Sea Change by troll_la_la for <user site="livejournal.com" user

[springflingmod.livejournal.com]

Title: Sea Change
Pairing: Sam & Dean, gen
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Pre-series. Language and angsty YA Winchesters.

”Seriously, Dean?” Sam asked, his expression the perfect mix of incredulity and disgust that only a seventeen year old can manage. The subject of his expression was his brother, salivating over their waitress and his fourth piece of pie since arriving at the diner an hour previously.

Dean Winchester grinned across the booth at his brother. Winding up Sam these days was pretty easy but that didn’t make it any less fun. He made sure to give Sharon’s cleavage an extra long look just for the bonus gagging noises as she bent forward to set down the new plate, neatly clearing away one that was spotless but for a juicy purple stain.

”Dude, it’s fourberry pie. That’s three more berries of awesomeness then you find in most pie.” Dean took a healthy bite, shutting his eyes at the heaven in his mouth before opening them to wink at the pretty young waitress, enjoying her healthy blush. The sway of her hips as she moved away drew his attention for a minute, but it was definitely a minute well spent. Sam’s gaze had drifted away from his brother’s antics to the snowy scene outside the window, his lips curled into the sad frown that always seemed to mar his face these days. Dean used his brother’s inattention to look him over, not overly pleased at what he was seeing. Sam had changed so much in the past year, a long delayed growth spurt taking away the last of his childhood roundness. Unruly hair curled around his ears and into his eyes, a deliberate curtain to hide behind. The kid was far too skinny, his picky eating habits now barely affording him enough fuel for both growing and hunting. Bony wrists now poked out of the sleeves of his worn hoodie jacket, reminding Dean that Sam’s winter coat was too short in the arms as well now, they really needed to get him something else. A finger snapping in his face effectively interrupted Dean’s thoughts.

“What was that? A pie coma, man?” Hazel eyes shown with amusement at catching Dean off guard as it was not something that happened often.

”Shut up,” Dean muttered his standard response before taking another bite of pie. To keep his brother’s attention he waved his fork at the window. “What’s so interesting out there in Waldoboro, Maine?” His brother shrugged, frowning again.

”Pretty much nothing. Snow with a side of snow and lots of Christmas dreck.” He scowled at the tinsel garland draped over the top of the window as if personally offended. Dean snorted into his coffee.

”Oh, lighten up, Scrooge McDuck, otherwise I won’t tell you what I gotcha for Christmas,” Dean replied cheerfully, false casualness in his voice. The truth was, he was really nervous about Sam’s present this year. His hand naturally fell to the amulet around his neck. Every year since Sam had given it to him, Dean had tried to think of something he could give Sam that he would find as special. His brother pretty much despised Christmas and presents in particular for some reason, but Dean was almost certain he was going to love what he was getting this year. He hated to admit it even to himself but it was hard to be certain with this brother sometimes. Every year of growing up brought more expressions that Dean couldn’t quite read. In his darkest moments he feared the person he knew best in this world was becoming someone he didn’t know at all. He immediately pushed the thought away along with the plate of half-eaten pie. “Dude, why don’t you finish this? You’ll love it, it’s fruity, you love fruity stuff.” Sam surprised him by laughing.

”You’re admitting I was right, four was too many,” Sam crowed, but Dean was pleasantly surprised to see him take the plate and a big bite, dimples increasing at the taste. He scowled at his brother anyway though for mocking him.

”There’s no such thing as too much pie, Sammy,” he growled.

”Whatever, Dean,” Sam answered with an eye roll, finishing off the pie in a few quick bites then sighing and slouching back. Dean could hear his father’s voice telling his sons to sit up straight and barely resisted the imaginary order. “So,” he drawled with nonchalance that Dean knew was false, “are we meeting Dad here or are heading to Blue Earth without him?” Dean smirked to himself; apparently he wasn’t the only one that had their father in his thoughts.

Staying with Pastor Jim for Christmas was a sporadic Winchester tradition – with and without the senior Winchester. That they would be going there for Christmas was a good assumption on Sam’s part given that Dean hadn’t shared his surprise yet. He had wanted to wait until their dad was with them to make it clear to Sam that the man was on board, but it looked like he wasn’t going to be able to wait. Their father was currently a few towns away finishing up a case with a haunted lighthouse that the man had insisted was a one man job. Dean couldn’t help but wonder if he just wanted to be nowhere around when Dean broke the news to Sam, John Winchester was far from a coward but when uncomfortable tended towards retreat with his youngest, leaving Dean to bear the brunt of Sam’s moods.

”Right, about that...” Dean muttered, taking a deep breath while playing with the scrap of paper he had found under his pie plate, Sharon’s number appearing and disappearing as he bent the paper.

”Dean, what’s going on?” At the worry in his brother’s voice, Dean forced himself to make eye contact. “Dad’s okay, right?”

”Dad’s good, Sammy. But we’re not going to Blue Earth this year, dude, sorry. It didn’t really make sense if you’re going to be back in school in just a few weeks.”

”School? Well, uh, maybe, but not here. Dad said we were moving on,” was Sam’s confused reply.

”Yeah, well he changed his mind. I did a little research,” Dean’s eyes slid away from the skeptical look on his brother’s face. Okay, he had gotten Bobby to do the research, it still counted. “There are a bunch of hunts in and around this area. Man, Sammy, there’s a reason Stephen King wrote all his stuff in Maine, these supernatural dicks are everywhere. We got everything from salt and burns to werewolves, even some demon signs. We’ll freeze our asses off but we should be able to save a lot of people.” Dean cut himself off at Sam’s head shake.

”No, we can’t…we’re going to get snowed in, Dean. You hate driving in snow.”

”What are you talking about? Baby loves the cold. I mean, yeah, we’re gonna have to gear up, that coat of yours wouldn’t keep the devil warm. I’m not cool with having an icicle for a brother. Heh, cool with it.” Sam shook his head again, but this time it was with a small smile at his brother’s antics. “Besides, spring and summer will roll around before we know it.”

”But we won’t be here for spring and summer, Dean,” Sam said slowly, his expression uncertain and careful, as if Dean was trying to trick him. It stung a bit, but Dean found he really couldn’t blame him, this was a complete game changer for their family, one to which he had gone to desperate lengths to make his father agree. When they had pulled into Waldoboro only a few weeks before winter break, Sam had barely even tried to acclimate to the new school, resignation and defeat dulling his normally passionate brother. Sam had quietly admitted to Dean that he couldn’t see the point of it all anymore and thought maybe he should stop going. John had been thrilled, but Dean had felt a pain in his stomach he hadn’t felt since Flagstaff. Now he leaned forward, not losing eye contact so he could impress upon his brother that he was not kidding, not about this.

”Listen up, Sammy, we’re staying in this town until you graduate,” Dean looked over at Sharon, winked and signaled for the check, pocketing her number as he ruefully admitted to himself that staying in town meant a girl like Sharon might expect more. His brother was still as a statue, pale and disbelieving, but his eyes were shining with something that was not the dull despair that had hurt Dean’s heart. “It’ll be great, Sammy. Dad’s got a long term lease on that house with the porch you liked, and maybe in between school and research and hunts you can play a sport, hit a school dance, pop your cherry. There’s got to be at least one cute girl at that school who’s looking for a beanpole like you to keep her warm.” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned at Sam’s blush

”Shut up. I just...I can’t believe it, Dean,” Sam stammered, “I never thought..I m-mean, Dad was acting like he wanted me to quit school, and I-“<\p>

“Well he didn’t,” Dean lied with all the sincerity he could muster. “Dad wants you to be happy, Sam, and he wants you to be you. And being a happy you means dorky school stuff because you’re uncool like that.”

”Jerk,”

Sam mumbled, but he couldn’t keep the joy out of his tone, and Dean couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction. He’d managed to do the seeming impossible. Sam was happy and Dad had his hunts and Dean had his family all together. Sam would finally get how awesome hunting was and his dad would get how great Sam was. And there was no way Sam was ever going to be able to top this present.

”Merry Christmas, bitch.”

Comments

[marciaelena.livejournal.com]

This is sweet. I love how attentive to his brother Dean is here, even when Sam might think he's the farthest thing from Dean's mind. I love the mention of the amulet and how much Dean loves it.

And this: Every year of growing up brought more expressions that Dean couldn't quite read. In his darkest moments he feared the person he knew best in this world was becoming someone he didn't know at all.

That really made me hurt for Dean, especially knowing that Sam's going to leave for Stanford after he graduates.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw, that hopefulness from Dean right at the end broke my heart - because we all know what is going to happen next, and it ain't that. Damn.

Thank you so much, Anon! This was just what the doctor ordered. Lovely job.

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

OMG, that next to last paragraph broke my heart. Happiness is just not in the cards for them ever. *sniffles*

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

Oh, man... this is so sweet and so ouchy at the same time. That next to last paragraph was absolutely gutting, but it didn't destroy the joy of the moment. Lovely stuff, mystery author!

[lyryk.livejournal.com]

So sad and sweet and so them, and fits so well into canon.

[road-rhythm.livejournal.com]

"Well he didn’t," Dean lied with all the sincerity he could muster. "Dad wants you to be happy, Sam, and he wants you to be you."

DEAN. ;_________________________________________;

This was lovely and nuanced and companionable, with that good swift kick in the feels to finish. You can just feel how close Sam came here to giving up, and to a radically different history as a result, and what it's going to cost Dean when Sam would finally get how awesome hunting was and his dad would get how great Sam was still doesn't materialize no matter what he gives up trying to keep his family together.

[tipsy-kitty.livejournal.com]

Aww, this is so sweet, but full of foreboding because we know what happens next :(

[frozen_delight]

Sam would finally get how awesome hunting was and his dad would get how great Sam was.
As if. O God. *cries hard*

This was really, really lovely.

[somersault-j.livejournal.com]

“What was that? A pie coma, man?” LOL That made me laugh out loud!!

His brother was still as a statue, pale and disbelieving, but his eyes were shining with something that was not the dull despair... Oh man, Sam!!! This was so awesome. Loved it :)

[sillie]

Oh, oh man. Dean ;__: He's trying so hard to keep his family together and everybody happy. Just... *smishes him hard* Loved this.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time!

I really enjoyed the slice of life feel this had, and the easy banter between the brothers was perfect. I loved how Dean has obviously spent a lot of thought, time and effort on Sam's gift, but we all know the happy won't last for long.

Bittersweet and perfectly formed, thank you for sharing :)

[fiercelynormal.livejournal.com]

Aw, poor Sammy, so afraid to hope for anything. Love Dean thinking of this and working so hard to get it for him. Great job!

[colls]

This is lovely. I loved everything from the four slices of pie for Dean to the gift of staying in once spot for Sam.

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

Really beautifully done. I could picture the whole thing and if felt completely authentic.