Chapter Two:
Dean, as they were walking back to the car at the parking lot, manages to call Mary and tell her of his agenda before heading home with Sam; and she surprisingly just immediately says 'yes' to it; which made Dean find the need to pull the phone away from his ear first to give it a once over like it had been his mom's face just then before he resumes with the conversation.
"So, it's a yes?" Dean asks incredulously.
"Sure, Dear. Take as much time hanging out with Sammy as you want." Mary says cheerfully on the other end of the line.
"Mom, it's Sam." Dean points out which made Mary chuckle.
"Oh right, Sam. Sam it is then!" she says, "My, I keep forgetting that."
"Mom, you sound awful cheerful right now. Are you by any chance under some kind of medication I should know about? Are you high? Cause this is unlike you, lady. Unlike the mom I know. Especially early in the morning." the boy rambles.
"Sweetie, what are you talking about?" Mary says, "I am a joy to be around. Especially in the morning---just ask you daddy!"
She may have meant nothing by that but leave it to Dean to veer towards making it otherwise.
"Egh! Too much information there, sweetheart! Gross, mom!" Dean whines as he was stashing the bag of grocery he was carrying in to the back of the Impala; before he shut the door, he gives Sam, who was already riding shotgun up front a wink. And then he goes back to talking to his mom on the phone. He could hear Mary laughing at his remark. Hearing her being all carefree like that made Dean happy."So anyways, lady. It's a 'yes'? I mean, already? And I even had a long speech prepared here."
"Save your speech for some other time then, baby."
"Are you sure you're not having an affair back there or something which is why you needed us out of the house?"
"Darn it!" Mary spat, "I can never hide anything from you, Dean! Why is that?"
"Mom, you're--you're just kidding back there, right?" Dean asks nervously, "Cause I sure wouldn't want to have to kick your boyfriend's butt should I find him back there when I get home!"
Mary laughs to this, heartily.
"Dean, I am content with the only three men in my life right now thank you very much!" Mary announces.
"Oh my god! There's three of them?" Dean spat jokingly which only made Mary laugh even more.
"I meant your daddy and my two boys, sweetie!" Mary says. Dean sniggers on the other end of the line. It actually took them minutes before they eventually settled down with the chuckles. "Sweetie,"
"Yeah, mom?"
"...take care of your brother, okay? And you be good. You take care of yourself too." she says on a more serious note.
"Got it, lady." Dean says, "You take care of yourself too, mom. We'll be home in an hour."
"Dean, take your time." Mary says, "I'm sure Sam needs a day out after all the nightmare he had what with the storm and all."
"You're epic, mom, you know that?" Dean says fondly.
"I know! You guys are lucky!" Mary says with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Mrs. W!" Dean spat, "Bye, mom!"
"Kiss Sam for me, sweetie!" Mary says and then the call wraps up altogether. As Dean was getting in behind the wheel, he was having a mental conversation with himself.
'Hmph, like that wouldn't scare any teenager away--being kissed in public by their big brother!' Dean scoffs.
"Can I ask you something, Dean?" Sam asks, popping Dean's thought bubble just then.
"Sam, we talked about this, remember?" Dean says, "Just ask away, kiddo. No need to ask for permission anymore."
"I keep forgetting, Dean." Sam says, "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Deans replies warmly, "Now what is the question?"
"Was that your girlfriend?"
"Oh on the phone just then?"
Sam nods.
"It's a secret."
"Oh." Sam muffles. Dean smirks; flicking Sam on the nose playfully.
"It was mom, Sam!" Dean says. "I called her about hanging out first before heading home and she says 'yes.'"
"Really?" Sam asks excitedly, "Where are we going to hang out, Dean? Oh I know! How about the park? Or wait--the arcade! Nono, wait--how about the--the...clubhouse gym, Dean? We can play a game or two back--" he dials it down after he noticed Dean just watching him fondly, "---I got a little carried away. I'm sorry."
"Sam, anywhere you want, kiddo---we're there!" Dean says.
"Awesome!" Sam says happily under his breath in a whisper which Dean heard anyways. The kid was looking out his side of the window at the moment and talking to himself, but the older boy could tell just by the kid's body language alone; that he was happy. Dean could feel his heart smile. He was happy too; watching Sam smile never gets old with him. He welcomes every moment of it."This is really awesome, Dean!"
Dean's cheeks grew red at being caught by Sam looking at him just then. But the older of the two quickly recovers and bats the younger a cocky grin.
"That's cause I'm awesome, Sammy!" Dean says.
"Yeah, you are, Dean!" Sam says proudly. "The best big brother ever!" he added.
"Yeah?" Dean smirks, "What about Ted though? You seem to idolize your big brother before, Sam." he added quietly while starting the engine. "I don't mind running second best to the guy, kiddo."
Sam averts his eyes from Dean to his hands on his lap.
"Was I out of line just then?" Dean grimaced, tossing Sam occasional glances. "You maybe want to kick me in the shin for that or something, Sam? Cause I hear it hurts there the most."
"No, Dean. I'm okay."
"Sam, I didn't mean to make you feel bad or anything---or jog a memory. I mean, we're bound to talk about your big brother or sister one way or the other in one of our conversations. You can't just erase them altogether, right?" Dean says, "But if you don't want to---I can always just forget about asking stuff related to them from now on. Just say so and I will."
"No, Dean. You're right. I can't just forget them altogether cause, cause they're always going to be a part of who I am." Sam replies with a sigh."I guess it's alright if we talk about them. I'm sorry for acting the way I did earlier, okay?"
Dean gives the kid a squeeze on the knee before his hand went back to the wheel.
"No problem, kid."
"I could never get to hang out with Teddy before---I mean, he was a great brother I can tell. But it was just from afar, Dean. I never got to find out up close. For myself. Just always at a distance...or from...from what I hear from other kids. Unlike the brother you are to me." Sam says. "You're the best, Dean. Both up close and afar."
"You want to know a secret, Sam?" Dean asks randomly.
"Do you want me to know of this secret, Dean?" Sam asks in whisper; he even leans in towards Dean.
"Why whisper though? Nobody else is here besides us." Dean points out. Sam looks over his shoulder at the back of the Impala, and then at Dean. He smiles a big one next; with a head scratch and a chuckle.
"You sure do chuckle a lot, don't you--you crazy kid!" Dean says fondly. Sam could just wrinkle his nose in response.
"What's the secret, Dean?" he asks while toying with his jacket zipper. "Is it a big one?"
"Mmhm. A biggie!"
"What is it?"
"That I think you're an awesome little brother!" Dean replies.
"And I know why it's a secret too." Sam says.
"Oh but it's not gonna be a secret any longer, Sammy!" Dean says.
"Who's gonna know, Dean?" Sam asks, "It should stay a secret."
"Yeah, well---it's not gonna. Everybody at our new school's gonna know; the second the school years starts. And then the neighbors--then our cousins. You know, from mom and dad's side of the family? Cause I'm gonna tell 'em! I'm gonna tell 'em all!"
"We're going to the same school, Dean?" Sam asks bright-eyed. "Really?"
"Dang!" Dean gasped, "Mom is so gonna have my head for that!" he grimaces, "It's supposed to be a secret!"
