Summary: Brotherhood AU. After Sam is hurt on a hunt, Dean blames Caleb. It will take disaster to fix their friendship.
Disclaimer: Not mine; Ridley's and Kripke's.
Chapter 1
"...who lit cigarettes in boxcars boxcars boxcars racketing
through snow toward lonesome farms in grand-
father night..." –Howl by Allen Ginsberg
"Caleb…it hurts," Sam Winchester groaned.
"I know Sammy, but you're going to be okay," Caleb promised. Honestly, Caleb had no idea what he was going to do. He and Sam were all alone in the woods, and Caleb had no service so he had no way of getting hold of John or Bobby or Dean. Unfortunately for both of them, the thirteen-year-old was bleeding to death.
"John!" Caleb screamed, hoping like hell someone, anyone, was nearby. They were after a wendigo. Bobby went off on his own, Dean went with John (even though he really wanted to go with Sam) and Sam went with Caleb. Dean had told him to watch out for Sammy, and he had failed. He had let the stupid wendigo get to Sam.
"It isn't your fault," Sam murmured.
"How'd you know I was thinking about that?" Caleb asked.
"I didn't, but I know you, and I know you would blame yourself," Sam said. "It's my fault," he coughed. "I shouldn't have run off after it on my own. You told me to stop, but I didn't listen."
"It isn't your fault. Now stop talking."
"Caleb can't we just go?"
"I don't know…" as much as Caleb wanted to get Sam back to Bobby's house, he wasn't sure it would be smart to move him.
Caleb spotted movement out of the corner of his eye, and took relief in the fact that it wasn't the wendigo. He had killed it once he caught up with it and Sam.
"John!" Caleb called.
"Dad," Sam moaned.
It wasn't John; it was Bobby.
"What in the hell happened?" he demanded.
"The wendigo got him, but I killed it," Caleb explained quickly.
"Let's get him to my house," Bobby gently lifted Sam, Caleb hurrying behind them. It wasn't much later that they got back to Bobby's house. Bobby tended to Sam while Caleb went back to get John and Dean. On the walk back to Bobby's house, he explained what had happened.
"What?" Dean cried. "Sam's hurt? Damien, you said you would watch out for him."
Honestly, Caleb hadn't expected that out of Dean; he had pictured it to be John jumping down his throat and Dean defending him. But it went just the opposite.
"Dean, stop, Caleb tried," John said.
"Deuce, I'm sorry…I screwed up," Caleb said.
Dean opened his mouth to yell more, but John gave him a stern look so Dean just stormed off ahead of them.
"He's just upset that Sam got hurt; he'll be over it by tomorrow," John told Caleb.
"Yeah, sure," Caleb nodded, ashamed he had let his friend down.
The next morning when Caleb went down to breakfast he was happy to see Sam looking well. The pain in the deep gash in his side was evident, but he didn't look as bad as the previous night.
"Morning Runt, Deuce," Caleb said happily.
"Morning Caleb," Sam replied.
"I'm going upstairs," Dean stood and hurried out of the room. Caleb watched him go.
"Dean!" Sam called after him. Caleb sighed. "I guess he's still mad. I told him what happened. I told him it wasn't your fault."
"Thanks Sammy," Caleb replied. "I guess he just needs someone to blame. He's right though; I should have watched out for you better."
"Caleb, no! It isn't your fault!" Sam cried. "Don't blame yourself."
Before Caleb could reply John and Bobby walked in, talking about something.
"Hey guys," Bobby greeted Sam and Caleb.
"Morning," Caleb and Sam replied simultaneously.
"John and I were just talking about a new hunt," Bobby told them.
"Yeah, I think Dean and I might go check it out. You guys can just stay here, though," John explained. "Sam, I know you're still hurt and you need to rest."
"I could go," Caleb offered.
"I was thinking you could just stay; take a break," John said.
"Because Dean is pissed at you," Bobby explained.
Caleb sighed, "You're right."
"Well, we can try. Who knows? Maybe a bit of joking around will help?" John shrugged.
"Alright, when are we going?" Caleb asked.
"Tomorrow night," John replied. "It's in Kentucky, so Bobby's going to take Sam to Jim's house so Sam can rest there."
"I have to stay with Jim?" Sam looked up.
"It's closer," John stated. "Anyway, there's this huge supposedly haunted house there."
"Literally this place is huge," Bobby added. "It's a freaking mansion. Not to mention the nearly 90 acres it sits on. The grounds are haunted too."
"Sounds peachy," Caleb murmured.
"Should be a lot of fun," Bobby agreed.
"So go get packed," John orders as he left the room. "We leave tomorrow night!"
A/N: Okay, so this chapter isn't so great, but I promise you it does get better! New chapter up soon!
