Disclaimer: The handsome devils are not mine. I claim no part of them. I just love their sandbox, it's cooler than mine.

NOTE: Here is the extended version's 1st chapter. I hope it will all you hoped it would be. As always I appreciate your time, your reading of my sandbox rantings and your reviews. I also enjoy the favs and alerts!

Chapter 24 - Extended Version C1

Dean was in an exceptionally great mood. There was currently nothing hanging over there heads. Nothing out to take his little brother away from him. The devil was confined for the next 150 years and no longer their problem. Life was going to be awesome cause dammit, they were going to take some well deserved down time!

The only monkey wrench in the whole thing was Sammy himself. Dean couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what the problem was, but he just seemed… off.

They had left the ranch after a few hours into Sam's recovery. Sam in his usual spot. The passenger seat. Where he belonged. Bobby was watching them both from the backseat, a frown currently aimed at the back of Sam's head. Dean grinned at Bobby in the rear view mirror which garnered him a under breath, "idgit."

Sammy wasn't paying attention staring out the window, apparently watching the trees sail by.

Dean slugged him on the arm to get his attention.

Sam grabbed his arm and rubbed as he slowly looked up to stare at Dean. He sighed and said softly, "What?"

Dean frowned before he muttered, "What?" Raising his voice he smiled before he said, "Sammy, it's a great day to be alive… right?"

Bitchface number 27 made an appearance quickly followed by screw you number 12.

Dean gave a mental shrug, Nothing was going to spoil his good mood. Not even a pissy little brother. The same little brother who had picked him… Dean Winchester over staying…

"Sammy?" Dean got distracted from his train of thought by Sammy's pallor, "You okay? Don't you hurl in my baby dude… you feel the need just say so and I'll pull over."

Sammy bit his lip as he tried to hold back the tears pricking his eyelids. He'd missed care-free Dean so much and it hurt that they were using his memories to get to him. It would hurt all the more when they turned his family on him and yanked them away.

Dean frowned and immediately pulled the car over, which had Sam pressing himself back against his car door as he mumbled, "Not yet, please…"

Dean reached out and snagged his brother's plaid over shirt and pulled him closer to the middle of the car. He studied Sam as he felt him shaking under his palm he had placed on Sam's chest when he'd pulled him close enough to reach comfortablely.

Dean paled as a thought crossed his mind, How could he be so stupid? Obviously Sam was hurt worse than he thought…

"Dean?" Sam whispered.

Dean focused on Sam as Bobby leaned forward and asked, "You boys okay?"

"Yeah, Sammy?" Dean answered as he studied his brother, counted heartbeats through his hand.

"Just… don't leave okay? You can hate me or whatever… just promise me you'll stay." Sam blurted and then wished he really hadn't voiced that fear out loud.

Dean stared at his little brother a few seconds before he laughed. He'd been worried about Sam leaving him and here Sammy was voicing Dean's same fear out loud.

Sam jerked in response to Dean's laugh. He bit his lip. How stupid could he be? He just told them what he was afraid of. He looked away. He didn't want to see Dean's face when he told him to get lost.

Dean's hand pressed harder into Sam's chest as Dean waited patiently for his little brother to look at him. After a few seconds he realized Sam was not going to look at him without more direct encouragement. He placed his other hand on the back of Sam's neck and gave a gentle squeeze.

Sam's eyes jerked up to connect with his own. Dean smiled, "You chose me why wouldn't I do the same?"

Sam blinked rapidly, God knew how much he wanted this to be real, wanted to hear those words for real… but had he even really left the ranch? Or was he really stuck in that town for ever with Lucifer? God knew he deserved it.

Dean spared a glance Bobby's direction before he asked Sam, "Do you want to get a motel room for the night? I mean if you don't feel like traveling, that's okay…" Dean let his voice trail off as he studied Sam's face. The kid looked scared. A quick glance again to Bobby had him verifying that he wasn't the only one to notice. Dean watched Sam's lips tremble as he tried to get his emotions under control.

"No, I want to go home… just…" Sammy stopped and bowed his head.

Bobby gave Sam a quick pat on the back before he sat back. "Home, Dean. You heard the boy." He watched Dean smile and Sam look through his bangs covering his eyes at his big brother. The love between them was obvious. He added, smugly, "He wants to go home." He felt his heart swell with pride. Sam still felt his place was home after everything. They were going to make it.

Dean frowned at Sam, Yep… off. His Sam-dar was in high screech mode at the moment. Dean went quiet for a little while as he studied Sam chew on his nails like he used to do as a teenager. And scared.

"Sammy." Dean said softly when they were halfway back to Bobby's house.

Startled, Sammy looked at him and tensed. Ready for his brother and Bobby to disappear. Well, not really ready… but expecting it.

"What's up with you man? For the first time in months we don't have someone on our asses to kill one of us and you're more keyed up than ever…" He questioned as he raised an eyebrow; waiting for a response from his little brother.

Sam bit his lip before he blurted out, "I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop…"

Dean blinked a couple of times before he said quickly, "Man, I know I said there was always the other shoe… but maybe… maybe this time we'll get lucky. Catch a break, ya know…" He spared a quick glance Sam's way and away from the road, "I mean…" Back to the road, "we did just cage the devil." Dean watched Sam out of the corner of his eye as he took in what Dean had said.

In the silence that followed, aside from an occasional snore from the back seat from Bobby, Dean let slip a small smile as he glanced at Bobby passed out in the rearview. He thought about all the other shoes from the past. There were too many to list without his head exploding. He understood where Sam was coming from but they had just done the impossible! And all without his little brother pit jumping. So, hell yeah! A win… finally without the suicide of a Winchester! So sue him for being happy! He gave a mental shrug… As far as he was concerned it was their time to rest… at least for a little while; a mini vacation on the horizon and the devil in their dust. He dropped an arm across the back of the seat and relaxed even more. They were doing things on Winchester time for a change.

TBC