Summary: A softer take on Dean and Sam and the post-finale fallout. A flash of exasperated, powers!Sammy and initially worried!Dean.
Lights
Dean switched the grocery bag he held to the other arm and opened the motel door. It was pitch black inside and Dean froze. He'd already been nervous about leaving his brother alone to go get supplies. Now he was really regretting letting Sam convince him to go.
Not wanting to overreact and worry his brother without reason, Dean reached for the light switch hoping that if Sam was just sleeping, the light would have less chance of waking him that yelling.
When he flicked the switch and nothing happened he quickly abandoned that plan, calling out.
"Sammy?"
"…Here."
Dean let out a breath. The voice was a little unsteady, but not hurt. Closing the door behind him and cutting off the light from outside, Dean set the paper bag on the floor and expertly made his way to his duffle to pull out a flashlight.
"What're you doing sitting in the dark, Sammy?" 'Did you catch your ugly mug in the mirror and think it was a monster?' He clamped his mouth shut before he could finish the barb that had been natural between the brothers since childhood. Not anymore though, not right now. Now Dean sometimes had to cover every reflective surface in their room because Sam really did see monsters in the mirror.
Dean found the flashlight and turned it on, shining it in the direction he'd heard Sam. The beam of light fell on Sam, who looked up at Dean from the floor, curled up between the beds.
Sam looked exasperated and miserable.
"The bulbs all blew again."
Frustrated, not terrified. Like when he'd lost his shoe in the storm drain after a day of bad luck. Dean huffed out a relieved breath and kneeled beside Sam, smiling.
He much preferred these little mishaps of a few fried bulbs or floating napkin holders, little snaps of uncontrolled power, to the alternative.
Much preferred.
"It can be fixed."
'And so can you.'