Thanks so much to my great betas Mizpah and Maygin. Mucho thanks to all my wonderful readers and extra cookies for the reviewers!

Let the end of the world come tumbling down

I'll be the last man standing on the ground

As long as hot blood runs through my veins

I'm still alive…. "Alive" by Meat Loaf

"DROP!" Dean barked out the command a split second before squeezing the trigger.

Having no idea if Sam, his Sam, had any amount of control or if he could even hear Dean, suspecting his brother was being more manipulated than truly possessed, all he could do was hope Sam was aware enough.

There was enough of him in control to do what Dean asked. Not once in his life had Sam ever disobeyed, or mistrusted him. As much as Sam argued with their father, for some unfathomable reason Dean's word was law to Sam. Dean never quite was able to figure that one out, but was counting on it now.

He hadn't even gotten the entire word out when Sam's knees buckled and down he went, covering his head with both arms. The bullet Dean fired crashed harmlessly, albeit noisily into the inner side of the train car just to the left of where Sam's head had been seconds before. The fiberglass cracked, splintering as the bullet shattered through.

This just wasn't goddamn happening.

Sam carefully laid the gun down, staring up at Dean wide-eyed, breath coming in ragged shallow hitches, sawing in and out unsteadily, but it was definitely Sam's breathing now. Dean understood what Sam meant before about him being wrong, Sam had been wrong, but now he was right. Only problem was Dean had no idea for how long. Making no other movement, Sam remained frozen where he was looking a lot like he had when he was a kid caught doing what he shouldn't. It was Sam, really Sam, the child he'd raised, the moody teen he'd tolerated and the young man who stilled turned into that child, looking to Dean for answers.

The whole train car was mass chaos. Screaming and shouting, questions being fired at him, accusations and demands for Sam's confinement…Dean remembered these people thought he was a Federal Marshall and probably thought Sam was some fugitive. They certainly thought Sam a threat. Deciding he'd better get his butt in gear before the real authorities, Home Land Security, or railroad cops or whatever showed up. Dean's foot reached out, pinned Sam's gun to the floor and slid it closer so he could reach down and grab it. Once it was safely tucked behind his back Dean gave Sam his sharpest stay put look, even though Sam had yet to move, and turned to the crowd being careful to keep himself planted firmly between Sam and the passengers.

Holding one arm in a placating motion Dean raised his voice just enough to sound authoritative. "Everyone, stay calm, stay in your seats, you'll be fine." Without another word Dean spun on his heels, reached down, grabbed Sam's arm, yanked him up, then moved his hand to the back of Sam's neck, shoving him at the car door.

"Dean wuh…"

"Shut up! Just shut the hell up!" Dean snapped. He pulled all the details of the vision Sam had given from his memory, hoping he could reenact enough to keep McCreedy, or Redding, whichever one it was, or both believing he was following through. He had the extra added attraction of keeping now angry passengers away from his brother.

Sam scrambled to keep his footing as Dean ushered him along. One glare from Dean kept his brother silent as Dean pinned him to the wall next to the door. Sam cringed away when Dean jerked to the side, opening the door. His heart clenched, his stomach flipped, poor Sam didn't get most of what was going on, and probably thought Dean was angry with him, but there wasn't a lot of time to explain right now. Dean had to act and act fast. Flipping Sam around, Dean shoved him through the door to the next car. Blissfully this one had few people in it, and at the far end of the car was a huge sign announcing the next car was the engineer's car and everyone but authorized personnel were to keep out. Dean figured he'd just give himself some authorization.

Slamming his I.D. against the small window in the center of the door and pushing Sam to the wall next to the door, holding him firm with one hand against the base of his neck Dean shouted at the engineer, "Open up!" When Sam shifted under his grip Dean turned to him, "Shut your mouth and do exactly what I say." He ground out with enough force Sam flinched. Yeah, he'd only feel guilty about that through the next six lifetimes. The panic snaking up his spine was shoved away, he didn't have time for that either.

The door to the engine car slipped open, someone stepped out. Dragging Sam behind him, Dean shouldered the startled man to one side. "You the engineer?" The man shook his head no. "How many more in there?"

"T-two."

"Get everyone to the far end of the train." Dean snapped. He crossed to the main control car, closing the door behind him. "Which one of you is in charge here?" He was sure to keep himself between Sam and these people, having no idea if any of them were armed.

"I am." An older man stepped closer to Dean.

Swinging his gun to the other man, "Out." Dean snarled. The guy hesitated, glancing at the head engineer. "Now!" Dean barked. That left only Dean, Sam and the engineer. "How do I disconnect this car from the rest of the train?"

"I can't let you…"

Dean really didn't have time for this bullshit. Two fast steps, Sam in tow, and Dean had his pistol against the man's temple.

"Dean!" Sam sputtered.

"NOW!"

"Dean!"

Without taking his pistol sights from the conductor Dean shoved Sam back and into the wall with enough force to jar the breath from his brother.

"You get a bullet in the head in about five seconds if you don't tell me now. Either show me how to disconnect from the rest of the train, or let me take all those people with me." Dean's voice was low, threatening and obviously the man recognized dangerously serious.

Making some adjustments to the main panel, the conductor turned back to Dean. "When you're ready, just hit this button, it'll release this car."

"Get out."

"What about him?" The conductor motioned to Sam, raising Dean's estimation of him a thousand fold. The guy was at gun point, in a possible hostage situation and still he was trying to look out for a kid he'd never seen before.

"He stays with me. He'll be fine. It's a promise." Dean's voice softened to its normal timbre.

One final glance between Dean and his 'captive' the conductor nodded. Once he was out the door, Dean locked it behind him.

"D-dean, this is nuts, what are you doing man?" Sam stepped away from the wall, towards Dean.

Ignoring his brother Dean hit the button disconnecting the train from the engine. He'd explain it all to Sam later, but right now he couldn't risk alerting McCreedy to anything. He'd have to go with what Sam had seen already. Spinning and moving so fast Sam didn't have time to react Dean had his hand around his brother's neck again, backed him against the wall, hoping someday he'd regain Sam's trust.

Bringing his pistol up he cracked Sam in the side of the head before his young brother could react. The effect was immediate. Sam's weight slumped against Dean's hand, the kid was out cold. One swift, sure movement had the hand against Sam's neck around to the middle of his back. Sam fell against Dean's side, cheek pressed to Dean's shoulder, arms hanging at his sides. Putting his pistol in his waistband with Sam's, Dean wrapped his other arm around Sam's shoulders, hand at the back of his head. Sam looked so much like he had when he was twelve, loosing his baby fat and gaining height, but still not so big Dean couldn't carry him to bed when he fell asleep. How Dean wished they could go back to that time.

Moving as quickly as he could while dragging Sam with him, Dean jerked the exit door open. Squeezing his eyes shut, pressing his forehead against the side of his brother's head, feeling Sam's hair brush his cheek Dean took a few deep breaths. The car sped up once freed of the rest of the train.

"This is the stupidest damn thing I've ever done." Dean mumbled.

Holding Sam tightly against him Dean jumped.