Sam was gazing out of the bus window. House after house, Holton was getting behind him.
Outside you could see the sun setting on the horizon just beyond the green countryside.
He sighed and adjusted himself on the seat. The bus was empty except from him and a couple of old women with a child. He was sure about his choice but his breath was still short and his palms couldn't stop sweating. He had wanted to meet his brother since the first moment he discovered his existence, a couple of months before. His mother Mary and his father, made him sit on the couch in the living room.
No one has ever had trifling news while sitting on that couch.
She told him that she was married to another man long ago, with some John Winchester, and that they had a baby. They divorced when said baby was 4, and Mary was already expecting him. The cause of the break up was clear enough but Sam had some questions. Like, did his mom never saw his child again? Where did they live? And most important of all, why was he said such thing just now? Lots of families were in the same situation, it was nothing big.
She told him that they lived in Lawrence at the time, which was just an hour away from Holton.
And that she have always seen Dean, his stepbrother, once a month.
She would have had some sort of excuse if Sam had asked her.
But she never answered the last question.
Two months after, on his 18th birthday, he expressed the will to meet his brother.
And here he was. The breaks of the bus made a shrill sound, bringing him back to reality.
He looked out of the window and it was way darker.
-Excuse me sir, how long before we hit Lawrence's stop?- he asked to the bus driver, leaning towards him.
-Just a couple of minutes boy- the old man said in a rattle.
Sam stood up and put his back pack on his right shoulder. Just a couple of minutes after the bus stopped and he got off in the cold evening breeze. The tire screeched again and he was alone in front of Lawrence's city hall. Her mother called John, to let him know of Sam intentions. He said he could come visit on Friday and have dinner with them. Their house was just a block away from the bus stop, but he offered to come puck him up. Sam declined, saying he would have walk. Her mother gave him a picture of the house, where she wrote the exact address. So when Sam reached it he knew he couldn't be wrong.
He took a deep breath and knock on the door. Everything was silent for a moment. Just when Sam was trying to peep beyond the curtains, he heard someone messing with the latch of the door.
He stood back in place as the door opened. The one that opened the door must have been Dean.
The boy was standing there in what looked like an old and worn out tank and black sweatpants.
Sam looked him in the face to find a pair of emerald eyes looking back at him with a shrewd look.
There was a crooked smile on his face when he spoke.
-You must be Sammy- he said.
Sam stared at him, contemplating the fact that his stepbrother, who he has never seen before, just called him "Sammy".
-Uhm ye..yeah, I'm Sammy, SAM. I mean- he stuttered.
There was absolute silence while the both of them kept staring at each other.
-Dean let the poor boy come in!- a low voice came from behind Sam's brother.
-Come on in- Dean patted Sam's shoulder as he entered.
Sam sighed in relief after one of the more awkward moments of his life.
At the table there was a dark haired man, bent over what seemed like a journal. After he had finished writing he lifted his had and stood up going towards him, extending his hand.
-Hey Sam- he said. They shook hands and the silent fell over once again.
Sam began to think that maybe this hasn't been a good idea.
-So-John begin rubbing his hands together –what do you guys want for dinner?-
Sam looked at Dean, hoping for an answer. He was sprawled on the couch, hands behind his head.
-It's the same for me Mr. Winchester , thanks- Sam murmured eventually.
-You can call me John, boy- the man reassured him smiling warmly.
-I want some burgers dad!- Dean's voice came from the couch where he was now playing with a strange knife. Sam eyes widened a bit, when the journal that was once on the table hit Dean right in the chest.
-Hey! What was that for?- he asked surprised.
-Why don't you put that thing down and go pick up the burgers for everyone, then?- John looked at the knife and then gave a light but eloquent nod in Sam's direction.
Dean looked at the kid and sighed –Fine!- He stood up, put on a leather jacket and headed for the door.
-Come on little Sammy, it's burger night!- he said while opening the door not even caring to look behind.
Sam, that until that moment was frozen in the hall, with his hands in his pocket, awoke.
Dean headed towards a black car parked along the street and Sam followed him.
Once they were in, Sam put on his seatbelt and Dean laughed.
-You don't lose time! Security first!-he mocked in a parental voice.
Sam found it weird even though he couldn't help but smile.
Dean rummaged in a small box alongside his sit and pulled a cassette out of it, putting it in the stereo.
As he started the car "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC flowed out of the speakers.
- Whoa! I love this song!- Sam burst out in excitement.
He turned to Dean only to find him staring back with eyes wide open and a pleased smile on his face.
Sam shyly smiled back and started shaking his head at the rhythm of the song.
-Well, so me and Baby are very pleased to have you on board- said Dean patting Sam's thigh.
Sam froze for a moment before asking –Baby? Who's Baby?-
Dean laughed, eyes on the street. -You're sitting on her- He answered while caressing the steering wheel.
Sam understood he was talking about the car.
–You call it.. her, baby?- he asked amused.
-Yeah! She's my baby, don't talk shit about her!- Dean warned him.
-No, I actually really like this Impala model.. 1970?- he asked looking around in the cabin.
-'67- Dean corrected him.
They picked up two burgers for each of them, some coke and headed back. The drive was silent, but it wasn't that kind of silence you don't want to be in. It was a very relaxed one.
They sat at the round table that was placed in the living room, right between the couch and the television.
Sam was no longer nervous, instead he was enjoying the meal and the few talk.
He didn't know if he had imagined this dinner any different, or if he did imagined it at all. He just knew he was content with it.
-So Sam – John said while chewing the last bite of his burger – your mother told me that you want to go to a law school once you're done with high school-
-Yeah, that's the plan- he answered
-A law school? Really?- Dean questioned
His father turned his head giving him a reproachful look.
-Hey!- he said raising his hands –I'm just asking! I don't find law so interesting!-
-Come on it is interesting!- Sam begin. His step brother pointed his eyes directly into his, and Sam had his breath short for a little moment –There are a lot of things to learn and you get to know how some things that we commonly hear about in real life, really works and..-
During all his explanation, Dean's eyes were pinned to his, and Sam had a hard time keeping control of his words. The gaze of this boy was so magnetic for some reason that he could have stared into those emerald for ages and feel..at peace. It was hard to explain, he hasn't find a way to clear up his own mind, but he actually felt secure while looking at Dean.
The night went on with some chat and a couple of beer, that John sneaked to Sam, making him promise not to tell Mary.
-Oh damn!- Sam snapped all of a sudden.
-What's going on?- Dean asked. Sam was already standing, picking up his backpack.
–I'm kind of late for the bus! It will be here in like 2 minutes, I'm going to miss it for sure- He said running a hand through his hair nervously.
-I'm giving you a lift- Dean took the last sip from the can and placed his arm around Sam's shoulder making him blush –Come on- he murmured with a smile.
-I'm sorry Mr. Winches.. John! I'm really sorry I have to go in a rush, I had a good time tonight and..-
-Hurry Sammy, or you're leaving Lawrence afoot!- Dean's voice coming out of the door cut him off.
Here we go with the "Sammy. Again. He gave a last clumsy nod at John and headed outside.
-Thank you so much for the lift.. I'm so heedless sometimes!-
-Never mind.. What do they say? Time fly when you have fun, right?- Dean gave him that smirk that made Sam's stomach clench. It should have felt kind of uneasy, all of this intimacy with this boy, but yet he couldn't feel more loose.
Dean pulled the car on the sideway just as they saw the bus coming from down the street.
-Thanks again Dean, I had a really good time-
-I bet – said the other ironically –Take care of yourself right?- his eyes still and staid all of a sudden, glued to his brother ones.
–Yeah.. You too-
Dean gave Sam an unexpected pinch on the cheek and smiled as he got out of the car.
Sam watched the impala drive away in the night, and kept his hand on his face, just where Dean nipped him.
So this was his brother, a part of his family he had never known. They shared blood.
And Sam could feel that his mind was craving to know more about that boy.
To know what was behind those green eyes that felt like home.