June 2011, Somewhere in Texas.
It was easily a hundred degrees, and Dean was hot sweaty and irritable. The latest stupid car they had stolen had no air conditioning, and that was the only reason Dean decided to stop at the first motel he saw.
Sam said nothing as he pulled into the parking lot, he just sat with his thumb rubbing against that cut on his hand, Dean had learned to ignore it, everything in him wanted to stop Sam from hurting himself, but Sam had to cope somehow, and this was the only way they could figure out.
The room was nothing special, just two beds, a microwave, a ridiculously small bathroom, but it had an air conditioner so Dean was happy. He turned it on, and pulled some clothes out of his bag.
"I'm gonna go shower, and then I am going to pass out until another world ending disaster happens." Sam tilted his head and smiled.
"You mean like Leviathans trying to eat us?" Dean snorted.
"They can wait ten hours…. Maybe even twelve." Sam laughed and Dean went into the bathroom, running a cool shower and savoring the feeling against his over heated skin. He pulled on some boxers and a tshirt and made his way back into the room. Sam was laying on his bed staring at the ceiling, and Dean frowned when he saw that the air conditioner was switched off.
"Sammy? Did you turn this off?" Sam blinked slowly and looked over at Dean.
"Yeah."
"Why?" Sam frowned and his eyes flicked to the corner before going back to Dean.
"I don't like the cold." Dean rolled his eyes; he hadn't heard that complaint in a long time.
"Dude we're in Texas, and it is a million degrees out, you can deal with the air conditioning." Dean flicked the air back on and lay down on the bed. "Good night Sam." Sam let out a shaky breath and pressed down hard on the cut on his hand.
"Good night Dean."
Dean woke up to whimpering, and he tightened his grip around the knife he kept under his pillow, and stood up. Sam was huddled against the far wall, seeing no immediate threat Dean moved around the bed, and kneeled beside Sam, who had his knees pulled tightly against his chest.
"Sammy? Are you with me?" Sam flinched and attempted to pull himself tighter.
"S'not real…"
"Sammy, I'm right here." Dean reached out and touched Sam's arm and Sam screamed.
"Please stop… don't be Dean… be anybody but Dean…" Dean's heart dropped, and he did something he rarely did, he reached for Sam's hand and squeezed, pushing on the gash that never seemed to quite heal. Sam winced and then his eyes focused on Dean.
"You okay buddy?"
"D-d-dean?"
"Right here Sammy?"
"S'so cold Dean… why is it so cold?" Dean frowned.
"It isn't that cold Sam, it's just the AC…" Sam shook his head frantically.
"It's cold Dean… Lucifer is cold." Dean tensed as he remembered Detroit, and Lucifer telling them he burned cold.
"Jesus Christ Sammy… okay hang on." Dean slipped on a tshirt and a pair of jeans, and lifted Sam up from the ground and dragged him awkwardly through the room and out the door, placing him on the curb and sitting down beside him. Sam continued to shiver.
"You feel that little brother? It's hot out here, you aren't there anymore." Sam nodded.
"Yeah its warm…" Sam blushed suddenly and hid behind his hair. "I'm sorry Dean…"
"It's okay Sammy… I didn't know, I thought you were just being a pain in the ass like you were when you were a kid." Sam laughed.
"I really never liked the cold… but now… it just brings everything back…"
"It's okay kid, you don't ever have to apologize for any of the hell stuff…"
"Thanks Dean…"
"Anytime little brother, anytime."
