Nine year old Samuel Winchester clung to his big brother, his cheeks wet with tears after he woke from another nightmare; monstrous things he could never truly understand. That particular night he dreamt of Dean, bloody and dying after a hunt. He couldn't take it, the sheer possibility of it was too much. His brother held him close, whispering promises in his ear, Never gonna leave you, Sammy.

And suddenly he was thirteen and coming into his own body, noticing things he'd never noticed before. Like the way Dean bit his bottom lip when he was thinking too hard, or the way he looked when he sucked on his fingers after eating a bucket of chicken wings(something he was sure wasn't supposed to be sexy). He didn't understand it. It felt wrong and left him feeling twisted and sick, but he couldn't stop it. He couldn't stop the shift in which his love changed. He still loved Dean as his brother, as his protector and best friend, but it turned into way more than it was supposed to be. He wanted more.

Another change in scenery and it was a place the young hunter didn't exactly recognize. He could only hear girlish moans and the wet, skin slapping sounds of sex. He turned around to face the noise and there Dean was, balls deep in a faceless woman, his green eyes on Sam.

Watchin' me, Sammy? Watchin' me fuck into this sweet cunt, wishin' it was you instead?

Sam's throat tightened and his gut twisted despite the growing hardness behind his jeans. Come over here then, baby. And suddenly Sam was the one underneath his brother, filled up to the brim with his cock and he could barely hold in his moans. S'good, huh? You like me in you like this? Love bein' mine?

Yes! Sam screamed, his hands gripping tightly onto Dean's strong shoulders, in desperate need to come but the pace was way too slow and sluggish.

Why'd you leave me then, Sammy? If you're mine..Why'd you leave?

Dean's words hung in the air, echoing all around them. The warm body on top of him soon faded, leaving Sam alone in an all too familiar space. His apartment-the one he shared with Jessica. He waited for the familiar flames, but they never came. Instead, Jessica walked into the room with her sweet smile and her Smurf shirt. His chest ached as she neared him, her hands reaching towards him, the diamond engagement ring sitting beautifully on her finger. Those delicate hands tangled themselves in his hair. Jess..

I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with you, She said as she kissed him, soft and sweet and wrong. He couldn't bring himself to push her away, however. He let her climb into his lap and as she pushed him against the mattress, her kisses trailed down his neck. He kept his eyes shut, his stomach twisted up in knots and it didn't help that it was so damn hot in the room. He didn't open his eyes until he felt the all too familiar drip against his cheek.

Only that time, it was Dean's face that stared down at him, his mouth agape and eyes void of life. Jessica pinned him down with a newfound strength and made him watch as the man he loved burst into flames, barely noticing the yellow glint in her eyes.

Sam jerked awake, body bolting into a sitting position. He was slick with sweat and his head hurt, bits and pieces of his dream pounding against his skull.

He hadn't meant to fall asleep. He had been up most of the night, just listening to Dean breathe. It was probably that that lulled him to sleep, his exhaustion no match for his love's steady breathing. Sleeping did nothing for him, however. It only left him sick, like he wanted to jump out of his own body. Instead he made his way to the bathroom, dry heaving into the toilet as Dean's bloody corpse replayed in his head.

When nothing spilled from his empty belly he forced himself to calm down. He splashed cold water on his face and that helped at least a little bit. He took that time to brush his teeth and take a shower and by the time he was finished he barely remembered the nightmare, just small flashes here at there that he made sure to push down deep.

Dean was still asleep when he made it back into the room, bundled up nicely into the blanket since he wasn't sharing it anymore. Sam walked over to the bed, dressed in just a towel around his waist as he ran his fingers through Dean's hair. He looked so beautiful when he slept. Calm with no worries. He wished he could stay like that.

Green eyes flutter open at the soft touch and the first thing he saw was the sweet face of his baby brother. "Mornin'." His voice was thick with sleep and it made Sam shiver. Dean's gaze traveled down his Sammy's form and licked his lips. "Very good morning, I see."

Dean wanted so badly to run his hand down his chest and pull that towel off, to see what belonged to him and him alone. But something in him told him it wasn't the time, and so he just sat up and pulled the tall man down to his level. "You smell good." Dean said before giving him a chaste kiss.

"Wish I could say the same about you." Sam joked as Dean pulled away. "Yeah, yeah. I'll go get ready. Gonna be quick about it though, gotta leave soon." The older Winchester said as he forced himself off the bed. Sam had almost forgotten about the case. Had almost forgotten the whole reason they were out there. With a long sigh, he managed to get dressed and soon enough they were packed and back in the Impala.

"You guys got room for two more?"

Dean's voice made the group of three turn around. Hailey was there and so was Ben, but there was another guy, an older gentlemen. The brothers guessed it was the guide she hired. He didn't look too pleased to see them, especially when she mentioned they were park rangers. He didn't really look convinced, either.

"You're hiking out in biker boots and jeans?" Hailey asked Dean, her eyes wandering over his form. Sam had already walked away at that point so he didn't have to see the banter with his own eyes. He was trying his hardest not to become irritable, so he figured it'd be best to stay silent and just focus on the case.

"Well, sweetheart, I don't do shorts." Dean explained as he looked over his outfit. He looked pretty good from his perspective. He shrugged and walked right passed her, barely even noticing as her blue eyes followed him. He stood right by his Sammy, wishing he could hold his hand. In hindsight, he could have. The group didn't know they were brothers. Something in him made that almost impossible to do, however. Something so intimate outside of motel rooms and the Impala made him nervous. He wondered silently if Sam ever felt like that.

"Oh, you think this is funny?" Roy, the guide, shot Dean's way, taking him out of his thoughts in an instant. "It's dangerous backcountry out there. Her brother could be hurt." He added once the shorter man turned around. Sam watched Dean from his peripheral, watched as the corner of his brother's mouth morphed in a sympathetic half smile, "Believe me, I know how dangerous it can be. We just to help them find their brother, that's all."

Roy seemed to give in after that and they went on their way, hiking through the heavy woods in a silence just as heavy. Sam walked behind the group, right behind Ben. He kept his eyes and ears everywhere, searching for any and all signs of anything out of the ordinary. Dean was near the front, right behind Roy. Dean never really cared much for silence.

"Roy, you said you did a little hunting." Dean brought up out of the blue.

"Yeah, more than a little." He corrected as he stepped over the high grass. Dean muttered an Uh-huh under his breath, "What kind of furry critters do you hunt?" The Winchester couldn't help but ask.

"Mostly buck. Sometimes bear." Roy answered simply, not really paying much mind to Dean.

"Tell me.. Do Bambi or Yogi ever hunt you back?" And as soon as the question was out of his mouth, Roy grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him back a little too roughly. Sam's eyes shot up instantly, ready to get in between them if he needed to.

"Whatcha doin', Roy?" Dean asked, eyeing him up like he was daring him to try something. Roy responded by letting him go and using a nearby stick to set off a bear trap that Dean almost stepped in. Okay maybe Dean felt a little slow after that.

"You should watch where you're stepping.. ranger."

Dean sucked in his lips and nodded, "It's a bear trap," he told the group behind him. He finally found his footing and walked off with an awkward chuckle. Sam took in a deep breath and shook his head, following a short distance behind Ben. He could see Hailey shake her head, too, inpure disbelief as she chased after Dean.

"You didn't pack any provisions, you guys are carrying a duffel bag-You're not rangers-so who the hell are you?" Hailey gripped at Dean's arm and forced him to turn around. Dean looked from her hand, up her arm and to her eyes. It was Sam's slight cough that brought his attention back up and to the familiar hazel. Dean nodded in his direction in a way that said it's okay. That seemed to be enough for the moment because Sam walked away, leaving Dean alone with her.

"Sam and I are brothers." He admitted once Sammy was out of earshot. "We're looking for our father. He might be here, we don't know. I just figured that you and me, we're in the same boat." She looked away, thinking deeply, like she was considering it.

"Why didn't you just tell me from the start?"

Dean shrugged in response to her question, "Well I'm telling you now. We okay?" He asked and she nodded, her hand still there on his arm for just a second longer before finally letting go.

"And what do you mean I didn't pack provisions?" Dean pulled a bag of M&Ms from his jacket pocket and grinned at her before turning away, making sure to stuff some of the sweets in his mouth. He didn't even notice the young woman smiling softly at his back.

Instead he made his way to Sam, standing just close enough to feel his warmth. He managed to get Sammy to take a couple and he actually smiled down at him-even though it was a small one, it didn't matter. It was all Dean was ever gonna need.

"This is it. This is Black Water Ridge." Roy announced once they reached a clearing. Sam stepped passed him, eyes everywhere but the man he was talking to, "What coordinates are we at?" The young man asked. He clung to the straps of his duffel. Something didn't feel right. Roy gave him the coordinates, eyeing the 'rangers' suspiciously from behind them.

"You hear that?" Dean didn't feel right either. "Yeah. Not even crickets." Sam replied, the silence in the forest feeling absolutely wrong. And of course, no one else in the group took notice.

"I'm gonna go take a look around." Roy said as he put his GPS away. The brothers turned to him instantly and Sam swiftly replied, "You shouldn't go off by yourself." Barely remembering that the older man didn't give a shit about what the brothers thought, something that was evident by Roy's dry laugh.

"You're sweet." The flirty tilt to his voice annoyed Dean slightly, "Don't worry about me." He smirked as he walked past Sam, making sure his shoulder brushed against the younger man's chest. Okay maybe more than just slightly annoyed, but Dean managed to shake it off once he noticed his Sammy was not phased.

"Okay, everybody stays together." The older hunter said to the rest of the group and they all nodded in compliance. Then there was what felt like even more walking until from a few feet away Roy called out Hailey's name and told them all to get over to where he was. Everyone bolted after that, following Roy's voice until their feet stopped abruptly at the horrific scene in front of them.

A camp site torn to shreds, blood and debris surrounding them. "Tommy..?" Hailey whispered as she looked through what was left of the tents. "Tommy!" She screamed hysterically near the woods when she couldn't find her brother. Sam ran to her and gently urged her to stay quiet, "Why?" She asked, defiance clear in her tone and Sam relented slightly, understanding that all she wanted was to find her big brother.

"Something might still be out there." He warned, his tone soft. Sam had her go back to the others once he heard Dean call for him deeper into the forest. He found his brother crouched down, studying the ground. Dean recognized his brother's warmth from behind him as Sam got down to his level.

"The bodies were dragged from the campsite." He looked at Sammy then, watching as his brother's eyes traveled the imprints in the dirt, "But here, the tracks stop." Dean points to where the tracks ended and commented on how weird that was, and the younger hunter agreed.

"I tell you what.. It's no skinwalker or black dog." That much they knew for sure, and Sam knew he was gonna have to look deep into their father's journal for answers. The brothers parted ways when they got back to camp and the first thing Dean saw was Hailey as she held up a broken, blood covered satellite phone that Dean knew had to be Tommy's.

Her small body was shaking with her quiet sobs and Dean couldn't help but kneel down beside her, "Hey, he could still be alive." He gave and she turned to look at him, her eyes sad but soft. She almost looked as though she wanted to finish crying against his shoulder, but she never got the chance as screams cut through the forest's silence.

"Please! Somebody help me!"

The group ran to the noise and Dean and Roy had their guns ready for two different reasons, but it didn't seem to matter when they reached the empty clearing where they were sure the screams were coming from. Sam's eyes darted through the trees, his heart thudded in his chest as the silence filled the forest once again. "Everybody back to camp." Sam ordered and once they did, they were shocked to find their bags and gear had been stolen.

"What the hell is going on?!" Hailey questioned and Sam could only shake his head his head because damn he wished he knew the answer to her question, it'd save a lot of time and trouble, but as he spoke, he was getting a few ideas.

"It's smart. It wants to cut us off so we can't call for help." Sam supplied as his brain worked a mile a minute, Dean could practically see the gears turning in his baby brother's head from across the camp.

"You mean someone." Roy corrected, "Some nut job out there just stole all our gear."

Sam sighed and made his way over to Dean, his hand wrapping around his big brother's arm to get his attention, "I need to speak with you.. in private." Dean nodded and followed Sammy deeper into the woods and stopped only when the younger hunter did and asked to see their dad's journal. Dean watched as he flipped through each page.

"Alright.. check that out." Sam said as he showed Dean the page on wendigos, which only made the older brother scoff incredulously. "Sammy, come on. Wendigos are in the Minnesota woods, or Northern Michigan. I've never even heard of one this far west." Dean had said, but he was considering it, however, especially when Sam didn't back down.

"Think about it, Dean. The claws, the way it can mimic a human voice." The young hunter explained. He could see the moment Dean finally relented and agreed when he groaned out a sarcastic great. "Well then this is completely useless." Dean said as he gestured towards his gun.

Sammy only shrugged in response. He knew they'd figure it out. He made sure no one was around before he stepped forward and pressed his lips against Dean's. It only took a second before the older hunter relaxed and kissed back, and god he wished it lasted longer. Before he knew it Sammy had pulled back a few inches so he could look down at Dean, his hands still at the nape of the older hunter's neck.

"We got to get these people to safety." Sam whispered before letting go and turning back to camp. Dean knew his little brother was right. He was suddenly wishing he had listened to him in the first place and tried harder to keep Hailey and Ben home and out of danger. He shook the thought away and followed behind his brother.

"Alright, it's time to go." Sam announced as he walked through the camp and stopped near the middle, "Things have gotten.. more complicated." He looked around and saw Hailey's face, one of confusion, defiance and fear as she asked what he was talking about.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Whatever's out there, I think I can handle it." Roy said to Sam, and yeah, Dean really didn't like hearing him call his Sammy that.

The younger Winchester scoffed, "That's not what I'm worried about. If you shoot this thing, you're just gonna make it mad." Sam's tone was clear, ignoring the are you crazy look in Roy's eyes.

"We have to leave. Now."

"One: you're talking nonsense. Two: you're in no position to be giving anyone orders." Roy stood his ground, like he couldn't believe someone like Sam was telling him what to do.

"Relax." Dean kept his gaze pointed toward Roy. He really didn't like hearing him raise his voice towards Sam, (he didn't really like anything the older man was doing) and it especially wasn't helping with the fact that they still needed to leave.

"We never should have let you come out in the first place. I'm trying to protect you-"

"You protect me? I was hunting in these woods when your mommy was still kissing you good night!" Roy interjected, his face inches away from Sam's, his lips set in a snarl like he was ready to fight if Sam didn't relent, which he did not.

"It's a damn-near-perfect hunter. It's smarter than you. And it's gonna hunt you down and eat you alive unless we get your stupid sorry ass outta here."

Roy laughed in pure disbelief, "You know you're crazy, right? I thought you were just bein' cute, but now I see you're just crazy." Roy got even closer into Sam's space and that was it, Sam's stoic wall cracked and he got into his face, fists balled up like he was ready to throw the first punch and that was when Dean finally moved and dragged Sammy away. Hailey did the same for Roy, urging them all to just calm down before turning her gaze up to the young hunter.

"Look, Tommy might still be alive. And I'm not leaving here without him." Hailey brought her attention to Dean, a look in her bright blue eyes that said please, talk to him. And so he turned to his little brother and Sam knew then that they weren't going anywhere. Sam finally relented, his shoulders slouching in defeat as he looked away from the group in front of him, his bottom lip caught in between his teeth.

"This thing is a good hunter during the day, but an unbelievable hunter at night. We'll never beat it-not in the dark. We need to settle in and protect ourselves." Dean's voice was strong and clear, the perfect example of a leader. Everyone followed his lead with little question as to why, and the Winchester brothers knew in that moment, their main goal was to keep everyone alive.

Night time came and Dean made sure to leave Anasazi symbols around the camp. It was the only thing that was going to keep the beasts out of their camp, so he didn't pay much attention to Roy's laughter. He was actually too worried about Sam of all things as he looked up at saw his forlorn brother sitting on a tree stump.

He sauntered his way over to Sammy and sat down beside him, maybe a little too closely, but no one cared to notice. He leaned in close and whispered, "Wanna tell me what's going on in that freaky head of yours?" He watched as Sam's mouth open and close like he had no idea what to say besides the usual I'm fine, which Dean was not buying.

"You're like a powder keg, man. It's not like you. I'm supposed to be the belligerent one, remember?" Dean half-joked, hoping maybe to see at least a little smile from his baby brother. He didn't get one, not even a glance in his direction.

"Dad's not here." The fact was so glaringly obvious it almost killed the young hunter to say it out loud. "I mean.. that much we know for sure, right? He would have left a message, a sign, right?" Sam asked as he fumbled with his hands. He didn't know what to do with them when all he wanted to do was hold Dean's.

"Yeah, you're probably right. To tell you the truth, I don't think dad's ever been to Lost Creek." Dean gave and Sammy finally turned to look at him, something close to desperation in those hazel eyes.

"Then let's get these people back to town, and let's hit the road.. go find dad. I mean, why are we still even here?" The younger Winchester let out in pure aggravation. Dean knelt down in front of Sammy then, their father's journal in the palm of his hand.

"This is why.. this book. This is dad's single most valuable possession. Everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us." Dean paused so he could study Sam's face, the same defiance there that he had when they were just boys.

"I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people.. hunting things. The family business." He stopped when Sam shook his head. The younger hunter rubbed his hand down his face and tried his best to calm down because his brother's words, his blind trust for their father was enough to get his blood pressure to spike.

"That makes no sense." Sam gave, his tone completely exasperated, "Why doesn't he just call us? Why doesn't he just tell us what he wants, tell us where he is?" He hated how calm Dean looked, and that was selfish, he knew that. But the mess going on inside his head was just too much to care, and he literally almost broke when Dean said I don't know.

"But the way I see it, dad's given us a job to do, and I intend to do it."

"Dean-" Sam's voice was shaking at this point, and he couldn't tell whether he was about to cry or if he was just plain pissed off, "No. I gotta find dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about." Tears welled up in those hazel eyes at the sudden honesty. He knew it wasn't the whole truth-there was way more, but that was enough. For the moment, anyway.

"Sammy, we'll find them, I promise." Dean's tone was soft and yet so sure, and that paired with his hand finally wrapped around Sam's, the young Winchester couldn't help but cling to the determination.

"Listen to me. You've got to prepare yourself. I mean, this search could take awhile. And all that anger.. you can't keep burning it over the long haul. It's gonna kill you, baby." His fingers trailed up the sleeve of his little brother's jacket, the slip of the pet name making the moment more intimate than he meant it to. Everything in Sam wanted to lean into Dean's touch, or to fall against his chest and just stay there, but they couldn't, not with the rest of the group at such a close proximity.

"How do you do it?" He asked with a humorless chuckle, "How does dad do it?" He let himself concentrate on Dean's fingers around his wrists. It calmed him slightly, and made it easier to listen to Dean as he motioned towards Hailey and Ben. They were sitting next to the fire, Hailey's hand wrapped around Ben's and she was no doubt whispering comforting things to not only Ben but to herself.

"Them. I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. It makes things a little bit more bearable." Sam watched them in silence, taking in Dean's words slowly. He knew he was right, that maybe that worked for the older hunter, but for Sam..

"I'll tell you what else helps." Dean's voice brought Sam's attention back to his brother, listening quietly, "Killing as many evil sons of bitches as we possibly can. You and me, baby boy." Dean said with a small smile, and he couldn't help that it got bigger once he finally managed to get his Sammy to smile right back at him.

Everything in Sam wanted to kiss Dean. His hand trailed of his big brother's sleeve and his eyes were either lost in those pools of green or onto those plump lips. Dean knew what Sam was thinking without him having to say a word and leaned in, Sam's gasp at such an action was barely audible but he knew Dean heard it. For a split second he really thought his big brother was going to kiss him in front of the camp, and the thought left him both excited and terrified.

Instead, Dean completely bypassed Sammy's mouth and went to his ear, "Soon, Sammy." To anyone watching, it'd just look like a secret passed between brothers. And in its own way, it was. Sam couldn't help the surge of disappointment that ran through him and nodded curtly. Dean's lips were still so close to his skin, he could feel his steady breathing against his neck. It wasn't fair, they both knew this. Even that was a tease. It left Sam's skin warm and wanting more, along with the hot shame in the pit of his stomach that felt wrong to feel that way after everything that had happened with Jess.

Dean could barely control himself. He wanted so badly to taste his Sammy's skin against his tongue and have him moaning and writhing beneath him. The sudden urge was inappropriate to say the least. It was the wrong time and the wrong place. He forced himself back, but the only thing that took his mind off of his dirty thoughts were the familiar screams from deep within the forest.

The night was long. No one could sleep, not after the screams, not after Roy disappeared. Sam and Dean-they'd told him to stay in the damn circle. But as the older man shot at the beast, he couldn't bring himself to listen to the brothers. He chased after it and that was it, he was just.. gone.

Sam leaned against a tree trunk, a good distance away from camp. His fingers toyed with a chain attached to the spine of dad's journal, it was just about the only thing keeping him out of his own head, and it wasn't doing a good job.

One thing he really knew for sure was he failed. He was supposed to protect them like Dean said but he failed, and it really only had him thinking he wasn't cut out for it. That life, saving people, were for people like dad and his big brother. Natural born leaders, warriors, built for hunting.

And maybe if he was like that.. strong like his family.. maybe he wouldn't have failed so much. Maybe he wouldn't have hurt his dad-because he knew despite everything it hurt John when he left-maybe he wouldn't have walked away from Dean, and maybe Jess would still be alive.

A whole lot of goddamn maybes. And they were getting him nowhere.

"These types of things.. they're not supposed to be real." Hailey said from her spot on the ground, her head in her hands. Dean was behind her and Ben, his fingers trailing over the claw prints on an old tree. "Wish I could tell you different." Dean had said with a short sigh.

"How do we know it's not out there watching us?" She asked as the hunter kneeled down in front of her. "We don't." He replied simply.

"But we're safe for now." Dean assured her, his eyes on the flammables in front of him. He faltered slightly when she asked how he learned about all that stuff-hunting. He looked at her then, at her kind blue eyes and just shrugged. "It kind of runs in the family." Was all he gave before standing up, her curious stare burning into him. Sam made his way into camp then, and both Hailey and Ben stood to listen.

"So, we've got half a chance in the daylight. And I, for one.." Sam heaved out a sigh, "want to kill this son of a bitch." His tone was tight, his eyes locking with Dean as soon as the words left his lips. His big brother nodded in his direction, "Well, hell, you know I'm in."

Things moved pretty fast after that. Sam pulled out their dad's journal and explained all they needed to know about Wendigos, starting with the origin, and then with the fact that they were all human once, and became that way due to cannibalism. They would turn into beasts that were always hungry. Hailey shook her head at that.

"So if that's true, how can Tommy still be alive?"

Reluctantly, Dean explained that wendigos know how to last long winters without food, that Tommy was most likely being kept somehow dark and hidden. They had to track it back to that place, it was the only way to get to Tommy.

"How do we stop it?" Hailey asked, urgency spilling from tone of voice. Dean sighed, looking back at Sam for a split second before answering.

"Well, guns are useless, so are knives. Basically.." Dean started as he held up the Molotov in his hand, "We gotta torch the sucker."

But, of course.. they had to find it first.

The group made their way into the woods, following the bloody claw marks left on the trees, sticking close together. After about ten minutes of walking, Sam was beginning to feel uneasy. It didn't make sense to him that a monster, a so-called perfect hunter, would leave a trail so deliberate and easy to follow.

"You know.." Sam started as he moved to stand beside his brother, "I was starting to think that those claw prints, so clear and distinct.." He shook his head, the whole thing so damn obvious it hurt.

"They were almost too easy to follow."

The beast didn't seem to like Sam's discovery, its growl tearing through the trees and surrounding them. It moved too fast. It left the bushes rustling in its swift stride, barely even a shadow visible as it circled them. And then suddenly it stopped, the forest filled with its unforgiving silence. The only thing that could be heard, at least to Sam's ears and definitely Hailey's, was the slow trickle of dark red blood against the poor girl's shoulder.

With a scream and a thud, the broken body of Roy fell right to the ground Sam pulled her up, quickly assessing her and sighing in relief once he found she was okay. The same couldn't be said for Roy as Dean called out, "His neck's broken!"

It was then that the chase started. Dean didn't know when he got separated from Sammy, all he really knew was that he and Ben weren't around when they came face to face with the wild and hungry wendigo.

Sam hadn't meant to lose them. Ben tripped and he would be damned if he let someone else get hurt on his watch, so he stopped and lifted the boy up so they both could make it out. By that time Hailey's scream cut through the trees and it was too late. Sam was too slow.

"Dean?!" Sam's heart thudded loud and harsh, he could feel it in his throat as he looked around desperately.

Dean was just...

Gone.