Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun filling in the time until September!

Hide and Seek

Chapter 36 – Epilogue

As Sam and Dean exited the Mausoleum, they both paused as they saw Liz lying unconscious on the ground in front of them. Sam quickly moved to the young girl, feeling for a pulse. He sighed with relief when he felt the strong pulse beating beneath his searching fingertips. "I think she has just fainted Dean." Sam quickly picked the young woman up and carried her over to the car. He placed her in the passenger seat then went back to help Dean with their gear. He watched as his brother grimaced in pain each time he bent over. "Dean, I can get this stuff…why don't you go and get the car started. Do you remember how to get to Liz's house from here?"

Dean glanced at Sam, realizing that it was useless to argue…besides, his ribs were hurting. "Sure Sammy, I can find it again…no problem!" Dean moved slowly towards the car, keeping an eye on Sam as he went. He knew that Sam was probably ready to collapse himself, but was too stubborn to allow it. He would make sure that Sam got some sleep before they went any further. Besides a few more days would give him a chance to give Trudy at the hall of records a call.

Sam quickly gathered everything, pausing for a moment as he realized that Dean must have left the shot gun in the mausoleum. Looking back at Dean, he almost called him back to go in and get it. Even though Sam knew there was no danger, he couldn't help the shiver of fear that made his heart race and his breathing hitch in his throat. Deciding to put it off for a few moments, he grabbed the other equipment and walked towards the trunk of the Impala. He stopped by the driver's door and tapped to get his brother's attention. "Dean…do you by any chance have the shot gun with you?"

Dean rolled down the window, shaking his head. "No Sammy, I thought you grabbed it…jeez, I'm sorry Sam. Hold on, I'll go back in and get it." Dean opened the door with a groan, his ribs felt like they were on fire. He was gently pushed back into the seat by Sam.

"No Dean, its ok…I'll go get it." Sam said quietly. Before Dean could object, he headed back towards the site of his nightmares. Dean watched as Sam paused before the doorway…part of him wanted to run to Sam and comfort him as he had done when Sam was scared as a child. But Dean was starting to realize that Sam was grown up and needed to face his own fears. "You can do this Sammy!" Dean said softly as he watched his brother take a deep breath and enter the building.

Sam walked slowly into the building, he felt the cold bands of fear circling his heart and constricting his chest making it hard to breathe. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing, slowing it down by trying to use some of the meditation techniques that Missouri had shown him. It helped, but as soon as Sam opened his eyes, the panic began to build again. Frustrated with himself, Sam quickly walked towards the back of the room. "Just my luck that he would leave it near the back…you couldn't drop it by the front door could you Dean!" Sam grumbled as he continued to walk past the open crypts.

Dean was just getting ready to go in after Sam, when he saw his brother stagger from the building holding the shot gun. Dean grinned, he knew that Sam could do it. But his elation was short lived as he got a closer look at his brother's face. Sam's face was beaded with sweat and his breathing was coming in short gasps as he fell to his knees just outside the doorway. Dean carefully got out of the car and walked towards his brother as he heard the familiar sound of Sam losing the contents of his stomach. Dean knelt beside his brother, groaning as his ribs reminded him again that they had taken the brunt of the punishment from the angry spirit. "It will get better Sammy…you need to give yourself some time to recover."

Sam looked up at Dean, the anguish clear in his eyes. "Dean, you don't understand…I could sense that there was no danger, my eyes show me that I'm safe and yet I can't get past this feeling of fear when I enter and see the crypts…God Dean, some ghost hunter I'll be…maybe you would be better off with Dad." Sam quickly stood and helped his brother to his feet.

"Sammy…" Dean started but Sam just shook his head and walked towards the car. Dean sighed and followed his brother to the car. Here he thought that the nightmare was over, but from the looks of things, Sam was going to have to deal with the aftermath of this for some time to come.

Dean got into the car and glanced at Sam. "Ok kids, time to get you both home…then I don't know about you two, but I intend to grab some much needed shut eye."

Luckily the ride to Liz's house was a short one. Dean wanted to play some music to break the awkward silence, but he didn't want to startle Liz. Sam had been silent and distant for the whole trip, Dean knew that it meant a serious chick flick moment was in the making, he only hoped that it would wait until they all had gotten some rest. Maybe then Sam would listen to reason. "We're home!" Dean announced as they pulled up behind the house.

"Dean, why don't you get the door while I get Liz…I'm worried about her still being unconscious, do you think we should take her into town?" Sam looked at Dean, his concern for Liz clearly reflecting in his soft hazel eyes.

"No, Sammy. She's probably just worn out. Remember, she hasn't had much sleep the past couple of days either. If she doesn't wake up soon, then we can talk about bringing her into town. Besides, the doctor is out of town…remember?"

A few moments later, Sam had placed Liz gently on the bed. As he started to pull the cover up, he saw her eyes flutter. "Sam? Where…is the spirit gone?" Liz asked as she placed a hand on her temple.

"Heh there, I'm glad to see you're feeling better…your back at your house and the demon and the spirit are both gone. You're safe and can now do what you want with your life. How's your head?" Sam could sympathize with her. He knew that his head always throbbed after his encounters with demons.

"Well, as soon as the drummer in the band stops beating on my skull…I'll be just fine. Where is Dean?"

"Right here! Glad to see you decided to wake up! Here I brought you something that should help. I know it's not one of your special potions, but it will do the trick." Dean placed a bottle of water and a couple of aspirin in Liz's hand.

"Dean, I do use aspirin…besides did you know that it comes from the bark of a tree?" She laughed as she saw Dean raise his eyebrows.

"Heaven help me…I'm surrounded by geeks!" Dean said as he quickly left the room.

"Liz, why don't you try to get some more sleep. I'm going out to check out tough guy's ribs out there and then I think we are all going to try to take a little nap. Can I get you anything else?"

"No, I'm fine Sam…just make sure you get some sleep too ok?" Liz was already sleeping before Sam quietly closed the door.

Sam walked out and found Dean sitting in the recliner, a bottle of water and some pain pills in his hand. "Uh Uh…no way Dean, I saw the way you were favoring your ribs, now let me take a look at them…I'm betting they need to be taped."

"Sammy…I'm fine. Look, all I want to do is get some sleep! I left the sofa for you and your freaky long legs. You need to get some sleep Sammy…don't worry about me, I'm fine." Dean watched as Sam swayed slightly on his feet. He knew that his brother was past the end of his reserves.

"Not until I see those ribs Dean…I mean it Dude, off with the shirt!"

"You know Sam, people could get the wrong impression with comments like that!" Dean laughed at the eye roll that Sam gave him as he removed his shirt. Normally he would have argued, but if this was going to get Sam to sleep sooner, he would do it.

Sam sucked in his breath at the bruising he saw on his brother's ribs. "These definitely need to be taped Dean. Hold still while I do it for you." Sam quickly wrapped his brother's ribs, wincing as he heard his brother gasp from the pain.

"I'm sorry Dean."

"For what Sam…this isn't your fault so don't even go there." Dean tried to catch Sam's eyes to see what his brother was thinking, but Sam looked away as he began to put away the medical supplies.

"So, Dean. Do you think that Liz will be accepted by the town's people now?"

Dean realized that Sam was deflecting the conversation away from him, but decided to allow it for now. "Sam, once that journal is made public, I don't think she'll have any problems. We'll drop it off at the local newspaper before we leave town. Besides, it looked like she already has some friends in town…she'll be just fine Sammy. Now get over there and get some sleep!"

Dean watched as Sam lay down on the sofa, putting his arm behind his head, he stared at the ceiling and sighed. "Now what?" Dean asked.

Sam looked at Dean with a frustrated gleam in his eyes. "I'm not tired Dean…I can't sleep!"

"Oh for Pete's sake Sam, I'm not going to read you a bed time story. Just close your eyes and I'm sure you'll be sawing logs in no time." Dean yawned, his own eyes already starting to close. Part of him wanted to stay awake, but the pain pills and the lack of sleep from the past few days were catching up with him.

Sam watched as Dean fell into a deep sleep. He too closed his eyes, but part of him was still fighting sleep…he recognized the feeling. He was still afraid to sleep. But eventually, Sam's body won out and he fell asleep.

Dean woke up briefly, smiling as he saw his brother sleeping peacefully across from him. He had been worried that Sam would still not be able to get any sleep. He just hoped that Sam's newest nightmare would not surface for a little while. Closing his eyes, he fell back asleep. "Trudy, here I come!" Dean smiled as he waited for his dream to begin.

Twelve hours later, Dean and Liz had both woken and were in the kitchen talking quietly. Liz was making them something to eat since they had slept through the night and part of the next day. "Do you think Sam will be waking up soon Dean? I mean, he's got to be starving by now…maybe we should try to wake him."

Dean shook his head. He knew that Sam had not slept the whole time through. He had woken up more than once to find Sam tossing and moaning in his sleep. Luckily, as soon as Dean comforted Sam, he had fallen back into a deep sleep. "No Liz, let him get as much sleep as he can. So, now that you are a 'free' woman, what are you planning on doing?"

"Well, you know those people I was with at the bar?"

Dean nodded. "Yes, I remember."

"They want me to join them in opening up a small store in town. It seems that there is a large interest in holistic healing. You know I was afraid that I would be all alone once you two left, but after talking to them, well…it looks like I'll have plenty of people around to keep me busy." Liz blushed, she couldn't believe she had admitted that to Dean.

Dean grinned as he saw her blush. "You know Liz, you can call us anytime you want to talk or if you need anything. You have both of our numbers, but somehow I think you'll be just fine."

Both of them turned as they heard a loud yell from the living room. "DEAN!"

Dean moved quickly to the sofa. Sam was drenched is sweat, his eyes wide open and filled with fear. "Dean, where are you? I can't get out!" Sam's eyes were frantically searching, but not seeing. He was still trapped in the nightmare.

"Shh Sammy…I'm here, it's just a nightmare." Dean watched as Sam's eyes began to focus and saw his brother relax as he recognized his surroundings.

"Let me guess, another nightmare?" Sam asked as he started to sit up on the sofa.

"Yes, Sammy it was just a nightmare…how are you feeling sleepyhead? Liz has some food ready for us if you're hungry."

"How long was I asleep Dean?" Sam asked as he realized that even with the nightmare, he actually was feeling better.

"Dude, you slept over 12 hours! How are you feeling Sam?" Dean watched Sam's face closely.

Sam paused and smiled at his brother. "Actually, I'm feeling hungry…as long the meal doesn't include any of Liz's tea that is."

"I heard that Sam…just for that, I'm going to make you and extra large cup!" Liz's voice drifted from the kitchen.

Dean laughed at the look on Sam's face as the two brothers headed to the kitchen together. Dean knew that Sam would probably be bothered by the latest episode and he figured that there were probably going to be a few chick flick moments coming. But all in all, as long as he had his brother, he figured he would survive.

The End

Raven524: So another 36 chapter epic has come and gone. I hope you all enjoyed reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing it. And for the record, this is now two chapters in a row that didn't end in a cliff hanger…I guess miracles do happen! Thanks again to everyone who has taken time to review. So on to the next story!