sharper than a serpent's tooth

Dean is twelve years old the first time he points a gun at his father. John stumbles drunk into the motel room, the smell of beer and body odor causing Dean’s nose to wrinkle. He squeezes his eyes shut from his position on the couch, hoping that John won’t notice that he’s still awake. Dean can hear footsteps, and he holds his breath as his father passes him, as if not breathing will make his pretend-sleep more believable. John is almost to the bathroom when he trips over something - Sammy’s shoe, Dean remembers with a cringe. He had planned to move it aside, but he’d gotten distracted preparing dinner for the two of them and hadn’t gotten back around to it. The already-drunk-and-unsteady John collides with the wall, letting out a yell. Once he’s steady on his feet again, he staggers over to the bed where Sam lay, sound asleep. ---