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They’re digging through a house for clues when Dean lifts the book, tilting it towards Sam.
“Didn’t you used to read these?” he asks, and Sam squints at the cover before recognition crosses his face and he pulls it out of his brother’s hands.
“Man, I haven’t thought about these books in years,” he says, and flips through the pages, eyes skimming the worn words. Dean watches, amused.
“Yeah, you used to devour those,” he recalls, and Sam looks up at him, listening. “I had a hell of a time gettin’ the last two- stumbled on ‘em at a garage sale for like two bucks each.”
Dean’s smile is fond in remembrance, and Sam’s own mouth tugs upwards.
“Think you spent that whole weekend just sitting in the backseat reading,” Dean shakes his head, eyes crinkling in the corners. “Still don’t get it. It’s about like- cats, isn’t it?”
Sam rolls his eyes, and holds the book up. “Listen. Firestar is a great character, okay? Really relatable.”
Dean arches an eyebrow. “He’s a fuckin’ cat, Sammy.”
“He’s a leader!” Sam argues, and Dean just snorts, shaking his head. “Listen, don’t slander the Warrior cat series. You never even read them.”
“I tried the first one. Wasn’t for me,” he shrugs a shoulder, and Sam sets the book down on a nearby desk. “Made you happy, though. Should’a seen your face when I brought that first one back from the library- thought you were gonna vibrate out of the car.”
Sam chuckles, reliving the memory himself- Dean, slapping the book into his hands as John pulled away from the curb, eyes straight ahead. Sam, staring at the forest green cover in awe, flipping to the first page and scanning the printed words. The joy he’d felt at knowing his big brother had looked at something and thought of him.
“Think they’ll miss it?” Sam asks, and Dean shakes his head, turning his flashlight towards the door.
“Nah. Relive the glory days, Sammy,” he says over his shoulder. “Be the cat your heart desires.”
“Oh fuck you,” Sam says, laughing, but pocketing the book within his jacket and going to follow Dean into the next room, his older brother’s own chuckle echoing in the hollow space.