Sam leaned back against the smooth bark of the tree, one long leg stretched in front of him. The other bent at the knee slightly. He enjoyed the slant of sunlight that hit his face, until it moved and shone in his eyes. He squinted and moved his head sideways, listening to the thread of the conversation around him. The study group had taken a turn into philosophical debate.

Grayden narrowed his eyes. "I'm not certain why ontological categorization has anything to do with the argument."

"Well," Sam rebutted quietly. "Ontology has a lot more uses than Renee Des Cartes and the question of self. There's practical applications too."

Dean Winchester made his way into the park, creating a ripple around him, as though someone had dropped a sharp edged rock into a still pond. Everything about him, from the popped collar of his leather jacket to the ragged jeans and biker boots said 'bad ass' loud and clear. Curious eyes tracked him as he prowled past with a loose-hipped, cocky swagger.

He dropped down onto his ass at the edge of the group of students and looked around, an easy grin on his face.

Sam felt the abrupt change in the atmosphere surrounding them and looked up. He broke off from his argument with a startled. "D.. Dean!?" His posture tensed as if he were going to stand up. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Sam-my." The deep, affable bellow cut through the quiet conversation.

Sam's reaction was automatic. "It's Sam."

"Dude!" Dean raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Is that any way to greet your long lost brother?"

Sam pulled himself to his feet and stepped out of the circle.

"Sam..." A well-groomed male turned around with an air of disdain to get a better look. "Who is this? You know him?"

There was an audible whisper of surprise among a couple of the students. "Did you know Sam had a brother?"

Dean's grin slipped slightly, a hint of tension stretching it tight. He stayed seated on the floor, cross-legged, waiting for Sam's next move.

"Dean." Sam ran a hand through his hair nervously and looked around, uncomfortable at the disturbance they'd caused. "What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd say hi to my little brother and his... friends." Dean directed a cheeky grin and a wink at the curvy blonde opposite him.

"Oh, you didn't say you were...umm." Sam edged along the outside of the circle.

"Jeez, am I making people uncomfortable here... I walk in on something important?" The goofy smile Dean directed around the group was deliberately non-confrontational.

"We're just studying...but you're here now..." Sam gestured with his head to signal Dean to get away from group. "So, I guess I can stop for a while." He sent him a conciliatory smile.

Dean raised an expressive eyebrow. "Kind of you, Sam," he drawled. "Being as I spent two days driving to get here."

A shade of guilt passed over Sam's face as he grew aware that his greeting had been less than warm. "I didn't expect you, that's all."

Dean's tone was deceptively mild. "Do I need an appointment now?"

The younger Winchester huffed miserably and shook his head. "Of course you don't need an appointment, Dean."

"You're not so good at answering your texts, so I figured I'd swing by. Got a coupla days off."

Sam shot a nervous glance around the group, hoping they hadn't heard. "My phone is acting up..."

His brother watched him from his spot on the lawn. "You gonna introduce me?"

"Ummm yeah, of course." Sam took a deep breath and ran through the names of the people in the group impossibly fast. Too fast for Dean to remember, even if he'd taken the time to care. "Umm, everyone, this is my brother, Dean."

"You never mentioned a brother, Sam." Grayden pressed.

"Hey." The affable grin was back. "Whatchya studyin'?"

"lt's complicated." Sam replied. "Academic. You'd be bored out of your mind."

Dean kept his expression neutral with some difficulty, trying to pass it off as a joke. "I'm his secret brother. He likes to lock me in the attic and only take me out at night." No-one smiled. A note of bitterness entered Dean's voice. "Right, of course I wouldn't be. I mean what do I know about academics?"

"It's not that...it's just not your thing, right?"

"I dunno; I like to study anatomy." Dean's eye contact with the blonde was a blatant flirt. The blonde blushed a little at the innuendo. Dean sent her an appreciative smile.

"Dean!" Sam warned sharply. Then recovered, changed the subject. "Hey man, how about we go and get some coffee, huh?"

"Coffee? Yeah. Sure." He rose with fluid ease and brushed off the seat of his pants.

Sam tucked his chin, hiding behind his mop of bangs. Suddenly small and withdrawn. He lifted a hand to group. "Umm, I'll see you later guys." His turned and walked away.

Dean matched the long strides, reaching up to pull Sam under his arm in an affectionate, rough, half- hug. He ruffled his hair. "How are ya?"

"Dean," Sam pulled away, glanced behind him a little self consciously before he turned to face him. "I'm fine. What's wrong?"

"Nothin'." Sam's embarrassment was obvious; Dean glanced back quickly at the group. "Stuffy bunch, huh?"

Sam shrugged. "They're nice. You just need to get to know them." He looked at his brother's face, picked up the weariness behind the smile. "What's up? You wouldn't just turn up without...?" He felt a weird little stab of anxiety in his gut. "Is everything okay?"

"Seem like a stuffy bunch. Except that blonde. Fine piece of tail there. You getting some college tail up here, Sammy?" Dean jostled him in a good-natured way.

"Be quiet. They'll hear you!"

His brother ignored him. "These girls, man..."

"...Are out of your league, Dean." He responded flatly.

Dean pulled up short, a look of astonishment on his face. "Excuse me? No one's outta my league."

Sam kept going. "These girls are. About two million bucks out."

"Professional player here." A waggle of the eyebrow accompanied his rakish grin as he jogged to catch up with Sam's long legs. "They all like a little bad boy, Sammy."

Sam's lips tightened. "If you want to chase rich girls Dean, do it somewhere else. Not where I'm left to clean up your mess."

"Easy." Dean's pace slowed a little. "Easy. Jeez."

"I'm trying to make this work, man." Please don't fuck it up for me, he left unspoken.

"This place has put a stick up your ass." Some of the fun had gone out of the moment.

Sam looked genuinely hurt for a minute. "Why is it so hard for you to see I'm happy here?"

"This is happy?" Dean gazed around, taking in the manicured lawns, the quiet groups of young people.

"Yeah." Sam replied, taking in the calm and quiet. "Yes, this is happy. This is a good place, good people. I can make something of myself here."

"Gotta watch every word you say, every step you take? That's your idea of joy." Dean shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry man, I don't get it."

"You wouldn't. Just accept it's the right choice for me. Can you do that?"

A little frown creased the skin between Dean's eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean? I wouldn't?"

Sam let out an exasperated sigh. "We like different things that's all." He fell silent for a minute. "So why ARE you here, Dean?"

The frown spread a little. "I need a reason?"

"No." Sam said with a small bite to the tone. "You usually have one though." He went quiet, still walking.

Dean dropped his chin, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

The worried crease of Sam's eyebrows formed again. "Is everything okay, man?"

"You look good, dude." Dean flicked a quick glance in his direction.

The boyish face broke into a smile. So like a peek of sun behind clouds, Sam's smile. "Uh thanks. You too." He looked over his sibling, really checking. Taking in the stress lines in Dean's eyes and his walk. The slight scuffs on the back of his neck. The bit of shadow that looked like he hadn't shaved in a few days.

His brother recognized the scrutiny for what it was. "Sam, everything's fine. Wanted to see you."

"You just finished a hunt?"

"Yeah. Yeah, nasty bastard down in New Orleans." Dean kept his eyes down, the words carefully guarded.

"Huh?" Sam eyed him carefully, gauging the response. "Get him?"

"Yeah." Dean scrubbed his hands over his stubble. "Got him."

Sam's voice went into concerned mode. "Are you sure you're okay dude. You look kinda... tired?"

"Am tired. Just drove two days, Sammy."

"Oh yeah, you said." Sam cleared his throat, suddenly a little awkward. "So... what brought you up this way? You heading somewhere?"

The answer was quiet. "Nah. Wanted to see you." The green eyes watched Sam intently. "That so hard to believe?"

Sam shook his head. "It's good to see you. Just didn't expect it, that's all."

"Nice surprise, I hope?"

"Yeah." A grin broke across Sam's face, forming his dimples. "Let's get that coffee?"

"Sure." Dean paused, swallowed. "Time to get outta Dad's hair for a few days."

Sam scowled at the name. "You're okay, right? He's not...?"

"He's not what?"

Sam scuffed his shoe. "You know... not getting in your face too much?"

Dean huffed. "Oh. That. Well he has his moments. But mostly we're good."

"Good, yeah, that's good. So umm, how long you staying for?"

Dean shrugged. "Dunno. Hoping to crash on your couch for a few days? Wait... do you have a couch?"

"Uh," Sam seemed a little taken aback by the declaration. "Yeah I've got a couch... it's just I'm kinda busy, you know, studying... and my course load is like stupid difficult this semester. "

Dean brushed the flimsy excuse aside, his jaw a little tight. "That's okay. You don't have to entertain me that much. I can find stuff to do."

"Don't want you to be bored..." he trailed off. "What stuff?" Another unspoken accusation that whatever Dean decided to do- it better not include one of his classmates.

His brother stared around, eyes wide. "This place is real fancy. I always forget until I'm up here."

"Yes. Yes it is."

Sam was clearly still waiting for a response. Dean shrugged again. "I dunno. Watch TV. Grab a drink at a bar. Stuff."

"Right. There's not that much to do here, actually."

Dean watched a girl pass, appreciation on his face. "Seems like a lot of things to do here."

"Can you get your mind out of the gutter for a minute, and tell me why you're here?"

Dean whistled softly. "Sam, if you are not bangin' one of these girls, I'm going to be very disappointed in you."

"Dean!" Sam snapped. "Why are you HERE! It's been months. You don't just turn up, out of the blue."

"You know what?" Dean spun on his heel to face his brother, anger flaring on his face. "You obviously don't want me here. I'm sorry I stopped by."

"What!" Sam's expression betrayed his horror. "I didn't say that! Of course I'm pleased to see you, it's just... it's not like you..." he softened. "You can stay for a bit man, I was just worried that's all."

Dean waved him off. "Don't wanna hear it." He was already heading across the grass to the gleaming bulk of the Impala.

"Dean! Hey hold on! Don't do that!"

His brother halted. "Do what?"

"Come walking in, and then just walk out again! I'm just surprised is all."

"Look... I can take a hint. You don't want me here." Dean inclined his head in the direction of the park. "You're embarrassed to even have your friends see me. I get it Sam. It's fine." He fished in his pocket for his keys, trying and failing to hide the hurt on his face.

"It's not that!" Sam took Dean's arm. "Come on man, I'll show you the couch." He ducked his head and looked from under his bangs. "Maybe we can have a few beers later, huh?"

Dean stared at him, evaluating the situation. His voice was suddenly weary. "If you don't want me here, just say it, okay?"

Sam's eyebrows knit together. "Course I want to see you, man." He gave him the puppy eyes. "C'mon."

Dean's shoulders seemed to sag. "I'm real tired. I'll just crash for a few hours, if that's okay, dude?"

Sam saw the vulnerability. "Of course it's okay, come on."

"You still living on campus, or do you have a different place?" Dean looked suddenly small, lost somehow, bundled up in his layers of clothing and leather jacket.

Sam kept his hand on his brother's arm. "Got an apartment now, just round the block. It's not much, but my own space you know..." He smiled, a touch of pride lighting his eyes.

"You got a room mate?"

Sam nodded, noted that Dean seemed a little shaky. "Just the one, but he won't be back until tomorrow. You can crash as long as you want, dude. Really."

"'Kay. Thanks." Long fingers stuttered through the spiky hair. "Could use it." With the earlier façade of affability now completely erased, the lines of fatigue on Dean's face were clearly visible. "New Orleans didn't go so well." That admission alone set alarm bells ringing.

Sam gave a worried frown. "Are you hurt?"

"Nah. Nothing too bad. Little busted-up."

"You'd tell me, right?" Sam pressed.

"Sure." Dean sighed, suddenly exhausted beyond belief.

TBC...Please drop a review and feed the hungry fic writers. :)