SPN
THE MARK
Dean's head wasn't able to take much more.
Sam taking on the Mark? His legs almost gave way.
The Mark still haunted him, still left him waking in a cold sweat. He wouldn't wish that on anyone... least of all his little brother.
He hated how Chuck said it so flippantly and how Sam nodded his head so willingly. Sam may have witnessed the Mark but he hadn't felt it
He didn't know if he could bear to watch... if they even made it that far.
He also longed for Sam's unfailing trust. God's Will. No matter the pain, the uncertainty... it was God's Will and nothing that Dean said or did was going to sway his brother.
Sam must know too... his whole 'lock me up and throw away the key' routine didn't wash with Dean... because surely Sam must realise.
The only way that was happening was if he was locked up too.
This was desperation time. This was... this was beyond all rational thinking.
So he said okay. He gave his 'permission' even if the alternative would have fallen on deaf ears anyway. Even if his permission no longer mattered- that the boy he couldn't help still seeing had grown up.
He remembered the burn. The scorch on his skin that made his arm feel it was on fire. He saw it marking itself on Sam's skin. He tried not to watch, instead wrapping his arms around his brother, as if that would take all the pain and destruction away.
And then through the pure terror from Amara, the dread, the fear... Dean still thanked an unknown source that his brother was spared the Mark. There had to be another way... even if it meant facing it again himself.