Archive of Our Own

"So darlin', darlin' stand..by me
oh stand now..stand by me"

Dean hummed to the song on the motel radio alarm clock as droplets of sweat continuously cascaded down his forehead and temple.

"Dean, it's way too hot,” Sam whined. “There's not even a pool. Who builds a motel in a place where every summer it reaches 118° and doesn’t even add a pool? I need another coke." Sam wiped sweat from his face for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

His shirt was already soaked through and sticking to his chest. Both of them were sitting on the rinky dink motel beds and the tv had just cut out. Dean was finished with the list of interviews John had asked him to conduct and Sam had completed the list of phone calls he'd given him to make.

Burney Falls was a tiny town at the northern end of the famed Sierra Nevada range in California, a good three to four hours north of Lake Tahoe. Elevation: 3,195 feet above sea level. Population: 3,000. The current temperature: 112° at nine am and forecasted to go up from there.

"Alright, c'mon. I'm not sitting in a pool of my own swamp ass. Dad's got that jeep he rented, let's go check the place out."

Putting up zero fuss, Sam was out the door and in Baby before Dean could even grab a few sundries. At least their car had a semi decent A/C system. Dean pulled in the Safeway supermarket, grabbing something for lunch. With shades, sunblock,and towels in the trunk, they had their lunches and were back on the main highway in no time.

Suddenly, Dean pulled off onto Bridge Way, slowing Baby to a crawl. Once they cleared the trees, the landscape opened up to the tributary of Burney Creek which widened into the Pitt River. This particularly sharp bend where they'd stopped, revealed a thriving watershed below an aged railroad trestle bridge.

Sam looked like he was hit by a little deja-vu. "What is this place? Looks kinda familiar."

"It better be, Bitch," Dean smiled, enjoying Sam's gears turning.

Closing his eyes, Sam muttered aloud. "I'm seeing some boys, an argument, the whole story was angsty as Hell. They were running from something. Damn!"

Dean abruptly broke out into song.

"When the night, has come
And the land is dark, and the moon
Is the only light we'll see
I won't be afraid, Oh I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me"

"No way! This is where they filmed 'Stand by Me'?!" Sam shrieked.

Dean chortled and got out of the car, prompting Sam to do the same. "Don't get all fanboy on me now. You'll ruin your rep. But yeah, this is the trestle where they tried outrunning the train."

"Sweet."

His brother's enthusiasm at the infamous spot made Dean's heart flutter. He loved making Sam happy. That unbridled smile of Sam's sent him to the moon.

They walked over the large pebbles and rocks to the bend in the Pitt river, just listening to its soothing flow for a time. Sam started taking his shoes off but Dean put the kibosh on that.

"Not yet, Sammy. There's another place that looks pretty cool just down the road. We can probably go for a swim too."

"Alright," Sam easily agreed and tied his shoe back up. He took one last look at the trestle bridge and the healthy flow of the river below it before climbing back into Baby.

"Dad say when he'd be back?"

Dean filled Sam in on what he had been told. "Dad says he's talking to the Achawami tribal leaders and other members of the Pitt River band of tribes in the area, then he's meeting up with some deer hunters to hear about what they've seen. So who knows. I left a note."

Sam shook his head, but Dean didn't want to hear it. "Don't start, alright? I know I'm probably gonna get my ass chewed for us not staying put all damn day in that inferno of a motel room, but can we please not think about Dad while we're out, for once?"

Sam sighed in resignation. "Yeah, fine."

Carefully backing out so as to not kick up a shit ton of gravel and rock, Dean got them back onto Highway 89 and soon after, pulled them into Burney-McArthur State Park. For mid August, the lot should have been packed, but when stepping out of the car it was clear why there weren't many people loitering around.

The heat smacked them both in the face like they'd literally opened an oven door to check on a batch of cookies. Dean skin tingled, as if feeling himself get a sunburnt hyper fast. He walked up to the ranger’s booth, paid the park entry fee, and was given a map.

"Let's hit the gift shop first, Sammy. Says there's ice cream in there," Dean suggested, heading over to a cluster of buildings.

~•~

"Oh man, this bubble gum flavored dairy free shaved ice so hits the spot. How's yours?" Dean asked as they walked out of the over priced gift shop that he thought had some cool stuff.

"It's awesome," Sam smiled, a little butterscotch ice cream dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Dean wanted to lick it away, but like hell was that happening. Thankfully, he'd grabbed a few napkins on their way out, because both of their treats were rapidly melting in the infernal heat. They licked and slurped as quickly as they possibly could before finishing and found the Lake nearby.

That was where everyone had set up. The park's campers at least, were littering the beach with their umbrellas, coolers, towels, dogs and..Dean just wasn't in the mood for a crowd.

"Wanna check out the Falls? Supposed to be a quick and easy hike."

"Yeah, let's do it. Maybe there'll be more shade too," Sam readily agreed.

The hike took less than the usual forty five minutes, given the decrease in foot traffic, and it was reaching almost noon. Once reaching the top of the falls, they stood at the handrail, surveying all the beauty which lay before them.

Birds were chirping and singing and the constant splash of the pool was soothing. Chipmunks darted to and fro, in their tireless pursuit of winter food stores while deer casually roamed in the shade of surrounding pines.

They ate lunch along the path back down, which was relatively empty. The last part of their visit was Dean's favorite because it felt like the kind of place where if life's frustrations threatened to get the better of him, he could go back in his mind to this place and instantly feel still and calm. The massive boulder looking out onto the pool of Burney Falls was cool from its spray and served as an excellent spot to comfortably lounge near the pools rippling wake.

The boulders smoothness beneath him was refreshing as well as mist from the falls kissing his face under a perfect sky. The dreamy shade of cornflowers above them was heaven, as was the breeze winding through the stunning arboreal cover, cooling his perspiring skin. The smell of water and crisp pines filled with birds laughing at tourists and all their crazy get up relaxed Dean more than he had been for eons.

No matter what happened from here on out, Sam was beside him, sharing that smooth, wet boulder and that stunning sky which stretched on forever. Dean lost track of time, of how long they'd been sitting there, soaking up the serenity seeping into their souls, healing them. The place was breathtaking, but having Sam with him, was what made it perfect. 

A woodpecker was hard at work somewhere nearby. His hammering would pull Dean away from full reverie, yet he didn't mind. Here, it required little effort to completely lose oneself in the peaceful environment and yet, it reminded him of Sam's proximity. Of how he daydreamed, staring at the pool reflecting so beautifully in his hazel eyes.

Sounds of the bird’s indomitable work ethic were heavy ellipses hanging in the air. A plethora of words begging to be spoken. Heard. Accepted. Yet, Dean wouldn't allow them to come forth. The day was perfect. The brother, parent, and yes, even crush, in him reveled in the day’s perfection, just as it was.

His Sammy was with him. His sun kissed, beautifully innocent smile shone back. His laugh was music to Dean's ears as he stood on the boulder and launched himself into the refreshing pool. Dean was mesmerized by how each time his moppish brown head of hair breached the pool’s surface, he'd whip it to his left and beam back at him invitingly.

The tightly coiled muscles in Dean's shoulders relaxed, infinitesimally. He nodded, his expression that of deep gratitude for the ability to cast off a few of the weighty stones he typically carried. Exhaling deeply, his eyes held more emotion than the day would allow him to offload. Yet within them, was a strength and readiness to endure whatever was to come.

With a temporary, yet welcome lightness, he stood and leapt off the cool boulder. The pool which cradled his whacky landing was such a perfect temperature, he'd fully expected it to be too cold, as rivers often were. And yet, whatever the temperature, it felt just right.

"Not bad, Dean. This place is beautiful, seems like a hidden gem. It's prettier than even Niagara," Sammy insisted.

"Yeah, proof bigger ain't always better. I mean, Niagara is huge and it's cool to see. But you can't chill there like you can here. There's kind of..balance here, I guess. You can hear the other sounds of nature, not just waterf-...are there fish in here?"

What the hell just touched his leg? That did not feel like a fish. "I'm out. Think it’s a good time to chill right now."

Sam perched on the boulder beside him, eagerly taking the other half of his veggie sandwich on Dutch crunch bread Dean had ordered for him.

"Dad any closer to figuring out if it's a wendigo or skinwalker?" Sam wondered aloud, making conversation while they ate.

Only they would talk about violent flesh ripping monsters and not even be fazed in the middle of a meal.

"Skinwalker, he thinks. But he wants to get the tribe’s permission before we go tearing through the brush up here."

Sam nodded, "Fair," then he warned, "We should put on the sunblock we brought. Dad would flip if we both got sunburnt."

Knowing his brother was right, Dean fished the tube of white gooey lotion out and told Sam to turn around. Since when did his brother fill out so much, muscle wise? And when did he find the time to get so tan?

Sam was a health nut, Dean knew that. But he could also appreciate how beautiful he was becoming. He was gonna make someone pretty darn happy one of these days.

With that sense of pride, Dean felt and hoped that whomever Sam ended up dating would be good to him. Along with that pride came a sinking feeling in his gut, but he tried not thinking too much on it.

"Lemme get you," Sam insisted, holding his hand out for the lotion.

Dean easily turned around, feeling his brother's very thorough hands all over his own back. A chill rippled down his spine, despite the blazing heat of the day. Then an odd chortling sound reached his ears. At the edge of the boulder scurrying around, were two otters. They popped their heads up, peering at he and Sam. He and Sam peered right back.

"Sam, I can't even..they're just so..oh they're coming up," Dean quietly spoke.

"Otters, oh my God how cute. Hey little guys," Sam spoke even more softly, then offered them some chunks of leftover bread from their sandwiches.

"Hungry little dudes," Dean commented as they scurried right up, both politely waiting for Sam to lay the bread down.

"Friendly too."

Both noticed how quickly they scarfed down the bread and crumbs. Then before Sam and Dean knew what was happening the bold little otters crawled right on their laps and up to their faces. One squawked at Dean.

"What's he sayin'?"

Sam jovially replied, "I took Honors Latin, not Honors Otter."

Just then the otter on Dean's lap crept up to him cautiously and stood inches from his face, looking into his eyes. Soon, Dean felt a cold, webbed little hand on his cheek and then the otter let loose, warbling at him for nearly five minutes.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sam grin from ear to ear, then lean in close, almost placing his cheek against Dean's while getting a good look at the otter.

"Ow!" Sam abruptly shouted and jumped, scaring the little guy away. "This other one bit my toe!"

"Hmm, I might have an extra slice or two of salami on the other half of my sandwich. He's got to learn better taste than your toe."

Sam bumped his with shoulder on purpose and Dean punched his shoulder right back. When Sam stood, he stumbled towards the edge of the boulder and fell off, crashing into the water.

Dean snorted and got up, putting sunblock on his front. The sound of water displacement told him Sam had come up for air. When looking over at him to poke a little fun, the look on Sam's face shook him. He'd never seen such stars in the kids eyes and the fact he was making them at him, had Dean feeling all kinds of odd. So he launched himself off the rock and cannonballed the heck out of Sam.

They spent the rest of the scorching hot day in the waterfall’s pool, jumping and swimming around. Occasionally, the way Sam would smile at Dean, sent a level of peace throughout his entire being in a way he'd never known. Whenever Sam was standing on the boulder, Dean took in his tall frame, the curve of his chiseled back and how his wet cut off jeans clung to his waist.

Dean cared for Sam in a way which defied all reason. When that boy's smile spread across Sam's beautifully bronzed skin, Dean ached. For he knew there'd soon come a day when that particularly beautiful smile would beam at him for the last time. But for today, he loved every time it hit him with each cannonball launch into that incredibly deep pool, drenching his already wet body.

Eventually they packed it in and headed back to the motel. When John traipsed in with dinner in a large, greasy brown paper bag he looked at them and asked, "Rough day?"

They looked at each for a solid minute and smirked, before simultaneously replying, "Nah."

Three weeks later it happened. The worst night of Dean's life, consisting of a nuclear family blast which took a few years and some damn bizarre circumstances leading him to arrive outside Sam's home with a girl who meant the world to him. He stood outside, pacing for hours with his stomach in knots, certain his brother would turn him away.

But during those years where he gave Sam his space, he missed him so bad it felt like a crater had landed in his chest. The only thing Dean held onto that restored him to his sanity was that day in Burney, with the Stand By Me trestle bridge and the magical falls. The smiles from Sam that had his heart taking flight.

The memory of that cornflower sky they looked upon that day remained Dean's blue heaven, his only comfort until that night he came for Sammy with the news that their Dad had been on a hunting trip, and hadn't been home in a few days.