Ficlet: Ghosts (a Phantom Traveler missing scene drabble)
Author: sandymg
Summary: Missing scene from S1x04 Phantom Traveler. Sam hears that his dad was proud of him, that he talked about him all the time. He wants to believe.
Spoilers: Through S1x04 Phantom Traveler
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of its characters. They belong to the CW and Eric Kripke – who'd best treat them well
A/N: Written for the Canon Quotes Comment!fic Meme at Live Journal's spnquotefic
Ghosts
"Why are we stopping here?" Sam asks, staring at the quick service copy center where Dean has parked.
"Gotta get us in to see that plane wreckage somehow. Done some of my most creative work at a Copy Jack."
Sam nods. He shifts nervously as Dean turns off the ignition. Dean's hand is on the door handle when Sam says, "Dean?"
"Yeah, Sam?"
"What Jerry said … about Dad … "
Dean turns to him. "What he say?"
Sam squirms a bit. "About Dad being proud of me … "
"Sammy … "
"No. Dean. I'm not gonna get into all of it again. I just … Never mind."
Dean needs to head inside to create some new identification cards for them. They shouldn't delay. Need to keep their minds on the case. Dean can feel the need rolling off his brother in waves. Sam is so stubborn, just like Dad. Of course Dad is proud of Sam. He'd always been proud of Sam. Sure, exasperated and frustrated and scared out of his freakin' mind for Sam. But always proud.
Dean, too. Even when Sam broke his heart.
Dean stops. Twists on the seat. "What is it? You want to hear that he's proud of you? Cause he is."
"No he's—"
"Sam, it was never about that. You know that." Dean flusters. This position is old and not one he wants to be in. "Look, he's not here now. Don't put me in the middle."
"I know that. I know he's not here and it's not … look, never mind."
"Sam. It's gonna be okay. We're gonna find Dad. And you two. You'll be okay."
Sammy looks down. Dean smiles to himself. At certain times and at certain angles his little brother looks so young. The light blinking on the Copy Jack beckons. He really does have work to do. A masterpiece to create that'll look realer than the real thing. "I heard him."
"What?" Sam asks confused.
"On the phone once. Guess maybe it was Jerry. I didn't know who he was talkin' to. Said one boy was working with him and the other … the other was off at school aiming to become a lawyer one day."
"He knows I was prelaw?" Sam's jaw is practically dropped cartoon style.
Dean stares pointedly at his brother. Words pass silently. Sam would be surprised at how much he and their dad knew about Sam's Stanford life. But today is not for that. They have a phantom traveler to catch. Instead he shares a grin and says, "Be right back."
fin