But then there’s the reference to the other families and, wait, this is happening on a larger scale? It’s not just one missing kid? It doesn’t add any clues, not off the top of his head, anyway.
...and there’s still some woman standing there, and he offers a smile that’s supposed to be sympathetic, and flounders for something to say. He’s usually the one who can talk to adults better, as far as him and Dean go anyway, while his brother is alarmingly good with the kids, and between the two of them they’ll make an awesome team someday except that they’re not going to because Sam’s going to get out and he’s not going to keep hunting forever, Dean can hunt with Dad, it’ll be fine - if they’re ever allowed to do actual hunts themselves (he doesn’t know why he’s thinking about this, since he doesn’t want to hunt, but whatever. He’s usually better at talking to adults, puts on a smile and acts all concerned whether he is or not and they open up to him and tell him whatever he wants to know or give him whatever he wants. He’s only had to do it a few times for a hunt, but he’s done it plenty to gain extensions on papers and explain away weird absences or bruises from training or something...
...but today it’s like that’s all gone, because he’s just floundering around for something to say, shooting Dean a look that’s halfway panic because he’s supposed to be good at this. She’s the first stranger he’s had to deal with since... everything, the first one who wasn’t a kid in school or a teacher passing in the hallways, and she’s clearly harmless and just worried, but that doesn’t seem to matter, and he takes a step back, reaching out to catch at his brother’s sleeve for just a second before he drops his hand, an attempt at being at least a little reassuring because he knows he’s acting like a freak, but he’s fine, he is, Dean doesn’t have to worry.
He stammers out some kind of excuse for his departure, and turns and practically flees back into the kitchen where no one will notice how bad he’s shaking, and no one will see him throw a punch at the fridge door when the stupid irrational fear turns into anger - at himself for being so pathetic, at Gordon for doing this to him, at the world for being different now - or how he winces and ends up holding his hand under the cold water for a few moments because fridge doors are pretty hard, and that really sort of hurts.