SPN reclist: Touch-Starved!Sam 

I've been meaning to create this reclist because I adore this theme. Not a lot to explain: traumatized Sam gets comforting touches, mostly from Dean. A lot of Sam's touch starvation stems from Hell Trauma so head's up those 2 things intertwine often in these recs

Untouchable by RainbowBetty. Gen, 3k, General Audiences. Summary: A curse leaves Dean unable to physically touch Sam, which turns out to be a bigger issue than either of them anticipated. Season 3.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/658510
Early seasons Sam and Dean being so unaware of their closeness, just... I mean just the extent to which they're these "I'm cool I'm a *dude* in 2008″ getting upset because they can't be close and touch YESSS. A brilliant idea executed brilliantly by RainbowBetty. And it's only 3k words??? It packs such a punch.

A City Sorrow Built by Phreakycat. Rated K/PG, Gen, 4.9k. Summary: In which Sam cries in his sleep a lot and Dean tries to fix it. Some angst, some humor, and more schmoop than is probably healthy.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6770862
This is such a funny then undeniably adorable fic written from Dean's perspective knowing Sam needs to process his pain consciously. The hilarious "oh no, there's only one bed!" trope pops up in the most adept way, and I love the tropey kind of hug/cuddles where it's forced bc comforter knows the whumpee really needs it (and whumpee doesn't think he deserves the affection, or claims he doesn't need it), and then whumpee finally breaks down in his arms. /cries/ /gestures at this fic/ that's this, that's this fic. It's so good. This fic is in my all time favorite SPN fics

Touch Therapy by K Hanna Korossy. 3k, gen, T. Summary: Sometimes even a Winchester has to be hugged into submission. Blatantly comfort-y.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5510348
Ugh, what a detailed, authentic-feeling, desperate hug. I still reread this fic for the hug (I reread a lot of fics for their hugs; I should do like a 'top favorite hugs' fic reclist).

→ Heyo wincest below now ↓

Under Sufferance by veronamay. Rated PG-13, Sam/Dean, 3k words. Summary: From this prompt on blindfold_spn: Sam/Dean, touch-starvation. Besides other things, Lucifer touch-starves Sam in Hell as punishment (Sam did fall in the Pit with his entire body and all...). Once out, Sam cannot bring himself to ask Dean despite how badly he needs it. Dean needs to realize what Sam's problem is, and how to get himself to help, since constant touching doesn't exactly come naturally to him. Set between seasons 5 and 6.
ao3.org/works/211211
This fic is hilarious with Dean's perspective. It is also adorable.

Skin Like Fear by orphan_account. Rated E, Sam/Dean, 18k. Summary: It's not that Dean doesn't get that Sam doesn't want to talk about whatever Hell did to him; Dean practically wrote the book on that particular brand of avoidance. Except that Sam doesn't do this. Dean is supposed to clam up and Sam is supposed to pry and bleat about how "communication is good for the soul" or some shit. Sam is supposed to cry on his shoulder and Dean is supposed to stoically hold him and let him get it out, maybe shedding a manful tear or two in solidarity. Here's the thing: Sam comes back from Hell with a bubble of space around him. He doesn't want to be touched, especially by Dean, and he won't explain. He won't talk about Hell at all, and Dean's going crazy. It's going to take a strange case (and a little magic) in Michigan to break the floodgates, but when Dean finally learns the truth, he might wish that he hadn't...
https://archiveofourown.org/works/1041521
Can't miss this fic in the list of amazing touch-starved Sam stories. You gotta just love the angst and misunderstanding with Sam's 'bubble of space.' Also how understandably traumatized Sam is when it's revealed what's really going on. This would probably be a great gateway wincest fic not gonna lie.

Stay the Distance by lazy_daze. Dean/Sam, Explicit, 23k words. Summary: "You know why. I'm not leaving my brother alone out there." Sam is dependent on Dean's touch and closeness after the wall falls - Dean's presence reminds him of why he chose to wake up, and keeps the memories at bay, allowing Sam to function.The brothers have to face up to what happens when their Winchester codependency becomes literal, and the physical, spatial and temporal boundaries of their bond blur the line between familiar and suffocating, comforting and limiting.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/255063
Oh my god this premise THIS PREMISE. Yesssss. lazy_daze is a incredible author and I've read this fic a few times because it's just so intimate and dramatic.

Loving Hugs by Marie_Tomas, Teen+, 4k, Dean/Sam. Summary: After weeks of arguing between Sam and Dean and pushing each other away, Dean is admitted to hospital suffering with exhaustion, causing Sam to decide that he and Dean need to be more open and affectionate with one another and share more hugs. He takes Dean to a diner for lunch so that he can talk about his idea of hugging more, but Dean isn't exactly an enthusiastic participant in the discussion.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/3317957
Sam has the angsty courage to tell Dean they should hug each other more. The interplay between laughy "no chick flicks" Dean and Sam's embarrassed desperation for affection culminating with such cathartic sweetness and love, ahhhhhh this fic is amazing