SPN reclist: Stanford Friends!
I love a good story that explores who might 've been the friends Sam had back at Stanford, and how they 'd react to who Sam always was and/or who he 's become. Here are my faves.

My fic recs are updated regularly on DW and only quarterly on Tumblr. With that in mind, link to this possibly outdated reclist on Tumblr here
Last updated 1/1/2022. Let 's get started! 🤗 ❤️

In Reverse by Sodakey. Rated PG-13, Gen, 148k. Summary: After S1E12 Faith, a job has the boys looking for missing hikers in Wyoming. While Sam worries it 's connected to what happened to Dean ten years ago, Dean wonders if Sam would be better off back in the world of normal.
fanfiction.net/s/2787883
my thoughts: This fic is in my top favorite spn fics of all time . A fantastic read especially if you're new to fanfiction and looking for something similar to canon but deeper. This is a superbly written insightful and believable case fic that takes a long time to resolve while exploring so many aspects of Sam & Dean's characters and personal histories. In particular I 'll always remember and love Sam 's domineering guy friend that 's got this kind of unsolicited possessive feeling towards Sam, and as such he 's got a beef with Dean and tries to go toe to toe against him.

Four Years and One Week by Onari. Rated PG-13, Gen, 33k words. Summary: What can you say or do to help the most important person in your life when you have stopped knowing him and his life has come apart? A fic about the week in Stanford right after Jess death. Dean POV. COMPLETE!
fanfiction.net/s/3514905
my thoughts: covering the week Dean spends with Sam in Palo Alto after the pilot, Sam's going through such acute grief and Dean doesn 't know how much he 's needed. This fic was so amazing and emotional.

hold your head high, heavy heart by fogsrollingin. Rated PG-13, Gen, 4k words. Summary: Takes off immediately after the pilot, Sam's grief and Dean picking up the ol' dusty mantle of 'big brother'
ao3.org/works/27111112
my thoughts on me: this was more heart-wrenching than comforting I think; Sam 's grief must 've been crazy. I want to continue this story, Sam having a meltdown about having to buy new clothes and stuff 😭😭😭 but I 've marked it complete for now (it 's decent where it ends, it just could carry on to the next several days)

Fellowship of the Nine by emebalia. Rated PG-13, Gen, 26k words. Summary: Sam spends a weekend with some Stanford friends. But he's not the man they used to know anymore. Outsider POV. Season two.
fanfiction.net/s/9016084
my thoughts: This fic perfectly combined my love for outsider POV with my love of Sam 's Stanford friends getting a reality check meeting him after a year or two on the road with Dean. And yay emebalia wrote a sequel! Two Brothers, fanfiction.net/s/9646447

Sucker Punch by K Hanna Korossy. Rated PG-13, Gen, 15k words. Summary: Sam goes alone to meet an old friend from college. What can go wrong?
fanfiction.net/s/9373051
my thoughts: Sam goes alone to meet this old friend from college at a hotel and things definitely go wrong! Cue injured Sam trying to escape, exploring the bowels of the hotel until Dean to the rescue. Such a great crisp action/adventure hurt/comfort fic