E/O Challenge: Use the phrase "This might sting" in your drabble.

Spoilers/Warnings: None, pre-series

Disclaimer: Not mine

Word Count: Double Drabble

Heard you fell down and you scraped your knee. ~ Maccabees

It was an accident.

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

Not Sam's scraped knees or Dean's bruised conscience.

"I'm sorry, Sammy," Dean apologized for at least the tenth time in the span of two minutes.

"S'okay," Sam responded, his voice hitching from the tears slipping down his cheeks as he watched his brother open the first aid kit. "You didn't..." He inhaled a shaky breath. "...didn't mean to."

"I know," Dean agreed quietly.

Because Sam was right – he certainly didn't mean to make the four-year old trip and face plant in the motel's parking lot.

But that's what had happened.

And now Dean had an understandably teary little brother on his hands; a little brother whose bony knees were smeared with dirt and blood.

Dean sighed, feeling a fresh stab of guilt.

"S'okay," Sam assured and blinked at Dean from where he sat on the closed toilet lid in the small motel bathroom.

Dean nodded tightly and sighed, squatting in front of his brother and refocusing on the task at hand; his fingers grasping the alcohol wipe and hovering over the flesh torn by the unforgiving asphalt.

"This might sting," Dean warned, knowing that was an understatement.

"S'okay," Sam repeated. "I trust you."

Dean blinked at the unexpected response and glanced at his brother.

Sam offered a watery but genuine smile.

And just like that, things didn't seem to hurt quite so badly.

FIN