A.N. And soooo...the end is near...la la la la, tum tee tum...

GROWING PAINS

- 6 -

Donna silently moved off the bed and stood herself behind the chair Sam had earlier been sat on, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, but not yet prepared to relinquish her role as Dean's specialist. Almost on autopilot, Sam took over the spot that Donna had just vacated, his complete attention on his brother, Donna's presence seemingly forgotten. Donna herself smiled as she saw how Dean's eyes immediately latched onto Sam, tracking his every move.

In the brief time she had spent with these brothers it had been obvious to her that the pair were close. But, seeing them now, how they looked at each other, how they spoke without words, how intensely focused they were on one another, to the exclusion of all else; here was a sibling bond like no other she had come across. Even the various sets of identical twins she had worked with during her career couldn't compare to what she was sensing between these two. As she watched, she found herself pondering on what might have happened to create such a powerful bond? Standing there, in that room, a part of her felt very much an intruder and that she should allow them their privacy. Her innate fascination with people, however, drove her to stay. It suddenly occurred to her that she was possibly being witness to something rarely shown to the outside world, and she recognised how privileged that made her.

Sam smiled as he gazed back at Dean and reached to comb his fingers through Dean's hair; afraid to touch him anywhere else, not wanting to cause him pain, but needing physical contact.
"Welcome back Dean. You honestly had me terrified for a while there."
"S'm?...How?"
"When you didn't come back, I went to the bar. One of the barmaids told me what had happened and I...Well, I guess I just kinda took it from there. I knew I'd got the right place when I saw the Impala."
Dean looked confused.
"You came? There?"
Sam nodded, conflicting emotions flooding through him.
"Yes. I saw him...what he was doing to you..."
Sam broke off, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. He felt the light touch of Dean's hand on his thigh.
"S'ok Sammy...S'ok my baby brother."

It was too much for Sam and he bent forward, placing his forehead against Dean's as he tried to hold back the tears.
"Oh God, Dean...What he did?...What he was going to do? And after, when you didn't respond. I'd lost you Dean, I'd lost you again even though you were right in front of me; and I thought, I thought I might never get you back, despite you being right next to me."
Through sheer determination, Dean ignored the level of hurt it caused, and slowly moved, curling his arm around his younger brother and resting his hand on Sam's back. It wasn't the most effective hug in the world, but it was no less full of love and concern for all that. For a while neither of them spoke, until eventually it was Dean's whispered words which broke the silence.
"You should'na killed him Sammy...was'n your fault though...you din' know."

At Dean's words, Sam pulled away, dislodging his brother's hand, until he could clearly see Dean's expression.
"Dean? What didn't I know? What do you mean?"
Dean reached up and stroked Sam's face, smiling softly up at his brother's confused expression.
"You din' know he was sick...not evil Sammy...just sick, you know? Innis head. He shoulda' been in hospital...he shoulda' been looked after...But s'not your fault, you din' know."
It wasn't common for Sam Winchester to pause and consider his responses, however, this was one of those rare moments. Finally, he spoke.
"You're right Dean, I didn't know. Thank you for seeing that, thank you for understanding."
Sleepy green eyes looked fondly up into tear filled hazel green ones.
"Don' cry Sammy...Don' cry...S'all ok...We're ok...No cry."

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A.N. Epilogue coming up next. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read "Growing Pains", I just hope I haven't let you down.

Chick xx