Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke and WB. I'm just borrowing the characters to play with for a while!

Set after Asylum (I'm pretending their father didn't call at the end of the episode!) and set before Scarecrow. Enjoy!

Thanks again for all the lovely reviews. I am glad you are enjoying the story. I am enjoying writing it.

BROTHERS

by Eryn Grant


CHAPTER FIVE

Sam and Steven

Sam checked the bag making sure he had everything he needed. He'd just empty it all into one bag and then sprinkle it over the cliff-edge as he recited the words to the verse he had found in his father's journal. He smiled to himself when he remembered the look on Dean's face when he had said that burning the Impala was one of the things they had to do to get rid of the spirits. Dean had even given up his wallet without an argument so that Sam could purchase the materials he needed. He had dropped Dean off at the diner and watched as his brother had slung his holdall over his shoulder. Sam had nearly laughed at the dejected slump of Dean's shoulders as he had made his way around to the back of the diner.

Balancing the bag on the hood of the Impala, Sam flipped open the wallet to put the change back. He couldn't help himself, curiosity getting the better of him. Sam looked around guiltily as he thumbed through the contents. Hidden near the back of the wallet he found a credit card in Dean's own name and his driving licence. The other contents included some cash, a couple of old movie ticket stubs, some money off vouchers for pizza and burgers and a business card from an undertaker in Virginia. Sam felt mildly disappointed although he wasn't sure what he was hoping to find. His long fingers skimmed the internal pockets once more. A fingernail caught on something concealed in the last compartment. Carefully Sam pulled out two photographs and stared down at them. They were of himself and Dean. The oldest photograph had been taken while they were children. They were standing on either side of a snowman they had built outside Pastor Jim's house. In the second photograph they were leaning against the Impala grinning into the camera. Sam remembered that the picture had been taken just before he had left for Stanford.

Sam shook his head not able to believe that Dean carried the photographs around with him all the time. He slid them back into their hiding place, pocketed the wallet, grabbed his package and slipped into the driving seat of the Impala placing the bag carefully on the passenger seat.

Turning the ignition, he headed the car towards Lake Road. As he drove, Sam's thoughts turned to Dean. Over the past few months, he had thought he had gotten to know Dean a bit more but the photographs proved that he still had a long way to go. Sam found his brother intriguing. On the surface Dean always seemed so confident, determined, strong and so sure of himself to the point of recklessness. He was stubborn, sarcastic and his temper was quick to surface and even quicker to disappear. He had a quick wit and a dry sense of humour which he used in the most odd, and usually dangerous, situations.

But Sam was more interested in the man within, the man that Dean carefully hid behind his armour of self-assurance and noise. The man within had surfaced a few times but his appearances were rare and when they did occur Dean seemed almost embarrassed by them deflecting them onto to Sam and calling them "chick flick" moments. Dean only showed the world what he wanted everybody to see but Sam had learned by watching his brother that despite his noisy persona, Dean was a sensitive, gentle and kind-hearted man. His sense of loyalty to those he loved rivalled no man and his quest to seek out every supernatural evil being and kill it made Sam's head spin sometimes.

He had to admit to himself that he enjoyed being with Dean and desperately wanted to be close to his brother, like they had been as children. But Dean being Dean kept him at arm's length not letting Sam in. Deep down he could understand Dean's uncertainly and mistrust. It was all his own fault. He sighed knowing that he had probably ruined any chance of being close by shooting his brother with rock salt and then threatening to kill him with his own gun. But Dean being stubborn didn't help matters either. "Stubborn ass," Sam cursed under his breath.

"You hate him," the voice popped into his head again. "Don't you remember you think he's pathetic," the voice taunted.

Sam thought he saw a reflection of a young man in the driving mirror. "No," he blinked against the sudden pain in his head. His vision became blurry and he blinked again. "No," he whispered as the world faded into a blur around him.

"Faster," the voice encouraged. Sam pushed his foot down on the gas pedal making the Impala's engine roar. He reached over and turned the music up loud. The scenery flashed by in a green and brown blur as he pressed his foot down again. Sam laughed as the wind blew his hair over his eyes. He risked taking a hand of the steering wheel to push his hair out of his eyes. The Impala wobbled on the road but he managed to steer it into a straight line. "Let's see how fast this baby can go," he yelled to himself. Gripping the steering wheel Sam pressed his foot down even further. The revs of the engine screeched as his speed edged up another notch. Sam could feel the power and energy of the Impala surrounding him and it made him feel good. The Impala thundered along the road kicking up dust and stones in its wake.

Sam was singing along with the music although the deafening purr of the engine drowned him out. His head started to ache and he tried to push the pain away. Slowing slightly he rubbed at his temple with one hand. "No," the voice screamed. "It'll soon be over." Suddenly in his head Sam could hear a voice crying out to him full of pain and despair. He shook his head rubbing at his temple again. Images flashed into Sam's mind and he let out a small cry of pain. A snowman. Two boys laughing as they built the snowman and threw snowballs at each other. Another stab of pain and another image flashed into his mind making his headache worse. A shiny black car. Two young men laughing at their father as he tried to get the camera to work. "Dean," he whispered.

His vision came back into focus and Sam was startled by the bright sunlight, the loud music and the roar of the engine. He glanced down at the needle panicked at the speed he was travelling. Sam looked up and saw the bend approaching. Terrified Sam stamped on the brake and turned the wheel hard to the right. He couldn't help himself he closed his eyes as he pressed his foot harder on the brake again. He could hear the squeal of tyres on road and the whining sound of the engine as he braked hard. The Impala skidded to a halt in a cloud of dust a few feet from the cliff-edge. Sam slumped forwards onto the steering wheel fighting to get his breathing under control. Pushing the door open Sam got out of the car. He ran his eyes over the outside of the car making sure there was no damage. Apart from being covered in dust, the Impala seemed undamaged. "Dean is so gonna kill me," he murmured to himself realising that his headaches had mysteriously disappeared.

"Then let's help him out," the voice encouraged.

"Where are you?" Sam took a step backwards. "Show yourself." He looked to his right as the figure of a young man shimmered into being in front of him. "Steven?" he asked.

"Yes," the young man grinned. "But you already knew that." Sam stepped back towards the Impala his hand reaching out. "Oh no," Steven waved his hand and the car door slammed shut. He grinned at Sam.

Ignoring Sam, Steven moved towards the Impala. "Nice car," he ran his hand up and down the side of the car. "And fast," he turned to Sam. "This beauty would have beat all the kids in town."

"Don't touch it," Sam snapped stepping forward. "It's my brother's car and he don't like just anybody touching it."

Steven sneered at him but took his hand off the Impala. "My brother had an Impala. Our father gave it to him when he got his licence," he said. "But he used to let me drive it sometimes."

"Did you ever race it?" Sam asked curious despite himself.

Steven cocked his head to one side. "Never the Impala. I raced my Mustang," he looked towards the cliff-edge wistfully. "She was beautiful and fast. Beat all the kids and their lame ass cars. But she was never as fast or as beautiful as the Impala."

"Is David here?" Sam asked looking around.

He noticed a flash of pain on the other man's face. "No," Steven answered sharply. "I'm here all alone," he grinned evilly. "Well except for you."

Sam felt himself being pulled by an invisible force towards the edge of the cliff. He struggled against the energy trying to drag him forwards but the grip on his body tightened. "He won't miss you," Steven taunted.

"I can help you," Sam shouted. He managed to step backwards. "My brother and I can help you."

Steven glared at Sam. "No-one can help me. Not you. Not your brother. Nobody. Ever."

"What about your brother?" Sam persisted as he fought against the force battling to get control of his body. He reached backwards for the Impala, his hand gripping the door handle.

Steven scowled at Sam at the mention of his brother. "He left me alone," he spat bitterly. Sam felt his hand slipping and with a jolt he was catapulted forwards inches from the cliff-edge. An icy hand touched his shoulder and he shivered. The pain in his head returned and Sam groaned as pictures flashed into his mind again.

A nightmare. Sam couldn't remember having one but it felt vaguely familiar and he thought he remembered Dean shaking him and telling him that it was alright. Sam could now see his nightmare but this time more clearly as though he was right in the middle of it. The roaring of car engines and loud music assailed his senses. Looking to one side, he could see the grinning face of the other driver, someone he didn't recognise. The steering wheel turned hard to the left and he felt the jolt as the second car was hit. Sam could hear triumphant laughing and looked back over his shoulder to see the second car slide to a stop on the side of the road. Sam cried out as the pain in his head got more intense. In front of him the headlights of the car illuminated a shape in front of the car. A cry of panic filled his head as the car hit something solid. A scream of terror. Then an eerie silence.

Sam's vision came back suddenly and he dropped to his knees trying to get his breathing under control. He screwed up his eyes as he remembered the voice in his nightmare crying out. Sam looked up towards Steven. "You killed David," he said horror in his voice.

Steven turned away from him hugging himself. "It was accident," he croaked. "I didn't see him. I would never hurt David. He was my brother."

Sam dragged himself to his feet. He cautiously moved closed to Steven. "But why are you here? Why are you hurting people?"

Steven narrowed his eyes at Sam. "Because they have each other," he answered simply. "David left me alone. I loved him and he left me alone."

"Steven," Sam started to say.

"No," Steven interrupted. "You have him. You have someone. You'll always be together no matter what."

"I nearly killed my brother," Sam stammered as he recalled the coldness of the gun in his hand as he pointed it at Dean. He remembered the hurtful words spilling out of mouth and the small feeling of triumph as each word seemed to hurt Dean. He shook his head to rid himself of the painful memories. Sam knew then that he would do everything in his power to make it up to Dean. "I shot him with rock salt," Sam admitted. His voice shook at the admission but he bit down determined to get through to Steven. "And I would have killed him if he hadn't given me an unloaded gun."

"But he's still with you," Steven protested. " I'll always be alone because of what I did to my brother." Steven looked away from Sam and pointed downwards. "It's so beautiful down there," he tormented. Sam couldn't help it. He looked down at the clear blue lake at the bottom of the cliff. He felt the icy hand on his shoulder again and he looked sideways at Steven. He was smiling. Sam's vision faded into a blur of colours again. He desperately fought to gain control of his body as he felt his feet move. Sam's last thought before he sank into nothingness was of Dean.

To be continued...