babybrotherdean:

Even underground, it’s hard to miss the faint sound of fireworks going off in the town nearby. Dean listens with one ear and a faint smile on his face, a beer held loosely between his fingers. They don’t have much of a celebration planned for themselves this year, but it’s still nice to know that other people are having fun.

Sam sits opposite him at the table, and his expression matches Dean’s. They’ve got some fond memories of the Fourth, and- hell. Memories are all they can focus on, when things get bad.

“You know,” Dean says absently, glancing from his brother up towards the door, “we could probably see ‘em if we head up onto the hill.”

The smile on Sam’s face says he likes that idea just fine, so the two of them pull their boots on and head out.

The sun has already set, and sure enough, when they get to the top of the little hill that hides the bunker from the world- yeah. Yeah, they’ve got one hell of a view of the fireworks going off a few miles away. Brilliant bursts of red, white, and blue, just like when they were kids.

The two of them sit down together, right there in the grass, each still holding their beer as they settle down. They don’t speak, content to just watch the show with their knees brushing together and the night sky overhead. It’s a good one, too; clear and full of stars. Perfect.

“Maybe we can do our own next year,” Sam says, absent. Dean looks towards him and watches the way the distant fireworks illuminate his features. “For old time’s sake.”

Dean shifts minutely until he’s properly resting against his brother’s side, lifting an arm to curl around Sam’s shoulders. Sam doesn’t fit there quite as well as he used to, but it still feels right. Like they’re always meant to be this way, no matter how much they grow or what they might go through.

“Yeah,” Dean says, and he’s smiling again. “I’d like that.”

They stay out until the fireworks are over, and then a little longer after that. Today has always held a special meaning for them, and Dean doesn’t see any sense in cutting it short.

Besides, it’s nice to just take a moment and breathe every now and again. He thinks they’ve earned it.

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