Update time! I hope you are all still enjoying the story. We have another brotherly fluff chapter. Not much of that left before everything goes completely insane, so enjoy it while you can. Anyway, here it is.

Cindy.

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Dean watched as Sam finished his toast and smiled softly when the younger man rested his head on his hand tiredly. The green tinge Sam had been sporting had diminished somewhat, leaving his bruises to stand out starkly against his pale face. Dean felt a sudden surge of anger fill him as he thought about the two jerks and how they had been attacking his brother in the alley behind the bar. He wanted to find them and kick their asses again for what they had done, but he squashed down the anger. He didn't have much time left with Sam and he wanted to spend that time as constructively as possible. He thought maybe they could drive to the next town down the road where he'd been told the county fair was going on. Sam loved that kind of crap and he hoped he could see his brother smile, hear him laugh before tomorrow night when all he would hear would be agonized screams.

Dean sucked in a breath at the thought and stared sorrowfully at his brother. Sam lifted his eyes as if aware that he was being watched and smiled nervously.

"Hey…you okay Dean?" he whispered as he took in the look on his brother's face.

"Yeah…uh…I'm fine. How are you feeling?" Dean replied.

"Better…a little tired," Sam whispered in reply.

Dean nodded sympathetically. "So…I was thinking," Dean started. "There's a fair down the highway a bit…"

Sam looked at Dean curiously and smirked. "A fair? Seriously dude?" he questioned.

"Well…yeah. You liked that kind of shit when you were a kid and you never really got to go but maybe once…and…well, you know…you can stop me whenever…"

"No…no…I'm enjoying this…" Sam said, chuckling even though a sudden sadness washed over him.

"Sam…I'm just saying I want us to have a little fun before…"

"Thanks Dean, but I was thinking maybe we could go shoot a little pool…play darts maybe…"

"Those are my things Sammy…why don't we do something that you really wanna do."

"The only thing that matters to me is spending time with you, Dean. It doesn't really matter what we're doing."

"Uh…yeah…well, I wanna go to the fair so…"

"Really dude? A fair? You're serious?"

"Yeah…except no Ferris Wheel," Dean said with a shudder.

Sam chuckled and looked at his brother, his eyes misty. "Okay Dean, no Ferris Wheel."

The two hunters paid for their breakfasts and exited the diner then headed for their room. Once in the room, Sam collapsed onto his bed and rested his arm over his eyes. Dean gazed down at him, absently chewing on his bottom lip.

"Uh…Sam? Why don't you get a little more sleep. I'm gonna go wash the car," he said.

Sam pulled his arm away from his face and stared up at Dean. "I can come with you dude. Just give me a minute."

Dean nodded and watched as Sam pulled himself up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. Sam splashed cold water over his head then straightened and peered at his pale face in the mirror. He shook his head at the array of bruises and wondered at his stupidity. He ran his tongue over his lip before turning and leaving the bathroom, catching the gaze of his waiting brother. The intensity of Dean's stare made Sam uncomfortable, especially when he could clearly see the guilt residing in his eyes.

"Dean…don't…" Sam said softly.

"Don't what?" Dean responded.

"Don't do that. You have nothing to feel guilty about, dude," Sam replied.

"Some of those bruises are from me Sammy."

"Yeah…well, I kind of deserved it Dean so just stop okay?"

"That's beside the point Sam. I never should'a hit you…no matter what."

"What's done is done dude. Let's just forget it okay? Let's just enjoy the day…please?"

"Yeah…okay Sammy. You're right…enjoy the day."

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Sam couldn't stop laughing, no matter how hard he tried. He giggled even louder when Dean smacked his arm and gave him a dirty look.

"Dude…it is so not funny…" Dean snarled as he continued to give Sam the evil eye.

"Dean…you puked on the Tilt-a-Whirl! That is the funniest thing I've ever seen," Sam cried, breaking into another fit of giggles that brought tears to his eyes.

Dean smiled in spite of himself as Sam's infectious laughter continued. He was getting his wish. His wish to hear Sam laugh and to see him happy after so long. He knew it was only temporary, but he was going to enjoy it while he could. He quickly hid his smile when Sam turned to look at him, sporting a sneer instead.

"You know what Sammy? You suck!" Dean spat, holding in a chuckle of his own.

"I'm sorry…it's just so frickin' funny. You puked on a kiddie ride!"

"The Tilt-a-Whirl is not a kiddie ride! It spins and everything…"

"Okay…it's as close to a kiddie ride as you can get…"

"It takes three tickets Sam! Three. Kiddie rides only take two…"

"Okay…okay. Sorry," Sam said, breathing in deep to stifle another laugh.

"Right…well…I gotta hit the can. Wait here," Dean replied.

"I'll be here."

Dean took care of business then stepped up to the sink. He splashed cold water on his face then stood to look in the mirror. He smiled as he thought about Sam's laughter, but the smile soon faded as he thought ahead to the following night. He couldn't bare the thought of losing his brother and his anger was renewed. A deep sadness had settled over him as he realized that this was what Sam had gone through for an entire year. He finally understood Sam's desperation that year because he felt it now. He felt desperation and defeat. He had zero time to figure out how to change things and Sam's inability to tell him what he needed to know made it all the more difficult. Dean took a deep breath, grabbed a paper towel and dried his face and hands. He stepped out of the restroom, arching a brow when he saw Sam shoving his cell phone back into his pocket.

"Who were you talking to Sammy?" he queried curiously.

"Uh…nobody," Sam said softly.

"Sam…no lies. Not now…" Dean warned.

"Okay... I was talking to Bobby."

"Sam…I said no," Dean said angrily.

"I don't want you to be alone Dean…after…"

"Sammy…"

"No Dean…I mean it. When you…when you died…I…uh…"

"Sammy…don't…please…"

"Bobby was there, Dean," Sam continued. "He's the only thing that kept me from ending myself those first weeks. If he hadn't been there at the beginning…I probably wouldn't be here now."

"Sam…I'm so sorry…I…"

"It's okay Dean. I just need you to not be alone. Please Dean…I need to know you're not gonna be alone," Sam pled softly, light tears welling in his eyes.

"Okay. Okay Sammy. I'll stay with Bobby if that's what you want," Dean said, grasping Sam's arm and squeezing gently.

"Thanks Dean. That means so much…"

"So…when's the old coot showing up anyway?"

Sam let out a relieved laugh and glanced at Dean. "He'll be here early morning sometime."

"So, I take it he's basically on his way now?"

"Yeah…pretty much."

"He pretty pissed?"

"Uh…yeah. He had more than a few choice words for me."

"Yeah…I'll bet."

"Yeah…uh…what do you want to do now?" Sam asked nervously.

"Mmmmm…I'm hungry…let's eat," Dean answered.

Sam stared incredulously at his brother. "Dean…you've eaten every corndog at this fair. And, you've puked up every corndog at this fair. Now you want to eat?"

"Well…yeah. Now my stomach is empty and I'm hungry," Dean replied, looking at Sam as if he'd grown two heads.

Sam shook his head and followed Dean as the older sibling headed for the Indian Taco stand. He caught up with Dean and just hung back, watching his brother with admiration and affection. He stored Dean's smile in his mind. A memory he could hold onto when everything went dark. A memory to lift him when the pain began. A memory to hopefully last him forty years.

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So, that's it for now. Corndogs anyone? LOL I can so see Dean puking on the Tilt-a-Whirl. Don't know why, but I can. Okay, so I hope you'll let me know what you think. More tomorrow.

Cindy.