A Few Rare Moments
Dean had seen impossible things in his life. So many that his sense of the surreal had blurred and he'd learned to accept what he couldn't quite wrap his head around. So when Sam had come back to life against all odds, Dean had embraced his brother and this newly found life they both would have. It just felt natural to accept it.
But after the Exodus, when the rescue of the Apocalypse dwellers had been fully processed, Dean allowed himself to have a few rare moments. He watched alternate versions of old friends making a home here. The quiet bunker was now filled with people. They toasted and celebrated a single day's victory.
Then, Charlie had the idea of building a bonfire out back. If this world was safer, they could have a fire now and not risk angels. Sam had secretly built a fire pit out there a while back, hoping his mother would like it.
Dean was transfixed watching his awkward, living little brother shyly guide New Charlie to the pit. He cleaned it up and lit the firestarter logs and brushwood he'd collected for it. He pulled up one chair for Mary, one for Bobby and one for Charlie.
Dean brought more chairs, eager to help, to be close to his brother's newly found excitement. Charlie started roasting hotdogs over the low flames with a Trickster's stake from a few weeks ago.
Everyone has soon gathered around. Cas showed Charlie to some marshmallows. Bobby brought Mary some spiked cocoa he'd just made out of a Tollhouse tin Sam had bought for Jack.
All the others gathered around, leaving their gear on tables, soaking some of the weapons in Dean's car wash buckets near the firepit. It was almost like a family reunion even though they'd all only met a short time ago.
The others were talking, laughing, some of them even strumming a guitar that had been in the library. Rowena was using spells to make the flames dance with colorful fireworks characters she called "spark dolls". This cheered Jack up a bit and he even let Cas make him a s'more (as per Dean's long ago instructions).
Sam stood leaning against the bunker's back wall, arms folded over his chest as the bitter wind played with his hair. He was smiling to himself at the little fire pit he'd built that now had his whole family seated around it. He almost didn't feel Dean sidle up to him and wrap his arm around his shoulders. With a little cough, he snapped to awareness and turned to look at his brother.
Dean felt his breath cyclone in his chest. It curled up and threaded his heartstrings around it like so much red ribbon. He was sick with so much happiness like one might feel on a roller coaster. The firelight caught Sam's hazel eyes and cast a shadow over his smile. And he was alive.
"You good?" Sam caught Dean as he fell all the way into his grip. Dean had gone weak in the knees.
"I feel like singing crappy show tunes. So, yeah, I think I'm on a high." Dean smiled up into Sam's dancing candle eyes. There was laughter there that hadn't been for a while. Lucifer was trapped in the other world. Dean realized for a rare few seconds that Sam might actually be safe.
"Well, you look like beat out hamburger crap." Sam snickered. Dean stood up again and clapped one hand on either of Sam's shoulders pushing him flush to the wall.
"If you ever go again…"Dean's voice dropped an octave, struggling to keep from yelling at Sam in frustration. The big brother felt a sudden surge of warmth that passed to his heels. Sam's smile was bubbly with bitten back mischief.
"What?" Dean was about to laugh now too, why he didn't know. Maybe he didn't need another reason. Living eyes were looking back at him. Breathing lips were smiling his way. What other excuses would he need to feel this giddy?
"I told you. When it's time for the final time we go, it will be together." Sam reached out a hand that he'd cupped like he meant to feed a lamb. He tucked it under Dean's chin, letting his thumb wander over his brother's lips for a moment. Dean felt his jaw tremble slightly under the steadiness of that gentle hand. Sam was about to say something else when firecracker laughter sounded from the fire.
"Dean, help!" Cas was laughing wildly, cheeks turned rosy from heat and embarrassment. He had a new s'more he was making for Mary on the end of a stake and he'd caught it on fire.
"It's okay, Cas. I like bread toasted really crispy!" Mary was chewing her nails laughing. Jack had turned blue in the face he was trying so hard not to laugh and thus keep his sour expression.
"Dean, Sam, please! I have so little experience!" Cas was swinging the blazing s'more around and Charlie, laughing wildly, continued to dodge it.
"Come on, Dean. Let's go keep Cas from melting the yard." Sam laughed as his fingers slid away from Dean's chin. Dean had no idea why but that brief moment with Sam's fingers on his face felt like being kissed by his first crush ever. It was all the love he'd need to forgive him for dying. He smiled.
A rare few moments of laughing and teaching Cas (for the third time) to make a s'more brought Dean's soul back from the desert Sam's death had wrapped around it. And that night, when he laid down in his bed, he laughed himself to sleep.