[MM] Unknown quote

[Set in Warm Gun. Alec is smart_alec494 and used with permission from his mun who made a request for Dean and Alec future fic with the prompt “honesty.”]

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”

“Can I ask you something? And I want an honest answer, not just some the sugar coated version.”

Dean shifted on his bed so that he was looking at his brother more, propping himself up on his elbows. Sam was downstairs with Bobby, and Alec and Dean were alone with each other. It was one of the first times that had happened since Sam had come back, and while he wanted to spend some quality time with his brother, he wasn’t sure he wanted it to be a serious question. “Sure, dude. What’s up?”

“Do you know why Sam thought you were going to send him back to Hell?”

That actually really wasn’t the question that Dean wanted to answer. At all. In fact, he just wanted to move on from the whole Sam situation and focus on tracking down Ruby and ganking the bitch, but he did say he would give him a direct answer, and he honored his promises to his family. At least most of them.

“It’s something he probably doesn’t even remember,” Dean said with a bit of a snort. “I mean, he remembers the feelings but he doesn’t remember the words, or hell, even why for that matter.” He was wondering if he could get off with just that, but the look Alec was giving him meant he wanted to know the why of the why. He took a deep breath, before closing his eyes. “I promised my dad that if Sam ever went evil, I’d kill him. And then I promised Sam the same thing.”

“Seriously?” He forced himself to meet Alec’s eyes, and Alec sat back a bit, considering that for a moment. “Why—our dad first, then Sam.”

( *** )

909 words

[indiana] In which Dean tries to reconnect.

This was a door Dean thought he'd never knock on again.

It wasn't that he never thought about going back to Cicero to see Lisa and Ben. In fact, he had thought about it so many times he was surprised that he didn't do it, but given that they got Olivia so soon after things ended with Lucifer, he never had the time. He wasn't going to leave Sam hanging out to dry with a little girl, not if something big decided to come back and bite them in the ass, and not for someone he wasn't even sure wanted to see him.

Sure, she said he was welcome to stay, but she could have just been saying that to be polite. He did just save their lives after all, and he had already said he had to go. Besides, he would have just been the guy in the way. Ben wasn't his kid, and he deserved to have a father that wasn't going to drop dead in eight months.

Regardless, he was here now, and it was taking him a minute to actually get up the nerve to knock on the door. Even though he had a direct invitiation, even though he had a place there, he was still not sure that this was what he should be doing. Now, it too late for Ben to need a father, and he wanted to see Lisa, for what? For kicks? For that weekend with "Gumby Girl" that he never got all those years ago?

But he already said he was coming, and she was already expecting him. Now, all he had to do was knock. And he did.