SPN fic: Sight Unseen
Title: Sight Unseen
Author: drabblewriter
Fandom: Supernatural
Wordcount: 528
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Swan Song (in the story and prompt)
Characters: Dean, Lisa, Sam
Prompt(s): "Supernatural, Sam and Dean, Dean spots his brother through the window in Swan Song" by klutzy_girl @ comment_fic
Summary: Dean is sure it wasn’t an illusion created by his grieving mind. Because if it was, it means he must be going crazy.
It’s only been two weeks, but already Dean can tell that he’s not cut out for this domestic life. He’s staring out the window into the darkness, imaging the things he could be hunting right now, but can’t. He promised Sam, and no matter how much he hates being here, he’s not going to break that promise.
“Dean, you okay?” Lisa asks as she sets a plate of food in front of him before sitting down.
“Yeah, fine.” He forces himself to smile in her general direction before turning his gaze back to the window. “Thanks.” There are things out there that need hunting, to keep people like Lisa and Ben safe. He loves them both, really, but this just isn’t the kind of life he’s meant to have. He’s useless here. Out there, he could be doing something, helping.
The streetlight across the road flickers off suddenly, distracting him, and Dean grits his teeth in annoyance. It’s been doing that for the last few nights. He called the city to have it fixed, but no one has come out yet. He’s about to complain about it to Lisa when there’s something else-
His breath freezes in his throat, heart constricting. He’s up out of his chair and across the room before he has consciously thought to do so, outside and standing in the middle of the street moments later. And there’s only one thing that’s ever been able to make him move like that.
Because he saw him there, standing under the lamp - all gigantic height and shaggy hair, unmistakably Sam.
But…now the space is empty, just a plain patch of damp dream grass under the sallow grow. Dean’s mind is racing as fast as his heart. He did see his little brother, he’s sure of it. Sure it wasn’t an illusion created by his grieving mind. Because if it was, it means he must be going crazy, and he is not crazy.
“Sam!” he calls desperately. “I know you’re here…”
Nothing. Then a hand on his shoulder, and he turns, several unnamable feelings swelling in his chest - and meets Lisa’s dark, concerned eyes.
“Dean, what is it?” She looks genuinely worried, and part of him is sorry he did that to her - the part that isn’t still certain that Sam is around here somewhere, just out of reach.
“I saw…”
“Come on back inside, Dean,” she says gently, tugging at his arm. “There’s nothing here. And your food is getting cold.”
Dean takes one last desperate looks around, whispers “Please, Sammy…” under his breath, and breaks just a bit more, because he must have been wrong. Sam wouldn’t have appeared to him like that and just vanished. Renewed grief coursing through him, the older Winchester lets Lisa lead him back to the house, murmuring things that should be assuring but don’t help a bit the whole time.
All he can think is that these last few moment have been the most alive he’s felt since he saw Sam take the devil into that hole.
***
Already half a dozen blocks away, all Sam can think is what a stupid mistake he’s just made.