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Dean felt a swift wind sweep across his face in the darkness. The air changed, becoming cool and dry, and candle flames sputtered to life on a chandelier. A chandelier that he knew for a fact contained every bone in the human body. A chandelier that could only belong at the Sedlec Ossuary.

He turned, ignoring the bones that covered the sanctuary, searching—

A hand grabbed his arm. "Dean."

He turned, so quickly that his vision spun for a moment, and found himself face to face with his little brother. "Sammy," he breathed, relief flooding through him. He pulled him into a brief hug and then held him at arm's length so he could look at him. "You look…"

Sam smiled. "Awesome?"

"Awful," Dean corrected him, looking away from his feverish eyes to watch blood seep down his neck and soak into his shirt. "Come on, we have to get you out of here, find a hospital." He started to walk toward the door.

Sam didn't move.

Dean's eyes narrowed. "Sam, come on. The bitch will be back soon, we don't have much time."

Sam clenched his hands and looked down. "I'm…I'm so sorry, Dean."

Dean's blood ran cold. He walked back to Sam, trying to push back the fear that was rising up inside of him. "What did you do?"

Sam stayed silent.

"Damn it, Sam!" Dean shouted, shaking his shoulders fiercely, "What did you do?"

"I can't go," Sam said softly, gripping Dean's shoulder tightly with one hand.

Dean felt his brother's hand shaking. "Why the hell not?" he demanded.

Sam didn't say anything.

"Sam," Dean said, "Why the hell not?"

Sam looked at him. "I'm staying with Alma."

Dean's mind swirled with confusion. "No," he said, "Oh no. Hell no. You're coming with me, Sam. We're leaving."

Sam shook his head. "I can't." he mumbled quietly.

"Yes you can!" Dean snapped. "She's not here, we can go!"

"No," Sam said sadly, "She's here. She brought you here because I asked her to. So that I could tell you…" he trailed off, swallowing hard, unable to say it.

Dean shook off his hand. "No. Damn it Sam, no! We are leaving together, okay?"

"I can't leave." Sam said helplessly.

"Why?"

"She said she'd kill you if I left," Sam said loudly. "She'll kill you."

"Then let her kill me!" Dean shouted back, "You're not staying with her!"

"I don't have a choice!"

"There's always a choice!"

"Yes, there is!" Sam yelled at him, "And I'm choosing you. I'm choosing to not let her kill you!"

Dean tried to breathe slowly, tried to calm himself down. It wasn't working. "What does she want with you?"

"She's…lonely."

"So get her a dog," Dean snapped. "Why does she want you in particular?"

Sam shrugged weakly, "She says I'm like her. Because of my powers."

"I don't see you out there melting people!"

"She…she wants me to be her big brother." Sam mumbled, staring at Dean.

"Well she can't have you!" Dean said fiercely, "Cause I'm your big brother."

Sam's face contorted. "I know you are, Dean."

Dean ran a hand over his eyes, glancing at the bones decorating the chapel. "Where's the way out of this mess, Sam?"

"I can't see one this time…she's too powerful."

"No. No, there's always a way out. Always."

"Not this time."

Dean hissed, grabbing onto Sam's arms. Anchoring himself to his brother. "Sammy. Look at me."

Sam met his gaze desperately, looking to him for an answer.

Dean didn't have one.

"I'll find a way out of this. I promise."

Sam nodded fervently. "Okay."

"Don't you dare give up on me."

"I won't," Sam said, with a small smile.

"Good," Dean said, "Cause if you even think of giving up, I'll—"

"Dean," Sam said, stopping him, "I won't."

"It's time for you to go," a voice said behind them.

Dean turned slightly. Alma stood there, her black hair billowing around her pale face. Sam's grip tightened painfully on his arm.

"No," Dean said, moving in front of his brother. "I'm not leaving Sam."

She smiled. "He chose me," she said.

"You can't have him," Dean snarled, "He's my little brother."

Her smile widened. "Not anymore."

Sam's grip on his arm was so tight it was nearly drawing blood.

"I'm not leaving!"

"You don't get a choice," she said simply. "Sam chose for you."

She reached out to touch him.

Dean flinched, shrinking back. He backed up into his brother, who grabbed him with both arms in a restrictive hold, stopping him from getting away.

"I'm sorry," Sam whispered, tightening his arms across his brother's chest.

Dean struggled madly against his brother's hold. "Let me go, Sam—"

Alma's outstretched fingers lightly touched his chest.

Dean disappeared in a whirl of wind.

Sam stared at the space his brother had stood, letting his empty arms fall to his sides.

Alma grinned happily at him. "Ready to go to the tank, Sammy?"

Sam tried to smile. "Yeah."

Alma reached out and took his hand.