Sleepy...we'll see what I can manage. XD And Branch, it's not that he'll appreciate him more. Sam's made a bunch of references to wanting his 'big brother back'. So even though he's little...he's more...gooey-brother than bad-ass brother again. Or something. XD

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"So you're telling me...that that guy in the picture...is me? And that somehow...I got small?" Dean queried after Sam had told him quite the tale.

"Well, yeah...that's...pretty much it." He'd told a summarized version of events, of their life growing up, of the discovery they made about their mother's killer and his demise, but he left out a few crucial details. Including John's death. Sam studied his brother as he tried to determine his mood. He seemed to take the news well, but it had to be a lot to take in all the same.

"Where's Dad?"

The question hung in the air and the weight of it hit Sam hard. Dean had lost his father as an adult, but to lose him again, as a child? He couldn't tell the truth, especially when Dean was tentative about the whole situation. He couldn't just say, 'oh, by the way, Dad's dead. Because he sold his soul to the demon who killed Mom to save you'. "He's hunting. Like I said, it's usually you and I out hunting...sometimes Dad gives us missions, but..."

"Oh."

Sam silently praised the fact that cell phones hadn't been the big hit in their childhood that they were presently. Dean understood the concept of John not always being able to get to a phone, which meant that for the time being, he could say that John was off hunting and there wasn't really a way for Dean to disprove him.

Silence descended between the brothers a moment before Dean spoke again. "Is this really happening, Sam?"

"Yeah. This is for real." Sam admitted.

Dean fell silent again as he seemed to contemplate that answer a moment before he nodded. "Okay, then. I believe you, you're Sammy. And I'm...old." he scrunched his nose.

"Twenty-seven isn't exactly elderly, Dean."

"That's like...eight-hundred in dog years." Dean retorted.

"You're not a dog."

"Yeah, but still..."

Sam shook his head with a reluctant smile. It brought back memories of his childhood. Not the most conventional childhood, of course, but Dean had made it a Hell of a lot better than it would been. He'd taken care of Sam, and now it looked like-for the moment-he'd be doing the same for Dean.

"So...what am I like...old?"

Sam rolled his eyes at Dean's persistence with the 'old' bit but he considered the question anyway before he finally replied with a faint smirk. "You're...a real smart-ass. But that's nothing different."

"Hey! You can't say that to your big brother!" Dean protested.

"I think I just did."

Dean scowled, but he listened as an amused Sam went on.

"You're a really great hunter. You've saved a lot of people, me included." as he'd hoped, Dean seemed pleased by that information.

"So pretty much, I'm even more awesome when I'm older." Dean looked smug.

"And just as arrogant." Sam added with a snort.

"Hey..." Dean narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure what 'arrogant' meant, but he could tell that Sam was making fun of him again, somehow. "Well...what about other stuff? Cars, girls, money...am I famous or what?"

"Well...Dad gave you the Impala."

"What?" Dean looked stunned then thrilled. "Oh, yeah! When can I drive her?"

"When you're older." Sam said with a lifted brow. "At the moment, you have the mind of a ten year old and a body to match. So I'll be doing the driving."

"Aw, Sam, that's bogus! It's my car! You said so!"

"Anyway-" he attempted to put an end to the subject and Dean looked further annoyed. "-Um..you had a lot of...girl...friends. And...you might be a better con man than Dad, so money's not bad..." Dean looked pleased again. "And you're wanted in St. Louis for murder.."

"Huh? ...Murder?"

"You didn't actually kill anyone. It was just a Shapeshifter wearing your body." Sam explained, and Dean's expression became troubled. Sam moved on quickly. "But, yeah, you averted the apocalypse...killed the demon that killed Mom..."

"I did that?"

"Yup...you've done good, Dean." Sam was relieved that he had taken the other's mind off of driving-and murder-for the moment. Or maybe not.

Dean's expression was silently stunned and he was still a long moment before he shook his head. "But...me? What about...I thought...so it was a demon...and...I killed it? Not Dad?"

Ah, crap. "Well...there was this gun...a special gun that could even kill demons. You used it and killed the demon."

Dean took a moment to digest that information before he nodded his head slowly as if to reassure himself of it. "So me and you and Dad...we're okay? But then...how come we're still hunting?"

"What do you mean?"

"If it's over...we can go home, right? We don't have to hunt anymore?"

Sam stared at his brother, taken aback. Maybe he'd taken it for granted that Dean wanted to be a hunter as badly as he'd thought because from where he sat, the confused, hopeful look on Dean's face suggested that being a hunter was the last thing he wanted. "We still have to hunt, Dean...there are people who need us..." Wasn't that one important reason that he hadn't gone back to school?

Dean's expression fell before his eyes but the boy turned his head quickly. "Yeah...duh. Stupid question. So we're all kick-butt hunters and the thing that...killed Mom is gone...and that's life. Yeah."

"You don't want to be a hunter?"

"...'Course I do, Sammy. And besides, we're together, right? So as long as we stick together, we're just fine." Dean flashed him a familiar, cocky smile. But the boy hadn't quite developed Dean's knack for apparent apathy and Sam could see that the boy was more than disappointed, he was...let down.

Sam felt like a stone had been dropped into his stomach but he nodded. "Yeah, bro. We're together. That's how it should be."

Dean toyed with a hole in the table for a moment before he muttered. "You're not supposed to be taller than me."

"What?"

"The picture. You're taller than me." Dean flicked his gaze up to Sam and it was almost accusing, his lips in a faint pout.

Sam blinked and then couldn't help but laugh a bit. Had his brother always been so...adorable? Was this how Dean had seen him in their childhood? "Sorry, Dean. Can't help it."

Dean hmphed a bit before he traced his fingers along the edge of the picture. He fell quiet a moment, something that seemed to be common between them at present before he spoke in something of a mumble. "So we're still close? I still...nevermind. It's dumb."

"What is it?" Sam could still see conflict in Dean's expression. He believed it was Sam before him, mostly, but the other was still taking everything in, he was guarded and on the defensive. And just himself, of course.

"...I still take care of you...right? I'm...I mean as far as big brothers go..." Dean trailed off and lowered his head, embarrassed. "Nevermind! Just forget it!" Dean kept his head lowered until he felt a large, warm hand cover his own smaller ones and he looked up to see Sam staring back at him with a small smile.

"We take care of each other, Dean. We're brothers and as far as big brothers go...you're the best, man...so don't worry, okay? I could ask for a better big brother."

Dean bit his lower lip and for a moment, it seemed there might be a glimmer of water in his eyes before he coughed and stood up quickly, but not before he gave Sam's hand a squeeze. "Yeah, well, someone has to watch out for a dummy like you. You'd cut yourself with a spoon if you could."

"Hey-" it was Sam's turn to 'pout' a bit, "So I was a little accident-prone..."

"A little?" Dean lifted a brow and Sam groaned playfully. Dean watched him a moment before he stepped around the table until he stood right in front of Sam. "It really is you, Sammy...it's hard to believe but...I guess I've seen crazier things..." he gave a half-laugh.

Sam eyed him a moment before he lifted a hand to rest it on Dean's head and ruffle his hair lightly. "It's me, Dean. And we'll fix you. Together."

Dean's lips finally tugged upwards into a smile. "Together." he agreed as he brought his hand up to hold Sam's wrist as the brothers shared a small moment of comfort in each other.

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Brotherly fluff galore. XD I'm on like..episode 9 of season 2. And I just got seasons 3 and 4. XD 5 and 6 to be gotten laterrr. I don't have work tomorrow but I'm waking up ridiculously early Sunday to hike a mountain and take pictures of the sunrise from the top after it's rained. Which, it hopefully will. But I thought the sun rises at 6 and it's apparently 5 so...sad days. XD ANYWAY! I digress. Lots of technical stuff I didn't concern but I did my best. Holding him at bay about their dad and things like that...oh well. XD Fluff~Also, thanks for the Sam power help Moira and Illucida. Branch, as usual, I am not sure if I am doing well by you or not. You're like that stern-teacher. XD *anxiety attack* XD As for the name, Moira, it wasn't a conscious use, but probably subconsciously. I write the first name that comes to mind, which was-for example, how Leayani became Hawaiian. That name just popped into my head and I built her around it XD so I probably had read your name and it popped into my head because of that although I didn't realize it until later after posting. XD THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS AND READS AND FAVES AND ALERTS! My phone pops up with messages when I get them and they make me pretty ridiculously happy, not gonna lie. XD It's food for my soul. (and my ego). ANYWAY! XD~