this was always built to crash [for samefivealbums]

[onlytobenormal]

Sam hadn't been gone an hour and that alone should alert Dean to something being wrong. Today should have been a long one--full of late classes and maybe meeting with friends after and getting in just in time to see his big brother off in time for work. Maybe give him something more than just a goodbye kiss, if they were both feeling up for it.

But it wasn't the case today. Sam was running in the front door, slamming it shut behind him. He looked breathless and flushed, like he'd been running and wide-eyed... maybe even scared. He didn't know if Dean would be awake or still resting up before work, but maybe the ruckus would have startled him. Either way, plans had changed, things had gone to shit like he'd feared they would right from the start.

Maybe he'd cry if every instinct in him wasn't screaming to run, to hide, and maybe to protect his big brother, protect them. Oh god, they'd need protecting too.

"Dean!" he called out, moving towards the bedroom. "Dean, we need to talk, now."

God, what were they going to do... this was so bad.

Everyone... God, everyone he knew and even people he didn't-- they knew. They knew and there was everything from disgust to filthy comments that had his stomach turning to... oh god, just everything. Even offers to help him get help of some kind to questioning if Dean was making him do this somehow because who could possibly fuck their own sibling willingly--which nearly got him to lose his temper.

That's when he left.

But that wasn't even the end more disturbing news. There was so much more than that.

Comments

[samefivealbums]

Dean picked up the rest of the bags and opened the door for them. He closed and locked it once he and Sam were out, then headed to the elevator. By the time they reached the ground floor, he was fairly well radiating hostility, so anyone they ran into would do well to take their opinions and unbroken faces elsewhere.

He opened the trunk to drop in their bags, tossed Ozzy's pet carrier in the back in case they needed it, and waited for Sam to get settled in the car with the puppy before he closed the trunk lid and climbed into the driver's seat.

[onlytobenormal]

Sam put Ozzy in the back seat so he'd have room to move around and settled in the passenger seat, just looking back at the building. None of this felt real. Anywhere in the vicinity of real.

When Dean settled in, he slouched a little further in his seat, looking down. "Well, you choose the direction, dude."

[samefivealbums]

Dean chose a direction at random and started driving. It really didn't matter where they went right now. They had enough money to stay in a motel a night or two if they needed while they figured things out.

He thought about reaching for Sam's hand, but the way his brother was all curled up on himself in his seat like that made him think he might not be welcome to right now. He held a little tighter to the steering wheel and tried to focus on putting some miles between them and Stanford.

[onlytobenormal]

Eventually, Sam scooted a little bit closer to Dean because really, what did it matter now? No one to hide it from now that didn't already know. He reached out to rest a hand on Dean's leg, just to touch him.

He didn't know what to say. He was sorry wouldn't cut it and Dean'd never accept it anyway and whining about what they'd just lost, crying about it, wouldn't change it. It'd just get Dean apologizing again. So he just breathed out a soft sigh and tilted his head to rest on Dean's shoulder, trying to think.

[samefivealbums]

Dean reached down to cover Sam's hand on his knee and turned to press a brief kiss to his forehead with he felt his brother's head on his shoulder. He had no idea what to say, either. He couldn't shake the heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach that said he'd ruined Sam's life beyond repair.

He turned back to the road and just drove in silence for a while. He could hear Ozzy shifting and snuffling around in the back seat. The puppy hadn't had a lot of car rides in his little life yet. Now he'd have all he could stand, most likely. Dean bit back a sigh and squeezed Sam's hand lightly. "I love you."

[onlytobenormal]

Sam was just watching the road pass by as they put miles between them and their 'home'. Part of him bitterly thought he should have realized it wouldn't last, that this is how it'd end. Maybe even if Dean hadn't come back into his life... wouldn't have been able to stick in one place for long.

He could hear Ozzy in the back too and looked back briefly to watch the puppy move around back there. He'd definitely have a lot of time to get used to car rides now, he supposed. The squeeze to his hand drew his attention back and he nodded. "Yeah... love you too, Dean."

[samefivealbums]

For a couple of hours, Dean just drove. When it started to get late and the gas gauge was running down, he started looking for a place to stay for the night. He found a place that allowed pets, finally, and pulled into the parking lot with a tired sigh. Man, it felt like this day had been a week long so far.

He turned to Sam and leaned his head against his brother's. "I'll grab us a room if you wanna hang out with Ozzy for a few minutes?"

[onlytobenormal]

When they finally stopped, Sam paused when Dean leaned in against him, meeting his eyes. Felt like today was dragging on forever. He was just glad to finally be somewhere to stretch out a little. "Yeah... okay, Dean."

He nudged his forehead against Dean's lightly before drawing away. "I'll get Ozzy and a couple of our bags to bring in."

[samefivealbums]

"Okay." Dean handed him the keys to get into the trunk and then climbed out of the car and headed for the office. After a few minutes, he returned with two keys and tucked one into Sam's jeans pocket while he held the puppy. "Got us a double so Ozzy can have one of his own. I don't want him on my knees tonight."

[onlytobenormal]

By the time Dean got back, Sam had the bags with their clothes and his laptop bag out, along with Ozzy's things. Definitely wasn't in the mood for any of their 'toys' so... yeah, those could just stay right where they were. He looked over at Dean when he tucked a key into his pocket, snorting lightly. "That's taking spoiling to a whole new level, dude. His own bed? He might get used to that."

[samefivealbums]

"Keeps him out of ours. That's all I care about tonight." Dean left Sam with the puppy and reached for the bags to carry in. He followed Sam to the door and let his brother open it. The place was just about identical to any number of the thousands of places they'd stayed growing up. Familiar. Not entirely pleasant, but familiar.

Dean set the bags down on the spare bed and sat down on the other with a tired sigh.

[onlytobenormal]

Sam set Ozzy down once they were inside and the door was shut and locked, watching his brother settle on the other bed. He took a moment to get Ozzy some fresh water and food, tossing out a couple of his toys to keep him entertained before going to join him on the bed.

He crawled up behind him and slipped his arms around his brother, pulling him close as he brushed a soft little kiss to the back of his neck. "You should get some sleep, dude. Been a long day."

[samefivealbums]

Dean pulled Sam's arms tighter around him and leaned back into his brother's chest. Felt good just to not be driving for a while. The kiss on his neck made him smile. He turned his head and kissed the side of Sam's face softly.

"Feel like I just got up, but I'm wiped. Maybe grab a short nap, then we'll figure out dinner or something?" They'd driven right through lunch.

[onlytobenormal]

Sam sighed, held Dean a little tighter. "Yeah... okay. Lay down." Dean hadn't had any sleep since getting off his shift at work... Figured maybe after he got to sleep good, Sam could go grab dinner while he rested. Knew he wouldn't be able to sleep and he wasn't in a hurry to try.

"... Sorry, Dean," he finally murmured. Sorry for being found out, sorry they had to leave like that... dammit, he was pissed off and felt cornered even now. But he was trying to keep that held back, at least for now. They were both exhausted after all this.

[samefivealbums]

Dean paused to kick off his jeans before he let Sam pull him back to lay down. He curled up with his brother pressed up tight along his spine. It felt good to have Sam that close, especially after today. He sighed softly and let his eyes close.

They opened again at Sam's apology. "It's not your fault, Sammy. We knew we were walking a tight line. And, let's face it, if someone saw something they weren't supposed to, chances are very good that it was something I started." Dean was the one with the predilection for pouncing Sam in the great outdoors.

[onlytobenormal]

"And I didn't push you off, dude, so neither of us were blameless." He sighed, pressing against Dean's shoulder lightly.

"Just can't believe he'd tell everyone..." Didn't even give him the chance to try to explain it or smooth it over. "Anyway, get some sleep..."

[samefivealbums]

Yeah, like he could sleep after that. Dean turned carefully in Sam's arms and pulled his brother tightly against his chest. He stroked a hand through his hair softly, nuzzling at Sam's temple. "I'm sorry he did that to you. I don't know much about the guy, but I know you. If somebody's lucky enough to have you for their friend, they should damn well know to treat you better than this."

[onlytobenormal]

He let Dean pull him in, eyes drifting shut as he pressed his face into Dean's shirt, fingers flexing a little tighter. "Dude... most people probably wouldn't handle this kind of thing too well."

Still, it had been humiliating and just... like a punch to the face. Everyone knew and just like that, he was back to being the freak in school again.

[samefivealbums]

"There's a difference between not handling it well and being a complete asshole about it. If this guy was really a friend, he'd have come to you first. Spreading shit around school is nothing but a dick move. Hell, for all he knew, I could have been forcing you." Dean held him tighter and nuzzled at the side of his face. Would do anything to take the hurt away, but he knew he couldn't.

[onlytobenormal]

"... I was asked if you were, dude. It was so embarrassing to be put on the spot like that, man... to see those looks. Had someone offer to get me help." He snorted, holding tighter to Dean. "He told some people we were close with for advice or whatever and it just--spread from there, I guess."

[samefivealbums]

Dean pulled a blanket up over than and held Sam tight against him. Physical comfort was all he knew to give right now. Nothing he could say would make the situation any better. "I wish I knew what to do to fix this for you. I really wanted this normal life to work out how you wanted it."

[onlytobenormal]

"You don't have to fix it, Dean." he curled in a little tighter when Dean pulled the covers up, tangled in closer. "It's okay."

He wished he could believe that. Didn't even feel real... it hadn't sunk in just yet. "Just get some sleep, Dean. Please."

[samefivealbums]

"Alright." He was exhausted and he'd feel kind of crappy for doing it, but if Sam wanted him to sleep, he would. He closed his eyes and nuzzled in against his brother with a sigh. "Love you, Sammy."

In just a few minutes, he was drifting off.

[onlytobenormal]

"Love you too..." Honestly? He was kind of glad for Dean going to sleep. It gave him some time to himself, to just let it sink in, to work it out... anything. God. He didn't know what to do.

He let Dean drift off, stayed close to him for now. Maybe in a few hours, he'd slip out for some dinner or something if Dean didn't wake up on his own.

[samefivealbums]

Dean was more than ready for some sleep. He sank into a deep sleep, holding onto Sam the whole time. It wasn't entirely peaceful. His subconscious was still buzzing with the stress and guilt of the situation, and his dreams were all broken up and distorted.