A/N: And...NaNo is officially kicking my ass.

So, next chapter of HTFAW. This was a prompt for "Dean standing in for Sam while he got ready for a school dance", I.E., Dean having a "Mom" moment. I'm sorry, I'm at work and my book of prompts is at home, so I don't know the prompter. I will adjust that later tonight, if possible, but I am behind on posting and I wanted to get this up and going.

Reviews are love!

As Always,

EverReader

Disclaimer: Not my sandbox

How To Fix A Winchester- Chapter Seventeen

The Unfortunate Thing About Formal Wear

Sam pulled the tie off from around his neck, throwing it down in exasperation. Glancing over at the clock to check the time, he grimaced. He was supposed to pick Jennifer up in less than an hour.

And he could not get this stupid, god-forsaken tie to co-operate.

Finally, he gave up, flopping down on the bed in his and Dean's room.

It was times like this not having a mom around stung the most. It was the stupid little things. Not just parent teacher conferences or birthday parties or things like that, like you'd expect.

It was the stupid little things. Like having a mom to make your favorite cookies because you begged and pleaded and wheedled. And then having her tell you that you can only have two before dinner.

It was having someone smooth down your hair at the last minute when you were in a rush to go out the door. It was about someone taking pictures that would embarrass you years later.

It was having someone tell you what the hell kind of corsage to get your prom date, so you didn't end up with two on your nightstand (pink roses or white lily).

It was having someone tie your stupid tie so you could take a cab over to your prom date's house.

"Sam?" Dean stuck his head into the room, chuckling at the sight of his younger sibling splayed out in desperation.

"Well..." Dean drawled, coming the rest of the way into the room. "This looks...promising. Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"The night's a disaster." Sam declared morosely.

Dean snorted. "Hate to break it to you, kiddo, but the night hasn't even started yet. Might move along faster if you, you know, finished getting ready and left."

"Can't." Sam declared flatly, with all the drama that only an overstrung, overachieving seventeen year old can manage.

"I can't decide on a corsage. The taxi is going to be here in fifteen minutes, and I can't get my STUPID tie to look right." Sam said to the ceiling.

Dean studied his brother for a moment. "Okay, Samsquatch. First thing's first. Get your ass off the bed."

He reached down and grasped Sam's arm, levering him up easily. Though Sam had had a growth spurt over the last few months, he hadn't yet caught up in the weight division.

Dean dragged Sam a little closer, snagging his tie off the bed from where Sam had dropped it in defeat. With calm, deft moments, he began tying it for Sam.

"No." Sam said in disbelief. "Now way. Dean, how do YOU know how to do this?"

Dean snorted. "Dude, don't sound so surprised, I'm insulted."

"Seriously, Dean. I've never seen you in a tie in my life." Sam said, admiring Dean's handiwork in the mirror.

"Winter formal, a couple years back. I took Cara Mills, and you should have seen the little red number she was wearing..." Dean trailed off, a glazed look in his eyes.

Sam coughed. "Uh, Dean? Story I actually want to hear?"

Dean shook his head. "Huh. Oh, well, we were in Sioux Falls that winter, remember? We were staying at Bobby's for a few weeks. He showed me. Said every man hated to wear a tie, but every woman expected us to know how, when push came to shove."

Sam smiled. "Bobby's sure full of surprises."

"You're telling me." Dean agreed. "There. No, problem number two. Corsages. Lily's are for old people and funerals. Give the pink roses to Jennifer, and the Lilies to her mom. Bonus points." Dean waggled his eyebrows at Sam, who laughed reluctantly.

"You're such a dog, Dean." Sam said, but he was smiling in gratitude. "Now. If the taxi would just get here."

"About that. I...sorta canceled your cab." Dean said.

Sam's eye's widened. "What? Why? Why would you-"

Dean laughed againl. "Relax, dude. Chill. Here."

Sam stared in disbelief as Dean held out the keys to...

"No way." Sam breathed out, a grin lighting his features as he searched his brother's face for confirmation.

"You're letting me take the Impala?" Sam asked.

Dean shrugged, awkward under the weight of Sam's hero worship moment. "Dad let me. Just seem's fair. Besides, you might be the geeky brother, but your my geeky brother, and no way your taking your date to Prom in a cab. I even cleaned her out this morning. She's weapons free, for the night. Except for the mace, and one gun, and your butterfly knife, and, you know. The necessities."

Sam smiled even bigger. "Thanks, Dean. You kinda saved me."

Dean raised a brow. "Kinda? Dude, my status as awesome big brother has now reached epic proportions."

"Yeah." Sam agreed easily. "It has."

Dean cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the moment that was clearly edging into chick flick territory. "Oh, hey. Almost forgot. Come on, go stand by the car."

Sam followed Dean out to the car. "What-" His voice trailed off when Dean pulled a disposable camera out of his pocket.

"What?" Dean grinned. "You? Dressed like a penguin? Did you really think I was going to give up on that kind of blackmail potential?"

Sam posed awkwardly while Dean snapped a few photos, then Dean handed the camera to him. "Have Jennifer's mom take a couple more at her house. Then you'll be swimming in the bonus points. Chicks dig sentimental."

"Okay." Sam said, wanting to say a thousand different things in that moment, but knowing anything he said would only make Dean uncomfortable.

"You better go. You're late." Dean said, shoving Sam towards the car.

"I'm going, I'm going." Sam said laughing.

At the last moment, just as Sam was folding his newly long legs into the car, he felt something on the back of his head.

He glanced up at Dean questioningly.

Dean shifted, smiling, a little embarrassed. "Your hair, it was, a...sticking up a little."

"Thanks, Dean. Thanks for having my back."

Maybe Sam didn't have a mother. But he had Dean, and no one would ever try harder for him.