Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 9

Sam was terrified, Dean could taste it, and yet his brother wasn't fighting to get away from him. Dean just gently rubbed his arm, trying to help him calm down. "It's okay Sammy, just calm down and get some rest. You're safe here. I would never let anyone hurt you." He whispered, feeling Sam shiver slightly.

"You're dead." Sam murmured and Dean sighed.

"Sorta. But that doesn't change anything Sammy, I'm still the Dean you've always known. I haven't killed anyone if that's what you're worried about. I either drink from the goblet you saw or yes, I do hunt but I don't kill. That's one of the big rules here, no killing to feed, it brings too much attention. And you're with Hermione and me which means you are totally off limits to everyone." Dean tried to assure him and Sam frowned.

"Everyone? How many are there?" he asked and Dean shrugged.

"Never seen everyone in one room but maybe ten, including us. Hermione and I have been pretty focused on finding you for a while now so I don't interact with the others much. I know Alex at least resent me because of Hermione being with me."

And wasn't that a shock, since when did Dean stay with a woman. "So no more sleeping around?" He asked, trying to tease a little and he heard and felt Dean laugh.

"No. Hermione's different Sam. With her everything is…" Dean took a deep breath. "I love her Sam."

Whoa! He had never thought to hear Dean say that. "Not just because she's the one that…"

"Changed me? No Sammy. I think having amnesia at the time helped though, no hunter prejudices to deal with while getting to know her." Dean shifted on the bed slightly, not holding Sam so tightly but Sam stayed where he was, really listening to what Dean was saying. He still seemed so much like his Dean, even if he was admitting to being in love. He felt Dean's nose in his hair and heard him inhaling his scent and was shocked to find the action didn't scare him. "I'm so sorry Sam, I don't understand how he could treat you like that. Nothing that happened was your fault. He'll never hurt you again though, Hermione made sure he thinks we're both dead and that it's his fault."

That was a shock. Dad thought they were both dead. Did that mean she wanted to turn him too? Did Dean? He may be a lousy hunter but he was still a hunter, could he let that happen? Dean had an excuse, he'd been comatose at the time. "I…"

"Don't rush it Sam. No one is going to push you to do anything. Hermione promised you can leave once you're better if that's really what you want but you won't remember where we are. If you stay it is expected you'd become one of us at some point but you have time to think it all over and see that it isn't a bad life."

"Life?" Sam turned in his brother's loose hold to meet his eyes. "How can you call it life?" He demanded.

Dean smiled slightly, there was the little brother he knew. His head must be feeling a bit better already, then again Sam had always healed quickly. "Because it is Sammy. I still eat, love, sleep and one day I can even have kids. Hermione was born like this Sam and so will our children. Daylights no problem and neither is the stuff that stops most supernatural creatures. What am I really missing out on other than growing old? And let's face it even without the accident most hunters don't live to old age anyway."

"You can really have…"

"Sex?" Dean offered and Sam glared.

"Kids."

"Yeah. Everything still works Sam." He leered slightly and Sam rolled his eyes, used to Dean's attitude towards sex.

"More than I need to know." He grumbled and Dean grinned. If Sam could tease then he was beginning to accept him like this. Sam yawned and then shook his head before wincing.

"Hermione was right, you need to sleep Sam. You need to heal."

"You…you'll still be here?"

"Always." Dean promised softly even as Sam closed his eyes.

Hermione stared out over the gardens from the balcony, not moving as she sensed Alex approaching. She could feel his disquiet and could only hope he got over it. "The group?"

"Are considering our proposal my Queen. It appears they will agree to join us though, they do not like living off livestock and moving every few months." He reported and she nodded.

"Say what you wish." She finally told him when he remained silent.

"There is a human here."

"Dean's younger brother Sam is here to heal. He will probably join us, if not his memory will be altered to keep our secret. He will not be a threat."

"He shouldn't be here." Alex growled, eyes flashing red briefly and she finally turned to face him.

"Are you questioning my decision Alex?" She demanded coolly and he trembled slightly before straightening and nodding. She stalked towards him, every bit the Queen she was by birthright and he dropped to a knee, head bowed. She put her hand on his head. "I do not want unquestioning obedience Alex but there needs to be a reason other than jealously. Dean is my fiancé, he will be the father of my children, your future rulers. If he can keep his family with him then he deserves to just as much as Leonard. Understand?"

"Yes my Queen." He whispered.

"Good." She moved away and he left the balcony. She did not want to one day be forced to kill the first person she had changed, she really did like Alex, she just didn't love him the way he wanted her to.

Dean looked up as the door opened and smiled as Hermione walked into the room, coming to stand beside the bed. "How is he?"

"Sleeping now. He managed to tease me though so I think we'll be okay."

"I'm glad." She smiled and slipped onto the bed beside him, kissing his cheek and Dean took her hand.

"Thank you." He whispered and Hermione didn't need him to explain what for. Seeing the way Dean stared at Sam she knew they would have found each other again somehow, no matter what happened. It was better for it to have happened this way. "I love you."

"I love you too Dean, now rest. You haven't been sleeping properly lately." She made herself comfortable even as Dean settled in to sleep. She watched them both as they slept, smiling as she noticed they were shifting closer to each other. She moved over to Sam's side and gently cut into her hand before letting the blood drip between his lips, grinning as he swallowed and even licked his lips clean in his sleep. Now she would be able to find him if anything happened. She loved Dean but that didn't stop her from admitting Sam was a very fine human male. She carefully traced his cheek and smiled, very fine indeed.

TBC…