{ @improudofyousammy tracked a quest from the dms! }
Sam had been driving for nonstop for hours, regardless of when the sun went down. Regardless of when it came back up. Regardless of when and if Dean ever told him to stop--can''t recall if he had. Nothing would get between him and shredding as much asphalt as possible--at least, on the interstate. He'd slow down in towns no matter how much it made his nerves itch.
Dad was gone. Jessica was gone. Just when Sam thought he could actually have both. When he thought he was better than whatever their parents had gone through. Maybe that hubris was his first mistake, and why he'd left dad and Dean to their own devices for a year?
As it replayed in his head, Sam recalled that final day after years with their dad's grief. When he decided college was better than a death wish. When he dreamed of law school and a marriage. He hadn't even planned to tell Jessica if it weren't for that teen wolf mishap--and maybe Jessica wouldn't be--
As the streetlights started to blur and fade into each other, Sam finally made the decision to stop. He hadn't talked much to Dean on the way. Only a few "I'm sorry"'s and "I'll explain when we stop" and what he didn't say about just needing to get as far away as possible from that damn warehouse and that damn demon.
He would explain. He would. When they stop, and they do. It's some dolphin motel on the crack side of a nowhere town, but it's quiet, and it'll do. Motels are no stranger to the Winchesters, but they would have one less of their numbers this night.
... Well, not one less. Just a different person. A younger brother.
Sam jiggles the motel card into the lock and pushes open the door, kicking up a little dirt in the process but opening to an expectantly cleanish two-bedder. Dad always asked for the discount rooms, sometimes they had 'em to save money, especially the motel beaters on the side of the highway.
Sam wouldn't do that to them, though. Normally clean rooms. With normally working water. And free wi-fi. Always wi-fi. Continental breakfast, too. Even in his drowsy state, they need a refuel--an actual refuel now that Sam's got the driving out of his system and refueled the literal and metaphorical tank.
"Alright, alright--look, I have... You first. Y'know what, you first. Say. What you need to say and we'll go from there."
Because Sam doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know what to say and Dean doesn't need to know that.
