I Won't Let You Fall
Over the years, Dean's always been there for Sam. Hurt/comfort, angst, whump, and brotherly love.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural, or any of the characters in this story. Story title is from Nickelback's song "Never Gonna Be Alone," which I don't own either.
A/N: Thanks Shannanigans for reviewing and leaving a request, I will try to get it written for you soon! As for this chapter, it's the longest one so far, but I'm not real happy with how it turned out, and I'm posting it anyway before I can change my mind.
Chapter Four: Trust Me, Dean
(Dean: 19 – Sam: 15)
"Dean."
Sam's exasperated, and the look on his face is pure frustration. Dean just shakes his head and pulls his arm closer to his chest, clutching it protectively with his other hand.
"Just wait for Dad," Dean repeats for the hundredth time.
"Dean, your shoulder..."
Dean almost snarls, lips twisting and rising, but it turns into a grimace instead.
"I know." And there's venom in his voice.
Sam moves closer, slowly, like he's worried Dean's going to run, hands up in a nonthreatening manner, but Dean can see the first aid kit open on the bed behind him, contents strewn over the blanket, and Sam seems very threatening.
"Dean, c'mon. Dad showed me how to do it."
He smiles, a hesitant, crooked grin. Dean shakes his head again, steps back, trying to keep his distance.
"No."
Sam doesn't give up. He loses the smile and tries to stare Dean down. Good luck to him, Dean thinks, glaring back at his little brother. Sam huffs, his too-long hair falling across his eyes.
"Deeeaaan…" Sam draws out the name like a teenage girl, and Dean imagines the eye roll that would usually accompany such a tone in a chick.
"No."
Sam frowns, shifts his weight, looks up at Dean with those pathetic lost puppy eyes that he knows Dean can't say no to. And Dean can't. Can't keep saying no when Sam's gazing at him with those huge hazel eyes, silently begging Dean trust me. Sam knows when Dean's giving in, and he can't help the triumphant grin that shows all his teeth when Dean's glare softens.
"Come here. Sit on the bed."
And just like that, Dean's perched on the edge of the hard mattress, and Sam's all nervous energy he's trying to hide. His hands are on Dean's shoulder when he hesitates, wide eyes darting around the motel room, landing on the door like he's finally realizing he can't do this and how much they need Dad to be there.
"Sammy," Dean says firmly, and Sam's eyes flick back to his.
"Y-yeah. I know."
Dean tries to relax, but he knows it's going to hurt, and that he'll scream and Sam will feel awful for hurting him, which is the reason Dean wanted to wait for their dad to get back. He hates to see the guilt plastered on his little brother's face every time Sam has to patch him up. But Dean's not stupid – he knows his shoulder needs to be popped back in sooner rather than later, and Sam's the only one who can do it. But Sam doesn't move.
"You wanna… bite something? While I do this, like, uh, I could get a…"
Sam's trying to put it off, stalling. For all his bravado, now that it's come down to the actual moment, he's terrified and it's showing.
"Just do it!" Dean snaps, too tired and hurting to be gentle.
Dean's not expecting Sam to actually go through with it, and the sudden agony catches him by surprise. His teeth are clenched, but the yell still forces its way out and he thinks he's gonna be sick, and then the world goes dark and hazy. Sam's freakishly long arms wrap around him, lowering him to the bed, the back of his head dropping into a too flat pillow.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he hears Sam mumbling over and over.
Sam's shaking as he pulls Dean's boots off, pulls the blankets over him. Dean fights his way out of the haze.
"Sam… This is your bed."
He struggles to sit up, blinking away the darkness, winces at the pain in his shoulder. Sam pushes him down, and he's strong.
"I've gotta be closer to the door, Sammy. I gotta protect you."
Did he just say that? The pain must be messing with his head. Dad's drummed it into his head so often – watch out for Sammy – but he's not sure why he said it out loud.
"Not tonight, Dean. You're injured, man. C'mon, just let me protect you. Just for tonight, Dean. Please."
Dean stills, green eyes gazing into hazel, and then he gives in. He's too tired to fight.
"Ok. Just for tonight."
Sam nods.
"Check the salt line."
Sam checks them.
"They're all good."
Dean tries to raise himself up on one elbow to see for himself, but Sam pushes him down.
"Trust me, Dean."
But this time it's not the puppy eyes that Sam's staring at him with. There's confidence and determination and I'll protect you, Dean in the brown-green depths instead. Dean closes his eyes, one hand by his side, the other draped across his stomach. His next words are slurred, but he forces them out anyway.
"When Dad gets in, have him check the lines too. Just in case you broke 'em with those giant feet of yours and didn't notice coz you're so freakin' tall."
It's the best insult his fuzzy brain can come up with.
"Dean…" and Dean doesn't have to open his eyes to know what look Sam's giving him this time.
END
A/N: Of course it goes both ways - Dean's there for Sam, and Sam's there for Dean. And no, I've never had a dislocated anything, so please forgive any errors. And please review!