Did you walk by yourself?"

...

"Dean?"

"I walked with Dad."

"Under your own power?"

...

"Dean?"

"Yes."

"When did you fall?"

"After."

"After what?"

...

"Dean?"

"I want to see Sam."

"After what Dean?"

...

"Dean?"

...

"Dean, just answer my question? You fell after what?"

"I... I wanna see Sam."

Sam agreed to see his brother. He almost seemed relieved. Their relationship seemed dependent on an almost dangerous level. Regardless of where they went, it would have to be together. Separation may literally kill them. Could finally send Dean over the edge.

"Sam, do you think you could get your brother to tell us what happened?"

"I dunno, he can be... stubborn."

"At least try. Your testimony is helpful but Dean's would help us fill in the missing pieces."

"I can try."

When Dean was brought into the room with Sam he literally sighed with relief. A fractured smile broke out and he nearly sprinted to his brother. He wrapped his arms around him. Sam offered a small, concerned smile and helped Dean sit down, eventually laying down with his head on Sam's lap. Sam lightly carded his fingers through his brother's hair. Sam spoke to Dean in quiet whispers. Dean didn't say anything at all.

"He's not gonna talk."

"Why not?"

"I dunno, he just does this sometimes."

"Stops talking?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I dunno."

"Does it happen often?"

"Only if something bad happens."

"What kind of bad?"

"Like if Dad puts him in the hospital. Or like when that chick he was talking to killed herself in the school bathroom."

"And he just stops talking?"

"Yeah I guess. Dad would typically send us to Bobby's house for a couple days until Dean was okay again."

"Your uncle?"

"Yeah."

Dean didn't move. Only the shallow rising and falling of his chest indicated any life at all. He stared forward with unseeing eyes. Sam just kept mumbling softly and offering soothing gestures.

"Sam, when Dean stops speaking is he always like... this?"

"No... well... yes but not for a long time. It typically only lasts an hour or so. And only if he knows we're both safe. Don't know how he does it but it's like once he knows we're both okay he just... shuts down. Most of the time he can trick dad into thinking he's just taking a nap. The most this has lasted was two days and that was only the really bad ones. Like that girl dying or when dad broke his ribs so bad it punctured his lung."

"But even after he's 'better' he still doesn't speak?"

"Sometimes it takes a while. But it's okay. Like I said it doesn't happen a lot. Only if something sets him off."

"And these... traumatic events. What does Dean have to say about them when he can speak again."

"He typically acts like they never happened. Still tells me he punctured his lung by jumping out of a tree."

"I see."

Bobby arrived in eight hours. Both of the boys were asleep. Dean still hadn't spoken and still hadn't come out of his almost catatonic state. Sam didn't seem too worried, even if he only smiled when Dean was looking at him.

"Mr Singer, thank you so much for coming."

"Where's John."

"He's being held at the police station until a court date can be arranged."

"Have the kids seen him?"

"Not since they were removed from the home, or motel I suppose."

"Good."

"Mr Singer, I understand taking on sudden custody of two children can seem-"

"Ma'am, John's been dropping them off at my house for weeks at a time since Dean was four-years-old. I'm an expert in sudden custody."

"I see."

"What's going to happen to John?"

"Between the eye-witness accounts and Sam's personal testimony we have enough to result in a ten-year sentence. Minimum. Likely longer considering that the position of the gun could be considered a murder attempt."

"What about Dean?"

"Pardon?"

"You said Sam's personal account. What about Dean?"

"I... I don't believe Dean is in the correct mindset to help with the investigation. His psychological trauma alone would be enough evidence for most judges."

"Did he shut down again?"

"He did. He kept insisting on seeing Sam and he hasn't spoken since he was let in to see his brother."

The older man looked concerned and the look on his face eased any concerns she may have had left. He clearly cared about these boys.

"Where are they now?"

"Sleeping. Mr Singer I would highly recommend getting Dean some form of therapy. This... shutting down. Mutism. It's not... it's not normal or healthy. And the way he rewrites memories... I genuinely think he believes his dad would never hurt him. It's like he honestly remembers the events in a completely different way than which they happened."

"He's been doing it since his momma died. He saw her, y'know? Burn in that house fire. Didn't talk for almost a year. Ever since then his brain just... shuts down. Gets rid of all the nasty memories like they never happened."

"It's not healthy, Mr Singer."

"I never said it was."

When she shook Bobby Singer's hand she could feel his pounding heart rate. He hid his anxiety well.

"I'll be in touch, Mr Singer. If you need anything please let me know. The doctors will tell you what you need to know about Dean's physical condition, but I'm honestly more concerned with his mind. Just... get him help."

"I will. I care more about these boys than that monster of a father ever could."

The Winchester brothers were released to Robert Singer. Sam wrapped his arms around the man as soon as he was able to extract himself from his brother. Dean didn't say anything but his lips twitched upward at the sight of him. Within an hour of Bobby's arrival they were driving away.

"I've never seen a case quite like this one."

"Those poor boys."

"We almost skipped over them."

"It's been a busy week. No one would have blamed you for not wanting to take another false call."

"But can you imagine if I hadn't?"

She had seen a lot of cases, but none of them had ever hit her quite like this one. There were still many false calls, but she could never bring herself to complain. Afterall she never knew which case could bring her the next family like the Winchesters. 

~TH~

Thoughts????
In case you guys were wondering, Polyvagal is basically a theory that plays into your emotional response to trauma. It can cause PTSD-related dissociation - basically what happened to Dean in this story. 
Anyway, what did you guys think???

This AU world is something I might return to someday, I'm not sure, but I know I greatly enjoyed writing this and would love to hear your thoughts!

Check me out on Tumblr @Trekkiehood

God bless,
Jamie