Nails have found their way in, burrowed deep between each breath and scratching trails down his throat. His brother's gone, taken hostage by a hostile angel and desertion is etched by the silence of the bunker. Alone, again. It really shouldn't be that much of a surprise. He'd always end up alone, destined to hurt anyone he ever truly cared about, even though his intentions were pure, nothing ever turned up right in the Winchester books.

Gazing around with tears in his eyes, the sound of the door shutting still echoed through the bunker, through the place they were only just beginning to start calling a home. The echo rang in his ears, a sign of his failures. The failure of not being able to protect his brother, Cas and Kevin. God…Kevin.

"Kevin…"

He uttered a laugh almost as hollow as the silence and emptiness within his chest, knowing there would be no reply. Sammy and Kevin were gone, Cas was back – fighting a war – but he figured there was no way Cas would help him now, after everything. He had bigger fish to fry at the moment.

Letting his head fall back against the wall and trying to take a few deep breaths, he looked over at the kid that had been as much as a brother as his own flesh and blood. Kevin…Sammy. They were family, and he'd always screwed them over. Every. Single. Time. It's not fair, as hard as he tries; he figures the universe owes him a freebie by now.

Blinking away the tears that had fallen, Dean pried his lead filled body off the floor and blearily made his way over to the kid lying prone on the ground. His eyes burned out, hands still clenched in pain.

He stood for a moment then fell to his knees and took the kid into his arms.

"M'sorry Kevin. You didn't deserve this, any of it. It's my fault…I was supposed to protect you, that's what brothers do."

Standing on shaky legs, he took the kid and carefully laid him down on the table in their strategy room. At least that's what he's taken to calling it. Taking a step back and placing a hand over his mouth, he mumbles:

"I'm going to fix this Kevin. You, Sammy, all of it."

Face pale and limbs shaking slightly, he blinked a couple of times and stood a little straighter. Claiming the little yellow card with Kevin Tran written down, Dean pocketed it. A silent promise that things would turn out for the best. He wouldn't give up, not just yet.

It was time to use that leverage against the demon residing in their dungeon.

….

A/N: So, this was just a short little reaction fic for the mid-season finale and sort of a take on what I think will happen in the New Year. Though there will probably be holes blown right through this, figured I'd try and write something. Anywho, hope you enjoyed!

P.S. That was uber painful to watch. RIP Kevin, you will be missed.