Let’s Talk
Warnings: not eating, depression, low self-esteem
Words: None
Summary: Dean fights to get his sister back. Her brain is holding her hostage.
I just quit a job that wasn’t great but wasn’t terrible either. It was time to move on, however. Sam and Dean were proud of me; it was a step up from where I had been. Anyway- my previous job was different from the one I’m currently in and dreading unbelievably. I’m alone a lot of the time now because I work from home sometimes. It’s been an adjustment. I think they saw me withdrawing. I felt the sadness of being by myself and they did too. Being big brothers, they checked on me a lot more.
“Please, I’ve got work to do, and I need to check in with my supervisor. Can you please leave?” I begged but not in a whiny way.
“Fine. Eat your lunch though. It better be in your stomach and not on the plate when I come back to get it. When you’re finished, just put it outside your door.”
“This isn’t room service, Dean. I can take care of my own dishes. I’m twenty-two. I’m a big girl.”
“Just eat, okay?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah, yeah,” I rolled my eyes at him.
“You may be an adult, but I can still kick your ass.” Dean narrowed his gaze at me. I looked away. “Do good. I’ll check in with you later.”
“Okay,” I sighed as he closed the door. Three hours later, I stood from my desk and walked out to the living room with my plate. Sam and Dean were watching TV. “Hey.” I continued toward the sink and washed my dish.
“Did you eat?”
I took a deep breath.
“Stop bugging her,” I heard Sam whisper. I closed my eyes for a moment.
“I’m done with my work for the day.” I dried my plate and put it away.
“I know you heard me.” Dean paused the movie playing and glared at me.
“What, Dean?” I huffed.
“Did you eat all of your food?”
I had enough of his questions. I was going through a lot without him bugging the crap out of me, and I was done with it. I walked up behind him and slapped the back of his head.
“Ass!” He hopped up from the couch. “What was that for?”
“For-” I stopped. I realized in that moment I wasn’t really sure why I had done it. “For bugging me! I’m not okay, and you just keep shoving it in my face.” Growling, I squared myself, ready for a verbal fight. Trying to show confidence, I lifted my chin to stare at him. His tight jaw relaxed. My fighting spirit faltered a little at the sudden soften on his face.
“I told you,” Sam gritted his teeth, aiming his comment at Dean. “You aren’t helping.”
“At least I’m talking to her about it! At least we are getting somewhere!”
You need to know something about me. I’m not like Sam or Dean. I’m not tough. If one of them raises their voice at me, I crumble. Sam’s quieter and more reserved than Dean, but Dean is older, so he is loud and always in charge. Because of this, I lost it, but I didn’t know what to do.
“I- I-” I closed my mouth.
“You what? You’ve been hiding for days. You can’t do that.” Dean got close to me, but I could tell Sam was anxious. He stood between me and Dean. He always did when Dean came down hard on me.
“Dean, relax. Step back.”
“You’re scaring me, Dean.” I barely got it out before he relaxed his face a tad more and took a step back just once.
“Well, you’re scaring me, so I guess we’re even then.” Dean turned around and sat on the couch again.
“I don’t mean to,” I whispered and unconsciously stood behind Sam for protection from my upset brother.
“Just- come sit down, and let’s talk.”