Thanks to all who read, your comments are inspiration and cookies! Many thanks to my hard-working beta Maygin.
The darkest night ain't black enough
To keep the morning light from shining
The highest wall ain't tall enough
To keep the smallest man from climbing
The more you resist the tide
The more it pulls you in
The more you hang on for your life… "Alive" by Meat Loaf
Bobby was two steps behind Dean, closing the distance and trying to get around him, between him and the fire. Between him and Sam. Dean would never see it of course, but Bobby's vision and judgment was a bit clearer. Getting between Dean and Sam was going to be the only way to save them both. The realism of the situation was, Dean was younger, faster and stronger. Getting between the two could very well be fatal for Bobby, but he had to try.
He'd seen this before. People would run straight into a fire, trying to save someone else, and they'd both perish. If it was the last thing Bobby did he was going to try to prevent that from occurring. Grabbing Dean's shoulder and arm Bobby threw all his weight back, hauling Dean with him. The flames were already as high as Dean's head.
Sam's eyes met first Dean's then shifted briefly to Bobby's before returning to his brother. The kid's absolute terror and resolution to not fail glittered in his eyes alongside the reflection of flames. He'd pulled his knees as close to his body as possible, balling up into the smallest size achievable. Squirming side to side, Sam tried avoiding the flames, slapping at them when they touched his clothes or skin. Bobby saw him suck in a shuddering breath. Eyes squeezed shut making tears ooze down his face. Bobby's heart lurched when he realized Sam could have gotten himself out, still could, but he'd been forced into this. Horror of losing his brother, being alone, was much greater than any other fears. Something else was there too, something he barely grasped when Sam settled his gaze on Dean. Trust, trust that Dean would never let him burn, never let him die this way, even if he couldn't get Sam out.
More of the wood circle erupted, being eaten by the flames, causing Sam's chest and shoulders to shudder and wrench and not merely from smoke and coughing. He twisted away from the flames to one side, only to be assaulted from the other.
"That's Sam. In there…Sam!" Dean lurched away from Bobby, but the older man managed to hang on with an iron grip. "I've got to get him…Sam!" Dean surged forward, and damn holding the boy back was like holding back a freight train. His voice cracked and broke on Sam's name. Surging forward against Bobby the older man was forced to use his entire body to stop Dean.
"Dean," Shaking him hard enough to make him turn away from the pyre, Bobby gripped Dean's neck. "Listen to me. Boy, if you want your brother out safe, listen to me!"
Dean stilled; maybe for the first time in his life, he was completely still. Arms dropping to his sides, Dean stood panting, staring at Bobby. Gone was the man who was a hunter, the man who managed to come up with a plan for every situation, gone was the confident, cocky expression and masked emotions. Now he was looking at Dean, just Dean. Stripped bare for all the world to see; Dean who was faced with losing Sam and had no idea how to stop it, or what to do. Dean who was at this moment a frightened boy searching for help. He looked at Bobby with wide, glistening eyes, nodding a fraction.
Pointing to one of the work sheds, "Over in there, get tarps."
"Bobby, I can't leave…" Dean's voice was raw and thick.
Giving him another shake for good measure Bobby snapped, "Now!"
Another curt nod and Dean spun on his heels, running full tilt to the shed. Bobby took off to the opposite side of the house, hearing the door to the shed shatter under Dean's foot. Shaking his head, Bobby wondered, did the boy ever use a door knob, even know what one was? Grabbing the garden hose off the ground he sprinted back to the pyre. Sam wasn't watching them, his eyes were shut, head down. Bobby saw his shoulders heave with coughing, probably sobbing too. Drifting to one side the kid jerked upright, putting one hand on the ground to steady himself and yanking it away just as quickly.
Dean was in front of him a second later, two of the tarps in hand, offering them to Bobby as if they were gold medals. He took one, dropped it at his feet, hosed the other down before turning water on Dean, dowsing him thoroughly.
"Use this to clear an opening in the flames while I try to get them down with the water. When I tell you to, wrap it around yourself, get Sam, wrap him too and get out."
Dean nodded, more assured now there was a plan and he had a job to do. Beating at the flames with the wet tarp, causing them to lash out to the sides, only to dart back in, covering the bare spot Dean created. Arm over his mouth Dean ducked forward to beat the flames repeatedly while Bobby sprayed water over the entire pyre. Sam was starting to slump further, the smoke choking the air from him, his body getting slack. As soon as he was unable to stay away from the flames his clothing would ignite and he'd be done for. Managing to get the stream of water into the path Dean cleared Bobby was able to turn it on Sam, offering some respite.
Wrapping himself in the tarp Dean barely waited for Bobby to dowse him with water, soaking him completely.
"Go." Bobby gave Dean's shoulder a push, but it was hardly needed.
Dean was a blur of motion, a steam roller heading straight into the fire, grabbing his brother.
Sam's world, his existence scaled down to the small space around him still not aflame. It was impossible to keep track of what was happening outside the flames circling him, the smoke choking and blinding him. He desperately wanted out, away, but he was too frightened Dean would pay the price with his life. Flames roared in his ears, moisture from his eyes sizzled off his cheeks as it formed. Pride be damned, he didn't care. He was afraid and alone and so what if he trembled, cried.
Heat and smoke swirled around him. Bits of fire danced over him, mostly hitting his jeans and jacket, biting through to nip at his skin with razor sharp pincers. Remaining upright was keeping him alive. Once he was unable to do that the flames would win and claim him. He closed his mind down to the pain and terror, and thought of his brother. His happiest times in his life had been with Dean. It was all Sam thought of.
Something hard and solid and wet and cursing up a storm hit him, pulled him close and wrapped something around him, over him. Strong arms drew him up. He was propelled forward, more carried than anything else. Never had there been a time in Sam's life his brother wasn't able to carry him. Sam might have been taller, but in actuality he probably only weighed a dozen or less pounds more than his older brother. Strong, solid and powerful Dean was all muscle. Sam tended to forget just how strong his brother was. It was that strength and power he blessed now.
Barely having time to get his feet under him and his legs going he was hauled free of the flames, though he and Dean were on fire. Sam heard Bobby shouting something at them. He struggled to move toward the man's voice, but was held back. When Dean's arms wound around him, demanding he hit the dirt Sam had little choice but to comply, not that he'd fight Dean anyway. They rolled, Sam got dirt in his mouth, it was washed away by a torrent of water almost before he processed the fact he was eating dirt.
Pulled to his knees in the next breath, leaning against Dean, Sam was capable of doing nothing but inhaling and exhaling. Shaking violently he got an arm around Dean's back, fingers gripping Dean's shirt with enough intensity they cramped.
"I gotcha Sammy. I got you." Dean repeated over and over in his ear, holding him so tightly Sam couldn't fully expand his chest and fill his lungs. "It's ok, I got you Sammy."
Sam struggled to quiet the sobs wanting to break free of his chest. The more he fought them the more they insisted on freedom. He tried to quiet the shaking of his limbs, even his abdominal muscles shuddered. Eyes pinched tightly closed, and when Dean's hand rested securely at the back of his head Sam stopped fighting his own body. Burrowing closer, pressing his face against Dean's chest Sam let the sobs come.
Explain he had to explain to Dean. Wriggling away far enough he could turn his face up, meet Dean's eyes Sam's words came stumbling out. "Ttthey told m-me you…yyouu'dd die if I d-d-didn't. I-I didn't waaant t-to."
Dean looked down at him positively horrified.
Sam tried for a smile, failing miserably, "Eeevvveen noww. Y-you p-putt out the fl-fl-lames."
"Are you trying to stop my heart?" Dean's chest drew in big, harsh gulps of air. Sam felt his brother's heart pounding against his ribs. Leaning away from Sam slightly Dean ran one hand over his brother's arms, through his hair. "Did you get burnt?"
A quick shake of his head, "Not much…just my clothes…some stings, that's it." Hands moving to Dean's arms, Sam gripped them with the same intensity he had his sibling's shirt. "I can hear them, see them, they're here."
"Boys," Bobby's gruff voice barely broke through to Sam's brain. "We need to get inside." He was yanking on Sam, which elicited the immediate reaction of Dean's arms tightening, pulling him away from Bobby. Either Bobby ignored it or didn't notice Sam wasn't sure. Bobby's hands moved to Dean's shoulders, pulling up on his arm.
Standing, Dean pulled Sam up with him, knees buckling as soon as Sam let go and stepped back a half pace. "Whoa!" Darting forward Sam grabbed Dean's elbow, Bobby rested one hand against his back steadying him.
Laying one shaking hand on Sam's shoulder, Dean offered him a weak grin, "I'm ok." He gave Sam a reassuring squeeze, "I am." Dean's hand slipped down to Sam's bicep, holding firmly. Sam made no effort to get free, instead he gripped Dean's forearm planning to go no farther away from Dean than the length of his arm.
They followed Bobby to the house. Sam felt Dean's fingers between his shoulder blades, pushing him a step ahead. They hadn't reached the alter Sam had prepared when every loose object in the room took flight, twirling around in a cyclone of paper, books, plates, knives, forks and things spinning by Sam's face so fast he couldn't identify them.
Something reddish and hazy flew at them, hitting Dean square in the chest. Sam felt Dean's fingers being torn from his arm, from his grasp, as he was knocked several feet. The second Dean hit the floor the haze vanished, the room stilled.
"Hell." Bobby swore under his breath.
Sam scrambled after Dean. When Bobby grabbed at him, Sam didn't know what to do, he barely garbled out, "Dean…"
"Sam, we've got to be sure." Bobby's grip was more insistent, shoving him away from Dean, away from his brother.
Panic surged through his chest, wrapped in a tight ball in his stomach and punched at him from the inside. No one, not even Bobby could do that, not after everything that had happened. "They can't…he can't be…" Sam twisted free of the grip, blessing his long legs and faster stride. Dropping at his side, ear pressed to Dean's chest. Letting out a large sigh of relief, "It's ok, it's him, it's Dean." Slipping an arm under Dean's shoulder, he eased his brother up. "Hey, come on, you ok?"
"Sam…" Bobby closed in on him again, movements more wary this time, pulling, or rather trying to pull him away.
"Bobby, it's ok. He's Dean, just stunned him. He's ok, he is." Sam pleaded standing and facing the older man. He saw Bobby's eyes soften, wondering if the man believed him or not.
"How can you tell?"
"Please, believe me." Sam begged, for Dean he'd do anything. "I can. You'll have to take my word for it." Kneeling next to Dean again when Bobby didn't move, Sam helped him up. "You all right?"
Dean groaned, rubbed at his head, grumbling. "Yeah, Sammy, just dazzling." Sam got firm hold of his brother's arm once again.
The room warmed, the red haze reappeared, twirling about like some weird tornado.
"Disassociate them from the demon." Bobby shouted.
"How?" The word was barely out of his mouth when his legs were hit with something and he hit the floor. Dean instantly grabbed him from behind, pulling back while Sam scrambled for footing again. As soon as he was up Dean stepped around him, putting one arm out to keep Sam behind him.
"I'm sorry!" Dean yelled to the far too active room. He stepped away from the haze, pushing Sam with him. "You lost each other, and it HURTS, I know it hurts. No one was there to help, if I could have I would have. You'd do anything for each other. I'd do anything for my brother too."
"Dean you didn't do…"
"Shut up." Dean hissed, pushing him closer to the salt circle. "You loved your brothers and they died and it hurts, I understand that. And I'm sorry. I love my brother too, and I understand how you'd do anything for each other, watch over each other. Protect each other. But Sam never hurt you. None of those kids ever did a thing to you, to anyone. I'm the only one who did. You want someone? You want me, leave my brother alone."
"NO!...goddamnit Dean you promised, no, you will not offer yourself to them!" Sam grabbed Dean's arm and the front of his shirt, yanking him farther from the haze. Dean faced the haze, but didn't pull away from Sam.
"I'm sorry." Dean repeated in a low, sincere voice. "I'm sorry."
Everything stopped. The red haze evaporated, replaced by white, the room went cold as ice.
"Sweet lord, I don't believe it. You did it!" Bobby retrieved the stone, literally throwing it and the brothers into the salt circle. Waving one hand at them he ordered, "Recite the ritual."
Partially from memory and partially from the cards Bobby made them the brothers said the words in fast, clear sentences. In seconds the air around them was shattered with screeching, a high pitched buzzing that drove Sam to his knees and had Dean leaning heavily against Sam's shoulders. Something skimmed by him so cold his skin tingled and felt burnt.
Bobby coming at them with a sledge hammer, missing them by inches and smashing it into the stone was all Sam comprehended before there was a blinding flash and Sam's world went white.