Today marked three years since their last hunt and Sam could still remember it like it was yesterday. The day the Impala was parked in front of one of those crappy ten dollars motels after a successful local werewolf hunt when Sam decided to announce his retirement.
Of course Dean didn't take his brother's words seriously. He carried on throwing his backpack in the trunk and asking about their next case. But Sam wasn't ready to let it drop. His arguments were clear, the angels and demons were quiet, there was no signs of an approaching apocalypse, no creepy evil assholes threatening to end the world and aside from the usual small hunts their lives have gone down the stable hill for the last couple months. To Sam that announced the end of his hunting career and maybe the start of his normal life. Dean reacted violently to that, carried on making Sam believe his normal life was sitting in the Impala next to him and driving through the states hunting down evil.
The brothers' argument went on for days which cost Sam two more hunts before he decided he was done and nothing Dean could say would make him change his mind. Although he was beyond angry, Dean drove him back to California and sent him off properly. He ended up sticking for a couple days until Sam rented an apartment and later drove off to take care of a case in the neighborhood.
Three years flew by fast, during the first they called each other almost every exchanged daily news and Sam was glad to hear some hunter was offering Dean his help and although Dean was against it Sam forced him to accept the collaboration and insisted on the importance of having back-up during hunts.
And that was it. That was the last they heard from each other. The third year was a total silence on both ends. Sam called Dean once every few months to make sure he was still alive. Their calls never went further than hello's and how are you's. They suddenly ran out of conversation and all those years they spent together started to feel like old memory.
It was a Sunday , January 2nd, six in the morning when Sam received a call from an unknown number. The ringtone resonated around the small room waking Sam up from a delicious sleep. If there was anything he hated most next to being told his hair was getting way too long, it was to be woken up early on a Sunday. The ringtone played over and over again, its volume increasing with each call. During the third one, Sam gave up and threw his hand over the bedside to catch his smartphone. Sam was ready to give the caller whoever they were a piece of his mind but the familiar voice on the other side was quick to change his decision.
"Sam? It's me, Cole."
Cole was Dean's new partner. Old friend of theirs whom they ran through several times during their time together, Cole swore to never see the Winchesters' face again, and he did, at least up until the day his household was attacked by a vampire and the outcome was the horrible injury that costed his wife's life. He later met Dean who was following a lead to a local vampire nest and the two joined forces to erase the monsters off the map. Cole later left his son to a distant family member where he made sure he was kept safe and suggested to join Dean after leaning he was working alone. Sam was glad Dean ended up accepting his collaboration although it cost him over twenty calls to get him to change his mind. Cole was trustworthy and there wasn't a time he hadn't called Sam whenever something happened. Which made Sam realize that receiving a call from him this early wasn't a good sign.
"Cole? Hey, man. How have you been?" Sam helped himself up to sit on the bed, his fingers rubbing his tired eyes. He had to cling to his blanket to cover his naked top from the chill.
"Dean. It's Dean, Sam. He's gone."
Sam have only met Cole once or twice during the past years when he and Dean would stop by to visit during a case in the neighborhood. They shared short conversations around a cup of coffee but it was enough for Sam to tell he was still the same competent, tough and confident man he once met. Cole was the perfect hunting partner and nothing shook him off easily. So when Sam clearly noticed the nervous tone in his voice as it reached from the other side of the line, he knew something serious has happened.
"We were just done with this case three days ago." Cole explained, knowing Sam would freak out if he didn't hand over a detailed narration right away. "Shapeshifters. We killed three of them, saved the locals, case closed. We drove to New Mexico, stopped by a motel for the night, got into an argument– which was mostly his fault, he was in one hell of an edgy mood I'm telling you – and next morning, poof. Gone. He didn't leave a word nor a message. It's been two days since and still nothing. I can't reach his phone either. I don't know what the hell is going on, Sam."
"Okay, calm down, Cole. Calm down." Sam calmly spoke, he could hear Cole inhale and exhale trying to calm himself. "Tell me, did he take the Impala?"
"No. The car's still here. His backpack, his guns, his knife, even his second cheeseburger he was saving for breakfast is still in the fridge." Chris explained. "Does he do this often, Sam?"
Sam took a deep breath to calm the tension that started building inside of him. "No. No he doesn't. And he never leaves the Impala unless something serious happens."
"I got in contact with his angel buddy, Castiel, he said Dean didn't get in contact with any demons or angels. Which means he's either out hunting alone which is most likely impossible with all of his stuff in here, or he's out somewhere doing god knows what." Cole sighed. "Dammit, Dean!"
"It's okay, Cole, you did great. Just tell me if there's anything else I need to know. Like, did he mention having somewhere to go?"
"Not that I can remember." Cole replied. "Well we did have an argument and he said I could be a pain in the ass and he's better off without me but it's nothing new. He tells me that almost every time I screw up. Grew used to it."
"What do you mean?"
"During the hunt, we had a plan to separate the three shifters and kill them one at a time. But the assholes were witty. They used the victims' loved ones against them, one of them took form of my dead wife and I was too furious I didn't think before striking. He had to save my ass from getting killed." Cole took a moment to remember something and then continued. "Right, there was something else. One of those shapeshifters took your form, Sam. I guess Dean wasn't happy to see that, especially after he had to kill it."
Sam was surprised to hear Cole's words. Of course Dean wouldn't be happy seeing Sam in the form of a monster and having to kill the fake image of him would've been nothing but a bad experience. But it was the job, and sometimes – most of the time – it was unpleasant. Dean knew that.
"Look, Sam. I have to go." Cole announced after a minute of silence. "I just received a call from the sheriff concerning a new case. Dean might not be around but I can't ditch work. If you hear anything from him give me a call. I'll do the same."
"Yeah, sure. I will" Sam said. "Thanks for telling me, Cole."
"He's your brother, Sam." Cole said. "You have the right to know when something happens." Cole's voice was covered by a ringtone and Sam knew it was his other phone ringing. "All right, I gotta go. See you, man."
Sam hung up and threw his phone on the bed. He swung his legs down on the floor and stood up to walk to the windows. He pushed the curtains aside to allow the light from coming in and took a deep breath to calm his heartbeats. He found his body has gained in temperature and he couldn't feel the chill in the room although he was still topless with only a pair of black shorts on.
"Where the hell are you, Dean?"
It was just another Sunday. The one day of the week Sam usually spends sleeping until noon, then go for a quick jog and join his roommates for brunch. However, this Sunday's plans announced to be different since it was half past six and Sam was already wide awake. First thing he did was grab his phone, search up Dean's name in his contact list and give him a call. Three calls went through but Dean wasn't picking up. The fourth trial and Sam was welcomed by the voice mail.
"Dean, where the hell are you?" Sam impulsively shouted. "Cole just called. He said you disappeared. Whatever you're doing, I don't care. You have to call either me or Cole. Dude, we're getting worried."
After that Sam went for a run to calm down and took his phone along with him. He left two more voice messages in the following hour. It wasn't until he returned to his apartment and took a shower that he received a call from an unknown number. Sam rushed to pick up the phone.
"Dean?!" He almost shouted.
"Guess again." A voice teased from the other side. It was Charlie.
After living away from Dean for a year, Charlie called Sam one day, asking if he wanted to drop over for a local hunt, Sam explained the whole retiring situation and Charlie was more than happy to hear the news. She later moved into town to work at a video-games shop. That was the start of their close friendship.
"Charlie? Hey." Sam sounded down. He loved to receive calls from Charlie, he loved to talk to her, in just a couple years she became the closest person to him, she knew him better than anyone and became the little sister he never had. But right now Sam had only one person in mind, his brother, and if he didn't hear from him soon Sam was afraid he'd lose it.
"Sorry, Charlie. I thought it was Dean."
"Wow, wow. What is this?" Charlie's voice sounded cheerful and bold. "What is going on? Is my little Samwise missing his Frodo?"
Sam took a deep breath, wondering whether or not he should tell her about Dean missing. "It's nothing." He said. "It's just that I've been waiting for his call."
"Maybe he's busy on a case? What did Cole say?"
"Yeah they're on a new case, heard from Cole they had something around New Mexico." Sam lied. He didn't like to make Charlie worry. At least not now, maybe when he hears from Dean and calms down a bit he'd sit down with Charlie and laugh it all off.
"Thought so." Charlie chuckled. "By the way, Sam. I'm coming over for brunch. You better save me a seat. If it's near the pretty brunette I'll love you forever."
"You mean Amy?" Sam said, remembering his roommate, Amy, whose room was next door."Sure, but you do know she's into guys, right?"
"Just save me the seat and watch the magic happen. See you around, bitch." Charlie sung the last bit and then hung up.
Sam smiled, somehow even in his worst moods Charlie manages to put a smile on his face. However, worry was quick to catch on. Sam gave Dean another call, this time it didn't even go through. Every time he was caught by the voice mail and if he sent any more of those he'd jam his brother's phone for good.
Today was Sam's turn in the kitchen. He was glad since he had to spend his time cooking brunch instead of sitting around picturing all kind of horrible scenarios his brother could be going through. Time flew by fast and it was around noon when the first roommate showed his face in the living room. He was a six feet three tall guy with spiky blond hair named Matt. He and Amy were the original residents of the apartment before they broke up and decided to invite two more students in, Sam and Claire. Matt was a student in Philosophy, Claire in Fine Arts and Amy and Sam were classmates in Law.
Matt strolled through the living room and fell head first on the couch. "Morning, Sam." He announced in a lazy voice.
Sam peeked at him from behind the open kitchen. He was preparing a cheese Quiche, one of the specialties he picked from working part-time at a family restaurant.
"It's ten past noon." Sam announced. "Good afternoon to you too, Matt."
"Dude, do you even sleep?" Matt pushed himself up to support himself on his forearms and looked at Sam. "Whenever I look around for you you're either working or studying."
"Give the guy a break." A voice announced, Sam looked up to catch Amy walking out of her room. She was a short curly-haired brunette, she had a round face, full cheeks and a pretty mouth. Sam's first impression of her was 'adorable'. Turns out she was the total opposite of that. "Just because you're shit at both working and studying doesn't mean everyone is."
Amy had a big mouth. To her, cursing was like breathing and sarcasm was her lifestyle. She was tough-headed and hard on everyone but Sam. When it comes to him, she would turn into the sweet gentle version of herself. It wasn't until Matt slapped him with the truth one day that he realized she had a crush on him.
"Good afternoon, Sammy!" Amy greeted in a cheerful voice. She walked to the kitchen and gave Sam a proper kiss on the cheek. Sam has grown used to her physical affection which, when it comes to him, she becomes very generous. "This smells heavenly. Need a hand?"
"Sure, Amy" Sam smiled, glad to receive some help. "Could you make a salad, please?"
"Get a room, you two." Matt's voice reached from the living room. He had shifted on his back, still lying on the couch and turned the TV on to his favourite sports channel. He was a sports guy and would rather skip his job and classes than miss a football match. Sam later learned it was the reason Amy broke up with him. She hated football.
"How about you fuck off back to your room instead? Would save us the trouble." Amy commented with a snort.
Sam grew used to having the two nagging at each other day and night. He still remembers the first time he met them. Matt's first comment was about Sam's height and how heaven must look from up above which was funny since Sam was only one inch taller than him. Amy was totally swooning over his hair, Sam took the compliments full-heartedly but now that he thinks about it he realized she was just flirting with him.
"Where's Claire?" Amy asked, her hands busy cutting the cucumber into tiny pieces.
"She went groceries shopping. We're out of drinks." Sam informed. He glanced inside the oven making sure the Quiche was cooking well. "By the way, Charlie's coming over. I hope it's okay with you guys."
"Charlie? Is she the nerdy red-head you introduced to us the other day?" Amy asked, eyes narrowing. "You're not dating her, are you?"
"What? No." Sam laughed. Amy's dark glare still freaked him out a little, but being paired up with Charlie happened too many times he grew used to it. Charlie had put that policy about stepping away from Sam's social life. She knew Sam needed to breathe and live a life without being reminded of the monsters crawling out there. Charlie was that reminder. Whenever he looks at her Sam remembers his hunter life, the one he left behind and never plans to go back to. However, Charlie kept her word and her distance until one day she showed up at the end of Sam's class crying over a girl who dumped her. Sam wasn't bothered by it, he was more than happy to introduce her to Amy and Matt and since then she's been asking to meet them.
"Charlie's like a little sister to me. I don't see her that way." Sam cleared up with a smile. Matt was quick to pop his head from the living room.
"Oh, I definitely see her that way, buddy." He grinned.
"Shut the fuck up, asshat. Nobody's talking to you." Amy shot back. She then quickly parted her lips to show a big grin at Sam. "Oh Sam, you're such a sweetheart. And sure, she's more than welcome here. Can't wait to meet her again."
And just like that, Sam's morning flew by like any other casual Sunday. He has grown used to this life, away from creeping danger and monster hunting. He was happy, he was really happy, but it wasn't enough. Because now and then he'd think of Dean, Dean who was still hunting out there, and it would send his heart racing in fear. What if something happens to him? What if one day he receives a call from Cole telling him Dean was dead? And that day has come, and although Dean wasn't dead, he was gone, gone someplace Sam knew nothing about.
Claire came back in time for the meal. Charlie showed up shortly after. The girls helped setting the table and Sam and Matt served the food. Everyone took a sit around the table and carried on discussing their weekly news. Charlie quickly got along with the rest, Sam knew she was a natural.
After their long meal, Amy suggested to hang out for a drink at the neighborhood's pub. She seemed to get along with Charlie who have been swooning each time Amy patted her head or gave her a hug. They all took their sit around a table and ordered something except from Claire. She was a five feet seven skinny girl. Her artistic side gave her off as an anti-social when in reality she was just a shy kid with a vibrant personality. She was colorful in the very sense of the word. Her hair had at least three shades of green, blue and red. She loved large hoodies and short skirts. She was quieter than the rest and somehow Sam enjoyed her company. With her, he didn't need to think twice before speaking, didn't have to explain himself and if he didn't feel like talking he could just sit there quietly and still enjoy her company more than anything.
"Claire and I would have a soda." Sam announced with a smile. He knew Claire was too shy to tell the others she didn't like getting drunk outside. "Soda? Oh come on, that's boring!" Amy sighed. She looked up at the waiter and threw her fingers in the air.
"Two beers for me."
"Make that four." Matt added, he gave Amy a grin and they high-fived each other.
Sam laughed, if there was one thing the two agreed on it was alcohol.
"I'll have a shot of whiskey." Charlie announced, dragging all the eyes back on her. "…I guess?"
"Woohoo! We've got a drinker over here! Send those shots!" Amy announced cheerfully, wrapping her arm around Charlie's shoulders. "Dammit, girl. You don't stop surprising me."
Sam could read clearly through Charlie's flushed face. She was enjoying her time and he was glad she tagged along. The waiter took the order and left and the conversation went ambient again. Sam was checking his phone every two minutes, growing used to the plain screen of his phone displaying 'No new messages'. He remembered his conversation with Cole earlier. Apparently, Dean left everything including his car which means wherever he ran off to it wasn't for hunting purposes.
And then it hit Sam. What if Dean ran off to a girl? He didn't see him in months and he hasn't been close enough to pry on his love life but maybe Dean found someone and he dropped everything to go after her. The idea made sense but it made Sam very uncomfortable. Since Lisa, he hasn't been very eager to have his brother get emotionally attached to any other woman. But what if it was true and Dean winded up leaving the hunter life he long clung to for a woman?
Sam quickly shook the idea off his head, hating how far his thoughts have gone. Whatever he was doing Dean should be able to call, which he hadn't, which makes this whole thing even more troubling.
"Are you okay?" A soft voice asked and Sam turned his head to face Claire by his side. She looked at him with big blue eyes, bangs hiding her eyebrows. "You've been checking it for a while." She added, her eyes landing on Sam's phone.
Sam quickly put his phone back into his jacket's pocket. He wanted to say it's nothing but remembered it was Claire and whatever he tells her she wasn't one to ask further questions, a thing Sam liked about her.
"I'm waiting for a call from my brother." He said. "I've been trying to reach him since morning but he wouldn't pick up. I left him at least ten voice messages and still nothing. Maybe he's busy and I'm just worrying too much."
Claire listened quietly at Sam's words. She smiled and put a hand on Sam's arm. "It's okay to be worried."
Sam smiled back, he was glad she was such an easy-going person. He could go on for days about his life and she wouldn't ask about details or point out the missing parts of the life Sam's been hiding. She took whatever was given to her and never asked for more.
Shortly after the drinks were served, Amy, Matt and Charlie got wasted. Charlie's shot made everyone want to join and near the end Sam was forced to drink two glasses of whiskey before Charlie decided to stop threatening to reveal his true identity. She was drunk and nobody took her seriously anyway so Sam didn't blame her.
It was six in the evening when Sam received a call. He picked up his phone and Dean's name displayed on screen. He had to quickly excuse himself and squeeze out of the crowd to get outside. When he picked up, he was already out of breath.
"Dean?"
"Sam." Dean's voice reached from the other side. He sounded calm and composed, nothing unusual.
"Where the hell have you been? Did you get my calls?" Sam nearly shouted, attracting the attention of a couple people standing around the pub's door.
"Thirty calls and ten voice messages." Dean said. "If anything the dude from the store thought you were my wife when I asked to use his charger."
"Dude, Cole is worried sick!" Sam reproached. "He called this morning thinking you went on a suicide mission. The least you could do was give the man a call." Sam scolded him, he was glad to hear Dean's voice again but he couldn't help his anger.
"Cut me some slack, Sammy." Dean growled unpleasantly. "Battery's dead, I was on the road."
"Without your car?"
"Took the bus. Left baby for Cole in case of emergency." Dean explained. "My back hurts like a bitch, though. Never again, man. Never again."
"Why would you take a bus? Wait, where are you anyway, Dean?" Sam asked after a short silence, rubbing his hands together to warm up from the chilly weather outside.
"Right up ahead, bitch."
When Sam lifted up his eyes, he caught Dean's figure standing on other side of the road. He was dressed in a heavy jacket, a hand shoved in his pocket while the other held the phone. When their eyes met he showed a grin and began walking his way.
"Hey!" Dean announced with a quick hand wave. He put the phone back into his pocket and approached Sam. "Look at you, turned into a damn fine boring-ass citizen."
Sam was too surprised, too shocked to laugh at his brother's comment. He froze for a minute or two with his phone still glued to his ear wishing to hear his brother's voice when the real thing was right in front of his eyes.
"Dean?" He finally called, jerking back into reality. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Dean replied, stretching a brow upside.
It's been months since he's last seen him face to face, and Dean hasn't changed one bit. His eyes were still the same emerald green with the pretty eyelashes. His hair grew a bit longer but was styled the same as usual. He had a two-day beard and seemed to have welcomed more wrinkles here and there over his face. But overall, he was still the same old Dean Sam grew to know.
Sam felt so stupid worrying the entire day for nothing. Dean was safe and sound and he was here. If anything he must've planned a surprise visit and Cole overreacted a bit.
Sam couldn't help pulling his brother for a hug. He knew hugging wasn't Dean's forte so he enjoyed watching him roll his eyes and put up with it until he finally pulled away to take a satisfying long stare at his face.
"Dude, you could've told me you were coming to visit." Sam said. He quickly shoved his hands back into his pocket and shivered at the cold.
"Save the questions for later. If you spend another second out here you're gonna freeze down."
Dean pushed Sam back inside the pub. The crowd made it hard for him to catch sight of his friends. He spotted Charlie's red-hair on the other side of the place and at his sight she excitedly waved her hands in the air.
"You're friends with nerds?" Dean asked sarcastically, walking after Sam. When they approached the table, all eyes were averted towards Dean. Matt, Amy and Claire looked like they were trying to figure out who he was. It wasn't until Charlie jumped up from her seat and threw her hands to the sky that the introductions were made.
"Dean!" She shouted.
"Charlie!" Dean greeted her with a warm hug. Sam realized his friends' eyes were now narrowing suspiciously.
"Dean, this is Matt, Amy and Claire." Sam introduced, waving his hand towards his friends. "Guys, this is Dean. My brother."
"Oh." Amy said as if coming to realization. "Oh! That brother? The mechanic, right?" Sam quickly cleared his voice and threw Dean an obvious gaze. Dean knew how to roll along with a lie.
"Yep, in flesh and blood." Dean affirmed with a grin. Two minutes later Dean was sitting between Charlie and Amy enjoying a couple beers and Sam was squeezing next to Claire and Matt. Matt seemed to have just made a new friend, not only Dean was a beer-guy but he liked sports and classic rock as well. Sam wondered if they were going to discuss which band member of which classic rock band was their favourite for the rest of the night. Luckily, Amy came to the rescue and decided to ask a question Sam saw coming.
"So you came to visit Sam, right?" She asked after sharing another beer with Dean. "I've heard you guys are close but how come you never showed up before?"
Dean raised his eyes from his beer and stared at Amy with a smile.
"You could say the family business is keeping me busy." He explained. "But it doesn't mean I don't get to drop by every now and then and see how my little brother's holding up. Right, Sammy?"
"Yeah, he's, uh, he's been busy since Dad left us." Sam explained, glancing over at Charlie who was looking sideways, keeping quiet since she couldn't afford any drunk tongue-slip. "So, Dean, you've got a place to crash tonight?"
"I noticed a motel close by, I might check in later."
"You can sleep over at my place!" Charlie shouted in excitement. Everyone looked her way.
"Really? That'll be great. Thanks, Charlie."
"You two seem close." Matt noticed, liking everything about Dean except the fact that he and Charlie were way too close. Dean snorted.
"This one here is the closest I have to a little sister." He said, throwing an arm around Charlie's shoulders.
"That's exactly what Sam said." Matt replied with a grin, and Dean and Sam shared a quick glance.
The night went by fast and the group of friends left the pub at half past nine. Charlie was drunk and Dean decided to walk her home. Matt and Amy were up for a second round but Sam and Claire had to sign out. With the two left the four stopped in front of the pub to greet each other good night.
"You're not coming, Sam?" Charlie asked, pulling on Sam's jacket with one hand and Dean's with the other.
"I'll have to pass. I need to walk Claire home and get some homework done." Sam apologized with a smile, putting his hand over Claire's shoulder who just smiled innocently back at him. "By the way, how long are you staying Dean?"
Sam lifted up his eyes to catch his brother throwing his hands on each side, giving Sam a frown.
"Dude, rude! I just arrived."
Sam snorted at his comment and greeted Charlie with a hug. "I'll make sure to drop by after my classes tomorrow. And please, keep your phone charged, Dean. That's important."
"Yes, mom." He joked.
Sam then waved him goodbye. He watched as Dean gave up half-way on helping Charlie walk and decided to pick her up instead. Sam quickly regretted not asking him over. They had so much to share, so much to catch up on, and Dean was probably dropping for a quick one or two days visit and then he'll be back to his hunting life with Cole.
"Sam?" Claire's voice pulled Sam away from his thoughts only to realize that Dean and Charlie have long disappeared from sight and he and Claire were the only ones still standing in front of the pub. "You look sad."
Sam didn't understand whether that was a statement or a question. Either way, he shook his head and smiled at her.
"It's nothing. Let's go."