The dreams were never gone for long. Even years later, Dean Winchester would find himself back on that deadly rack, an unbearable heat burning his flesh away with a sickening sizzling sound as knives sharper than the teeth of a Hell Hound cut into him, nicking at muscle and gutting him slowly, making him scream until he couldn't scream anymore. Until all he could choke out was one syllable, over and over again, sobbing in pain and terror and defeat.

"Sam! Sam! SAM!"

"Dean!"

Dean woke up, bolting upright and covered in sweat, heart thudding loudly against his ribcage in a terror that was invisible to him. A terrifying scream rang out in the darkness, and it took him a second to realize the scream was coming from his own mouth. Instantly, Dean shut his lips, still shaking and fisting the sheets under him weakly.

"...You okay?"

Dean jerked and whipped his head around at the sound, adrenaline still coursing through his blood. He exhaled shakily when he saw where the soft voice came from though - floppy haired Sammy was in bed next to him, sitting up and looking at Dean with soft, worried eyes. Dean chuckled weakly.

"Yeah. 'Nother dream is all." Dean waved it off, voice dripping with bravado, but quickly lowered his hand when he saw his fingers trembling.

"Oh."

Sam hesitated, biting his bottom lip as he thought. Everything was still and peaceful in the dark motel room as opposed to the horrors of Dean's Hell, the only sounds being the gentle droan of the air conditioner, their quiet breathing and Dean's still pounding heart. The screams were still ringing in his ears though, his fingers still clenching involuntarily as invisible knives cut at him-

Sam wrapped an arm around Dean and pulled him back down to the bed. Dean resisted at first, tensing up, but not for long as he felt the warm arms hold him gently, the gentle thrumming of Sam's heart against his back.

"I won't let them hurt you Dean." The words were sleepy as Sam pressed his lips against his brother's neck. Dean rolled his eyes, digging his elbow into his brother's ribcage lightly.

"Get a little more girly Sammy, I dare you." Dean pulled his arm back and settled down, still a bit jittery but felt himself relaxing in his brother's arms. He felt Sam's body shake lightly with silent laughs.

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

Sam dug his own elbow into Dean's stomach, making his older brother grunt in surprise. With a satisfied smirk against the nape of Dean's neck, Sam settled down, still keeping his arms protectively around Dean. And Dean would never admit it, but he appreciated the warmth and safety those arms offered. The only arms that had ever made him feel safe. The arms of the one person who ever truly understood Dean, who had always been there for Dean, thick and thin, good and bad. And it was this one person who could ever calm Dean down after one of his nightmares.

Only Sammy. Always Sammy.

"I'm here Dean."