#blindsided!sam

Growing Pains by DarkHeartInTheSky [ @castielsdisciple on tumblr] Rating: T Word count: 25,500 Summary: After a botched witch hunt, Cas ends up an infant; it's strange to see their once all-powerful, indestructible friend so small, so helpless.It's even stranger to see Dean look at Cas like that--like he's cradling the whole world in his arms.Sam's trying to track down the witch, or find a cure, to get Cas back. But it's kind of difficult with all these intruding thoughts that never go away; the kind that make him step back and question everything he thought he knew of Dean and Cas's relationship.

Sometimes Cas can be a little shit but in this fic, it is literal. After a witch turns Cas into a baby, it is a race against time to - get baby Cas to the safety of the motel, get him diapers and formula, get Cas back to his adult state, find the witch, baby proof the bunker, vaccinate human baby Cas, and so on and so forth. The story is told from Sam’s POV and his lighthearted narration fluctuates between bewilderment at the whole situation (they can’t hunt with a baby in tow!) and an utter admiration of Dean’s proficiency in all things baby.

Fic where one character is deaged can be tricky, yet the author navigated these waters with ease. Dean is a nurturer at heart and it showed in his every interaction with baby Cas. His choice of an animal plushie for Cas made me gasp and nod in agreement at the same time. This fic is such a balm for a jaded shipper, I tell you. So much tenderness and love.  Add to all that a happy ending and some hard learned truths, and there’s no better fic to get the destiel warm fuzzies you deserve. (Oh, and Rowena’s cameo was also delightful!).

A DCBB 2018 fic 

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Suggested further reading (links go to our reviews)

Every Single Thing by thestoryinsideme - read it for much angstier take on deaaged Cas in a canonverse fic. Dean is still in a protective mood tho.

diamond star halo by jad - read it for lighthearted Sam’s POV at another unorthodox Dean/Cas situation in canon verse. 

Kung Fu Grip by 8sword - read it for deaged Dean in established relationship canon verse story, character study at it’s best.

sir this is a wendy's by noviembre Rating: Mature Word count: 40k

Dean is a custodian at a fast food restaurant. Cas is the President of the United States.

Dean and Cas meet when Cas (plus his aides and security entourage) crash Dean’s custodial job at Wendy’s, looking for a secure location to deal with some incredibly important, time-sensitive state business. 

Dean doesn’t even believe it’s happening at first - not until he catches sight of the President of the United States, striding across the Wendy’s floor he just mopped. And when Dean slips in a puddle, and Cas catches him, I dare you not to swoon right along with Dean.

Dean falls head over heels, and, while he pines enough to fill a (small) DC park before their first date, the main problem in their relationship is whether to take everything public. Cas is already out, so the homophobia is minimal, but that hardly means it will be smooth sailing.

Dean is wonderful as an overworked custodian/nurse who helps Sam pay for law school. Cas is equally delightful as a President who really cares about his people and making their lives better.

Noviembre took such an absurd premise and, instead of making it complete crack, wrote a engrossing, funny love story about two characters coming from the most different backgrounds imaginable.

It’s a Small World (aka the Worst Ride at Disneyland) by ireadhpinenochian Rating: Mature Word Count: 45k

Dean's life didn't start out great. With his mom dying and his father taking him and Sam on wild goose chase after wilder goose chase to track down her killer until Sam couldn't take it anymore and ran off, it pretty much sucked. But now he has Cas. And Cas is great--perfect, even--definitely the best thing that's ever happened to him, even if he isn't quite human. He's been living so long in domestic bliss that he completely forgot to be worried about waiting for the other shoe to drop. Which is, of course, when his giant of a brother strolls back into his life sending Dean into a panic that he and Cas will have to uproot their perfect apple pie life if Sam finds out Cas' big secret.

This story has so much to offer!

It’s got many lovely moments, many tense ones, and basically everything in between. The story has some heavy spots (which leave you with the strong urge to pull Dean into your arms to never let go while simultaneously wishing you could punch his father right in the face), so please mind the tags, but overall this fic is about family and what that really means.

What especially sticks out to me in this story is Dean and Castiel’s relationship. There is all the drama going on around them, but they stay strong and are just there for each other. They’re overall this old married couple we just always want them to see as: they bicker, they tease, they argue and they’re so stupidly sweet and soft with one another it makes your heart melt!

This is a follower submitted rec and, as such, we cannot guarantee that the tags are 100% accurate. From bulletin #170: 

Five Times Sam Didn’t Catch A Clue by twfftw [M, 5,100 word count]

recced by @alisajbrown

Similar anon ask:

can you recommend me some good fics with sam finding out?

Here are some to check out (some from our secret affair tag; some are hooking up and not dating):

Carry On Up This Broken Tide

FWB Verse

I’m yours ‘til they come

Leaves of Grass (unofficially recced here)

Metaphysical Gravity (I think…? I’m like 80% sure that happens in this fic.)

the open sky (is mine tonight)

Stockholm Syndrome

Through The Dark

Unexpected Destinies

Btw, adding this to our blindsided!sam tag even though it’s more “sam finds out" or “sam figures it out." We’re really trying to limit the number of tags we have/create.

Hmm…I can’t think of any offhand. Usually, he sees it and is like, “about damned time.” Maybe Good Things Do Happen (Jess points it out to Sam)…? When Play Turns Bitter has Sam walking in on Dean/OMC (Kurt…who you will love if you read this fic) and being like WTF? (But he’s then like, “I thought we’d be having this conversation about you and Cas…” and Dean’s all **mainpain**. So I guess that doesn’t really count…though it’s still really funny in that awkward kind of way.) The Girlfriend Experience has Sam walking in on Dean and Cas…but I can’t remember if he is surprised or just like, “ugh…I didn’t need to see that….” Oh, Sam…lol.

Can any of our followers think of any blindsided!Sam?