I've Got You Little Brother

Wendigoes were not monsters Sam and Dean liked messing with, but someone had to do the job. When Sam and Dean got the call from a hospitalized hunter they had little choice in going or not. They were the only hunters available and the only ones that had enough experience with the beasts. They had to go. There was no arguing against it.

"Be safe," the angels all called as they enveloped both Sam and Dean in tight hugs. Sam and Dean hugged them back.

"We will," Sam reassured as he stroked the long locks of hair currently dangling in Gabriel's eyes. The angel needed a haircut.

"It's not our first rodeo, angels. We've got this," Dean chimed with a cocky grin before pulling back from the angels. He looked over to Crowley and Abaddon. The two stood behind Kevin's legs, watching the two hunters silently. Dean rolled his eyes and held his arms open. "Come on." Crowley and Abaddon slowly slid out from behind Kevin and pattered unsteadily to Dean. Dean held them close, giving them a hug before pulling back a little to let Sam join in too.

After every hug was given, the hunters packed up the last of their gear and hopped into Baby for a two hour drive to a nearby national park. Eight people had already gone missing and both hunters doubted that any of those people were still alive or would be by the time they found the wendigo's lair. All they could do now was stop the wendigo from claiming anymore victims.

"Son of a bitch," Dean whispered as Sam shined a light through the wendigo's lair. It had taken them a while, but after a few hours of searching the two brothers managed to find an old mineshaft hidden behind a few thick trees. The boards that had once kept people out were now rotted away, leaving it wide open for anyone or anything to wonder inside. Even the signs marking it as a danger had faded and rusted away. Now the brothers were climbing through the dark tunnels of the mine in search of the monster they were supposed to take down.

"I don't see anything fresh here," Sam started, shining a light on the hanging carcasses above them. While wondering through the dark tunnels they had stumbled into a little pocket that held the revolting stench of rotting flesh. They knew why it smelt so terrible now. Bodies hung from above, innards, spilling out onto the floor.

"Well, that's good at least," Dean groaned; voice muffled by the hand clasped over his nose and mouth. "We don't need any more poor bastards getting tangled up with this thing." Sam nodded slowly and turned his light off the bodies hanging in the air. He shined it back the way they came, making sure it was still clear and that the monster hadn't snuck up behind them.

"Let's get out of here," Sam whispered, eyes flicking over the opening carefully. "We've been here too long."

"Right," Dean huffed, starting towards the exit of the mine with his finger on the trigger of his flamethrower held tight in his grip. Sam followed, lighting the way with his flashlight.

They turned down tunnel after tunnel, following their own footprints back to the opening of the mine. Carefully, they stuck their heads outside, each looking over the terrain and up at the trees above to make sure they weren't being watched.

"Think we're clear," Sam sighed at last, clicking off his flashlight and stepping outside.

"Yeah, I think you're—" Dean cut off and his eyes focused onto something in the distance. Sam frowned and followed his brother's gaze, expecting to see the wendigo. Trees were the only things he found though.

"Dean?" Dean pressed a finger to his lip slowly before pointing the same finger at his ear. Sam shut his mouth and closed his eyes, listening carefully. At first, all he could here were birds twittering in the trees above and the buzz of insects. It was only after a few more moments that Sam finally heard it. It was soft and far away, but Sam heard it clear as a bell.

"Sam?! Help! Someone, please! Dean?! Help! Help me!"

Wendigos are insanely smart and manipulative creatures so when Gabriel's shrill cry screeched from somewhere deep within the woods both men's hearts fell to the ground. It wouldn't have been the first time the angels had snuck along for a hunt so Sam and Dean didn't even ponder for a second that maybe the wendigo was the one crying out to them. The younger hunter had bolted into the woods first, crying out for his angel frantically. Dean had followed right behind, weapons at the ready. They weren't quiet in their steps. Their fear had blinded them of all thoughts on stealth. Twigs snapped under their boots and their heavy breathing could be heard loud and clear.

Once second the two were running through the brush of the forest and the next they were in the small clearing they had parked the Impala only a few hours ago. The brothers looked back and forth, searching for the distressed angel they had heard screaming only moments ago. What they found was just an empty Impala.

It hit the two hunters too late when they finally realized what was really going on. Gabriel and the others weren't in the clearing. They never had been. No, instead the brothers had fallen into a deadly trap created by a deadly foe.

A wendigo dropped down from high above, grabbing Sam by shoulders and yanking him into a nearby tree. Sam screamed, arms flailing in attempt to beat off the strong monster. Dean was quick to snap out of his shocked stupor and he shot; sending blazing arches of fire at the creature that dared to touch his brother. The monster was too fast though and vanished up into the trees. Sam let out another scream from above, but this time it wasn't out of fright or shock. Dean's stomach rolled as blood splattered onto the forest floor from somewhere above. The older hunter forced back the bile rising up his throat and he pointed his flamethrower upward. He watched the fast flashes through the tree line before firing one last blast. A high pitched, inhuman scream echoed through the forest and Sam's body fell from the canopy towards the forest floor. With his protective instincts thrumming through his veins, Dean dropped his flamethrower and ran until he was beneath his little brother. Dean opened his arms wide and braced himself for impact. Sam's heavy body fell into his arms and Dean toppled onto the ground with Sam tight in his arms from the force of the impact. A startled gasp broke past Dean's lips as the back of his head slammed against the ground. Colorful dots cascaded through his vision and Dean blinked furiously in attempt to clear his sight. Slowly and painfully, Dean pushed Sam from his arms and rolled onto his side. He sat up, shaky hand reaching out and gripping at his baby brother currently bleeding all over the place. Sam's jacket was raked open from giant claws, leaving his back expose to show the deep gashes running past his shoulder blades and down to his left hip.

Dean swore and made to scoop his baby brother into his arms, but a loud screech stopped him. The hunter turned, eyes meeting the dark gaze of the monster that had dared to hurt his little brother.

"Dean," it called, but not in its own voice. It was using Sam's. "Dean, why'd you let it get me? Dean?"

Dean let out an enraged shout and shot from Sam's side. He grabbed the flamethrower he had dropped earlier and pointed it right at the beast's head.

"Cram it, fugly!"

High pitched screams filled the air when Dean pulled the trigger on his flamethrower. It blast bright flames at the wendigo, turning the hideous creature into a large hunk of overcooked meat. Even when the creature collapsed in a heap of charcoal Dean still didn't stop. He burnt the creature until it started to crumble into black clumps of dust. It was only when the flamethrower ran out that Dean finally dropped the weapon. He came back to himself then and hurried back to his baby brother.

"Sammy?" Dean shouted, falling to his knees and taking Sam's face between his shaking hands. "Come on man! Can you hear me?"

"You're s'loud," Sam slurred suddenly and Dean let out a relieved breath. He yanked Sam closer until Sam's face was buried into his shoulder. Sam's eyes flicked open and frowned up at Dean in the corner of his eyes tiredly.

"D…Dean? Sorry, but…I'm kinda bleeding to death here," Sam muttered into the fabric of Dean's jacket.

Dean snapped to attention at his brother's words and suddenly Sam was being yanked unsteadily to his feet. Dean lugged the taller hunter to the Impala, practically carrying his baby brother. After managing to throw open the back door, Dean managed to get Sam inside. When safely positioned in the back seat, Sam curled up in a ball and Dean tied his coat around his brother in attempt to stop any more blood from seeping through the wounds running down Sam's back. Secure and safe, Sam was ready for the ride back home. Dean shot to the driver's seat and slammed his foot on the gas, heading home at full throttle with only the sound of his heart thudding fast in his chest and his brother's raspy breathing to kill the silence.

"I need some help here!" Dean cried as he half carried/dragged Sam down the stairs and into the war room. Benny, Kali, Bobby, Charlie—everyone— looked up with terrified looks in their eyes as Dean struggled into view. At first, Dean thought all they were going to do was stare at him and Sam, but then Bobby quickly jumped to his feet and got some movement going. He took charge, instructing Benny to help carry Sam to the infirmary room they had discovered only a few days ago. Benny snapped form his stupor instantly and rushed to both Sam and Dean. He took Sam's right while Dean stayed at his brother's left and the two dragged the younger hunter away. As they made their way to the infirmary, Bobby quickly gave orders to the others. He sent them to get water, blankets, and bandages ready before dashing after Benny and Dean with the angels and demons hot on his heels. Lila was just stabbing a dose of morphine into Sam when the old hunter arrived. He looked to Dean, finding the hunter a frantic, pacing mess. Bobby just stared for a minute, taking in the image in front of him. Dean would be no help to his brother this way. In fact, he'd probably cause more trouble than anything at the moment.

"Dean," Bobby called, grabbing the hunter's attention. "Go to the kitchen and grab me some whiskey, will yah?" The older hunter knew there was no way he was going to be able to kick Dean out completely, but he'd be able to get him out of the room for at least a little while this way.

Dean rushed out of the infirmary as fast as he could, not arguing with the older hunter's order. Bobby watched as Dean disappeared through the infirmary door then, before turning his gaze to the angels standing by the table Sam was now sprawled on top of.

"Cas?" Bobby called. The little angel looked up at hearing his name, worried blue eyes staring up at the hunter. Bobby nodded at the door. "You go keep an eye on him, boy."

"Yes, Bobby," Cas said, not needing an explanation for the hunter's words. His wings spread out and he lunged into the air, flapping his wings and soaring after his hunter. He found Dean in the kitchen moments later. The hunter was throwing open every drawer and cabinet in search of the nonexistent whiskey bottle Bobby had sent him after. "Dean –"

"I can't find it!" Dean shouted frantically, slamming a cabinet and moving on to another. Cas flew up and grabbed at the cabinet door Dean was struggling with.

"Let me help –" Dean swatted Cas' hand away.

"Damn it, Cas, you –" Dean's mouth snapped shut and he stared into his angel's wide eyes. "Shit," he swore. Cas slowly pulled his hand away from the cabinet and looked away from the hunter's gaze. Dean felt a pang of guilt run through his heart and the memory of one terrible fight involving John's journal sprung back to his conscious. "Cas, I'm sorry," Dean started, reaching out a bloody hand to the angel. "I didn't mean to snap."

"I know," Cas reassured. He forced a sad smile at the hunter. "You're worried. I get it."

"I still shouldn't have snapped," Dean argued. He continued to reach out until his fingers latched onto Castiel's trench coat. He pulled his angel close to his chest, squeezing lightly. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Cas whispered. He snuggled close to the hunter, wrapping his arms around Dean's neck and burying his face into Dean's shoulder. "Sammy will be fine. Bobby will fix him."

"Yeah, you're right," Dean whispered. He started walking out of the kitchen. "We better tell Bobby there's no whiskey."

Dean made his way down the halls to the infirmary with Castiel snug in his arms. Charlie and Lila stood side by side with bloody towels in their hands when the two returned. Kevin stood across from them fiddling with the latches of the first aid kit. Benny stood at Sam's right by the infirmary table, holding the hunter down while Kali and Bobby stitched up his back. Gabriel, Balthazar, Rachel, and the demons sat by Sam's head, brushing their fingers through his hair and speaking to him softly. Slowly, Dean entered the room. Cas reached down and gripped the hand Dean had wrapped around Cas' waist. Dean forced a thankful smile at the angel, feeling at least a little comfort from the touch.

Sam smiled as Dean entered his peripheral vision.

"You look worse than I do," Sam commented hoarsely. Dean huffed and sat Cas down between Abaddon and Rachel. He pulled up one of the chairs in the room and sat down in it so he was eye to eye with his brother.

"Bitch."

"Jerk," Sam huffed back, chuckling under his breath. Dean laughed too, feeling a small thread of relief flood through his stressed mind and body. His muscles relaxed and Dean finally allowed himself to unwind for the first time since the wendigo tried to make a meal out of Sam. He sat at his little brother's side, filling the air with his wise cracks as the others worked on fixing up Sam's back. In a little over a half an hour Sam's back was stitched up and the younger hunter was fast asleep, lulled off to dreamland thanks to the drugs finally kicking in and the comforting presence of his family at his side.

Hey, guys, hope you like the new chapter. Thank you to, Legoelf, for requesting it. I have some news for you guys. I now have an AO3! There is a link to that on my profile now, but if it doesn't work and you are interested in looking at it send me a PM and I'll send you the link that way. I haven't posted anything on it yet so there isn't much to look at. Also, if you have questions on my posting for FF and AO3 just ask and I'll try to explain the best I can.