Disclaimer: Kripke owns or is it Gamble… anyway the important thing is… I don't. boo-who... LOL

NOTE: Snow, ice… very cold temps! Yuk! Over a foot so far and still coming down! I think they should be banned (SIVCT). Anyways, Thanks so much for the reviews! Adore them! Truly I do! Also thanks for favs and alerts!

Chapter 8

"Let's go eat something." Bobby said neutrally, trying to calm himself and appear relaxed.

"Hell, Bobby. I don't even know if it's time for breakfast, lunch… I can't…" Dean told Bobby tiredly as he rubbed at his eyes.

"Maybe we'll just eat some sandwiches and take a nap." Bobby said quietly, waiting for Dean's explosive reply that was sure to follow.

"What are we five?" Dean asked peevishly as his hands dropped away from his eyes and he glared at Bobby.

Sammy snickered again, because honestly, Dean sounded five. He got that way when he was physically and mentally exhausted, way past his limit. Sammy sobered instantly. There was only one way to get Dean to sleep when he was cranky like this. "Dean, I'm kinda tired. Would you lay down with me? I don't want to be alone." Then he sealed the deal. When Dean turned to stare at Sammy, Sammy cut his eyes up to look at Dean through his bangs. When Dean looked away to blink the tears back so no one could see Sammy winked at Bobby.

Bobby smirked; it was nice to know there were some things that Sammy hadn't forgotten.

"Yeah, Sammy. I can do that." Then Dean slung his arm over Sammy's shoulder. Something he hadn't done in years as he told Sammy with a tired smile, "Come on, little brother, let's go get some grub."

They both smiled at each other as they headed off to the kitchen together.

Bobby sniffled. Grown hunters don't cry. Grown hunters don't cry. Grown hunters don't… awh, hell… he sniffed. This one apparently does.

Dean sat watching Sammy eating, chin propped up on his hand sleepily staring at him. He wasn't saying anything, just sitting there and staring unblinking at him.

Finally Sammy put down his fork and then touched Dean's arm lightly, "You alright, D?"

Dean blinked slowly before saying softly, "Yeah."

Sammy tilted his head to the side, squeezing his arm lightly before saying, "Bathroom, then I'll come get you for my nap, k?" Sammy watched for a response, with a slight nod from Dean; he stood pushing his chair back with his legs. He let go of Dean and walked from the room.

Bobby came in a few minutes later to find Dean asleep on his arm and Sammy no where to be found. Bobby slipped into instant panic mode as he went searching for Sammy. If anything happened to Sammy while Dean slept, Dean would never forgive himself or Bobby. He just wanted to make sure Sammy was okay before waking up Dean; besides there was no need for both of them to panic if it turned out to be nothing.

He went to the library first because that was Sammy's favorite place in Bobby's house. Anyone that knew Sammy knew of his love for books. He gave a small sigh and quick prayer of thanks when he saw Sammy leaning back against the couch on the floor surrounded by books.

"Sammy, what are you doing?" Bobby asked walking further into the room.

"Bobby, what gives a body life?" Sammy asked curiously, glancing up at him.

"The bible says God did. You know that. You spent enough time with Pastor Jim to remember that I would think." Bobby replied as he stared at Sammy.

"But what makes it alive… a person?" Sammy asked as if working something out in his head.

"Its soul, I suppose, why?" Bobby answered as he came a step futher into the room.

"But then how did my body do the things it did without me? How did it think, talk, breath… live without my soul? Why does it want me to die so it can be?" Sammy asked, looking up at Bobby with a tear stained face.

"Not fucking happening, Sammy." Dean stated firmly from behind Bobby.

Both Bobby and Sammy startled at Dean's sudden appearance.

"I'm not loosing you again, I just got you back." Dean said inflexibly, his determination evident.

"But, D… what right do I have to say he has no right to live?" Sammy asked, not saying that Sam was now making Sammy aware of his thoughts on the matter.

"You don't have to. I am." Dean was adamant about this. He was keeping Sammy, end of discussion and he didn't care what had to occur for that to happen.

Dean walked over to his brother and squatting down as he told him, "I need you Sammy. I might be a selfish bastard but I don't care."

Bobby told him, trying to change the subject, "How about a nap and then we'll finish this discussion, you're both exhausted."

Dean stood and reached down for Sammy, remembering that Sammy had to be tired to ask Dean to lie down with him and by doing so admitting to needing his brother there.

Sammy laid down the book he had been looking through and clasped Dean's hand. Under the cover of Sammy, Sam glared at Dean, He wanted him gone. He wasn't good enough to share the same space with Sammy. Well, life was about to get interesting for Dean. Sammy smiled and his eyes flashed with anger briefly. The flash caught Dean's attention as he stared at Sammy. After Sammy was standing, he was surprised that Dean held on, looking at him intently, as if trying to see in to his very soul.

"Dean?" Sammy asked, concerned at Dean's lack of response. Sammy placed his hand over Deans to get his attention.

Dean looked at Sammy's hand and then back up at Sammy's face as he asked, "Sammy?" Because he had seen a flash of not-Sammyness for a brief second before it vanished.

Sammy gave a quick jerk of his head. "Yeah, it's me." For the moment… he heard echoed in his head from what sounded like his own voice. Sammy jerked upon hearing the voice in his head then he rubbed at his forehead.

Dean frowned as he asked Sammy, "Are you okay?"

Sammy let go of Dean and stepped away. "I'm fine. I'm going to bed, shouldn't you?"

"Uh, yeah." Dean replied. Still wondering if his imagination was turned on full blast or not. Maybe he was tired enough he was hallucinating that glimmer of Sam he thought he'd seen.

"Okay." Sammy said and left the room; not looking back.

When Dean heard him start up the stairs, Dean turned on Bobby," Spill it, now. What did Cas say?"

Bobby sighed as he told Dean what he knew Dean wasn't ready to hear, "That the two Sam's have to merge. But Sammy has to demand control. He has to feel he deserves this or Sam may overpower Sammy and we'll loose Sammy for good."

Dean blinked and shook his head as if to clear it, "What?"

"They have been becoming aware of each other since Death placed Sammy back in his body; the merging began at that moment. But Sammy is vurnable right now. I asked Cas for a binding spell… anything to stop Sam." Bobby told Dean quickly wanting it all out there on the table.

"What did Cas say? How do I fix this?" Dean demanded. He felt a pressure to not leave Sammy alone for too long but he also needed answers. So he stood there bouncing from one foot to the other as he talked with Bobby. Ready to bolt to where Sammy was as soon as they finished their conversation.

"He's checking into it. But he says he doesn't know of anything." Bobby said with a frown.

"Well, that's not good enough." Dean snapped angrily, throwing a hand up to run through his hair in agitation.

"That's what I was saying to him when he disappeared on me. Now, you." Bobby stated as he watched Dean's mannerisms while he talked.

"Sam has been taunting me… He knows I can't do anything to him without hurting Sammy. I mean this whole thing is too much like a possession thing. With Sammy waking up not understanding what's going on. One of us needs to stay with Sammy so Sam doesn't hurt him or anyone else."

Unknown to them Sammy had come back downstairs to find out what was taking Dean so long. Dean was afraid he would hurt them… he stumbled back away from the library door and managed to get back upstairs. He went over to the window and stared out. What was he going to do? Thinking he was a danger and hearing it from Dean was two very different things. Dean kept getting hurt by him and it needed to stop once and for all. He needed to figure this out. Everything had to be done right. Nothing half-ass.

TBC

Story NOTE: I've checked and checked and double checked. I think I have all the mistakes fixed, but if something confuses you let me know. I'll go back and read it and fix it. Thanks to PJ for Chap 7. I fixed the typo and hope it makes more sense now. ~Thanks, Crissi