'You going somewhere, Dean?' Bobby asked, exiting the house to stand beside the Impala where Dean was loading his and Sam's duffels into the trunk.

Dean kept his eyes focused on the job, practically ignoring the older man.

'When Sam nose-dives into the Cage, I won't be hanging around, Bobby. I'll need time on my own. Just getting my stuff ready. I want to have Sam's things with me too.'

'Dean, you can stay here as long as you want. You know that. Maybe going off on your own isn't such a good idea.'

'You afraid I'm gonna put a gun to my head, Bobby? I sure wouldn't be bothered packing the Impala if that were the case.'

Dean turned to stare at him. 'Without Sam, I have nothing. Don't know where that nothing's gonna take me. All I DO know is that it's far away from here.'

:

With that, he got back to rummaging in the trunk, giving his back to Bobby who with a sigh turned and walked back into the house.

The Impala was ready, now all Dean had to do was get hold of his brother and pack him into the car.

As if Sam had received a telepathic signal, he appeared in Bobby's doorway.

'Hey, Dean. You want a beer?' The younger man came forward, two Buds in hand.

Dean's heart clenched. His baby brother was still going for the 'I'm fine with this, you have to be too,' vibe. Not that it mattered any more. The only place Sam was going was into the Impala.

'Yeah, thanks, a beer's just what I need,' Dean declared, reaching out his hand to take one of the cans.

Opening the passenger door, he sank down on the leather seat, his boots scuffing the ground as he drank down the cool liquid.

Sam towered over him, a melancholy expression on his face. 'Bobby told me you're packing up the car. You're not staying after I…...?'

'No, Sam,' Dean interrupted curtly. 'I'm not staying. Don't know where I'm gonna go…. whatever.'

'Please Dean. I want you to have something for yourself after I'm gone. I need to believe you'll be okay. Maybe find a girl, go live the apple-pie life.'

:

A sarcastic huff was Dean's flat response. 'Sorry Sam. That's never going to happen. It's gonna take time for me to come to terms with losing you.'

He lobbed the now empty beer can through the broken windscreen of a nearby junked car and stood up.

'What you say we take one last run in the Impala, little brother? Before Cass and Crowley get back with the blood.'

Sam shook his head. Getting back into the Impala would be the last straw to completely demolish his carefully constructed façade of trying to be brave for his big brother.

'S'not a good idea, Dean. I'd rather just hang out here.' Sam tried for cool and collected but fell woefully short.

Dean shrugged, stood up and faced his brother. It was time to leave Singer's yard in the Impala's rearview mirror.

'Sorry, Sammy." He laid a punch on Sam's jaw, strong enough to put him out, catching his brother in his arms as he tottered like a felled oak, directing his limp body into the passenger seat, tucking in his legs and closing the door.

The roar of the Impala's engine brought Bobby to the front door. With a heavy sigh, he watched the car speed off down the drive, before retreating back inside. Dean had probably persuaded his brother to go for a last spin.

Though his heart ached for the two Winchesters, when you came down to basics, it was the life of one man against those of many. Sam's sacrifice would avert the Apocalypse, always assuming he could overcome Lucifer and force him into the Cage.

The suspicion that Dean had effectively kidnapped his own brother didn't register with him, not until one angel and one demon returned with gallons of demon blood.

Bobby came out to meet them, staring bemused at the containers filled with red liquid.

'How many demons did you kill?' he asked. 'Surely Sam doesn't have to drink all that?'

'Always better to stock up,' Crowley replied with a shrug.

'Where are Sam and Dean?' Castiel asked. 'How are they holding up?'

Bobby sighed. 'Dean's feeling it most. His brother's trying to console him, but I guess nothing's gonna do that. Once Sam's gone I doubt we'll ever set eyes on Dean again. They took off in the Impala a while ago. Guess they still got things to say to each other before Sam faces Lucifer.'

Nobody commented. There was nothing to say.

The human, angel and demon made their way into the house to wait for the brothers' return.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dean drove like a mad thing until he noticed Sam's leg give a twitch, a sure sign his brother was about to come to.

He pulled into the roadside, hoping no-one back in the junk yard had yet twigged to the fact that the Winchesters weren't coming back.

Pulling out two pairs of handcuffs, he snapped one around each of Sam's wrists, leaning over to attach the extremities to the arm rest on the passenger door. It would have to do for now, until Dean found a place to hole up.

When Sam came around, his brother would be pissed. Better to take precautions!

tbc