Lessons In Hugging

This is one of my old Supernatural fanfics, previously posted on fanfiction.net. It's been tweaked a bit, after I decided to post it here.

When Sam Winchester walked into the small motel room, and saw his big brother’s arms around the slightly-shorter angel’s body, he didn’t know what to think. Many scenarios ran through his reeling mind. The foremost, of course, being that Dean and Castiel had a relationship that not even Sam understood. They seemed to get each other on a level that no one else did, and often had entire conversations without speaking a word. Sam thought about all the too-long looks that the two shared, and all the times that Castiel invaded Dean’s personal space. He thought back to when they’d first become aware of the angel, and how he would only appear when Sam wasn’t around; would only communicate with Dean.

Sam thought about the other angels sending Castiel back to heaven to “re-indoctrinate” him, because of his growing affection for Dean. He thought about Castiel telling Dean in the hospital that he had killed two of his ‘brothers’, rebelled from heaven … all for him.

Sam stood frozen in the doorway, watching Castiel slowly raise his hands up to hold onto Dean’s back, and his mind went over all the more-intimate interaction the two had shared - the ones that he was aware of.

Really, he supposed, I shouldn’t be that surprised. After all the people who assumed Dean and I were gay … and how I mentioned that they probably thought he was overcompensating for something? Maybe he was. I hope he’s not worried about me freaking out about it. I wasn’t supposed to be back for another fifteen minutes, anyway. Oh, man, he probably thinks he has to hide it from me. Dammit, we’re brothers … he should know he can tell me anything, and I would accept him just the way he was. And falling for an angel? A completely holy, and pure being …? I mean, it gives a whole new meaning to opposites attract. But Cas would be good for him … bring him back from everything that happened to him in hell.

Sam sighed internally, looking at the two with fond eyes. They really did look good together. He opened his mouth to speak, to let them know that he was there, and that they didn’t have to stop on his account. He could watch TV, or listen to some music … maybe even leave the room for a bit, if they wanted some alone time. Before he got the chance, however, the two broke apart, and Dean spoke.

“Okay, so that’s a hug,” he told the angel. “Simple, short … you don’t have to do it to everyone you meet. But, it’s a little more personal than a handshake. Does that help you understand it more?”

Castiel nodded, dropping his own hands away from the hunter, and taking a half-step backwards. “Yes, it does. Thank you for assisting me with that. I was merely curious.”

Dean shrugged, turning back to his forgotten sandwich as he flopped down on the bed again. “No sweat.”

Sam blinked, surprise settling within him as he gained a new perspective of the scene before him.

“Hey, Sammy,” Dean greeted, when he noticed his little brother. “Did you get the pie?”

Sam held up the bag after a moment, speechless. Well … okay then. So, I may have misjudged that a little bit.