A/N: I know this chapter is a lottle on the short side, but RL has been busy. Hopefully, after now that things calm down, I will have more time to write. I wan t to thank everyone who has stuck by this story. I really appreciate it.

The days immediately following the Winchesters arrival at Bobby's seemed to blend together. Sam spent most of his time holed up in the upstairs guest bedroom not ready to face the world or the downstairs of Bobby's house. Dean spent most of his time keeping watch over his brother. He tried in to get Sam to leave the room, but other then to go to the bathroom, the youngest Winchester remained put. Dean had taken to bringing food up to his brother. A part of Dean felt that he was coddling Sam, but the idea of forcing Sam to leave the room sickened Dean. His brother was brutally forced against his will and Dean did not want Sam to be forced again, even if was something as small as leaving the guest bedroom for more than a couple of minutes.

However, on the third day, something that Dean classified as wonderful happened. Sam emerged from his cocoon and came down downstairs. Even if he just curled up on the sofa and covered himself with a blanket, his brother considered it a victory.

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There were whispers going around. Whispers that something big had happened. Castiel heard them at every turn. Something that was a real game changer for the apocalypse had happened. However, since he wasn't receiving the heavenly newsletter anymore, he wasn't sure what to believe. He needed to check out a few things before he contacted the Winchesters. That meant taking a quick trip to Tierra del Fuego to see the only heavenly ally that Castiel had left.

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Turning the tv off, Dean looked at his brother. About two-thirds of the way through a Die Hard movie, Sam had drifted off to sleep. Dean decided, instead of waking Sam to go upstairs, he would watch over his brother while he slept on the sofa.

Wheeling his chair up to the sofa, Bobby offered to keep watch over Sam while Dean headed upstairs to get some sleep.

"Bobby, I need to be here for Sam," said Dean softly.

"I know Dean, but you're going to collapse soon if you don't get some sleep soon. Real sleep. Not just snatches of it here and there."

Dean shook his head. He couldn't leave Sam alone. And Sam was sleeping so peacefully, on the sofa, that Dean hated to wake him up.

"Dean, I'll stay with Sam."

Dean looked uncertain. He was extremely tired and he knew he needed a good night's rest, but didn't want to leave Sam's side in case he had another of his nightmares.

"Dean, I promise that I won't leave Sam."

Dean was bone weary tired and as much as he hated the thought of leaving Sam's side, he knew he would be no good to his brother if he collapsed from exhaustion. But would Sam be okay if he left?

Bobby could sense Dean's internal struggle. "Dean, I swear I won't leave his side."

If there was one person Dean could trust to watch over his brother, it would be Bobby. "Okay, I'll go and try to get some sleep."

"Good."

Dean got up and started to leave the room when he he turned around and crouched down next to Bobby's chair. "If Sam starts to moan or talk in his sleep, don't wake him. Just rub your hand across his back in a circular motion. It will help if you whisper to him that he's safe. He should settle down. If he doesn't settle down and starts to struggle then wake him up. But don't wake him up unless you have to. Okay?"

"Okay," said Bobby with a short nod of his head. He never for one second has doubted Dean's love for his brother and to see how Dean was taking care of his brother right now filled Bobby with a sense of awe.

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Climbing in to bed, Dean didn't think he would be able to sleep. There were too many what ifs running around his mind. What if Sam had another nightmare? What if he woke up and freaked out because Dean wasn't there? He knew Sam was in good hands with Bobby, but still he worried. However, lack of sleep had finally caught up with his body and Dean was asleep in minutes.

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Things in the family room were quiet and Bobby started to drift to sleep in his wheelchair. He was pulled from his sleep by the sounds of soft murmuring come from Sam. Staring down at the youngest Winchester, Bobby could see that Sam's face was creased with pain. Remembering Dean's earlier instructions, he reached his hand out and began rubbing soothing circles across Sam's back while he whispered soft reassurances. Within a couple of minutes, Sam settled back into a more restful sleep.

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"Micah, it is good to see you," said Castiel as he stepped inside the small hut.

"And you as well, Castiel," replied Micah. "So what brings you to my humble abode?"

Micah was an angel who had been in the same garrison as Castiel and they had been close friends throughout the centuries. Before things shifted and angels chose sides, he was sent to Tierra el Fuego where he was still holed up currently, not yet choosing a side.

"I have heard whisperings about Sam Winchester and I need to know if they are true."

"I thought you were pulled off the Winchesters' case so to speak."

"Sam and Dean are my friends. If something has changed I need to know."

"Yes, it's true, Sam can no longer be the vessel for Lucifer."

"And you're sure of this?"

"I haven't laid eyes Lucifer in more than two millennia, but I'm still sure of the way he thinks. Sam Winchester is tainted and not worthy of being a vessel for Lucifer."

More to Come

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