Dean smiled when he woke and felt the warm body next to him. He wasn't Sam but that was ok because Philip proved to be an enthusiast lover with skills to spare. It had been a good week considering why he was at the no tell motel in the first place. They had ordered in and the last four days had been food and fucking. Dean was attracted to the omega immediately because of his height and fit body.

It was time to go home. Dean hoped next year at this time it would be his brother balls deep inside of him. Sure it was easier to live in the moment, but living a life together with Sam as his mate was his ultimate goal.

Dean showered thoroughly to erase the funky smells of sex because even though Sam might have an inkling as to what Dean got up to, the kid didn't need to smell it on him.

It was Thanksgiving morning and most places were closed but not the gas stations. Dean picked them up coffee and a cherry kringle because tis the season. He at least owed the guy breakfast.

They fed the decadent treat to each other and in the process almost fucked again but Dean's heat was over and he managed to keep his mind focused on home.

Now that his head was clear, Dean realized why this guy was so attractive to him, Philip looked a bit like what he pictured an older Sam would be, minus the dimples, shaggy hair and kaleidoscope, foxtail eyes that made his brother so handsome and unique.

"Dean, you look pretty far away. Watcha thinking about?"

"My brother, going home and Thanksgiving. I don't even know if my uncle got sprung from the hospital yet. My heads been in the clouds this week."

Philip grabbed his hand and kissed it.

"Head in the clouds and ass in the air. I had a great time with you, Dean. Let's swap numbers and when my heat comes up, you can return the favor." He saw the beautiful teens expression change, "Hey, no strings attached, remember? Don't look so worried. I just thought…"

"No, yeah I mean sure I'd like that. You're hot as fuck and I'm up for it."

Philip burst out laughing, "You are such a goddamn charmer." The omega was curious about something since their first night together, "Who is Sam?" Dean's cheeks flushed and he averted his eyes so Phil knew this was someone important by his reaction.

"Why?"

"Because you said his name a couple times while we were fucking."

"Sam is the most important person in my life. I guess you could say we're soulmates, if you believe in that crap."

"So, if he's your mate then why do you need me or anyone?"

"Its super complicated but stuff will change down the road and then he's going to be all I need, forever."

…..

Being an independent man of the house got old when you were alone for too many days. Sam almost called Dean a couple times but he wouldn't give his brother the satisfaction of knowing Sam missed him that much. After what he saw roaming around the salvage yard that night, it would have been nice to have his brother with him. Now if there had been a clown wandering around the place, he would have begged Dean to come home.

The next morning after the sighting, Sam set some stale biscuits on the hood of an old Rambler and by the next day they were gone. It could have been deer, raccoons or a possum that ate them but just maybe it was the creature. It was a stupid thing to do and he knew it, he might has well have summoned a demon or hand fed a brown bear.

"I'm gonna ask Bobby if I can get a dog…I think I need a pet…"

Sam decided not to tell Bobby or Dean about the sighting until he had to. It wasn't lying if they didn't ask. Besides, after that night there was no more pebble throwing and the creature might have moved on.

….

At Bobby's request, Jamie stopped where the garage used to be. The hunter got out and stood by the rubble, just shaking his head. He felt the omega's arm drape over his good shoulder.

"Damn, you're lucky you got out of it alive."

"That's thanks to Sam. I would have been a goner otherwise."

Jamie looked toward the house, "Poor kid has been through a lot."

They'll be glad to see yah. I assume Dean is going to show up today."

The omega smelled his own armpits, "Sorry I didn't have time to shower and douche with rose water. As soon as word got to me about your accident, I hopped on a plane and flew back."

Bobby nodded towards the omegas below the belt area, "Your delicates smell just fine from where I'm standing."

Bobby blushing while avoiding the word "vagina" was about the cutest thing to Jamie. He kissed the alpha on the temple, "You are a gentleman, Bobby Singer."

….

Sam dropped the apple he was peeling into the bowl when he heard the sound of Baby pulling in.

"Dean!"

He raced out the door and practically jumped his brother as Dean got out of the Impala. Jamie watched through the window as the two of them went through a thorough greeting one does when your important someone has been gone awhile. A hug and then foreheads together followed by a quick scenting of the nearest exposed skin. Jamie had his thoughts on the matter but kept them to himself because those thoughts would raise eyebrows.

Bobby watched them as well but all he saw were two brothers who had been apart for a while and were getting reacquainted. He'd never known Sam and Dean to be any other way around each other and he was just happy to have the important people in his life all in one place.

….

After a gut busting Thanksgiving meal of turkey, venison, twice baked potatoes and green bean casserole, the family retired to the living room so Jamie could finish regaling them with tales of a mysterious desert and a creature that Bobby found out was not a sand worm from some movie.

"This thing reminded me of a scolopendra giganta but much bigger and able to live in a desert environment. Think of a giant centipede about three yards long and thick as my thigh, that is able to snap a bone with its pincers. Aggressive, hungry and able to down an animal by burrowing beneath it and taking out a leg, disabling the poor creature and then eating it alive. According to one of the nomads I spoke with, it just showed up out of nowhere several months ago."

A wide-eyed Sam asked, "How did you kill it?"

"With a saber. It's an invertebrate after all and taking off the head with a sharp blade wasn't much of a challenge. I cut it open and found a belly full of partially digested snakes."

Dean scooped another slab of pumpkin pie onto his plate and inhaled it. "Why travel all that way for one creature?"

"Can you imagine what something like that could do to a small child or the destruction it could bring to a new environment? What if it was able to self-fertilize like a snail?" Jamie became agitated, "It was as if the sky opened up and dropped it there. I mean what the hell…what's going on?"

Bobby squeezed his shoulder, "Don't run off to parts unknown alone. One of us can go with you next time."

"I've killed worse things than that. Besides, Val was along and she's been pretty great. A real tough gal who knows her way around the supernatural. She handled things when I left." Jamie smiled at the boys, "She's bringing back the gifts I picked up for you. Now enough of shop talk, those toffee butter cookies aren't going to eat themselves. I bet they'd taste great crumbled on top of that pristine apple pie."

Dean got up and hugged the omega, "Man, I LOVE nesting Jamie the baker!"

Bobby rolled his eyes, "When you get a belly ache, don't come cryin' to me."

…..

Those weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas had Jamie tending to his still healing alpha and Bobby got better by the day. It was amazing what a little TLC from someone you care about can achieve.

Sam had school and each day when he got home, Dean would surprise him with something new he'd put up for Christmas. The rails of the porch were festooned with cedar boughs and red ribbon and twined with colorful lights. Dean felt an urgent need to give it his all this Christmas and make it good for everyone. He thought a lot about his dad, where John was and if he was ok. Despite what happened the last time the alpha was here, Dean wanted to see peace between their dad and Sam and it would need to be John who extended the olive branch. He didn't bring this up to Sam and risk pushing him away.

It was a full house right now and not much privacy so it was easier for Sam and Dean to avoid the unspoken things between them. It took the pressure off and they could be just brothers.

Sam made some money tutoring a few students after school. It felt good and gave him a measure of independence. It would take getting his temps in the spring to really move things along. He had a sort of school girlfriend who allowed him to play with her sweater puppies a few times during lunch. He instinctively knew not to tell Dean what happened even though Dean seemed to somehow know something had happened out of the norm.

It was actually the girls under boob sweat on Sam's hands that tipped Dean off. He was instantly jealous but kept it to himself. After all, he was getting what he needed other places and if Sam got a crack at some boobs, then Dean wouldn't begrudge him. Not yet at least.

….

"Hold the damn ladder, Sam!"

"I am holding it; you're moving around too much. Just put the star on." Dean wiggled it again as he strained to reach the top of the oversized Christmas tree. Sam finally grabbed his brother's ass with both hands and pushed so Dean could make those last couple inches. The alpha couldn't lie to himself, he did it because it was his chance to finally cop a feel of his brother's perfect ass. It felt just like he imagined, very firm with just the right amount of softness and each cheek nicely rounded. Sam was hard as a rock and glad he wore his flannel shirt untucked.

Dean for his part, let out a surprised gasp over his wet behind the ears brother taking the matter into his own hands, so to speak. He plunked the star on and it was crooked but fuck it, Sam had those long fingers just inches away from hidden treasure.

"Fuck, I'm wet as a rain barrel in spring…"

The front door opened and in walked Bobby and Jamie with a stranger.

TBC