The look on Dean's face set Sam on edge. Stunned disbelief mixed with the usual assortment of things his brother didn't think he could see. Dean was rattled about something. Sam just couldn't figure out what.

Until a minute ago, Dean had been asleep. Sam wondered if he dreamed about his time in Hell. Dean claimed he didn't anything anything from his time down under, but he didn't believe him. The place was called Hell for a reason. People didn't go there because they earned a happy afterlife. They went because they either did something very bad or brokered a deal with a crossroads demon. Like Dean.

"You all right?" He slid his arm into the sleeve of his flannel. "What's wrong, Dean?"

Not that he expected to get a straight answer out of him. Dean didn't willingly share any emotion. Other than anger, he amended as he slid his arm into the other sleeve. Dean was like Dad when he got angry. Not that I'm any better, he realized with a pang. They both inherited the Winchester temper. And the ability to say hurtful things when we're angry.

Getting his brother to open up and spill whatever was bothering him would be about as difficult as milking a rock. No, scratch that, he thought as he started buttoning the shirt. Getting milk from the rock be a helluva lot easier.

"So..." Dean refused to meet his eyes. Something he only did when he either didn't want to talk about something, was about to lie to him about something or wasn't sure how to talk about something. "You, uh, got no problem believing in..." He cleared his throat and darted a look at him. "You got no problem with believing in things like God and, uh, angels?"

Of anything he expected his brother to say, that wasn't it. He studied Dean for a moment. Nothing on his face gave him a clue as to where this particular question came from. Where it might end up going, though, worried him. Dean can't find out about me and Ruby. About what we're doing.

"No, not really." He reached for his shoes. "Why are you asking me this, Dean?"

"Just curious."

"Just curious?" Sam stared at him. "C'mon, man. What's the real reason?"

Because there was no way he was gonna believe that his brother was just curious.

"It's just that I was thinking..." Dean placed his arms across his knees and stared at his hands. "If you believe in God and angels..." He lifted his eyes to Sam's. "I guess it means that you believe in the Devil, too."

Sam was almost one hundred positive that Dean had no idea about Ruby, his drinking demon blood or his exorcising demons by using his mind. He'd done everything in his power to keep Dean from learning his secret. Still, his nerves twitched. A swirl of guilt twisted in his belly. He hated lying to his brother but he already knew what he'd say if he found out what he was doing, was planning.

"Why are you asking me all this?" He kept his tone light. Feigning nonchalance despite feeling as if he was gonna throw up. "What's going on with you, Dean?"

Only this time, his brother didn't answer. He just stared at him, his gaze troubled, and his face haunted by things Sam couldn't begin to imagine. Then he rolled to his feet in one smooth motion and walked from the room.

A/N: Hello, all! I hope this finds you well!

I just want to drop a thank you to all followers new and old. I greatly appreciate the support!

This piece is tagged to 4x2.