"Dean?"

Dean shifted slightly, turning to look at his brother from across the small room.

"Yeah Sammy?" The tentative voice drifted over to him.

"I know daddy told me to be a big boy, but I'm really scared Dean, please. Can I sleep with you?"

A frown marred Dean's forehead. Sammy had recently turned ten and yeah, he had the occasional nightmare, but he had gotten used to sleeping Dean so much so that he could barely function without him. Dad had told them that it was a weakness, and Sammy would have to get used to sleeping alone.

Allowing Sam to sleep with him would be directly defying Dad's orders. But Sammy was scared and he was supposed to protect him from everything, always.

"Just this once, I promise!" A pleading note had bled into the whisper and god knew what that did to his defenses, he could never refuse Sammy when he was like that.

With a sigh Dean raised the covers motioning with his other hand for his brother.

Sam was crossing the room in a blur, feet making soft noises as a ran over the old worn carpet of the apartment they were renting.

When he dived under the covers he began rustling around, shifting to get the right position. He couldn't sleep unless he was a certain way, a reason for which Dean hadn't figured out until recently.

They were saying the Pledge of Allegiance in this school, Dean hadn't done that in years and never much had reason for placing his hand over his heart. But as he stood there, felt the beat, it had soothed him. Sammy liked to listen to his heart.

After a couple of jabs and awkward tumbles later, Sammy was settling in.

His head was tucked under his brother's, nestled between Dean's collarbone. One arm was thrown across him, the other under resting beneath Sam, covering his hipbone. Gangly legs found there place entwined with Dean's more sturdy ones.

Dean sighed, lowering his head to rest his cheek over Sam's head, nose buried into the soft brunet locks. Sammy's hair was getting long, very nearly touching the tip of his long nose.

It was how he liked it, all messy and everywhere yet neat and tidy at the same time, depending on how he turned his head.

There was always a slightly fruity smell to Sam's hair, no matter what type of soap he used. That fresh scent of apples and odd enough, hay. A pleasant country, aw shucks ma'am kind of thing.

But most of all, it was the feel; the soft silky strands pressed against his face and it felt like the best pillow in the world, felt like home.

With one last exclamation of breath Dean wrapped his arms around his little brother, soaked in the near feverish heat and let himself succumb to the hovering sleep.

Sam rubbed his head against Dean's solid chest, like a cat rubbing against someones leg, familiar and welcoming. With a soft sound he closed his eyes.

Listened to the steady slow drum of his brother heart, like being in a bath. Encompassed by the warmth and all other sounds muffled except for the thereandnow.

Showing him that Dean was alright, alive. Strong and healthy and no nightmares could get him when he knew Dean was there, right beneath him.

Mostly what kept them away though, was the feel.

The light pitter patter, soft beating against his head.

Sending soothing jolts throughout his body. He could feel it in his sleep.

That gentle thrumming, his there and now lullaby.