The longest moan in recorded history spilled from chapped, cracking lips, long dry for however long he had been asleep. Consciously, he was aware he wanted water, but he didn't want to wake up even for that .

A gentle hand nudged his arm, prompting him to awaken, comforting him back into the world with a simple gesture. He flung one arm over his eyes, protesting the thought of being alert. The hand stopped tapping, gingerly grabbed Dean's wrist, and pulled the arm back into the safety of the covers. He felt a gentle rub on his shoulder, this time it told Dean it was okay to rest if he needed it. And for certain, he wanted sleep more than anything right now for as many hours as he could.

After several hours passed, the room had gone still. Finally, Dean's eyes snapped open. For a second he felt some sense of urgency, but slowly that adrenaline burned away. He kicked and untangled the comforter, which was tightly tucked around his entire body. While he wanted to free himself, he cracked open the encasing and was instantly grateful for the covering's warmth when frigid air hit his skin. He immediately pulled the lush comforter back to his shoulders as he got on his feet.

In the distance, he heard the crackling of a large fire, but the warmth did not reach this far. A loud boot fall creaked on the weakened floor structure. When he detected that noise, he spun around. Whatever it was, it came from another room, close, but not too close. Silently, he opened the door of the forgotten room, finding a long, panel covered hallway. His nose wrinkled at the bleak looking faded faux wood. Without a single window to brighten it, it almost looked like an elongated tomb. At least, the lack of windows kept the temperature less intense.

Without warning, Dean felt dizzy and leaned again the dirty wall. He wasn't sure if he felt this way from the remains of what happen last night or from the psychedelic carpet below him that could cause vertigo on any given day and even make Escher envious. Once he gained some bearings, he continued to walk further down the expanse towards a light at one end.

"It's about time. I hear ya stirring. Well, come on… we ain't got all day." He heard come from the far room. He might have been alarmed, but the tone of the voice gave him a warm feeling. He stumbled forward until he almost fell inside of the room. Within seconds someone had caught him and kept him upright. "Okay, taker easy. It's been a rough one." Bobby said.

Dean narrowed his eyes and studied the face. He knew him somehow, but he couldn't connect it all the way yet. All he knew was he liked him and he didn't know why. "Who are you?" he finally asked, feeling a sense of déjà vu .

His gaze widened to take in the room. A roaring fire, food, supplies, weapons all laid out like a strange buffet table before him. He afforded Dean a slight smile. "We're friends. Just think on it. Sorry I had to give you that awful crap…"

"Bobby?"

"Yep. It's me… You remembered," he said. "For a moment I thought it didn't work,"

"What did you give me? Feels like a jackhammer in my head."

"Come on, sit down. You have a lot to take in." Bobby led his friend to a rickety chair, guiding him down as gently as possible. "The accommodations are much, but the location is prime. By now your demon keepers are aware you are on your own. But, at least they don't know you aren't under their control anymore."

"Lucy… wait... you killed her… "

"She is... well was... using witchcraft to block your memories… and induce someone new ones. Kinda like demonic chemical brainwashin'. Took me some time…"

"Wait... what… I …. How in the hell did this all happen? Bobby? Bobby…where's Sam? Where..."

"We'll get him back, kiddo." He said with a tone of disappointment .

"Where is he!? I have to find him! If the demons had me, then…. they have him somewhere...I..."

"I'm afraid he did something to keep you safe. Best I can figure, he traded himself to keep…"

"He wouldn't do that. I won't let him."

"You don't get much say in that now. Sam's gone to the other team. I was on my way to meet up with you two… on that last day… but he sent me on a goose chase. By the time, I tracked that damned Impala, he was possessed by powers the likes I have never seen. I knew he did something. Then I spent my energy finding you or what was left…"

"Whoa, this isn't even possible. I mean I would never forget Sam. I couldn't…"

"You didn't have a choice. I saw you at that school, thought you were pulling some gig, looking for info to save Sam, so I waited to approach you. Kid, you were gone. Didn't even blink in recognition. Knew something was wrong, so I stuck with ya and tried to pry the lid off the ideas in that noggin of yours. Got close a few times, but then it seemed for every step I made, you took two back."

"It was like I knew something, but couldn't…. how could I be so stupid."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. Took me months to find out how to fix ya, but I needed to know who was pulling the strings. I gave you an ancient witchcraft formula, was hell tracking down mandrake, but figured it was worth it. Don't know how good it worked, but you seem to be more like your bright eyed bushy tailed kick ass self. It may seem fuzzy, but it's all floating in your skulls somewhere. Think you can eat?"

"I don't want to eat, I want to find Sam." Dean said, wavering as he stood. "Let's get him!"

"You think you can beat him when he has gone full on dark side!"

"I have to try!"

"I know, but at least we do this as smart as we can. Sit down back down before you fall down. You give me any grief and I will turn you over my knee…. Went through a hell of a lot to find you and watch over you, so you can give me…"

He stood, defying Bobby's command. "Alright, but you won't be able to…"

Bobby ignored the half delivered ultimatum in turn. "Before you took off, I managed to get some information from dear Lucy. Seems the demons believe Sam is the rebirth of Samael. According to some lore, Samael took Lilith as his bride after she left Adam."

"God, that is disturbing. Ugh…. Ewww… I may need some brain bleach!"

"You want distrubring… so is the fact he is building an army with her. Samael was an archangel… the accuser, seducer and destroyer. But, he has been referenced as both good and evil, depending on the spelling in the reference. Samael- darkside... the poison of God or Samuel- keeper of God. "

"Great, so demons want Sam cause they made a huge ass typo in some reference! That's pretty weak. Why would demons rely on some ancient mumbo jumbo?"

"It's not that simple. I mean take in account Sam is smart, the son of a soldier, born at the right time, trained. If Lucy told the truth, they think you boys were descended of some archangel line, not that the records on that are solid. According to most legends the demons fail time after time to take control, but they keep trying. Makes sense to get a powerful weapon on your side."

"You're not buying all that crap?"

"Maybe... maybe not. But, in order to get hell on earth, they need these guardians to open those doors. Sam wasn't raised with isolation. Old yellow eyes thought he could turn Sam easily, but he didn't count on you messin' around with his plans. "

"Poor sick puppy- a dead sick puppy!" Dean said remembering the yellow eyed demon's demise.

"Well, no matter if the story is true, a load of crap, or demonic wishful thinking, they have Sam on their side. "

The oldest Winchester got to his feet and started for the front door. As he opened it, he heard a quiet voice from behind him.

'What, no good-bye hug?' Bobby said with a smile planted on his face. "Where do you think you are goin'?"

Dean brushed the question off and continued. "After Sam."

"You're going after him?"

"I have to"

Bobby frowned a little. 'Look, if it was anyone else, I wouldn't give a shit about your stupid plans! It's just that I'm your friend."

"Sam's my brother!"

"I know, but friends care for each other, too"

Bobby's words seemed to stir something in Dean, who whipped around to face his friend again. They stood silently, both gathering their thoughts, assembling a string of coherent words to say.

"I'm going to find my brother." He said matter of factly.

"It's no longer Sam!"

"I have to try or Sam could be gone forever. I can't let him do this for me. He can't sacrifice himself. It's too much."

"Well duh. We're going after him, but you need to get your head straight. We go into the demon camp and they'll attack. Do we really stand much of a chance against hundreds of demons? Huh? No we don't! We'll be slaughter."

He muttered profanity as this continued, leaning against the door, tapping his fingers impatiently. "Well. Whether you like it or not, I'm going. This is my problem. And I'll fix it, even if I have to kill them all to get to Sam. And not even you can stop me."

"Never planned on it." Bobby smiled. "Now you sound like yourself and the hunter I know. Too bad you didn't get that in your own skull a million times ago. I think I can trust you're back to you old self- God help us. I had to be sure. But, I think we'll have better odds if we get him one on one and leave the demonic nation alone. The question is can you face him? Can you kill the shell if your brother is gone?"