A/N: the start of this chapter only because Sam in pyjamas is an unbelievably cute image.

Still own nothing, just Alex, who, if you're interested, in my mind (which, bear in mind is full of string, fluff and that one bus ticket you always find down the back of the sofa, regardless of the last time you actually took a bus) looks like Hugh Jackman.

Thanks to my reviewers Lover-Fighter-Writer, night-star-93 and Touch of the Wind!

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You're never gonna be alone
From this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go
I won't let you fall
You're never gonna be alone
I'll hold you 'till the hurt is gone

Never Gonna Be Alone- Nickelback

Dean froze, mouth agape. 'Azazel?' he said, not liking the sound of the word in his mouth. It sounded wrong, dirty somehow.

Alex nodded, flicking ash from the end of his fresh cigarette. 'From Jewish or Islamic mythology, means rugged power, one of the chief demons in the Cabala. Leviticus sixteen eight to ten; 'and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.' By all accounts, a bad ass, even among demons.'

Dean looked at him curiously. 'You know your demon lore. Does that mean I'm gonna have two smartasses following me around all the time now? Sammy was bad enough, but-'

'Sammy was bad enough for what?' A sleepy voice came from the door to the room and they both turned to face Sam, clad only in a pair of cotton drawstring pants.

'Nothin', Dean said gruffly. 'Go back to bed.'

Sam's face hardened, and Dean swore he actually pouted a little bit, as he folded his arms. 'You're not the boss of me.'

'Quit with the bitchface, kid,' Alex added, before finishing his smoke and heading back inside. 'The wind'll change and it'll stay that way.' He patted him on the shoulder as he pulled the door ajar so the brothers could talk.

'You know, you don't have to treat me like a little kid anymore. I'm twenty two, I can look after myself.'

Dean snorted. 'Apparently not, since you were, you know, basically on fire back at Stanford. If me and Alex hadn't pulled your ass outta there when we did…' He trailed off, not wanting to think about it. What his brother said next completely winding him, leaving a dull ache in his chest reminiscent of when Sam left for Stanford, two years ago.

'Maybe I didn't want you to get me out of there,' he said coldly.

Dean struggled to answer, fighting back the emotions roiling inside of him. 'You don't mean that,' he said, by no means evenly, but it was out.

'You think?' Sam shot back, looking at him with dead eyes. His hazel eyes, once so full of life and laughter, were dulled and emotionless. 'When Jess died,' he stopped, swallowing, and Dean realised his eyes weren't emotionless. They were so filled with grief it made Dean's heart break a little bit, that his brother was hurting so much. 'When Jess died,' he started again, tears sparkling in his eyes. 'she was pregnant.'

Dean opened his mouth, and shut it again. What do you say to something like that? He settled for drawing his brother into a hug, holding the back of his head into his shoulder, like he used to when they were kids. It was slightly more awkward and ungainly, ever since Sam sprouted up, overtaking Dean somewhere around his fourteenth birthday. His brother shook, great racking silent sobs that went straight through Dean, shaking him too. 'Oh, Sammy,' he sighed, hugging him tighter, wishing he could make the pain go away, make the hurting disappear.

'I lost them,' he cried into Dean's shirt, soaking the thin cotton with salty tears. 'I couldn't protect them. I told her I would look after them both, I promised!'

'It's alright, Sammy, it's OK,' Dean soothed, reverting to big brother mode, stroking the back of Sam's head.

'Why? Why did it take them? I was happy! I could have been normal, is that so much to ask?' He lifted his head up from Dean's shoulder, tears streaming down his face, sticking his eyelashes together, making him look years younger than his almost twenty three years.

Dean knew he had to give his brother some honest truths. 'In this life, we don't get normal, we don't get happy. Our chance of a normal life, white picket fence, two point four children, died in your nursery twenty two years ago.'

He sniffled, wiping his eyes, looking more and more like a lost child. 'I know. I guess, for those two years, and when I found out about Jess, I thought maybe I could kid myself this could actually work. Maybe I didn't have to look back. Maybe I didn't have to end up like-' He stopped himself, looking away.

'What?' prompted Dean, softly. 'End up like who? Me?'

He shook his head roughly.

'Dad, then?' he asked, knowing the answer.

Sam didn't answer at first, still looking at his bare feet. Then he nodded slowly.

'Well hell, you think I want to turn out like Dad?' Dean asked, nudging him with his elbow.

Sam shrugged, then smiled, presumably because the alternative was crying. 'Well, you will insist on playing his music, sorry, noise cassettes.'

Dean snorted. 'You know, sooner or later I'm gonna have to educate you on the finer points of classic rock. You can't go around listening to, what's it called, Toldplay?' he teased.

'Coldplay,' Sam corrected automatically. 'And there's nothing wrong with them. At least I don't listen to a tape called 'Mullet rock '63''

Dean chuckled. 'That was a present from Bobby. Besides, we've talked about this. Driver picks the music, shotgun-'

'Shuts his cakehole, I know,' Sam chuckled, finishing the phrase Dean was so fond of using.

'Exactly,' winked Dean, before heading back inside. 'You comin'?'

'Yeah, in a sec,' he said, looking out into the night. 'Hey, Dean?'

Dean turned back to face him.

'Tomorrow, can I drive the Impala?'

He pretended to think about it for a moment. 'Hmm… nope!' He snickered. 'Nice try though. Night, Sammy.'

He turned and walked back into the motel, smiling as he saw Alex, fast asleep, his huge frame folded into an armchair. He slid his leather jacket off, leaving it where it dropped, and climbed back into bed, starting at the ceiling, arms folded behind his head.

He missed the old Sammy, but maybe, with Alex around, it would give him the chance to grow into a brand new Sam. Maybe he would even become a brand new Dean. Who knew? All he did know was that having Alex around was almost like old times. Him, Sam and Dad, saving people, hunting things.

The family business.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

--

Quick pimping, before I go.

Night-star-93-

Wanted Dead Or Alive- Awesome fic, awesome OC's, just a general all round good story.

Fighting For Salvation, Fighting For Redemption- This fic reduced me to tears numerous times, and it's only the first chapter! That is how good it is! I don't cry for just anything!

Lover-Fighter-Writer-

Alone, Patient and Supernatural- I cannot describe this with any other word than EPIC! It's made me laugh, it's made me cry, it's made me want to murder her! (only joking. Or am I?...)

ElzBelz01-

Ambriel- Wow. Just wow. That's really all I can say. I can't get enough of this fic, and if she doesn't update soon, I may be forced to bludgeon her with something heavy (but not too heavy. She has to be able to type)

Bee Winchester David-

There'll Be Peace When You Are Done- I don't think I've EVER seen a fic anything like this one. It's totally unique in it's concept, and I demand another chapter NOW.

Anyway, those are my rec.'s. Go! READ!