Pre-series. Sam is 17, Dean is 21.

Words

Sam would be caught making out with a witch in her coven before he ever admitted to it, but… he missed Dean. School was nicer when he was around.

At least, then, he had somebody to talk to. He gave up on making friends years ago. No point. Not only he's just leave them, he honestly didn't seem to have anything in common with any of those morons. The popular kids were just plain stupid. The smart kids were just plain awkward. There was just no point.

Also, everyone else seemed to leave him at peace when Dean was around. Whenever they got to a new school Dean usually evoked one of two reactions: either he charmed all the popular kids and they left Sam alone out of sheer adoration of his brother; or he terrified them and they left Sam alone out of sheer terror of his brother.

Either way, he was "Dean Winchester's little brother" and that earned him some peace of mind. With Dean gone, he was "the new kid" and he lacked the will to charm or terrify anyone on his own. He tried to just mingle with the shadows, but it was hard not to stand out when he just outscored every single student in every single school he attended without much of an effort. Bullies didn't like the smart kids and they usually only learned to leave Sam alone after he threw a few punches.

Another thing he gave up years ago: avoiding fights. There was just no point in pretending he didn't know how to defend himself. The sooner he faced the jerks, the sooner they left him alone, the sooner he could blend back in to the shadows. He just had to watch out not to break any of their bones or, you know, kill them accidentally.

After awhile, he began to see it as part of his job. He was Sam Winchester and whenever he left a town, something evil would be dead and a bully would think twice before picking on a mathlete.

Still, he missed his brother in school. Actually, he missed his brother, period.

Dean was going out with Dad on hunts more regularly and after the hundredth fight about how he wanted to at least try to finish school without an extra year, they were leaving him alone in the same town for longer stretches of time.

Which… was cool. That's what he always wanted. Not to move around so much. Not to go on every single hunt. That's what he wanted. He just… wished Dean was around more. He didn't have anyone to talk to in school, he didn't have anyone to talk to at home. He was lonely. And it sucked.

So, really, you couldn't blame him that he was actually happy to see his brother injured. It's not like Dean was seriously injured. He'd live. He'd even walk… eventually. He just busted some ligaments and had to stay off his feet for a few days. Then, a few months of physical therapy. A few months in the same town, not being able to leave, not being able to hunt. It was perfect.

"Did you get me pie?"

Yes, Sam got him pie. Sam always got him pie, every single day. It was their deal. Sam could drive to school, as long as he brought pie back. And washed the car. And parked away from the rest of those stupid kids. And didn't get a scratch on her. And made coffee every morning. Sam knew it. Sam would do all of those things anyway. Sam didn't even want to drive to school, but he knew it would make Dean happy to think Sam enjoyed driving his car. It was a little brother thing to do and Sam was happy to do it. And to get pie. Every day. As long as Dean was around.

"Don't get up, you moron, I'll take it to you", he scolded when Dean started up from the couch to reach for his crutches. "I'll just get a plate".

Sam got a plate, two beers, gave his brother the pie and a beer, then sat on the floor in front of the couch Dean was laid out on and opened his own can. Dean asked how school was, he answered. Fine, normal, whatever, no, no hot girls, no, no one giving him trouble, yes, Dean, really, fine. They fought for the remote, Sam won, because Sam could walk and because Sam always won. Dean chose music in the car, Sam chose TV at home. Unspoken house rules.

Dean bitched about not being able to walk and went on and on and on about how hot the physical therapist was and how he was seriously going to do something to her that Sam didn't hear because he got pretty adept on tuning out his brother's tone of voice.

He settled on an already started action movie, drank from his beer and let his head fall against the couch. Dean was still talking and talking and talking, his voice feeling every space until Sam felt he could almost breath all the meaningless words. He was lonely for so long and now Dean was back and there were words and no more silence.

It made him question his plans. If he managed to get out and go to college, could he convince Dean to go with him? Unlikely. Dean actually enjoyed hunting. But he could hunt and still have a home base wherever Sam ended up studying, right? Right?

"Sam? You sleeping?"

He wasn't. But he didn't answer. Or open his eyes. He was comfortable and warm and it felt nice and not lonely for the first time in weeks. Probably the beer. He felt his brother ruffle his hair.

"I missed you. Bitch."

He had to restrain a smile. Maybe Dean would go with him.

Yeah. He totally would. Things would be okay.