So, here's the next chapter for everyone! A special thanks to all who've read/reviewed/alerted this story (and author)! The feedback from everyone is great getting! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

**********

Dean inhaled a sharp, ragged breath at Sam's question. "Sam…"

"Dean!" Sam cut off sadly, but with curtness. "Please, tell me. You've never, ever broken a promise to me, Dean. Don't let the one be the first."

Try as he might, Dean couldn't think of a way to discontinue this subject from Sam, other than answer him direction.

"Okay, fine," concurred Dean. He waited a moment, breathing slowly before continuing. "You know how Ruby told us all demons were previously humans? It's true," Dean confided. "And, I don't know how, but… in the Pit, it's easy to become a demon. All you have to do is just… let go. Not care anymore. Not care who you hurt. Not care about your own hurt. Just, not care about anything anymore, " Dean shrugged. "It was so hopeless in there, Sam. And once a soul let go of every emotion he had, that was it. Poof. You were a demon."

"Oh my God…"

"Yeah. And I… I didn't, Sam. Because back here, in my mind, I remembered you. And us. And what we did. I just couldn't let myself become one of those things," Dean said with disgust. "I wasn't going down like that. So, I stayed a soul, until the Angels grabbed me out. You know the rest…" he finished. "You were my link to reality, humanity, Sammy. So, thanks."

"I… I… Dean…" Sam stuttered.

Dean found a small, amused smile. "I had you to hang on to, Sam. All that time."

Sam sat there, staring his hands and idly tracing his hand against the crease of the sheets. "I always thought you'd hate me after…" he confessed softly.

"Hate you? I couldn't, Sam. Why would you think that?" Dean squinted his eyes, as if trying to look through Sam.

"Down there. I thought you'd blame me. And keep thinking about me while… well, I didn't know what was goin on down there. But I knew it wasn't going to be good. And that I was the reason for it all," he admitted.

"No. You were the only reason I'm not the one thing I'd hate to become. You're the reason I'm me, Sammy," Dean said victoriously.

"Hmm," Sam pondered. "I guess it was always the opposite of what I thought."

Yes, Sam! Now you're finally getting it!

"Yeah, when you look at it like that," Dean agreed. "The things I saw in there, Sam." Dean shook his head to clear the memories that threatened to creep up on him. "God, I wish I could just forget. But as bad as all that was, I knew being a demon was a worse fate. I can handle torture, but Sammy, I can't handle knowing I betrayed you, Sam." Dean pressed his right hand to his temple.

Sam yawned without meaning to, Dean noticed the action.

"Am I boring you?" he derided playfully.

"Not ever," Sam answered back. "Dean, what you had to go through, I'm sorry. But I'm glad I was here to help you."

Dean lightly punched Sam in his shoulder, a place without a scratch or bruise. "Me too, Sammy. Me too." Sam put his arm on Dean's opposite shoulder and winked. Taking the younger man by surprise, Dean was the one who pulled Sam in a quick embrace. They both stayed there for a second, enjoying the comfort and security they felt right then. Simultaneously, the brothers pulled back, tears in both of their eyes. Both were too stubborn to let them fall.

Again, Sam yawned, and for a moment, his eyelids swooped closed. Reacting immediately, he made his eyes snap back open, but Dean was having none of it.

"No, no, Sam. You must be tired anyway. Go to sleep," he ordered without need. "I'll be right here."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Sam challenged.

"Be careful, Sam," Dean warned. "Or else you'll be waking up to a pillow suffocating you."

*********

A couple hours later, Sam was still sleeping peacefully. Dean was up and around. The radio was tuned into whatever station came in the clearest. He really hadn't been listening as he surfed Sam's laptop aimlessly until he heard the otherwise annoying radio DJ spout off the upcoming set.

"And that was the incredible *Lady Antebellum* with their new hit, *Things People Say*. Now, here's Miranda Lambert's *Gunpowder and Lead*!"

Dean's brow furrowed and he thought hard, trying to remember where he had heard that name before.

Lambert… Lambert… Oh, I know! That's that country girl Sam wanted me to listen to. Pshh… As if. No hick-chick like that can rock out to my standards!

Out of curiosity, Dean turned up the volume on the radio, just to hear what it sounded like. He sat there, just taking in the music.

*County Road 233

Under my feet

Nothing on this white rock but little ol' me

I got two miles 'till

He makes bail

And if I'm right we're headed straight for Hell

I'm going home, gonna load my shotgun

Wait by the door and light a cigarette

He wants a fight?

Well, now he's got one, and he ain't seen me crazy yet!

He slapped my face, and shook me like a ragdoll.

Don't that sound like a real man?

I'm gonna show him what little girls are made of

Gunpowder and Lead!*

As the song continued, Dean felt himself bobbing his head along with the beat. The shredding guitar solo at the end also took Dean by surprise. As the song came to an end, Dean clicked the radio off and smiled at the sleeping form of his little brother.

"Huh. Imagine that. Sam must have my good taste in music," he proclaimed proudly. "Halleluiah!"

**********

*- The artists Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert, as well as the songs Things People Say and Gunpowder and Lead aren't mine, although both songs are incredibly AWESOME!!! No infringment is intented.*

So, that's that! Review and tell me what you think! I love hearing from all of you!

P.S. Thanks for reading!!