Summary: Takes place in 4x01. Dean and Bobby find Sam… just not in the way that they'd expect.
"You sure this is it, Bobby?"
"What do I look like, an idgit? Of course I'm sure." Bobby snapped, but it wasn't directed towards Dean. The older hunter was tearing himself a new one. He had let Sam wonder off after Dean's death, not that he had had much choice in the matter. The younger Winchester stayed with Bobby for all of a few hours before taking off, unable to continue on without his brother. Bobby would attempt to call and check in on him, but Sam would say the normal things 'I'm fine'. The boy was anything but fine.
They pulled into a nice looking neighborhood, which had tons of houses that looked similar. It radiated Apple-pie lifestyle that his younger brother had only dreamt of for years. The white-picket fence, kids running around, the whole nine yards. Dean couldn't help but tear up at the sight, swallowing past the lump in his throat. It looked like Sammy finally found some happiness… some of that normal he had been craving for so long. It would all be worth it. He cleared his throat, choosing to ignore the pointed look Bobby was giving him.
Bobby pulled into a driveway, glancing at Dean. Dean looked at the house with wide eyes. He was out of the truck before Bobby could even put it in park. Bobby hurried after him, reaching the door just as Dean rang the doorbell. The two nervously waited on the porch, not knowing exactly what they were going to see when the door opened.
After what felt like an eternity—Dean had spent the last four months in Hell, so yeah, he knew exactly what an eternity felt like—the door swung open, revealing a pretty, brunette girl about Sam's age.
"Dean?" Her eyebrows rose up, "I thought… wow, come in. Come in."
Dean gave Bobby a puzzled look, which Bobby returned right back. The two hunters walked into the house, feeling as if this was a trap and Sam wasn't even here.
"How do you know my name, lady? Where's Sam?"
The young, brunette blushed, wiping her hands on her jeans nervously, "Sorry, I've just seen pictures and… wait right here. I'll go get him."
She quickly turned, rushing off to go get his brother. Dean walked towards the mantle, intending to look at the pictures that were sitting there. He could recognize his brother's shaggy hair anywhere. Just as he got close enough, Bobby stopped him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Dean turned to look at the older man, frowning.
"I don't like this, Dean. This could be a trap for all we know." Bobby whispered, eyeing their surroundings.
"You tellin' me you don't think this house screams Sam Winchester? I mean, come on, Bobby. It's got a freakin' fireplace with pictures on it for crying out loud. Sammy always lived for this kind of shit."
Bobby sighed, "I sure hope you're—"
Dean turned when Bobby trailed off and the lump in his throat returned. It was no trap. This was definitely Sam's house, because Sam was coming out of the room that the girl just entered. His brother. In a wheelchair.
"Sammy?" Dean asked hesitantly, nearly choked up already and his brother hadn't even made contact with him yet. He felt as if all air had been knocked out of him at the sight. Sam was… paralyzed? What the hell?
Sam looked up, mouth agape as he paused in wheeling towards them. His face went from shocked to anger in two seconds flat.