Disclaimer: Not mine
Author's Notes: Thanks to Jedisapphire for the beta
Summary: Sam didn't tell Dean he was infected. Dean needs to know why. Tag to 11.2, Form and Void
o0o
Dean stood by Sam's bed watching him sleep. Trying to wrap his head around his little brother almost dying yesterday.
That this bed, holding the person dearest to him in the world, could have been empty tonight. The bunker back to being just a building. Cold and unfeeling. Not the warm home it is with Sam in it.
But Sam didn't die, and that's what mattered most. But Dean couldn't stop thinking about how close he'd come to death. Or the unbearable thought his baby brother could have died alone.
Dean needed a distraction, and the bottle of booze he left on the Library table was it. After gently pulling up the blanket to cover Sam, he headed for the door.
The box of books on the floor Dean carefully stepped around while entering, he tripped over now, catching himself enough not to fall. But making a fair amount of noise in doing so.
"Dam it," he whispered as he froze in place. Hoping he didn't wake Sam.
"Dean?" Sam called out softly.
"Sorry Sammy, just go back to sleep, okay?" Dean gave his best shot at not having to explain this. Knowing it was futile, and that Sam was not going to let it slide.
o0o
By order of Sam, Dean now sat on the desk chair opposite him.
"Talk to me Dean," Sam's expression softened with the request. "What's going on? Why are you in my room?"
Dean took a moment, then began, "Remember how calm you said I was in the car last night? After you filled me in on being infected and everything else?"
"Yes," Sam answered, raising an eye brow.
"Well it was all bull shit."
A small smile crossed Sam's face. "I kind of suspected it was."
"I was freaking out inside. Trying to wrap my head around you being infected and not telling me."
"You had your hands full Dean."
"Sammy what if you died?"
"But I didn't Dean."
"But you came damn close!"
"You couldn't leave that situation with Jenna and the baby Dean. Your full attention was needed there."
"You could have told me Sammy. Trusted I would figure it out."
"No I couldn't Dean and it wasn't because I didn't trust you or want to tell you." Sam tried to explain becoming increasingly upset.
"Then why?" Dean asked, moving to sit beside his brother. "I need to know Sammy."
"I couldn't tell you I was infected Dean. Because you would have known somehow and I couldn't chance it," Sam said teary-eyed
"Known what?" Dean asked.
"How much I needed you. How much I wanted you to come back. Something I had to bury because, Jenna and the baby needed your full attention and the people here needed me to find that cure. I had to focus fully on that and not that I was dying, in order to do so. Please understand Dean."
"I do Sammy," Dean answered near tears himself after hearing his brother's admission. Now gently pushing the hair out of Sam's face.
"Come here," he said in barely a whisper, pulling Sam into his arms holding him tight. Dean waiting only until he felt his brother's arms around him too before burying his face in Sam's shoulder. Thankful his baby brother was alive and safe in his arms.