Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Supernatural.

Author Note: Thank you so, so, much to everyone who reviewed. It truly means a lot. : )

Now I think this chapter is what a lot of people have been waiting for…so I hope it doesn't disappoint. : D

Please review, even if it's only one line. Reviews are so terribly needed especially when I worked extra hard on this chapter.

Previously…

He couldn't find a reply that would work in the situation, but he used his own term of endearment.

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

As he held Sam a little closer he could only pray that the next time Cas showed up and they had to begin the process that everything would some how go right. Then again they wore the name Winchester and that was an open target for something to go wrong.

A moan escaped the sleeping body on the bed. A sheen of sweat was clearly visible on the forehead. Small tremors ran through the muscular frame. The body wound itself tighter into as small a ball as possible, willing the tendrils of fire to leave.

Dean couldn't take seeing Sam so broken, in co much pain. It was killing him because he was powerless to stop it. The one thing that could save his brother was also killing him. It terrified him, scared the shit out of him, to think of the possibility of Sam dieing. It wasn't an option, couldn't be an option.

He had disappeared from Sam's life for four months. The kid had been to hell and back, done everything he could to bring his big brother back. The guilt and heartache that was so visible on Sam's soul made Dean want to rip his own heart out. The kid tried desperately to hide his own emotions so he could take care of Dean, try to get him to open up, but it didn't work.

Now as he looked at his broken brother he wished he had opened up. Opened up to Sam that he was terrified. The nightmares never went away, they only became worse. Now instead of dreaming of his time in hell, he dreamt of Sam. He dreamt of what life would be like to go on without his oversized, puppy-dog eyed, gigantic, geek of a little brother.

He was supposed to be the strong one. Had to be ever since Sam was six months old, but sometimes things were to hard to be. He couldn't be Sam's savior know, couldn't tell Sam everything would be alright when he wasn't sure himself. He wasn't going to lie to Sam, give him false hope. He couldn't do that, not now.

"D-Dean."

He looked up and within seconds was cradling Sam. He hated the broken look in his little brother's eyes, the look of someone who had given up. It chilled him to the bone, because they both had come too far, for the journey to end like this. He wouldn't allow Sam to die in his arms, not for the second time.

"It's alright, you're okay. Nothing's gonna happen while I'm around."

How long had he been feeding that same line to the kid? He knew it had been for years and amazingly the kid still clung onto it, like a prized possession. Sam made it seem like those few words would make everything in this life better. As he looked at Sam, the broken boy in front of him, who no longer seemed like the confident, shy, young man he had once been, it made him think back to earlier that morning and just how they had gotten here.

Flashback:

Sam was asleep and he didn't have anything else to do. So he soon found himself downstairs and on Bobby's porch. The old wood needed a good paint job. The original color had long ago faded and now all that was left was a pale light brown color. His fingers absently chipped at the wood, his mind occupied with other things. He hadn't even noticed when the front screen door opened until he heard it slam against the opposite door. He didn't look up, just took another sip of his beer.

"How ya holdin' up kid?"

"About as good as a person can I guess, you know under the circumstances."

"How's Sam doing?"

"Truthfully, okay I guess. He has always been the caring and sharing type and this whole situation hasn't changed that, I guess it's just a little surprising, how forgiving the kid still is, after everything that's happened."

"Sam is Sam, you should know the boy would forgive ya, he idles you. Always has, and a situation like this, the blame can't be pointed at either one of ya, it can only be blamed at the ones who did this to the both of ya"

"Why is he so forgiving? After losing everyone, I'd be angry man, bitter forever at the world."

"Dean ya know Sam better than anyone and vice-versa. Dean, that boy ain't got nothing in his bones but love for you, for his family. No matter what ya said to him, that boy needs ya and you need him. So no matter what happens, what you do to him and say to him, he's gonna forgive ya. Just believe that, everyone else does."

The answer was solid, no ifs ands or butts about it. He knew Bobby was right because he felt the exact same way. Even though Sam had screwed up, gone behind his back and straight out lied to him, Sam was his brother, the only family he had left. And no matter what he wasn't just going to shove Sam aside when Sam needed him. Although if he thought about he had shoved Sam aside, pushed him more into Ruby's arms than anything. That was his fault and he knew that, so that was why he needed Sam to keep fighting because there was still a long way to go, a lot of things he still had to fix.

"Bobby do you—do you honestly think we can save Sam?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Bobby answered, almost as if he was being careful the way he said his next words.

"I do. Sam has always been a fighter. He's survived more things than a person should have too in there lifetime, both of ya boys have. Sam fights for what he wants, always has and if he wants to live then he's gonna live."

He didn't say anything because he wasn't sure how to comment that. He had never really believed in angels, but now that one was helping them it put things in perspective. It made him realize that through all the evil and pain, heartbreak they had witnessed, just maybe there was some good left in the world. Hopefully the true form of goodness would come from Cas, because they needed a miracle.

"What if this detox thing doesn't work? I can't lose him Bobby, not again."

"It's gonna work, it has too. Sam is as strong as they come, hell he's a Winchester, he'll make it."

"Bobby…it scares the hell out of me to think about what the future holds, after this all ends what we'll be left with."

"It's simple then, don't think about the future. None of us have any idea what will happen tomorrow, so why worry?"

There was a pause. He being somewhat of a snark couldn't help but take a small stab at Bobby, if only for a moment of comedic relief.

"Wow, I had no idea you were so wise. Old age has done a lot for you."

"Oh shut up ya idgit."

A comfortable silence fell over the two men. He knew things were going to get rough; it wasn't like anything in their lives was at all easy. But he knew they had each other and for now that was enough.

"Bobby, thank you for everything you've done. I-we don't what we would do without you."

"Don't mention it."

As he took another sip of his beer he suddenly felt relaxed. It was though talking with Bobby was like talking with his dad. Hell, Bobby was practically like a second father to them. Bobby had offered a type of stable reassurance that only a "father" could. He knew that Bobby was behind them 100% whether he agreed or disagreed with whatever decisions they made. It gave him comfort to know he would always have Bobby to talk to, lean on for a little extra support.

"I hate to interrupt, but Castiel is here."

He swallowed thickly as he heard Kailen speak gently because, he knew today was the day the process would begin. As he swallowed the last of his beer and followed Bobby into the house he realized he was shaking. Truth be told he was terrified of what Cas was going to tell them; he really couldn't take any more surprises.

As he followed Bobby into the living room, he sighed. Cas stood in all his glory, like he did this everyday. His face was blank but his eyes revealed things that he was trying to hide. His eyes showed sorrow and regret, and this worried Dean.

"Cas what's going on?"

"The elders they are not at all happy at the events that have recently occurred. They feel as though Sam is too big of a threat and should be destroyed."

"Destroyed? Please tell me this is some kind of sick joke, I mean I don't know if angels can play jokes, but you won't let that happen, right?"

"Dean, I have my own orders to follow."

"You and your orders…god damn it Cas, this is my brother we're talking about. Do you understand what happens if he…if I don't save him?"

"The world ends, you've told me that already."

"What and the world suddenly ending doesn't matter to you or the great, big man up stairs?"

"You were brought back to save the world and sacrifices must be made."

"I know sacrifices have to be made, but not my brother. He isn't evil and he's not a monster, he never has been. Please Cas…just help me, help us."

The conversation that had been going on solely between Cas and Dean and was being watched very carefully by both Kailen and Bobby who were not about to interrupt. They weren't going to risk the chance at Dean changing Cas's mind, not with Sam's life on the line.

"Okay I'll help you, under one condition."

"You stay with us and help as save the rest of humanity no matter what happens to your brother."

He didn't know what to say. It was a lose-lose situation. If Sam made it, then great, but that didn't mean pissed off angels wouldn't be on their ass. If he didn't make it, he had to live with that fact and still help save humanity. It was a huge load to have on his shoulders but if it got Cas back on their side…

"Fine, but what exactly needs to be done to save him."

"Both the blood of you and Kailen needs to be put directly into Sam's bloodstream. The blood is gonna have to go in separately from each of you and then a mixed combination. Kailen's blood needs to be taken first, then yours. That's the order the blood will be put into Sam. Then we mix your blood together."

It sounded so weird, the way Cas said it. But he'd do whatever he had to and thankfully he knew Kailen would to. He just didn't know how they were supposed to get the blood from their bodies into Sam. Before he could say anything Bobby spoke up.

"I get the whole blood thing, but how's it supposed to be put into Sam's blood stream?"

"He'll need to have Kailen and Dean's blood put into a vein so it starts immediately washing out Lilith's blood. However the mixed blood will need to be ingested."

He felt sick at the thought of having to see Sam drink blood. It was disgusting and so…inhuman like. It didn't sit well with him. Then again, Sam had been drinking Ruby's blood, but this situation was nothing like that with Ruby.

"Drink it you mean?"

"Yes, but from what I know Sam seems to have that down pat."

The stab at Sam didn't sit well with him. What Sam had done while he was in hell should still not be being brought up. It was over and done with and he refused to let the things that he had no control over damage his relationship with Sam anymore than it already had. So instead he let the statement roll off his back.

"Will he be in pain?"

That was his main concern, what type of pain would Sam be in? He didn't want Sam going through all this, suffering.

"The pain will be brutal. The blood is going to cause adrenaline to pump through is veins at an alarming rate; he's going to hallucinate, say things that he doesn't realize he's saying. It's going to feel like his organs are being ripped out one by one. It will be his own personal hell."

Everyone in the room stared in shock. The idea of anyone having to go through that was unimaginable. But the thought of someone like Sam, who had been nothing but a victim didn't deserve that kind of brutality against them, no matter if it was saving his life or not.

"Ya can't give the poor boy anything?"

Good ol' Bobby always trying to find a way to protect them; help them through this current situation.

"No, if he survives this, it'll be the start to his recovery."

"Damn."

Yeah he had to agree with Bobby hull heartedly on this one. He knew though, beyond a doubt that if Sam had something worth fighting for, he was going to survive. Sam now knew that he had people that loved him, especially his older brother. He just hoped that would be enough.

He watched as Cas seemed to deem the conversation closed and then began heading upstairs, towards Sam's room. He knew it was time to begin. It scared the shit out of him, not knowing what the next couple of days would hold. So as he watched Bobby and Kailen follow Cas, he did something he hadn't done in a long, long time. He prayed. He prayed for Sam and himself, hoping someone was listening.

"Shhh…its okay Sammy. I gotcha ya."

He tried desperately to quite the sobs that had escaped his younger brother, while he was reveling in that morning's events and the events that followed. Sam was currently curled into the fetal position, rocking gently back and forth. Sweat poured off his forehead more so than it had been earlier, causing his hair to dampen and stick up in different directions. Sam was shaking as if he had a fever, but he knew it was from the pain.

"I-it-it feels like my-inte-intestin-intestines are being ripped out."

He choked back his own sob. His brother's pain was almost unbearable to witness. Sam had refused to let anyone get close to him, but Dean. The comfort that Dean tried to provide didn't seem to be working and it was making him worry.

Taking the blood from both Kailen and Dean had been the easy part. It had simply been like getting your blood drawn. Two vials had been taken from the both of them. One vial from each was to be put separately into Sam's blood stream. The other leftover vials were what Sam had to ingest. For now though, he was just too weak to do anything.

What was happening now was the hard part. Watching someone you love writher in pain is heartbreaking and there was no relief that could be found. So all Dean could do was wrap his arms a little tighter around Sam and whisper little nothings in his ear. The shaking had yet to stop, but it seemed to have receded some. He hated seeing Sam in this kind of pain. It was like watching the person you loved the most in the world die slowly…without any visual proof that were indeed slowly slipping away.

"Ma-make it stop, I can't take it anymore."

"Yeah you can little brother, don't let this beat you. You're so much stronger than you realize and you're gonna make it, because I say so."

"Big bro-brother knows b-be-best huh?"

"Damn straight."

A small sigh escaped his brother's lips and Sam seemed to burrow himself farther into Dean's arms. Dean couldn't help but wonder, if Sam was in this much pain now, what would happen when he had to drink the blood that was mixed? It made him wonder as he once again began whispering little nothings into Sam's ear just how much one person, one human, could take?

Author Note: I finished this chapter. This was my longest chapter to date at nearly 8 pages. : )

A Note To Everyone:

~Please drop a review, I hope I get more than 6 or 7 reviews. I know some people don't like to review WIP, but if you could, just this once it would make my day, so much better. I write for you guys and to not know what your thoughts are…kind of stings. So again, just one line would be fantastic.~

I hope to have another chapter out sometime this weekend, but school started for me today, and I make no promises on that. : D

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Lots of Love,

Kaylee