Disclaimer: Not mine.

Author's Notes: Thanks to Jedisapphire for the beta.

Summary: Tag to 11.10, The Devil In The Details.

o0o

Dean awoke to screams he soon realized were Sam's.

Jumping out of bed, he flew down the hallway to his brother's room. "Sammy?" Dean stepped into the dark room. "Are you okay?"

The open door let in enough light for Dean to see Sam was seated on the bed with his back against the wall. His knees drawn up to his chest, where his head rested on folded arms.

"Sorry I woke you, again," Sam said, lifting his head to apologize, revealing eyes that no longer could hide his agony.

"Sammy, I don't care about you waking me up. What I care about is you!"

"I'll be fine Dean,' Sam assured him.

"You've said that to me almost every night this week," Dean reminded his brother.

"I will be," Sam tried to argue even while visibly exhausted, both emotionally, and from lack of sleep.

"The intensity of your nightmares say the opposite," Dean pointed out. "Your screams tonight Sam. They were the worst so far!"

"I'm sorry Dean."

"I'm not looking for an apology Sam. I'm looking for a way to help you. Please let me help you!" Dean pleaded.

"There's nothing you can do Dean."

"That's not true Sammy. I know you've never wanted to talk about the cage and Lucifer and I never pushed, even if I felt you should. But I can't help but think this recent stay with Lucifer has brought back a lot of stuff you buried. And some new stuff too."

Sam's eyes widened a little with Dean's last comment.

"It has, hasn't it Sam?"

"I'll deal with it."

"Don't do that," Dean said, hurt, and a little frustrated. But mostly concerned for his brother's well being.

"Do what?" Sam looked puzzled at his brother's reaction.

"Shut me out."

"No Dean. That's not..."

"What if our positions were reversed?" Dean cut Sam off. "What if you saw me suffering this way, what would you do?"

Sam looked down uncomfortably.

Dean took a seat on the bed, grabbing hold of his brother's shoulders."You'd want to help me right?"

"Yes," Sam admitted softly. "Of course I would Dean."

"I know you Sam. You would want me to talk about it. You'd say I need to, right? That is what you'd..."

"I'm afraid," Sam blurted out, his eyes welling up."Talking about it would make it real Dean. I don't know what will happen if I do."

"Hey," Dean took Sam's face in his hands." You trust me right?"

"Of course I do. With my life."

"Then trust you'll be safe with me, Sammy."

"Sam looking receptive to the idea, took a deep breathe and said, "Okay. I'll give it a try."

Dean took hold of Sam's hands, grasping them tightly, "And I won't let go."