Hey y'all :):):)

Sorry for the slow update - been busy murdering people on my other fic lol

Thanks for reading and/or reviewing - I'm glad you're all enjoying it so far!

Hope y'all like this chapter!! :D

"What?" The word shot out of Dean's mouth before he could control it. How could this happen? No, this couldn't happen to them, it couldn't! Trying to reign in his raging emotions, Dean just listened quietly for the answer, unknowingly causing Sam to whimper under the vice-like grip he was maintaining on his arm.

Shuddering, the younger brother ignored the throbbing pain in his arm, only focusing on an area where he knew Dean would be. "I-I can't s-see…"

It felt like he'd been on the receiving end of a pile-drive, all of the air whooshing from his air in stunned silence. Expressive green eyes stared deeply into the two blank ones, searching somewhere for the lie, the joke that would turn this all into the messed-up fantasy of a concussed hunter.

A slight yelp drew him from his thoughts and he recoiled, the scrunched-up look of pain on his brother's face blocking out everything else. "Sammy? What is it?"

"Y-You're h-hurting me."

At the words, Dean's eyes dropped to his hand, the knuckles a bright white from clenching his fist tightly, near popping them out of joint. Realizing he had in fact near crushed Sam's bicep, he hastily withdrew, flexing his fingers in an attempt to rid himself of the numb feeling spreading through them.

"Sorry, sorry…" he mumbled weakly, instantly berating himself for once again causing his brother more pain. I'm so sorry, Sammy… Blinking rapidly, the rising tears threatening to spill over his brave façade, he studied Sam's broken expression. Those once warm eyes lacked the comfort Dean sorely needed, perhaps even a hint of forgiveness in the form of a sparkle: one of the few signs he knew to look for.

Instead he had to settle for a quiet: "It's o-ok," doing nothing to relieve his aching heart.

For a moment, both brothers sat in utter silence, trying to deal in their own small way. Dean's hand kept steady against Sam's still bleeding wound while the other hovered in front of his mouth: his one defense against the sting of bile lurking in his throat.

"D-Dean…?" Immediately, Dean's focus snapped back to Sam, seeing as his brow furrowed in concentration. The elder brother blanched. Concussion, shit!

"Yeah Sammy."

Sam swallowed, eyelids fluttering weakly, "Y-You ok?"

Dean bit back a sarcastic laugh at that. The damn kid was injured, not to mention blind: God no, Sam… and he was still asking if he was alright. He wanted to open his mouth and scream back, cry that he wasn't ok. How the hell could he be?! He was holding his little brother, his blind little brother in his arms, coated in his blood and he didn't know what to do.

But being a Winchester, he managed to force out the words, "I'm fine." He hoped for now that would appease any further questions.

He'd never felt so lost, so helpless in his entire life. He couldn't drive them out of there: he gulped back a sob at the thought of his devoured baby, the last piece of his father he'd been able to save and treasure. He couldn't defend them if something attacked: all the weapons were in the car when it exploded. He couldn't… wait! Shoving his hand into his jacket pocket, his fingers closed tightly around his cell, wrenching it free with added haste. The screen lit up at his touch, igniting the small flare of hope he'd managed to uncover… only for it to be dashed a moment later.

No signal… God damn it! Grumbling, angrily, he stuffed the cell away, resting his trembling hand atop Sam's mop of hair, stroking it softly.

"Dean… H-How's the c-car?"

Dean flinched, continuing his soothing motion. He tilted, accessing the still bleeding wound on Sam's abdomen, realizing that if he didn't stop the bleeding soon… He shook his head, not even wanting to contemplate it. This is so not good…

"D-Dean?"

Sniffing softly, Dean replied, "Not good, Sam."

There was a pause. "… S-She gonna m-make it?"

Despite himself, Dean managed a grateful smile. He knew at times Sam had found his love for the Impala, what's the word, disturbing, unnatural even, but when it came down to it, little brother had respected him for it and if anything, been truly understanding.

Sam had often made claims that Dean cared about the Impala more than him, but it couldn't be further from the truth. If there was a choice between saving the car or, saving Sam, the latter would win every time. Even, Dean thought to himself, if it meant losing the best part of a memory.

The elder brother sighed deeply, feeling Sam tense, knowing what was coming. "No, Sammy. Erm… s-she's not coming back from this one." He turned his head away, shame burning at his cheeks for letting his emotions get the better of him at a time like this. Sam needed medical attention, not another goddamned chick-flick moment.

Beneath him, Sam coughed, a deep rattling cough that shook Dean to the core, releasing more of his fear into the open. "I-I'm sorry man."

"Ssh, it's alright," Dean whispered softly, tugging Sam closer to him. "Wasn't your fault, dude."

Taking a deep breath, his chest heaving, Sam pinpointed Dean's position, his eyes staring into his big brother's as if for a second, he could actually still see. "H-Heard it…"

"What?"

"T-The explosion… thought y-you'd…" he broke off, shivering with both cold and horror. Dean closed his eyes sadly, resting his chin atop Sam's head, rocking him softly. Tears rolled from unseeing eyes as Sam sobbed, "T-Thought you'd l-left me."

"No never. I'd never leave you, Sammy," Dean assured him, worry growing ten-fold at the damp feeling in his hand as the shirt he was using had on Sam's wound had become saturated, blood dripping from it freely.

A harsh cough tore at his heartstrings once more, Sam's pain flowing through him as if it was his own. "I-I left you…"

Shaking his head, Dean tugged himself backwards, climbing into a crouch. "We're not starting this now, Sam. You hear me?" He watched Sam sag where he lay, absent of Dean's support, before he nodded once. "I need you to work with me here, ok kiddo?"

Again, Sam nodded, "W-Where we goin'?"

Dean winced, the slur in his brother's voice becoming more and more prominent with each passing second. I've gotta stop this bleeding! He looked around frantically, the still burning flames licking at his wrecked baby where she lay: a blackened crater marking her grave.

Spying a nearby tree, not too far from the wreckage but far enough should another explosion occur, grabbed the elder Winchester's attention and with a decisive nod, he leant over Sam, his concern unmasked, but thankfully, unseen. "Sammy?"

The eyes that had drifted half-closed, blinked wearily open again, following Dean's voice through the darkness. "Mmm…" he managed, the pull of unconsciousness taking its toll on him.

"Sam," a hand cupped his face, trying to keep his attention focused. "Ok, you gotta stay with me here. Alright?" A slight tilt of Sam's already drooping head was all he received. "I need you to keep pressure on your wound. Here…" Sam flinched as a hand suddenly grasped one of his own, but he relaxed, recognizing the coarse texture upon his. He waited patiently as his hand was guided before pressed down against a damp material resting on his stomach.

He could sense Dean's smile of approval as he pressed down, grimacing at the pain, but willing to trust his brother's judgment. Dean knew best – there was no doubting that.

"Good, Sam," came the praise from somewhere above him and his lips twitched slightly at the corners. "Now you keep that pressure on, alright?"

Shakily, the whisper crept from Sam's lips, weak but willing to assist Dean in any way possible. "Ok."

There was a shuffle from behind him before he felt two hands grip tightly under his arms, hoisting him upwards. He bit down hard on his lip at the agony, bursting white-hot through his body, but tried to bear it. Unwillingly, he pressed down harder on his wound, the dizziness aggravated his already warped senses.

Stay awake! Stay awake! He ordered himself, not wanting to let Dean down. He's depending on me. I have to do this…

He couldn't tell if he was upright, barely noticing as his feet were dragged along the floor, catching on twigs and leaves stranded along the forest floor. The deep panting of his brother above him was all he listened to, picking up on the edge of hurt that surrounded it. It was easy to recognize: the slight laboring between each inhale, the shakiness of each exhale, or the way that now and again, Dean's breathing hitched agonizingly.

Had he been granted the energy, Sam would have scowled and sworn out loud, but as it was, those words were only reserved for his own head. Lying bastard!

It seemed like forever as he was pulled along to his new resting place, but with each footstep, Sam felt his head lolling downwards, chin smacking against his chest. His hand still tightly gripped the blood-drenched shirt, but no longer was he keeping the pressure he needed on the wound to stop him from bleeding out. He was drifting, but even that wasn't as bad as knowing that with the one simple task he'd been given, he'd failed his brother…

He'd only made it a few steps before true fatigue was beginning to rear its ugly head. Dean shook it off with a growl, his chest heaving as he dragged his little brother's body along the floor. His side screamed in protest and already he could feel fresh blood running through his shirt, staining it mercilessly.

Shaking it off easily, his concern only residing on Sam, he kept up his efforts, awkwardly tugging Sam along with him. Ok, so the transportation method wasn't practical, but a fireman's carry was a huge no-no. Ignoring the fact that it alone could probably kill Sam, what with his torn open stomach and possible broken ribs, but Dean didn't have the strength to lift his brother. Had he tried and if they both ended up going down, it seemed unlikely that either of them would be able to get back up again.

"God, Sam," he panted weakly, his chest heaving with the effort. "For all that healthy crap you eat, you sure weigh a lot." It wasn't necessarily true. But, Sam's height did make him insanely difficult to lift: he was a human slinky, just all limbs.

Dean knew that Sam hadn't been eating right, not since he'd made the damn deal. The countless nights he'd caught Sam wide awake, typing erratically into the laptop, getting zero sleep and then refusing any food in the morning. It played on Dean's last nerve and he'd just been waiting fearfully for the day when Sam would simply keel over from malnourishment.

Stupid ass, he murmured to himself, his rasping breaths slowing him down considerably. Not that you weren't a string bean in the first place, but this is getting ridiculous.

He almost jumped in surprise as his back collided with the bark of his selected tree, and he breathed deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. His gaze dropped to the limp form in his grasp, fear peeking at the sight of Sam's head drooping against his chest, face covered by long, unruly bangs.

"Shit!" he exclaimed, carefully sidestepping around Sam's body and resting the kid's back carefully up against the tree's sturdy trunk. Drawing in deep refreshing breaths, Dean dropped to a crouch in front of his brother, brushing the dark hair aside, revealing tightly closed eyes.

"Sam," he coaxed, lightly tapping the side of his brother's face, trying to instill a reaction. None came. Shifting in his position, he moved closer, pressing his own hand back over Sam's in its abandoned duty on his bleeding abdomen.

Again, he tapped his brother's face, slightly harder than before. "Sam, come on buddy. Wake up for me."

Sam's head listed to the side lifelessly, falling away from Dean's touch. "No!" Both hands reached up, grabbing the sides of Sam's face, green eyes tearful as Dean pleaded. "Sammy! Open your eyes, please! Don't do this to me, Sam. Sammy?"

A groan stopped his mantra mid-sentence, his gaze hopeful, watching Sam's eyes flicker slightly. "That's it, Sammy. Come on back to me, kiddo."

Hesitantly, Sam opened his eyes, once again greeted with nothing but the darkness. His hand shot up with surprising speed, stopping directly before the side of Dean's face, ignoring the elder brother's wince of shocked apprehension, as it rested there comfortingly.

"D-Dean…" He trembled, his fingers rubbing back and forth across his brother's face, feeling the rough stubble as he brushed over it lovingly.

Dean exhaled in relief, leaning into the touch Sam provided, "Thank God, Sam." One of his hands returned to the wound, continuing to assist Sam in providing pressure while the other fell to Sam's shoulder, squeezing gently. "You back with me now?"

Nodding, struggling to keep his eyes wide, Sam's hand persisted to run up and down the side of Dean's face, almost as if he was looking for something. Remaining perfectly still, Dean permitted the exploration, knowing that in his time of desperation, this was something Sam needed.

"Y-You didn't t-tell me y-you were hurt," Sam ground out, his fingers now roaming Dean's brow, feeling a rough bump on his head, matted with dried blood.

Dean shrugged, trying to avoid burdening his brother with anymore hardship. "Yeah, ok. A bump on the head, but nothing seri…"

"I-I h-heard it when y-you were p-pulling me."

Frowning, Dean began, "I don't…"

"Y-Your breathing, D-Dean," Sam whispered, his energy fading rapidly, thoughts becoming less coherent as his concussion fully took its toll. "U-Uneven… p-pained…"

Dean's eyes narrowed, suspiciously. How the hell'd he pick up on that? But then again, impaired senses and all: one sense goes, others become more enhanced. A slight smirk crept onto his pale face, his pride at his brother shining strong, "So what, you got super-hearing now?"

With a snort, Sam's head fell to his side with a thud, his moments of strength now diminished. A harsh chuckle, combined with a rasping cough escaped him. "J-Jealous…"

"Me?!" Dean spat out, trying to sound offended. It failed as Sam managed, even in his weakened state, a Sam Winchester style eye-roll. "Fine, whatever, Batman."

Sam just shook his head, smiling tiredly. Batman doesn't even have super-hearing, Dean. His eyes began to close, finally succumbing to the abyss when something slapped against his cheek. His eyes widened in surprise, unable to see his opponent but still instantly alert.

"Stay awake, Sam."

And somehow Sam felt he could. Perhaps the lucidity at being hit by an unseen attack had sparked something in him: an instinctual sense to survive perhaps, making him more aware, maybe even paranoid.

He couldn't really make out Dean's following words, but the last three: "Be right back", ripped at him and, panic rising within him, he lunged forwards, forgetting for a moment about his wound as he grabbed onto Dean's shirt, clinging on for dear life.

"Whoa Sam!" Dean exclaimed, nearly falling backwards with the force of a 6'4 juggernaut colliding with him. Finding his balance, he gently attempting to pry Sam's clamped fingers from his shirt, feeling the tremors running through his little brother's frame.

"Sam, it's ok," he soothed, finally free of the tightened hands, clutching them tightly in his own.

Terrified, tears shining in his eyes, Sam shook his head, squeezing Dean's hands tightly. "N-N-No… P-Please don't g-go!"

Oh and how Dean's heart felt like breaking right there and then. As he looked sadly at his brother's huddled form, taking in how much he seemed like an abandoned puppy left outside in the dark, he wanted nothing more than to break the rules he had set and wrench Sam into a hug.

As it was, that would have just been dangerous for the both of them, so, with a heart-filled sigh, Dean leant forwards, his forehead touching Sam's softly as he allowed their contact to comfort both of them.

Exhaling slowly, Sam felt his brother's warm breath pass over his face, unspoken words of 'I love you' whispering over his ears. "Sam, you have to trust me. I promise you, I won't leave. I just need to grab some stuff from the…" Dean paused, sadly. "From around the Impala, then I'll come right back to you."

A tear rolled down Sam's cheek and he felt one of Dean's fingers lift up, brushing it calmly away. "O-Ok, Dean."

"Ok," Dean smiled, proud of his little brother's unwavering bravery. Hesitantly, he pulled away, feeling the increased grip of his brother's hand on his own as he did so. Sighing, he detached the long fingers locked around his hand and backed away.

As he stood up, he heard a soft mutter and watched as Sam's gaze studied him up and down. "Sam?"

The younger brother sighed deeply, resting his head back against the tree trunk. "Y-You're l-light…" came the gentle sound, causing Dean to frown in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Sam smiled, blank eyes shimmering with devotion to the man before him. "T-There's s-shadows… it's a-all I can s-see: m-moving shadows. But with y-you, t-there's l-light, shining, g-guiding me." Dean raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "I… I think y-you're my l-light, Dean."

From where he stood, one hand trailing near his injured side, Dean couldn't help but gape in surprise. How…? His brother could see him? Everything else was moving shadows, but then, there was a light… I'm Sammy's light?

Lips upturning, Dean turned away, wincing at the radiating pain in his side as he limped away, searching through the destruction of his faithful baby for anything left behind. And even as he cut his hands on sharp shards of metal, or burnt his skin of still flickering flames, his smile never faltered.

Sam listened as his brother walked away, his glassy eyes following the bright light as it went. He didn't fail to notice, that at his words, the light seemed to shine just that little bit brighter before it drifted away…

Erm... well, I don't think I've limped Sammy enough yet or angstied (?) Dean enough either so... -rubs hands together- I'm thinking lol

Please leave me a review and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your opinion on whether I should hurt Sam/Dean more, have more chick-flicky moments... whatever you think :P

Hugs, Ami-Rose x x x x x