Here's the next extension to my deaf Dean series. This one will be a two-shot with just two chapters. Here is the first one. The second one is almost done and will be dealing some more with Dean's vertigo, how he deals with certain interviews that he can go on and interacting with girls. This one is dealing with Dean's inability to sleep at night without sound and how Sam decides to help him. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next. Thanks so much for your support!

And I haven't forgotten about John, he will be in the next story extension that will deal with the boys hunting.

Dean was slowly adjusting to his new life without hearing. Four months after their first hunt together and he was finally coming around to accepting things although he'd never truly get used to them. At least he could never imagine getting used to them. It was just so difficult to go around and not hear the little things that had filled his life everyday. He felt so empty sometimes, so disconnected from the world around him and he knew Sam could sense it. Dean was grateful for his little brother's understanding when he sometimes would flip out at his brother.

It was the small things that drove him crazy. He could deal with not being able to hear Sam because they would sign to each other. With other people, Sam would act as an interpreter and let Dean know what went on. But it was still so strange not to hear the sounds of the keyboard when he typed on Sam's laptop, the pop when he opened a bottle of beer, the lack of noise when he cracked his knuckles...Half of the time Dean had to do a double take to make sure he was actually doing some things. He saw himself doing them, but without sound it almost didn't seem real.

He was learning to be more confident in that respect now. Relying on the feel of vibrations to make sure he pressed hard enough on the keyboard and whatnot. He needed to practice these things for when he hunted. He had to make sure he pulled the trigger all the way or actually sliced the monster with a knife. He had to be extra observant and rely on his sense of feel where there was no sound.

It was during the night when Dean had the most trouble and when all his fears decide to come out. Not only does he triple-check the whole room before he gets into bed but once he is in bed it's hard to take his eyes off of his brother. What if something grabbed Sam while Dean had his eyes closed, oblivious to the world? Dean would never know. What if something happened to Sam in his sleep? What if he was sick and screaming for his brother while Dean lay only a few feet away, unaware of what had just happened?

They've had this discussion about five times already and had come to a sort-of conclusion. Dean and Sam were to keep their cell phones under their pillows. If Sam sensed something in the room or if he wasn't feeling well or if he just simply needed his brother's attention he would call his phone. Dean was number one on Sam's speed dial and all Sam had to do was hold down that button if something happened and Dean's phone would vibrate under his head, thus waking Dean to anything that might be wrong. They had tested it out various times and everything was fine, Dean waking up as soon as he felt the buzzing. It wasn't the most efficient form of being able to protect his little brother but it was the best one out there for his needs and it worked.

Even with this technique sleep refused to come for the older Winchester. Feel was everything to him now. But what was he supposed to do when there was no sound and nothing to feel at all? Every time he closed his eyes at night it frightened him to the core. With his eyes closed he couldn't see or hear anything, it just felt like he was floating in space, disconnected from everything. He would be forced to open his eyes, to remind himself that he's still here, that he can still see. When his eyes closed he felt like he was missing out on something...he had no connection to how much time had passed when he was not able to hear or see anything. It was the scariest feeling in the world.

Unfortunately he couldn't hide this from Sam for very long at all. Sam had chalked up Dean's reason for not being able to sleep because Dean was worried about his little brother. Sam had no clue there was a whole other second part to it. So when the bags beneath Dean's eyes and the restfulness never went away, Sam knew something must have been up.

Sam decided to watch Dean one night, to stay awake for as long as he could and see what was up with his older brother. He saw the whites of Dean's eyes as his older brother waited for Sam to fall asleep. That was nothing new. So Sam pretended to fall asleep and waited. For the first half hour Sam heard nothing, not even Dean shifting in bed. He was sure that Dean was still watching him. Then he started to hear Dean tossing and turning. He cracked open one eye just a little and saw his brother moving restlessly in his bed, trying to be quiet but obviously not knowing that he was making noise. Dean turned from side to side, his hands running through his hair in agitation and then scrubbing over his eyes forcefully.

It was scary to say the least. While Dean would wake up at the slightest noise he had always been able to fall asleep quickly. Sam watched Dean continue to shift in bed before he heard it. Soft little whimpers coming from Dean. Sam almost thought he had imagined it until he heard them again. The noise sounded so open and painful that Sam wanted to cry. It was like he was actually hearing Dean's true feelings when Dean himself didn't know he was making the noises at all. These little sounds that came out of Dean's mouth were able to show Sam that his brother was suffering for some reason. Dean had no idea that he was making noises that sounded like a scared five year old boy who was lost. Maybe that was it, Dean was scared and lost and Sam had to figure out why.

"Dean?" Sam called out before mentally slapping himself. He still slipped like this sometimes but was grateful that Dean wouldn't know this time. The soft whimpers continued and Sam walked over to the bed. Once he sat down the noises immediately stopped and Sam saw his brother tense, reaching for the knife that was always under his pillow.

Sam put his hand on Dean's shoulder and rubbed it gently in small circles before tapping it twice with his fingers. It was Sam's signal for 'it's just me, it's Sam'. Dean relaxed at once and drew his hand away from his pillow. Still not looking at Sam he spoke.

"What's wrong Sammy?" His voice cracked and came out sounding unbelievably scared and tired and Sam felt his heart begin to break right there. He sighed and wondered if Dean had been getting any sleep at all. He was going to end up in the hospital if he kept this up.

Sam moved his hand down to Dean's bicep and squeezed. A sign for 'I'm okay' or 'Nothing's wrong'. But Sam saw how Dean's whole posture changed just from Sam laying his hand on him. He decided to experiment with this as he kept his hand in that same spot and gently rubbed Dean's arm with his thumb. He watched in amazement as Dean rolled his head to a more comfortable position, his eyes were closed gently and the creases around his mouth smoothed out. A minute later Dean was snoring.

That was when Sam understood the reason for Dean's sleeplessness. With Dean's eyes closed it was as if he was blind as well as deaf, cut off from everything and almost like he was trapped in his body. That had to be scary as hell, especially for a hunter who always had to be aware of their surroundings. When Sam had placed his hand on Dean and had not let go, it was giving Dean a connection to the outside world, reminding him that he was still here and not lost in his mind.

Now that Sam was thinking about it...Dean always needed some sort of noise to help him get to sleep, some sort of distraction. If they were in an apartment the ceiling fan would have to be on, sometimes he would leave music lightly playing, the TV on low volume. It was just something that helped him get to sleep but wasn't loud enough to overpower any sounds that a creature might make sneaking into the room.

And now Dean doesn't have that...he doesn't have any sound at all. Sam can't sit by his bedside every night until he falls asleep. It's not that Sam wouldn't do it or would mind doing it but because Dean wouldn't allow it. Dean needed something to feel, something constant.

Sam had an idea.

Dean woke up to see Sam rummaging around in a rather large bag. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock to see that it was eleven in the morning. He was shocked to say the least. When he finally did end up falling asleep it would be late into the night and because of pure exhaustion. It was never a deep or peaceful sleep and he would end up waking up much too early. He wracked his brain to try to think of how last night had been different and immediately blushed and looked away from his brother when he remembered Sam sitting by his bed with a hand on his arm. Now Sam knew about his sleeping problems, great...just freaking great.

Dean was forced to look at his brother when Sam threw a pillow from the other bed at him. His little brother grinned.

"Hey. Good morning." Dean read Sam's lips as his brother switched over to sign. Sleep good?

The older brother stretched and leaned back against his pillow. God, it had felt so good to sleep but he was still tired as hell. "Yeah, actually I did." He said, choosing to ignore the fact that Sam knew all about his sleeping problems now.

Sam smiled. Got you something. He signed so quickly with excitement that Dean almost missed what he said. Sam then turned around and lifted a box from the bag he had brought in sometime while Dean was sleeping. His little brother opened the box and held out a pretty expensive and nice looking electric table fan. What the hell?

"Uhhh Sammy?" Dean started to say and was pretty sure his facial expressions said the rest.

Sam placed the fan on the small nightstand in-between the beds and plugged it in. For you.

Dean cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah I get that, but why?" He watched as Sam let out a breath and knew he was sighing. Then his huge little brother bent down, switched the fan on and turned it so it faced Dean.

As soon as the cool air hit the older Winchester's face he felt instantly relaxed. Without even knowing it he closed his eyes and for the first time didn't feel completely lost in the dark and silence. He hated admitting to himself that he needed that sense of touch to make up for the loss of his other senses while he slept. But this way he was getting it without having to burden his brother and the fan was the perfect solution. It was continuously blowing air, letting him constantly feel something so he could close his eyes and know that he wasn't trapped inside of his body.

Deep into his thoughts, Dean caught himself drifting off and forced his tired body to stay awake for just one more minute.

"Hey Sammy?" Dean didn't even know if his voice sounded understandable, or even came out at all. But to his luck Sam turned around to look at him.

"Thanks."

Sam just smiled and signed something short.

You're welcome, jerk.