Author's note: There will be no slash, just strong platonic love! Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters nor Supernatural

There is a reason that having a soulmate is so special.

Sam and Dean had been going through too many near death experiences. After a while, it can make one rethink how they are living their lives. For the brothers, they started thinking of how to fix the whole hugging-or-acknowledges-of-love-only- after-a-near-death-experience.

The whole, more physical touching, acknowledges of love, and lack of personal space was new, if you had to ask them when this started, the answer would be around the time Sam was able to cure Dean from being a demon. The fact that they both could have lost each other made them see things differently.

In between hunts, Sam took his chance to speak to his brother. "We're soul mates, Dean. If we are going to make our relationship better, we need to stop having to die for us to show each other that we already know…that we love each other."

Dean looked at Sam with an expression that he wanted to look in disbelief mixed with slight disgust but it really had more affection in them than any other emotion. "Sam, we really don't need to have this conversation, I-" He looked almost as if the word would cause him pain. Ever the macho man. "Love you, and I know you love me-"

"Exactly." Sam interrupted. "I need- want- to do things for you, just like what you've been doing all my life. And I want you to feel how much I love you, instead of just knowing it."

And it was true. Though they never said it out loud, they both feel a need to be with an arm's length of each other at all times. They love each other, it was an unspoken fact between them, in other people's views, their codependency would seem gay, wrong, or disgusting, but this wasn't romantic or sexual, (no absolutely not,) this was something more. This was more pure.

And yes, there used to be some part of Dean had always wanted an apple-pie- life, but in absolute truth, he'd never pictured it without Sam being close by. The same was for Sam, even during his college years, there was always a big part of him that just felt wrong with Dean not being there with him.

Because, choosing between a normal, safe life and being with their brother? They didn't need to think twice.

It did not take long before they both agreed to try acting more like "soulmates". The cuddling thing had started recently. Even after they both had started trying the random hugs through the day, the "I love you" when the other hasn't said it in a while, and the quick kisses on the head, the cuddling thing didn't start right away.

It was on the anniversary of Jess's death. Early in the morning Dean heard it. Small, muffled sniffs that Sam was trying desperately to hide. Unlucky for Sam, Dean is just too attuned to Sam's distress. Dean tried to pretend to be asleep for Sam's sake, wanting him to grieve in peace but after about fifteen minutes of Sam being close to sobbing Dean couldn't take it anymore.

Dean started pulling Sam by the shoulder, and Sam jumped slightly at the surprise contact, forgetting momentarily that he wasn't alone. After seeing it was Dean, Sam relaxes but looks questioningly at his big brother. Dean doesn't wait long before he's pushing Sam again, wants him facing the other way, to which Sam doesn't waste time doing. Although he was still confused.

What happened was something he didn't expect. Which was for Dean to push himself up against Sam's back, wrap an arm around Sam and lay his hand on Sam's chest. Dean rested his face on Sam's shoulder, body curved like the shape of Sam's body, and Sam smiles in the dark, slightly thanking Dean for this, and closes his eyes as he settles in, smelling the unforgettable scent that's exclusively is his brother's. Neither of them understanding before how much they both needed this until that moment.

It didn't take long for it to become a regular thing. Because this was something that made them both more loved then Sam's years with Jess or Dean's with Lisa. This was more-they didn't know how else to explain it-loving.

Back in the present, Sam was listening to Dean's heart, his head on brother's clothed chest. Dean was gently rubbing is thumb over Sam's hair line fondly while his other hand lay on Sam's back. Sam had his hand loose on Dean's bicep, gently clutching the arm (even though the shirt was in the way of skin-on-skin contact,) in a slightly possessive hold.

Dean's heart beats steady in Sam's ear, and Sam closes his eyes to feel it with his whole body, feel the rhythm of air flowing in and out, the rise and fall of Dean's chest beneath him. Dean raked his fingers through Sam's hair from the scalp and Sam damn near purrs.

Sam looked up to see Dean from his position of lying On Dean's chest. Dean's eyes opened slightly. "Your bony chin is stabbing me." He mumbles jokingly, shuffling his body to sit up against the headboard before letting exhaustion get the best of him. Sam give a small laugh and playfully hits Dean's chest. But he still sinks in close to Dean's side, relaxing. They both know that they have a hunt today, even if their relationship has changed for the better, their job hasn't.

Sam knows they need to get a head start if they are to find this wendigo even if he can't bring himself to leave just yet. That feeling happens often. The reluctance to leave the other's side. When one of them is in a really good mood after a night of sleeping in the same bed or just simply talking all night, he'll sit up and bend down and kiss the top of his brother's hairline, a smile on his face that clearly says, I'm so glad that I get to stay with you.

The hunt went as expected: painfully.

Sam's stupid, selfless jerk of a brother just had made sure Sam was pushed out of the way of the crazed Wendigo's path, leaving Dean with the bloody claw marks etched on his side. It's not too bad, but it was enough for Sam to have to clean and stitch the sin back together; he then wrapped his brother's waist in bandages, and gave Dean one of his hoodies to go over Dean's clean shirt. It was something he always done when Dean was hurt.

When he was done helping Dean, he hooked his arm around Dean's back and pulled him close, kissing Dean on the top of his hair as Dean leaned into the embrace happily, his head resting against Sam's chest. This was something that was also nice. Dean secretly agreed that having a soulmate was amazing, especially if that soulmate was his brother and best friend. Though god-forbid someone heard his girly thoughts.

Later that day after Dean agrees to rest and Sam goes off to see what other hunts they have near them, Sam heard noises and makes his way into their kitchen to the sight of Dean making coffee. Sam makes it over to his brother and wraps himself around Dean from behind, chin down in Dean's shoulder. Dean looks over his shoulder, then gives him an affectionate smile and rests his hand on Sam's head for a moment, ruffling his hair, knowing what the hug meant. I love you. Please don't put yourself in danger again. Be safe. Don't leave me.

Dean understood. But something that Sam didn't understand that no matter what, if Sam is in danger, all that matters for Dean is making sure Sam is safe, it will never matter who else gets stuck in the crossfire, even himself. But Sam will makes sure that his brother is safe. Neither brother could function in this world without the other. They tried to move on when the other was gone before, but it wasn't real. It wasn't home. They know better now. They've seen what life would be like alone. They can't live in a world where the other is gone.

Having a soulmate, is just the best feeling in the world.

PS: Author's note: I love writing platonically married characters. Thank you for reading! :hug: