Chapter 28

Sam had dozed off in the rocker after he finally calmed down. He had been watching and listening to the wildlife that was playing in the trees around the cabin and waiting for Dean to come to his senses and let him back inside. His eyes got heavy as he fought to keep them open. His body and mind had not completely recovered from the shock he had gone through the night before and wanted more rest. It was not long before his eyes remained shut and his head rolled slightly to the side. His eyes moved back and forth under his lids as he dreamed, and his facial muscles twitched slightly.

Sam was trapped in a dimly lit room, but he was not alone. He could hear growling coming from the shadows as he pressed his body tightly against the wall, hoping not to be found. He could see a darker shadow moving toward him and held his breath as it moved closer. He could hear heavy breathing and closed his eyes when the hot breath blew against his neck, sending a shiver down his back. He wanted to run, but his muscles were locked in place. He wanted to open his eyes but was afraid of what he would see.

The front door was unlocked and opened making Sam jerk awake and his dream fade as he looked up with bleary eyes to see his brother standing nearby.

"You win, and you're right, I can't make you leave unless I get physical and I don't want to do that. But if you are going to stay, you have to do exactly what I tell you," Dean told him in a stern no nonsense voice.

"Of course, Dean, whatever you say," Sam nodded quickly standing and getting his balance. He smiled tentatively at him and reached to get his bag to take back inside. He tried not to smirk because he knew Dean would give in.

"You need to eat something beside a few bites of eggs and toast," Dean announced walking toward the kitchen. "I'll fix you a steak and baked potato."

"No, really Dean, it's okay, I can fix some soup or sandwich for myself," Sam objected, not sure what Dean ate now, besides the hearts he saw in the fridge. He did not know enough about a werewolf's diet except they liked human hearts, but he was sure Dean didn't eat those, he thought, thinking of the hearts in the fridge and glanced that way before shaking his head to dispel that thought.

"Sammy, they were beef hearts that you saw in the bowl," Dean said, like he was reading Sam's mind. "It's the clan's most sacred law that you cannot break. You cannot kill a human to feed on them. If you break that law it means a death sentence for the werewolf, no matter who it is, even the leader of the clan."

Sam mulled over what Dean said trying to make sense of it. What clan was he talking about and they had laws and how did he know that? His confusion must have shown because Dean continue.

"I'll explain it all tomorrow when we have more time. I have to chain myself down before the moon comes up, but I have time to cook for you." Dean busied himself in the kitchen taking out two steaks and seasoning them. He washed and poked a fork through the skin of two potatoes before putting them in the microwave to cook.

Sam sat at the table and let Dean do his thing, not wanting to get in the way and to study him trying to see any changes in him. He was glad Dean caved and let him back in. His was starting to feel a little more comfortable around his brother and was working through the fact he was a werewolf now. He watched as Dean got down two plates and sat a frying pan on the stove for the steaks.

"Dean, can I ask you something?" Sam queried.

"Sure Sammy, what?"

"Umm…Do you…Well, do you eat raw meat?"

"Yeah, Sammy, but not all the time. When it's not the full moon cycle, I will sear my meat just enough that it's not raw and yes, I can eat other things if I like. New to this too, you know, and it does take a little getting used to. But during this time, the craving for raw meat is more powerful. I have to feed the beast," he shrugged trying to be honest with him. He saw no reason to lie to him about anything now that he knew the truth.

"Oh, I see." Sam stayed quiet for a bit while Dean worked on the meal and then asked another question. "Does it hurt when, you know, it happens? I mean, you sounded in pain last night when I..."

"Last night was not as painful as the first time, but yeah, it's painful when my body goes through the change. Bones shift and move and my muscles expand and grow, hurts like hell for a few minutes until the change is complete. Not quite as bad changing back though. Not sure why, never really thought about it."

Sam did not ask any more questions for now, though he had so many stacking up in his mind. He could wait until tomorrow when they would have more time to talk it out. He hoped Dean would be honest with him, like now, and tell him everything.

Dean checked the potatoes when the microwave beeped and put them on for another two minutes. He put the frying pan on to heat adding a little oil and butter so the steaks would not stick. He knew his would not take long and was going to cook Sam's first.

"You still like your steaks medium?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine," Sam answered. "So, you take yours rare now?"

"The rarer the better," Dean chuckled, trying to make light of his eating habits.

Once the pan was hot, Dean placed Sam's steak in and listened to it sizzle as it browned. The aroma of the cooked meat filled the kitchen and Sam could not stop his mouth from watering as he licked his lips. He was hungrier than he thought and heard his stomach growl softly. Dean finished Sam's steak and moved it to the cutting board to rest and put the other steak in to sear only. Once his steak was done, Dean plated the food and got out butter and shredded cheese for the potatoes.

"Okay, grab a couple of beers Sammy and let's eat," Dean told him taking the plates to the table.

"I can do that," Sam said. He went to the fridge and pulled out two beers, ignoring the extra bowls stacked in the back of the fridge and what they contained. Baby steps was what he was going to have to take as he learned who his brother was now.

They sat at the table and fixed their potatoes to their liking. Sam cut a piece of steak and ate it, thinking it was the best he had eaten. He watched Dean cut his steak and saw the blood that ran from it and looked away, thinking it did not bother him as much now. He added butter to his potato and mixed it a little before taking a bite. He noticed Dean let his chunks of potato soak up the blood from the steak before he ate them. There was a small amount of juice running from his steak and he tried it finding it flavored the potato. He ate more of his potato like that and sighed as he started feeling better with food in his stomach.

"Alright Sammy," Dean said when he saw he was finished too. "It's getting late and I need to go to the basement. You wanna clean up the dishes for me?"

"Sure Dean, no problem," Sam nodded stacking the plates and silverware.

"I need to fix my meat if you prefer not to watch."

"No, actually I want to see." Sam was curious to what he did to get ready for the transformation. He thought it would be a good idea to start learning ways to help if he ever needed to.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, what do you do?" Sam nodded with confidence.

"I have a medication that will knock me out after I turn, and it keeps me out the rest of the night. I put it in the raw meat I take down with me to feast on after I've changed. It's not as good as a fresh kill, but it will appease the beast until the medication kicks in."

"Never thought of that. Is that why you calmed down last night?"

"Yes, if you had been ten minutes or so later, I would have been knocked out. Once I gain more control over the beast, I won't have to do this, but we can talk about it all tomorrow. I'll explain it to you."

Sam took the dishes to the sink and started the water running as he turned to watch Dean. He removed two bowls and took a pill bottle from the cabinet. He cut slits in each piece of meat, a heart and a roast, to insert a pill in each one. Once he was done, Dean put them in one bowl and sat the empty one for Sam to wash.

"I'm going downstairs now, so, no matter what you hear, you do not come down there. Lock the door behind me and maybe you should lock yourself in your bedroom too."

"Are you sure I can't do anything to help?" Sam asked, not wanting to show how uneasy he still felt about the basement as he looked at the door but wanting to show his support for his brother.

"No, I can manage," Dean assured him picking up his bowl of meat before going to the basement door. He opened it and turned back to Sam before stepping onto the stairs. "Lock it behind me and whatever you hear, do not come down there. I don't want you in harm's way, got it?"

"I got it Dean, I'll stay up here," Sam huffed thinking Dean was treating him like a child as he repeated his warning again. "I'll get everything cleaned up and will see you in the morning."

With a nod, Dean closed the door and headed down the steps into the basement. He heard Sam lock the door behind him and throw the second lock he had installed. He took off his shirt, leaving an old T-shirt on that he did not care about getting torn up. Dean knew he needed to pick up some more T-shirts at the thrift stores so he would have them for the next change. He did not want to tear up his favorite ones and did not want to be shirtless either. Dean chained his wrists once again and waited for the transformation to happen.

He paced back and forth as he waited for the moon to rise. Dean could hear and smell Sam upstairs and hoped that did not entice the beast to try and break free. Even though it was only his second change, Dean was starting to connect to the beast and still could not shake that nagging feeling he knew it. He watched the time tick off until he felt it starting to happen, bones began to shift, and muscles began to grow. He groaned in pain and arched his back as the transformation began.

The beast was coming forward and taking control.

A/N: That went better than expected and both brothers are coming to terms of what had happened. Sam is curious to know more about his brother and how he has changed. Dean just wants to be sure Sam is safe from him until he has control of his inner beast. More to come in the next chapter. Reviews would be nice; they make my day. NC