Winter break finally showed up.

Nothing too exciting happened. Given how holidays aren't usually celebrated, Dean was still recovering, and John got pissed and ran off again, everyone decided to keep it a low key year.

Dean was spread out on the couch and Sam was in the kitchen working on homework.

"You're not supposed to be watching tv," Bobby said, walking into the room.

"Bite me," Dean responded. Bobby took the remote from him and turned it off.

"You boys feel up to getting out of the house for a bit?"

"I am but I can't speak for Bigfoot over there."

Sam laughed at Dean's comment. Somehow while Dean was gone and in the hospital, Sam had hit his 13 year old growth spurt.

"Finals are coming up," Sam added.

"I'm sure one hour won't kill ya. Let's go!"

Both boys looked at each other confused but did as they were told. They got their coats on and got into Bobby's truck. They drove into town and looked at houses that still had their Christmas lights up.

When they got home, Dean went to his bed on the couch and passed out. That was enough excitement for his concussed brain.

Sam quietly gathered his books and went upstairs to finished studying. Not only were finals coming up, but Sam was playing catchup while he was gone before break started.

About an hour later, Bobby came into the room with the phone.

"It's for you," he said.

"Who is it?" Sam asked, knowing no one could possibly be calling him.

"Just trust me."

Sam did and took the phone from Bobby, who left the room.

"Hello?"

"Sam? It's so good to hear your voice."

Brooke.

"Did… Did my uncle call you?"

"I left a message a few days ago. He called me yesterday to talk and I promised I'd call back tonight to talk to you."

Sam stayed silent. He wasn't sure what to think of this. Brooke had been gone for over a month. No one talked about her anymore. Sam thought for sure she was gone forever.


Bobby left Sam's room to find Dean coming up the stairs.

"Where you think you're going?"

"Bathroom."

"There's one downstairs."

Dean shrugged. Bobby sighed and helped him up the stairs.

When Dean was done in the bathroom, Bobby came in and helped him clean his gauze. The cuts were healing, but Dean wasn't surprised if one or two of them scarred.

"You coming back downstairs?"

"No offense, but I freaking hate your couch. Can I sleep in my bed?"

"Fine by me. Goodnight."

Dean turned around and walked down the hall to the bedroom. His head was pounding and he just wanted to go back to sleep.

He went to open the door until he heard Sam on the phone.

"What do you want?... About what?... Why would I hate you?"

Dean sighed a sigh of relief. Brooke. Now maybe Sammy could get some answers.


"What do you want?" Sam asked. He didn't mean to come off as a jerk, but he really did not want to speak to Brooke right now.

"Sam…" Brooke started. Sam could hear her start to cry on the line. "I'm so sorry."

"About what?"

"Leaving! Sam, there's a lot you don't know about my family, and we suddenly had to leave. I was scared to call you because of how fast it all happened. I was worried you would hate me."

"Why would I hate you? Yeah, I was upset you told your friends and had a going away party-"

"I told my friends because they were there while all of this was happening. And it wasn't so much a party. They came over to help pack so we could leave that night."

"I still wish I knew and could have helped you."

"I couldn't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because what it would have been too hard on the both of us!"

"What does that mean?" Sam asked, getting slightly annoyed at Brooke's vague answers.

"Sam…" Brooke said, starting to cry again. "We can't do this anymore. I-I can't be with you anymore."

Sam's heart started racing and a lump grew in his throat.

"I'm too young to deal with the long distance thing. I'm so sorry Sam."

Sam saw this coming though. He figured they were already over anyway. But now to hear it from her, well… that changed things.

"Goodbye Sam."

"Brooke, wait!"

But she hung up.

"Damn it!" Sam said, throwing the phone across the room and watching it hit the wall.


"Damn it!" Sam finally screamed. Dean jumped when he heard a crash. He immediately threw open the door and found a broken phone and a heartbroken Sam on the floor.

"What'd she say Sammy?"

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said, get out Dean! Just leave me alone!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'm just trying to find out what happened."

"I don't want to tell you so why are you still here?"

"She dumped you, didn't she?" Dean asked, trying to sympathize with his brother.

Sam looked Dean in the eyes, which was slightly easier now, thanks growth spurt. Dean thought he finally got through, only to realize Sam had pushed him on the ground outside the room.

"I hate you!" Sam screamed, before slamming the door shut.

"Yeah, good talk little brother," Dean mumbled. His head started pounding again.

"What the hell happened up here?" Bobby asked, coming up the stairs. "You alright?"

"No," Dean winced. Damn concussion. Damn brother.

Bobby helped Dean up and took him back downstairs. He gave him a Gatorade and the strongest pain medication Bobby could find. Once he got Dean under control, he went back upstairs.

Bobby didn't even bother knocking; he just opened the door.

"God, not you too," Sam groaned.

"Why'd you push your brother?" Bobby asked sternly.

"Because he was being annoying!"

"That's your reason?"

"Well, I told him to get out-"

"Something you could have asked nicely."

"I don't want to talk about it so just go tend back to Dean."

"Boy, what is your problem?"

"Gee, I don't know Bobby, what do you think?"

Bobby hesitated. He realized he actually didn't know much about Sam, other than what he had heard. Brooke, some bullies at school. But he didn't know.

"Exactly," Sam continued. "It's always Dean. Dean comes first."

"Now you listen, yes I have been paying some extra attention to Dean, but he needed it at the time. And I know it's your turn to hurt now, and I promise I'm gonna be there, but you have got to stop picking fights."

Sam twirled the pencil in his fingers. Bobby was so wrong. He favored Dean, just like everyone else.

But Bobby was right. Sam would just never admit it.

"What the hell did you do to my phone?" Bobby asked. Sam ignored him. "Jesus, kid."

Bobby left the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Sam alone for the rest of the night.


someones-big-sister