Author's Note:I love vulnerable!Dean and protective!Sam. So, here's a drabble. Reviews are appreciated, as always(:

Dean rarely lets down his defenses.

When he's really tired, or injured after a hunt. When he's too drunk, or running a fever.

Then he'll curl up and look so vulnerable it makes something in Sam ache oddly.

He's rarely seen his older brother look vulnerable; knows it's hard for Dean to let down all his walls and defenses.

So when he does, Sam takes the opportunity to provide his normally reluctant, closed off brother with a little tenderness and care.

He'll snuggle with a sick Dean until he falls asleep, snoring because of the congestion.

He'll clean the wounds from a hunt gently and carefully, making sure he causes as little pain as possible.

He'll get aspirin and water and a cool compress when Dean's too hungover to get out of bed.

He'll try to pay back Dean for taking care of him for all those years, by taking care of Dean when he's too vulnerable to resist it.

Because after all, Dean needs to be taken care of, too. He just never admits it.

Dean rarely lets down his defenses. But when he does, Sam's right there to take care of him.