PLAY THE PART

Chapters: 1
Type: coda, drama, angst
Rating: PG
Main characters: Dean, Sam
Timeline: 1x03 – Dead in the Water
Summary: Little coda for episode 1x03 Dead in the Water. Set after the end of the episode.
Beta Reader: none
Disclaimer: Don't own the show; don't own the brothers (sadly).
Title comes from the song 'Any Other World.
Written: June, 2007

The sandwiches were good, and it was real nice to eat something home made for once and not some industrial food. They had stopped at a Motel at nightfall and Sam was surfing the web to find them a new job, eagerly eating sandwiches. Dean still had not touched his, he had preferred getting a shower first.

Sam knew that all this had been hard on him. It forced him to relieve some old memories and that always was painful. Of course having a conversation with the man about it was totally out of question for his brother was pretending that everything was okay. 'Never better' was the reply that Sam had gotten. And even if he had nodded in acceptance, he knew that it was all a façade.

Through the years Dean had built up massive concrete walls and he was hiding behind them, like a frighten child. Sam had always known that at times like that it was better to say nothing and leave to Dean as much space as he could. And he had tried to do so every time. This one was no different. He was trying as hard as he could to get himself to focus on his researches, pretending that he had not realised that Dean had been in the bathroom for more than a good hour. He gazed at the clock again and sighed heavily. He knew Dean wanted to be left alone. He knew he'd come out again with his badass attitude and the damn concrete walls back in full force. He turned his head a little, looking at the old wooden door, fighting the urge to stand up and burst it open.

No this was not his place. Dean was the big brother not him. He was the one who needed the special attention and cuddling, not Dean. The roles had been written down a long time ago and no arguing was possible. As much as he hated it, Sam knew that Dean needed it. That routine was as important to him as the rest. Sam returned his gaze to his laptop and kept browsing the web.

Dean came out of the bathroom a little later, looking better than he had when he had gotten in. Sam turned over to him, forcing a smile and offering the plate with the sandwiches he had left him.

"Here, you should try these, they're real good," he said, trying to sound cheerful.

"I'm glad to see you've saved me some. It's gonna be good eating some real food for once." Dean replied, taking the plate and sitting on his bed.

Again Sam fought to keep his mouth close. But he had never really been good at doing what he was supposed to and he opened it, calling his brother. He waited for Dean to look back at him before speaking.

"You've done a good job back there you know," He said, looking straight into Dean's eyes. He knew that the older man would never listen to any kind of comforting words so he tried to put all his feelings in his eyes, tried to show his brother that he wasn't alone in this.
It must have worked for Dean smiled a little. It wasn't his usual smirk but a small genuine smile. Understandingly Sam smiled back before returning to his computer.

"Thanks," he heard Dean softly reply and his smile grew bigger.

FIN