[For Dean] - backdated

[unchosen_son]

Sam had been spending a lot of time lately just reading about things that might have affected his future. He had piles of books about Lilith and about anything that could even remotely help Dean squeeze out of the deal on the off chance they ever went back. He was coming back with more of those books, that day, when he nudged open the door to the

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[weary_head]

"Here, Sam," Dean called from the door. He couldn't have been more than a hundred yards behind Sam the whole way home, but there was no reason to call out to him. Not until he knew what to say.

But now he was home and Dean still didn't know. He leaned his weight against the frame, watching the books dropping from his brother's arms. Any other day he'd have told Sam to forget them, but today he was grateful for the excuse they presented. "Sit down," he said. "You look worn out."

[unchosen_son]

Sam didn't jump, mostly because after all the things he'd seen, he didn't jump just because Dean was somewhere he hadn't expected him to be. He turned to offer Dean a smile in greeting, sitting down while arranging the books into some kind of order. "Guess I've been burning the candle at both ends with all the reading," he admitted, glancing up at him. "Do I really look that bad?"

[weary_head]

You will, thought Dean, and his lips tightened, clutching at the relief that came as Sam sat down. It was a small victory, but it'd have to last him - Dean didn't foresee many others in the near future.

"Ginger's dead," he said. He'd tell him how sorry he was - and Dean was sorry - when Sam had time to process and accept that she was gone. Knowing Sam, the opportunity wouldn't come for some time.

[unchosen_son]

For a long second, Sam didn't think it meant what it did, thought it was just Dean joking around, joking that she'd done something and she was dead because of it and he nearly commented about how she'd stolen something or other, but one look at Dean's face and suddenly he understood that none of this was any kind of joke.

And not just disappeared...

"Dead?" Sam echoed, staring at Dean with a lost look in his eyes. "...how?"