DISCLAIMER: Don't own Supernatural, Sam or Dean. I only use them for entertainment. They lead intriguing lives…
A/N: That was just an introductory chapter, so it was a little slow…it'll pick up its pace, so stick with me!
WARNINGS: As always, general Sam and Dean angst, hurt and emotions. I don't like the idea of Wincest, so you don't need to worry…rated T just to be safe.
Better the Devil you know:
Chapter two:
Dean yawned widely and checked his watch.
It was four o' clock in the morning, and he wasn't expecting Sam to wake up anytime soon.
So he got a shock when his younger brother called out for him.
"Dean…" his voice was low but laced with urgency.
"What is it bro?" Dean inquired, as he reached his brother in a matter of seconds.
"My head…ugh, its bad Dean," he said.
Dean swallowed heavily. His brother wasn't one for admitting his pain, unless it was really bad.
"I'm gonna get you to a hospital Sammy, just hold up," the eldest assured, getting to his feet.
Sam's hand flew out and grabbed Dean by the wrist. "No! No. Please no hospital. I'll be fine,"
"Sam, c'mon. Be reasonable! You have a concussion! It'll be a whole lot better for your health if you saw a doctor," Dean insisted.
"You're my doctor," Sam replied with a wan smile.
Dean snorted softly. "Sammy, stop being stubborn!"
"I can't, I get it from you,"
Well that much was true.
"Would you let me at least call a doctor here to check you out?" Dean asked.
"No, he'll just refer me to a hospital. I'll be okay Dean. I just need some aspirin,"
The eldest Winchester sighed. "All right, but if you get any worse, I'm taking your ass to a hospital," he said, retrieving some aspirin and a bottle of water. "Here you go bitch, down the hatch."
Sam swallowed the pills compliantly, then snuggled back down into the pillows.
"Go to sleep Dean, I'll be fine," he said before dropping off into a light and pain filled sleep.
But Dean couldn't. His brother wasn't out of the woods yet, and he couldn't risk falling asleep on the job.
When Sam woke again, he was feeling slightly better. He could also hear the constant tapping of eager fingers on the keyboard.
He may have been feeling better, but the annoying noise tore through his head like a freight train.
"Dean, can you please stop it with the typing," he asked.
Not expecting his brother awake, he jumped and turned around. "You're awake," he said.
"Yeah, great observation Sherlock. So are you. Speaking of which, have you actually been to sleep yet?" Asked Sam, struggling to sit up.
"I grabbed a few," said Dean, turning away to hide his face.
"Liar,"
And Sam could still read him like a book.
"I had to make sure your pansy ass didn't fall into a coma. I'm pretty sure that injury was bad enough for it," Dean said with a smile.
"Stop it with the melodrama! We've got a whole lotta other things to worry about than coma's, McQueen, so quit worrying," Sam shot back.
Dean just snorted. "So how you feelin' anyway kiddo?" he inquired.
Sam rolled his eyes. "A bit better, until I saw your ugly face. Now I want to be in a coma,"
Dean scoffed. "My ugly face? Dude, you sure you're not looking into a mirror? Because I, your devilishly charming older brother, could never be ugly!"
Sam laughed. "Of course not. 'Dean Michael Winchester, Gods gift to women,'" Sam teased.
The eldest winked. "Damn straight little brother. But you're a little off. I am God," Dean's face stretched into a wicked grin.
Sam repeated the eye roll. "Yeah, and I'm the devil's advocate…"
Dean's smile fell, and all humor was gone.
"Sam, don't even joke about that," he whispered.
"Oh come off it Dean, I'm over it. So what if one day one of those evil bastards gets into me. I've accepted it, so should you,"
Dean looked away, finding it hard to process the words that his brother was uttering, but what got him most, was the fact that he sounded so calm about it.
"Go back to sleep Sam, you could use the rest," Was all Dean could say.
"Dean…"
"Sleep, now." He growled, turning back to the laptop screen.
Moments later, Dean could hear his brother's gentle snoring. It was then he decided to let the tears that had been on the verge of falling for the last few minutes, spill down his cheeks.
If only I had've been a better brother, none of this would ever have happened. He thought to himself, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of his leather jacket.
Another voice in his head growled at him.
Suck it in Dean; you have a job to do.
He drew in a shaky breath, and did just that, before continuing his search on the Internet, for any possible hunts.
A restful sleep was no longer an option.
First he found himself floating, without a care, in the endless oblivion that was blissful unconsciousness, and now, he stood, overwhelmed by a furnace like heat.
His surroundings were rocky, and around him, angry flames licked, just about everything.
Tortured cries of agony echoed around the cavern.
"Samuel James Winchester…lovely to finally meet you," came a snakelike voice from behind him.
Sam spun on his feet and came face to face with the most hideous creature he had ever laid eyes on.
He was wearing a long black cloak over his gaunt frame, and jagged teeth protruded from thin lips much like a sharks.
His skin was burnt, blistered and bleeding, and his eyes were a deep red, full of hatred and malice.
Sam couldn't help his fear at the being that stood before him, and he knew he was shaking visibly.
"W-what do you want?" Sam inquired, trying to sound strong, but the squeak that came out was a far cry.
This just made the thing grin wider.
"Sammy, Sammy, Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. I thought you were intelligent! The side kick 'geek boy.' The brains of the Winchester bunch. I see now that I'm going to have to dignify you with an explanation, even if it does take up my precious 'torture the damned' time.
"Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose. You see; you and your brother are very special young men. Deanie boy may not show it, but he has a power too. He's just not worth my time…you, however; intrigue me. Most of the other children accepted their fates long ago to my most loyal advisor, my scout.
"But for some reason, you just wouldn't buckle…so I am deciding to take matters into my own hands. For now I will let you go, unharmed, but warned. Join willingly, or I will make you and your brother's life a misery. Now be off, but before you go, I want you to see someone…GIBBON!"
the being turned away from Sam and looked around, smiling when a Gollum-like creature slunk into their midst. "Yesssss masssster?" It hissed, its eyes hungrily on Sam.
"Bring him to me," he ordered.
"Yesssss of coursssee…" The creature loped away and was gone for a little over five minutes, before returning, dragging a misshapen lump behind him.
"This, Samuel…is what is left of your father…" the being explained as the small creature rolled the older man over. He groaned slightly, but his eyes were glued shut.
He also looked very much like the being before them. Burnt, scarred and bleeding.
Sam felt sick. "D-d-dad?" he stammered, tears forming in his eyes. He took a step forward, but an unseen force stopped him.
"I don't think so…its time to go back to Dean, but you will see your father again…goodbye!"
And with a lazy flick of his disfigured hand, sent Sam, screaming into oblivion….
A ragged scream tore his brothers lips, and he was by his side in seconds.
Dean slid to a halt by Sam's bed, and watched in fear as his sibling shook fitfully, a sheen of sweat forming on the younger Winchester.
"Come on bro, snap out of it!" Dean urged, shaking his brother.
Sam's eyes flew open, and he shot up, straight into Dean's arms.
"Dean…o-oh g-g-god…" Sam sobbed, his body shaking violently.
"Sam, was it a vision?" Dean asked firmly.
"I-I-I-think so," he stammered.
Dean waited for a few moments before pushing on. "Well?"
"I-I think I was in h-hell…Dean it was so hot…and the noises. They…" Sam choked on a fresh wave of tears.
"What Sammy? What did they do?" Dean asked, gripping his brother's shoulder, in what he hoped was comforting.
"They…" he swallowed the bile that was rising in his throat. He continued in a hushed whisper. "They showed me dad,"
Dean was silent, his heart beating faster.
"They showed me dad…and it was so horrible Dean! He's was so…"
Sam didn't finish. He swung out of bed, and rushed to the bathroom, making it to the toilet in time to throw up.
He hadn't eaten; so all that came up was stinging bile.
Dean stuck a flannel under the hot water tap for several seconds, and pressed it to the back of Sam's neck.
"Sammy, bro, are you okay?" Dean asked.
Sam looked up at his brother with fearful eyes.
He whimpered.
That definitely was not a Sam sound. Dean could feel his concern rising.
Dean crouched down and pulled his brother into a one armed hug. "Sammy, its okay…"
"No, its not Dean, I…oh god…I think I'm gonna…"
The youngest didn't finish his sentence. His head lolled forward and his body went limp in Dean's arms, indicating that he had passed out for the second time that night…
Well? Is it picking up? Getting better? I really hope you enjoyed reading it, cuz I enjoyed writing it. thanks to all who reviewed.