In-Air Comfort

Their Comfort

You wave until Andre's hired SUV disappears into the distance. When you turn around, Dean had already begun to rap on the door, ready to kick it down, when Sam opens it revealing himself in only his boxers and a girl hastily dressing behind him.

"You came all the way to Tampa, in MY car to get laid?! I'm all for having fun, but this is extreme, even for me, extreme, Sam!"

You put your hand on Dean's arm in an attempt to calm him down, but he jerks away and storms off down the road toward the bar you'd passed on the way here. You give Sam an apologetic look and chase after your boyfriend. When you catch up to Dean he already has a glass of whisky in front of him. You sit down beside him and signal for the barkeeper to get you the same as the man beside you.

"You know Sam, there's gotta be more to the story. You just gotta give him a chance."

"He stole my car and drove across the country in the middle of the night without so much as a text. And I found him in his underwear. That's not Sam. I don't know what's possessing him or if it's a shapeshifter or what, but it's not my brother."

"Isn't that all the more reason to go back and find out? Before he takes off again."

"You know what? Let him go! I'm done being his babysitter! I want to focus on you ... on us ... but I can't while I'm babysitting his stupid ass."

"I know how much he means to you. I knew that when I agreed to be your girlfriend. I'd never ask you to put me before him, he's your family."

"I want you to be my family too. I already feel like you are. There are so many places I want to take you, things I want to do with you and I can't because of this stupid life ... it's not just Sam, it's all the demons and shit that we deal with every day. I'm just over it all. I'm tired, baby." He downs his glass and puts his head down on the bar.

You run your hand through his hair comforting him. "I've seen more of this country since we've been hunting together than I'd seen in my whole life prior-"

"While third-wheeling with me and Sam..." he mumbles.

"You've saved my life more times than I can count."

"After putting you in danger first-"

"Dean Winchester, would you look at me?" He turns his head slightly to face you. "I love you and I love spending time with you anywhere, whether it's in the Impala, some old motel room, in a dingy old bar or hunting evil sons of bitches. I chose this life when I chose you and I wouldn't change any of that."

"But you talk about marriage and kids ... and I can't give you either."

"I don't see why not. Maybe not now, maybe not even in the next year or two, but someday. But for now, why don't we go back and check on your brother? Find out what's really going on here. Once we know Sam is safe, we are gonna have a good long talk about us and our future, okay?"

Dean nods at you, "sounds good, sweetheart. Thank you."

"Hey, I love you."

"I love you too."

Dean pulls a few bills out of his wallet and places them on the bar under his glass before taking your hand in his and leading you out. You walk hand-in-hand back to the motel finding Sam leaning on Baby's hood; no sign of the scantily dressed woman.

"Maybe let me take the lead this time, Dean."

Dean just squeezes your hand in response as you approach the taller brother.

"Hey Sam," you say, "

"Hey, I swear I didn't run off just to get laid," Sam says looking between you and Dean, "I caught a case here, and I thought I could handle it on my own ... I was watching the two of you snuggled up together and you looked happy ... you deserve to get out of this life, go get married, have a family. So, I wanted to prove I could handle myself so you guys can do that. I should've left a note and not taken your car but I guess I just wasn't thinking straight."

"Sam, you have nothing to prove. You've been doing this since you were a kid. Don't think you're holding us back. But, don't think you have to do this alone either. I don't think either of us are really ready to leave this fight yet, and as long as we're hunting, we're doing it as a team," you say.

"What's the case? Did you handle it?" Dean asks.

"Yeah, I handled it. It was a kitsune-"

"Where's the body?" Dean asks.

"I'm not an idiot, Dean! Just trust me, I handled it."

"And the naked girl?"

"I met her at the bar, the same way you used to every other week," Sam spits out as he glances over at you.

Dean glares at his brother, "you wanna try that again? You don't get to look at her like that, you know damn well she's not like them and that I haven't done that since before we met." You put your hand on Dean's arm trying to calm him down. Sam walks back into the room. "No, he doesn't get to disrespect you like that."

"Dean, take a walk, or take Baby for a lap," you say.

"Alright, come on," he says, but you shake your head.

"Let me handle whatever's going on here."

"I'm not leaving you here with him."

"Dean ... Baby, I need you to trust me okay? I can handle myself. Something's up with him and you're too close to him and angry right now. Let me talk to him and find out what's really going on here."

"Fine, you've got an hour, then I'm coming back with dinner."

"I love you, Dean," you say as he kisses your hand and walks away.

You take a deep breath and cautiously enter Sam's room. You find him sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

"Hey," you say as you take a seat on the end of the bed, leaving space between you.

"I'm sorry," he says, not looking up. "I didn't mean that out there, I know you're not that ... that you're different-"

"I know. So, spill, Sam. What's really going on here, with you? And don't bother trying to keep up this bull- I've been dealing with that behaviour from Dean for too long."

"The kitsune ... when I saw the article I knew I had to come before another hunter did ... she was a friend from when I was a kid. She killed her own mother to save me. She doesn't eat fresh meat. Her-her son was sick, she had to save him. She's not a killer, but the circumstances..."

You put your hand on your stomach, "one day I hope to truly understand that love. I get it. So, you let her go?"

"Kind of..."

"You hooked up with her, and then us turning up scared her off..."

"Dean would never understand. She was one of the first girls I ever had a crush on. But I knew dad and Dean would've killed her so I let her go. They just see a monster, he'll never understand how that feels. But I do, I've been a monster, I'll always have demon blood coursing through my veins, and I can never change that. Does that mean I should die? Hell, it probably does, I've done bad things too."

"Sammy, hey, you don't deserve to die, and nor did that mother. I don't care if she's a kitsune, she's a mother and having a sick child can make you do crazy things. It's a mother's instinct. And I know you think Dean won't understand and you're probably right, but I do. And I am gonna do everything I can to help him understand okay? Just leave him to me."

"I hate putting you in this position, messenger or the buffer between me and my brother. And I saw that reflex by the way, does Dean know?"

"Hey, you did it for us, and I've never been happier. If it wasn't for you, Dean and I would still be awkwardly hiding our feelings. Now I get to repay the favour. And there's nothing to know, it's just wishful thinking. But we're not ready. Dean would never. And this life, even if ... I wouldn't be able to keep it."

Moments later Dean walks in with a bag of Chinese food and beer. Sam gives you a knowing look. Dean sets the table without saying a word. You look over at Sam, "let's eat and then I'll talk to him okay?"

Sam nods and follows as you get up and sit at the table. You eat in silence, no one game to say anything. Once you're finished you take Dean's hand in yours on the table.

"Can we go for a drive?" you ask him, he just nods despite just wanting to snuggle up with you in bed.

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