Scientific Surprise, Gen
Happy Birthday to balinor_unicorn and to wenchpixie
A present! And yeah. MiniNano is taking all my energy but... I hope you like this wee gifty!
Title: Scientific Surprise
Rating: Gen
Pairing:Dean/Petra (But it's really a Sam story)
No warnings.
Summary: Sam discovers that Dean has won the Regional Science Fair, but didn’t tell anyone. He resolves to go to the ceremony. With a guest appearance by Petra, for wenchpixie requested it.
Thanks to embroiderama for the beta. HUG.
Sam pauses near Dean’s desk and hears Dean’s voice in his head, telling Sam not to go through his stuff when he’s not there. Sam breaks one tiny car part and will never be forgiven. Dean shouldn’t have had it inside anyway - Dad told him so.
Which just made Dean more angry with Sam, even if it was in a quiet, door smashing, take self off driving kind of way.
This isn’t like Sam going through Dean’s stuff though, ‘cause Dean is the one that borrowed Sam’s calculator and Sam needs it back for his math. That’s all. He’s just reclaiming his own belonging.
Sam inches forward to the desk and touches a hand to a pile of messy papers. There. He’s crossed the invisible line Dean drew with his foot; no going back now. Sam peers interestedly at Dean’s school notes. They’re very untidy, not like Sam’s. Sometimes Dean’s drawn random things in the corner of the pages, played tic-tac-toe by himself or drawn stick men getting killed.
Sometimes Sam worries about Dean’s brain.
He rifles past the papers, gets his hand stuck on a half-melted candy and wipes it off on a t-shirt of Dean’s that is randomly in the pile.
Then Sam spots a letter with an official letterhead. He can see the words, “Congratulations, Dean Winchester on…” Then it cuts off, covered up by a music magazine that’s lying on top of it. Sam shouldn’t look, he knows that, but he crossed Dean’s invisible line already.
Besides, why hasn’t Dean told him about the letter?
Sam grasps the letter in his hand, pulls it out, and races back to his side of the room. That way if Dean and Dad get back early, he can hide it and put it back later. The letter is crumpled, like it’s been read and re-read and finally pushed underneath something, the corner bent over in the process.
Congratulations Dean Winchester, the letter reads, for taking first prize in the Regional Science Fair. Enclosed are the details for the Science Fair prize ceremony, where you will be able to collect your winning prize of one hundred dollars…
Sam swears that his eyes feel like they are bugging out. They must be on stalks, protruding out of his head. Dean won the Regional Science Fair. That means he must have won the local fair first, and Dean never mentioned that. A hundred bucks!
Sam wonders if Dean’s going to go. He can’t imagine Dean cares much about winning the fair, or surely he would have mentioned it? Sam’s heard Dean discussing money with Dad; Sam knows it’s tight. That 100 bucks won’t be lost because Dean doesn’t want to attend some stupid ceremony. Surely?
Sam can’t figure out why Dean hasn’t told him or Dad about it. Dean is weird sometimes.
The ceremony is on Saturday. Two days away. Sam frowns. He wants to go there to watch Dean. Dean came to see his play didn’t he? Dean came to see Sam play soccer didn’t he? Dad never made it to all those things, but Dean always did.
Sam gets why Dean didn’t tell them; that way he can’t be disappointed when Dad inevitably can’t make it. Sam will make it. Sam will be there to watch Dean.
He might need a little help from Dean’s friend though.
*
Sam knocks on Petra’s door, looking around him to make sure Dad and Dean aren’t driving up. He has to make this quick. If they catch him with a window a crack open he gets lectured by both of them for a week; if he’s not even in the house…
A shiver runs through Sam. He doesn’t want to get into that much trouble. Though it hasn’t stopped him coming this far.
Petra’s mom opens the door. She looks surprised to see him. “Hello, Sam,” she says, and stands aside to let him in. She calls out for Petra but she’s walking into the kitchen already. Sam likes Petra’s house. Her mom and dad always seem to be there, and any time he has come over, her mom has fed him. Usually very yummy cookies; not quite as good as the ones Dean makes when Sam’s upset, but very yummy ones.
She pulls out a plate of chocolate chip and offers Sam one. Petra comes clipping into the room. She looks directly at Sam, and Sam wouldn’t say it to Dean, but sometimes that freaks him out. How does she know? Then he realizes how loudly he is chomping on the cookie.
“Hey Sam,” Petra says. She sounds puzzled. Sam guesses he’s not come over by himself much. She walks over to the table and Sam and her mom both watch silently as she feels for the seat and sits down.
Sam goes to sit next to her. “Hey Petra,” Sam says, swallowing the cookie. “Look I gotta be quick ‘cause Dean can’t catch me over here. He’ll be back any minute.”
“You can come here any time you like Sam, you know that.” Petra’s mom puts a glass of milk on the table in front of him. Sam takes a sip.
“Not s’posed to leave the house. They’re really strict about that. But I had to,” Sam leans forward, touches Petra’s arm so she’ll realize how important this is, “I had to for Dean, see.”
“Dean?” Petra frowns. “What’s up with Dean?”
“Nothing!” Sam pulls the letter out of his pocket. He nearly hands it to Petra then feels like an idiot. “That’s just it. He won first prize in the Regional Science Fair and didn’t tell anyone! Didn’t tell me anyway,” Sam peers at Petra. Her eyebrows are way up in her hair, so Sam figures she didn’t know either.
“Didn’t tell me,” Petra says. “I knew he won the one at school, they announced it, but he acted like it meant nothing, was no big deal. I didn’t realize that meant he moved into Regionals.”
“And won! A hundred bucks!” Sam tries to picture a hundred bucks but can’t, that’s how much money it is.
Petra’s mom comes over and gestures at the letter. Sam hands it to her. She purses her lips and scans it. “Ceremony this Saturday for him to collect it and have his photo taken for the paper. Sam, why wouldn’t Dean mention this to you? This is great.” Petra’s mom sounds surprised that Dean’s great. Sam can’t figure out why. She hands the letter back and Sam pushes it back into his pocket. He hears a car rumble in the distance and freezes. Luckily it draws past. Close.
Sam shakes his head. “Dean’s weird that way. I’d love it. Look, I think he’ll probably go, ‘cause…” Dad will probably get mad if he tells them it’s ‘cause they’re poor. “I just think he will. I thought maybe you could help me, Petra.”
Petra cocks her head toward her mom and back at Sam. “Of course, Sam, but I’m not sure how I can help you.”
“Help me get there maybe, and help me work out how to,” Sam stands up, “how to make it special for Dean. You know?”
Petra’s mom comes over to Sam. “I’ll drive you both. You can both go and see Dean get his prize.”
“Really, Mom?” Petra reaches out and touches her mom’s arm. “You sure?”
“Of course. I know, 'Can I go?' was going to be your next question.”
Petra smiles and Sam matches it.
“Great, thanks! Look, I have to go.” Sam inches toward the door again. He’s cutting it fine.
“Sam, maybe you could make a banner, like ‘Congratulations Dean’, or something,” Petra says. “I can’t really help with that, but that’d be fun. We’ll really embarrass him. Teach him a lesson for not telling us.” She winks at Sam.
Sam quickly goes and hugs her. It’s good to have someone to talk to about Dean. It’s good to have a friend they both have. “I’ll do that,” Sam says, and rushes out the door.
*
Making a banner without Dean realizing proves difficult. Sam manages to get Julie at school to bring in some art supplies- different colored card; a big marker pen. She brings in some glittery girly pens too that Dean would hate, but Sam will have to use them. It means Sam has to go without candy for two whole days to pay her for it, but Sam figures it’s worth it. She isn’t allowed candy; there’s no way Sam could buy the items Julie loans him. It’s a fair trade, Julie says.
Sam doesn’t get a minute alone without Dean being around or about to walk in. In the end Sam has to wait for Dean to fall asleep, then pull the art stuff out from under his bed and tiptoe out into the main living room to draw it.
Sam gets away with it the first night but the next night, he is happily working on the tions when Dad comes into the room.
“What are you doing, Sam? I thought you did all your homework.”
Sam hesitates, hiding the card with his arms. Telling Petra is one thing, but should he tell Dad? What if Dad can’t make it, and Dean finds out Sam told him? Dean will have his hide. Dad stomps over, pushing his hair out of his eyes and Sam feels bad. Maybe he woke him. Dad doesn’t get much sleep.
“It’s Dean,” Sam says. He gives in. He tells Dad when he wins something, Dad deserves to know Dean did. Besides, Dad always knows when Sam is lying. He knew Sam ate all the candy last Halloween, didn’t he?
“What about Dean?” Dad sits down next to Sam. He tries to get another look at Sam’s paper but Sam keeps firm hold of it. “Sam…”
“I found a letter - I wasn’t prying honest I wasn’t - that says he won the Regional Science Fair. One hundred bucks!”
Dad looks shocked, and Sam stares seriously at him. A big grin spreads over Dad’s face, then disappears quickly. “He won and didn’t tell us?”
“Yeah. I don’t get it either,” Sam shakes his head. “But he must be planning to go. It’s a LOT of money.”
Dad nods seriously, agreeing that it is a lot of money.
“I told Petra and she’ll come - I know he’ll want us there. Her mom can even drive us, ‘cause I figured Dean would borrow the Impala. Can you make it Dad? Can we go? I think we should go?” Sam gives Dad his best begging look, the one that always gets him to stay up and watch the movie, however grouchy Dad is being.
“When is it?” Dad asks slowly, and Sam knows he’s running through his current research in his head.
“Saturday at two.” Sam moves his arms and reveals his paper. “I’m making Dean a banner. Please say you can make it. Please!”
Dad shakes his head and rubs one hand with the other. He gets a serious expression and Sam worries that he’s about to say no. Then he spots the banner and pulls at it. Dad takes it and peers at it, like he does when he checks over Sam’s homework sometimes. His face seems sad, which worries Sam - maybe the banner isn’t very good.
“Dad...”
“This looks like a lot of work,” Dad says. He picks up the marker pen. “Let me give you a hand.”
*
Dean is subtle about it, telling Dad he wants to go check out a record store and needs the car. Dad quizzes Dean about the usual amount, but he pretends to be reading a book and waves Dean off.
As soon as the door shuts, Dad looks up at Sam. “Operation Ceremony, go!” Dad says.
Sam giggles and grabs his bag. He’s relieved the fair falls between Dad’s cases; life is always better when Dad is actually there, and not away or thinking about the hunt.
It doesn’t happen often enough for Sam.
It’s strange in the car with Petra and her mom and Sam and Dad. Dad chats politely with Petra’s mom about school and the local area and mortgage prices. She’s suspicious at first, Sam has heard that tone before, but Dad wears her down with tales of bad places they’ve lived. Soon she’s giggling a lot and cocking her head to one side, like Sam’s seen girls do with Dean.
Even Petra does it, though she doesn’t realize it.
Petra’s running fingers over the banner. Sam put extra glitter and stickers on, so there would be something for Petra to feel. She nudges Sam. “Seems great to me!”
Sam grins. “Good.”
They spot the Impala when they get there, parked near the exit so Dean can make a clean getaway. There are a few people going in, and Sam checks his watch. It’s about to start. They have to rush.
The four of them walk in and find seats at the back. “Can you see Dean?” Petra whispers.
Sam cranes his neck. Dean is sat in the front row, and he’s in a suit, which he must have changed into in the car. He’s staring at his hands and shifting in his seat. He looks really uncomfortable. “Front row.”
“Looks like he wishes he was anywhere but here?” Petra says.
Sam grins. “Something like that.”
The ceremony starts. There’s a big opening chat welcoming everybody and talking about how important science is and how hard everybody worked on their projects. Sam gives Petra a running commentary describing everybody. “Third prize, girl, short, big hair, glasses. Looks pi…annoyed that she didn’t win.” Petra giggles. “Second prize, guy, family look annoyed he didn’t win. They’re taking his photo. Dean better watch out they don’t take him out so they can have it.”
“And now our first prize winner, Dean Winchester!” Dean gets up out of his seat and shuffles along toward the stairs. Sam isn’t sure what to do.
Then Petra shouts out, “GO DEAN,” and Sam shouts, “WOO!” Then Dad stands up and cheers and claps loudly. Dean peers out, and Sam sees his face when he spots them. A big grin spreads over it, then Dean shakes his head and struts onto the stage, as if he belongs there.
Sam waves his banner and they all wave and shout some more, until the guy waves his hand to quiet them all down.
Dean is handed the check and poses for his picture. He pulls a face when they take it and everybody laughs.
*
They wait for Dean outside the building. He strides over to them, clutching a smaller envelope in his hand, which is weird, ‘cause Sam assumed he got to take away the really big check he posed with.
“Hey guys,” Dean says. “What'd you do, trail me here?” Dean’s eyes go straight to Sam and Sam shuffles his feet. He’s gonna have to admit to prying through Dean’s stuff.
“The school called and informed me,” Dad says. Sam lifts his head. Dad’s face is all serious. He’s totally covering for Sam. “We thought we’d let you pretend not to tell us.”
Dean shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. Not important.”
“It is important,” Petra says. She reaches out and touches Dean’s arm. “We’re all really proud. Congratulations!” She pulls him into a hug and he hugs her awkwardly, pulling back and rubbing the back of his head. Then Petra’s mom hugs him too, then Dad claps him on the back.
Sam’s last. “School told Dad, eh?” Dean says.
Sam meets his eye. “Absolutely.” He reaches up and hugs Dean. Dean even hugs him back, doesn’t tell Sam they’re too old for that or anything. “Dean, what did you win it for, they never said?”
“Oh, I built a hovercraft. Kinda.” Dean says.
“Like in Back to the Future? The second one, I mean?” Sam says. He bounces up and down on his feet. A hovercraft!
Dean grins. “Exactly like in Back to the Future.”
They all walk over to the car. Sam has to ask Dean one last thing. It will bug him forever if he doesn’t.
“Dean?”
“Yeah Sammy?” Dean stops with his hand on the car door.
“Do you get to keep the project?”
**
I found the hovercraft project on this site:
link to external site
And figured it was suitable for Dean to make.
So...my brain feels all stretched thin, heh! All comments welcome.
A present! And yeah. MiniNano is taking all my energy but... I hope you like this wee gifty!
Title: Scientific Surprise
Rating: Gen
Pairing:Dean/Petra (But it's really a Sam story)
No warnings.
Summary: Sam discovers that Dean has won the Regional Science Fair, but didn’t tell anyone. He resolves to go to the ceremony. With a guest appearance by Petra, for wenchpixie requested it.
Thanks to embroiderama for the beta. HUG.
Sam pauses near Dean’s desk and hears Dean’s voice in his head, telling Sam not to go through his stuff when he’s not there. Sam breaks one tiny car part and will never be forgiven. Dean shouldn’t have had it inside anyway - Dad told him so.
Which just made Dean more angry with Sam, even if it was in a quiet, door smashing, take self off driving kind of way.
This isn’t like Sam going through Dean’s stuff though, ‘cause Dean is the one that borrowed Sam’s calculator and Sam needs it back for his math. That’s all. He’s just reclaiming his own belonging.
Sam inches forward to the desk and touches a hand to a pile of messy papers. There. He’s crossed the invisible line Dean drew with his foot; no going back now. Sam peers interestedly at Dean’s school notes. They’re very untidy, not like Sam’s. Sometimes Dean’s drawn random things in the corner of the pages, played tic-tac-toe by himself or drawn stick men getting killed.
Sometimes Sam worries about Dean’s brain.
He rifles past the papers, gets his hand stuck on a half-melted candy and wipes it off on a t-shirt of Dean’s that is randomly in the pile.
Then Sam spots a letter with an official letterhead. He can see the words, “Congratulations, Dean Winchester on…” Then it cuts off, covered up by a music magazine that’s lying on top of it. Sam shouldn’t look, he knows that, but he crossed Dean’s invisible line already.
Besides, why hasn’t Dean told him about the letter?
Sam grasps the letter in his hand, pulls it out, and races back to his side of the room. That way if Dean and Dad get back early, he can hide it and put it back later. The letter is crumpled, like it’s been read and re-read and finally pushed underneath something, the corner bent over in the process.
Congratulations Dean Winchester, the letter reads, for taking first prize in the Regional Science Fair. Enclosed are the details for the Science Fair prize ceremony, where you will be able to collect your winning prize of one hundred dollars…
Sam swears that his eyes feel like they are bugging out. They must be on stalks, protruding out of his head. Dean won the Regional Science Fair. That means he must have won the local fair first, and Dean never mentioned that. A hundred bucks!
Sam wonders if Dean’s going to go. He can’t imagine Dean cares much about winning the fair, or surely he would have mentioned it? Sam’s heard Dean discussing money with Dad; Sam knows it’s tight. That 100 bucks won’t be lost because Dean doesn’t want to attend some stupid ceremony. Surely?
Sam can’t figure out why Dean hasn’t told him or Dad about it. Dean is weird sometimes.
The ceremony is on Saturday. Two days away. Sam frowns. He wants to go there to watch Dean. Dean came to see his play didn’t he? Dean came to see Sam play soccer didn’t he? Dad never made it to all those things, but Dean always did.
Sam gets why Dean didn’t tell them; that way he can’t be disappointed when Dad inevitably can’t make it. Sam will make it. Sam will be there to watch Dean.
He might need a little help from Dean’s friend though.
*
Sam knocks on Petra’s door, looking around him to make sure Dad and Dean aren’t driving up. He has to make this quick. If they catch him with a window a crack open he gets lectured by both of them for a week; if he’s not even in the house…
A shiver runs through Sam. He doesn’t want to get into that much trouble. Though it hasn’t stopped him coming this far.
Petra’s mom opens the door. She looks surprised to see him. “Hello, Sam,” she says, and stands aside to let him in. She calls out for Petra but she’s walking into the kitchen already. Sam likes Petra’s house. Her mom and dad always seem to be there, and any time he has come over, her mom has fed him. Usually very yummy cookies; not quite as good as the ones Dean makes when Sam’s upset, but very yummy ones.
She pulls out a plate of chocolate chip and offers Sam one. Petra comes clipping into the room. She looks directly at Sam, and Sam wouldn’t say it to Dean, but sometimes that freaks him out. How does she know? Then he realizes how loudly he is chomping on the cookie.
“Hey Sam,” Petra says. She sounds puzzled. Sam guesses he’s not come over by himself much. She walks over to the table and Sam and her mom both watch silently as she feels for the seat and sits down.
Sam goes to sit next to her. “Hey Petra,” Sam says, swallowing the cookie. “Look I gotta be quick ‘cause Dean can’t catch me over here. He’ll be back any minute.”
“You can come here any time you like Sam, you know that.” Petra’s mom puts a glass of milk on the table in front of him. Sam takes a sip.
“Not s’posed to leave the house. They’re really strict about that. But I had to,” Sam leans forward, touches Petra’s arm so she’ll realize how important this is, “I had to for Dean, see.”
“Dean?” Petra frowns. “What’s up with Dean?”
“Nothing!” Sam pulls the letter out of his pocket. He nearly hands it to Petra then feels like an idiot. “That’s just it. He won first prize in the Regional Science Fair and didn’t tell anyone! Didn’t tell me anyway,” Sam peers at Petra. Her eyebrows are way up in her hair, so Sam figures she didn’t know either.
“Didn’t tell me,” Petra says. “I knew he won the one at school, they announced it, but he acted like it meant nothing, was no big deal. I didn’t realize that meant he moved into Regionals.”
“And won! A hundred bucks!” Sam tries to picture a hundred bucks but can’t, that’s how much money it is.
Petra’s mom comes over and gestures at the letter. Sam hands it to her. She purses her lips and scans it. “Ceremony this Saturday for him to collect it and have his photo taken for the paper. Sam, why wouldn’t Dean mention this to you? This is great.” Petra’s mom sounds surprised that Dean’s great. Sam can’t figure out why. She hands the letter back and Sam pushes it back into his pocket. He hears a car rumble in the distance and freezes. Luckily it draws past. Close.
Sam shakes his head. “Dean’s weird that way. I’d love it. Look, I think he’ll probably go, ‘cause…” Dad will probably get mad if he tells them it’s ‘cause they’re poor. “I just think he will. I thought maybe you could help me, Petra.”
Petra cocks her head toward her mom and back at Sam. “Of course, Sam, but I’m not sure how I can help you.”
“Help me get there maybe, and help me work out how to,” Sam stands up, “how to make it special for Dean. You know?”
Petra’s mom comes over to Sam. “I’ll drive you both. You can both go and see Dean get his prize.”
“Really, Mom?” Petra reaches out and touches her mom’s arm. “You sure?”
“Of course. I know, 'Can I go?' was going to be your next question.”
Petra smiles and Sam matches it.
“Great, thanks! Look, I have to go.” Sam inches toward the door again. He’s cutting it fine.
“Sam, maybe you could make a banner, like ‘Congratulations Dean’, or something,” Petra says. “I can’t really help with that, but that’d be fun. We’ll really embarrass him. Teach him a lesson for not telling us.” She winks at Sam.
Sam quickly goes and hugs her. It’s good to have someone to talk to about Dean. It’s good to have a friend they both have. “I’ll do that,” Sam says, and rushes out the door.
*
Making a banner without Dean realizing proves difficult. Sam manages to get Julie at school to bring in some art supplies- different colored card; a big marker pen. She brings in some glittery girly pens too that Dean would hate, but Sam will have to use them. It means Sam has to go without candy for two whole days to pay her for it, but Sam figures it’s worth it. She isn’t allowed candy; there’s no way Sam could buy the items Julie loans him. It’s a fair trade, Julie says.
Sam doesn’t get a minute alone without Dean being around or about to walk in. In the end Sam has to wait for Dean to fall asleep, then pull the art stuff out from under his bed and tiptoe out into the main living room to draw it.
Sam gets away with it the first night but the next night, he is happily working on the tions when Dad comes into the room.
“What are you doing, Sam? I thought you did all your homework.”
Sam hesitates, hiding the card with his arms. Telling Petra is one thing, but should he tell Dad? What if Dad can’t make it, and Dean finds out Sam told him? Dean will have his hide. Dad stomps over, pushing his hair out of his eyes and Sam feels bad. Maybe he woke him. Dad doesn’t get much sleep.
“It’s Dean,” Sam says. He gives in. He tells Dad when he wins something, Dad deserves to know Dean did. Besides, Dad always knows when Sam is lying. He knew Sam ate all the candy last Halloween, didn’t he?
“What about Dean?” Dad sits down next to Sam. He tries to get another look at Sam’s paper but Sam keeps firm hold of it. “Sam…”
“I found a letter - I wasn’t prying honest I wasn’t - that says he won the Regional Science Fair. One hundred bucks!”
Dad looks shocked, and Sam stares seriously at him. A big grin spreads over Dad’s face, then disappears quickly. “He won and didn’t tell us?”
“Yeah. I don’t get it either,” Sam shakes his head. “But he must be planning to go. It’s a LOT of money.”
Dad nods seriously, agreeing that it is a lot of money.
“I told Petra and she’ll come - I know he’ll want us there. Her mom can even drive us, ‘cause I figured Dean would borrow the Impala. Can you make it Dad? Can we go? I think we should go?” Sam gives Dad his best begging look, the one that always gets him to stay up and watch the movie, however grouchy Dad is being.
“When is it?” Dad asks slowly, and Sam knows he’s running through his current research in his head.
“Saturday at two.” Sam moves his arms and reveals his paper. “I’m making Dean a banner. Please say you can make it. Please!”
Dad shakes his head and rubs one hand with the other. He gets a serious expression and Sam worries that he’s about to say no. Then he spots the banner and pulls at it. Dad takes it and peers at it, like he does when he checks over Sam’s homework sometimes. His face seems sad, which worries Sam - maybe the banner isn’t very good.
“Dad...”
“This looks like a lot of work,” Dad says. He picks up the marker pen. “Let me give you a hand.”
*
Dean is subtle about it, telling Dad he wants to go check out a record store and needs the car. Dad quizzes Dean about the usual amount, but he pretends to be reading a book and waves Dean off.
As soon as the door shuts, Dad looks up at Sam. “Operation Ceremony, go!” Dad says.
Sam giggles and grabs his bag. He’s relieved the fair falls between Dad’s cases; life is always better when Dad is actually there, and not away or thinking about the hunt.
It doesn’t happen often enough for Sam.
It’s strange in the car with Petra and her mom and Sam and Dad. Dad chats politely with Petra’s mom about school and the local area and mortgage prices. She’s suspicious at first, Sam has heard that tone before, but Dad wears her down with tales of bad places they’ve lived. Soon she’s giggling a lot and cocking her head to one side, like Sam’s seen girls do with Dean.
Even Petra does it, though she doesn’t realize it.
Petra’s running fingers over the banner. Sam put extra glitter and stickers on, so there would be something for Petra to feel. She nudges Sam. “Seems great to me!”
Sam grins. “Good.”
They spot the Impala when they get there, parked near the exit so Dean can make a clean getaway. There are a few people going in, and Sam checks his watch. It’s about to start. They have to rush.
The four of them walk in and find seats at the back. “Can you see Dean?” Petra whispers.
Sam cranes his neck. Dean is sat in the front row, and he’s in a suit, which he must have changed into in the car. He’s staring at his hands and shifting in his seat. He looks really uncomfortable. “Front row.”
“Looks like he wishes he was anywhere but here?” Petra says.
Sam grins. “Something like that.”
The ceremony starts. There’s a big opening chat welcoming everybody and talking about how important science is and how hard everybody worked on their projects. Sam gives Petra a running commentary describing everybody. “Third prize, girl, short, big hair, glasses. Looks pi…annoyed that she didn’t win.” Petra giggles. “Second prize, guy, family look annoyed he didn’t win. They’re taking his photo. Dean better watch out they don’t take him out so they can have it.”
“And now our first prize winner, Dean Winchester!” Dean gets up out of his seat and shuffles along toward the stairs. Sam isn’t sure what to do.
Then Petra shouts out, “GO DEAN,” and Sam shouts, “WOO!” Then Dad stands up and cheers and claps loudly. Dean peers out, and Sam sees his face when he spots them. A big grin spreads over it, then Dean shakes his head and struts onto the stage, as if he belongs there.
Sam waves his banner and they all wave and shout some more, until the guy waves his hand to quiet them all down.
Dean is handed the check and poses for his picture. He pulls a face when they take it and everybody laughs.
*
They wait for Dean outside the building. He strides over to them, clutching a smaller envelope in his hand, which is weird, ‘cause Sam assumed he got to take away the really big check he posed with.
“Hey guys,” Dean says. “What'd you do, trail me here?” Dean’s eyes go straight to Sam and Sam shuffles his feet. He’s gonna have to admit to prying through Dean’s stuff.
“The school called and informed me,” Dad says. Sam lifts his head. Dad’s face is all serious. He’s totally covering for Sam. “We thought we’d let you pretend not to tell us.”
Dean shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. Not important.”
“It is important,” Petra says. She reaches out and touches Dean’s arm. “We’re all really proud. Congratulations!” She pulls him into a hug and he hugs her awkwardly, pulling back and rubbing the back of his head. Then Petra’s mom hugs him too, then Dad claps him on the back.
Sam’s last. “School told Dad, eh?” Dean says.
Sam meets his eye. “Absolutely.” He reaches up and hugs Dean. Dean even hugs him back, doesn’t tell Sam they’re too old for that or anything. “Dean, what did you win it for, they never said?”
“Oh, I built a hovercraft. Kinda.” Dean says.
“Like in Back to the Future? The second one, I mean?” Sam says. He bounces up and down on his feet. A hovercraft!
Dean grins. “Exactly like in Back to the Future.”
They all walk over to the car. Sam has to ask Dean one last thing. It will bug him forever if he doesn’t.
“Dean?”
“Yeah Sammy?” Dean stops with his hand on the car door.
“Do you get to keep the project?”
**
I found the hovercraft project on this site:
link to external site
And figured it was suitable for Dean to make.
So...my brain feels all stretched thin, heh! All comments welcome.