DISCLAIMER: Don't own the awesomeness that is the Winchester World but love, love love to steal these little buggers from the Kripke sandbox (BTW I have been spelling his name wrong for months, thanks for not being mean to me for that little brain fart)… what an delightful imagination he has… (and the wonderful writing team, crew, actors, fans… um did I forget anyone?)

NOTE: Wow, snakes get big here! There was a 6 and a half foot long black rat snake in the henhouse… it's apparently been getting fat on eggs for awhile… Who knew my mom in law could run that damn fast! LOL Hubby took care of it cause he's awesome! Guys I really appreciate you all sticking with me on this! So on to the reason we are all gathered here today… (Smile)

Chapter 16

"Dean." The tone sounded like an order. Like wake the hell up right now kind of tone. Instead Dean grabbed at his head as he tried to turn away from the sound that seemed determined to split his head into a thousand tiny shards. Should his name even echo like that? Where was he, a cave?

"Dean." A voice whispered as if the owner realized the damage the first time around had inflicted. He felt a hand on his arm and something touching his cheek which caused him to moan softly while he tried to open his eyes. He once again moved away from the sound before it registered in his sludge filled brain who it was. He told himself he didn't care as long as they didn't talk again.

"Easy, D. Just lay there a minute." Sam told him softly. He felt his brother place a hand on his chest holding him firmly in place while the other hand continued to mess with him.

Oh, Sammy… well he guessed he did care then. Sammy was why he was here and why… he interrupted his thoughts with a stuttered… "Wh… what the hell?" he huffed out as he grabbed at the thing touching his face. A soggy piece of… "Ugh!" He managed to spit out.

"Easy, it's just a cool rag." Sammy replied as he held the rag out of Dean's reach, then letting him catch it as he swatted in the general direction of Sam to verify what his brat of a brother had told him.

"What…" Dean repeated in a whisper, his brain desperately trying to catch up with where he was and what was happening as he tried once again to open his eyes.

"You passed out. Almost landed in the fire." Sam took a deep breath before he admitted, "You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry…" Dean said just as softly when he finally managed to open one eye to get a glimpse of Sam.

"Man, just don't…" Sam started only to stop himself and sit still as a statue, not moving a muscle. He was not going to cry like a baby. Not when Dean was here… alive.

Dean waited for Sam to finish and when he didn't continue he asked hoarsely, "Don't what?"

Sam jerked slightly before he huffed looking down at the rag he was suddenly twisting into a knot causing water to drip onto Dean. He managed to answer his brother in a fairly deceptive calm outer voice, "Just don't die on me man." Meanwhile his mind was rioting for a hold onto his roller coaster of emotional outbursts of what coulda, woulda and mighta happened. Thank God all that came out was the one sentence. He gave Dean a sad little smile.

Dean closed his eyes and struggled to breathe, wanting desperately at that moment to yell at Sam that he knew what he had planned. Scream at him that he planned on doing just that to Dean… dying and leaving him to face the world alone. Look how well that turned out for them last time. Last time, he almost snorted aloud… it was honestly every time they tried to do things solo. It ended as a colossal fuckup. A few seconds later he realized Sam was shaking him and he opened his eyes to stare at his little brother. "What?" he snapped because damn it… it wasn't fair. This tug of war just to keep his brother. Why couldn't they just be brothers? He'd bet the rest of the world didn't struggle like they had to just to… to… live.

"Stop that." Sam demanded, his worry blending into anger. "Or I will call the whole thing off. If you're not a hundred percent you're not going."

"You're not the boss of me." Dean growled trying to sit up and swaying precariously close to taking a header over the side of the bed. AND, if he didn't quit threatening him with that… he was going to strangle the little… enormous brat!

"Well…" Sam huffed again before he retorted childishly, "you're not the boss of me either so there!" slapping the wet rag to Dean's bare chest.

"I am the boss of you…" Dean growled as he looked down at the rag with a slight smirk… the big girl. Slapping him like that… really… "I have been your whole life… you'd think you'd be used to it by now and know that I always have your best interest…" Dean's stopped his own tirade before adding waspishly, "What are you two?" as he fell back onto the bed and petulantly closed his eyes.

"No… go to sleep." Sammy ordered, dropping the subject as a no win discussion. He had a long lists of those. Number 11 being this discussion right here, The Who's the Boss… he sighed. Numbers one through ten were Dad related and had no bearing on this particular argument but he could use Dean's Big Bother Knows Best statement number 12 against him, "You'll feel better when you wake up."

"I was asleep. You woke me up." Dean pointed out slight crankily with a pinch of whiny thrown in as he glared at Sam.

"No you were unconscious and now that I know you're okay. You can sleep." Sam told him with his puppy dog eyes staring him down.

Dean groaned and hissed out, "Fine…" Because really... going up against the puppy eyed freak was a lost cause (only cause he wasn't really up for the battle) but it didn't mean he couldn't get one last jab in, so he added under his breath, "For such a gigantic pain in my ass you sure are a big baby."

"Sticks and stones brother… sticks and stones." Sam said with a chuckle. He realized that he seemed to be the one who lately reverted back to the staples like the lists when he was really and truly stressed. It just seemed they had no way out. Someone was going to go down with the devil and this time… this time it wouldn't be Dean.

Sam waited until Dean was once again asleep and then went to the door and eased it open, sliding out through the narrow opening he leaned against the door frame. Keeping the door open so he could hear Dean if he needed him he looked back in at his big brother sleeping. He hadn't been kidding when Dean had pitched forward, doing nothing to stop himself from landing in the fire… he'd freaked.

Bobby looked up from his chair and studied Sam as he stared back towards where he'd left Dean, "Well?"

He sighed before focusing on Bobby, "He's dehydrated… but I think he'll be fine in a few hours." Sam told the closest thing to a father they had left in the world.

"Isn't that what I told you an hour ago?" Bobby asked with a hint of a smile as he watched Sam shrug as he stuffed his hands in his front pockets and stared at his feet.

Bobby chuckled at the look on Sam's face. College Sam was presenting himself. He was sure Sam was unaware of this little tell. This I'm on the panic rope and about to leap into a vat of Oh shit.

Sam looked up at Bobby and told him, "I gotta make this right. I can't have him doing this to himself… not…"

Bobby waited but when Sam remained silent he prodded with, "Not what?"

Sam huffed before he snapped, "Not over me."

"Ya idjit." Bobby growled but fell silent when he heard Dean say from the doorway, "What exactly do you think I'm doing?"

Sam turned and grabbed Dean trying to lead him over to a chair beside Bobby.

Dean in turn started swatting at Sam's hands and growled, "Quit being so grabby. I walked out here all by myself."

"Yeah cause you're a dumb ass." Sam grumbled and had to content himself with making sure Dean was sitting down.

"I am not!" Dean snapped indignantly.

Sam chose to ignore him rather than argue and changed the subject, "You drink that water I left for you on the night stand?"

Dean gave him a look that suggested a smart ass remark was on it's way after opening his mouth he grunted before he settled instead for, "yeah."

"All of it?" Sammy asked for clarification.

"Shut up, Sammy." Dean growled testily.

Sam grinned and was about to respond when Dean cut him off, "Hey, go into town and get me a cheeseburger, extra onions. Maybe large fries…" He paused before he added, "make it two. I'm hungry."

"Dean." Sam said, an argumentative tone present and accounted for.

One of Yoxe sons popped in as he walked up on the conversation, "There's a gas station, with a Dairy Queen next to it. It's not too far. I'll take you."

Sam looked worriedly at Bobby, before sneaking a glance at Dean who was watching him.

"Go, before I starve and take Bobby with you, buy him a happy meal or something." He snickered at Bobby's snort. Making sure he added, "Make sure he gets his toy. You know how cranky he gets when they don't give him one."

"Ya idgit." Bobby said standing. He wasn't sure what Dean was up to, but he'd tag along for the moment, "That's Burger king, not DQ."

"Actually I think it's McDonald's." Sam chimed in as he narrowed his eyes while studying Dean. Now, what was he up to? He wanted Sam out of his way for a bit, but why?

Dean laughed, startling both Bobby and Sam. "GO, I'm starving."

A look exchanged between Sam and Bobby before Sam gave Dean a slight nod and moved to go.

"I'll be right here on the porch waiting for you and if not I give your full permission to kick my ass." Dean told him with a smirk. He tried his best to look innocent. Therefore he generated a automatic guilty look.

Sam studied Dean before he shook his head. Dean obviously thought he was pulling one over on them as he murmured loud enough for Dean's ears only, "jerk."

"bitch." Dean's response was quick and no longer required the thought that it did after… well after… he hadn't been able to stop himself from holding back that endearment to hurt his little brother. He was glad he could return it to the floppy haired kid. Where it belonged all along.

TBC

TInyNote: Thanks for all the reviews favs and alerts! Also… I've always wanted to expand on the Lists… I wrote a long time ago. This is me throwing that in… Smiles… Toodles…