I changed my username because I'm on AO3 now! And someones-big-sister wasn't available on AO3 and I wanted to have the same name so now I'm coffeeaddict13, which is honestly very fitting for me. At some point, I will be uploading all my stories on AO3, but obviously because I've been writing so long, it's gonna take me a while lol.

Also: Apparently you now need to have email opt-in ON in order to receive story alerts so make sure that's activated if you're still following this story!

On with the show!


Dean pulled up to the passenger pick-up line at the airport. He opened the trunk and leaned against the side, smiling as he watched his mom come out of the catwalk.

"Hey!" he greeted.

"Hi baby," she greeted back, reaching for a hug. "I missed you."

"Dad and Sam ditch you or something?" Dean joked, hugging her back.

"They're in the restroom," Mary explained.

"Together?"

Mary blushed. "I didn't want Sam to go alone."

Dean nodded in understanding. He was excited to hear his parents were bringing Sam back home but knew it was a last-minute resort. Obviously whatever happened in California was bad if they felt it was needed.

"There they are," Dean said, watching as Sam and John also made their way out of the catwalk. Sam had his arms wrapped around him like he was trying to hug himself, with his head hung low. For someone who's now 6'4", he looked really little compared to their dad, who had one hand on Sam's back, as if guiding him through the crowd toward the car.

"Hey little bro," Dean said, faking a smile and tone that hopefully came across as cheerful. Sam nodded his head towards him but didn't speak, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"I gave him one of my pills so he's a little out of it," Mary explained to Dean. She turned back to Sam. "Sam, you can ride up front with Dean so you don't get carsick, okay?"

All three looked at Sam and waited for a response. Eventually, Sam nodded to show he understood. Mary helped Sam get in the car while John and Dean threw the luggage in the trunk the best they could. All four of them piled into the small car and Dean pulled away from the airport. The car ride back into town and to the house was pretty quiet, with the exception of John's backseat driving for Dean and Mary constantly asking Sam if he was okay. At one point, Dean looked over to find Sam resting his chin on his fist, staring out the passenger window.

"I went ahead and got your room ready for you so when you get back to the house you can just crash in your bed, okay?" Dean said to him. Casually, like he makes his little brother's bed all the time.

Sam, fighting sleep, finally closed his eyes and nodded.

Dean looked up in the rearview mirror and saw Mary softly smiling back at him. She mouthed 'thank you' and Dean playfully rolled his eyes.

He pulled into the driveway and everyone immediately began unloading. Sam still had his house key and snuck off inside before anyone could stop him, not that anyone would.

"Hey, Mom?" Dean asked once they had carried all the luggage inside and there weren't any little brothers in sight.

"Hm?"

"How long do you think Sam's gonna stay?"

Mary sighed. "Hard to say. He took the rest of the semester off."

"And that's all he brought with him?" Dean pointed to the single suitcase and carry-on bag. It was enough for a week, maybe two, but not for the next couple of months, assuming Sam would stay home all through the holidays too.

Mary bit her lip. "It was all that your father and I could find in his apartment that wasn't ruined from the fire or sealed as evidence," she responded, her voice breaking. "Sam didn't want to go with us so we just grabbed what we could. Brady will pack up the rest as soon as he gets the all-clear and ship it to us."

Dean felt like punching a wall. He and Sam had lived fairly good lives so far. Moving to Stanford was the best day of Sam's life. The only bad thing their family had gone through was John's cancer diagnosis three years prior. What had any of them done for Sam to deserve this?

"Why don't you take it to him?" Mary suggested, breaking Dean away from his thoughts.

Dean panicked. "Oh, uh, are you sure?" Mary gave him a puzzling look. "I mean, he hates when I touch his stuff."

"Yeah up until you both moved out," Mary answered, laughing to herself. "Never stopped you."

Dean nervously looked over at Sam's luggage again and reconsidered.

"Trust me. He's happy to see you," Mary said, gathering the small luggage John had yet to carry upstairs. "He just may not show it for now." She carried it upstairs. Dean gathered all of Sam's and followed her, going to the opposite end of the hallway towards Sam's room. The door was closed, of course, and Dean didn't see a light on under.

"Sam?" he asked, remembering to knock. "I got your stuff."

No response.

"I'm just gonna open the door and set it inside, okay?" Dean offered. "You know how Mom gets about things sitting out in the hall."

Still no response.

Dean slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door with a crack. Sam hadn't thrown a shoe or book at him, so so far, so good. He entered the room and rolled Sam's suitcase over to the corner for Sam to unpack later. He heard muffled sobs coming from the other side of the room. Turning around, he found Sam lying on his stomach on his bed, face shoved into a pillow. His shoulders were shaking slightly and Dean just knew he was crying.

Get Mom. I should get Mom.

"Sam?" Dean asked. He gently crossed over to the bed, like any sudden movement would scare Sam off. "You okay?" Dean stood next to the bed and placed his hand on Sam's back. Sam immediately tensed up and let out an even louder sob. Dean quickly removed his hand.

Get Mom. You need to get Mom.

Something inside Dean's chest was screaming at him. Call it big brother instincts or whatever. He needed to fix this. Make baby brother feel better. That was his job, right?

NO. GO. GET. MOM.

"Sammy," Dean caught himself by surprise saying, busting out the old nickname he hasn't called Sam in years. "I'm so sorry about Jess. She was a nice girl and what happened wasn't fair to her or to you." He paused, waiting to see if Sam would react. He didn't. "Look, Mom and Dad haven't told me anything, so you don't need to worry about them spilling any of your secrets. But if you ever want to talk, just say the word and I'll come over, okay? Or you can come to my apartment. Really, I don't care. I know I haven't been the best big brother but I am on your side for this one, okay?"

He watched as Sam lifted his head and ran the back of his hand along his face.

"Seriously, man, is there anything I can do? Can I get you anything?" Dean felt silly for pleading but he just wanted to help.

Sam sniffled and rested his head back on his pillow. He turned and looked up at Dean. "Can you get Mom?" he asked, his voice low and hoarse.

Dean watched Sam. Watched as his face twitched and fresh tears kept falling. Watched as Sam bit down on his knuckles and started anxiously chewing on the edge of his sleeve to try to stop. Watched as Sam's body continued to shake and he tried to take deep breaths to mask it. Dean had never seen or heard his brother so heartbroken before and they shared a wall throughout high school.

"Yeah, sure, of course," Dean said, straightening up. He quickly turned around and left the room, closing the door behind him. He ignored the hurt feeling growing in his chest that came with Sam basically rejecting him.

"Sam wants you," he announced as soon as he hit the doorway to his parents' bedroom.

Told ya.


coffeeaddict13