Epilogue
Sam was fourteen and had begun that age-old maturation process of looking at his brother with a more objective perspective than he ever had before. The hero worship still held - to a degree. It helped that Dean was actually a hero.
But these days he was starting to realize Dean had barely had any choice at all. It was either "be a hero" or "dad might die" for his big brother. It was insidious and cruel...
But it was what it was.
The past was past.
Sam had done as Dean had told him that night: he let go of the animosity he'd felt towards Dad. Dean had been right that holding onto it, letting it simmer into hatred and anger, just destroyed him more.
But Sam never forgot the moment he really understood their father... the moment he really came to understand Dean.
His family was dysfunctional... and Dean didn't even deny it. Dean let Sam come to the realization himself that night... and his only reassurance had been that he was still there, that he was going to get Sam through. Just like always.
Dean was paving the ground for Sam to eventually get free.
At fourteen, Sam swore to himself that one day he'd get Dean free too.
The End
Writer's Note: Thank you so much for reading! Please comment/review if you can spare the time! ~ Alex