I can't thank you all enough for your amazing reviews!!! BIG HUGS to everyone, i tried to reply back to you all but if i missed anyone please know your words are kept so close to my heart xxxx To those who read only, thank you so much for taking the time xxxx

Sarah: I so agree with what you've said, which is why i'm trying to even out the balance! LOL! And the cake is most appreciated!

Rhesa: Oh god yes!!! Cement truck, boxers and Dean. That thought kept me warm throughout my day!!

Apologies for the shortness of this chapter, but even i have a limit on AHHHH moments!! I've milked this for all it's worth!! Only a couple more chapters after this.

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Chapter Five

The first feeling Dean had as his mind began to become aware, was that he was safe. He didn't know how he knew it, but he just knew. He was safe.

The second feeling was one of cold, the third and fourth a close tie in as to what hurt more, his head or his ribs. After that he didn't care. He just knew he was alive.

SAM!

He struggled to open his eyes, to check for his little brother, to make sure he was ok. He had to get them out of there, he had to get them back to the safety of civilisation. Job done, move on.

He screamed for his brother, screamed as loud as he could.

"Smm'y"?

Ok, well, maybe screaming was the wrong word. Dean mumbled again for his brother and felt something shift behind him.

"Shhh, it's ok, I got you man."

"S'my?"

"Shhh Dean. Shhh."

As much as he fought it Dean had no control as his eyes began to close once again. He felt strong arms pulling him close and he leaned into the touch as much as his numb body would allow. He'd heard Sam's voice. That's all he'd needed.

Dean's breathing evened out and Sam let go a long sigh. His older brother had started moving slightly. Sam's awareness of his wellbeing waking him up from a fitful sleep. As Dean began to fall asleep his body moved again. This time involuntarily.

He was beginning to shiver.

Sam raised his head to check the stove, it was still going strong. He guessed he'd been asleep no more than a couple of hours. The heat in the small hut allowed his body to raise enough of its own heat to share with his brother. His brother who was still too cold. But at least it wasn't like holding an ice block any more.

Sam dozed for another half an hour before Dean's shivering woke them both up.

"Ssss…sss…Samm..mmmm.y?"

"Right here man. How you feeling?"

"Ccc…cc…c….old….sssso…ccc…cccold."

"You're getting warmer, trust me. That was quite a swim you took."

"Ddd…d….d….ude…are…y..y…y…yyou hugg….ugging me?"

Dean felt a small exhale of air by his ear followed by a soft laugh and was shocked as he felt his brother nod. What the hell? He tried to move but found he could only raise his arm high enough to smack Sam accidentally on the nose.

"Hey, easy Dean. It's ok." Sam grabbed the attacking clumsy appendage and pulled Dean's arm back under the blanket. His brother was shivering violently, and Sam had never been so happy.

"You were freezing Dean, we both were."

"Yyy ….y…..y…ou……k?"

"I'm fine man, stop talking, just rest."

They both fell into sleep once more. Sam's fitful. Dean's deep and peaceful, unaware of his raging headache, painful ribs and violent shivering.

The third time he awoke he was more aware of his surroundings, more aware of the hut and the heat he could feel penetrating through his still shivering body. He felt cold, no doubt about it, but it was a cold that allowed him to move, that didn't threaten to drag him down deep within the ice toward a place so desolate and lonely that even hell itself had decided after a taste of that, they'd best get a furnace.

He opened his eyes and looked down at the arms encompassed around his body. Sam's arms. His brother was keeping him safe and warm. Dean allowed himself a small smile and closed his eyes to relish the touch. He felt Sam move a little and held his breath, not wanting the moment to pass or be ruined by his insecurity, which at that current moment in time was screaming behind a soundproof block of ice , attempting to tell him to pull away and warm his own damn self up.

It was still dark in the hut except for the light from the stove. The heat sent forth had faded a little, but still kept the cold of night at bay. Sam shifted again and pulled away from Dean as his body tried to get comfortable in sleep. Dean waited a beat, making sure Sam wasn't going to wake up, then slowly rolled himself back, into the warmth of his brother.

Sam instinctively closed his arms back around Dean and pulled him close. His breathing still even and deep. Dean smiled and shifted ever so slightly, bringing his body around a little to bury his head in the arm Sam had around his neck, pushing his body further into his brother.

It was a hug, he knew it, and if Sam was awake he'd know it too. But Dean didn't care, it was his moment to have while Sam was oblivious. As sleep once again took him over Dean felt a certainty creeping across his flesh and into his heart. They were going to be ok, they were going to get through whatever the hell destiny decided to throw at them. He didn't know how he knew, he just did. Laying there in the arms of the one person he trusted and loved beyond all others. Laying there in the arms of a faith in the ability each brother had to protect the other.

His eyes closed once more and sleep took him into her warm arms and rocked him down the sandman road. Smiling down at her burden and throwing a wink at awareness, who had woken up Sam during the first shift of Dean's body. As his brother had settled closer into his arms Sam had barely dared to breathe. He knew one strong inhale, one precise movement and Dean would know he was awake.

Each fell back asleep in the arms of a secret neither would reveal, but both would treasure.

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Can i have milk to go with my cookies?