Brothers Split

"Dean!" Cas cried, leaning forward and resting his head on Dean's shoulder.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay," Dean soothed him, running his hands up and down Cas' back.

"So how's this gonna work?" he asked Balthazar and Gabriel.

"The process if very similar to how it would be for a human female," Gabriel said, "The birth itself is different, but you just let us worry about that."

"The only thing you really need to know is that the final moments will be very unpleasant for Cas," Balthazar said.

"Unpleasant how?" Dean questioned.

"The child is connected to Cas' Grace and it's going to need to split from that," Balthazar explained.

"Which is why you guys call it the split?" Dean guessed.

"Well done Winchester, you're learning," Balthazar said, though there was no bite or malice behind his words, "He will experience pain beyond what any female human would, though it will last only a few seconds."

"What can I do for him?" Dean asked.

"Exactly what you're doing now," Gabriel told him, "He's terrified and in pain, so just let him know he's not alone."

"You're pretty sentimental for an archangel," Dean said.

"He's your boyfriend, but he's our brother," Gabriel said, "We hate seeing him like this, same as you."

"I know," Dean said quietly, pressing Cas closer to him as the angel gasped.

"Sam!" Cas gasped out, "Dean! Stop him!" Dean stayed where he was for a moment, trying to determine if Cas was delusional from the pain or not.

"Dean!" Bobby said sharply from his place near the window and Dean shot up. He looked outside and saw Sam walking towards one of the cars.

"Dammit Sam," Dean growled, "I don't have time for this!" Cas cried out again and Dean was by his side in an instant.

"It's alright Cas," he murmured, "I'm here."

"Dean!" he gasped, "You need to stop him!" Dean stared at him for a moment before nodding.

"You two stay with him," he told Balthazar and Gabriel, "Call me if anything happens." Gabriel took Dean's place next to Cas and allowed his little brother to lean on him. Dean and Bobby ran outside, calling Sam's name as they went.

"Sam!" Dean shouted, "Where do you think you're going?" Sam didn't answer, but shifted on his feet and Dean immediately knew the answer.

"What? To her? To Ruby? Come on Sam," he said in frustration, "When are you going to realize how wrong this all is?"

"It's no more wrong than you knocking up Cas," Sam bit back and Dean's face hardened.

"The difference being that Cas isn't a monster," Dean ground out, "Now get back inside Sam or so help me-"

"What Dean? What are you gonna do?" Sam spat, "I'm not a little kid anymore, you can't punish me for not doing what you tell me."

"I'm not trying to punish you Sam," Dean said calmly, "I'm trying to help you."

"Right," Sam scoffed, "Locking me up is supposed to help me?"

"In the long run yes!" Dean shouted, "Dammit Sam, why are you so bent on destroying yourself?"

Sam stayed silent for a moment and when he finally spoke his voice was dangerously calm, "Just let me go Dean."

"No way," Dean replied, stepping forward, "You're not goin' anywhere except back in that panic room." Dean was now standing directly in front of hiss big-little brother and for a moment he thought Sam was really gonna go with him. But then Sam reeled back and punched Sam in the mouth. Dean stumbled back as Sam started walking away.

"Sam! You walk away now and don't you ever come back!" Dean called. Sam paused for a moment, but then continued walking. Dean's shoulders sagged and he released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Sam was gone. His little brother had left him... for a demon.

"Dean!"

Dean took one last look at his little brother's retreating back before he turned and ran back inside, Bobby following close behind.

"It's almost time," Balthazar said as they ran in.

"How much longer?" Dean asked, kneeling next to Cas.

"A few minutes," Gabriel told him.

"Bobby," Dean turned to the older man, "Can you and Ellen take Ben out for like, an hour?"

"Yeah of course, call if you need anything," Bobby replied, gripping Dean's shoulder affectionately before leaving. Dean turned back and knelt next to Cas who was now lying on the couch.

"It's time," Balthazar told them.

So, it has been a while since I updated and I hate to say it, but it'll probably be a while before I update again.

I am participating in NaNoWriMo this month, have a major project and two majors papers, as well as several smaller assignments all to do within 30 days. So, needless to say, I'm a little overwhelmed.

I will try and get another chapter up this month, but please don't hate me if I don't update again until December. My classes end on December 4th and then I just have exams so I'll be able to update more often. I may occasionally upload a one-shot I have worked on, but I don't like updating long stories like this one when I'm super distracted because I feel like it doesn't get done to the best of my abilities.

Thank you to everyone for sticking with me and I apologize for not updating more often {sad face}