Disclaimer: Supernatural, the Winchesters, and any other characters and/or places which may appear do not belong to me.

Whumptober 2020, Day #13

Prompt(s): I'm going with an alternate prompt again cause Day 13's prompts didn't inspire me much so I chose 'nightmares'.

Author's Note: One of my many SPN headcanons is that Dean never gets over how much damage he did while he had the Mark of Cain. Another one that kind of goes along with that is that Dean's arm burns occasionally after a kill or something, just kind of a reminder. Not for long either, just for a few months after the Mark was removed. I mean it makes sense, whether it's mental or actually physically burns, it makes sense that that would happen. If you agree with these or have any expansions, feel free to let me know. I'd love to know your thoughts on it.

Takes place early-mid season 11. After 11x04 Baby, but before 11x09 O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Today's Whumpee: Dean Winchester

Sam finished off the vamp with a quick and clean cut of his machete. The body went limp as its head bounced across the floor. Sam looked up and immediately sought out his brother on the other side of the empty field. Sam felt his heart plummet as he saw Dean on his knees. He made his way over to him quickly.

"Dean, you good?" he asked, his eyes scanning Dean for signs of injury. He saw none. Just some vampire guts but that was usual. Dean didn't reply, so Sam tentatively knelt down in front of him.

"Dean? You're scaring me, man. What's up? Did a vamp get you?"

Dean looked up at Sam, as though seeing him for the first time in days, weeks even.

"Sammy?" His big brother's normally strong voice was small, almost scared.

"Dean, what's wrong?"

Dean behaving this way was very uncharacteristic and it was taking Sam off guard, unnerving him. His brother's hands seemed to be shaking and he'd lowered his gaze from Sam's face again.

"Dean, talk to me, what's going on?" Sam asked again, not bothering to try and keep his growing panic from seeping into his voice.

"The Mark," Dean finally muttered after another moment.

Sam's heartbeat sped up tremendously at those two words. No. It wasn't possible. They'd removed the Mark. That's why the Darkness was a thing, the Mark was removed.

Sam, without a word, grabbed ahold of Dean's right wrist and outstretched it, rolling the sleeve of Dean's plaid shirt up to where the Mark had rested for far too long.

Sam, despite knowing that it was gone, couldn't help but let out a deep breath, one he hadn't realized he'd been holding when he saw that Dean's arm was still Mark-free.

"Dean, the Mark's gone, remember? We got it off, you're free." Sam put a hand on Dean's face and lifted it slightly. Dean's eyes moved slowly, but eventually they found Sam's.

He blinked a couple times, and seemed to come out of the slight trance he'd been in.

"Sam, what happened?"

Sam put his arms under Dean's elbows and helped him stand. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was fighting the vamps," Dean began, "and then it — it all just went red, and then I saw you."

"You were — uh — you were muttering about the Mark," Sam said hesitantly. "Do you remember that?"

Dean shook his head. But as he did so, he winced and clutched at his right arm. He rolled the sleeve up and looked. Sam glanced too, expecting to see the clear skin he had earlier, but instead, his brother's arm was red. And the faintest hint of a shadow burned on the skin in the shape of the Mark of Cain.

"No, no, it's not possible," Dean muttered, running his fingers over the faded symbol.

Sam couldn't take his eyes off the shadow. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. But as he and Dean looked at it, it slowly faded and Dean's arm looked normal once again.

They looked up at each other.

"Sammy, what was that?" Dean asked. "It's supposed to be gone, right? It is gone. It's been gone for months, and then this?" Dean's voice and his eyes were filled with fear, and Sam was pretty sure his face mirrored it.

The images of Dean covered in blood, desperate, scared of what was happening, those were images Sam was determined to never have to see or relive again.

"Let's — let's just go home for now, we'll figure it out, okay?"

Dean nodded mutely.

They drove home in silence, Sam behind the wheel. It had worried Sam when his brother had wordlessly handed over the Impala's keys but then he saw how shaky Dean's hands still were and figured that that was probably a good idea.

They got home around midnight and neither of them were particularly hungry so they said goodnight, Sam trying to give Dean a reaffirming look as they parted ways down the hall.

Sam had just barely drifted off after a few hours of trying to sleep when his brother's yells startled him.

Sam quickly stood and sprinted from his room and down the hall to Dean's room, not hesitating to push the door open. Dean was sweating and pale on the mattress, his form stiff and rigid. Sam wiped a hand over his face. It took a few minutes but he eventually got Dean to wake up and calm down slightly. Dean didn't look at Sam much; he rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes, seemingly ignoring his younger brother.

Sam ran his hands through his hair. What a night. He had a feeling he wouldn't get much sleep tonight, if any. And he had a feeling it would be the same for Dean. So in one swift motion, Sam pulled the covers back on the other side of Dean's bed and laid down, his back almost touching Dean's. He felt his brother stiffen slightly but then relax after a moment. Neither of them fell asleep, but at least they were assured that, whatever was going on, they'd get through it together.

AN II: Okay so I thought this was a bit of a unique one? Thoughts? I was thinking the part about the Mark showing up every now and then after a kill might have potential so if any of you all are interested in a longer story, maybe multi-chap, based on that idea, let me know.

And again, big thanks to all the guests that review. Ya'll mean the world to me so thanks so much 3