Wow you guys are great, thank you so much for all of you who reviewed, they really make day and keep me inspired.
Oh for those who asked you don't have to worry I would never kill off one of the brothers they make Supernatural what it is, I have to admit I do like to put them through a lot of pain and angst but never end it completely.
Again a big thanks goes to Michelle she does a great job as a beta and brings it all together, ok now hope enjoy!
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Dean couldn't speak. He didn't know what to say. He continued to gaze into Celia's eyes as her last comment spun wildly through his mind.
'Sammy can't die. I won't let that happen.'
Celia placed her hand over Dean's.
"Look, we'll do everything that we possibly can for Sam, but for now you need to rest. You're going to need it. We have a big day ahead of us," She offered a light smile and continued.
"I know that all of this is a lot to take in. You look absolutely shattered by it. There's the spare room upstairs or…" Before she could finish, Dean interrupted.
"It's okay, I'll stay with Sam. He'll feel better if he sees a familiar face when he wakes." Dean looked away.
"I'd feel better if I stayed with him tonight." He finished quietly.
With that, Celia got up.
"Right then, I'll get some blankets. Luckily there's a sofa bed that I can get Cameron to roll in for you." She replied.
"Cameron? He's here?" Dean tried to hide his disappointment as he recalled her situation.
"Wait, never mind. Of course he's here. Why wouldn't he be?" He added.
Dean shook his head and offered Celia a false grin. She forced a smile and looked away before replying.
"Yeah, he's here. He would've come and said hi, but he's asleep. He's got an early morning."
Dean couldn't hide his expression. He grabbed Celia's hand and spun her around to face him.
"He is ok with this, right?" When he spoke, his tone was soft, yet severely serious.
"Of course. This is my house Dean. He's fine with it, but we shouldn't even be discussing this. It's not the issue!" She once again turned away sharply causing her brown locks to brush Dean's face. She then walked toward the kitchen door.
"Wait, Celia? Where's the bed? I'll get it, there's no need to wake him." He watched her expression and walked toward her.
Both people stood, facing each other, next to the door and unmoving for a few short minutes, before Celia broke the gaze.
"It's in here." She made her way into another room and Dean followed.
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Dean sat, motionless on the open sofa bed and watched his little brother's chest rise and fall with the gentle motions of a restless sleep. The oldest Winchester seemed as though he was frozen to the spot. He hadn't moved since Celia had come in about twenty minutes ago and bade him a good night.
Dean placed his face in his hands and watched the events of the past few days running haphazardly through his head in a blur of motion and images that he could hardly make heads or tails out of.
What had happened haunted him and he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd somehow, someway let his baby brother down. He'd been helpless to offer assistance when he'd been needed the most. Sam depended on him, it was Dean's duty to watch out for the kid and he felt as though he had failed miserably.
"I'm so sorry, Sammy." He spoke into his hands. His voice barely hummed in the intense silence of the room.
Dean lifted his head, pushed himself from the bed and walked slowly to where his little brother was caught in the embrace of sleep. He reached down and gently pushed the dark strands of hair away from his brother's eyes and forehead. Hot anger boiled beneath the surface of his skin and he sighed in frustration. He might not have known how to help the young man sleeping before him, but he did know one thing.
"When I find the person, or thing that did this to you, I'm gonna kill them!" Dean whispered harshly. His words screamed with a promise that he swore to fulfil.
Nobody messed with his family, especially his brother, and got away with it.
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Sam felt his stomach churn. His head was throbbing so harshly that he felt it would explode at any given moment. The first thing he noticed upon shifting position was the absence of the handcuffs that had been chewing on his wrists. His next observation was the silence pressing down on him. That meant that he wasn't in the car any longer.
His mind was blank. His memories seemed hazy and just out of arm's reach. The many thoughts that were jumbled in his mind scattered throughout his brain and gave him an extreme sense of confusion.
He the forced his leaden eyes to slowly open and search his location.
"Dean?" He squeezed his eyes shut once more when the simple act of speaking pulled sharp nails through his throat with every word, leaving it dry and painful.
He drew a shaking breath and swallowed before attempting the feat again.
"Dean?" His voice was now a little clearer and he opened his eyes once more.
Dean, upon hearing the weak voice, immediately shot up from the mattress in the state of being trapped somewhere between the waking world and the dream world. The blade of his knife glittered menacingly in the dim light of the room and the handle was clutched tightly in the older man's white knuckles. He scanned the area anxiously, with sleep-weary eyes, until his gaze finally rested on where his brother watched him through a semi-startled expression.
"Sammy? Hey…" He quickly and distractedly placed the knife back under the pillow before moving toward his brother.
"It's ok Sammy, you're safe now" Dean spoke softly.
Sam cast his sore and puffy eyes to where his brother watched him with concern and love mingling deep within his hazel gaze.
"Where… are we?" The younger man swallowed the bile that burned in the back of his throat with the attempt at speech.
"Celia's. Do you remember? We're in New Orleans." Dean watched his brother grit his teeth and fight against the dizziness threatening to overtake him.
"You're gonna be fine now, okay? We'll figure this out." Dean added with a convincing tone.
"Can I get you anything?" Dean questioned. He stood up from his kneeling position and walked around the room in search of the chair that he'd seen earlier.
Sam took some time to reply, "The...ba...bathroom…" He managed, struggling to take in his surroundings.
"Ah right. Err, we didn't actually think of that…" Dean paced the room in search of a solution.
"You see Sammy, there's this little problem. You will be fine, as long as you stay in this room…" Dean bit his lip and contemplated a consultation with Celia.
A soft frown came to his face when he remembered Cameron. He shook that thought from his options. He couldn't let that get in the way of doing all that he could for Sam.
"Okay, be back in minute." He said and he walked out of the room.
Dean's eyes immediately caught the light that flooded from the kitchen. Slowly, he approached, being as quiet as he was able.
"Thank god. Celia, um Sam…he can't leave the room, right? What happens when nature calls?" He asked with a small grin on his face. She returned the grin.
"He really shouldn't leave the room. She'll almost immediately sense his presence. There's a bed pan under the bed." She replied as she tightened the robe around her body.
"I'm sorry Dean, we'll figure this out as soon as possible. Until then, he'll have to stay in there."
Dean exhaled loudly, rubbing a hand across his forehead.
"I know we'll figure this out, really, I do. I better go and let him in on the good news." Dean replied smartly and went back to the room.
"I am not using that, Dean." Sam now rested against the headboard and was able to clearly see the smile that Dean was trying so desperately to conceal and the older brother was failing horribly.
"There really isn't another option here, Sammy. Look, how about I leave while you umm…relieve yourself."
If Sam had had the extra strength, he would have flung several pillows at his brother in that particular moment. He really wasn't in the mood for Dean's humour and knew that his bladder couldn't hold for too much longer.
He responded with an expression that Dean knew all too well. The older brother smiled and continued, unable to resist the opportunity.
"Now Sam, let's be mature about this." He left the pan by the side of the bed and ambled toward the door.
"I'll be just outside. Yell if you need a hand, kay?"
"Dean!" Sam shot back.
Dean let out a silent laugh, returned Sam's comical stare and closed the door behind him.
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Morning hadn't been able to come quick enough.
Dean watched the faint light sneak into the small window on the far left of the room. He didn't know how Celia had expected him to get much rest with Sam in the condition that he was in. The oldest brother was eager to get answers and he'd barely managed to gain three hours of sleep. The rest of the time had been spent watching his little brother. However, even with the lack of rest, Dean felt more than ready to face the day, driven by his wish, want, and need to help Sam.
The younger man had fallen asleep a few hours previous from sheer exhaustion. Although Sam had been trying frantically to hide it, Dean knew that he had been in a lot pain. The young Winchester's voice had been a dead giveaway to the way he was feeling. The words had been forced and shaky and a slight grimace had been quivering through the tone of voice that Sam had been using.
Dean quietly got out of bed, walked out of the room with a final glance over his shoulder at his sleeping brother, and softly closed the door behind him. He found that his mouth was dry and only then did he remember that he hadn't eaten or drank for quite some time. He slowly approached the kitchen and stopped almost instantly upon looking into the room.
"Oh…uh, hi." A surprised Cameron stood up from the table and offered an awkward smile to Dean. Cameron brushed his hand through his blonde curly hair.
"Morning." Dean replied with a nod.
He stood still, unsure of what to do. Both men shared an uncomfortable silence while they thought of what to say to each other. Cameron was the first to break the unsettling situation.
"I'm real sorry about your brother, Dean. Celia and I will do everything we can."
Cameron moved toward the counter that was closest to the sink.
"Tea or Coffee?" He offered, holding a cup in the air.
"Coffee, please. I really appreciate what you two are doing, thanks." Dean answered as he walked casually to the table in the centre of kitchen.
"Did you sleep well?" Cameron asked. His back was turned to Dean and he fumbled with one of the jars on the countertop.
"Fine, thanks." Dean looked around, hoping to find some sort of way that he could escape the uncomfortable situation.
"Ah, good morning." Celia said, cheerfully greeting the two men, both of whom were silently relieved by her presence.
'Damn it! Things are still weird!' Dean thought, wondering why exactly it was that he felt so strange around Cameron.
"Oh man, I'm so sorry! I have to leave or I'm gonna end up being late! I'll see you later Dean!" Cameron replied quickly. He kissed Celia on the cheek, grabbed his jacket and left the house in a hurry.
Celia looked at Dean with a slightly confused face.
"Is everything okay?" She asked and continued to make the coffee from where Cameron had left off.
Dean placed his head in his hands and wearily rubbed his face.
"Oh yeah, just peachy." He answered sarcastically.
Celia turned and gave Dean a simple smile. She finished with the coffee, brought it to the table, and sat down opposite of Dean, the fruity fragrance of her perfume drifted over to Dean.
"We have a lot to do. We should…" Celia's speech was suddenly interrupted by a sound that sent chills cascading down each of their spines…
Celia quickly turned her head to where the sound had just yanked them from their conversation. Locks of brown hair fell softly in front of her face as she shifted dark and frightened eyes back to where Dean had already gotten to his feet, snapping into the mode of the hunter.
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Thanks for reading; the next chapter should have a lot more action so stay tuned.
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