A second snippet to celebrate Dean Winchester's birthday today, January 24. I couldn't decide whether to go with my wee!chester idea or my present day idea, so I wrote both-Birthday Past and Birthday Present.

Disclaimer: To my everlasting despair, I own nothing related to Supernatural.

BIRTHDAY PRESENT

By: Vanessa Sgroi

Peering into the mirror, Dean Winchester wiped away the last of the red paint that stubbornly clung to his hairline. Satisfied with his cleansing efforts, he dropped the wet washcloth in the sink and left the tiny motel bathroom. Approaching the bed he'd claimed, Dean shoved aside his duffel bag, chuckling as he thought about the day they'd just spent LARPing. He still couldn't quite wrap his mind around the fact that he'd indulged in hours of role playing, not as an essential element of a new job, but for the sheer fun of it all. He sat, resting his back against the headboard. "Now that was the way to spend a birthday."

The comment was made in a completely offhanded fashion, no emphasis placed anywhere—a mere nonchalant observation. Yet a stricken look crossed Sam's face. "Damn it. Dean, I…I'm sorry, man. I forgot." He slumped forward slightly in his chair.

"Forgot what?"

"Your birthday. You know, with everything that's been going on…it just…" Sam spread his hands, another guilt trip ready to launch.

But Dean shrugged. "Nah. Truth is it didn't occur to me either until the middle of that second battle with the Shadow Orcs today. One of them grunted something."

Sam glanced at his watch then reached up and pulled his hair from the queue he'd worn during LARPing. "It's not too late, you know. It's early enough we can still go get some awesome dinner—the best steak you can find. My treat."

The elder Winchester made a dismissive gesture. "You don't have to do that."

"C'mon. I want to. It's not much, I know, but we'll go eat, get a couple of drinks…have some pie."

When Dean still hesitated, Sam continued, "Remember what you said earlier about fun? We'll make this fun too."

"Seriously? You're sure?"

"Yes."

Re-energized, Dean hopped up. "Let's go then. Now that I think about it, that giant turkey leg wore off a long time ago!"

Agreeing with his brother about the turkey leg, Sam stood and stretched before grabbing his jacket and trailing after Dean out the door. Settling into the passenger side of the Impala, Sam said, "I knew you always had it in you."

Dean glanced at his sibling. "Had what in me? Sheer awesomeness?" he said with a cocky grin.

Performing the expected, affectionate, eyeroll, Sam replied, "No, your inner geekiness. I always knew it was in there somewhere. You really are a geek at heart!"

Dean forced the smile off his face, donning a mock grave expression. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sammy. You're delusional."

Sam laughed. An honest laugh and it felt good. "Uh huh. Mr. Deanlandia the Great One."

"Hey, that's because they wouldn't let me use 'Dean the Bad-Ass'. Besides, it's better than 'Samserious the Tall'."

Grinning, Sam brought a hand up to his mouth but paused when his fingers encountered a bit of stickiness. Pulling his fingers away, he saw tacky face paint smearing the fingertips. "DEAN! Why didn't you tell me I still had some paint on my face?!"

Shrugging, Dean chuckled, "I thought it was a good look on you. Though it loses some of its charm without your ponytail." Dean ducked the crumpled napkin thrown in his direction.

Yep, against all odds, this had turned out to be a pretty awesome birthday.

FIN