Little Dean and Little Sam 1
Title: Respite
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Summary: With John searching rural Arizona for who knows what, Dean knows keeping Sam cool in this summer heat is the most important job he's got.
“Y’tired, Sammy?”
“No!” came the indignant reply as huffy arms and legs clenched tighter around the big brother encircled in them, “I can go just as long as you!” But the words were slightly slurred and Sam’s little chin kept sinking onto his brother’s shoulder even though it made the water tickle his lower lip, “I can…”
A smile touched the corner of Dean’s mouth as he laughed softly, “Yeah, Sammy? You can? Y’sure about that?” As he spoke, Dean keep up his pace around the shallow end slowly but steadily, making sure that he didn’t jar Sam too much. They’d been out here for most of the afternoon, splashing and playing in the pool. He was pretty sure that even though Sam had whined and pouted about still having to wear arm floats he’d had a good time all the same.
“Yeah!” somehow, Dean was amused to notice that this time his brother managed to sound even more indignant - it was cute, the way Sam tried so hard to be big. But Dean wished he didn’t feel like he had to be: he was only five, after all. So instead of teasing he just smiled again, his thumb stroking over the little foot wrapped around his middle as he spoke, “Okay, Sammy. I believe you.”
A moment of silence passed before Dean heard Sam’s voice in his ear, trying and failing to hide a slight whine, “It’s still hot, Dean…” He felt the back of his head grow damper as Sam splashed a hand in the water, sending droplets to their doom as they evaporated in the scorching Arizona sun.
“I know, Sammy,” he commiserated, his own mouth feeling parched even surrounded by all the water, “but at least this time dad got a place with a pool.” Sure, the AC unit in their room was busted and meant they’d be miserable when they went back inside, but at least there was this little bit of respite.
The sound of Sam’s voice, lazy and tired with the heat and the exertion, brought Dean happiness nonetheless, “Yeah, Dean… thanks for swimmin’.”
“Welcome, Sam.” As he started on yet another lap, Dean suddenly felt Sam’s legs loosen their grip as his little brother began to slip sideways. Right before Sam’s head hit the water and he slid under Dean caught him under his knees and pulled him upright again, voice slightly worried as he urged Sam to hold on tightly before adding, “Tired, kiddo?”
Pausing by the steps as he passed by them yet again, Dean sank down onto the lowest one, careful to make sure he sat Sam one up, so his head would still be safely out of the water. Fixing Sam’s grip around his neck, Dean carefully interlaced his little brother’s fingers together, the warm weight of Sam’s head on his shoulder proving that his brother was indeed tired, no matter how hard he tried to deny it, “That’s what I thought, Sammy.”
Though he was by no means strong, Dean could still feel it when Sam clenched his grip tight and shook his head, begging for just one more lap. Obediently, Dean stood, a rueful smile on his face as he began again, “Okay, one more lap.” Sure, maybe he was a sap, but if all Sam wanted was another lap around the pool, he was not going to deny him. He could never deny his little brother anything. “So we’ll get out on the other side at the ladders?”
The shake of Sam’s head was sharp and pointed, “No! A half a lap’s not a full lap, Dean!” He sounded so damn adamant that a half a lap was unsatisfactory that yet again, Dean couldn’t help but laugh. His little brother truly was the greatest kid there was.
“Okay, Sammy, okay, I’ve got it, a full lap it is.” By the time they made it to the other side of the pool Sam had slipped into a stupor and almost fallen off his back three more times. Chuckling softly as he headed back toward the steps, Dean cajoled Sam lightly, “Hey, sleepyhead, y’sure you’re gonna make it?”
By now he kept his one hand firmly tucked under Sam’s knee, the other carefully encircling Sam’s wrists, keeping him upright even as he continued to drift off. The sound of Sam’s voice, laden with sleep, only made him laugh - the kid was trying so hard, it was adorable, “Go fast, Dean! Go fast!”
“Okay, but you’ve gotta hold on.” Locking Sam’s ankles together and interlacing his fingers one more time, Dean made sure his brother was settled properly on his back before speaking again, “Can ya do that for me, Sammy?” He could feel his brother’s eager nod tickle the hair on the back of his head and he smiled, nodding, “Let’s go, then!”
Striking out across the pool as fast as his nine year old muscle would allow, Dean did his best to give Sam a thrilling ride. When a squeal of glee escaped Sam as the water rushed around him, Dean felt his heart swell with happiness - he was able to do that for Sam, make him laugh, make him happy, make him smile. That was all he wanted. Sam didn’t have enough of that.
When they finally reached the steps again, Dean carefully set Sam on the edge of the pool and met his eyes with a smile, “Ready for a nap, Sammy? We’ll go in.” The sun had been beating down on them all day and he could already feel the sting of a sunburn on his skin, though he’d made Sam get out of the pool every hour to put on the sunblock he’d stolen off one of the beach chairs.
As expected, the protests were immediate and forceful. “I’m not sleepy!” seemed to be Sam’s main point as he repeated it like a mantra for a few moments, eyes earnest and wide as he tried to make Dean believe it.
Dean just brushed his wet hair out of his face and sighed over dramatically, yawning as he stretched, “Well, I am. So I’m gonna hit the hay.” With that, Dean then hauled himself out of the pool, only wincing a little as the rough and abrasive concrete broke open an old scar, “Come on, let’s get dried off.”
Watching a sleepy Sam push himself to his feet, Dean couldn’t help but reach down and carefully steady him, his eyes soft as he guided Sam to the chair where they’d left their things. Grabbing the hotel key he shoved it into the pocket of his trunks before taking Sam’s towel and crouching down, drying his hair first before wrapping him in it and softly commanding, “Dry off, Sammy.”
As his little brother did as instructed, Dean took his towel to his skin, groaning at the rough fabric on his overheated flesh - he hated it when Dad took them down south, especially in the middle of summer. There was always some other way to keep Sam warm, but there was only so much he could do to cool him down. He hated seeing the way his little brother wilted in the heat, the way it made him itch with the pain of living in what felt like an oven.
Once they were both ready to head back inside Dean reached down and, just as expected, met Sam’s hand on the way up. Cupping his little brother’s hand tight in his own, Dean started to lead them back to the room, careful to check both ways before they crossed the parking lot, making sure no cars were coming, making sure no people were stalking them. He could never be too careful with Sam.
When they got inside the room Dean groaned - somehow, it felt hotter in here. Leading Sam to the bathroom, Dean gestured to the clothes he’d left out for him before they left. “Change, Sammy, and I’ll be right back with a surprise for you, okay?” When his brother nodded, Dean shot him a quick smile and slipped into his own change of clothes before heading back outside and getting what he needed quickly - he hated leaving Sam alone.
When he walked back inside he came up short for a moment but then could only laugh, “Yeah, I guess it is that hot, huh?” Sam lay face down on the bed, buck naked and still sweating, his little hands scrunched up in the sheet as he nodded in agreement. Sitting beside Sam, Dean flicked just the corner of the blanket up - enough to cover his naked bum, then said, “Here, Sammy, got you a surprise.”
The sound of Sam’s shocked cry did send a little thrill through him, but that was a big brother thing. Though the washcloth full of ice was bound to be cold right now, in a moment or two it would be pure bliss. Sam’s cry quickly turned into a contented groan and Dean found yet another reason to smile that day - he’d brought his little brother just a bit more relief from the agonizing heat.
As the ice melted against his skin Dean stroked a hand across Sam’s neck, brushing the hair away and making sure to sponge there, too, “Nap, Sammy. I will too, okay?” Sam never did much like doing things alone. When the ice was finally melted, Sam had already fallen into a deep sleep and so Dean wrapped the sheet a little more firmly around his brother and lay down next to him, eyes gentle as he watched Sam breathe. The sensation that Sam was here and safe was all the comfort he needed to drift off.
When, an hour and a half later, Dean woke up with a yelp as something wet brushed his skin, the first thing he saw was Sam’s shy but hopeful smile as a little hand pressed the washcloth from earlier to his side, “Better cold, Dean?” Though he didn’t work in much of a pattern, Sam moved with determination, doing his best to cool big brother off. As he watched him work, all Dean could do was smile and wonder how he got to have the best little brother ever.