A/N: Chicago was a blast! Ask me about Misha & the Pringles can.


Sam hadn't realized how much he'd missed Dean, or how happy he'd be to see him again. It'd been a couple of months nearly since Dean had brought him out to Stanford and helped him get settled into his dorm. The days had blurred after that, with classes and books , having to find his way around campus and getting used to being around all the same people in all the same places all the damn time. He'd hardly had time to miss Dean.

Then, when he came out of the library Friday night, two nights ago, and saw Dean there, leaning against the car like it was his everyday routine to wait for Sam to finish studying…

"So, Sammy…you catching on here, or are they getting ready to expel your ass out?"

…it was all Sam could do to not to grab him in a hug in front of everyone and hold on until Spring.

Of course, Sam guessed that this visit was more for Dean's sake. November second was always harder for Dean than it was for Sam. And it was downright agonizing for Dad. Sam didn't blame Dean for taking some time away.

Though maybe it would've been nice to see Dad…

Yesterday, Saturday the second, Sam had walked Dean all over campus, shown him his classrooms, the library and food court and bookstore. Then Dean had driven Sam to the mall in town and bought him socks and underwear and junk food and a better pillow and anything that Sam would let him buy for him. Then he bought Sam dinner and took him to a movie and they stayed up most of the night talking about nothing.

Now though, today, Dean had to get on the road again and catch up with Dad. It was November, so the sun was going down by five o'clock when Dean dropped Sam off at his dorm after an early dinner.

"Call me if you need anything." Dean said.

"Not much I need after your little shopping spree yesterday."

"You let me know anyway."

"I will. Thanks - you know - for -."

Sam had hardly begun his thank-yous when Dean rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Isn't there a chick-flick you should be watching right now, Sammy?"

Sam grinned - apparently two months apart didn't change the fact that Dean hated Sam being grateful.

"Yeah - okay. Yeah. I'll see you."

He got out of the car, closed the door, waved once in goodbye and headed up the long sidewalk to his dorm. He was about halfway there when he realized he hadn't heard the car pull away. He turned and sure enough, there was Dean, still parked at the curb. Waiting. Sam looked closer - Dean wasn't on the phone, he wasn't getting out of the car. He was just sitting there. Waiting.

What was he waiting for? Did he forget something? Did Sam forget something?

It only took a few seconds for Sam to realize, and when he did realize, he marched back to the car and the driver's side window.

"Dude - seriously?"

"Seriously." Dean answered.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, Sam. Seriously."

He used the tone that meant Sam wouldn't win even if he stood out here all night. So he huffed and marched back to the building and up into his dorm room on the second floor.

And when he got inside he flicked on the light and went to the window, and waved down to Dean who had managed to be parked in the exact location to be able to see that Sam gotten home safe and sound.

Dean flashed his headlights that he'd seen Sam, then - and only then - did he drive away. And Sam watched the taillights down the long university road until he couldn't see them anymore.

The End.


A/N2: I got the idea for this story today when I got home from work. My big sister happened to be driving by. She pulled in the driveway and we chatted a few minutes. When we were done, my sister stayed parked right where she was until I was inside the house and had a light turned on.

Seriously.