Author's Note: OKay, here's the next chappie as promised. It's a little boring but I'm fighting writers block. The next chapter may be in a few days but if i get a lot of reviews maybe i could change that lol. THe next one will pick up in excitement and drama. Enjoy as usual and as always leave a couple of helpful words at the end. Also, I appologize for not making the dream sequence very noticeable, right after i posted I noticed so I hope that didn't give anyone problems, and I made sure to fix it this time.

Disclaimer: I don't own our boys. Come on if I did do you think I'd be spending my time typing up Supernatural fanfiction? Come on, I'd have the real thing. Lol. Awe one can only dream.

Chapter 2:

No longer easy on the eyes but these wrinkles masterfully disguise
The youthful boy below who turned your way and saw
Something he was not looking for: both a beginning and an end
But now he lives inside someone he does not recognize
When he catches his reflection on accident

----Brothers on a Hotel Bed by: Death Cab for Cutie

Sam was leaning over the small kitchen table when Dean stepped into their room two hours later. The smell of artery clogging fries and homemade hamburgers caught his attention first before he realized who held them tauntingly in front of him. The older Winchester smirked at the longing expression on his brother's face.

Dean dropped the Styrofoam containers in front of Sam and it was then that he caught the boys bloodshot eyes and fallen smile. He looked exhausted, sitting hunched over in the stiff wooden chair. The boy's trusty laptop sat in front of him, displaying nothing more than a black screen, while piles of books, including the leather bound Winchester journal, remained closed. He held his head tiredly in his wide hands, while his eyes rolled over the diner that had just been place in front of him.

"Sorry it's not our usual five course meal." Dean smirked, but it didn't last long. When no quick remark fell from Sam's lips, he turned a look of worry towards him. Only a dull sound, that was barely audible came out, and it had only been spoken after the long awaited pause.

"Sammy?"

Sam shook his head, not even glancing back towards Dean, before quickly rising to his feet and heading towards the back of the room. He made his way in silence, his arms swaying lifelessly at his side. Dean watched with more than apprehension as Sam stopped near the last bed in their room. Deans.

A body, turned over on it's right side, slept soundly beneath the sheets. It wasn't until after he took a closer look, that Dean realized it was Alex sleeping in his bed.

"Sam, what the hell…"

The younger Winchester shot him a quick glare that cut off anything else Dean wanted to say. Whatever was wrong, he could wait a few more minutes to find out.

Sam leaned over Alex, his eyes going over him carefully. The boy had been turning fitfully in his sleep only twenty minutes earlier and although Sam had managed to wake him up, the look in his older brothers eyes wasn't one he'd been expecting. His eyes had displayed more emotion in that one instant, than he had seen in almost twenty some years. They were unfocused at first, but it could have been from the lack of sleep he knew his brother had been getting and the possible pain from his shoulder. Although he'd denied the emotion Sam had seen as nothing, as was usual with both the older Winchester boys, Sam knew better. He'd been worried since Alex had mentioned Meg in the bathroom and the look of pain, maybe even fear, didn't ease the younger man's mind anymore.

"Sammy" Dean tried again from across the room.

The guilt set in with that one word. Sam pulled the sheet closer around Alex's torso and turned a smile that struggled to stay intact, towards his oldest brother. He hadn't meant to be so withdrawn as soon as Dean came back, but he was just so caught up with the events of the last few hours, he hadn't really had time to think about anything else. Now that his brother stood before him, with that questioning look on his face, he knew he'd better get this over with.

"Dean, can we go outside."

Dean nodded and led the way back towards the parking lot. He leaned casually up against the brick siding of the motel; hands dug anxiously into the bottom of his jeans pockets while he waited for Sam to join him.

Something was up. That much Dean knew, but what, only Sam seemed to know. The feeling of being left in the dark, even if for a few minutes, didn't settle with the skilled hunter very well. He caught on fast when something wasn't right with one of his brothers and he knew damn well that something definitely wasn't right. He'd felt it as soon as he'd stepped into the motel. It had been too quiet. Sam had seemed too distraught and Alex had been asleep. The boy who never settled down, had the stiff and musty sheets of his queen size bed draped about him, while he dreamt soundly, unaware of the outside world. It sounded like a Kodak moment, but it scared the shit out of Dean. After deserting the boy he figured he'd at least hear about it when he got back.

"Dean, are you listening?"

Sam was standing impatiently in front of him. The youngest of the Winchester clan stood a few good inches taller than him, looking down with that frustrated scowl. Dean shook his head.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

The boy's gaze faltered. First towards the far end of the parking lot, as if something had caught his eye and then down to his fading runners before finally resting on Dean. Dean watched, picking up the nervous actions his brother made. Picking at a loose thread on the hip of his jeans, the grinding of his teeth.

"Sam, what happened?"

How was he supposed to help protect his brother if he didn't know what to protect him from? Dean's stomach started to do flips, churning uneasily while Sam just stood there, shifting his weight, debating how get the information out.

"Alex" the word left Sam's mouth before he had time to think. Dean nodded, as if he understood. His throat tightened out of fear but he kept up the calm exterior which he'd been mastering for years. "Alex, he…Dean, when I came back after leaving, I found Alex in the bathtub."

"Dude! He told us he was taking a shower…"

"No, Dean. He fell."

Dean glanced at the motel door. "Is he okay?"

"A little bruised. His shoulder's hurting a bit more, but that's to be expected."

"But that's not what has you all worked up."

"No, it's not." Sam breathed deeply before going on. "Alex fell because he said someone sneaked up on him while he was showering." He paused once more. "He's convinced it was Meg."

He was hiding again. The hotel was quiet save for the light breathing from the remaining Winchesters. Alex was huddled, knees drawn against his chest, in the far corner of the room. It had been almost two years since they left Lawrence, but the images would not stop appearing late at night, tormenting the five year old. Every day he thought of the fire. Wondered why mommy had never found them yet. Dean had said she would never find them, that she had gone some place better, but Alex knew that his older brother was just as clueless as he was.

A low moan broke the stillness. The boy's head perked up. Dark eyes, deprived early on of their youth, searched through the thick onslaught of ebony. Baby Sammy, who wasn't quite a baby anymore, struggled next to Dean. He was asleep, but something was obviously bothering him. Alex wondered if his little brother had the dreams too. Did he remember how Alex had tried to fight the shadow? How hot the fire felt and how their mommy had cried? How daddy had cried?

Alex shifted. He pulled John's heavy brown jacket around his front. Car keys and change made the material heavy, but as long as it kept him warm he didn't care.

Dean let out a deep sigh. Even in sleep he was the tough older boy that Alex admired. The hero he so desperately wanted to be. Both boys tried to be strong. For Sammy; for Daddy, but Alex could feel himself starting to break. They'd been driving for two years and he wondered when he would see their home again. Daddy never talked about Kansas, or Aunt Lillian and Uncle Drew. No one ever talked about it, so neither did Alex. He hoped they were going back soon, because he missed all the toys he had to leave behind. Of course, deep down inside, Alex knew, they weren't ever going home.

The motel drifted in and out of focus before the boys brown eyes. His brothers and the hotel beds disappeared, blurring into another image. Alex found himself no longer huddled in the safety of an empty corner, but alone, sprawled on his back in the mud. The moon loomed above in the starless sky. This seemed familiar but the boy could not figure out why.

Alex struggled to his feet and found his left wrist hurt to move. He wondered where their dad had run off to. Where were Sam and Dean? They were supposed to look out for each other.

He stumbled forward and caught a glimpse of his reflection in a murky puddle. The light from the full moon was enough to reveal the youthful face of a scruffy hared nine year old. It wasn't until then that Alex also caught sight of the loaded sawed-off shotgun dangling from his undamaged hand. He looked a mess, standing there with Dean's old red blazer, now caked in mud and remnants from the forest floor.

In an instant everything came back. He was hunting. This was his first hunt with daddy and Dean. They were after a Jersey Devil. It was hiding out in the forest. Sammy was at Pastor Jim's because he couldn't hunt. Daddy told them to split up, but for Dean and him to stick together. Dean hadn't listened. Alex lost sight of his brother after three minutes and after five minutes had missed his footing on a steep hill and banged himself up a bit. That's why his wrist hurt.

Alex shuddered. He was alone. Tiny fingers held tight to the wet handle of the shotgun. Soggy running shoes barely gripped the steady climb back up the hill. Sweat ran down the length of the young Winchesters face. His body felt bruised and every part of him ached. He pushed through. Many times daddy had come home much worse. Pastor Jim had to watch them when daddy was like that. Dean might be like that.

The boy cursed his older brother out. Being alone was not part of the plan. Not on his first hunt. He was sure Dean would be fine but what if the creature came after him? What if he wasn't as ready as daddy thought he was?

Through the thick barrier of trees, a shrill cry rang out. It bounced off the forest walls, nearly knocking Alex off his feet in shock. It was Dean.

Before he could think, Alex raced towards the sound of his brother. The unsteady ground gave way to the boy slipping every so often, but if he did, he just got right back up. The gun swayed readily in the air, hitting his thigh with reassurance.

"Come on Dean, where are you?"

Alex had stopped; circling about in place in hopes his brother would call out once more.

"Come on…"

"Dad!"

Alex ran again. There was a clearing up ahead but it was still far from reach. Luckily he didn't have to run there. A moan sounded from a few feet away. The hunter raised his weapon, just the way his daddy had taught him. Careful not to be taken off guard, he moved stealthily through the dead leaves and over fallen branches.

Dean.

Alex almost lost his grip on the shotgun. There was his big brother; his hero, trembling amongst the dirt. He kept the gun raised but didn't pay much heed to his surroundings as he'd down a minute earlier.

"Dean" he whispered. A dark liquid ran down the right side of his brothers face and only a few inches away on his chest were a series of scratches that had torn through his shirt and flesh. They weren't deep, but Alex could tell it had scared him. "Dean, what happened?"

Until that moment, Dean hadn't said anything, or even acknowledged that Alex was sitting in front of him. The older boy tore his gaze away from a nearby bush and turned glassy eyes on his baby brother. There was a distant look in the green orbs, one that scared little Alex. He backed up a step, but reached out a gentle hand on his brother's cheek. It came away covered in blood that still flowed freely down pale skin.

"Alex, it's here. It's here, Alex."

Dean wasn't making any sense. His eyes scanned the area around them then came to rest once again on the bush.

"What is Dean? Where is it?"

There was no answer, but the boy pointed towards the bush. Alex knew what that gesture meant.

"I got it Dean."

His brother shook his head and yelped when he tried to stand. He panted heavily behind Alex, hand raised up against his forehead in hopes of bringing the pain down a few notches.

"Stay." Alex warned.

The bush shook wildly before the two boys. Alex swallowed hard and raised the shotgun. It didn't take long for the creature to prepare itself for a new attack. It sprung out from the bush, snarling something awful and tore across the small space between himself and the young hunters. Alex held his breath and aimed. The beast was almost close enough. Dean let out a small sound that caught midway in his throat. Alex's finger curled over the trigger. One shot. Crack! Thud! The monster hit the ground and struggled back to his feet. Alex didn't waste any time. Crack! Thud! Crack! Crack!

The fireworks ended and the boy stumbled back, covered in the slain creature's fresh blood. It covered his body, but he ignored it and turned his attention back on his injured brother. Dean was looking wide eyed at him, half in fear and the other half Alex wasn't quite sure about. A small smirk appeared on the older Winchester's face.

"You did good Al."

Alex beamed. A toothy grin spread across his features as he trudged through the dirt back to Dean's side. When he got there his brother was already falling prey to the dark. Heavy weights were pulling Dean's eyelids downward. It made Alex's heart skip and his stomach twist.

"Please Dean, stay awake a bit longer. Dad will be here soon. Please Dean."

His brother was unresponsive. It was too late. Alex cried and pulled Dean against his chest. He couldn't be alone. Not in the forest at night. He needed Dean to wake up, but knew he wouldn't. Not until dad found them.

The silent cries soon turned to sobs and Alex nearly clung to his brother as if even lost in unconsciousness he might save him in case the creature rose suddenly from the dead. But it hadn't been Dean who had saved the day that time. It had been him. Skinny little Alex, who was too short to reach the cookies on the fridge, had rescued his older brother. Maybe he could be a hero just like Dean. Like their daddy.

Alex rocked Dean in his arms, mumbling soothing words of comfort.

"Don't worry anymore Dean. I killed it. I saved you. You don't have to protect me anymore" Alex smiled. "You watch Sammy, he's just a baby. I'll watch you Dean. When dad is gone I'll watch the both of us. You don't have to worry Dean. It's okay now."

"Alex? Dean?"

John Winchester was stomping through the forest. Alex heard him. He wasn't careful to not make any noise. The older man stumbled through the last heavy mess of brush and nearly tripped over the bloodied Jersey Devil. Alex looked up to his dad and caught the sight of yellow eyes looking back at him through the dark. The shadow's eyes that had killed their mom. Alex gulped and grabbed closer to his brother. He promised nothing would happen to Dean.

John cocked his head and stepped forward.

"Alex?Alex!"

Alex struggled against the strong hold on his chest. Another hand came round and landed on his shoulder. Peering out through half open eyes, he gasped, still recovering from the dream and surprised to find Dean trying to restrain him. When realization hit, the boy sunk back tiredly in the bed. Dean's hold relaxed, but didn't completely release.

"Christ, couldn't you have waited until I was awake to take advantage of me. Or at least when I'm in a coma. That way I don't have to find you smirking at me when I wake up."

Sam, who stood at the other end of the room, making head way into Dean's complimentary dinner, just shook his head.

"You were flailing around like the devil was after you."

"Flailing?" Alex scoffed. "Sammy, who the hell flails?"

"Obviously you do."

"Ooh, college boy thinks he's so funny."

Dean moved aside onto Sam's bed but directed that stern, hunter look towards Alex. He didn't acknowledge it at first but when Dean refused to look away, even after a pillow grazed the top of his head Alex decided it was time for a lecture.

"What? I got food on my face? Or are you just admiring some fine handy work?"

The smirk didn't appear. It was as if Dean had turn to stone in just a few minutes. He frowned but didn't bother to reply. That only made Alex even more frustrated. Sam had obviously relayed the events of the last few hours to Dean, it was the only explanation for why he was sitting at the back of the room chewing on a plastic fork, while Dean just stared. That's all it took. Or maybe that was all Alex was worth was a stare. In the end he caved after a mere minute and a half.

"Look, I know what you're thinking…"

"Do you?"

The voice was dull. Dean's face was emotionless and his eyes glazed over as if he were off somewhere else.

"Yeah, I do." Alex was determined not to let his brothers push him around. "I get that you guys are freaked. But don't get your panties in a bunch just yet. Okay?"

There was a pause.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch?"

"Yeah, it means…"

"I know what it means Al." Dean rubbed furiously against the build up of stubble on his chin. The gesture mirrored a younger John Winchester. Alex cringed to think of his brother that way. "I mean, is that all you can say? Don't get your panties in a bunch?"

"Well what did you expect me to say? I was so scared. Next time I go to the bathroom will someone fucking escort me?"

"Don't get smart with me…"

"Dean, I'm 25, I can take care of myself."

"That's why you wound up naked on your ass in the bathtub. Cause you can take care of yourself?"

"Oh, for God's sake, shit happens."

"Don't give me that. Don't give that lame t-shirt catch phrase shit to try and smooth this over. Something happened when we were gone and I want to know what."

"Well I can't very well start pulling out answers from a hat now can I?"

"What about Meg?" Dean's temper had cooled down. He was serious again and expressionless.

"What about her? Psycho made contact with the cement."

"You believe that?"

"Well, we sure as hell don't believe she tried to steal a glance of my Johnson in the shower."

That comment had been pushing it. Alex realized too late after the words had left his mouth, that the sarcasm should have ended three heated sentences ago. Dean's hands shot through the muggy hotel air above his head. Sam was silent and the tension was almost palpable. Circling around them it echoed half intelligent remarks and worry that hit harder than whiplash.

"Dean…"

A quiet, struggle of a voice started from somewhere on the bed next to the middle Winchester. It sounded unsure of itself and timid. Dean's attention focused on him and Alex realized it was his voice that sounded so frail. There was a lump rising beneath the thick, dry walls of his throat. No saliva formed in his mouth to help swallow the guilt back into his stomach. It sat there, heavy and bitter on his tongue. He took in Dean's depleting form. At times he forgot his brother was only a year older than him. Days would pass where it seemed as though he was the father they'd never really had. The one who should have taught them football and watch action movies when mom was out at the garden club. But he wasn't. He was their brother. The oldest of the Winchester three, who had been dumped with the responsibility to look after the rest of the family. Alex could see now how tired the hunter looked. The dark bags beneath his eyes and the lopsided grin that barely kept itself turned up.

Alex steadied his voice in hopes of pushing out that nine year old little boy who was still unsure of how to fix the mess the two of them had made. He thought of their first hunt together and how he had protected Dean from the ravenous beast. The feeling of pride that had settled in when Dean congratulated him and then the look of disappointment John had shot him, when he covered for his brother and said he'd run off instead of Dean. The tears that had swelled in his eyes when he'd been punished to stay at the motel with Sam for months on end, while Dean and dad continued the hunt for evil.

Alex had to tell himself that the little boy no longer existed. He'd given up the idea of trying to protect Dean, because John made it clear that it wasn't Alex's place. The only one Alex could look after was Alex and even now, as he sat across from Dean, he wasn't sure he was doing much of a job at that. The pride would be swallowed and Alex would let Dean pretend to be the hero again, just as he did for Sam.

"Dean, I know this is bugging you. I'm sorry it is, but I can't help it if I don't know what really happened. Maybe I was just tired and imagined Meg standing there. I must have right?"

Alex's last words came out as the young boy inside and he cursed himself for sounding so weak. Dean had picked up on the change in attitude. He looked worriedly towards his brother and forced another grin.

"Yeah, that's probably all it was. But don't do that again. You had Miss Sammy over here pacing around like a father waiting for his wife to give birth."

They left it at that. Nothing else could solve the new problem that awaited them. If it was a problem at all. Alex didn't want to bother thinking it was anything big but he knew this was only the beginning. Their run in with Meg in Chicago was only a taste of what would become another long journey after the demon.

Dean smirked and pulled the laptop further from Sam's reach. Alex watched and wished; hoped that things would get better soon. That John would decide to come back for them and that maybe they could handle the supernatural as a team, as a family. It wouldn't be that way though. No more all for one and one for all crap. The brothers, his brothers, they would need to fix their family together, to take down the demon without their father. It scared him, but Alex wasn't sure John would be coming back for them any time soon and they had to be prepared in the event the demon decided to come for them first.