Everybody Hurts
AC/DC's Back In Black played loudly as Dean and Sam drove down the road, heading to Sylvania Bridge to begin their investigation.
"So, how's life treating you, college boy?" Dean asked, trying unsuccessfully to hide the disdain from his voice.
"What's your problem!?" Sam demanded, immediately on the defensive.
"Nothing," Dean replied, keeping his focus on the road.
Sam snorted in disgust. "Bull. You forget I know you, Dean. What's wrong?"
Dean glared at him, suddenly pulling over to the side of the road, and shutting off the Impala.
"What's wrong? What's wrong!? No. You don't get to leave your family high and dry expecting to be welcomed back with open arms," Dean growled heatedly before getting out of the car. Sam followed him.
"I've hurt you. I get that. But I wasn't meant for this life."
"You're a Winchester. Of course it was what you were meant to do."
"It's not normal."
Without warning Dean's fist came flying at Sam's face. Sam stumbled backward a moment before regaining his balance and tackling Dean to the ground. They rolled around on the ground, each managing to get a few decent punches in. A few minutes later they suddenly stopped, lying next to each other trying to regain their breath.
"What the hell was that!?" Sam demanded, slowly sitting up. His left cheek was bruised a nice shade of purple. Dean, his eyes slit in a fierce glare, sat up as well. He was sporting a decent fat lip.
"Screw normal. You didn't even try to contact me for four years. How the hell do you think that makes me feel, huh? I guess I'd been fooling myself the past eighteen years when you left that our relationship meant something to you too. That you'd at least keep in touch once you grew acclimated to Stanford life. Your older bro too much of a freak for you to even pretend I existed?"
"Dean, you have to know that's not the way I feel. You heard Dad. He told me if I was gonna go I should stay gone. Not contacting either of you was just me keeping us all safe. If I'm gonna be a part of this life I have to be in it all heart and soul like you are."
Dean smiled weakly. "And you can't, can you? 'Cause of Jessica?"
Sam returned the smile, placing his hand on Dean's shoulder. "Yeah, she's a large part of it. But Dean, you have to believe me when I say I wasn't meant for this life. But I'll be sure to call if it's what you want. That way you won't have to sneak into my apartment in the middle of the night," he said, chuckling softly. Dean rubbed furiously at his eyes, refusing to cry. He cleared his throat loudly, flashing Sam a watery smile.
"Uh, sure. That'd be great, Sammy. So, um, this Jessica girl…"
"Yeah?" Sam prodded, as they both got to their feet, heading over to the Impala.
"Is she putting out enough for ya? I mean you're enough of a girl. I don't want you turning into a giant prude on top of it," Dean asked, his smirk firmly in place.
Sam rolled his eyes. "You're disgusting. I can't believe we're related half the time," he muttered, climbing into the passenger seat. Dean climbed into the driver's seat, starting up the Impala.
"You're telling me, princess," he retorted as they headed back toward Sylvania Bridge. His eyes darted quickly to Sam who already sat slouched low in the passenger seat. Sure it would've been great for the two of them to be doing this regularly, but it wasn't in the cards for Sam and Dean could deal with that. He was just relieved that he and Sam were okay again. It was bad enough having John off god knows where, but at least Dean could relax a little because Sam would be safe. And the two of them would always be brothers, no matter what life decided to throw in their path along the way.
THE END