Chapter 11

Dean asks if there are any of Sam's siblings that he is on good terms with and might want to visit, and he gives Sam this look like he's completely crazy when he says no.

The truth is there are "siblings" of Sam's that he would like to see, but these versions of them won't even know who he is, and most of those only became friends after a long process of learning the value of humanity, free will, and emotion. At the moment they are cold soldiers, following the orders of higher ranked angels who are quietly setting up the apocalypse. They wouldn't like Sam, and there is no way he wants heaven aware of his presence.

"Man, just how messed up is your family?"

The question makes Sam think of the many sided war that destroyed his world. Of angels meant to protect mankind working to start the apocalypse. Of beings taught that they had no emotion, no matter the evidence to the contrary. And it is with complete certainty that he answers Dean:

"Very."

"Well, no family to visit, no hunts, I suppose we could just go off sightseeing."

"Where?"

"Not sure. Grand Canyon maybe?"

"Well, that's a place to start."

Dean hasn't been sleeping well. He knows exactly why, and what would fix his insomnia, but actually going about getting that is a different matter. He hasn't slept well since he was injured. Or, more accurately, he hasn't slept well since he woke up in bed with Sam. Now every time he tries to sleep he feels cold and alone, like his inner omega only realized it needed Sam once it had a taste of what sleeping beside him was like.

But he has no idea how to ask Sam for that, how to admit just how weak he is.

He realizes a way to get what he needs when they stop for the night. It's a small town, small enough that there is only one motel, and Dean's getting them a room while Sam gets them food. The guy behind the counter is asking him all the normal questions when the solution strikes him.

"Just a queen thanks."

Dean's moving their stuff into the room when Sam gets back with the food. He notices immediately that Dean is avoiding meeting his eyes, and he realizes exactly why when he walks into the room.

"The only had rooms with queens left, and I don't think either of us is really up for the drive to the next town, so I figure we can just share for the night. If we both wear pajamas it shouldn't be too weird right?"

It's really not as much of a big deal as Dean's been making it, with his avoiding eye contact and all, so Sam decides to act completely cool with it in an effort to calm Dean down.

"Sure. Here, come over and eat, they advertised their apple pie as the best in the state – how many times have we heard that before? - so I thought I'd get us some to try."

And Dean does calm down. The pie is not the best in the state, contrary to the waitress's statements, but it is good, and they finish it off quickly. Getting to sleep is saved from being awkward mostly because their injuries are tiring enough that they aren't actually in bed very long before they're both asleep.

Sam is actually rested when he wakes up. This is a rather odd occurrence. An archangel needs no food nor sleep, but being only part archangel Sam is stuck in the odd position of needing rest and sustenance yet having no great desire for either. He's dealt with the food aspect somewhat by learning to make good enough food that he wants to eat it, but he's never really found a solution to the sleep aspect.

Still, he might have slept well for him, but he's still up before Dean and he takes the time – he would normally spend it looking for, or researching a hunt – to look more into his unanswered questions about the supernatural.

The colt exists, as does the yellow eyed demon, and Sam puts it on a mental todo list to find time to retrieve the gun and kill the demon. He doesn't need to do it in that order, but it seems prudent to him to both kill the one who's orchestrating the opening of the gates of hell, and to take – and potentially destroy, he'll need to figure that out – the key that opens the gates. He doesn't have time now, but perhaps the next time he wakes hours before Dean he can take a trip over to Elkins.

Dean wakes alone, but he wakes up content, and he knows then that one night sharing a bed with Sam is not going to cut it. He needs this ongoingly, having found it there is no way that he is giving it up. Now, how to ask for it without letting Sam know exactly how much Dean likes sleeping with him?

It's as Sam is coming back through the door – with breakfast which Dean suddenly has a new appetite for – that Dean realizes exactly what he needs to do.

"Hey, it seems like sleeping together really calms my omega instincts down. I think if we continue it might delay my next heat. You don't mind do you?"

"No, it's fine."

That's ok right? It is the truth. Dean really does think this will delay his next heat, it feels like affirmation to his inner omega that he's wanted by his alpha. The fact that it feels so good isn't something Sam needs to know at all, no matter how his inner omega is protesting that he shouldn't be hiding and lying to get what he wants from his alpha. Dean tells his inner omega to shut up, he has his masculine dignity damn it, and he's determined to keep it, no matter his type.

Dean looks so uncomfortable asking that they continue sleeping together that Sam knows he can't refuse or make a big deal out of it in any way. Not that he really would. If sleeping next to Dean gives him the kind of rest he suspects it will then he will happily continue doing so. He's actually quite lucky to get that kind of benefit without even needing to ask for it, or to let on how much he needs it.

"So, ready to see the Grand Canyon?"

Published: April 24, 2013