Sam had told Myrtle that he would be back with his brother during the day and made his move to leave. It was well past one in the morning and Sam felt that he had well outlived his stay.

Before she let Sam go, Myrtle disappeared into the kitchen and appeared a few moments again with an unopened box of English Breakfast teas. "You can share them with your brother."

"How did you know I had a brother?"

Sam had pointedly made the decision to not mention his brother the entire night until about half an hour before his departure when Myrtle asked about him.

Myrtle smiled as she led Sam to the door, "He followed you last night. I saw him lurking behind the trees watching over you even before I approached."

"Watching over me? How did you know he was my brother?"

"Body language, Sam, and don't be mad at him. I could tell he was concerned for you."

Sam sighed and smiled. "I won't be mad."

"There's a good boy," She threw Sam a playful smile and wished him well and watched him disappear into the night.

If there was a god, he had certainly been the one who had sent Myrtle into the Winchester's midst. On his way home Sam had tried to call Dean on his cell again to no avail. He's probably gone home with a woman he met at the bar. It wouldn't be the first time.

So, Sam didn't wait up for his brother figuring they wouldn't meet again until morning. The sooner he slept, the sooner Sam figured he'd be able to tell Dean about Myrtle in the morning. She was like a piece of treasure and Sam was very fond of his finding. In the few hours they had known each other Sam had taken a particular liking to this woman for all she was and all she represented.

Not too long after Sam had fallen asleep, Dean walked into their room expecting it to be bereft of his brother. So, the elder Winchester was surprised to see Sam passed out on his bed as if he'd been there for hours.

All the anger he had felt towards his little brother the entire night disappeared as he watched Sammy sleep. Dean couldn't remember the last time he's seen Sam slumber so soundly, so peacefully.

Dean moved forward and wrapped Sam up in the covers. No matter how large Sam may ever be and however peculiar taking care of him may look to strangers, it was always Dean's first priority. Doing so filled Dean will a sense of accomplishment more than almost everything else he did in his life.

Content that his brother was safe; Dean slipped into his own bed and fell into an easy sleep.

Nothing good ever lasts long, Sam found himself thinking when he awoke to a tremendous burning sensation in his arms. He sat up in a deep sweat and checked his body wondering if it was on fire but instead of being on fire he discovered that he was on the floor and his arms were glowing again and it was as if he was ending the trials all over again.

Standing, Sam propelled himself to the bathroom and didn't quite make it through the door before stumbling back onto the floor.

He heard something behind him but didn't bother to look. All Sam wanted was to make the pain stop. He sat up and tried to stand. He tried to force his limbs to straighten but he didn't seem to have enough energy.

Then a familiar face became visible before him. It was Dean; crouched in the floor, concern painting his face the elder Winchester said one heavy word, "Sammy?"

Sam showed Dean his arms and grunted under the throbbing fiery pain.

"What can I do, Sammy?" Dean normally kept it cool in tough situations, even in the direst of straights. Where Sammy was concerned, was another issue. Like Sam had said all those years ago: he was his brother's weak spot. "What can I do?"

It was hard for Sam to think and for a few minutes he had no idea what he wanted. What was up and what was down? His pain was quickly becoming much worse than the pain he had originally felt. Then, for a second, the fog cleared and he decided.

"Cold. I need cold water," he grimaced and then continued, "To the shower, Dean. Please."

Dean never had a problem carrying his little brother despite his size and if Sam wasn't about to pass out Sam would have been impressed as the elder Winchester helped him to the shower and ran the cold water.

Sam sat in the stream of water until the pain was gone and he shook with cold.

Dean wrapped a towel around his brother's shoulders just before Sam passed out right there in the wet shower.

When he woke in the morning, Sam was aware of the most uncomfortable damp sensation. In a few moments, he began to realize he'd never made it back to bed. Sitting up, removing the wet towel from around his shoulders, he saw Dean slumped over by the sink, fast asleep.

Sam contemplated staying where he was until Dean woke up but knowing his brother could sleep well past dawn, Sam decided he didn't want to be stationary for the best part of the day. So, he tried to stand up as quietly as possible. Unfortunately, thanks to his towering size, Sam was never the stealthy kind of guy and woke Dean up before he had even stepped out of the shower.

"Sammy?" Dean came too and took in his damp brother. "My god, you look like a skyscraper from down here."

Sam smiled, "Who is that? Did an ant just talk?" Sam squinted, pretending he couldn't see.

With a hand from Sam, Dean stood and regarded his brother more carefully, "You feeling better this morning, big guy?"

"Like it never happened."

Dean glowered at him, "Seriously."

"Seriously," Sam said with a shrug. It was the truth but Sam couldn't blame is brother for not believing him. "I promise. I feel like it never happened, Dean."

Dean relaxed a little. "Good." And exited the bathroom, "We have a big day a head of us and I need you on you're A-game."

"Dean." Sam called out from behind his brother and emerged from the bathroom himself.

His brother turned around, "What?"

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Dean waved his hand as an attempt to stop his brother from saying anything else.

"No really, Dean, I'd probably be dead years ago if it wasn't for you."

"You probably would."

Sam laughed knowing all to well that that was about as mushy his brother would get. Sam knew how much Dean hated these "chick-flick" moments so the younger Winchester decided to go find breakfast, "I've got to tell you about someone I met last night, Dean. She knows about the Angels."

Next: "Falling had been the most incredibly..."

"I didn't ask for this"

"Dean was throttling his mug"

"That woman you left behind?"