Fiction Title: Racing Towards Destiny
Chapter Title: Reaping What We Sow
Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: Neither show represented in this fiction belongs to me. Dark Angel is the product of Cameron/Eglee and Fox, whereas Supernatural is the product of Kripke and The CW. No profits are made from this fiction and it is intended for private enjoyment only.
Story Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Genre: Crossover
Type: Romance, Angst
Pairing: Sam/ Max
Summary: One dream set her on a path of destiny.
Spoilers/ Timeline: This story would begin in Chapter 17- Coming Of Age
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first, please
A/N: This story, while being in the same universe as WiC, does not actually occur within that storyline. This fiction is just an off-shoot of what might have happened.
Chapter Ten
Reaping What We Sow
"Well, don't freak out or anything," Max grinned, her hands stuffed in her coat pocket, as were Sam's, "but he took me to a woman's clinic this morning." Sam stopped short, worry for her overriding everything else.
"You're okay, right? I mean, you're not-?"
"No, I'm not Sam," Max chuckled wryly, completely aware of his concerns, because she shared all of them as well. The risk of pregnancy was there but, "we've been pretty careful, you know." Sam nodded and caught up to her. They had been careful to remember to use a condom each and every time they'd had sex, but it was a method known to fail occasionally.
"So if it wasn't...?" he asked leadingly. Max paused at a street corner, waiting for traffic to clear so that they could cross the street.
"Well, you know I was talking to Molly last night?" Sam nodded. The last car turned the corner and the crosswalk light came on and they started again. "We talked some stuff over. She knows about us," Max announced and then hastily corrected herself. "I mean, she knows I've been seeing someone. Although, she'll probably figure it out."
"Oh really?" Sam mused. He found himself sort of hoping that she did. Max had long ago told Molly that she wasn't really John's daughter. The excuse Max had given her about abusive foster families prior to the Winchester's and their fear that Max would be taken away from them had been accepted and her admiration for John as a good father figure had grown.
"Well," Max blushed slightly, "I do talk a lot about you with her." Sam smiled. He wished that he had someone he could tell about Max, but it was nice in a way too, having a part of Max that no one else shared. As they made it to the park entrance, he reached for her hand and after a moment, they laced their fingers together. With a mutual unspoken desire, they headed towards some trees that would shield them from view of the road and other passers-by. "Anyway," Max continued, picking up the thread of conversation again, "we talked over a lot of things and she and I came to the conclusion that I should probably be on birth control of some sort." She grinned. "And not just for the usual reasons. I think that was the big thing for Dad."
"Dad knows!" Sam gasped, his eyes widening in panic. Max sank down gracefully in the partial shade of a tree and tugged on his hand until Sam sat as well.
"No!" she told him emphatically. "Molly promised that she wouldn't say anything. It was all don't you suppose and someday down the road and responsible father's would type of thing." Sam choked on a little laugh as Max aptly mimicked Molly's gentle but firm tone of voice. "She pretty much had Dad thinking that it'd be the end of the world if he didn't do something quick."
Sam shook his head, unbelieving that his father could be that modern minded. "And he wasn't freaking out?" he asked mirthfully.
"Oh I didn't say that," Max giggled. "You should have seen him this morning. He was all fidgety and nervous and then the nurse came in and she started giving us this overview of what kind of exam the doctor would be doing. And I swear, his eyes rolled up in his head and he nearly fainted. And then he jumps up yelling 'sign something! Aren't I supposed to sign something?' So the nurse gives him the consent form, he signs it and voom... out the door." Sam laughed along with her for a moment before she sobered up. "I was honest with the doctor though."
"How so?" Sam asked as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, encouraging her to lean into him.
"Well, she had to do a physical exam," Max explained awkwardly. "I figured that she'd figure it out, since she was the expert, right?" Sam grinned and kissed the top of her bowed head.
"So why lie, right?"
"Exactly."
"So was the exam okay?"
"It wasn't all that comfortable," Max shrugged. "But I've lived through worse."
"And you're okay?" he asked again.
"Yes," Max confirmed. "We filled the prescription and I started taking them this morning. The doctor told me that it would take some time to take effect and suggested that we use back up methods up to that and throughout our relationship. Just to be sure."
"That makes sense," Sam nodded. "Combined methods are better than just one or the other."
"Yes," Max agreed, one hand moving to stroke at his thigh. "And now that we've thoroughly discussed that, why don't you tell me what's bothering you.
"You noticed huh?" Sam groaned softly.
"Of course I noticed," Max teased, looking up at him. "I notice everything about you."
"And that's what I love about you," Sam murmured, dropping a lingering kiss on her lips. She snuggled in close to him as he threaded one hand through her hair. Max pulled back and smiled gently.
"I love you too. Not quit stalling." Sam smirked, realizing that she was too astute to be distracted completely.
"Well," he began with another sigh, "this was something I was thinking about... before..." He said it softly, that word coming to mean for them, before they had discovered how they'd truly felt for one another.
"Okay," Max whispered hesitantly. "What is it?"
"You know that I did that SAT prep course this year?" She nodded. "Well I um, I actually took the SAT's."
"You did?" Now she sounded surprised. "When?"
"The last day of the course," Sam explained. "It wasn't final review, like I told Dad. That was one of the test dates." He let go of her to reach into his jacket pocket and withdrew a folded envelope. "I just got this back a few days ago." He handed it to her and she took it hesitantly. Slowly she opened it and pulled out a single sheet. She shook it open and smiled gently after reading it over.
"This is... it's an impressive score," she complimented him, though he could see that her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Yeah, I did better than I thought I would," he muttered, accepting the paper back from her.
Silence fell between them until Max muttered huskily, "there's more, isn't there?" Sam nodded, hating the way her eyes darted away from his, as though steeling herself for a blow.
"I also, um, picked up some college applications." Her eyes flew back to his, the hurt undisguised.
"You want to leave?" she cried accusingly.
"No!" Sam stated assertively and then softened his tone. "No. Not you, or us. It was the situation sweetheart. Being around you all the time, but not able to be with you. And it wasn't just that. The hunting, the constant moving around... I just couldn't see myself doing that for the rest of my life."
"But you still think that this is a good idea?" Max frowned.
"Maybe the only one we've got," Sam murmured. "I don't like it Max, but I can't think of anything else that will keep things from blowing up on us."
"Well if you'd at least listen to my theory on how to stop time," she joked weakly.
"You mean your theory that if we stop marking down the days on the calendar and ignore the seasons, we'll never get any older and things can stay the way that they are?" Sam teased.
"Yeah, that one," she muttered.
"Well, unfortunately, for that to work, you'd have to convince the rest of the world to go along with you, not to mention defy the laws of medicine and science and-!"
"I could do it," she scoffed indignantly. "Believe me, you're worth it." Sam felt a warmth creeping into his chest. If Max was making jokes, then that meant that she was at least willing to discuss this.
"I was thinking," he told her as he tugged her towards him. She allowed herself to be settled between his outstretched legs and rested back against his chest. "You know, Dad settled in Geraldine for school that year. Maybe he'd be willing to do that again."
"Maybe," Max hedged doubtfully. "But it was nice having a house to come home to. And having my own room was a novelty. I never had that before."
"Lucky you," Sam growled playfully. "I've always had to share a room with Dean. That I can remember anyway."
"Wouldn't it be great if we could each have our own room," Max giggled. "Think of the limitless privacy. No one would have to resort to hiding in the bathroom just to hear yourself think."
Sam snorted. "I'm not so sure about that. Dean'd probably take our doors off the hinges to make sure we weren't... misbehaving."
Max giggled again, but then she sobered up. "He's been... staring at us a lot lately, you know," she murmured, referring to Dean. "Most of the time, he looks worried."
"He is," Sam confirmed. "He and I have talked about it. It's mostly the age thing."
"Gah," Max snorted. "Who decided in their infinite wisdom that eighteen was some sort of magical number? The age gap will always be the same between us."
"I know," Sam soothed. "But with all these parents and lawmakers taking a hard line on this... I mean, in some cases, its been warranted, you can't deny that. But there's so much bad press, or well, not bad, you know what I mean. But it's easier to say one way and only that way instead of taking in the particulars of each and every relationship."
"Like ours," Max sighed, settling against him once more. "No one would bother to look and see that we fell in love and are much more level headed and responsible about things than some people twice our age,"
"Who says I'm level headed when it comes to you?" Sam demanded gently, caressing her cheek. She tilted her head around to look up at him and he took advantage of that. After several minutes, they broke for air and Sam smiled in a predatory manner. " There are some days that I wanna say to hell with everything and just disappear with you."
"That'd be nice," Max conceded. "But as always, the world would find a way to intrude." She gestured off to the distance and Sam, craning his neck, saw Dean, walking towards the park, obviously looking for them. Max made to get up, but Sam's gentle hands stalled her.
"Not yet," he murmured, holding her tightly. "Max, if we do this, if me going to college is what we decide to do," she nodded shakily, "then I don't want to waste one second of our time together, from now until then."
"Oh Sam," was all she was able to say as she turned and threw her arms around him.
It was how Dean found them a few minutes later. His loud snort and "figured I'd find you here," wasn't enough to separate them. But the impatient foot tapping and the "come one, let's go. It's not like you're never gonna see each other again!" worked amazingly. They broke apart and Dean was stunned by the misery on Max's face as she jumped up and hurried away from them. "What the hell is her problem?" he groused as Sam clambered to his feet.
"Dean," he announced, "you have all the sensitivity of a clod of dirt."
"Hey," Dean retorted, a little peeved that he was being thrust into the role of the bad guy. "Don't take it out on me because you and Max have to live in the real world. You know? The one that's not all sunshine and roses and happy little kittens."
"Yeah Dean, we know!" Sam spat. "That's what we've actually been sitting here doing. Trying to figure out a way to live with this. And you know what? There are no easy answers, because it's an impossible question. The only answer is to just stop, to just..." Sam broke off in frustration. Dean contemplated his brother for a moment, the tension lines in his forehead easing a little.
"Well," he spoke slowly. "It probably wasn't easy, but I am glad you guys came to your senses." Sam stared at his elder brother, incredulous. Did Dean really believe that this thing between he and Max was just some crush? A little fling to get out of their systems? Anger flared within him and he exploded.
"Screw you Dean! Sense? You know what my senses say?" Sam yelled. "They say to hell with tiptoeing around your feelings, or what Dad might say. Who cares if your feelings get hurt? Deal with it! But Max? I love her. And there is nothing in this world that I wouldn't do to keep her safe and happy. She's the important thing. She is what matters to me." He finished his rant, his chest heaving as he panted slightly. Dean's eyebrow quirked up.
"Wow," he drawled, startling Sam into calmness.
"What?"
"Sorry, it's just," Dean inhaled, knowing what a sore spot this was, but still, it needed to be said. "You have never in your life sounded so much like Dad as you did just then." He grinned as Sam blinked in surprise and then shakily laughed.
"Yeah. I guess I was sounding a little autocratic, wasn't I?" Sam conceded. Dean sighed. Sam's outburst had confirmed his suspicions. This was the real deal and it would have to be dealt with. But for now...
"Come on, let's go find Max before she wanders into traffic."
"She's not a child Dean," Sam snorted as he followed his brother.
"Yeah, well the law says otherwise," Dean scoffed.
"And since when have you been so concerned about being a law-abiding citizen?" Sam teased, though he knew full well that Dean was right.
"Since the law decided that it could burn my brother at the stake for his involvement with said child."
*****
That conversation marked a turning point in Dean's attitude towards them as a couple. Where before, he'd been disturbed and hesitant, he now embraced it whole-heartedly. But for all that he kept his opinions to himself and ran interference when needed, all three were aware that reality was steadily marching on. The now non-magical, unyearned for coming of age for Sam was looming, now more than ever so before. It was like everything revolved around it. Was it better to tell John before or after? Was it better to be two kids in love, or mature responsible people trying to create a relationship? Did they stop trying to be together at all, or did they simply pull back a step that they'd already taken?
In the end, all they could do was take it one day at a time. Under the guise of studying for their final exams that would be administered through the Montana State Education board in mid-May, they began preparing for their future. With Max's help, Sam filled out applications to several different colleges, located around the country and writing up admission essays. They decided not to tell Dean or John yet about this idea, since Sam pointed out that he had to be accepted somewhere first. Max was quite sure that he would be. They also researched home options. House or apartment and areas to live in. They looked into everything they could, but figured in the end that it would have to be up to John.
And as Sam had promised his brother, he spent each moment he could making Max happy. Reassuring her that she didn't just have a place in his heart, she was his heart. And by the time Sam's birthday arrived, he knew that he would be fighting a losing battle to try and not be with her. They had discussed abstinence in detail. Sam had been touched when Max had told him that though their lovemaking was a huge and meaningful part of their relationship, it wasn't the relationship itself. She would much rather have what the world deemed acceptable, given their ages, than nothing of him at all. They also decided that if anything did happen between them, they wouldn't beat themselves up over it. After all, they knew the truth, no matter what the world, or more pointedly, John, would say.
Sam's birthday dawned, with a bright, clear sky that seemed to bring a promise with it that better days were ahead. John, untraditionally it seemed, did not have a hunt planned. And he was in no hurry to get anyplace. So they relaxed for most of the day. He had Dean confiscate their study books and told them to relax. They still had two weeks before their exams. But after an hour of fidgeting, Dean disappeared and half an hour later or so, reappeared with a handful of water guns. Max, fighting her aversion to even the plastic replicas, joined in the fun that ranged around the building and parking lot. It was even better when she found an old three gallon bucket. She directed Sam into creating a diversion while she dealt with the stealth attack from above.
After getting John and Dean completely doused with cold water and taunting Dean about still not learning his lesson about looking up, the pair converged on what they considered her exit strategy. But Max was prepared for that. Throwing the bucket down to Sam, who ran off to fill it again, she simply climbed and clambered her way down the side of the building. She joined Sam and crept around to the back of the motel. Dean was just climbing back down the fire escape, reporting that she'd vanished. They had no sooner turned around when they were doubly doused, as Sam was in possession of Max's water gun as well as his own.
But the duo realized their mistake as John and Dean were still fully loaded. They ran, ducking and dodging with Max using Sam as a shield more often than not. Until he turned on he with what little water he'd managed to save. She wrestled her water gun back from him while John and Dean laughed at them. By the time a truce was called, they were all equally soaked and just a little worn out. After drying off, they decided to head out and see what other amusements they could find. After a quick lunch, they ended up at an arcade. Dean tried to make Sam guess what his birthday gift was and though he played along with outlandish guesses, nothing in Sam's mind, could top the gift that his brother had given him the day before.
With the pretense of sending Sam and Max to research a local urban legend of a haunted ranch, the two had gone off. But when Sam and Max had arrived at what was supposed to be a deserted, run-down outcrop of buildings, they found instead a ranch resort. Figuring that maybe Dean had his information wrong, they went inside to check, only to be welcomed by name and handed an envelope and a room key. Dean had set the whole thing up, letting them know that John believed that they were simply going to be surprised with a day full of ranching activities. Their father was not aware that it was a fully capable resort, including guest rooms. He cautioned them not to let their ages slip and other than that, to have fun.
And so they'd happily gone off to the first activity after checking their room and finding that Dean had packed some things for them and delivered them to the ranch., They enjoyed first a trail ride. Max, pretending a nervousness and unfamiliarity with horses, was permitted to ride double with Sam, who had learned to ride in his youth. He wasn't at all upset about being able to snuggle with her for the two hour slow ride around the wilderness. Knowing that they'd be sore for the unfamiliar activity, Sam suggested changing into their swim suits and heading over to visit the natural hot springs located not far from the main hotel. After that, they'd returned to their room and had made love.
They'd just barely made it in time for the hayride and once again, were able to enjoy being with each other with no fear of censure. After the hayride, they were invited to the evening cookout, dance and bonfire which would signify the end of the days activities. They enjoyed the simple but delicious fare and chatted with the people that they'd met over the course of the day. They watched as the actual working cowboys put on lariat demonstrations, clapping at all the intricate tricks and laughing when somebody would be "accidentally" roped. When the band started up, they danced with each other even though they didn't know the steps and swayed with each other when the music was slow.
After awhile, they snuck a quilt from one of the wagons and crept away to make love under the twinkling star-filled night. And then it was back to the bonfire for roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate before they said farewell. And when they made it back to the motel to report in, they assured John and Dean that they had been all over the ranch, but whatever legend Dean had heard, there was absolutely nothing to it. They'd all had a good laugh. They tried to thank Dean later, privately, but he staunchly denied and disavowed any knowledge of their doings.
After they'd sated themselves at the arcade, the birthday fun ended up at a mini-golf course where Dean and Max got competitive, laughing, taunting and teasing each other. John and Sam played desultorily along after them, commenting on the duo with much good humor. Laughing at themselves when one would make a comment that the other had just been thinking. In the end, there was a tie, between John and Sam, since Max and Dean had been too busy harassing each other to keep proper score.
They ate that evening at an authentic pizza parlor, since that was what Sam was in the mood for. No one complained. When they finally made it back to the motel for Sam's gifts, they were worn down to mellowness. He was surprised to see that there was just one large package sitting on the bed. John warned him that they'd put everything together, simply because his father didn't feel like wrapping every single thing. Dean then warned Sam that if Sam didn't like the gifts, then to blame Max, since it had been her idea, even though they'd all chipped in for it. Sam assured them that he'd like it no matter what it was and began the task of unwrapping the box. When he flipped open the cardboard flaps at the top, he was surprised to see a truck manual sitting on top of some paper. He withdrew it, unable to say anything, trying to figure out the significance of it. He read the title and realized that it was for John's truck. His father let out an exaggerated 'whoops' and an "I'd been wondering where I'd put that."
Everybody laughed and Sam handed it over. He removed the layer of paper and blushed when he saw another book, a copy of the Kama Sutra. With a nervous laugh, he plucked it out and held it out to Dean. "Yours, I presume?"
"Dude, what the hell would I need that for?" Dean asked with an absolutely straight face. Sam risked a glance at his father and Max, also straight faced. "Although, there's this awesome picture!" Dean enthused, grabbing the book. He flipped through several pages before thrusting the book back at Sam. "See!" Sam tried to avoid it, protesting, but Dean finally had his way, laughing when Sam realized that it was text he was looking at and not dirty pictures. His eyes grew large when he read the chapter title about installing programs on a computer. He yanked the book back and removed the dust cover to reveal a copy of Computers For Dummies and that significance got him. He got busy ridding the box of all the extra packing as his family laughed over his antics. At the bottom, he found a top of the line laptop along with several different installation programs. He was awed and enthusiastic in his thanks, hugging everyone, especially Max, whose brainchild this had been.
They spent the rest of the evening setting up the computer, explaining different features about it to John. At bedtime, he had to be forcibly dragged away from it by Dean, exhibiting that typical 'just one more thing' compulsion the rest of the family displayed when it came to their personal obsessions. The next day, with the excitement over, they headed out on another hunt.
Tragedy almost struck when Max experienced a seizure while the creature, an afreet, turned the tables on them and began stalking Sam and Max after they became separated from John and Dean. The fear Sam experienced over the possibility of losing someone he loved, was so magnified that he had followed Max everywhere that he possibly could for several days. John became extremely suspicious at that point about his son's behavior, until Dean pointed out that it had happened to him as well, when they were younger and Sam had been in danger while John was away. Dean had felt responsible for Sam's close call. John did remember that and remembered how Dean had shadowed Sammy everywhere until Sam had finally complained to his father. He was able to accept that explanation, never knowing that Dean had a forcible little talk with his younger brother about cooling his concern down a few notches.
Sam tried and it helped that on the next hunt, Max was back to easily dealing out her typical demon ass-kicking. He contented himself with searching online medical databases, looking to find out something more they could do to alleviate her seizures. He never did find anything more, but at least understood more about what could cause them and some of the subtler warning signs.
Eventually, as a surprise for them, John had arranged for the pair to take their diploma exams in Geraldine, with Sam's old classmates, instead of in Great Falls, where they thought they'd be going. They spent a fairly pleasant week, staying in a motel in the nearby town of Fort Benton and driving back and forth each day. After each day's exams were complete, they visited with the friends that they'd made. They weren't surprised to find that Justine's family had grown again, since the girls still corresponded with one another. Max also knew that the Kimball family had moved away due to some misfortune and a nasty malpractice suit against the doctor. What was a surprise was finding that Sam's old teacher, Ms. Fowler, was now Mrs. Stapleton and expecting her first child. She'd been thrilled to see Sam back, citing him as one of the best students she'd ever taught. They were saddened to learn that the principal, Leo Thompson had retired from the school after having been diagnosed with cancer. He and his family had moved back closer to his family and he wasn't expected to make it much longer.
It was just clear that a lot of things had changed, even in a small town where change was anathema. One change that had both Max and Sam in desperate straits was how they were treated by former classmates. Where both had been loners, shy and studious, they had sort of been overlooked. But their sudden reappearance had been marked and their appealing physical attributes well noted. It was no problem for Dean, happy to re-acquaint himself with several old flames. But it was disconcerting for the younger two. More so for Sam than for Max. The girls in his class couldn't seem to resist his height, his puppy dog eyes and what have you. But Max? She had the eye of every boy from her class on up to Sam's and beyond.
The resulting jealousy had led to an argument that neither had really wanted to have. And it led to a make-up session that nearly blew their observance of abstinence to pieces. But eventually, the exam week came to an end and their bond to one another was stronger for the unexpected blow that it had been dealt. With the exam results promised within two weeks to their post office box in Lawrence, the family said farewell to Geraldine and headed out again.
After several more hunts, they made their way to the Midwest. John had found a hunt on the Kansas border to keep them busy while they awaited the results of their exams. When the appointed day came, Max and Sam volunteered to go get the mail. John nipped that in the bud, citing that Max would need the extra room to carry back the backlog of mail that they usually experienced. With a disappointed sigh, she headed off.
Once there, she was stunned to discover that Sam had five notices for registered letters. Providing her id, she was able to sign for them, as well as for her own two. Two of the letters were the expected exam results. The two in large manila envelopes with the words 'Do not bend' stamped on them and from the Montana State Education Board, were probably their diplomas. It was the letters, thick ones from Montana State University, Stanford and Northwestern that were causing her consternation.
Finally gathering up all the mail, Max left. She ended up at a small cafe with a cup of coffee, mechanically separating their mail into appropriate piles, while Sam's letters sat in the center of the table, a place of dubious honor for the harbingers of the end of the world as she knew it. After the mail had been sorted for each of them, with the instant discards of junk mail in its own pile, Max fingered the envelopes addressed to her boyfriend. She had to quell the urge to simply throw them out. She, as much as she hated the thought of Sam going off to college, of seeing so much less of him, knew she couldn't do that to him. He wanted this for more reasons than as just a resolution to their dilemma. With a heavy sigh, she gathered them together and slipped them into a clothing catalog that was in the junk pile. She then added the catalog to her own pile, figuring that if she were asked, she could make the excuse that she saw an outfit she liked in it. She'd give him the letters later, in private.
Knowing that John would want her back straightaway, she finished her coffee. She bundled everything up that she was taking back to the motel into the bag she'd brought, dumped the trash and left the cafe. Her cell phone rang when she was several miles out of Lawrence, John calling to check up on her. She relayed her position and then John asked if their exam notices were in. She confirmed that they had arrived, but hadn't opened hers yet. When he exhibited surprise at that, she wryly informed him that she just wasn't as concerned about what a standardized test said about her intelligence. A diploma was just a piece of paper. Though concerned, knowing how hard she and Sam had been studying, John let the matter drop.
Max arrived back at the motel, to be greeted by Sam. Forewarned by his father that something was bothering her, he had it confirmed by the haunted look in her eyes and the lowly spoken "not now. Later," she gave him. He helped her carry in the mail and she dutifully handed out the separate packages. These were set aside when she drew out the plain white envelopes that contained their test scores. She passed Sam his and then sat on the corner of a bed, her own envelope untouched in her lap. Shrugging mentally at her behavior, Sam tore open his envelope and withdrew the paper. His eyes scanned the numbers and he let out a relieved breath.
"I passed," he announced unnecessarily, as everyone had been sure that they would both pass. "High nineties on everything," he told them as he passed the paper to John, who happily confirmed his son's achievement with his own eyes. Max was busily rummaging in her bag again.
"This came along with it," she announced as she pulled out the manila envelope with Sam's name on it. Sam gave her a puzzled look as he worked on opening it. He withdrew the heavy sheet, stamped and signed in all the proper places. "I was pretty sure you passed when I saw that." She flopped backwards on the bed, tossing her white envelope away from her. The three males shared a concerned look and Dean cleared his throat.
"Uh Max? Aren't you going to open that?"
"Why bother?" she mumbled. They shared another look.
"Didn't you uh... get a-?" Dean asked hesitantly. There were frowns directed at him and he shut up. John reached for the envelope, as it was almost ready to fall off the bed.
"Sweetie," he said, "whatever scores you got, we're proud of you. We know you tried your best." Sam frowned then. It would have been near impossible for Max to fail those tests, unless she'd done so deliberately.
"Proud enough to have this framed?" she questioned as her hand snaked back into the bag and pulled out her large rectangular envelope. She sat up, a wide grin on her face as John laughed, swatting at her leg with the envelope he still held. At their encouragement, she checked the scores. High nineties and even perfect scores in math and science. As John and Dean congratulated her and admired the newest diplomas, Sam realized that he was the only one that saw that Max's mirth was forced. And what, he wondered, could have stolen that from her?
RTD11- Breaking The Unbreakable
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