InsaneJournal

Who: Dean Winchester (end!verse) and Sam Winchester
What: Sam wants to make amends with his brother
When: This weekend
Where: The Crisis Center
Warnings: None, really. Discussions of the Winchester curse, but nothing that really requires a warning.

The weekend marked Caden's seven week birthday, and an even bigger milestone, for it was the first time Sam actually left the infant in someone else's care. That someone was Claire; his sister in law had all but pushed him out the door. He knew he looked like hell. His hair had grown shaggy, and scruff covered his chin. He kind of liked it, Caden giggled insanely when Sam rubbed his stubbled chin on the top of his fuzzy head, and Sam loved to hear his son giggle. Caden's laugh, or really any sound Caden made that wasn't ear piercing cries, was music to Sam's ears. He'd thought he'd never have kids. He'd given it a vague, distant-future kind of thought when he'd been with Jess, when he'd intended to marry Jess and settle down. He knew she wanted a family, and back then, he had no idea what torment his bloodline bore.

Now, though, he had a perfect, beautiful, totally awesome baby boy who was not tainted by the Winchester blood that flowed through Sam's veins and made him...whatever he was. His son wouldn't be touched by the curse of demon blood, or the restless life of a hunter. Caden was a normal, perfect baby. And Sam was determined he'd be a normal, if not perfect, father. Single parenting was hard, but Sam had a strong support group around him, plenty of people who would happily help out. Sam knew he couldn't possibly do it alone.

He also knew there was one person missing from his support group. The younger version of Dean, married to Claire, who seemed to be on the same path 'back home', was definitely in Sam's corner. Sam had been keeping his distance for weeks, using Caden as a sort of cover. He loved his brother, he really did. But recent events with the older, harsher, harder Dean left Sam a bit uncomfortable around his brother. The older Dean hadn't just assaulted him, tortured and tormented him. He'd destroyed some part of Sam's soul, not because of the physical abuse, but because he'd actually believed that Sam was evil and corrupt and possessed by Lucifer.

Oddly, that never happened, back home. Not as far as Sam had remembered, anyway, and he'd remembered enough. He couldn't reconcile himself to the fact that Dean had gone that far off the rails, and if Cas hadn't stepped in when he did, Sam would have been dead Sam hated feeling isolated from his brother, but he didn't know how to approach Dean. He tried to pretend nothing was any different with the younger one, but he knew Dean wasn't really buying it. But he backed off, because he knew Sam needed his space, and Sam appreciated that.

But Sam also knew he needed to make peace with the older Dean, or the strain on his min would drive him mad. He was half convinced that was why he was having odd dreams. It wasn't about the home reality where he'd been through hell and back, but that hell fire was a direct commentary on his relationship with Dean. The fact was, Sam wouldn't flinch, if he had to make the choice all over again. He'd die for Dean, he'd sacrifice himself for his brother, and that was a bit awkward when he couldn't even look his brother in the eye.

He headed to the crisis center to see Dean. Cas would likely be there, but even so, there would be other people around. He let himself in the front door, and glanced around the lobby before approaching the desk. The receptionist gave him an odd look before she called back to Dean's office to tell him Sam Wesson was there to see him. He felt his breath catch when Dean stepped in to the lobby. He looked...bedraggled was the first word that came in to Sam's mind. He looked good, but not. He looked...something was missing, and Sam knew exactly what it was.

Tears misted his eyes, and he didn't trust himself to speak. He tilted his head, took a step or three, and felt his arms go tight around his brother's chest. Home. He felt like he was coming home. Whatever else was happening in the world, Colligo or otherwise, this was what really mattered. Making peace, mending the twisted broken fences between himself and Dean. There could be no substitute for that. He looked up to see the bewildered expression on Dean's face, and without comment, the two both turned and walked together in to Dean's office.

Dean shut the door. "Sammy." Sorries weren't necessary. The words would only get in the way. Dean dropped his gaze, his shift in posture expressing his regret. Sam knew. He had a hard time understanding how Dean could have fallen so far, but he understood. He'd believed he was doing the right thing, helping Sam. It was over and done, and Sam no longer held it against him.

"Dean." Sam nodded. He felt the shift as Dean pulled in a breath and drew his shoulders up, something falling in to place. "I've missed you."

"You need a haircut," Dean commented. Sam laughed. He put a hand up, fingers carding through his thick and over grown locks. Dad would probably take a razor to his head in his sleep. Actually, Sam was surprised he never did anything like that. He'd always hated Sam's shaggy hair. "But," Dean said, shaking his head. "I kind of like it."

"Yeah? Claire thinks I'm off getting a trim." Sam's hand fell to scratch at his jaw. He felt awkward, standing there in the middle of Dean's office. "Caden wants to meet you."

Dean nodded. Sam could see the hesitation in his brother's eyes. He found a reassuring smile. Dean mirrored it, and nodded. "You don't think he'd be confused?" There were two Deans, there was nothing not-confusing about that. Sam wasn't worried. Caden was too little to understand, but he'd already started telling him about his uncles, and the madness that was Colligo. As much as he hated to do it, he was going to teach Caden to fight and defend himself and how to identify demons and the like as soon as he was old enough. Especially with Ruby and Meg in town, now...Sam wasn't going to have his kid unable to protect and defend himself, Winchester blood or not.

Sam pulled himself back to the office, where he stood face to face with his brother. He felt a little shiver creep up his spine. he pushed it away. "Dinner, tonight?"

"My place or yours?" Dean asked, and they both laughed, and it felt good and right and Sam felt himself relaxx even a little bit more.