Only an hour had passed since returning o the bunker, and Sam was already drunk. Under other circumstances, this would be funny, but Dean's heart was absolutely breaking for the showdown of his bro.
"If you could- if you could have the real thing, would you?" Sam asked.
"Dude, what are you talking about?"
"Sam. Don't you-" Sam made a wild hand gesture here. "You know, miss your brother? Would you want him back?"
The worst part is, Dean didn't know what to respond. On one hand, Sammy was DEAD, and of course he has to save him they're brothers. But on the other hand, he and Sam hadn't talked in over ten years besides the night he died, more if you count the forty years in hell, and what would happen to HIS Sam if the original came back? They had been through WAY to much crap together for Dean to just replace him.
"I- well yeah, I mean, you know me I'd do anything for you so-"
"You mean Sam right?"
"You ARE Sam man. And if I do find a way to bring him back, I won't just stop believing in you, got it? You're sticking around one way or another."
"So what? Two Sams would be confusing, so do I just leave? I don't know what you want me to do…."Sam sounded so utterly forlorn.
"Hey, look for now I just want you to do what you've always done and be my little brother okay? That part won't ever change, weather there's two of you or not."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Sam nodded at that. He still looked sad, but it was a little better.
"So how do you plan to get him back?"
"Honestly? I have no idea, my hopes aren't really that high, I mean you- he wouldn't even have a body soooo…."
"I can stick around for awhile?"
Dean sighed at the hopeful but sad look on Sam's face.
"Yeah kiddo, you can stick around, even if he comes back. He'll probably want to go back to school anyway."
"Nooooooo…"
"No? No what?"
"Were wanted criminals and 'sides, I love you too much…."
Dean's breath caught in his throat. He didn't remember the last time Sam had said he'd loved him.
"I-I uh- I love you to Sammy." Dang, his voice cracked a little. He was a man gosh dang it!
"Let's get you to bed kiddo."
"'M not a kid.."
"Dude, you were born less than twenty years ago."
"'S not the point."
"If you say so Sammy." Dean carried Sam into his room and put him to bed. It was hard because the kid was heavier now, but he managed.
Just as he was about to leave, a hand caught his wrist.
"Don't leave me? Please?" Sam sounded terrified that Dean would abandon him.
"Okay I'll stay here. I'm not going anywhere."
And he didn't. By the end of the night, both boys had fallen asleep together in the same bed like they had when they were kids. Of course they'd never talk about this again, but they both needed reassurance that the other was real. Well not real, but was at least still there.
They both slept soundly that night.