A/N: Hello my dear reader and welcome back for another short story and case fic. The brothers head for Connecticut to check out some strange deaths. Dean is concerned with Sam's state of mind, and they get help from local law enforcement on this one. Thank you VegasGranny for your support and pre-read that helped make the story better. I do like reviews/comments. Enjoy… NC

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of SPN, and this is my own creation. Any errors are my own.

Chapter 1

The motel room was quiet as Dean unlocked the door and stepped inside, looking around to find his brother still sitting at the table like before he left, but his head was resting on his arm, and he was asleep. Before he could get closer, Sam suddenly cried out and jerked upward, panting hard as he looked around like a trapped animal, his eyes wild looking.

"Why didn't you go to bed?" Dean chastised him in a brotherly voice.

"I'm fine," Sam grunted his response wiping a hand down his face as he controlled his breathing to slow his racing heart. He was exhausted and was trying to hide it from Dean.

"You're anything but fine dude! Did you think I didn't notice that you're not sleeping and when you do, you wake up in a cold sweat, frantic, like something's after you. You're not eating. Hell, you're barely holding it together."

"It's nothing!" Sam snapped, disagreeing with an angry huff. "I think I've found a hunt," he changed the subject as he cleared his throat and picked up a half empty bottle of water to sip on.

Dean pinched his lips together knowing Sam wasn't going to tell him anything about what was going on with him. He had a good idea that it had to do with his dead girlfriend, Jessica Moore. Ever since Sam found her pinned to their bedroom ceiling with abdomen sliced open and on fire, Dean could tell something had changed within his little brother. He just wished Sammy would talk to him. It had been over five months now since this happened, and Sam wasn't getting any better.

"What have you got?" Dean finally asked knowing it was no use to pressure him. Sam could be tight lipped about things, and he didn't want to make him close down completely.

"Found some weird deaths in a small town called Winsted, Connecticut. It's northwest of Hartford."

"Weird how?" Dean asked taking a seat across from him at the table in their room.

"The locals are calling it animal attacks. Three kids have been killed within three weeks, their ages were ten to thirteen."

"And you don't think it was an animal attack because…" Dean asked letting the sentence trail off so Sam could continue.

"After digging up all the articles I could find about the deaths, it doesn't sound like an animal killing them. They were viciously attacked, and they didn't just bleed out, they were drained of their blood first. That came from an unnamed source within the coroner's office. Thing is, that the cops can't find any signs of a wild animal in the area. Their bodies were found within two miles of where they disappeared at a lake called Highland Lake. I think it's worth checking out," Sam relayed to Dean, glancing up at him. "We've checked out possible cases with less information."

"Any witnesses?"

"They didn't find any."

"Drained of blood; you know what that sounds like, don't you?"

"Vampire," Sam replied looking at his brother. "But do they usually rip a person apart?"

"I've heard Dad talk about them but haven't heard any hunters running across their kind in a long time and I don't think they would tear a person up since they want to drain them."

"So, are we going to check it out?"

"Why not, we're what? Seven or eight hours from there. Let's head out in the morning, but right now, you need to go to bed and get some sleep. You're not going to do me any good exhausted with your head not in the game."

"I'm good, I'm going to go to the vending machines and get something to drink," Sam insisted getting up and stuffing his hands in his pockets to see if he had change.

"Fine, but appease me and pretend to get some sleep," Dean grumbled in disgust. He pulled some change from his pocket and dropped it on the table for Sam. "I'm getting ready for bed, we'll leave early in the morning. Maybe you'll sleep in the car," Dean sighed as he got up and headed to the bathroom.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Sam told him picking up the change and grabbing the room key before shuffling to the door to go in search of the vending machines. He hoped maybe some sugar might keep him awake since he wanted to avoid the nightmares that plagued his sleep. He could tell his body was rebelling because of lack of sleep and hoped he could handle this hunt and have Dean's back.

spn

The Impala had been on the road for about two hours and Dean looked over at his brother to see he had finally succumbed to the throes of sleep. He could tell Sam hadn't slept before they left but figured once he got settled in the Impala with the steady motion and familiar purr of the engine would pull him under and he was right. Sam had fought it for nearly an hour before he finally leaned against the side window and gave in to the sandman.

Dean had the music turned down so Sam could sleep as he moved over a lane to fall in behind the fast moving vehicles. He couldn't help but glance at his little brother more often than needed because he was worried about him and what was happening to him.

From the day Sammy had been brought home from the hospital, Dean swore he would always protect him and look out for him. When their mother had died at the hands of a demon, he took on more of the role of caregiver, brother, protector, mother, and father, until Sam chose to accept a scholarship to Stanford. This tore their family apart, but deep-down Dean knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Sam didn't see hunting like he did. He didn't want a life of hunting monsters and living in rundown motel rooms the rest of his life.

Moaning from the passenger seat had Dean quickly looking to his brother and saw Sam's body stiffen and a pained looked flow across his face as he cried out softly but didn't wake.

"It's okay Sammy," Dean mumbled placing a warm hand on his arm and rubbing it hoping to pull him from his nightmare. "I'm here bro, I've got you." He was happy when Sam seemed to relax with his touch and drift back into a peaceful sleep. "Sammy, why won't you talk to me?" Dean mumbled with a sigh concentrating back on the road.

It was several hours later that Dean started looking for a place to stop for gas when Sam gasped loudly and struck out as he tried to move in the cramped space of the passenger seat.

"Easy there, tiger," Dean told him jerking his head sideways away from Sam's flaying arms.

"Why'd you let me fall asleep?" Sam groaned as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision.

"Looked like you needed the sleep," Dean answered like I twas a simple answer. "I'm stopping for gas soon."

"Do you want m…" Sam started and yawned widely before he could finish the sentence. "Me to drive some?"

"I don't think so, you're not safe. Putting you behind the wheel is an accident waiting to happen."

"What do you mean by that?' Sam bristled.

"If you get still behind the wheel and with the steady noise of the engine, you'll be dozing off in no time," Dean shrugged. "It was the same when you were a baby. If you were fussing or wouldn't sleep, all Dad had to do was drive you around the block and you were out like a light."

"Whatever," Sam huffed rolling his eyes and looking out the window. "How much farther is it?"

"We're a little over halfway there. Probably another four hours or so. Do you wanna grab a bite to eat to hold us over until we get there?"

"Not really hungry but could do with something to drink."

"Damn Sammy, you're going to waste away to nothing if you don't start eating more."

"I'm fine," Sam insisted pinching his lips together and staring out the side window. He knew Dean was right. His clothes hung on his tall, lanky frame now, but he just couldn't force himself to eat. Even thinking about food make his stomach churn and made him feel sick.

"You need to eat something bro; do it for me," Dean pleaded with him. "Or how about a protein shake, I'm sure they've got them at those convenience stores. Maybe there's a truck stop up ahead we can stop at, and you can get some soup and crackers."

"Fine, Dean, whatever," Sam finally gave in just to shut him up. He didn't want to hear any more about it.

"Good," Dean nodded as he began to check the road signs for a good place to stop. He finally saw a sign for a truck stop about fifteen miles ahead and moved over a lane. He was going to make sure Sam ate something, even if it was only a few bites.

When the exit loomed ahead of them, Dean moved over another lane and signaled his intentions to take the exit ramp. At the top, he stopped for the red light and when it turned green turned left across the interstate for the truck stop. He pulled up to the gas pumps first and stopped.

"Why don't you go on in, hit the head, and grab us a table in the diner? I'll be in shortly," Dean instructed his brother.

"Okay," Sam grunted as he shifted his tall frame from the car and strolled toward the front doors of the truck stop. He paused just inside and quickly scanned the inside to locate the restrooms at the back of the store. After finishing in the restroom, Sam headed to the other side of the building where the diner was located and found a suitable booth near the back and away from other customers.

When Dean walked into the store, he spotted the restrooms and headed that way to use them. Once he was done, he went looking for his brother and spotted him in a booth looking at a menu.

"What looks good?" Dean asked dropping into a seat across from Sam.

"Not sure," Sam replied.

"Let's see what the specials are," Dean hummed flipping through the menu to find the specials. "They have homemade pies. I gotta have a slice of that."

"Of course, you do."

They looked up when a young waitress came to take their orders and told her what they wanted. She smiled shyly at them and was rewarded with a lopsided grin from Dean and a wink that made her blush and hurry away. Sam shook his head at his brother's antics as he sipped on his water.

Their food came and Dean watched Sam closely to be sure he did eat some. He enjoyed a large slice of pie and flirted with the waitress. Dean got the rest of Sam's meal to go, hoping he might snack on it later. He paid for their meal, and they got drinks to take with them before leaving the truck stop. Sam offered to drive again, but Dean still refused to let him, stating he should try to rest some more.

Once back on the road, it wasn't long before Sam had dozed back off and Dean smirked with knowing he had been right. They continued their journey to Connecticut.