AN: Post 5x16 Dark Side of the Moon. Some angst and brotherly fluff - even though Sam basically is sleeping through it all.


BEARS AND BELIEFS

Dean gently turned the icy knob and opened the door to soft snoring. His eyes swept the room looking for any signs of movement and his heart jumped hearing the quiet click of the lock behind him. His brother was dead to the world snoring gently but steadily. His movement however betrayed the sound - it wasn't a peaceful sleep.

The younger man tossed and turned in his bed kicking off the covers in frustration, running his hand through his hair and then unconsciously grappling for the blankets that pooled around his calves.

It was at this moment that Dean noticed something odd.

The bedside lamp was on and under it sat a furry little being. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the thing which was small, fat and had caramel coloured fur. Its dark glass brown eyes stared back at Dean with its paws set in an open-hug giving shape. Its mouth was quirked in a borderline happy smile which in his opinion was slightly sadistic. On the being was a blue child sized t-shirt.

Dean stepped forward quietly trying to avoid the floorboards that would creak under his weight. He looked at Sam who had now settled and then looked at the bear.

Crudely written on the front of the t-shirt was 'I Love Hugs' in Sam's unmistakable scrawl.

Dean stared at the words thinking that Sam was tormenting him for some diabolical reason and was halfway to waking up his brother when he stopped and stared down at the back of the bear which he had involuntarily twisted around in his hands.

Something black and thin hovered just over the neck of the t-shirt.

Dean's fingers stilled and he stopped just looking at Sam.

Sam – barely a month old, aiming his first toothless smile at him.

Sam – at four presented him an ill drawn 'brother's day' card.

Sam – angry at sixteen; screaming at him for getting shot.

Sam – eighteen and confessing that Stanford awaited him.

Sam – pulled back into the life he hated at twenty- two.

Sam – still terrified of clowns at the age of twenty-three.

Sam – blinded by hate at twenty-five.

Sam – in need of a haircut at self forgiveness at twenty-six.

Dean gulped, fingers tracing the familiar fibres. His brother turned in the bed and faced him. Eyes still closed; face smooth before crinkling slightly and letting out a tiny sneeze. Unconsciously he kicked the covers back up to his torso grabbing the thin sheets. His fingers fumbled with the material before being tucked under his chin.

Sam made plenty mistakes but he loved easy. He forgave easy. He believed hard.

Dean sighed scrubbing his face. No point prolonging the inevitable, he thought pulling out the heavy piece of metal, fingers tracing the familiar shape. Sam still believed. Gently easing himself onto his bed he fiddled with the amulet, still watching his baby brother. "Watch out Lucifer, the Winchesters are coming. Right Sammy?" he said softly.

He was definitely sleeping but Dean was sure he saw Sam smile.


AN: Birthday Challenges has been updated. So I hope you enjoyed this story, I'd love to hear what you think about it so drop a review. Scare4irony