de-aged [For samefivealbums]

[onlytobenormal]

When Sam woke, it was in a bed that wasn't his own and without his dad or brother in sight... needless to say, there was a lot of freaking out. He fumbled out of bed and went looking through the apartment he was in... only to find a dog and not much else. Nothing that would tell him where he was anyway or where Dad or Dean was, when they'd be back.

He even got desperate enough to grab the phone and try their numbers... only to find them no longer in use which was just... even weirder. Now he was even more worried.

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[onlytobenormal]

Sam snorted, rolling his eyes as he took the soda, opening it and took a drink. He smiled at the puppy... no wonder his older self thought he was going to get fat!

"Bet you're still gonna give him some anyway."

[samefivealbums]

"Am not," Dean lied as he cut a small piece off his steak and slipped it to Ozzy. He was powerless to resist those big eyes. It was all Sam's fault. Sam started the puppy eyes thing years ago and Dean had been helpless against them ever since.

[onlytobenormal]

"Liar." He grinned a little more and started to pick at his food, giving an approving hum. "This is really good, Dean. I can't believe you can actually cook, man."

[samefivealbums]

Dean grinned as he dug into his food. Oddly, he was kind of proud of his cooking. It wasn't the most manly past time, maybe, but it made him feel good. "Everybody's gotta have a skill, right?"

[onlytobenormal]

He smiled at that, shrugging a little. "Guess so. I think you found yours... do you do it a lot?"

Weird to think about Dean enjoying cooking enough to put this much effort into it, really.

[samefivealbums]

"When I'm home and have time, yeah. Sometimes I work late." And then Sam was in charge of food which meant more vegetables than should be legally allowed in one meal sitting. Dean had begun to suspect Sam liked salads and crap so much because you could eat them raw. No cooking involved.

[onlytobenormal]

"So you work at that place earlier, right? The bar?" Hey, that was only a plus of vegetables. That totally wasn't the only reason!

[samefivealbums]

"Yep. I'm their favorite bartender." Totally true. Well, okay, their favorite guy bartender. There was a smoking hot redhead who did better in tips than he did, but she also had a rack to admire. "Might pick up a second job soon. Bartending's fun, but it's not the best paying career. Figure we're gonna need a bigger place soon. Ozzy'd like a yard to run in."

[onlytobenormal]

He shook his head at the favorite comment, smiling to himself. Oh, he was totally sure. He perked up at that comment, looking at Dean. "A bigger place? Really?"

It was still just almost unbelievable. Like he woke up in someone else's life and not his own, not his future. "So, we're really settled down here to stay?"

[samefivealbums]

"Yeah. I mean, we haven't talked about it yet, but I was thinking about it." He didn't figure Sam would object, though. A house with a yard was even more normal than an apartment, right?

He took a drink from his beer and chuckled. "Yeah, unless you decide you wanna go somewhere else. I doubt that'll happen until school's over, anyway."

[onlytobenormal]

"Sounds nice..." It really did. Just too bad he wouldn't get to see it... "What am I in school for?"

[samefivealbums]

"Pre-law. You're still an egg-head, dude." Dean grinned, but his tone was proud. His dork brother was going to be someone powerful one day. Then Dean could get into all that legal trouble he'd always wanted!

[onlytobenormal]

He really was doing good for himself, wasn't he? He grinned, ducking his head. "That's so cool, Dean. I never really thought I'd get to do any of that. I always wanted to, you know..."

[samefivealbums]

"Yeah, I know you did, Sammy." He leaned back in his seat and watched his brother for a minute. Didn't want to freak him out or anything, but he felt like he needed to say something that had been on his mind since he saw mini Sam standing there this afternoon. "Man, if I'd known then what I know now, we'd have had this a lot sooner, you know? It wasn't ever that I didn't want you to have what you wanted, Sam. I just didn't really understand what it all meant... having something like this."

[onlytobenormal]

Sam looked up at that, eyes squinted briefly. It was so weird to hear Dean talk like that... all of this just screamed weird. "Dean, I know what I get out of this... I mean, I always wanted a normal life. I don't like moving around and changing schools, never having friends... I mean, it's kinda lame you're the closest friend I got, right?"

When Dean wasn't driving him up a wall or just being an annoying big brother, that is.

"But what do you get out of this? I mean, I know you, Dean, and I know you like hunting."

[samefivealbums]

And there was the conversation he was dreading. He'd been chewing over it all day and the best idea he'd come up with was to tell as much of the truth as he could without freaking the kid out. "Honestly? You. I mean, when you left like that, it gutted me, dude. My whole life's been about looking after my kid brother."

He shrugged and fiddled with his beer bottle, picking at the label. "You let me stay with you now and I don't feel so much like garbage. That works for me."

[onlytobenormal]

Sam was quiet for now, staring down at his empty plate as he let those words sink in. Not sure what to say really... he knew Dean cared about him, even with all the ditching and complaining. He just didn't know he'd be actual incentive for his brother to give up hunting...

He slipped to his feet and leaned over the table though, skinny arms sliding around Dean's neck as he hugged him, pressing in as close as he could. Dean usually didn't like touchy-feely stuff, but it seemed like the right thing to do right now.

At least it was what he wanted to do. "Thanks, Dean... I mean it. I'm glad you're here."

[samefivealbums]

Dean wrapped his arms around his kid brother and hugged him back much more easily than he would have at the age this Sam knew him. That was kind of a pity, too. Having had a steady stream of affection for over a year now, Dean could see how not having it growing up made things so much colder and more isolated for them both. Sometimes, he looked back on it and wished he had a little more of his mom in him.

"I'm glad you're here, too, Sammy." He squeezed him and patted his back softly. "Remember, when you get back, that Dad's the one missing out. He might not tell you he's proud of you for your school grades or come to the sports games or plays or whatever else you decide to do, but I'm always proud of you."

[onlytobenormal]

Sam hadn't expected the hug to be returned that easily, but when it was, he ducked his head against Dean's shoulder, lingering there against him. Dean was so much bigger than him, grown up. Felt so weird.

His arms tightened a little more at those words. He didn't hear them from Dad unless it was hunting related, so hearing them from someone who was close to him? Yeah, it was great. "You mean it, Dean?"

[samefivealbums]

"I mean it. I make cracks about you being a dork and all, but honestly? You're pretty cool, dude." He tipped his head against Sam's for a minute, then gently released him. Another time, he might have held on longer, but he didn't want to weird the kid out. Sam at this age probably wouldn't believe Dean had developed a fondness for cuddling, anyway.

"The Dean you know is still a dumb kid, so try to remember than when I disappoint you, okay? It's never intentional."

[onlytobenormal]

He drew away slowly when Dean's arms loosened around him and smiled a little wider. "You're not always so bad, you know. I mean, you can be a pretty huge jerk sometimes, but..."

Well, Dean was the one who stayed with him all the time. It'd suck even more if he didn't have Dean. "I like hanging out with you."

And he could totally admit that to this Dean since his wasn't here and wouldn't hear it.

[samefivealbums]

"Yeah, well, I like hanging out with you, too." He grinned and squeezed Sam's shoulder before he let go entirely. Hopefully, Sam would remember this when he changed back. Either way, he felt a little better for having said it. "Speaking of which... anything else you wanna do tonight, or are you ready to pack it in?"

[onlytobenormal]

"Getting kinda tired, Dean." He took a step back, looking around the tiny apartment and frowned thoughtfully.

"Where do I sleep?"

[samefivealbums]

"You and Ozzy can have the bed. I'll crash on the couch. C'mon." He stood to head into the bedroom and grab a pillow and blanket for himself. Didn't really want to lie to Sam, but he would in this case if he had to. Maybe he could claim they switched off on the couch until they got a bigger place? He had mentioned needing more space...

[onlytobenormal]

"Why isn't there another bed?" Dean should have known Sam could overlook a lot, but... that was just weird. They'd had to share sometimes, maybe, when their motel rooms were too tiny and Dad was around... that didn't make sense if this was their own place though.

"You sure that's okay? Sleeping on the couch, I mean." Felt kind of weird about kicking Dean out of his room or whatever.