A/N: Well, it's time to try the multi chapter fics again! After reading a fair amount of them on this site, I've decided to try my own hand at a cancer fic, this time, involving Dean. I have enjoyed the ones I've read so far and wanted to try one of my own as a challenge. Pre-series AU. Enjoy! And as always, I don't own Supernatural.
One
Sam Winchester had never considered that one day he would be domesticated.
Throughout his childhood, Sam had endured the total opposite of what one would consider a normal childhood. Family cookouts in the backyard, Thanksgivings watching the Macy's parade after digesting massive turkey dinners, even tuck-ins and lullabys provided by the gentleness of his mother... all were the usual childhood memories that most take for granted. Instead, Christmases were spent in sketchy motel rooms with beer can wreaths and buckets of KFC; weekends and summer vacations were spent with weapons training, physical exercise, and what seemed like endless hours of paraphrasing and translating verses of Latin. Even "geek boy" (as Dean had so affectionately labelled him) Sam Winchester had hated the countless hours pouring over volume after volume of spells and exorcisms (though, of course, he could expel a demon without even glancing at ancient texts). Not even the one summer he had played soccer could possibly count as normalcy.
Domesticity was something Sam had always wanted, and never dreamed would actually happen. And yet, here he was, settled comfortably on his bed, snuggling with the woman of his dreams, munching popcorn and watching cheesy low budget horror films. He had known almost from day one that Jessica Moore was the one for him. Beautiful, charming, a great sense of humour and a heart of gold, Jess had stolen his heart just weeks after first being introduced to her by mutual friends. Less than six months later, the pair were sharing a dorm, and thus Sam Winchester at last found himself enjoying the sometimes bitter, but mostly sweet taste of normalcy.
Domesticity was knowing that an entire summer stretched before him, free of not only the challenges of a pre-law student, but of the prospect of moving to another town, settling down long enough to pack again and move on to the next city. It was Saturday nights on the town (well, occasionally) followed by lazy Sunday afternoons, making love until dusk. Sam even relished the mundane. Cooking, cleaning, writing term papers without having to listen to his father bitch him out for ignoring the hunting lore. Every minute of every day, as saccharine as it may seem, was heavenly to the young man.
That would all change with a simple phone call.
XXX
At first, he almost missed the phone call.
The device, set to vibrate, had been ringing for nearly a minute before Jess finally sat up, brushing a stand of blonde hair from her eyes. "Sam, you should probably get that."
"And miss all the fun?" Sam laughed, gesturing as Jason Voorhees stabbed his latest victim with a pitchfork. Jessica smirked and playfully smacked her boyfriend on the shoulder. "You're an idiot, Sam Winchester, you know that?"
Learned that from my pain in the ass brother. The words had almost slipped out, but Sam managed to hold them back. He didn't want to think of Dean. The brothers hadn't exactly left on the best of terms two years earlier. Determined to attend college regardless of the Winchester Family Business, Sam had left Dean and his father with very little notice, and not much of a good bye. John Winchester had been livid, warning his son that should he choose the life of an undergraduate over that of the hunter, he should never come back. With pleasure, he that thought. Until looking into his brother's eyes, torn between anger and betrayal, sadness, and what Sam hoped was pride. The minute hazel locked with jade, Sam nearly dropped his duffel, and his dreams, right then and there. And he would have, if Dean had just said something. Instead, his older brother had remained silent, and ultimately Sam had turned and walked away. He hadn't seen or talked to Dean since.
Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the continued buzzing and vibration of his cell. No longer joking, Jess arched an eyebrow at him, and reluctantly the young man picked it up. The name flashing on the caller ID surprised him.
"Dean?"
"Sammy?" The voice on the other end of the line sounded almost hesitant. Knowing his brother, Dean had probably attempted to make the call several times earlier, only to chicken out and disconnect. Sam knew this for a fact: he'd done this himself on more than one occasion since his enrolment at Stanford a little under three years earlier. Never had Sam had the courage to follow through with the phone call. What if Dean were still pissed at him? Or worse still, what if he were severely hurt, or dead? He would never be able to live with himself if his brother had died due to his failure to be there as backup (both literally and metaphorically). But, deep down, Sam was also afraid that he would still be too angry to talk to him. Dean was supposed to support his dreams, be his biggest cheerleader. And his silence that night spoke to Sam, loud and clear. He was siding with his father over him.
And yet, Dean had called him. No doubt harbouring the exact fears he was experiencing, and yet he had finally had the courage to dial. Which could only mean one thing.
Something was wrong.
"Dean, is everything ok?" Beside him on the bed, Jessica gave Sam a look of surprise before quietly slipping from beneath the covers and leaving the bedroom to give him some privacy. Sam had told him very little of his estranged older brother, and she was dying of curiosity, but she respected her boyfriend far too much to intervene. Sam gave her a grateful nod, reaching for the remote, the film forgotten.
"Yeah, we're cool." Dean's voice on the other end of the line seemed force, and immediately the little brother radar the elder sibling had no idea even existed suddenly kicked in. But Sam knew better than to push too hard. A little nudge and Dean could be talking; a shove and you were back to square one.
"You still in Cali, right?" Was that a hopeful lilt in Dean's voice? Nah, probably just wishful thinking.
"Yeah, figured I'd stay here for the summer, get a job or something. Why, man?" Trying not to sound too hopeful. Despite their lack of communication, Sam had missed his older brother. A lot. Hell, if he were to admit it, he had missed Dean the first hour after leaving that night. But then, that small thrill of excitement died almost immediately. Why would Dean want to crash here? Unless something was wrong. Was Dad ok? Sure, he was pissed at his father. Royally. But regardless John Winchester was his father. And if something were to happen to him...
"Sammy? You still there? Sam!" The younger Winchester blinked, realizing that he had been spacing out a little. "Yeah, yeah, I'm still here. Was just thinking."
"Yeah, well don't strain your noggin too much there, bro." Ok, if Dean were joking around, things couldn't be that bad. Could they?
"Bite me," Sam muttered, and Dean genuinely laughed for the first time during their conversation. Sam couldn't help but smile. Dean's laugh was infectious, almost as much as his goofy grin or over exaggerated winks. And they were very rare. Sam could count on both hands the number of times his older brother had laughed like in all his twenty years. It comforted him to hear it; it was a sign that perhaps everything would be fine after all.
"But seriously, Sam.," Dean continued after the laughter had died down. "I'm in the area, thought I'd drop by and see my geeky kid brother. Since you don't have exams or any of that studying stuff to worry about now."
Once again warning bells began to go off in Sam's gargantuan mind. "Since when did you just want to 'drop by' Dean? Aren't you and Dad..." he paused, checking to make sure Jessica was out of earshot before continuing, "don't you guys still hunt?"
"Geez, Sammy, why can't I drop by and give my nerdy kid brother a visit? Isn't that what brothers do and all that shit?"
Not in this family. "You're not exactly the visiting type."
"Well, maybe I kinda wanted to see my kid brother sometime in the next century. Now you didn't really answer my question, bro. You staying at Stanford or not?"
"No, Dean. I'm staying here..."
"Great! I'll be there in twenty."
"...but..." Sam's words were cut off as line went dead. Great. As much as he was glad to finally see Dean, he had not had the chance to explain that he wasn't exactly a bachelor. Sam shuddered at the though of his older brother hitting on his girlfriend. And how would Jessica react? He had told her in passing that he had a brother, and that they hadn't parted exactly on friendly terms. How would she react to suddenly find said sibling practically invading their home? Sam sighed, setting the phone back on the nightstand. Jess was great, would probably understand but still... Feeling a slight headache coming on, the young man quickly dressed, turning off the TV and heading into the kitchen.
"Hey, Jess? How do you feel about late night house guests?"
