Dean remembered the first time his power had manifested, clear as day. He was fifteen, in a brand new school with no idea how long they’d be staying there. The day hadn’t been bad so far, though a couple kids continued to pick on him every time they spotted him. It was nothing new, people always made fun of the new kid, so he just let it go. They didn’t, however, and he ended up cornered in the locker room after school with no chance against five older boys. At the time, he hadn’t realized what he was capable and when he tried to push the eldest away, he was just trying to escape. But there was a bright flash and the sounds of yelling and suddenly the boy was gone. Dean was terrified and confused and he did the only thing he could think of. He ran. He ran out of the school, all the way to the hotel they were staying in. When he got there, Sam had already been picked up by their dad and John was furious at Dean for forgetting his brother. John had moved to strike him, and despite the desperate protests from the older Winchester brother, skin made contact with skin and that same flash hit the air. He looked at Sam, trembling and filled with guilt. Their father was gone and it was all his fault.
That was the last time he’d seen his little brother. Dean had taken off, grabbing his things and taking the car. He’d called Bobby, telling him that Sam needed to be picked up and taken care of; he knew Bobby wouldn’t turn him down. Once that was taken care of, he wandered. He feared that /it/ would happen anytime he touched someone so he avoided all people. He stayed in campgrounds, away from people he could accidentally hurt. After accidentally brushing a gas station clerk during a particularly bad day, he settled down in a secluded cabin in Colorado, somewhere he thought no one could ever find him.
He was sitting in front of the TV, cold beer in his hand as he watched the newest episode of Doctor Sexy. As he moved to take a drink, he heard a noise he never wanted to hear. Someone was knocking on the door. He stood up warily, opening it up just a crack to see out. “This is private property. Can’t you read?”