A/N: I am indeed inspired to write stories! This is another one-shot and it's pre-series. I am currently studying how early stimulation is crucial in the development of intelligence and it gave me the idea for this story.

Summary: Dean always knew that Sam was the smart one but he didn't know how much and why until he gets a little reminder of where it came from.

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or make any profit out of writing this (aside from having a good time reading it)

Enjoy!

SPN

It's been a rough night. Not that any of them are easy with the kind of job he does but some just seem to flow more easily than others. That one is definitely is in list of 'other nights'. Dean drops his bags on the bed farthest from the door, knowing that his father never felt safe when he was too far away from the exit. John made up excuses such as the fact that he was a better trained hunter, thus having better reacting skills in case anything happened.

His son just didn't argue anymore. Dean didn't want to get into quite another fight. Instead, he rubs at the sore muscles in his neck as John makes a direct line to the bathroom and closes the door. The youngest Winchester can still feel the tension that has build up between them in the past hours. His father and himself have gotten into an argument about the value of making efficient research. Dean has been the one to do it this time and thought he found a case of Wendigos when it had really only been bear attacks.

They had to find out when they were attacked by the furious animal and nearly getting killed was too close for comfort. John had then admonished Dean for wasting his time and because he couldn't seem to do his job right. They could have been out there saving more people instead of nearly getting killed. Dean tenses at the memory.

It was then that Sam had been brought into the conversation. They never talked about him anymore, but it didn't mean that Dean didn't think about his brother. Sam had decided to leave on his own accord. Nobody had forced him to and that's what rendered the subject so delicate to address. But without regards to past frustrations, John had brought up the fact that Sam had always been a better researcher. The harsh words and gratuitous comparisons had hurt Dean more than he let on.

Sam's departure had hurt him as well, but even when they were together, his brother had always been the smart one John praised when special skills were needed. Those skills, Dean wasn't deemed to possess. He used to hate it when their dad compared them. But he had soon come to realize that he missed it because no comments about Sam being a better 'this' or a better 'that' meant that there was no Sam at all. The only thing his father reckoned him good at was physical strength and getting laid. Usually, Dean would've used those very skills to go out and blow some steam off. He would walk up to a bar and hustle pool before finding some girl to end the night with.

Only this time, he doesn't feel like it. John seems to be unaware that he has reopened a wound that hasn't been healed to begin with. Dean absentmindedly pulls out his phone and starts to scroll down his list of contacts. He sighs deeply when comes upon his brother's name. Something sparkles inside of him and suddenly makes him want to call the kid. He just longs for the sound of his brother's voice. He doesn't care how long they talk, but if he could only make sure that Sam is doing okay, that his brother is enjoying his life away from his family, he'd be happy and satisfied. He squeezes his eyes shut tightly and goes to slip the phone back into his pocket when it starts to ring.

His eyes snap open and his face drops in surprise when he sees the name on the caller ID. His little brother is calling him! At the very same moment Dean was thinking about Sam, his brother had to call! Talk about a strange coincidence. Dean swallows back the bitterness from his earlier fight with his dad and turns on the phone, cutting away the sound from the starting shower.

"Sam" he asks shyly. He really has no clue of what circumstances could bring his brother to call him so late, and tonight of all nights.

There is a pause on the line before the voice comes on. His voice. Dean's whole body shivers in excitation upon hearing that voice that he has missed so much.

"Hey, Dean. Is it a good time to call?" Sam starts to question and Dean instantly becomes more alert as if something in his brother's tone is shaking him awake. He doesn't want Sam to think that he is bothering him. They talk so little and so rarely that he isn't going to screw this one occasion up, especially when Sam is the one to initiate it.

"It's fine, I'm just surprised that you called, that's all" Dean replies honestly. There is another pause on the line.

"Dad around?" Sam finally asks. Dean turns his head towards the closed bathroom door where he can see the glowing hue coming out. He can also hear the sound of the shower that is still running.

"He's busy" Dean replies simply, after a while. He hears the sound of Sam swallowing in the receiver end.

"Alright then. I've been meaning to call earlier but… you know… how are you doing?" Sam questions, trying to initiate a conversation even though he is obviously running short of excuses for his impromptu call.

"I'm okay. It's been so long! How are you?" Dean retorts. He can hear Sam's barely contained emotions.

"I don't know how to say this. Maybe I shouldn't have called…"

Dean starts to shake his head vigorously when he remembers that Sam can't see him from the other side of the phone.

"Come on, Sam. You know you can call me anytime. You're still my brother" Dean assures, but with a very subtle tinge of bitterness. After all, he's still hurt from Sam's decision of leaving. He doesn't blame him but does feel somewhat lonely all by himself. And John isn't exactly making it easy either.

Dean concentrates back on the conversation and he can hear Sam's breathing over the phone. He thinks that maybe, just maybe, he'll finally get the whole story.

"Everything alright with you?" Dean suddenly inquires with a hint of worry in his voice. Has anything happened to Sam? The kid is quiet and he almost sounds afraid to speak to him. Is he going to give him some kind of bad news? He is starting to imagine scenarios and the pit in his stomach only falls deeper as his concern for his brother only increases.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. More than fine actually. Dean…" Sam starts. There is a gust of fresh air washing over him and it makes him feel like he can breathe again. Good. At least, whatever Sam has to say is positive. Dean is now waiting in suspense. Sam still hasn't spoken yet. Once he does, Dean will finally have the real reason behind the call explained to him.

"I just got my results back from the LSATs… I just wanted to share them with you" Sam continues. Dean's brain starts the racking effort of trying to process the information. The call has nothing to do with monsters or sick brothers. His big brother radar can go back to idling. Is Sam actually calling to tell him about school? He never does. Is he trying to hurt him even more? Pour a little more salt to the wound? But if it makes Sam happy, and apparently it does, maybe it wouldn't be half bad on Sam's behalf to, at least, listen to him.

"So? What about 'em" he finally blurts out, his decision already made.

Sam breaths again. "I scored 174" he announces proudly. Dean frowns. He doesn't know much about these things and he's not sure of what he should say since he has no idea what he's talking about anyway.

"That good?" he dares ask. He doesn't want to sound dumb but in the mean time, Sam's always been the smart one.

Sam nods. He knows Dean is probably a little clueless. He is also aware that telling Dean is not exactly the same thing as telling his friends or even Jessica, his girlfriend, whom has been so proud and supportive. In fact, he does't even know why he felt like he had to tell Dean. His family has told him to never come back if he left for school. Still, somewhere inside of him, he feels the need to let his big brother know about it. It's like he still needs his big brother's approval, just out of principles.

"Yes Dean, it's pretty good. Actually, it's enough to get me accepted into Law School" Sam chimes.

Dean frowns once more. "Aren't you already in Law School?" he asks, puzzled. Sam rolls his eyes and sighs. He doesn't blame his brother at all. They truly don't speak to each other all that much.

"Pre-law, Dean" he reminds his brother. Dean chuckles slightly.

"Well, whatever the hell that is. I'm happy for you, Sam. You got want you wanted" Dean finally congratulates. But there is a hint of sadness in his tone. It's because he knows that, unlike Sam, he won't get to have a normal kind of life anytime soon. Sam's tone goes from enthusiastic to quiet.

"You could do it too, Dean. Have the life you wanted, I mean… start a body shop or something" Sam proposes. Dean sighs dolefully.

"You know I can't, Sam. Dad and I have some work to do. We can't leave everything just like that" Dean replies. It comes out a little snappier than he would have liked it to. Sam gets the hint and he knows not to push the buttons on his brother's pain. That's what made him leave in the first place. He hated the hunt and he wanted normal. His dad could never understand that but something made him think for a second that his brother probably did understand him.

"Anyway, you're the smart one, Sam. I never did anything good" Dean confesses sadly, thinking back to his father's previous lecture. Even John had made it clear that Sam was the one with the skills. His brother had a future. Dean, he had nothing.

"You know that's not true" Sam snaps. Dean sighs despondently. He doesn't want to have to argue. He already knows and doesn't need to be reminded. And Sam could very well believe whatever Sam wanted to believe to ease his guilt...

"About that, I wanted to thank you anyway" Sam whispers after a moment. Dean's eyes widen in surprise. He wonders what this is about.

"What for?"

Sam sighs and takes some time to answer as though he is choosing every one of his words carefully.

"I thought back to the past and now I think I know why I've passed the test and why I can go to college now" he starts. Dean rolls his eyes.

"What? Do you finally realize that you've wasted too much time getting laid and having fun? And for what? Those geeky books you used to read?" Dean tries, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Sam huffs. He wants this to be serious and here, Dean is just turning everything into a joke as if he feels uncomfortable listening to him, even if it's just for a few minutes.

"Not the books, Dean. You" Sam states. Dean freezes on his spot and it allows him to realize that the shower is now turned off. Not wanting his father to overhear his conversation, he walks outside of the room and starts pacing around the parking lot of the latest motel they've stopped at.

"What did I do this time" Dean finally asks, his tone not as accusatory as his choice of words. He just sounds defensive. Sam doesn't understand why for he's about to say things his brother would put in the chick flick category.

"Remember when we were kids… first you used to read to me. I was young but I remember. Dad was away most of the time but you never let me down. You explained things to me and never gave up on me when I needed help for an exercise or for any difficult school work" Sam recalls. Dean stops pacing as images rush back to his mind. A small smile creeps up his lips. He has done all these things. He remembers.

John had been gone for three days. Sam was seven at the time and Dean was eleven. His father had given him the responsibility of taking care of his baby brother. To top it all, Sam was a snoopy little monster. He kept asking questions about everything. On the previous night, Dean had invited a friend over to play video games on the other kid's console. Sam hadn't been allowed to play even though he kept hovering around them to ask questions. His big brother was getting annoyed and finally snapped at Sam, telling him to leave them alone.

When the brothers walked back from school on the next day, Sam ran for the bathroom and locked himself in. When it started taking too long for him to come out, Dean decided to knock on the door and pressed his ear against it.

"Sam, I need to use the toilet" he pressed but got no answer. That's when Dean heard the muffled cries from behind the door.

"Sammy, what's going on?" he asked, instantly worried. Then he heard the little cracking voice.

"Leave me alone, Dean"

Dean's fists clenched. "Don't be a baby, Sam. Open the door or I'll tell Dad" he threatened.

The door flew open and Sam's tear stained little face appeared in front of him.

"How could you do that, he's never here with us! And he leaves you to take care of me but all you do is say mean things to me and push me away!" he cried as he ran to his bed and curled in a sobbing ball.

Dean was stabbed by the truth in the kid's words and instantly felt guilty. He walked closer to the bed and sat on the edge of it. "Sammy" he started softly. Sam didn't turn to him but he didn't run away either, which was a good start. "Why didn't you tell me how you felt about Dad?" Dean continued. Sam shrugged. He finally turned to face his brother.

"Because you're cool with it and Dad is so proud of you. I wanted to be cool like you, D. But I hate it" he confessed. Dean felt a surge of sympathy for the kid and he suddenly found that he too wanted to cry.

"Why can't Dad be with us, did he stop loving us" Sam wondered, panic rising in his voice.

"Dad loves us, Sam. He loves us more than anything but you know he has his job to do" Dean explained. Sam sniffled and sat on the bed to get a better look at his brother.

"What kind of job does Dad do?"

Dean thought for a second and smiled. "Dad is a superhero. He saves people" he said proudly.

Sam's eyes grew wide and misty in admiration. "Really?"

Dean nodded and Sam sighed in amazement. But then his smile died a little. "Then why can't he save us too" he asked. Dean looked puzzled at that.

"You don't have to be saved, do you?" he tried, hoping to distract Sam soon enough.

"The kids at school laughed at me today because the teacher told the whole class I hadn't done my homework again" he confessed. Dean felt anger rush inside his chest and clenched fists. That teacher was lucky their dad wasn't around.

"Why aren't you doing your homework, Sam?" he asked in a way a parent would ask. Sam looked down in shame.

"It's too hard and nobody wants to explain it to me" he admitted on a low voice. Dean's anger was increasing but his rage was directed against himself. He should have known. He should have helped Sam instead of pushing him away. He promised himself it would never happen again.

"Bring your homework over here, Sammy. We'll do it together" he said. Sam looked at him with a puzzled look.

"How could you be able to help me?" Sam asked, not even thinking about the fact that Dean was a good four years ahead of him, only seeing the fact that his big brother still wasn't an adult.

"I've been your age, Sam. I can teach you how to do it" he said proudly. Sam looked at him with the same amazement he'd had for his dad moments before.

"Can you really do that, D?" Sam wanted to make sure. Dean nodded. "Cross my heart and hope to die" he added. "If I can't help you I don't deserve to be your brother anymore" he added.

Sam sent him a panicked look. "No Dean, you have to be my brother until we grow very very old" Sam pressed with urgency. Dean just laughed. "I promise I will be, Sammy. As long as you want me to be! You might not have Dad to save you, but you will always have me" Dean promised.

Sam had stars shining in his eyes. "You're the best, D" he said affectionately and jumped forward to hug his brother. Dean smiled and held his brother tightly. Then he gave him a little push to the side.

"Okay, princess Samantha, now you go get this school work of yours!" he ordered.

Sam gave him a large pout that years later, Dean baptized Sam's 'bitch-face'.

"I'm not a princess!" he brooded.

"Hundred-fold" Dean giggled.

"Says who" Sam snapped.

"Says everybody! And watch out for where you step, I don't want to pick up your damsel in distress' ass" Dean cracked.

"Eat a shovel of rabbit poop" Sam replied. Dean's eyes rounded.

"What did you just say to me?" he asked in amused surprised and jumped forward to tickle the kid. They started a poking war and laughed like they hadn't in a long time. When John finally came back, he found them asleep, cuddled against each other.

After that, Dean vowed to help Sam with his studies, as much as Sam came to ask for help. When Sam got into high school, he was already in the A-team. He'd grown a passion for researching and gaining knowledge and Dean could only tease him for being a geek. But deep down, the kid was only showing how grateful he was to the brother who had taught him everything by getting even smarter.

Dean could see that now. He hadn't seen it like that at first because he was only trying to help a little brother with his school readings. Only, Sam's interest in knowledge had grown while Dean's interest had turned towards the physical discovery of the human species, especially if the subject was of the opposite sex.

His mind went back to the phone conversation where Sam was still waiting for a reaction. "If I had known it would turn you into a geek" he teases, but there was no malice intended. Sam lets out a light laugh as well.

"You taught me everything, Dean. You basically raised me. I'm using what you gave me to make something out of it, something I am passionate about" Sam explains. Dean nods and he feels the moisture well up in his eyes. He doesn't even bother blinking it away.

"I'm proud of you, Sammy" he finally praises. The use of the nickname doesn't go unnoticed. It has been too long since Sam has heard Dean call him Sammy. He would have complained but he doesn't have the heart to.

"I miss you, D"

The eldest smiles sadly.

"I miss you too" he finally admits.

"Tell me when you become a lawyer. Maybe you can save my ass for a change" he jokes. It makes Sam laugh. It sounds like music into Dean's ears.

"You've been the best dad I could ever dream of" Sam confesses. Dean knows his brother means it.

"And we haven't always been on the smooth sailing side so that means a lot coming from you" Dean jokes. "I must really be awesome" he adds to push the joke even further. Sam just laughs. Dean has to smile too.

"As long as you're happy, I am happy" he finally offers.

Sam shakes his head to keep the tears from falling.

"I am. I wish I could share it with you guys, but at least know that I am happy"

Dean nods and shakes his own head to keep the tears on the inside.

"You take care of yourself, alright? And don't be a stranger. California isn't the other side of the world. A little call every once in a while never hurt anybody"

Sam giggles.

"That goes for you too, man" he replies. Dean nods. He is about ready to hang up when Sam speaks again.

"Would you uh… say hi to Dad for me, please?" he asks shyly.

"Sure, Sammy. Will do. And if you ever miss the hunt, we need a good researcher here! I could never do it as well as you do"

"Thanks, Dean" Sam answers.

They hang up.

Dean lets the wind cool his face. When he turns around, he notices that his dad is sitting outside their motel room. He walks back to him with slouched shoulders, expecting another lecture.

"Was it Sammy?" John asks suddenly. Dean wasn't expecting his dad to just know. He nods simply. John sighs and bows his head down.

"Is he good?" he continues after a moment of silence. Dean nods again. His eyes look up from the ground to find his father's.

"He scored at his LSATs. He's getting into Law School" Dean repeats the news Sam has given him.

John sighs and a small smile creeps up his lips. "I'm not even surprised" he admits.

Dean looks up again and he meets his father's proud eyes.

"Sam's always been incredibly smart" John continues. Dean can only agree with his father.

John looks at Dean with pride in his eyes. "I remember he started speaking so early because you kept teaching him how to do it. You also held him when he started walking… you really took this job seriously when I told you to look out for your brother" John chimes.

Dean understands that the pride he was seeing in his father's eyes is directed towards him.

"I hate to admit it, but you've done a better job than your old man at raising this kid"

Dean feels the tears collect again in his eye sockets.

"You can be proud of yourself, Dean. Everything Sam is, he owes it all to you" John concludes.

Warmth fills Dean's chest.

"I'm sorry I haven't been a better father to you and your brother" John apologizes suddenly.

Dean shakes his head. "It's okay, Dad" he finally assures. John looks up at him.

"Sam and I had each other" Dean finishes. John smiles. He had to know. Dean knew too. Whatever Sam did, he would always be a part of this family.

"He says hi, by the way" Dean passes on before taking a seat next to his father.

They both look up at the stars and even though they still have a long road ahead of them, and even though Sam isn't there to physically walk by their side, the three of them always were and will always be connected by a strong bond that nothing can come against. They make each other stronger.

And no demon will take that away from them because that bond they share is as strong in life as it is beyond death.

THE END

That's it for your fluffy brotherly Winchester story. I hope you liked it! Don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts, I love to hear what you guys have to say!

Thanks for reading !