"Sam, I'm fine! We can go!" You started to attempt to get out of your hospital bed and Sam quickly reached out and put his hand on your arm.

"Stop," he said.

"But I'm fine! I'll prove it to you. Fight me!"

He stared at you, incredulous. "No," he said with a sigh.

"Why not?"

"Because we're in the hospital and you just had abdominal surgery."

You crossed your arms and pouted, falling back into the pillow and immediately wincing.

Sam stood up and shook his head, giving you a fond smile and adjusting the pillow behind your back. "I promise I'll fight you as soon as the doctor says it's okay."

"You're just scared I'll beat you..."

"S-Sam?"

He could hear the tremble in your voice. "I'm right here. It's okay. I think the power surge blew something..."

"I—I know it's stupid but... I'm not a big a fan of the dark."

"After what you've been through, that makes perfect sense," his voice came from somewhere close by. "Don't move. I'll come to you okay?"

"O—okay..." You heard him shuffling in the dark and then felt his arm bump into yours. To your surprise, his hand landed on your forearm and then traced down to gently take your hand.

"It's gonna be okay."

"Sam, I really appreciate this but—I don't want impose on you and Dean. If you guys don't want me here, it's okay. Don't worry about—"

"What? Would you stop?" Sam said, his brow creased with worry. "You're wanted here! Very much." He came over and set a steaming cup of tea down in front of you on the counter. "Please impose as much as you like," he said with a light laugh and a sympathetic look. He watched with satisfaction as you wrapped your hands around the warm ceramic.

"If you say so," you said, returning his warm smile with a small, shy one.

"I do. I absolutely do."

"I know the timing is all wrong and the circumstances are all wrong, but I can't shake the feeling that I was supposed to meet you this way," Sam said.

You opened your mouth to speak but the insistent look on his handsome face had the words dying on your tongue.

He pulled in a deep breath. "Can I see you again? Please?"

"Sam—I—it's too dangerous..."

"So, we'll be careful." His eyes searched your face and you wondered if he could see you caving. "Do you want to see me again? That's the only question and answer that matters," he said.

You gulped nervously but nodded. "Yes. Very much so, but—"

"No. No 'buts', okay? We'll figure it out. This is not an every day kind of feeling. I'm not going to just give up on it so easily."

You looked into his multifaceted eyes and the last bit of resistance you had crumbled away and you nodded. "Alright," you said softly.

A wide smile grew on Sam's face. "Alright?"

One grew on your lips to match his. "Alright," you laughed.

"You've never done this before, have you?" Sam asked. He laughed (just a little) and looked down at you where you were lying against him, the sheets swirled around the two of you.

You sat partially up and gave him a look. "What? It's not my—my first time, Sam!"

"Wh—What? No!" he laughed. "Not that... I meant—being vulnerable with someone," he clarified.

"Mmm," you hummed, considering his words and then sighing and settling back in against him. "We're hunters. We're taught all our lives not to be vulnerable. It's risky."

Sam ran his fingers through your hair and then circled your bare shoulder. "So, what you're saying is I'm a risk you're willing to take?"

You looked up at him, smiling and laughing (just a little). "I suppose so, Sam Winchester."

He chuckled to himself and settled back into his pillow. "I promise I take that seriously."

Sam froze as he rounded the corner. "What is that?" he asked you.

"Hmm? What?" you asked casually.

He gave you a knowing look and sighed. "You stole it?"

"What?"

"It's literally poking out behind you on the left. I can see it."

You glanced down and swore under your breath. The handle was clearly visible. You gave up your rather poor attempt at concealment and brought it around in front of you.

Sam was shaking his head. "I have no words for you," he said, but he was smiling just a little.

"Well! You expect me to just walk past a beautiful sword like that?! I deserve a glorious weapon!" you argued, looking down at the emeralds set in the ornate gold hilt.

Sam laughed and crossed his arms. "For what exactly? I mean, in what scenario are you going to be wielding a sword?"

You paused thoughtfully. "Vampire nest." You made a dramatic slashing motion in the air.

"So... in your mind... you're going to roll into a nest with a sword and start decapitating vampires?"

"Precisely," you agreed with a satisfied nod.

"Not exactly subtle."

"Pfft... I've NEVER said that subtlety was my strong suit, Sam."

He gave you another fond smile and sighed, shaking his head. "This might be worse than Dean and the flamethrower. Guess we better check the storage room for a scabbard. Don't want you accidentally slicing someone..."

"Good idea."

"By the way, how the hell did you get it out of there without me or anyone else noticing?" he asked, giving you an impressed look.

"Oh, I'm very crafty. Devious. Sneaky. Don't forget it."

Sam gave up a hearty laugh, one of your favorite sounds in the world.

Sam put his duffel bag down with a heavy sigh. "Good to be home finally," he said, glancing around the room the two of you shared.

You were also relieved to be back at the bunker. "Yeah. What was it—nine different hotels in two weeks? It was a lot," you said, flopping down on the bed and stretching out, looking up at him. You saw a flash of something on his face. "What?" you prompted him.

"Nothing."

"Sam..."

"It's just—you left everything you knew, staying in one place with friends you saw every day and a career, family close by... to come do this and—you give up a lot for me."

You pushed yourself up on the palm of your hand and looked at him seriously. "I gain a lot too. It's a fair trade."

He gave you a weak smile, but you could see that he was still worrying. You got onto your knees and walked over to the edge of the bed where he was standing so you could loop your arms around him.

"I don't have any regrets, Sam. I don't. And I won't. You're the best thing I've ever had."

His expression eased and he pressed you in against him, his hand spreading out on the small of your back. "I'm lucky to have you at all."