Summary: AUish take on the whole Cain!Dean arc. Sam and Dean run into an old friend as they take on a case in New York. But of course not everything goes as planned as the boys work together to take on new and old foes. Protective!Dean & Hurt!Limp!Sam
let us go into the night
in the deserted field where our childhood lies
the whistle of shooting flames
and the echoes in our ears
a crackle of light, and the grass went ablaze
run run run, little brother
away from our woes and
into the blissful haze
(a.c.)
The impala rumbled it's familiar roar, as the asphalt flew beneath its tires.
Sam had nodded off, after Dean had flipped on a mid-eighties soft rock radio station.
The oldest Winchester half smiled, realizing some things never seemed to change. Didn't matter how old the kid got, it was still Sam.
Dean glanced over at Sam's inert form, dissatisfied with how sickly he looked. Guilt washed through him, distinct and strong.
Harsh purple rings hung beneath Sam's eyes. His skin was an ashy pale color, the bones of his face sticking out prominently.
He had lost too much weight though out the trials, and his normally rounded face was still painfully thin. I should have never let Gadreel in.
I should have never of let him possess Sam. How much did he have to suffer because of my actions? Dean thought to himself.
But Dean couldn't bring myself to let Sam die. It wasn't in him to let Sam die. I wouldn't bury my little brother. Dean thought hurt tearing through him.
Sam hardly spoke at all since expelling Gadreel, and Cas had to leave to check on some Angel business. The Angel factions were still tearing each other apart.
But Dean couldn't think about the angels, not now anyway. Cas would have to deal with that on his own.
For now Dean would take care of his little brother until he got his strength back. The kid was resilient, he would bounce back.
Once Sam was taken care of, the brothers would help Cas. But until then Dean needed a distraction. And a distraction meant a job.
Garth had called about a job in New York; an abandoned warehouse was being used to run a gambling ring. It's members would go in but never go out.
Normally, Dean wouldn't care about a bunch of drug deals gone bad. But the omens were there: lightening storms, temperature drops, the whole nine.
He knew he couldn't ignore it, he had to still save as many people as he could. He just had to.
The radio crackled slightly, the reception cutting in and out as Dean reached over switching the channel.
A woman high reedy voice buzzed through the impala, "A bizarre round of disappearances has devastated the city of Albany. Law enforcement are working diligently on this investigation,but have not come across any new leads. It has been suggested that the disappearances are the work of an illegal drug cartel. If any new information is provided by the public please contact Albany Law Enforcement. Among the missing people is Dana King,8, Laura Schleps,23, Dale Keaton 53,…" the woman prattled on, her voice grating on the eldest Winchester's ears.
Dean switched the radio off, with a sharp twist of his wrist, agitated by the growing list of disappearances.
If Dean held his speed, the brothers would be in Albany in few hours. He pressed the gas further willing the Impala to roar forward.
Dean glanced over to his little brother's hunched form. Sam had stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket, his head bent in front of him.
The kid looked like he was freezing. Dean reached over, jacking the heat up, aiming the heaters toward Sam.
Sam relaxed within minutes, his head lulling against the back of the seat. Dean rounded the corner sharply, Sam snapping awake as the car swerved.
His face scrunched slightly, his green eyes glancing over at Dean. "Rise and Shine princess." Dean said, giving the youngest Winchester his best fake smile.
"Very funny." Sam said annoyed by Dean's expression. He rubbed his eyes, his head aching.
Even though Sam had been healed by Cas, he could still feel the after effects of Gadreel.
Sam hadn't been sleeping much. Every time he closed his eyes he would see Gadreel's actions beneath his lids.
He would watch his own hands kill an another angel without his permission, he would watch himself burn out Kevin.
Sam hated the idea of being tucked away in his own mind while an angel rode around in his skin.
Sam glanced out the window, watching the frigid rain pelt the windows. The silence grew between the both of them, as the Impala rumbled down the road.
Dean hummed one of the songs playing on the radio under his breath.
"Where are we?" Sam said, his voice thick with sleep. He glanced out the window sharply avoiding Dean's gaze.
"About an hour outside of Albany." Dean murmured, the streetlights flying past him, as he pressed the gas harder.
"So how'd you even find this job?" Sam said curtly, turning his head to look at his older brother.
"I told Garth to drop a dime if he heard of any cases in the area." Dean said, noticing Sam's tone.
It bothered Dean more than he was willing to admit. Not that he would ever tell Sam that.
"And he called. Turns out New York is our thing." Dean filled Sam in on the case, explaining the disappearances, and how the demons came into play.
Sam had nodded, hardly looking at Dean as he spoke. His cold rigid glare was too much for Dean. Sam's attitude hadn't changed over the past few weeks.
Sam had been cold, and businesslike during all the other jobs they'd worked.
Dean couldn't stand it. Dean pulled the Impala over sharply to the side of the road, the tires spitting mud as the car slowed.
Dean put the car in park, shutting the car off.
"What the hell is your problem?" Dean said, a hard edge to his voice as he looked at his brother. Anger flared in Sam at Dean's tone.
"What's my problem?" Sam half scoffed. "I think we both know the answer to that." he said his tone cutting.
The rain outside was loud as it streamed down on the car.
"We gotta talk about the whole Gadreel thing, Sam. You can't just ignore this for the rest of your life." Dean said irritation seeping into his voice.
"Yeah well I can try." Sam said sarcastically. Sam didn't want to hear it anymore.
He reached over wrenching the Impala door open, stepping out into the freezing rain.
Probably wasn't the smartest move on his part, considering the rain was coming down sideways, but if Dean wanted to talk it would be on his terms.
The door swung open on the other side of the Impala, as Dean stepped into the pouring rain.
"You're a real pain in the ass you know that?" Dean said, shaking his head. Anger seethed through Sam at Dean's words.
A sharp pain shot through him, his head pounding furiously.
"You're pissed at me, and I get it. And I know I deserve it." Dean said the rain soaking his clothes.
"But I did, what I did, for you. You gotta know that man." Dean sad, half imploring with his younger brother.
"Dean I'm not talking about this anymo-" Sam said, his voice cutting off. He gasped, clutching the side of his head with his free hand.
"Sammy?" Dean said in confusion, the anger replaced by sheer anxiety.
He went over to the other side of the Impala, his legs throwing him forward without realizing it.
He crouched down by Sam one hand on his back and the other on his chest to steady him.
"I'm fine" Sam huffed impatiently, though his eyes retained a sort of pain. His pushed Dean's hands away from him, leaning on the car for support.
Sam swayed dangerously on his feet, his face paling to an ashy white. Sam keeled forward, clutching his head, gasping.
"Woah Sam! Sam?" Dean said reaching out to catch his brother before Sam's head could collide with the pavement.
Dean took Sam's arm slinging it over his shoulder. Sam groaned, not objecting to his older brother's help.
Sam's forehead was furrowed in pain, his green eyes blinking away the rain.
"C'mon, in you go." Dean said, reaching over to wrench the Impala door open with his free hand.
He helped Sam onto his seat, clicking Sam's seatbelt in after him.
Sam's face was scrunched into a grimace, the dark rings beneath his lids more pronounced than before.
Dean had to get Sam somewhere safe where he could rest, and get cleaned up.
The closest motel had to be at least five miles up the still needed to talk about all of this. It would have to wait until tomorrow. Right now Sam needed him.
TBC