my goal for this story is 20 chapters at least, so hopefully that's 60k+ words. it probably doesn't count as epic length but i'm not sure i can write 100k words. i'll try though.

Title: Step-Brothers: Blood Doesn't Tie Us

Genres: Family / Friendship / Drama

Rating: T

Summary: Sam didn't want a new mom or brother but couldn't deny his dad happiness. With drama and problems, the Winchesters must learn to get along. Sam/Dean later

Warnings: Sam/Dean, Mary/John, het pairings, slash pairings, incest, cursing, Sam/others, Dean/others, homophobia, no hunting AU, family drama, epic length

THREE

Halloween was weird this year. Before Mary and Dean, it was just another day in the week. John got up, dressed, grabbed a cup of coffee and went to work all day. Sam went to school and then headed to Sherry's house to play with her niece and nephew. John made sure to phone her the day before, telling her that he'd have Sam come over the next day because he was working overtime. It was just another regular day because John never cared for Halloween or its traditions. He didn't think Sam bought too much into it either or he'd have complained already. But this year was different.

He was expected to relax, to come home and be with the kids, with his wife, his family. He almost cried on his way home thinking about it, suddenly overwhelmed with mixed emotions. When Ellen died, Sam was only four and he'd been terrified of Halloween then. He'd been too young to remember. In a way, this was going to be Sam's first celebrated Halloween and there was no way John was going to screw it up for him. No way.

As it turned out, he arrived home at precisely four PM. The silver van was already parked in the driveway signaling that once again he'd been out-sped by his wife. He smiled at the thought of Mary. Knowing her she already had something in the oven by now and was sorting through the candy for the trick-o-treaters. While John never really liked candy, not including the occasional 'Kisses' he'd indulge himself with when no one was looking, Mary had a well known addiction to chocolate which was probably one of the reasons why she'd looked at him like he was the weirdest person on the whole planet when he explained the lack of Halloween décor. He examined the front of the house before he went in. A quick run to Wal-Mart last weekend took care of it.

He could see fake cobwebs on the trees and hedges, going over some of the lovely flowers Dean tried to plant on whim a month ago. The string of blinking red lights around the door was Sam's idea. John supposed it made the house a little…oh who was he kidding, if he'd said spooky, he'd be lying. He supposed 'snazzier' was a better word though he was sure that wasn't exactly what his sons had been aiming for.

Dinner was Pot Roast Chicken and John was only a little ashamed to admit he ate like he was starving. It made him feel better when he turned his head to see both boys eating like pigs as well. Mary for her part had a hard time trying to force down the smile, going for looking scolding as best she could.

"This is pretty good, Mary, you did a fantastic job," he said, setting his fork and knife down gently.

Mary beamed from across the table. "Well I'm glad someone didn't forget his manners tonight." A quick look at the boys again made John grin.

"Hey, take it as the highest order of compliment you can get–your cooking's so good they just can't get enough."

Mary grimaced. "They're acting like pigs, John," she complained as Dean shoved his face into the leg of his chicken.

"Oh c'mon mom, it's good," Dean said in between chews. "So, so, good!"

Sam was the only one to have the decency to look down at his plate guiltily, as if he'd just realized his behavior. He elbowed his step brother in the rib. "Dude, that's so gross–what are you, five? At least don't talk with your mouth full!"

"Ow, you brat."

"What'd you just call me?" Amused, John watched as the boys started rough housing. It took him back to when he was a young boy, careless and free, shoving around with his own brother and sister and driving his parents crazy.

Mary sighed but was no longer scolding. She picked up the empty plates and dumped them into the sink, about to start the wash. John got up intending to relieve her of the duty for tonight. He knew how much Halloween meant to Mary, he wanted her to be able to enjoy it with the boys. When he reached the kitchen he was surprised to her leaning against the counter, the dishes untouched, she was watching John's moves with a strange, lecherous leer.

"Come here," she mumbled, her stare dipping down to his suddenly dry lips. John wasted no time to hurry over, his strong arms wrapping around her waist, the stubble on his chin just barely touching her warm, shivering skin.

"What about the boys," he murmured into her ear, enjoying the way she leaned more into the caress.

"They're both fourteen, John. Let them enjoy Halloween together." John sighed; he wanted to be there to see the look on Sam's face when he saw all the costumes the kids were dressed up in. He was sure it'd be like a child getting presents for the first time on Christmas day. "Besides," Mary continued in a low, husky voice John couldn't ignore, "Sam and Dean won't want us there. I remember when I was fourteen, John; I didn't want my mom and dad buzzing around me like overprotective mama and papa bears–the thought embarrassed me." John would've laughed at Mary's comparison to bears had he not been caught up on the word 'embarrass'.

He'd never considered the possibility of him acting as chaperone as embarrassing, but now that it was in the air, it seemed like a high possibility–no, he was sure that was how Sam's mind worked. He reluctantly pulled his head up to see Mary. By the exasperated look on her face, Dean was the same way. It was perfectly natural for a teenager to think that anything having to do with 'moms' and 'dads' were not considered 'cool', no matter how much John thought otherwise. He sighed into Mary's hair, taking in her fresh conditioner. "I just want to do more stuff with the kids," he confessed softly. "With the family."

He felt Mary nod against him, absently rubbing gentle circles on his back. "I know. Me too. Just not tonight, it's their night," she pleaded.

John shut his eyes, groaning into the massage. "OK."

"If it makes you feel any better, I let them invite their friends over so they won't be too lonely while we take this to the bedroom." There was a reason why he married Mary.

Dean knew it was a bad idea. Sam and Mike were already here getting the buckets full of candy ready for the first horde of trick-o-treaters. Neil couldn't make it of course, that was fine by Dean, one less runt to worry about. He'd tried to talk her out of it, really he did. But who knew girls were so stubborn? Maybe it was a Maddie thing. Maddie insisted on coming over today and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Dean already asked Daniel to come though. He bit the bottom of his lips as he glanced back at Sam and Mike who were in deep conversation about…something, probably some geek talk Dean never cared for.

It was definitely a problem that his fake-after-school boyfriend was coming over at the same time with his fake-in-school girlfriend. But that wasn't exactly the problem, if it was it wouldn't really be a problem–he knew Daniel had the sense to lay off when Maddie didn't have a single clue. It was Sam and Mike that was a problem. They knew about Daniel and Maddie and Dean wasn't sure what would stop them from trying to tell Maddie tonight now that there weren't jocks and cheerleaders and other people here.

Maddie would probably not believe them but she was an insecure bitch sometimes and she'd probably ask Daniel about it, and Dean knew if she did it'd be all over for the both of them because Daniel never lies if asked direct questions. The thought made Dean feel queasy. He decided he'd just call Daniel to cancel tonight.

Taking out his cell phone again, he speed dialed the senior. It went straight to voice mail. He cursed inwardly and tried again, slumping in the couch. Looking at his brother and his friend, he took in a deep breath and pocketed his phone, knowing what he had to do.

It wasn't like Dean had been all that subtle. Sam had thought when he'd first seen Daniel that everyone knew about his step brother's gay relationship with the senior. It came as a heavy shock when he realized no one did–not even dad or Mary as far as he could see. It was just Sam and Mike and who would ever believe a couple geeky know-it-alls that as far as everyone else was concerned hung out in Sam's dad's basement all day playing 'Dungeons and Dragons'?

So it came as another shock when said brother had practically begged them to act all normal and not mention anything about what he and Daniel did behind everyone's backs to the nutty cheerleader. Sam conveniently forgot her name.

"Sure, sure, but what would you do in return?" Sam asked. There was a glint in Mike's eye as he nodded along and Sam knew Dean had seen it too.

"Uh, I dunno, nothing, maybe, or uhm, did you have something particular in mind?" Honestly? Sam didn't, he just wanted to see how Dean would react. But now that he was thinking about it, he probably did, probably a lot of something. "I can help you with your Biology homework whenever you need it?" he offered with a shrug. Sam knew Dean was good in Biology while it was Sam's weak point. It was a nice gesture and Sam was tempted to take it but he had a better one.

Licking his lips, Sam hedged, "I've thought of something better." Dean tilted his head, a frown twisting his lips as he waited silently for Sam's offer. "We promise to keep quiet and you'll in turn have to be nice to us."

Dean squinted at him as he mulled over the deal. "Us?" he said finally.

"Yeah–me, Mike, and Neil," Sam said, looking over to his friend. Mike looked slightly put off.

"What do you mean by 'nice'? I am nice to you," Dean said. There was a slight pause. "Aren't I?"

"Sure you are," Mike snorted. "Just the sweetest bunch of daisies, ain't ya?"

Dean scowled. "Hey, pal, listen here–"

Sam raised an eyebrow, cutting him off with a, "–that's playing it nice, Dean?" His step brother had the decency to look sheepish. "Look, what I mean by 'nice' is," licking his lips again, he stole another glance to his friend, "is you gotta do what we ask and not complain about it for a month, like if Daniel is suddenly over and we don't want to hear all that porno sex noise–," ignoring his brother's shocked expression, Sam ventured on, "we'd ask you guys to leave and you'd leave. OK? It'd just be simple requests like that. I mean, that's fair, right? It's just common courtesy."

Dean continued to gape at him as Sam shifted uncomfortably, a dark flush on his cheeks. "It's being nice, Dean. I mean it's not like I'm blackmailing you into being my slave or something," he said, then gaped in surprise at the words that just left his mouth, suddenly wishing he could take them all back.

Dean seemed to snap out of his daze at that, his expression going from mild shock to red in the face anger. Mike had the nerve to actually giggle. "Blackmailing? Slave? Really? Ya know, when you try and convince someone of the opposite of what you're doing–just a fucking word to the wise–you shouldn't use the actual words 'cos Sammy, that's exactly what you're doing here." There was a slight pause in Dean's tirade. "Actually, you know what, forget it! Just take the Biology deal or not–Maddie probably won't even believe you guys anyway, I'll take my chances 'cos there's no way I'm gonna be reduced to being my little brother's slave."

Dean didn't even wait for a response, shoving off the couch to the kitchen. Sam was left gaping in bewilderment as Mike opened the door to early Devils and Ballerinas and Firemen, tossing handfuls of candy into each bucket and pillow case presented to him. Mike sniggered as he waved goodbye to a miniature pink princess. He nudged Sam in the rib when he noticed the teen hasn't moved from his spot since Dean left. "Aww c'mon man, no sulking here."

"I'm not sulking," Sam mumbled into his arm. He was sitting on the edge of the bottom stair, arms propped up on his knees, head pressed into his shirt sleeves. "Maybe I should just take his Biology offer. I mean, I do have a test coming up and I could probably use the extra help."

Mike shrugged reaching into the bucket to dig up a tootsie roll. "To be honest I don't see why we can't just, you know, keep quiet. I mean, he's your brother, right–well, step brother."

Sam snorted. "Well yeah but he's also, you know, Dean," he said simply, as if that explained everything. At Mike's confused look, Sam sighed and pushed back his bangs. "I mean sure he's my brother, but it's like some kind of sibling thing–nothing you do is ever for free." He thought back to the first few weeks of being step brothers. Dean liked to stay up really late sometimes and play his guitar and while Sam liked it during the day, he got real fed up with it quick at nights. He remembered one time stumbling into Dean's room and asking very politely if Dean would kindly tone it down. Dean had smirked and ramped up the noise. And that was just one little example in Sam's ever growing list. He gave Mike a crooked grin. "You'd understand if you had a brother or sister."

Mike dipped his hand into the candy bucket. "Well I'm glad I don't have to then."

It was close to eight when Dean came back saying, "They said they'll be here in half an hour." Sam didn't say anything. "Have you, uh, thought of the offer?"

"Yeah," Sam said after a moment. Hesitantly he continued, "I've, ah, decided to take you up on the–"

"–we decided to tell," Mike interrupted suddenly. Sam looked back at him in shock.

"What the hell, Mike," he hissed.

"Unless you're nice to us, we'll tell," Mike repeated unperturbed.

Dean laughed, shaking his head. "Oh so we're back to this? Really, Sammy?"

Sam shook his head, torn between betrayal and anger. "I have no idea what Mike's trying to do, really, Dean. I wanted to take the Biology deal."

"No deal," Dean snapped, then seemed to contemplate it at the pleading look Sam was giving him. "Unless you can keep your friend here on a leash…maybe I'll consider it."

Sam breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, internally grateful Dean didn't seem as mad. He shot a glare to his so-called friend. Mike didn't even have the courtesy to look ashamed as he munched on another tootsie roll. "Was worth a shot," he mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate. The comment wasn't even worth replying to.

Madison and Daniel arrived at almost the same time. There was another person Sam wasn't all that familiar with dragging along behind Madison though. The guy had a mop of brown hair and thick framed glasses that partly hid a speckle of freckles. Sam noted he wasn't as pretty as his brother or Daniel, but he wasn't really ugly either, just maybe average. Sam shot a look at Mike as the three made their way to the door.

Mike thankfully behaved for the rest of the evening, handing out candy quietly with Sam as his brother and his three friends headed up the stairs to Dean's room. Sam learned the new guy's name was Eliot Abbot by the end of the night. Apparently Eliot drove both Madison and his sister to some random guy's party tonight and said sister was still there. They were going back to pick her up now.

Daniel drove in his own car, not that Sam had thought any differently.

By the time Eliot and Madison headed out, it was close to ten, long past trick or treating hours. There was an occasional straggler but they stopped coming once Sam closed and locked the door and turned off the light outside. Sam was lounging on the couch staring the big screen TV, the 'You Win' Mario Kart screen displayed before him and Mike was currently whooping in victory, acting like a kid that had too much sugar–which was actually true, given how many tootsie rolls he'd been snacking on all night.

"Well if it isn't Captain Lame and his dimwitted cadet," a deep voice drawled from behind Sam.

"You're calling me 'lame' and that's the best insult you can come up with?" Sam snorted.

Daniel smirked at them. "Touché."

"And I'm not dimwitted," Mike added. "Just an FYI, I have a near 3.8 GPA."

"That's all well and good, but I've got a 4.0." There was a tinge of smugness in Daniel's voice that annoyed Sam. He was about to tell him off when Dean grabbed the senior from behind and tried to manhandle him back up the stairs, eyeing Sam carefully.

"Are those jerks giving you trouble?" his brother murmured.

Daniel shrugged then shook his head as he let himself be led back up. "Nah, just sharing GPA scores. Man who knew your brother and his friend were so smart."

Sam didn't bother to point out he didn't actually know if he was because he didn't tell him his GPA, which was actually 3.8. Mike had a 3.75.

Dean gave a brief grin, showing white teeth. "Yeah, who knew?" Sam took it as a warning.

Mike left thirty minutes later. It took Daniel another hour to slip out the house. Apparently being a senior made people forget about curfews, or maybe made people think they were immune to it. Whatever the reason, Sam didn't stick around to think too much on it. Sam went straight to bed after Mike left. He only knew when Daniel left because on the morning after–Thursday–Dean casually told him as he poured some milk into his oatmeal.

Sam had grimaced as he poured 'Lucky Charms' into his own bowl, wondering how Dean could even like oatmeal.

"How'd the party go last night?" Sam peered curiously up to see dad climb down the stairs in a bath robe. His hair was disheveled and there were tired bags under his eyes like he'd stayed up so late he barely got any sleep. On the other hand, Mary came down a few minutes later looking completely refreshed. It made Sam wonder and then suddenly shudder and not, wanting to banish the weird new thoughts.

"Well enough," Dean grunted. A brief moment later, "Pass the sugar, Sammy."

Mechanically, Sam did. He was handed a spoon and a cup of half filled milk in return. He glanced up in surprise but Dean just shook his head, a slight smile curved on his lips. "Uh, thanks."

"Don't mention it."