Room For One
By No1butjoe
Disclaimer - I don't own Supernatural or the boys.
Summary - He deserves it, he really does. He just hadn't expected it to hurt this much. Set right after 9x12, Sharp Teeth.
WARNING: Spoilers for 9x12, Sharp Teeth. If you haven't seen this episode yet, then I suggest not reading this story.
"If you want to work, we'll work. If you want to be brothers…"
Dean doesn't have to know what Sam couldn't say. He can read it on the younger man's face clear as day. Not trusting his voice, he merely nods and, after a moment, Sam goes and gets into the Impala. Dean only hesitates a moment longer before he, too, gets into the car, starts her up, and they drive away.
SPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPN
Dean waits until they're out of the state and it's well past dark before stopping for the night. The car ride had been extremely silent, both men thinking quietly to themselves. Pulling into the same old cheap, rundown motel they usually stay in, Dean parks and turns off the engine.
"Guess we better get a room and call it a night."
They're the first words spoken since they left Wisconsin, but Sam ignores them as he soundlessly gets out of the car and heads into the motel's office. Dean sets about gathering their stuff and, by the time he finishes, Sam's already heading back to him. Sam tosses him the motel key.
"Room seven," is all he says and Dean heads in that direction.
It's only when he reaches the door that he realizes Sam didn't follow. He turns to look at him, frowning.
"You coming?"
There's an awkward silence and Sam shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He holds up something in between his fingers. A motel key.
"I got my own room."
Something in Dean's stomach clenches at the thought of not sharing a room with Sam. They've always shared a room, apart from when Sam went to Stanford and the few fights they had when they went their separate ways. Otherwise, they've never split up rooms before. But, Dean reasons with himself, it's not like he hadn't been asking for it. It's obvious Sam feels they can't be brothers. At least, not the way they used to be. He deserves it, he really does. He just hadn't expected it to hurt this much. It's his own fault though. He betrayed Sam's trust. It's his fault Kevin is dead. As he told Sam when they first parted ways, he's poison to those around him.
Dean swallows hard and nods, looking down so Sam can't see how deeply his decision affected him.
"See you tomorrow."
Not trusting himself to say anything else, he hurriedly unlocks his motel room and goes inside, leaving Sam's bag there on the ground as he closes the door. Inside, he can hear Sam walk to the door, pause to pick up his bag, then walk away again to go to his own room. Standing there in the middle of the room, staring at the single bed, Dean can't help but feel a sense of loss. He still has his partner, his hunting partner. But he lost someone so much more valuable.
His little brother.