"How are the two of you doing?" Bobby asked as he handed Sam the small bottle of aspirin. When the younger man caught his eyes, Bobby cleared his throat. "When I was talking to Dean on the phone earlier, it was obvious that the two of you were at it again..."

"It's Dean, Bobby." Sam replied, rolling the small bottle in his hand. "He's been keeping things to himself, just like Dad used to do... Then he gets so wound up, anything I say or do sets him off." Sam paused for a moment as he swallowed the lump caught in his throat. "He finally opened up a bit, I hope that calms him down some but there's nothing I can do to help..."

"Just listen." Bobby replied, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder. "All he needs you to do, is listen."

Sam and Bobby froze as Ruby's panicked voice drifted through the motel room. Before Bobby could say a word, Sam took off running for the bathroom. When the younger man reached the open door, Ruby was pulling his brother to the floor. "Ruby, what happened?" He demanded, dropping to his knees next to her as she lay Dean down on his back.

"He was having trouble breathing and then he just passed out...." She informed, grabbing a clean towel to put under his head.

"Well is he breathing now?" Bobby asked, his voice shaky as he watched Sam lean close to the other man.

"Yeah he's breathing." Sam replied with relief as he lightly put a hand to his brother's chest. Ignoring the shards of glass that were digging into his knees, he hooked his arms under his brother's shoulders and got to his feet. "Bobby get his legs..." He said, watching as Ruby moved aside and Bobby took her place. Together, they carried Dean over to one of the beds and lay him down on top of the sheets. Sam took a seat next to his brother, moving aside Dean's opened, button down shirt and pulling his T-shirt up to his neck to reveal a large dark bruise on his chest.

"What the hell is that from?" Bobby asked, eyeing the bruise that almost went from one shoulder to the other.

"The steering wheel." Sam quickly replied. "When we blew a tire, I hit the dash and he hit the steering wheel. It hurts to breath, but my bruise isn't as bad as his..."

"He was out of breath when we changed the tire on the Impala." Bobby remarked, eyeing the large bruise. "So if he was short of breath to start with, he probably got himself worked up and then he just couldn't breath." Bobby explained, watching as Sam fixed Dean's shirt. "What were you two talking about?" There was a moment of silence as Bobby caught Ruby's eyes. When she didn't give him an answer, Sam turned to face her.

"Nothing he'd want you to hear." She replied simply, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. "He's your brother... you know how he is."

"Right." Sam replied, watching as her eyes drifted to the man on the bed beside him.

"Sam, why don't you walk Ruby back to her room while I get Dean out of those wet clothes." Bobby started, taking a quick glance at his watch. "I think you've had enough for today."

"That sounds like a plan to me..." Sam replied as he got to his feet and joined Ruby at the foot of the bed.

"When you get back, I'm gonna have a look at you too..." Bobby called out as he watched Sam and Ruby make their way to the door.

Sam paused in his steps as he turned to face the older man. "Why?"

"Because you were kneeling in broken glass..." Bobby replied, pointing across the room. Sam looked down at the dark red blotches that covered his lower Jeans and shrugged. Though he remembered falling to his knees by his brother's side, he hadn't felt the pain.

"Bobby just wants you to take your pants off..." Dean said quietly. "Gotta watch out for those old guys..."

"Dean..." Sam replied, quickly making his way back to his brother's side.

"Damn it boy, don't scare us like that again." Bobby hissed, watching as the eldest Winchester put a hand to his chest.

"Just lost my breath... that's all." Dean replied quietly, motioning for his little brother to get closer. "Hey Sam," He started in whisper watching as the other man knelt down by his bed side. "Do me a favor will ya?" He asked, leaning over to whisper something into his brother's ear.

"Yeah sure, anything..." Sam replied quietly.

"Demon or not, kiss her once for me..."

Sam couldn't help but smile as he pulled away, Dean giving him a quick wink as he got to his feet. "Yeah, sure thing." He replied as he joined Ruby in the doorway. Whatever the two had discussed in the short time they were alone in the washroom, it was obvious that Dean had seen the demon at their side in a new light. He only hoped that his brother was no longer dragging around the guilt that had followed him out of Hell.

"Is he going to be alright?" Ruby asked, stepping out into the hall as Sam shut the door behind them.

"Yeah, I think he'll be fine." Sam replied as he gave her a smile.

Thanks for reading!
Up until the end of 'Lucifer Rising' I had absolutely no problem with Ruby. Though far from being a favorite, I think she had a good run and it wasn't what she did that made me dislike her, it was how full of herself she was, once she succeeded.

-Shugs