A/N: I had some complaints about Dean not remembering and Sam not saying anything about it. Please have faith in me, I did it for a reason. Trust in the author, the author is good. Peace out.

See first chapter for disclaimer.

My Brother's Keeper

Chapter 12: Back to Normal

"So, what do you think this curse was about? Why did it make Dean come after me?" Sam asked. He was laying on the couch again. John and Kara were seated in the living room with him. Kara had come back to the house, wanting to make sure that the curse was really gone before she left. John had taken Dean back upstairs and put him in his bed. Whether a result of the curse or his father's left hook, Dean had yet to wake up.

"Curses can make a person do many things they wouldn't usually do. Maybe it was just because he was around you." Kara answered.

"He was with dad the whole night before he was with me."

"Well, no offense to you Sam, but I don't think your brother could take on the great John Winchester. I doubt he would even try." Kara said with an honest smile. She had given up on being angry with the two Winchesters and was now quite joyful.

Sam grinned, "Yeah. That's true." His father's sudden change of topics quickly sobered him.

"Are you going to be able to keep this from him." John asked quietly. It was something he had wondered about the entire drive back. He hadn't missed the looks of fear that had crossed Sam's face whenever his brother was mentioned. The younger boy was afraid of what Dean had done to him, and rightly so. John just wanted to know that they weren't going to be lying to Dean only to have him notice Sam's reluctance to be around his brother.

Sam looked at his father with a pained expression. He hadn't thought about that. He wasn't sure that he could hide what he had gone through from Dean. Sam still felt a small pang of fear whenever he even heard his brother's name. It scared him, knowing how much damage his older brother could actually do to him. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he would try. Sam would make it work. He had to.

"I can do it." Sam spoke in a confident voice.

John didn't seem convinced, but trusted his son to know what he was doing. The older hunter would be there to help, if need be, but would let Sam do what he needed to do.

Sam's attention turned to Kara. He was smiling again, but this time it was mischievous, "Are you sure you want to stick around until Dean wakes up. It might not be pretty."

"What do you mean?" Kara asked, a confused smile gracing her lips.

Sam shook his head and chuckled, "Dean is just gonna love you."

"Sam." John chastised his son, "Don't scare her."

"Why... why would that scare me?"

The youngest Winchester winced, putting his arm around his ribs. Trying to hold in his amusement was only causing him pain. He bit his lip, attempting to contain the mirth and the discomfort while he spoke, "No reason. Forget I even said anything."

Kara frowned, "No. Why did you say that?" She looked at the father and son, both conspicuously looking in any direction but hers. "No, no, no! You can't do that. Tell me what you meant."

Both John and Sam would have continued to deny her, but sound from the stairs caught their attention. John immediately knew the footsteps belonged to Dean and he turned his focus back to Sam. The boy's face was blank but once his eyes found his father's, he smiled and nodded. John smiled back. Sam knew what he was doing.

Dean came into the living room, looking very much like he had just woken up from a long nap. His eyes were half closed as he rubbed his hair. The action only made his already messy hair stick up in even more angles. His hand moved down to hold his bruised jaw and he groaned. "What the hell happened?" Dean asked John, his voice still rough from sleep.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty awakes." Sam said playfully. He hoped the words had covered the sound of his pounding heart. He was trying not to show how truly afraid he was.

His brother's small joke garnered Dean's attention. His eyes widened as he looked over the injured boy, "What happened to you."

"What do you remember." John asked his oldest, taking the situation out of Sam's hands, giving the boy some time to collect himself.

"Searching for those crazy guy's bones with you and Sam. Why?"

"You got knocked out. By the spirit."

"I did?" Dean asked, absentmindedly rubbing his head again.

"Yeah. Then it went after Sam. I salted and burnt the bones, then got you two out of there." John explained. He wasn't entirely comfortable about lying to Dean, but knew that it was what Sam wanted. After all the teenager had been through, his father could at least give him that.

Dean took a moment to absorb everything and then focused on his little brother. "You okay?" Concern showed clearly on his face.

"Yeah. I'm good." Sam said with a smile. He was just fine now. He wasn't stupid enough to think that he would be comfortable in Dean's presence from now on, but he was hopeful. As long as Dean was back to normal, Sam could move on.

Dean nodded, not really accepting his brother's answer. Sam was still injured, and that was never good. His gaze slowly slid over to the stranger sitting on the other side of the room. Dean's eyes narrowed, gauging the woman to see if she was a threat. "Who are you?"

She smiled brightly, "I'm Kara. I was at the house. I helped your father get you and Sam home."

Dean grinned, noticeably becoming more alert, "My knight in shining armor, huh?" His grin grew even more as she giggled and blushed.

"No, really it was nothing!"

"Oh, don't be so modest. I just have to thank you from the bottom of my heart, helping dad take care of Sammy like that. It takes a very special person to be so giving." Dean said, propping himself on the arm of the chair Kara was sitting in.

Sam hid his face in his hand. Only Dean could lay it on that thick and have a woman buy it. He could be unbelievably charming when he wanted to and Sam had never seen him shot down once. Being a member of the same sex, it had quite the opposite effect on him. He was trying his hardest not to giggle, or upset his ribs any more than he already had.

John cleared his throat. Much more of watching this and he would be laughing right along with his youngest son. It would be best to end it soon, "Dean, why don't you take Kara into town, or where ever she needs to go."

Kara shook her head, "Oh no. That's not necessary. I'll be walking."

"From here? We're in the middle of nowhere. Besides, you two could... talk some more." Sam said with a bright smile. He wanted Dean to at least experience one of Kara's strange mood swings before she left. Sam wondered if Dean would think he was wasting his smooth talking skills after one of those episodes. He usually tried to stay away from the crazy chicks, and Kara held onto that title with vigor.

"No. It's quite all right. You could walk me to the door, however." Kara said, getting to her feet.

As they left the room, Dean asked, "Do you have to leave so soon?"

"I believe I have been here long enough. It's time to move on, besides, I can't stand to see your father for much longer."

"Come on, he's not that bad."

"Oh no. That's not it." Kara leaned in close and whispered, "I know he could never... feel such things for me, but I cannot help my own feelings."

Dean raised his eyebrows, "Excuse me." Had he just heard her right?

Kara held her hands to her heart, "Tell your father that... that he had me at hello. And I can never stop loving him." With that she whipped the door open and was gone.

Dean stood, staring at the wall behind where Kara had just been standing. He shuddered before heading back into the living room. "Gross."

"What?" John asked.

"She's weird."

John sighed in bliss, "And she's gone."

"Where'd she come from, anyways."

"I don't know. I don't care."

A few moments of comfortable silence filled the room. Dean broke it, "I'm hungry."

John rolled his eyes, getting to his feet. "You're always hungry, Dean." "

"Hey! I'm a growing boy, I need nutrients."

"Aren't there health studies on when people are supposed to stop growing? I think you're already there."

"Health studies have never met Dean Winchester. Besides, it's done by doctors, and they're all quacks anyway." Dean said, heading for the kitchen.

John followed, calling back to Sam, "Do you want anything?"

"No." Sam said with a smile. He had missed Dean's joking nature. Now with Dean back to normal, it was all just a nightmare, and nightmares could be forgotten, with time.

TBC

A/N: One more chapter to go!