Sam Winchester exhaled through his nose, eyes scanning over his latest paper. Mid-terms were only a month and a half away, which left very little wiggle room when it came to grades. Attending college on a full-ride only left him with more pressure on making sure he passed his classes. Failing grades gave the school enough substance to revoke the scholarship.

It wasn't like he felt an overwhelming, crushing pressure when it came to his studies. Doing the papers, the research, and the classwork was oddly therapeutic for the younger Winchester. It was something he could dive head-first into, where he knew exactly what he needed to find, and how to put it all together. The researching, and compiling on evidence reminded him a lot about the times he spent at Bobby's place.

While Dean went out and worked in the older hunter's auto shop, Sam helped him with the hunters. Helped Bobby with the information needed to nail down the creature each case had, and how to take one out permanently. It was a time in his childhood where he felt useful, comfortable, and safe. He was sure Dean would agree, even if not vocally, that every time John left the boys with the older man, it was always a good time.

Sam pushed himself away from his desk, running a hand down through his hair. He's been at his assignments much too long, the words were starting to swim before his eyes. It was a pretty good indication that he needed a break, he closed his laptop. His eyes landing on his phone, flipped face down on his desk. His key way to not feel the need to check it every time he notices the screen lights up.

Danny. The other man was finding his way into Sam's head more times than the other would guess. It's not like it's been all things bad, Danny was doing a lot better in the past weeks than he has been since Sam had met him. About half a month or so ago, Danny went on a five day trip to stay with some family. Pandora and Charles, if he remembered right.

When Danny came back to school, he seemed happier. More at ease, and Sam was sure it was simply the break for the stress that was college. However, it carried on. The bruises and wounds seemed to all but vanish after that, aside from the easily explainable ones. This isn't Sam saying that Danny was suddenly a hundred times better, this was Danny doing better.

A weight that once seemed to burden the man, seemed to lift off his shoulders. Giving him a peace of mind, he didn't seem to have before. Sam was more than happy to see the changes in the other man, but that didn't mean he wasn't the least bit curious about what happened while he was away.

Danny did mention that is was a simple family check in, and visit. There was nothing special about it, but something told Sam that wasn't the case. Although Sam couldn't really say anything on the matter, not knowing much about the two aside from the stories Danny's mentioned. Or the few times they had called Danny when Sam was around.

He wasn't worried something bad happened, it was clearly good for the other student. Sam just felt a weird ache every time he was reminded that there were things Danny kept away from him. Even though Sam does the same.

"SAM!" The shout shook Sam out of his thoughts, he turned around quickly, scanning the area before him. His eyes landed on an over-enthusiastic redhead making her way towards him. Sam's shoulders relaxed, and offered up a welcoming smile as she skipped up to him. "I's so glad I ran into you!"

"Hi Tina." He greeted, adjusting the strap to his bag. Tina became quite a staple in his life, he half expected her to lose interest in him and move on to better friends, but she never did. She always made an effort to talk to him whenever she saw him around campus, or when ever he stopped by her job for a cup of coffee. It wasn't like Sam minded, her energetic being was always refreshing even on the hardest of days.

"Okay so, I may or may not have made plans with Kristy, to go to the water hole, three days from today. Totally not to make up for the pudding incident or anything." Tina grin, fidgeting with her vape stick. Sam couldn't help but smile, it always seemed like Tina's antics got her in a bit of trouble with her partners. All in good fun by the sounds of things, most of the time. "I also may or may not have forgotten that we had essay writing plans that day, and as much as I love our session, I kinda can't cancel." She gave him her apologetic face, usually a cross between being sorry and in pain.

"It's okay, we can reschedule." Sam reassured her that it was fine. Tina never made a habit of canceling on them, so it wasn't anything that he should be upset about.

"Awesome, I'm so happy your never anal about these things." She smiled, before pausing. Her eyebrows furrowed, wrinkling her nose before continuing. "Did I catch in a bad time? I can go..."

"No, not at all. I was just headed back to the dorms." Sam shook his head, pointed off to the building in the distance behind him.

"Same!" Tina jumped, all worry melting away from her in a split second. "Walk and talk?" The two fell into step pretty easily, only a beat of silence followed before Tina spoke up again.

"How's things been with Danny?" She asked, eyes flicking between Sam and the path before them. Sam paused, thinking what words to say to ease up Tina's response.

"They've been good." He answered, giving her a smile that she seemed to read straight through.

"He didn't take the bait?" She laughed, running a hand through her hair. Sometimes Sam regretted letting Tina in on his little crush, but most of the time it was nice to actually talk to someone about it. It helped that the redhead was understanding when it came to these things. "I'm surprised, I figured after he found out he had a chance, he would take it."

"Maybe he just, doesn't like me back?" Sam asked, shrugging slightly. "It's possible."

"Oh Sam, Sam, Sam." Tina shook her head, pulling the doors to the dorms open. "If I know anything about love interests, and I do, you both like each other! One of you guys just need to grow some balls." She laughed shaking her head. Sam blushed slightly, dropping his gaze to the floor.

Tina might be right, but was it really worth the risk? What if Danny didn't like him? What if this high school crush was one-sided and when Danny found out it ruined their friendship? This wasn't something he wanted to risk over a crush. It was bound to go away anyways right? He figured these feeling would go away, and when they did there wouldn't be anything to worry about.

"Can we talk?" Danny asked, breaking through the sound of the music. Sam tapped the google home, causing it to turn off, before turning his attention to the other man. Danny pushed his laptop to the side, and turned nervous eyes onto Sam. The taller of the two nodded, turning completely to face the bed.

"Yea, of course." Sam spoke, giving Danny a comforting smile. "What's up?"

"I-I've been having this reoccurring dream, and I've mentioned it to Tucker and he says I should talk to someone about it, but like..." Danny paused trying to get his thoughts into words. "I didn't really want to burden anyone with it, and you're kind of the only person I feel comfortable talking to about it... Not that you have to listen to me though, we can just-"

"It's okay Danny, talk to me." Sam moved to sit on the bed across of the ravenette, trying to convey to Danny that he had his full attention.

"Uhm, okay so... I've been having this nightmare, which I guess is more like a memory, and it's not like I can't handle it, but lately." Danny took a deep breath, dropping his gaze to the bed. Sam bit his tongue, not wanting to interrupt Danny's thought process. "Lately I've been feeling like it's my fault, and now I keep getting this stupid fear that I'm just going to fuck up again and it'll be fault and..." Danny caught himself off with a shaky breath.

"It's not stupid. Your feelings are never stupid." Sam choose to speak, quietly watching Danny continue to stare at the bed and slightly fidget with the bedspread.

"I know that, like logically I know that. It's just..." Danny sighed, running a hand over his face. "I feel like I have no right to feel bad, when others have had to deal with worse. I know my problems are valid, but there's a difference you know... In knowing and believing."

"It's a process, but you'll get there." Sam offered a small smile even though he knew Danny wasn't going to meet his gaze.

"It's just, I was remembering when it all started. With my parents... it was a stupid accident, wouldn't happened if I didn't care so much." Danny sighed, sparing a glance at Sam before focusing back on the bed. "The newest invention wasn't working, they looked so sad... How couldn't I feel bad? But... it turned on with me still in it." Danny shook his head.

Sam wanted to say something, he did, but he couldn't think of what to say. He couldn't think of what the best thing to say would be. This was all new information, and even as he tried to figure out what words to say to make the other feel better, he needed to process it all. He didn't want to accidently say the wrong thing, and make things worse.

"They're genius scientist, but they put in the on switch inside. I stripped on some wiring and accidently hit it. It... It wasn't a pleasant experience." Danny took in a shaky breath, while Sam bit his tongue. He wanted to know, he really did, but knowing settled a pit in his stomach. "I survived, I shouldn't have... My parents wanted to learn more." Danny shrugged.

"I'm glad you survive." Sam spoke, finally meeting eyes with the other. The pain and anguish that settled in those eyes tore at Sam, he never wants to see Danny hurting. "But that's no excuse for your parents to do what they did."

"I shouldn't care about them as much as I do." Danny let out a small, sad laugh. "I keep thinking, whose going to make sure they eat? Whose going to make sure the house doesn't become a mess when they get too into a new invention?"

"That should have never been your job Danny, that's not things you should be worrying about." Sam spoke, placing his hands on top of Danny's slightly shaking ones. He understood where Danny was coming from, his childhood was mostly filled with worrying about his family more than himself. It wasn't something a child should have to worry about growing up. Difference between Danny and Sam was, Sam didn't live in fear of his father hurting him the way the Fenton's did.

"I know, I just... I feel like I should hate them."

"They are your parents, you can't change that. You'll always have good memories with them." Sam cut himself off when Danny looked away. Sam slowly brought his hand against Danny's cheek, guiding him to look at him again. Ready to stop if the other pulled away. He didn't. "You don't have to hate them to validate your feelings."

Sam watched Danny carefully, felt the warm of silent tears hitting his hand. Sam didn't realize how close the two were until now, the silence hung between. The only sound that could be heard was their breaths and the sounds of the college life thrumming behind the dorm walls. Sam wish you could just hold Danny and make all this go away, but he couldn't.

"Your valid Danny, it's okay to hurt." Sam whispered into the space between, reminding himself that this applies to him as well. He felt his chest tightened as the guard in Danny's eyes slipped, the emotions increased. He didn't have much time before arms tightly wounded around his waist, and warm tears seeped through his shirt.

He hugged Danny back tightly, resisting the urge to whisper words at Danny. He didn't want to break the moment, the other man seemed like he was really in need of a good cry. Part of Sam wanted to know if the dream was of the accident or something else, but mostly Sam was okay not knowing for sure. Sam's heart ached when Danny spoke, a soft broken voice slightly muffled.

"Thank you."

AN: We started on a decent note, but we ended on a semi bad note. I'm sorry I keep hurting Danny, but don't worry, he won't be the only one crying.

I promise things are going to look up! We just gotta push through the angst, but we'll get there.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who reviewed, and also everyone following the story.

I hope you guys all stay safe, and check in on your friend and family!

Leave a review and let me know what you thought below :)