Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 2

Dean gently ran his hand over Sam's hair, trying to soothe him but Sam kept moving restlessly in his sleep, obviously locked in a nightmare. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, reaching out into Sam's dreams like Lucifer once had. What he found made him feel sick, Sam may physically be out of hell but it lived on in his dreams. He looked around and then focused his power, gently soothing away the memories and searching desperately for happier ones to replace them but to his horror hell was all he could find. Had it been so long Sam had forgotten life on Earth entirely? Had Sam forgotten him? Even with the nightmares gone he could feel Sam's fear and he needed to do something more. So he brought up his own memories of their life together, letting them play through Sam's dreams. He hoped they would either help Sam remember or at least be enough to ease his fear and help him start trusting Dean to some extent. As he felt Sam starting to wake he withdrew from his mind and then moved back to his normal spot by the wall after getting Sam's breakfast for him.

Sam woke up instantly, eyes darting around, searching for threats but Dean held still, used to that behaviour by now. Sam moved into a crouch and then pulled the plate closer, eating quickly while keeping an eye on Dean. Once he was done he scrambled to his normal corner to sit huddled up but still ready to move if anything happened.

"Sam." Dean called gently, wanting to see if the dreams had changed anything even though he assumed it would take weeks at least for them to do so. Sam stared at him but there was no recognition in his eyes, he had just reacted to the noise.
"Sammy it's me, Dean. Can you understand me?" He asked anyway and Sam made a soft growling noise, tensing up. Dean sighed but fell silent, leaning his head back against the wall. He hid a smile when Sam once again crawled slowly closer as the day progressed. Sam didn't touch him this time and that was disappointing but at least the kid was getting closer to him.

Every night Dean used his Grace to sooth Sam's dreams and show him memories of them together and every day Sam was the same, unable to understand him and still acting like an animal. It took two months for something more to change.

Dean entered Sam's dreams as usual and gently soothed the nightmares away but before he could start the memory show something caught his attention. There, broken up but present was a memory of something other than hell. Dean gently caught onto it, tugging it into Sam's dreams and felt the tears gathered as he saw them both as children, Dean sheltering Sam with his body from something. He smiled shakily at the memory as it played out, skipping now and then, like an old video that was degraded by time. He felt Sam starting to wake so he pulled out but stayed beside Sam. Hazel eyes snapped open and Sam scrambled away but Dean gently grabbed him, pulling him into his arms the same way kid Dean had held little Sam and his Sam froze. Sam was shaking in his arms, making panicky little mewling sounds, almost hyperventilating and Dean started to gently rock him.

"It's okay Sammy, it's me, it's Dean. I'm not going to hurt you." Dean whispered, rubbing Sam's back gently, trying to calm him down. Sam went still, hazel eyes wide with terror as he stared at Dean.
"It's me Sammy, come on kiddo." Dean pleaded and Sam opened his mouth. Dean held his breath and then Sam screamed in fear. Dean closed his eyes but let Sam go and Sam scrambled away to his corner, hugging his knees to his chest as he rocked, whimpering in fear. Dean buried his head in his hands, he'd been so sure that Sam would recognise the position from his memory but all he'd done was scare him half to death.
"I'm sorry Sam, I'm sorry, thought you'd recognise me but you don't, do you. I don't know what else to do Sammy. I just want you to get better and I don't even know if that's possible." Dean whispered and then nearly jumped as he felt a hesitant touch to his arm. He lowered his hands to stare at Sam who was crouched in front of him, head cocked to one side.
"Sammy?" Dean choked out and Sam chewed at his lip before taking hold of Dean's hand and tugging. Dean went with it, letting Sam pull him into his corner and then he sat beside him, watching as Sam traced out a line in front of them.
"A line…..a salt line? You want a salt line there kiddo?" Dean asked and then caused one to appear. Sam blinked, touching the salt curiously before smiling, the first really human expression Dean had seen him make. Sam was calmer than Dean had seen him and that was good, if he'd realised salt would help he would have salted the place months ago. They sat beside each other, close but not touching, as Sam stared out into the room. Dean cautiously leant closer and Sam stiffened but didn't push away so Dean took it as a victory. They sat like that for hours until Sam started to get sleepy, his head slumping to the side to rest on Dean's shoulder. Sam jerked awake but Dean reached out to gently tug him down until Sam's head was in his lap. Sleepy, fear filled eyes stared up at him even as Dean helped ease Sam into sleep. He held Sam and other than soothing his nightmare away he stayed out of his head for a change, wanting to see if any other memories might emerge unaided. He cradled Sam close and closed his eyes, letting his mind rest.


Bobby raised his shotgun, relaxing as he recognised the angel now standing in his living room.

"What do you want?" He asked as Castiel stared at him.

"Where is Dean?" The angel asked and Bobby's heart stopped for a second.

"What do you mean where is he? I haven't seen him since he and Sam went to trap Lucifer. I figured he was doing as Sam asked, living safe from the hunt." Bobby answered. Yeah he'd been upset that Dean hadn't so much as called but he could understand his reasons but if Castiel didn't know where he was…..

"I have not seen him since I healed him from Lucifer's beating." Castiel stated and Bobby felt a flash of pain, how much worse had that beaten felt for Dean since it was his baby brother's body doing it?

"You're telling me Dean's been missing a year and you're only just telling me!" he demanded angrily and Castiel just stared at him.

"He is no longer my charge. I have been occupied in Heaven."

"Well he's got to be alive somewhere, if he'd died you'd know right?"

"Only if he came to Heaven again. If he committed suicide…"

"No way, Dean would not kill himself!" Bobby spat and Castiel finally moved a little, shifting his weight.

"Suicide by hunt is still suicide."

"But why? He'd know better than anyone that going to hell wouldn't reunite him with Sam, Sam's in the cage."

"No. The cage would only trap Lucifer, Sam would have fallen through."

"So why didn't you yank him out?" Bobby snarled.

"Why? He did what he was meant to."

"Get out! To think we all trusted you, you bastard! I only want to see you again if you have both brothers safe and sound." Bobby growled out and the angel vanished. Bobby slumped against the wall, fighting tears. He should have looked for Dean, made him come stay for a while; instead he may have lost both boys forever.

TBC…