THEN:

Sam Winchester had prayed all his life. He believed in God and His angels. He prayed for his protection. He finally found the answer to that prayer as he lay bloody on the floor, his demon tainted blood pooling around him and darkness creeping around the edges. He was protected. From himself. Forever.

Sam prayed no more.

NOW:

Chapter 2

Dean Winchester loved only three things. Family, booze and girls. And oh, killing nasty dark things too. Since he was a little child he was only surrounded by these three things. Sam and his Dad were the only two people in the world he a damn about. Having a normal life with a single girl was not for someone like him. He didn't mind. He loved the no strings attached emotionless, heated sex with the unknown ladies of the different towns they travelled. They had a night. Two nights perhaps and then it were onto the next town without a backward glance. Many a times the ladies didn't mind. Sometimes they did.

Dean lost dad a few years back. It hurt bad to know that your father had sacrificed himself for you and suffered real hell. Dean had a firsthand experience of what his dad went through thanks to the self sacrificing trait that runs through the Winchesters. Not that he ever regrets what he did. Dean Winchester was a fucking SOB, strong and uncaring to the world. But when it comes to his little brother, all his defenses come loose and he is just that. A big brother. He cared for Sam since he was a little baby. Not Dad, not anyone else but only him. Dean fed him, kicked the bullies, and protected him from enemies both human and non human. It is his job and he always took it seriously.

Things changed when he was in hell. Sam undertook the 'I don't need anyone' mantra and became the hard ass hunter that everyone fears. He became dad. Dean always knew that his brother and his dad were very alike. They butted heads all their life. But towards the end, they were the same person. The independency helped Sam survive and cocooned himself behind barriers as high and unbreakable as Fort Knox. They didn't fall even when Dean came back. And Dean was too broken in his own trauma from hell to help his brother in any way.

The brothers made mistakes, fucked up things big time and now are trying to save the world that they doomed. His emo little brother had to take all the blame on himself as he always does and was brooding away. Dean was too self righteous and hurt over the choice his brother made over him to offer any kind of help to Sam. Sure, they were back together and hunting and Sam was trying to gain his trust back. But it was slow going and frustrating at times.

Which led him here in this dingy bar nursing his second beer today. They had finished a hunt, a simple salt and burn, and were ready to bid adios to the town. No wounds, no lives lost, a hunt successful. They were almost on their way towards being brothers again. Dean had wanted to celebrate this short success with a drink and some girl. Naturally his brother thought he didn't deserve any kind of happiness and was brooding away at the motel room. Dean had just wanted some downtime with his brother. But here he was, drinking alone where the waiters were not even hot. His mind kept telling him to go back and be there with Sam. He needed his big brother to be with him and help him. But Dean was lost. He didn't know what to say. Whenever his mouth opened, the wrong words came out and the already fragile relation between them got destroyed a little more. They both needed some time. They would be fine.

Yeah right. Once his internal big brother mind started whining about his choices regarding his brother, they didn't stop. He had to get back to Sam. Maybe they could go out and have some decent breakfast. There was a small café which displayed some tasty pancakes just outside their motel. Maybe he could stuff his brother's face with those and have a good laugh. With him. He paid the scowl faced bartender and got up with his leather jacket slung over one shoulder. The Impala was parked in the farthest corner of the parking lot. Few people milled about in the early morning heat.

A flutter of wings was his only warning before Castiel appeared directly before him as he was unlocking the door.

"Jesus Cas! Give a guy some warning, would you? And what are you-"

Dean was cut off by the angel's impatient voice inquiring urgently,

"Where is Sam?"

Dean frowned. Castiel was never particularly interested in his brother. In fact he always kept his distance and only talked with Dean.

"He is not here. Why? Do you have something for us?"

"Dean. We have to get to Sam. Now."

There was a sick feeling that was starting in his stomach. Castiel looked worried and pale. And he had never seen him display any kind of emotions before. Whatever had happened was bad. And it was related to Sam. He was already opening the door as he replied in an urgent tone,

"What the hell are you talking about? What happened?"

"I think Sam is in grave trouble." Castiel said grimly.

"What makes you think that?" Dean asked a tinge of fear lacing his tone as he turned the ignition and backed the car out of the lot. Cas didn't answer.

"Damnit Cas! Tell me what the fuck is happening?" The internal radar that usually signaled little brother in trouble was tingling like crazy. Dean cursed once again at the weak power of Castiel that didn't allow him to teleport someone. He wanted to get back to Sam Right Now. The sick feeling was getting heavier.

"Dean, the Enochian sign that I imprinted on your brother stopped working." Cas said in that same grim tone.

"So? Maybe it got scratched or something. Or maybe they lost their power!"

"No. Yours is still working. And even if the sign got torn, the power of it still lingers in the persons mind and body."

"Then what is this supposed to mean?" Dean did not want to know the answer. Judging by the panic inside him and the way Castiel was looking at him, it was not anything good.

"If the sign stops working completely, it means that person bearing it is….dead." Castiel said slowly.

"No" Dean growled. He was not going to believe this shit. Sam was fine. He was at the motel brooding about the hunt, the apocalypse, about every damn thing in the world. Castiel was just wrong. He wanted Cas to be wrong. Or else Dean will fucking lost it right her and right now. Despair was already moving in as he clutched the wheel tighter and pressed on the accelerator.

"I am sorry Dean" Cas said quietly from beside him.

"Shut up Cas." Dean growled. He didn't want to hear anything. He couldn't.

The motel finally came into view and Dean turned the wheel towards the room they had rented on the backside. He parked his baby roughly in the front of the room. He didn't wince at the rough treatment of the car. He had only thing on his mind.

GettoSamGetToSamGETTOSAM.

Castiel by his side, he fumbled and cursed at the door as his hands shook while opening it. Finally the lock turned and Dean kicked the door open and went inside.

The bright morning light fell through the two windows on one side in the small motel room. He remembered complaining about the pink wallpaper and the flowers which were decorated on the wall. Sam had rolled his eyes and had given a small smile before saying back with his own comment. For that brief time, they were passing snarky comments at each other and it felt like they were brothers again. They were content in each other's company.

Now that same pink wall had a bloody trail that led down towards the floor where his little brother was half lying

Pinned through his chest with an Angel blade.

Lying still and motionless in a big pool of dark red liquid.

Pale and gray.

Dead.