CHAPTER EIGHT: You Can Smell The Tension

You could practically see the tension radiating off of the four. As they were all staring daggers at each other, the silence was almost deafening.

Finally breaking the silence, Dean took a step towards his brother, holding out his wrists toward him. "First part of the deal: remove these." He said with a smirk.

Sam never broke eye contact with the Knight as he approached him. With a loud clank of metal hitting concrete, Dean rubbed his raw wrists.

Seeing his brother's smug smile is what made Sam finally snap. With barely any warning, the youngest Winchester punched the Knight hard across his jaw. Staggering back, Meg helped Dean keep his balance as he rubbed at his jaw, the smirk never leaving his face.

Growling slightly, the hunter went to take another swing when Cas put a harsh hand on his shoulder. "Sam." He said, a warning in his voice.

"Let me know when the dynamic duo have a lead on Crowley." Slamming the door behind him, the youngest Winchester stormed upstairs leaving the angel, knight, and demon alone.

"You could try not to be such an ass." Castiel noted, giving a disappointed look to Dean.

"Maybe he could try to accept who I am." The eldest Winchester spat, nostrils flaring.

"Alright boys put it away. Come on, Dean. We have work to do." Grabbing a hold of his forearm, Meg practically had to drag Dean out of the room.

As Castiel stood there, he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him.

The whole situation was too damn funny.

….

Life in the bunker was awkward.

Meg and Dean kept to themselves while Sam and Cas barely left each other's side in hopes of avoiding unwanted interactions with either demon.

But one night Sam was in the shower and Meg cornered Castiel.

"Clarence, I gotta say you are hard to get alone." Apparently Meg didn't get the same memo about personal space that the angel never received because she was standing only inches away from him.

"Meg not now." Castiel said, hoping Sam would finish soon.

Dean strolled in, saw Meg almost on top of Cas, snickered, and walked back out.

Shoving the demon away, the angel walked down the hallway. What Castiel hadn't anticipated was that Meg would follow him.

"Come on, Cas I'm on yours and Sam's side."

Pausing to let her catch up, he stopped outside what was now his bedroom door.

"I'm gaining Dean's trust so he will listen when I tell him to accept the blood from you guys and cool his jets. I don't like seeing Dean like this anymore then you do." Crossing her arms, Meg looked like she genuinely cared about the Knight's well being.

Eyeing her wearily, Cas sighed heavily. "How do we know we can trust you?"

"You guys trusted me before and that turned out great." With a wink, Meg turned and walked back down the hallway leaving the angel alone with his thoughts.

….

Dean was sitting in the library, flipping casually through a book when Sam walked in towel drying his hair.

Before the hunter could turn back around and leave, he figured it was too late because his brother had already seen him.

Exchanging curt nods, the brother's each kept to their own books for a little while.

"Meg and Cas were getting pretty hot and heavy in the kitchen." Dean said lightly before realizing what he had said. It wasn't a time for normal conversation. The eldest Winchester prepared himself for his brother's rampage and was surprised when Sam laughed.

"I'm not surprised. Remember the pizza man?" The both laughed only to stop abruptly.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Dean stood up and went to leave.

Wiping a shaky hand down his face, Sam took a deep breath. "Dean. Wait." He pleaded, desperation in his voice. "We can't even talk to each other now? Has it come to that?"

The Knight scoffed as he turned to face his brother. "Says the person who has been avoiding me the past two days." Something in Dean's eyes made Sam's heart ache. He saw something that resembled sorrow in his lifeless green eyes that had changed from black for the moment. The little amount of hope that used to be present in his brother's eyes was now nonexistent. The grief was coming off in waves from the Knight as he stood there fidgeting with a loose thread on his flannel button-up.

Sam ran a tired hand through his hair. "Can you blame me, man? It's not like you've been Mr. Sunshine lately."

Dean turned to completely face his brother, his tone and features serious. "I don't want to be cured, Sammy. I don't deserve it."

The youngest Winchester's heart ached at the comment as well as the familiar nickname.

The only other thing the hunter got from his older brother was the slam of the library door.

….

Sam guessed he should be happy he had the chick flick moment with his brother. He should be glad he got that little amount of seriousness and honesty out of him.

But instead he was scared it was the last one he will ever get.

Cas found Sam sulking in his room. "Meg will not stop calling me the pizza man." Sighing heavily, the angel plopped down on the bed next to his friend.

"How did we get to this? We were just trying to find our dad…"

Castiel could feel the hopeless and desperation coming off of the youngest Winchester and it pained him to see Sam in such a beaten up state.

"Can you actually believe time were simpler during the apocalypse? The most we had to worry about was you two being vessels and some demons." Castiel shook his head sadly at the memory.

Laughing humorlessly, Sam thought about how much he missed the simpler times.

….

TBC

Thanks for all the support of my story. It really means a lot. Please don't forget to leave a review. They really motivate me to sit my butt down and write. Next chapter will get to Sam and Cas actually trying to cure Dean as well as Crowley showing up. Let me know if you want anyone to make an appearance (Charlie, for example). Thanks again.