A/N: I think cracks are gonna start showing in the wall throughout the rest of the Season. Sam's gonna get worse before he gets better and as a hurt!Sammy lover, I really can't wait. I don't think Dean's even letting himself think about what could go wrong, so he may be a little lost when trying to help his brother. Here's something I think could happen, cause Sam's still Sam.

Summary: The walls not broken, but the cracks are showing. Season 6 spoilers.

Childish Fears

Dean watched Sam fight so hard to stay in the moment, to not drift off or start screaming. He said everything he could think of, consoled every way he knew how.

"Just…try to think of something positive."

Sam groaned, head still pressed against the wall, half his face hidden by his hand, nails digging into his cheek, which Dean quickly moved to stop.

'Don't scratch, don't scratch, don't scratch…'

"Positive?" Strangled and strange, like the word was something foreign in Sam's mouth that his tongue didn't know how to work around.

"Yeah, like…" Dean fought hard to think of something, some string of words he could put together that couldn't possibly bring up any negative memories in Sam. But everywhere he stepped with Sam was a minefield and he found himself terrified he'd do more harm than good. He coached gently, "Just try, Sammy."

Sam was silent but for the soft sounds of distress and fear, misery on his face not diminishing in the slightest. Dean held Sam's hand tighter to keep him from digging his nails into the side of his face. Physical pain seemed to help Sam when he was like this. Dean knew, but he couldn't stomach letting his little brother hurt himself, not even to lessen the pain of a half-remembered Hell.

At the end of his rope, Dean was startled to hear Sam suddenly laugh and he felt sick.

'God…is this it? Has he lost it? What do I do…what do I do…?'

Cautiously, he coaxed Sam.

"You wanna share with the class, Sammy?"

Sam kept laughing, never looking Dean in the eye, but the hand Dean was holding relaxed a bit. Eventually, he tapered off, much to Dean's relief. Only the occasional bubble of mirth escaping through bitten lips. He gave Dean a rueful smile, tears in his eyes and blood under his nails.

"I'm not afraid of clowns anymore."