Two weeks later-

"Hey get this, three inmates at a jail in Platteville, Wisconsin have hanged themselves all within a three week period; seems a little odd." Sam turned his laptop around to Dean.

"Yeah, what you thinking? Spirit, maybe?" Dean began to scroll through the article.

"Yeah, that would be our best bet." Sam stood up from the table and wondered off to the motel kitchen to grab a beer and one for his brother too.

"So some poor bastard took the noose and is now haunting the place. Any connection between the vics?" Dean asked as he took a beer from Sam.

"Uh, yeah they were all female, hung themselves within a month and twenty odd days of being locked up. Other than that, they were different ages and convicted for different crimes." Dean sat back on his chair and rubbed his temples.

"Great. Just great. Looks like we're going to have to do some research Sammy boy." Dean took a large swig of his beer before placing it back onto the motel table.

"Dean…how are you doing lately? With you know…" It was an awkward topic to bring up but Sam had put off talking to his brother about it for a long time now and he was afraid that his brother was having a hard time; Sam had noticed that his brother was drinking a lot more than he did before.

"Ohh, that. Well everything's just peachy Sam." He said sarcastically.

"I'm just trying to help you." Sam had good intentions, he really wanted his brother to be over this but it seemed that it would be quite a difficult thing to do.

"Yeah well…it's not helping. I'd just appreciate it if you didn't bring it up again." Dean grew angry at himself, unlike before where he knew that his feelings were wrong; he had never hated himself for having them but since his feelings were exposed he couldn't help but resent himself for putting this onto Sam.

"It's not just going to go away if you keep quiet, you know that." Things always got worse between them when they would keep things from each other. It seemed to usually result in an argument.

"I get that Sam, I really do. I've actually been thinking about going to work with Bobby for a while to get my head straight because seeing you every day like this doesn't help." Waking up to Sam sleeping in the next bed, getting up and eating with his brother, riding in the Sam car and working jobs alongside each other was stressful.

"If it'd help then I'm not stopping you. I know I'm always going to be here when you get back." Dean's heart broke listening to Sam send him away, he'd hoped that his brother would fight for him to stay by his side and they'd work through it together but he didn't expect it; that's not to say he wasn't upset with his brother.

"Yeah? Why don't you go work on the case and I'll go down to Bobbies?" He suggested.

"Yeah, it's only a simple salt and burn. Just take as long as you need." Sam was sure that this was the best way for his brother to 'get better'. Like when Sam was addicted to demon blood Dean locked him up and prevented him from drinking it. This is what Dean needed; to spend as much time away from Sam as possible so Dean could get over his feelings.

"Right. Well you can take my car, just drive carefully. You hurt my baby and I'll kill you!" Dean handed Sam the impala's car keys, his face was filled with regret, when Dean had given Sam his car when he went to hell Sam had installed an iPod and threw away most of Dean's cassette tapes.

"Dean, I know the drill." Sam didn't worship the car as much as Dean did and he didn't feel like a king whilst riding it but it was his brother's most prized possession; his pride and joy. "It's going to take like twenty two hours to get to Bobby's from here. Do you want me to go with you?" It did take a while to get to Bobby's from Long Island where they had just finished working a case.

"Dude, I'm almost thirty. I think I can survive on the road by myself." Dean would miss his brother and that was the truth but he had to make a break and go solo for a while.

"No, I understand. Why don't we go and get some food? You hungry?" The conversation had grown a little awkward and Sam had to change topic.

"Starving." Sam and Dean went to the diner down the road that claimed to make 'the best cherry pie know to man' or so it said in giant red letters printed on the window. Sam ordered the cob salad with a black coffee and Dean ordered a bacon cheese burger with a large helping of cherry pie. Dean agreed, it was the best cherry pie he'd ever tasted there was no question.

It was a little past two in the morning and Dean was up, he was ready; boots on and his duffle bag flung over one shoulder. The truth was that he wasn't going to Bobby's in fact he didn't know where to go, he just wanted out. So he packed his bag whilst Sam was sleeping. Dean now stood over Sam's bed and looked over him like a guardian angel. And he whispered, "I'm sorry." Into the silence of the motel room. Sam didn't stir or even twitch, was fast asleep. Dean wished that he could stay but the way he thought of it was that Sam would be better off without him, for a while at least; even if he had to constantly lie to his brother it would be better than staying by his side being nothing but a burden. Dean glanced upon Sam's face for the last time; memorising the shape of his brother's lips and the angle of his brother's nose, the way Sam's hair fell across face; beautifully and effortlessly. He'd miss it that was for sure; but this was the best way, for now at least. Dean left his cell phone on the bed side table and walked over to the door. A single and solemn tear rolled down Dean's cheek as his lips began to quiver. He reached for the door knob, freezing momentarily as the thought of Sam waking up to an empty bed by his side made his heart feel tight. Still he persisted, "Bye Sammy." Dean left and shut the motel door behind himself.