The Bro Cave in the Bat Cave

"You know that's not an ascot, right?"

"What?" Dean tried to see down under his chin, which maybe wasn't the best idea while driving. "Sure it is."

"No, seriously," Sam said, used to Dean's distracted driving. "Look it up. That's just a handkerchief."

Dean perked up. "Like a cowboy?"

"No."

Dean made a face and picked at the knot around his neck, finally tossing aside the red kerchief. Sam wondered idly where he'd gotten it from.

Cas spoke up from the back seat. "I believe Daphne only liked Fred's attire because she is in a relationship with—"

"Don't!" Dean put up a warning finger.

"Yeah, and what was that with you and Daphne, anyway? Didn't you always say you liked Velma more? 'Bet she's really hot under that sweater,'" Sam said in a goofy imitation of his brother's lame joke.

Dean cut him a look that clearly meant, I don't sound like that, You don't have to remember everything I said, and Shut up. "Yeah, well. Daphne's really smokin' in person."

"Uh-huh." Sam was trying not to smile. In the mirror, he saw Cas's mix of confusion and amusement, and that only tugged harder at his mouth.

"Shut up." Dean sunk into his seat, clearly unhappy.

Okay, now Sam felt a little bad. How often was Dean as excited and thrilled as he had been during their whole bizarre Scooby adventure? The guy more than deserved a little fun, especially with the worry he carried around these days about Mom and Jack.

"I'll find you a real ascot, okay?" Sam offered an olive branch.

"No, Cas's right, it looks stupid."

Sam and Castiel exchanged another glance in the mirror.

"I desire some pie," the angel said, seriously and completely unconvincingly.

Dean's eyebrows went up. "Cas, you don't eat." But he was already making the lane change, mouth set in a happier line.

Good enough for now. But Sam had already started working on a new idea.

00000

"Hey." Sam knocked on the open doorway of his brother's room. "Got a minute?"

Dean glanced over from where he was stretched out on his bed, listening to the AC/DC album that was playing on his record player. Well, the MoL's record player, but Dean's now. "What's up?"

"I need help with something."

Dean's eyes opened wide and he immediately started to sit up. "You got a lead?" They'd been searching hard for any ideas on how to open the doorway between worlds, until Dean had claimed a sanity break and went to clear his head with some music.

Sam put his hands up. "Not that kind of something," he said apologetically.

"Oh." Dean was a little slower getting to his feet, enthusiasm dimmed. But maybe Sam could do something about that. "You open another curse box?"

"That was one time, Dean. And I didn't open it; it fell and cracked open."

"Right. All by itself."

Sam sighed and reminded himself he was doing this because he loved his brother. Really.

Dean flagged at the last corner, expecting Sam to go left when instead he went right. He didn't hurry to catch up, realizing now where they were going. "Dude, I'm not—"

Sam half-turned. "Just…humor me for a minute, okay?"

Dean's sigh was loud and put upon, but he didn't argue.

Sam reached the doorway of the former Dean Cave, gave his brother a smile, and threw the door open.

"If you got another TV, that's great, but…" Dean trailed off as he stepped into the room and got a good look.

There was a new television, even a little bigger than the cursed one they'd destroyed. But that wasn't all. Sam had installed the kegerator Dean wanted. There was a DVD-BluRay player, and a few game systems they both liked. A glass jar of licorice on the bar. A book shelf with Vonnegut and Christie and car magazines. A nice stereo system, and an iPod speaker.

Dean was silent as he trailed around the room, taking in the changes. Additions Sam knew his brother would love, but also some stuff for him. Because one thing had stood out to him in Dean's original "Fortress of Dean-itude."

There were two La-Z-Boy chairs in the center.

Dean stopped next to the licorice and finally looked at Sam. But he didn't look delighted so much as…emotional. Touched to the point of not knowing what to say.

Sam could tell his brother he loved him until the cows came home. He could and had saved his life more times than he could count. At one point he'd almost sacrificed the world for Dean. But what his brother really understood were the small things. The snack food Sam bought that he himself hated. A new TV to replace the one he'd mocked Dean for getting. The details he knew would mean something to Dean. And the clear intent to share it with him, that he wanted to hang out with him even when he didn't have to.

Dean cleared his throat. "Sammy. This…this is awesome." He did another 360, taking it all in. "But when'd you have time to do all this?" They'd been researching almost non-stop the last week.

Sam smiled. "'When it's important, you make time,'" he quoted his brother.

Dean's mouth twitched. "Thanks, man," he said sincerely. "I love it." He tilted his head to take in the new television, than angled his eyes back at Sam. "Wanna break 'er in?"

Sam hesitated. Research. Hell-world. Jack and Mom. But what came out was, "Sure."

Dean looked like a kid on his birthday. "Great!" He grabbed the remote even as he plopped down into the seat. "What do you wanna watch? Horror? Comedy? Scooby?" He turned on the TV.

Sam realized he was holding his breath, and Dean was wielding the remote like a weapon, as the TV came to life. But there were no purple sparks this time, no weird sounds and zapping people, just a regular picture.

Sam breathed out and slid into his own seat when he realized what was playing. The Great British Baking Show.

Dean gave a silent huh, turned to Sam.

Sam shrugged. Why not?

It was the best afternoon he'd had in weeks.

He was pretty sure Dean felt the same way.

The End