Previously on Chapter 3: I Don't Regret This, Sam

…Taking a deep breath, Sam stands up and goes towards the kitchen

Chapter 4
You Are Awesome

Sam reaches the kitchen entrance and finds Dean rummaging through the refrigerator.

"Hey. You want anything?" Dean spotted Sam after pulling out a beer and a half-eaten pie from the fridge.

"No thanks," Sam said and walks into the kitchen while Dean went to heat up the pie in the microwave.

"Er…Dean?" Dean turns around to see Sam standing there awkwardly with both hands in his jacket pockets, trying (and failing) to look casual.

"Yea? What's up?" Dean asked as he recognises that stance and that uncomfortable look on Sam's face. That's how Sam looks like when he had done something wrong and is about to fess up to it. Though the current Sam may act a little differently, Dean can still see the resemblance in their eyes. What Dean doesn't know – is what.

"I, er..I just wanna say something..to you, now. In case, you know, you get too worked up to hear me out when I get back…" Sam stammered and avoided Dean's confused gaze.

"What are you talking…?"

"I'm sorry," Sam apologised abruptly.

"For?" Dean is only getting more befuddled.

"I,er…actually…just this afternoon, I, er… gave you the slip when you were looking the other way," Sam confessed.

Dean still had a perplexed look on his face as he searches through his memory for a time when that had happened. Then, Sam started speed talking as he explains himself, his hands had come out of his pocket and they become animated while he speaks.

"…Matt and Brady both begged me to go – for ages. I already rejected them once before and this time, the match with Stonewall High, it's a crucial point for the game! I know Dad ordered me to practise gun stripping, and told you to make sure I do it, cause I didn't load the bullets fast enough on that last hunt but…"

"Wait wait wait… Are you talking about that time when you ran out for a soccer match?" Dean finally remembered.

"Yea…" Sam said guiltily. "I'm sorry I ran out on you. Really. I didn't mean to get you in trouble with Dad or anything, I just… You weren't…that mad…right?" Sam asked in a small voice, peering up at Dean with his puppy-dog eyes.

Dean fights back a guffaw at the worried and guilty look on Sam's face. Compared to the last few times when he and Sam had screwed (each other) up – drinking demon blood; breaking seals; killing Amy; being left in purgatory… This one, childish misdeed seemed so very insignificant.

Yet, Sam is standing there, conscience-stricken, distressing about how Dean might get angry with him for slipping out to a high school soccer match.

"It's coming back to me now. I think…well, after you came back… I remember throwing a punch or two but…yea, we got over it eventually," Dean pretended to recall his reaction to that incident while Sam looks a little stunned by the news.

"Dean!" The adult Sam appeared at the kitchen door. "Don't listen to him, he's just messing with you," he told Sam while Dean supported his words by laughing and choking on his beer at Sammy's dumbfounded expression.

"So…you weren't mad that I went AWOL on you?" Sam brightened up at the thought.

"Oh, Sammy… Did you really think you could give me the slip without me knowing?" Dean said after he stopped chortling.

"What do you mean?" It's Sam's turn to be confused now.

"I knew how badly you wanted to go, so I deliberately look the other way for you to sneak out," Dean revealed.

"You did?" The adult Sam said in mild surprise.

"Admit it. I'm an awesome brother," Dean said smugly to both Sams.

Sam snorts and rolls his eyes at Dean's self-proclaimed awesomeness. But Sam, however, goes forward and hugs Dean around the middle, his arms wrap around Dean's waist.

"Thanks Dean. You are awesome," he said with relieve and sincere gratefulness.

Dean was dazed for a second at this unexpected move, and then he returned the hug by placing his hands on Sammy's back.

Sam stands at the side, feeling rather peculiar looking at the scene in front of him. This is also the first time he gets to observe Dean's expression when they embrace. It is a face filled with love and affection.

However, his expression changes in an instant after he spotted Sam watching him.

"Jealous?" Dean mouthed at Sam in jest and Sam looks away while shaking his head with a resigned smile.

Dean ruffled Sammy's hair as they broke apart. "I like you better when you're a midget," Dean commented playfully.

"Not for long," Sam eyed at his 6'4" adult self in great content and Sam smiled back at him.

"Oh and good news, Cas called. He's got the spell and is on his way. We should go wait for him outside," Sam informed them.

The three of them went back to the war room to await Castiel's return. The enchanted hourglass sits stationary on the map table, greeting their arrival.

"So, you ready to head back?" Sam asked conversationally.

"Yea, I guess…" Sam replied hesitantly.

"Hey, you'll be alright," Sam told him again.

"Mhm…" Sam nodded slowly with a half-smile that did not reach his eyes.

The bunker door is being knocked for the second time today and Sam goes up to open it once more.

"Cas, you made it. The sand hasn't even started flowing yet," Sam said, as Cas came through the door and the both of them comes down the staircase.

"What makes you say that?" Cas replied. Sam shot him a puzzled look and then looked up at the hourglass to realise that in the past minute or so, the countdown had already begun.

The hourglass that was placed heavy-side up on the table, is exhibiting a rather unusual sight as the fewer sand at the bottom is flowing back up to the top, defying gravity, and whatever law of physics Newton had previously established.

"Cas, just in time! Knew we could count on you," Dean said delightedly.

"Ok, here goes…" Sam read out loud the counter-spell that Cas passed to him on a small piece of paper.

The flow of sand in the hourglass speeds up as Sam chanted and all the sand flowed back to the top half of the globe exactly when he had finished the spell. A bright white light appeared at the space next to Sam, growing bigger and bigger till it becomes a large shining portal. Sam watches it with apprehension in his eyes.

"You will return to your time once you step inside," Cas told him. Sam nodded but did not move, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty and even a bit of fear.

"Hey, Sammy. Whatever happens, I always got your back," Dean said to Sam, who was looking nervous. Sam looks up to meet Dean's firm, reassuring gaze.

"I know," Sam shares a knowing look with Sam, and then glances back at Dean, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

And with that, he steps confidently into the bright portal, which disappears in a heartbeat, along with Sam.

This is the end of the main story! The next chapter will also be the last chapter of this story~

Coming soon… Side Story 2: The Journey Continues