I'VE NEVER BEEN PERFECT
BUT NEITHER HAVE YOU

Chapters: one shot
Type: coda, drama, angst
Rating: PG
Main characters: Dean, Sam
Timeline: 1x04 – Phantom Traveler
Summary: Little coda for episode 1x04 Phantom Traveler. 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 'Leave Out All The Rest'.
Written: June, 2007

"I'm glad to finally leave this place," Dean said as he started the engine, looking at the airport which was growing smaller in the mirror.

"You know that statistically the risks of dying in a car crash are higher than in a plane crash." Sam chuckled and replied.

"Quit laughing will you! Flying isn't natural." Dean replied

"Can't help it" Sam replied with a broad smile. "I mean, you should have seen your face,"

"Don't mock me okay. Or I swear I'll kick your ass,"

"It's okay Dean, I'm not mocking you. I'm just happy," Sam replied

"You're happy to know I don't like planes?" Dean replied a little unsettled

"I had no idea you were afraid of flying," He was about to add something else when a hurt-in-his-self-respect Dean vividly muttered a quick 'I'm-not-afraid'.

"Yes you are," Sam stated before resuming his sentence. "What I wanted to say is that it's great for me to know that there is something that scares you."

"Do you really want me to beat the crap out of you?" Dean replied, getting upset.

"You don't understand what I meant… You're always doing everything better than me, but not this time. This time I was better. Dean Winchester is no super-human after all, he's not perfect and that's a comforting thought." Sam said gazing outside the window.

Dean turned to look at his brother, a puzzled look on his face. Somehow he knew that Sam was trying to tell him something important but he was failing to understand the real meaning of his brother's words. The younger Winchester was still looking at the scenery and Dean had no to choice but to ask him what this was really about.

"I'm not perfect, I'm not as smart as you are, so what are you trying to tell me Sammy?"

Sam remained silent and Dean did not dare pushing the matter further. He fixed his own gaze on the road, embarking the Impala on the interstate. Neither of them spoke again for a while and Metallica was the only sound for miles around.

"I know I'm hard on you sometimes, but the world outside isn't exactly a playground," Dean finally said in a soft voice, almost hesitantly.

"You're trying to protect me like you always have, I get it. I thank you for that but I'm not a kid anymore and you have to see that." his brother replied.

"Yeah, but you're still my little geek brother and I have to make sure that that brainy head of yours makes it through the job. This ain't going to change anytime soon," Dean forced a smile on his lips as he spoke, though his heart wasn't really in it.

"Jerk,"

"Bitch," Dean replied and this time the smile was genuine.

FIN