Chapter Eight – Blueberries
Dean came and stood beside Sam, holding a hairbrush in one hand and a bowl of thawing mango chunks, which Sam had gotten for him earlier, in the other.
Sam was sitting on the floor, leaning back against the couch, with Monroe on his lap.
"Can I brush your hair, Sammy?" Dean asked, smiling down at his little brother.
Sam returned the smile. "Sure" he said, leaning forward so Dean could get in behind him and onto the couch. Putting the bowl down first, Dean then held onto one of Sam's shoulders for balance, as he got himself set-up.
Gentle hands began to brush the strands back with soft strokes. Sam's eyes fell shut with the soothing repeated motions.
A short time later the brushing stopped as Dean took a break and ate some of the mangos. "These are really good. What are they called again, Sammy?" Dean asked his mouth full. Sam smiled. He loved introducing Dean to new food items, stuff his brother would have shied away from before.
"They're called mangos and they're really good for you" Sam responded.
"Hmm, your hair smells really pretty" Dean complimented Sam, as he buried his face into the dark hair. "Gee, thanks Dean."
"I love your smell Sammy" Dean continued on, kissing the side of Sam's neck in small, loving and mango sticky little kisses. Sam laughed and hunched up his shoulders in automatic response, causing Dean to giggle.
"Here Sammy, you have some too" Dean said as a generous handful of the yellow fruit made its way into Sam's mouth. Dean then proceeded to wipe his sticky hand on Sam's shirt.
"Of course you realize this means war" Sam said between swallows, using one of Dean's favourite lines from a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
Turning quickly, Sam was on his knees facing a surprised Dean. "Uh-oh" Dean laughed as he looked at Sam and fluttered his eye lashes. Dean was being way too adorable and cute. Sam's heart got that special feeling in it.
Placing the bowl on the floor and pulling Monroe unobtrusively out from under one of his knees, Sam took hold of Dean's shoulders and gently laid him down on the couch.
"Wipe your sticky hands on my shirt will you?" Sam questioned as he began to tickle Dean. After a lifetime of being brothers, Sam knew all the right places to hit. Being lovers, gave him a few additional ones to tease.
Dean was laughing so hard, wiggling this way and that, only pretending to try and push Sam's hands away.
Pausing from his tickle torture, Sam looked down at the freckled face before him. "I love you so much" Sam whispered, running both of his hands through Dean's hair before bending closer and kissing a set of mango tasting sticky lips.
Laying his head on Dean's chest, Sam resumed stroking Dean's hair.
Dean shifted his face closer to Sam's raised arm. Inserting his hand into Sam's loosely buttoned shirt, Dean's hand came to rest in the area of Sam's underarm.
Sam thought for sure Dean was getting ready to launch a revenge tickle attack, but that wasn't the case.
"You smell pretty here too Sammy" Dean said shyly. "I like how you smell after you've done something that makes you wet here" Dean whispered, his fingers gently continuing to stroke the fine hairs.
"You do, huh?" Sam asked at the previously suspected, but yet still surprise revelation.
"A lot" Dean murmured, as Sam watched the beginnings of a flush stain Dean's neck and face.
"I'll have to remember not to take so many showers" Sam noted, raising his head and capturing those loving lips in yet another kiss.
"My Sammy" Dean sighed, bringing his other arm up and hugging Sam to him.
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"What's that I see and what am I not hearing?" Sam asked Dean, who looked at him with a puzzled expression. "I do believe that is the sun we're seeing coming through the window and I'm not hearing any rain falling" Sam said happily.
Sam wanted to take this opportunity while the sun was out to try and get Dean outside for even a little while. His last try at this had not ended well at all, but Dean was improving all the time and Sam felt it would be good for the both of them to take a walk down to the water. The old hunter who owned the property had mentioned that there was a path that led to a tiny sandy shoreline and a lake.
Dean looked at Sam and he guessed what was coming. He was sure Sammy was going to ask him to go outside. Dean didn't want too, he was more than content to stay inside, with his Sammy forever. Concentrating more on this thought than watching what he was doing, Dean accidentally knocked over the sugar container, spilling the fine grains across the kitchen table.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Dean gulped as he jumped up and tried to gather the elusive crystals in his hands. Sam came over to him immediately. "It's okay, it was an accident" Sam re-assured. Placing his hands on Dean's hips, Sam shifted Dean to face him. "Here it comes" Dean thought. "Want to take a walk with me?" Sam asked, squeezing Dean's hips lightly. "We can take Monroe with us and your ball and a blanket and have some fun" Sam said, intently watching Dean's face for his reaction.
"I can do this, I can do it for Sammy" Dean's inner voice pronounced. Sam waited. "You'll hold my hand and you won't let go?" Dean questioned nervously, biting his lower lip. "I promise I'll hold your hand and I won't let go" Sam confirmed.
"What if I get trapped in my mind and they try to get me?" Dean asked, his eyes filling up. Sam couldn't have this, not again, he loved Dean far too much. Sam wanted nothing more than to keep the real world away forever and that was what he planned to do, until it came knocking. He was going to continue to cuddle and snuggle and hold and love his fragile brother in a cocoon of all encompassing care and compassion.
He thought that perhaps going outside with no one else around would make Dean more receptive to the idea. Evidently he was wrong.
Locking his arms around Dean and pulling him close, Sam held him. "I'm here Dean, no one is going to get you, you just keep holding onto me. We don't have to go out, I'll never make you do anything you don't want to, I love you too damn much for that" Sam murmured into Dean's ear.
Dean turned his face into Sam's neck. "Sammy, I know you'll always take care of me and protect me, but this time, I don't know if you can" Dean said in a low tone, his voice slightly muffled. "It's like they're there, but frozen and the ice is starting to melt, but I can't see them all yet" Dean explained in such a matter of fact tone, that Sam felt more upset and unsettled than he would have if Dean had been wailing.
"I don't think I can fight them" Dean whispered.
"Then we'll fight them together" Sam said fiercely as he tightened his grip on Dean.
Gathering strength from the loving arms that encircled him, Dean held on tight. "I'll go outside with you, Sammy" he announced in a small and scared voice.
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After getting dressed and gathering up their things, the guys found themselves on the back porch. Dean was clasping Monroe tightly to him and Sam was holding the ball and blanket under one arm.
"C'mon sweet thing" Sam said as he took Dean's hand in his own.
Ribbons of sunlight trickled across the misty covered foliage. The path was fraught with gnarled tree roots and uneven ground. Dean clung to Sam. The air smelt fresh and clean. Sam set a comfortable pace with soothing kisses and whispered words of encouragement filling the air.
The path ended abruptly and they found themselves on wet and soggy sand which led down to the lake.
"It's pretty, huh?" Dean said as he looked up at Sam and smiled. "It sure is" Sam agreed as his eyes swept the peaceful setting.
Selecting a 'dry' spot next to various berry bushes to spread out the blanket, Sam placed the ball on the sand and then unfolded the blanket and laid it down. Dean placed Monroe on it, petting him once, before picking up the ball and handing it to Sam.
Standing not too far from each other, Sam threw the ball gently to Dean. Dean caught it and smiled at Sammy, before throwing it back to him.
While it was a friendly game of back and forth ball, this particular fun, was also helping to re-build Dean's motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination.
They spent a while on the wet sandy beach, playing the game and laughing care-freely in the weak sunlight.
Sam yawned widely. Dean held onto the ball he was about to toss. Walking over to the blanket, Dean placed the ball on the blanket beside Monroe, before going to Sam and pulling him to the blanket. "Lie down Sammy" Dean said. It didn't take a lot of convincing on Dean's part. Sam laid down. "I'll be right here" Dean answered the unvoiced concern, sitting down beside Sam and taking Monroe in his arms.
Sam watched Dean as he looked out over the water.
Feeling that his heart couldn't expand any larger, with all the love and emotion he was feeling for Dean, Sam's eyes slipped closed. He wasn't asleep but his mind was drifting. The sand underneath the blanket was damp but not uncomfortable, there was a light wind blowing and the sun felt good on his face.
Knowing that this special time with Dean was a gift that came about in such a tragic way weighed heavily on Sam's mind.
At some point, the cocky older brother who he fell in love with and adored with every ounce of his being would come back to him.
Until then, Sam was doing everything possible to give Dean, the Dean he was now, everything that he had in terms of his love, devotion and understanding.
He knew beyond any certainty, that Dean, without fail, would do the exact same thing for him.
Sam couldn't quite get over having Dean open up to him in such an honest manner, no guards or masks or pretending. Sam was being given a unique insight into Dean's inner most feelings.
Respecting the fact about how this came to be, Sam was not inclined to pry, but anything Dean offered freely, was soaked up and treasured.
He cherished his older brother and was doing everything he could to make sure Dean was safe, which is why Sam reacted out of fear and dread when he opened his eyes and looked over just in time to see Dean popping some berries from the pile he'd collected into his mouth. Not knowing which berries Dean was picking, caused Sam to overreact.
"DEAN!" Sam screamed, startling Dean so badly, that he dropped all the berries he'd carefully selected.
"How many did you eat?" Sam questioned as he ran to Dean and grabbed his shoulders, momentarily forgetting about Dean's shoulder injury. Wincing slightly, Dean looked up at Sam with stained blue lips and heartbroken eyes. "I might have forgotten lots of stuff Sam, but I didn't forget about what blueberries look like" Dean said, uttering desperate little sounds as if Sam had struck him.
"I was getting them for you, because I know you like them" Dean's voice broke with this statement and his bottom lip began to tremble as he lowered his head and looked at the spilled berries all over the ground.
The rains chose this moment to return, pounding down without warning and stinging the skin in its fierceness.
Woefully looking back up at Sam, Dean turned and started walking back up the path to their place, leaving Sam standing there in the driving rain.
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Dean jumped when he heard the back door slam shut. Sam was either royally pissed or most likely very upset. Hearing Sam come into the bedroom, Dean kept his eyes shut. "Dean?" Sam whispered. Dean could feel Sam standing close to the bed and a wet Monroe being placed close to him. He didn't respond.
"Aww shit" Sam thought as he looked down and saw the torn jean material on Dean's leg. Bending forward, Sam separated the fabric, gently pulling it back and viewing the cut on Dean's knee. Shaking his head, Sam's eyes wandered up the rest of Dean's body, taking in the cuts and scrapes on Dean's hands and the scratches on his face.
"Fucking hell" Sam muttered, angry that Dean had to endure yet more pain.
"Dean, I know you're mad at me, but please, please, please let me help you out of those wet clothes. You're going to get sick if you don't get out of them" Sam pleaded.
Not saying a word, Dean rose slowly to his feet, keeping his head down and let Sam undress him. Taking off Dean's shoes first, followed by his clothing, Sam got a good look at the gash on Dean's knee. It was in need of attention, but Sam didn't want to push his luck.
Sam then dressed Dean in the shirt he'd grabbed before heading into the bedroom. Buttoning a few buttons, Sam then reached around, stripped off the wet top blanket, made sure the under-sheets were dry, flipped the pillow over, grabbed the wet clothing and quietly left the room.
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The mood in the house was raw and unsettling. Sam was lying on the couch. At some point Dean had come into the kitchen.
Sam was awake and watching Dean with growing concern.
Dean was sitting at the kitchen table, head resting on his outstretched arm, listlessly running his finger through the spilled sugar from earlier.
"What are you thinking about?" Sam wondered.
He continued to watch as Dean straightened up; grimacing silently at what was obviously pain from his knee. Sam's heart cracked when he saw Dean place his hand over his cut knee and rock back and forth slightly in the chair, his face contorted in pain.
Dean could fight him all he wanted, but Sam was going to treat that knee.
Coming up quietly and sitting down cross-legged in front of his guy, Sam reached out his hand and placed it over Dean's
Dean tensed but didn't try to pull away, instead, he stood up, turned around and practically collapsed down into Sam.
Burying his face against Sam's neck, Dean began to let out these heartbroken little sobs. "I…I…fell" he wailed, as all the hurt and fright poured forth.
Wiggling them back across the short distance on the floor, Sam braced his back against the kitchen cupboards and pressed Dean close.
"Sssh…it's going to be okay Dean" Sam cried gently, rocking Dean against him. "I'm going to get you all fixed up" Sam promised.
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After Sam got Dean re-seated on the chair and had gotten the medical kit, his hands were still shaking. Seeing Dean in any distress was simply becoming too much for Sam to bear.
"Ready?" Sam asked. "Ready" Dean replied. The ointment stung terribly. Dean inhaled deeply. "Okay babe, okay. We're almost done" Sam calmed as he applied a bandage over the area. "You did so well."
Dean held out his hands, palms up, for Sam's inspection. "These too?" he asked. "I have a special way to make these better" Sam grinned as he tenderly took one then the other to his lips and ensured they were amply covered with all better kisses.
Raising himself up on his knees, Sam cupped Dean's face. "There are two more areas, right here" Sam murmured as he applied feather light kisses to the two scratches "that need special attention also".
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Dean was cradled in the crook of Sam's arm, spread out on the couch, wrapped loosely in a warm blanket. Sam was looking down at him. "Tomorrow, we're going to have a party, Dean. You, me and Monroe, and you know what kind of party it's going to be?" Sam asked an excited looking brother, who shook his head no. "It's going to be a Just Because party" Sam stated. "Just Because?" Dean looked confused. "Umm-hmm, Just Because I love you" Sam beamed at Dean.
Dean looked delighted. "Sammy loves me and we're going to have a party" Dean smiled. "Can we have hamburgers and cupcakes and can you give me a bath?" Dean asked, tumbling over his words in his excitement to get them out.
"That sounds like a plan I can work with" Sam confirmed, enjoying the excitement radiating from Dean.
Turning his head so Sam couldn't see his face, Dean asked another question. "Can…can you and I love each other, like we did the other day?" Dean asked softly.
Sam's heart tingled at Dean's words. Shaking Dean ever so gently to get Dean to look at him, Sam looked into the eyes of the delicate life he was holding and helping to rebuild and smiled.
Dean shifted out of Sam's arms and sat beside him on the couch. Taking hold of Sam's face and pulling it to him, Dean came up close, so close, that their noses were almost touching. "Could the cupcakes have that sugar stuff on them?" he asked hopefully, leaning in a bit closer and placing his lips against Sam's. Feeling Sam's lips spread into a smile, Dean knew that tomorrow was going to be a very fine day.
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They stayed snuggled up on the couch together, wrapped up in each other.
Dean was rubbing at his ear again. "Your ear sore, buddy?" Sam asked in concern, reaching out and stroking it. "Just a little" Dean responded, casting Sam a mild smile.
"It's still early, but what about climbing into bed for awhile and having a rest" Sam suggested, hoping Dean would go for it. "Okay Sammy" Dean responded without hesitation, standing up and waiting for Sam.
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Lying facing each other, under the folds of the heavy bedding, their breathing slowed and synced.
Dean moved as close to Sam as he possibly could. Sam was rubbing Dean's sore ear. Dean was fighting falling asleep. His eyes kept sliding shut, only to re-open seconds later. He was also struggling with the urge to put his thumb in his mouth.
Continuing to stroke Dean, Sam watched as Dean's eyes finally slipped closed. He wasn't quite asleep yet, but almost was, as he brought his thumb up to his mouth again, this time sliding it in. Endearing was an understatement as far as Sam was concerned when it came to Dean and the person he was now.
Sam moved his hand down and cupped Dean's elbow in place, effectively making sure Dean kept his thumb in his mouth and hopefully taking the comfort he so badly needed.
Sam was falling more and more in love. He was freefalling and drowning in a sea of loving emotion.
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"Madame, are you sure you will be okay here? Is there somewhere else I can drop you off?" the driver asked, glancing around at the bleak area.
"Thank you for your concern, but I will be just fine" Rainbow responded as she took her satchel from the driver's outstretched hand and began to proceed down the road.
She needed to make one very important stop before she reached where she was going to be needed. The time was almost at hand.
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"Caspian, might I see you for a moment please" the elderly gentleman called out to his grandson from the back room.
Making his way to the back, Caspian looked down at his grandfather who was seated behind his large desk.
"My dear boy, are you sure you recorded everything correctly?" his grandfather asked, as he raised the book slightly to allow Caspian a better view.
"Why yes grandfather, I was extra careful when I listed everything. There were so many of the items that I was unfamiliar with, that I took extra caution. Did I do something wrong?" Caspian asked in concern.
"Not at all precious fellow. It's simply been many years since these types of herbs have been used. Combined together, they have incredible healing properties, but as you may expect, not necessarily for what the average person would consider a traditional use.
By chance, was there anything unusual or different you noticed about the person requesting these items?" the grandfather asked.
"Why yes, there was now that you mention it" Caspian pondered, his mouth open to continue, until his grandfather held up his hand.
"My guess is that it was a woman with rainbow coloured hair" his grandfather ventured. Caspian gaped at him. "How did you know?" he asked incredulously.
The grandfather looked at his grandson and smiled. "You, my dear boy, had the great honour of serving the High Priestess of Healing. I'm ever so sorry I missed Rainbow. There are two things to know here, Caspian. One, whoever is in need of healing, has been through unspeakable horror and terror. Two, with Rainbow going to attempt the healing, the battle is already halfway to being won, for the individual in question" the elder family member nodded knowingly.
To be continued.
Author's Note: Hello friends, thank you so very much for your heartwarming support of this story. I am truly touched by your generous spirits and understanding of what I am hoping to convey with this story. Thank you. : )
