Author's Note: Our next prompt comes from JCxXX who requested, "Sam's feeling down after curing himself from the Infection (s11) he had and thinking about the holidays is the last thing on his list. He's too focused on saving people from the infection until Dean reminds him to learn how to R and R a little." Oh wow, this prompt is super current! Forgive me if I mess something up, I haven't seen all the episodes of season 11 yet, but I shall do my best with this story. Thank you so much for this fun prompt! Please enjoy.

"The mood is right, the spirits up

We're here tonight and that's enough

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime."

—Paul McCartney, "Wonderful Christmastime"

It's supposed to be Sam's favorite time of year.

All the twinkling lights, the full fat eggnog, and the cheesy Hallmark movies—these are all things that Dean knows his little brother enjoys. Yet, Sam seems content to sit in front of his computer day by day and devote himself to research. In fact, Dean hasn't even seen Sam so much as cracked a smile since the Darkness descended.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?" His brother is focused on some website, his eyes scanning each and every line and parsing for meaning.

"You want to get some air?" Dean's pretty sure Sam hasn't left the bunker for at least a week and once his brother gets absorbed in something, the sooner he got pulled out of it, the better for everyone.

"Nope." Sam scrolls down, his brow furrowing. He types a few things and is soon whisked away to another website.

"C'mon, Sammy," Dean tries to get his voice light, his tone carefree, but he is worried about Sam. His little brother could fall into obsession if he wasn't pulled back, especially if he felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "It's Christmas time."

Sam doesn't say anything.

"Sam, come on," Dean insists softly. "You got to take a break sometime."

"If I take a break," Sam starts, not even looking away from the screen. "More people are going to get infected. Is that what you want?"

"Of course not—" He replies and then a smirk tugs at his brother's lips.

Checkmate.

"Then, I need to work."

Dean doesn't have anything to say to that.

He tries subtly first.

He decorates the bunker, buys a tree and adorns that with lights, and then blasts Christmas music during the day. He deliberately leaves TVs on Hallmark and tries to tempt his little brother out with food. He bakes pies and cakes and leaves them out, hoping that Sam will get up to take a bite.

He doesn't though.

So, Dean moves onto step two: brute force.

He pulls the laptop away from Sam and hides it.

Sam is, needless to say, not amused.

"What the hell are you doing, Dean?" He huffs and Dean has to admit, his brother could be pretty intimidating when angry, what with his tall stature and the way his glare looks. Dean is; however, immune and so he stands his ground.

"You are taking a break." He answers simply.

"Like hell I am!" Sam retorts. "Give me my laptop." Sam holds his hands out expectantly.

"No." Dean shakes his head.

"No?" Sam echoes.

"You heard me, Sammy."

"People are going to die unless you give me my laptop!" He shrieks and Dean forces himself to stand firm.

"Sam, you're running yourself ragged. You won't take a break, fine, but I'm making you."

Sam sputters for a few moments, then shakes his head and marches to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Dean smiles somewhat.

He just needs to wait now.

Sam re-emerges the next morning, laptop in hand.

Dean silently curses himself for not thinking of a better hiding place, but to his surprise, Sam simply plugs it in and then comes to sit at the kitchen counter.

"Look, about yesterday—" His brother starts, but Dean holds his hand up for silence.

"No need to apologize, Sam. I get how important this is."

Sam smiles sadly at that and then says, "I just . . . I don't want to let anyone down."

Dean reaches out and rubs those comforting circles on his wrist, trying to reassure him. Finally, after a few moments, he insists, "You're not letting anyone down. You're the best researcher I know. If there's something out there, you'll find it, but not if you run yourself into the ground."

Sam processes that for a few moments and then nods.

"So, cheesy Hallmark movie?"

Sam beams.

"Do you even have to ask?"

Dean just laughs.

And sure, there's still the Darkness lurking out there, but for right now, all that matters is the smile on his little brother's face.

That is, after all, what he fights to protect.

Author's Note: I love this chapter! Please review if you have a moment. Thanks!