WARNING: Spoilers for season 8 in general.

Author's Note: This is for GuestJ, who requested that I use the number 50 in my 50th drabble. Well since this is drabble number 50... ;) This mainly takes place near the end of season 8. I want to thank LeeMarieJack, judyann, jojospn, FisherofMen, Zana Zira, mb64, TG, kingdommast, GuestJ, insertisernamehere, and reannablue for their recent reviews and support. And thanks to every reader! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.


I always keep my promises.

As he read those words Sam was caught off guard. After all, the promise the note referred to had been made so long ago…


They were in the Bunker sorting through old Men of Letters records, passing the hours with tedious research that left plenty of time for their minds to wander.

"Do you know what I just realized Dean?" Sam suddenly asked as he came across a file from a demonic ritual that had been interrupted by the Men of Letters in Honolulu in the early 1900's.

"Hmm…" Dean responded distractedly. He continued sifting through papers in search of information to help with Sam's trials-related illness.

"We've never been to Hawaii." Sam stated the fact with a tone of something close to disappointment, and Dean looked up then, responding to the distress in his brother's voice.

"No, I guess we haven't." he replied, not quite sure what about that knowledge was troubling the younger man.

"We've been to all the other states…Heck, dad even dragged us to Alaska that one time, remember?" Sam said, and Dean smiled and nodded.

Neither brother would ever forget their nerve wracking childhood trip across the Canadian border, with all three boys fidgeting the whole time because the arsenal stashed in the Impala's trunk wasn't exactly kosher stuff to be sneaking across the border, even if they were headed to an American destination to save innocent people from a werewolf…

"We've been to forty nine states, yet it just seems kind of pointless without number fifty." Sam continued, still sounding rather sad.

It was then that Dean understood the cause for his brother's deflated mood.

Sam was considering the possibility that perhaps he wouldn't survive the trials, and was contemplating the things he wished he had done in his life.

For just a moment Dean recalled the determination with which Sam had assured him there was "a light at the end of the tunnel"- how he had believed he could make it through the Hell trials and come out the other end ready to have the peaceful life he always wanted.

Dean knew that the younger man had to have reached a very low point to have lost sight of that light, and though he was unable to cure his brother of his apparent sickness, Dean wouldn't be himself if he didn't at least try to help in any way he could.

So he found himself saying, "Tell you what Sammy. When you turn fifty years old, I'll drag both our asses to Hawaii so you can knock that fiftieth state off your to-do list, ok? I promise, I'll do the plane ride there with you and everything."

Sam looked up and smiled then, realizing that Dean had understood his concerns.

He was grateful for the subtle encouragement his brother had given him. These days hope was a struggle, what with his head feeling ready to explode more often than not, but with the support Dean gave him, he found he could muster up enough optimism to push onward.

"You better be ready to keep that promise." Sam said with a smirk.

"What're you implying? I always keep my promises!" Dean shot back with an exaggeratedly innocent look.

Sam just laughed and Dean threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.


Sam now gazed at the two tickets to Hawaii sitting in the gift box he had just opened, and then stared at the note that had come with the 50th birthday present.

I always keep my promises.

Glancing up at his older sibling, Sam's face was a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and gratitude.

"Well you kept your end of the bargain, Sammy." Dean stated simply. "So I had to keep mine."

Sam was torn between wanting to laugh and wanting to cry because somehow, somehow, they had both lasted this long.

He settled for pulling his big brother into a hug.


Secondary Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please feel free to send me requests, and feedback is always appreciated. :D