The rest of the week was... actually good?

Sam's attitude had completely turned itself around. It seemed like things were going back to normal. Maybe he just needed to feel things for a few days so he could finally move on from everything. He had less than two months left in the school year; he could stick it out! What was happening after that was still questionable, but Sam had big hopes that maybe they could continue to stay.

Dean and Bobby didn't buy it. They were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Either Sam was in denial and hiding it, or his brain was gaslighting him into believing the depression wasn't real. But neither of them wanted to force Sam into something that would make him uncomfortable.

Dean had taken the week off from work and Bobby called Sam out of school to be safe. The three of them stayed home at Bobby's and busied their time by doing tasks around the place. Sam assisted a couple of hunters with research from Bobby's library and Dean helped Bobby finish up a Toyota truck out in the junkyard he was fixing up for a friend.

"Alright, start 'er up," Bobby shouted, removing his head from under the hood and stepping back from the truck. Dean sat in the cab in the driver seat and turned the keys in the ignition. The truck attempted to start but wouldn't turn over. After holding the key for a couple seconds, Dean let go and sat back in the seat.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered.

"Well, I'm out of ideas," Bobby confessed, slamming the hood of the truck down. "Let's take a break."

Dean looked down at his watch. They had been out here for two hours trying to find out why the truck was still having trouble starting. Which meant it had been two hours since he last checked in on Sam. He practically jumped out of the truck.

"That don't mean go bug your brother," Bobby said, as if he was reading Dean's mind.

Dean scoffed. "I wasn't!" he cried defensively, earning a look from Bobby in return.

Both quickly cleaned up and headed back to the house, leaving the mess in the garage for another time. Both of them stopped in their tracks as soon as they reached the door.

"What's that smell?" Dean asked.

"I made brownies," Sam answered, not bothered to look up from the book he was reading.

While Bobby went into the kitchen to get a brownie, Dean cautiously entered the den where Sam was lying on the floor. "You don't know how to make brownies."

Sam rolled his eyes. "It's not hard, Dean. The directions are on the box."

"How'd you even figure out how to turn the oven on?" Dean teased.

Sam closed his book. "Are you trying to pick a fight?" he snapped.

Dean sensed the hostility immediately. "Of course not. Just... witty bantering."

Sam stared at his brother. "Witty bantering?"

"Um yeah? It's my job to pick on you, bitch." Dean joked. "Let's go do something," he said when Sam didn't reciprocate.

"Aren't you helping Bobby?" Sam asked, going back to the book he was reading.

"I think Bobby's done trying to get that truck fixed," Dean answered, walking over near Sam and lightly kicking his foot. "Please?" he practically begged.

Sam thought his options over. He did promise to get research to a hunter, and since he found it, he was due for a break. Bobby could always relay the message. Plus, Dean wasn't going to stop bugging him.

Sam slammed the book shut and tossed it on the couch. "Fine."


"Where are we even going?"

"You'll see."

Dean pulled off the main road onto a dirt path. The car jostled on the uneven ground.

"Dean!" Sam said, giggling from getting thrown around the car. "Seriously, where are we going?"

"Trust me, Sammy," Dean said, smiling back. "You'll love it."

Dean parked the car not too far from the road, not wanting to risk damaging the Impala off-roading. Dean got out of the car and started walking. Sam stumbled climbing out but trusting his brother, followed him.

"Dean-"

"So help me, Sam, if you ask me where we're going again, I'm leaving you stranded."

Sam stopped talking. The two walked about a half mile before coming to a river. Dean immediately started kicking his boots off and taking his clothes off.

"Come on!" he encouraged. "Don't make me look like an idiot stripping by myself."

Sam slowly toed off his sneakers and continued watching as Dean waded into the river in only his boxers.

"What's the matter?" Dean asked, noticing his brother still standing on the shore. "You are wearing underwear, right?"

Sam nervously shifted his weight and started fidgeting with his fingers.

"Tighty whities?" Dean continued to tease. He smirked and splashed some water in Sam's direction.

"Can you... not look?" Sam asked quietly.

"Alright fine," Dean shrugged, turning his backside to Sam. It wasn't uncommon for him or Sam to be in their boxers around each other, but Sam was at that age of being self-conscious.

Sam cautiously undid his belt and dropped his jeans. He contemplated his shirt, finally deciding to keep it on.

"It's nice, right?" Dean asked, hearing Sam finally come up behind him.

"It is," Sam agreed, slightly shivering from the cool water. "How'd you find it?"

"On accident a couple of years ago. I just got my permit so Bobby had loaned me that shitty Volkswagon for errands and I used it to play hooky and sneak out. I met a girl and she invited me to hang with her friends, probably because I was the only one who knew how to drive. This was one of the places we went to."

Sam smiled at Dean's story. "You never told me that. Also, how did I not know you would sneak out?"

"Are you really surprised?"

Sam giggled. A large bird screamed overhead and Dean looked up to see. Sam took that moment to jump on Dean, pushing him deeper into the water.

"Oh, it's on bitch!" Dean said, now soaked from the head down.

"Bring it jerk!" Sam said back.

Dean launched another massive wave at Sam. The two continued to splash and scream at each other. Eventually, Dean shoved Sam completely underwater, so Sam pulled him down with him. Out of breath and exhausted, the two decided they had had enough and got out of the water. The air wasn't warm enough for them to dry out so they figured the best plan was to put a towel in the front seat and change back at Bobby's.

Dean immediately got out of the water and threw his clothes on. They felt damp but Dean was fine. "What was that?" he asked when he heard Sam start to grumble.

"I'm stupid. I shouldn't have worn my shirt in the water," Sam whined, starting to regret his decision.

Dean smiled. "I got you, but you'll have to wait til we get back to the car," Dean suggested. Sam didn't have any other choice. They slowly hiked back the half-mile, their wet jeans starting to chafe. Dean popped the trunk and grabbed a towel and a shopping bag.

"What's this?" Sam asked, reaching for the shopping bag.

"Open it."

Sam dug through the bag. He found a couple of pairs of jeans and shirts and a new pair of sneakers.

"Are these for me?"

"You like them?"

Sam shut the bag. "You didn't have to get me clothes."

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. I'm making money now and god knows you've practically grown out of your old ones so... consider this your early birthday gift."

All Sam could think of was to hug Dean, who luckily accepted it.

"Thank you," Sam whispered.

Dean smiled again. "You're welcome." He removed his arms, only to find that Sam hadn't moved. "Sammy? You okay?"

Sam hated himself for getting emotional. He tried to hide his face in Dean's underarm. Dean returned his arms around his brother, moving his hand up and down Sam's back while Sam cried lightly into Dean's side.

"Let's go home, alright?" Dean whispered. Sam finally let go, stepped back, and wiped his face.

And the other shoe dropped.


someones-big-sister