Dean's eyes opened slowly. His breath seemed to be stolen from his lungs, and he could hear a ringing sound in his ears, unable to hear anything else. Dean found himself pushing himself past people, trying to reach his little brother.
His little brother.
Dean looked up and saw Sam glancing back at him, unshed tears in his eyes and the brown orbs filled to the brim with fear. Peacekeepers were coming for him, and suddenly Dean found himself running; though everything was happening in slow motion. A peacekeeper came forward to stop Dean, but Dean punched him in the face and kept going. Too soon though, Dean was surrounded by peacekeepers and they had all jumped him, holding him down to the ground as he tried to throw them off because they were keeping him from Sam.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"
Dean screamed, his throat hurting as he forced those words out of his mouth; Dean wasn't even aware that he had been screaming until then. The peacekeepers let go of Dean, and Dean marched up to the front.
"DEAN NO!"
Sam screamed, reaching out to his elder brother, but Dean had to force himself to ignore Sam, no matter how much it hurt his heart to. "Sam let go of me!" Dean hissed as Sam latched himself onto Dean's waist. "NO DEAN, YOU CAN'T GO! I NEED YOU HERE! PLEASE NO, DEAN!"
Sam screamed, and Dean was grateful for Cas when he came up and unlatched Sam from Dean's waist. "Go Winchester, I've got him." Cas said softly, but Dean was able to hear it over Sam's wailing. Dean nodded his gratitude to Cas before marching up the steps to the stage.
"My, my, what interesting events! Tell me, what's your name?"
"Dean Winchester."
Becky smiled her brightest smile. "I'll bet anything that was your brother, wasn't it!" Dean glared at the perky girl. "What do YOU think?" Dean asked, venom dropping from his voice. Becky looked taken aback but fixed her bright, fake smile again.
"Well District 12, here are your new tributes!"
Becky turned back to the younger children. "Now shake hands." Charlie shyly stuck out her hand and Dean took it roughly, giving the handshake two fast pumps and then pulling back his hand.
His eyes were set and determined, filled with anger and the lust for blood. Dean would do whatever it took to get back to his Sammy.
He had to, there was no other choice.
x.x.x
Dean had his back straight and his hands curled into tight fists on his knees. He didn't dare to lean back in his plush chair, and nor did he take a moment to look around the room and the many things inside that Dean could never afford in his whole time of living. No, Dean kept his mind focused on one thing, and one thing only; Sam.
"You get ten minutes."
The door to the room opened suddenly and Sam was pushed inside. Dean immediately stood up and caught Sam as he ran and jumped into his arms. Dean held Sam tightly, closing his eyes and burying his face into Sam's hair as Sam sobbed against his chest.
"You shouldn't have done it Dean, you shouldn't have done it."
Dean pulled away from Sam so he could stare into Sam's eyes. "Of course I should have done it Sam. You mean everything to me, and I won't let you be thrown into an arena." As Dean spoke he was gently smoothing down Sam's long hair. Sam swallowed harshly.
"Promise to come back home?"
Sam asked, his big, brown eyes staring into Dean's emerald green ones. "Promise Sam." Sam held up a pinky finger. "Pinky promise?" He asked, pouring slightly. Dean smiled and hooked Sam's finger with his.
"Pinky promise."
Sam smiled and went into his shirt, pulling out a necklace. "You're allowed to take one item from home as long as its not a weapon, so I want you to take this." Sam put the necklace around Dean's neck and Dean smiled.
"I want that back by the way, and I want you to give it to me, I don't want it back in a big box, okay?"
Dean smiled again and hugged his brother. "Okay Sam." Sam hugged back tighter. "You have to win Dean. Win, and come home." Sam whispered in Dean's ear, and Dean could feel tears on his ear. Dean nodded and pulled away from the younger boy. "I will Sammy. Promise. But until then, Cas will take care of you. He'll be sure to feed you and make sure the house stays warm. And I've already told him about you sometimes have nightmares, so he's already agreed that if you ask him, he'll sleep with you okay? But you have to be sure to ask him. And if you need meat, go to Jo. She and I already made a deal that she'll give you some meat. If you want to go to the forest to get some berries, be sure to go with Cas; he knows the forest better than I do, so he'll keep you safe."
Sam nodded seriously. "I've got it Dean, don't worry about me. You're better with a knife than anything, so if you can get yourself a knife you'll be golden. Find shelter in trees, there will always be trees and the trees always offer guidance. Remember what dad taught you; people are just like animals, except they have feelings. In this case though, be sure not to think of them as people, and just them as animals."
Dean nodded and hugged Sam once more. "I don't want you to watch parts where I kill someone, okay? Look away whenever I get into a fight. Promise me." Sam hugged Dean tighter.
"I promise Dean."
Just then the doors opened and a peacekeeper stood there. "Times up." He said gruffly. Dean gave Sam one last hug. "Bitch." Dean said softly into Sam's ear.
"Jerk."
Sam replied just as soft. Dean let go of Sam and Sam went with the peacekeeper, looking back once more at Dean as the door shut, leaving Dean alone once more.