Here we are, ready for more. Here is the next chapter. Just a bit of brotherly time. It's possible you may need some tissues for this one. I hope you enjoy.
Cindy.
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"What the hell were you thinking Sam!?" Dean spat as he dragged his half conscious brother through the motel room door.
"I coulda' taken 'em D'n…ya sho'a lef' me 'lone…" Sam slurred as Dean laid him carefully onto his bed.
"I should've left you alone? They were going to kill you Sam! They were literally beating you to death!" Dean shouted, completely dumbfounded by his brother's blasé attitude.
"Bettr'n the hellhounds huh?" Sam remarked, his eye suddenly filling with tears.
"Sam…don't…just…don't go there," Dean warned as he began to remove Sam's shirts to get a look at his injuries.
"Nah…not better…'cause then…" Sam started, but sucked in a breath as his eyes grew large. "Oooops…shhhh…" he said as he took his finger and pressed it to Dean's lips.
Dean swatted Sam's hand away and glared at his intoxicated brother.
"Sam…I'm telling you…drop it."
Without warning, fat tears began to spill from Sam's eyes as he gazed forlornly up at his big brother. He grasped the hand that was tenderly prodding his ribs, halting its movement. He swallowed compulsively and bit at his lower lip nervously. Dean stared down at him, a knot forming in his stomach at the utter devastation and profound fear he saw in the hazel eyes that stared back.
"Sam…what's wrong? What the hell…" Dean started, pulling back slightly when the hand that wasn't grasping his reached up and cupped his cheek.
"I…I don't wanna die Dean. I know you think I do…but I don'. I gotta though…Don' ya see…I gotta…s'only way…" Sam cried, his eyes pleading.
"Sam…I don't understand and you're not helping me to," Dean said, pulling Sam's hand from his face and pressing it to the mattress.
"Can't tell ya…not s'posed ta…I love ya Dean…that's why I had ta do it. Don' wanna hurt ya…love ya too much…" Sam trailed off as he slipped into alcohol induced unconsciousness.
Dean stepped back, his mouth agape at what Sam had said. The raw emotion from his little brother bowled him over and he had to sit back on his bed to keep from collapsing to the floor. It must really be crucial that Sam not tell him about the deal if in his drunken condition he even held his tongue. Usually Dean could get Sam to spill even the worst secret just by getting a few drinks into him. What the hell had the stupid kid done? What kind of deal could Sam have made that by telling Dean any part of it, Sam would break his end of it? Dean watched his brother, fear gripping him to his very soul. Whatever this was, it definitely wasn't good. Not for Sam at least.
Dean's eyes traveled over Sam's steadily bruising face and wondered which of the array of blues and purples he had inflicted and which came courtesy of the two now extremely suffering assholes from the bar. Dean brushed his hand over his face and through his hair before standing and heading for the counter near the bathroom. He retrieved the icebucket and hurriedly left the room, returning a few minutes later, the bucket over flowing with ice. He grabbed a hand towel from the bathroom and filled it with ice then pressed it to the worst of the bruises. Sam flinched then opened his bleary eyes. He stared up at Dean and smiled sadly.
"'m sorry Dean. 'm sorry for all this. 'm gonna miss ya…gonna miss my big brother…" he whispered brokenly.
"Sammy, I'm not gonna say it's okay, 'cause there's nothing okay about this. But…I'm not gonna ask anymore 'cause obviously it's important that you not tell me and I'm not gonna put you in jeopardy of breaking your end of the deal. I just…I…I'm gonna miss you too bro. So much Sammy…" Dean said softly.
"'nks D'n," Sam replied tiredly.
"How can I get you out of this Sammy? Can you tell me that?"
"You can't…'s no way out. I gotta go ta hell Dean and that's all I can say…"
Dean shook his head and went down to the floor on his knees. He dropped the ice filled towel on the bed and snaked his fingers through Sam's hair. Sam rolled his head to look at Dean's face as tears slowly trailed over his bruised cheeks. Dean cupped the back of Sam's head and pulled him close until their foreheads rested against each other.
"What am I supposed to do Sammy?" he whispered as his own tears joined Sam's. "We just found each other and now I'm gonna lose you again. What am I supposed to do?"
Sam closed his eyes, unable to watch the pain in Dean's eyes. He opened them again, but diverted them from his brother's face. He lifted his hand and weakly cupped Dean's head, much in the same manner his brother held him.
"Dean…you jus' keep fightin'…keep huntin'…"
"I can't Sammy…not without you to watch my back…"
"Ya got Bobby…"
"Not the same. I need my pain in the ass little brother. I need you Sammy…"
"I need ya too…but you'll see…'s for the best…this deal…'s the only way…"
"They're gonna tear you up Sammy. I'm gonna hear you scream…I'm gonna see you torn to shreds…" Dean sobbed. "You know what I'm gonna see…what I'm gonna hear…"
"Don' wan' ya to be there De. Don' wan' ya to see what I saw…" Sam slurred, his eyes staring pleadingly at his brother.
"I gotta Sam…can't leave you to go through it alone…" Dean replied.
"Don' wan' ya to 'member me that way De. Please…go ta Bobby's. Tomorrow…go ta Bobby's…please…"
"No Sammy…I'm staying with you. You gotta do this? Well…then I gotta be there."
"'m sorry De. It'll be 'k…promise…" Sam whispered as his eyes slowly closed, his breaths evening out, his hand slipping from Dean's head.
Dean pulled back and brushed the tears from his face. He grasped Sam's limp arm and gently placed it on the bed by Sam's side.
"No Sammy…there's nothing okay about this," Dean said as he stood up, his knees popping as he straightened.
Dean pulled the bedspread from his bed and draped it over Sam's sleeping form. He collapsed onto his bed and reached down to remove his shoes. He swung his legs up onto the bed and fell back onto his pillows, his eyes staring blankly up at the cracked ceiling. He rolled his head to the side and watched Sam sleep, smiling slightly as Sam's lips moved as if he were speaking. Dean closed his eyes and although he thought there would be no sleep for him tonight, he soon drifted away and the only things to be heard in the dark room were his soft snores and his baby brother's pained murmurs.
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Dean awoke the following morning to the sound of Sam heaving his guts out in the bathroom and he chuckled softly.
"Serves the little bastard right," Dean muttered under his breath then he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and slowly sat up.
Dean stood and made his way to the bathroom door, pushing it open and gazing down at his brother who had his head nearly all the way in the toilet bowl. Dean scrunched up his nose at the smell then made his way to Sam's side and kneeled down beside the sick young hunter. He rubbed comforting circles on Sam's back as the younger man continued to heave. Finally, Sam raised his head and turned bloodshot eyes onto his older brother. He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and fell back against the cool tub as Dean stood and filled a glass with water.
"Here…drink…" Dean instructed as he held the glass out for Sam.
Sam looked up and accepted the glass with a shaky hand. He took a drink, swishing the water around his mouth before leaning over and spitting it into the toilet. He drank the rest of the water while Dean flushed the toilet then he set the glass on the floor beside him.
"Thanks Dean," he croaked as he rested his head on his knees.
"Yeah…" Dean replied then he reached down and grasped Sam's arms. "How 'bout I get you back to bed Sasquatch?"
Sam allowed Dean to pull him from the floor, his head pounding a steady beat as the blood rushed to it. Dean held strong to him and led him from the bathroom to his bed. Dean carefully helped Sam down onto the bed then reached for his duffel and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. He shook out three pills and went back to the bathroom for more water. He came back and handed Sam the water and pills and watched as he washed them down.
"Lay down and sleep Sammy," Dean said as he softly pushed Sam back against the mattress.
Sam pushed against him and shook his head, wincing at the pain that caused. "No… don't have much time left. Don't want to sleep it away," he whispered.
Dean sat on his bed and rested his elbows on his knees then clasped his hands together. "Okay…uh…how are you feeling?"
"Um…better. Head hurts…face too…" Sam answered as he gingerly fingered his bruised jaw.
"Yeah…I'll bet. So…are you hungry?"
"Uh…maybe. Don't know if I can keep anything down though."
"How about toast. Think you can keep that down?"
"Yeah…I think so."
"Good…I'll be right back then," Dean said as he leaned over to put on his shoes.
"No Dean…wanna go with you," Sam replied.
Dean looked up, his brow arched. "You sure? You look a bit green still."
"Yeah…'m sure. Don't really want to be alone."
"Okay Sammy…let's go."
Sam nodded and sat up, taking his shoes as Dean offered them to him. "Hey Dean?" he said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what Sammy?"
"Uh…for last night. For coming for me. For saving me."
"I thought you didn't need me last night."
"I'll always need you Dean. I'll always need you…"
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Awwwwwwwwwwwww...they talked, kinda. Sammy needs Dean...maybe that'll make Dean feel better. More coming tomorrow.
Cindy