Brother Mine

Cruising down the highway, wind flowing through his hair, music up loud, Dean Winchester thought life couldn't get any better. Well, it could, if he could only find his father. And get some pie. Currently doing eighty miles an hour, he glanced at the dash, pleased to see his was making good time. He'd waited three days for his dad to come back, pacing the dingy motel room he'd been dropped off at, climbing the walls. But he'd had enough. Three days with no phone call, no note, no nothing. Now, he was worried.

Pulling up outside of Stanford University a few hours later, Dean patted his baby lovingly and set off into the night to find his brother. Knocking on a few doors, he learned that Sam was living with a girl, just a few doors down. Knocking twice, he stood back and waited, glancing up from his boots as the door opened.

"Dad's on a hunting trip, and he hasn't been home in a few days.."

@ Synful Cocktail

Getting back from the Halloween party that his girlfriend Jessica Moore had dragged him too, Sam Winchester had just settled into bed. The interview that would be on Monday weighed heavy in his mind, he knew that he could get in easy, but that didn't make the whole thing daunting in itself. Sighing, he looked over to his right hoping that Jess would be awake, but the relaxed position that he was currently in let him know otherwise. Sam was nervous, it was a huge deal and he really wanted to talk to her.

The knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts, what would anyone want at 2 am? Sam thought to himself as he got up, a confused look had settled onto his features, making him look far older than what he was. Opening the door, he was beyond shocked to see his brother stood there. He hadn't seen Dean since... Sam's own train of thought derailed at Dean's words.

"Dean... It's 2am.. You know him.. He's probably out somewhere, doing what he does," Sam murmured.

@ rachthebat.

Dean sighed heavily, rubbing a hand across his stubbly chin. He would not beg. "Sam, you know as well as I do, that he always checks in." Raising his brows to further his point, he pushed passed his brother and stepped into the apartment, whistling at the décor. "Nice place you got here, Sammy."

"Yeah, Dean. Do come in." Sam rolled his eyes and shut the door. "And, it's just Sam."

Dean's eyes widened, rolling at his brother's whining, taking a seat on the plush, leather couch. "Yeah, okay, Sammy." Helping himself to an apple, he took a bite and let it drop from his mouth, nose wrinkling. Giving the offending fruit the stink eye, he glanced up at Sam. "Listen." Holding both hands up in the air, Dean got to his feet. "Just come with me to check out a few of dad's last known whereabouts, I promise I'll have you back in time to go to school on Monday. Whad'ya say?" He grinned, thinking it was the best idea in the world.

@ Synful Cocktail

Looking at Dean like he'd suggested to drowning a lot of puppies in a vat of acid, Sam shook his head slowly. "Dean, I can't... I gave up that life when I went to college, remember?" His hands had ended up in his pockets as he talked. But, the excited expression on Dean's face, the way that his eyes twinkled with something that not even Sam had seen in years made him rethink everything.

"C'mon, dude. It'll be like old times," Dean commented, a smirk tugging on the corners of his lips which had Sam's eyes flicker down for the briefest of seconds. Sighing, Sam pinched the bridge of his nose in between his forefinger and thumb, rubbing the cartilage there.

"Fine, but you have to have me back here by Monday. I mean it, Dean. I can't miss this opportunity." Sam amended finally.

@ rachthebat.

"Yeah, yeah. I got your back, bro!" Flapping his hands about, Dean settled back onto the couch and kicked his boots up onto the table, stretching his arms up and behind his head, the flicker of Sam's gaze to his lips, not going unnoticed. "We leave at sunrise." Taking a deep breath, he let his eyes close and relaxed, for the first time in days. "Got any pie?" He asked, peeking one eye open.

@ Synful Cocktail

Sam blinked, trying to comprehend the dramatic change in subject which Dean just executed without second thought to the fact that he might have questions. Like, what was the last thing that dad said before he went. But, of course it was Dean here. Sighing, Sam nodded with a roll of his eyes skyward. "In the fridge... There's some left over from dessert last night." Sam mumbled, leaning up against the counter. He handed over cutlery instead of a plate because Sam knew that Dean would eat it straight out of the dish without a worry.

@ rachthebat.

Taking a seat at the breakfast bar, Dean dug in, mouth watering at the taste. "Strawberry pie, your girl has good taste in pie, Sammy." Stuffing his face full of the sweet treat, his mind starting turning. Mumbling around a mouthful, he asked Sam to get his bag from the car, digging through it for their dad's journal. Opening the thick book out onto the counter, he leafed through the pages, abandoning said pie when his eyes fell on a set of co-ordinates. "Power your nerd machine up, Sam, I think I got something!"

@ Synful Cocktail

Sam was sure that he hadn't rolled his eyes as much as he had since Dean's been there. But, he proved himself wrong at the offhand comment. Walking over to one of the counters in the kitchen, he pulled it off the charger and bought it over to where Dean was sat. "It's not a-" Sam started, but soon trailed off. It was like fighting a losing battle. Switching on the power, Sam leaned over. "How'd you get that? He never leaves the house without it.

@ rachthebat.

"Exactly." Arching a brow, he read the numbers off the page so Sam could enter them into the website that Dean had no clue about, and waited to see what came back. "Jericho? That must be Dad's last known whereabouts before he went missing." Finishing off the pie, he watched Sam shut the laptop down and head down the hall to, where Dean presumed, was Sam's bedroom. He waited around the living room for Sam to come back, taking in the fancy art on the wall, the awards that had Sam's name under them. He was proud of his little brother, although he would never admit that.

He swallowed thickly as Sam came back out without a shirt, tearing his eyes away as his brother bent down to grab one from a pile on the table. Forcing himself to study a framed picture hanging up, Dean blew out a breath. He clenched his teeth and dug his nails into his palm to stop the thoughts, the images that would plague him, night after night. He just wanted them to stop. Jumping at the sound of Sam's voice, he painted a fake smile on and nodded. "Let's get this show on the road."

@ Synful Cocktail

Watching Dean with a wary eye, Sam pulled on one of his shirts and shook his head side to side slowly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, it was only the fact that it was still far too early in the morning for him to even think about stepping foot out of the warm house into the crisp, cool air. "Dean, can't we just stay here for the night... Then... Go tomorrow?" He suggested as his eyebrows slightly pulled together. "It's still early, goddammit."

@ rachthebat.

"Fine, if it'll stop you whining." Flopping down onto the couch with a huff, Dean kicked his boots off and crossed his arms over his chest. A few more hours of sleep wouldn't hurt, he supposed. Cracking one eye open, he arched his brow at Sam. "You just gonna stand there and watch me sleep?"

@ Synful Cocktail

Sam was bought of his daydreams by Dean's voice and questioning stare. Truth is, he would have been more than happy to stand and watch his brother sleep; the older man looked so peaceful whenever he did. "Uh.. No.. I'm just gonna.." Sam jerked his thumb back over his shoulder, pointing to his room. "If you need anything come and get me," He mumbled, bowing his head slightly as he walked away.

@ rachthebat.

Dean raised a brow but chuckled at the retreating back of his brother. God, that guy could be weird. Letting out a happy sound that was close to a sigh, he snuggled down into the couch and propped up one of the cushions, crossing his arms over his chest as he got comfortable enough to sleep. Not long after he dropped off, his hips started getting a mind of their own, rutting into the couch as he breathed a little too heavily.

@ Synful Cocktail

Sam sagged up against the wall of the hallway, he could hear Dean's ragged breath as clearly as if he was right next to where he was stood. He could hear the soft sounds of the couch moving slightly, and Sam won't ever admit that it got to him more than it should have. Rooted to the spot, Sam was fixated; resistin the urge to go over there and do something about Dean's problem himself.

@ rachthebat.

Dean was having a rather intense dream, fingers clawing at the leather of the sofa as he humped and rutted his lower half into the cushions. Groaning himself awake, he blinked rapidly at the increasingly brightened room, unsure of his surroundings before remembering he was at Sam's apartment.

Sam.

Rolling onto his back, he looked down at the wet, sticky patch on the front of his boxers and sighed, wondering when the dreams that plagued him would quit. Shoving into his jeans - still half asleep - he didn't even ask why his brother was stood in the hall. Just carried on to the bathroom to douse himself in cold water.

@ Synful Cocktail

Shaking his head slowly, Sam walked into his room, ignoring every pore in his body that told him to go in after Dean. They couldn't keep doing whatever the fuck this was, the late nights, the phone calls, the sweaty moments in the back of the impala all ceased once Sam went to college. Now that Jess is in the picture, the younger man was beyond confused. Never the one for cheating he smiling softly at the running shower, knowing that Jess would be in there. Kicking back on the bed, Sam's arms reached up behind his head to support it. Closing his eyes for a mere minute, he was already stirred by the three drops of something that found their way onto Sam's forehead. Opening his eyes, he was confronted with a sight that he wished that he never saw.

"Jess!"

@ rachthebat.

Upon hearing Sam scream, Dean dropped his clothes and burst out of the bathroom, clad only in a pair of boxer shorts. Darting down the hallway, he slammed into Sam's room with the speed of a fired bullet, falling over his feet when he took in the scene before him. Jess was stuck to the ceiling, just like his mom had been, fire beginning to erupt all around her. Just like his mom. "Sammy, we need to move!" Not taking no for answer, he grabbed his brother by the arm and all but dragged them both out of the apartment. Quick thinking on his part had him grab his duffel from the couch, thanking his lucky stars he'd put a change of clothes in there, too. "Sammy, move!" He growled, kicking the door open, both of them collapsing onto the asphalt outside. No time to stop and think, he pulled them over to the Impala, throwing his bag into the back seat. There would be a time for answers later, when they were far enough away from that blood and fire.

@ Synful Cocktail

Shocked right to his very core, Sam couldn't move, he couldn't protest against Dean's iron-clad grip, he couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed. The same thing that killed their mom, had obviously done the same to Jess; for reasons unknown. Watching Dean run around like a headless chicken, Sam reached out to grab Dean's hand as he rushed past, stopping the older man in his tracks. "Dean, what's going on?" Sam whispered, tears pooling as the image of Jess on the ceiling replayed over and over in his mind like a broken record. Dean's grip was warm, comforting as he embraced Sam. It was like home-made comfort food, only less foody and more comforting.

@ rachthebat.

Dean sighed, his grip on Sam tighter. "I don't know, this is so fucked up. But we will figure it out, I promise you." He screwed his eyes shut as he felt Sam bury his face into his neck, trying to stop the image of Jess stuck to the ceiling, from haunting him. She had looked exactly like his mother, scared, confused. Whatever it was that had done this, they were going to pay, Dean would make sure of it. "C'mon, Sammy. Let's get going, find somewhere to crash."

@ Synful Cocktail