Disclaimer: I've dreamt the boys and their uncle Bobby were mine, but sadly…it'll always be a dream (lips tremble…)!
Co-author: I love my bia1007
Beta: My awesome and sweet PsiChic

a/n: Since the plots and the characters' development were not planned beforehand and was subject to change from time to time, I had improvised a previous chapter (chapter 6 that is) as well. I'm not sure whether it was allowed but I need to do that since I know you're all great readers and you will notice. So, I'm sorry! (whimpers). Hope you'll have good time reading this one.

Chapter 10

"Dean!!!!"

Sam's heart-rending cry cut through the woods, piercing the night. There was so much sorrow in that cry, every living thing wept with him. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he kept pounding on Dean's chest, pleading his big brother to come around, not to leave him alone because he needed him so much. When chest compression didn't work, Sam resorted to mouth to mouth breathing, and then again back to chest compression – the whole time tears streaming down his face. Sam looked so young, just like the little Sammy Jack and Bobby used to know, who clung to his brother for protection, for love and comfort and the tears showed how much he grieved the loss.

Jack watched Sam's frantic attempts to bring his brother to life again in complete silence. Since he came out of the water, all he did was watch. He watched as Bobby started on his rescue effort, then as he gave up after Dean showed no sign of breathing and again only observed when Sam took Bobby's place to save Dean. Jack felt something building inside of him – anger, grief, horror and loss. He knew he had to do something, help Sam bring Dean back to life, but had no idea how to do it.

He looked at his sons. Matt had fallen to his knees, his face blank; Kyle was kneeling next to Sam, trying to calm the broken young man. Both his boys were trembling, shaken for several reasons. Maybe it occurred to them they were about to lose a family they didn't even get the chance to know. 'If only they knew how much Dean always meant to me and their mom'.

…………………………………

"Unca Jackie…blue." Jack looked down and found round shiny green eyes looking up at him in awe. The toddler looked so much like a gentleman in his mini tuxedo. Jack smiled and bent down to pick Dean up. He knew sooner or later somebody would notice the nervousness written all over his face but he never anticipated a two-year-old could be so observant.

"I'm blue?" Jack had mastered Dean's baby talk as soon the baby started to babble; now the two- year-old had already acquired new words and Jack could claim pride himself on teaching Dean some of them. "That's because it's my big day"

Little Dean's eyes went wide – confused with Jack's explanation. Jack grinned. He bet the little guy didn't even understand what was going on around him. "You wanna' come with me?" Jack asked and the toddler eagerly nodded. "Then come and don't tell mommy and daddy."

Dean put one chubby finger in front of his lips and made "Shhh…!"

Jack mirrored Dean's action, peeked round the corner and slipped out of the room with Dean in his arms. He headed for the room down the hallway – the bride's room.

Jack motioned to Dean and his little best man know exactly what to do. Dean knocked on the door. "Come in," the answer came from behind the mahogany door. Jack winked and Dean tried to return it with one of his own, except he was blinking excitedly rather than winking. Jack reached for the knob and opened the door.

Gracefully standing in the centre of the room was the love of Jack's life. Wearing a beautiful white gown, Jenny looked stunning and Jack couldn't help but smiling with pride.

"Boys! You are not supposed to be here." Jenny scowled to her most favorite boys. "It's bad luck ya' know?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head and together with it her veil waved.

Jack grinned at Dean and walked towards her. With the toddler in his arms, Jack embraced his bride. "Well, the little guy wanna' say something to you." He looked into her eyes lovingly.

The frown on Jenny's face melted away and was replaced with a smile instead. "Really? And what's that

"He wanna' say he loves you so much" Jack muttered softly. "And today is the best day of his life"

"Oh yeah? He said that?"

Jenny's smile grew wider and sweeter as Jack reached down to her face. But before his lips could touch hers, Dean's little head came down and blocked him. The toddler threw his tiny arms around Jenny's neck and planted a kiss on her cheek, saying "I luv' you…un Jenny."

"Aww…Deannie?" Jack frowned, pretending to be disappointed. Dean was always one step ahead of him.

Jenny laughed and took Dean from Jack's arms. He thought that was the sweetest laughter he had ever heard. Jenny kissed Dean's chubby cheek and said "I love you too sweetheart." The little boy giggled and clapped his hands happily.

Jenny looked at Jack and whispered "And I love you too." And they were wrapped in Dean's laughter and their own happiness.

………………………………..

Eyes filled with tears Jack looked on Dean's bluish and lifeless face. Instantly, the memories of him and Dean flashed through his mind. Jack was angry for not being able to help Sam save his big brother. He failed Dean - the first child he ever called son and treated like one, the boy who was entrusted to his care as his godson the day he was born.

Suddenly a well-locked memory was unleashed. Jack was reminded of something when he thought about the day Dean was born to Mary and John in a delivery assisted by the Winchester's family doctor - Jack himself. He remembered Dean doing something similar to what he was doing right now – drowning and dying from lung failure. Jack's eyes widened as he whispered…"He did this before!" and he knew immediately what to do.

…………………………………..

"One big push and the baby will be out honey." John caressed Mary's sweaty face in the hope to offer some comfort and reassurance to her. "Then everything will be fine," he kissed Mary's hand.

"Fine my ass!" Mary retorted, annoyed by John's calmness. It had been 27 long hours of pain and agony and Mary was beat to hell. She'd been pushing for the last half an hour and the baby, her baby, decided to disobey. He…or she must be a naughty and stubborn one, just like her. 'Why can't you be more like daddy?' John was more balanced, a good man everyone said, and Mary couldn't agree more. All the time she thanked God for giving him to her as husband. John was just too good to be true and Mary thought she must have done something real good in the past to be rewarded like this.

"This is serious Mary…you need to try again, he's been in there for too long now." Jack reminded her although he chuckled at Mary's retort on John which had left the Winchester man blushing. John was a gentle soul compared to the rebellious Mary.

"How do you know the baby's a he?" John asked bewildered. There was hope evident in this question.

"Err…not sure, instinct perhaps?" Jack shrugged and silently cussed himself for raising possibly false hopes. He knew John wished for a boy as his firstborn child. During the pregnancy, John always mumbled something about inheriting his awesome skills and sharing his passion for cars with the little one.

"Okay Mary…on the count of three, give me one last big push."

Mary nodded frantically. She would do anything the end all this and have the baby in her arms. The wait was a real torture. The anxiety already was at its peak the time they learned they're having a baby. She bit her lower lip and waited for the counting.

"One…two…three, push Mary!"

Jack commanded and Mary pushed hard until she could feel the baby was out. She sighed with relief and impatiently waited for the baby to be handed into her arms. But the waiting continued and the worst of it was she didn't hear anything. The baby was not crying! Even Jack didn't announce the baby's arrival and its gender.

"Jack…?" Mary's motherly instinct told her something was wrong. "What's wrong?" she asked - voice hoarse from fatigue and pain. There was a racket ahead of her. She saw the nurses gathering around Jack – their faces full of worry. Mary couldn't really make out what they were saying and what they were looking at and it gave her the creeps. "Jack?!" she was frantic. Something was wrong with her baby, she knew it!

Jack didn't answer her. Mary pleadingly looked at John and her husband immediately walked to the racket. Before John even reached them, one of the nurses rushed towards him and pushed him away. "Mr. Winchester, we need you to calm down." There was sheer fear in her eyes that caused John's neck to prickle.

"Jack?!!" John was furious. He almost pushed the nurse away to get to Jack and his baby. "What happened?!" He looked at Mary and found her weeping. His wife was tired and beat, her suffering hardly over, she already was facing a new one..

"Don't come here John!!" Jack's voice emerged from among the swarming nurses and John was stopped dead in his tracks. Something in Jack's voice made John understand the situation was critical and he had no power to control it – even if he really wanted to.

Jack heaved a deep breath as he looked down to the bluish baby. The baby was a boy – the fact added to the pressure, John always wanted a boy – and he was not breathing. The tiny guy was awfully limp and squashy for a newborn that should be kicking and wailing like crazy once released from the womb.

He continued his effort in giving the little Winchester CPR. He sealed the baby's mouth and nose with his own and gave him a small puff of breath. Jack watched the rise and fall of the baby's chest, and then he took another breath – repeating the sequence – and waited. No sign of breathing. In moments like this Jack was thankful he was a trained medical practitioner, otherwise he would have freaked out completely. He positioned two of his fingers on the little guy's chest and started compressions, very soft ones. Giving CPR to a baby was not as easy as giving one to an adult. He repeated the procedure five times until he finally heard gurgles from inside the baby's chest, followed by a choking sound before the baby opened his mouth and started wailing – like crazy. The nurses gave a loud cheer.

Only now Jack started breathing again himself. He had practically stopped breathing when the baby had fallen so lifeless and limp into his arms just moment ago. It was never easy to help a child into this life and then to watch it being taken away before getting the chance to see the world. Jack knew sometimes complicated pregnancies could cause the death of the baby or even the mom, so he was prepared all the time. But he wasn't when he assisted the Winchesters. He was as excited as the parents waiting for the baby to be born.

As much as John couldn't stop talking about the pregnancy, Jack couldn't stop lavishing the unborn baby with gifts and affection – he made sure Mary took all the precautions, provided her all the supplements and the medical checkups, fed her with nourishing meals, and he even lectured her about being too active with the housework. So, he was not ready, totally unprepared when the baby came out not breathing. That was the reason why he didn't give up in resuscitating the little guy where else in previous cases he would have stopped after the third attempt of CPR.

Jack smiled, wrapped the little guy in a wool blanket, clasped him in his arms, holding him tenderly and walked towards the Winchesters. Mary was sobbing and John was holding her in his arms when Jack approached them with the baby – their baby.

"It's a boy!" Jack announced as he made a mental note to check the baby's lungs afterwards. For now, he would let the new parents cherish their newborn. The baby stopped crying as soon as he was placed into Mary's arms. Snuggling closer to his mother, the baby yawned and was fast asleep. Mary's tears rolled down her cheeks and fell onto her son's face as she bent down, planting a kiss on the baby's forehead.

"Have you decided on the name?" Jack watched the sight with pride.

"Dean!" Mary and John answered at the same time. "Dean Winchester."

"I'll call him Deannie then…my little Deannie," Jack smiled.

………………………………..

"Roll him over!!" Jack ordered as he pushed his way through to Dean and Sam. He kneeled right next to a stunned Bobby and looked down at Dean. Sam, Bobby, Matt and Kyle were stupefied by his sudden act – they stared at him bewildered. "Now!" Jack's voice thundered when he saw no act was taken upon his order. Sam was taken aback but he rolled Dean's lifeless body onto his stomach.

Jack rubbed Dean's back so vigorously Sam was sure Dean would end up with nasty bruises. But his heart skipped a beat when he saw dark water pouring from Dean's mouth. Dean must have had swallowed the water when he fell into the lake and it must have drowned his lungs. He watched nervously as Jack rolled Dean onto his back and breathed into his brother's mouth. The oldest Callahan watched as Dean's chest rose and fell and gave him another breath. Then Jack started on the chest compression and he continued the mouth to mouth breathing, harder this time.

Jack was watching Dean's chest when he heard gurgling sound coming out from the eldest Winchester's mouth. Hearing a choking sound, Jack felt a surge of hope emerging inside him. And the hope blossomed when Dean heaved a deep breath and coughed.

"Gahh!!" Dean jolted in a sudden wake from death. He coughed out more water and gasped for air. His lungs craved for oxygen and Dean started breathing frantically. His green eyes were wide with confusion and fear for not being able to breathe. It was Sam's hand on his chest that grounded him, comforted him. It was such a familiar touch.

"Ss…sa…sammy?"

"Yes! Yes it's Sammy!"

"Fff…found…found ya" Dean stuttered as coldness rocked his body. His voice was croaky and Sam could hear the gurgling sound in his throat. "You' kay?"

"God! Oh God! Dean!"

Sam was way beyond relief. Happiness was not the best word to describe his feeling right now. He wouldn't trade this moment for anything in the world – even his life. It was too precious – his brother coming back to life, again. Unable to contain his happiness, Sam took Dean into his arms and hugged his big brother tightly – almost not willing to let him go. Tears trickled down his face and he whispered the Winchesters' three sacred words into Dean's ear.

"P'sonal…sp..space bro" Dean muttered. Sarcasm meant he was not okay.

"Shut up Dean!" Sam ignored Dean's stoic attitude. Nothing would come between him and his brother now – not even Dean's ego. "Just shut up…," more tears were streaming down his cheeks. Damn! Why don't the tears just dry away?

Bobby wiped away a lone tear as he watched Sam hug his big brother. The last time he watched them hug each other there was so much confusion, awkwardness and suspicion in the gesture. But now, the hug implied nothing but love and compassion of a little brother towards his big brother. Wiping away the tear with his callused hand, Bobby patted Jack's shoulder with unspoken gratitude. Jack turned to him and granted him a proud smile. Then the oldest Callahan looked at the young Winchesters – all the time the smile never faded.

There was too much emotion involved in the last 5 minutes – which felt like forever – Kyle found his heart beating madly, as if it had skipped some beats. First, Bobby's attempt to save Dean made him anxious. When Bobby gave up on reviving Dean, he felt as if he had lost something precious. Then, Sam's resistance to let his brother go was distressing. Next seeing his father acting all of a sudden was confusing. And now, witnessing so much affection in Sam's gesture burdened his eyes with grateful tears. He looked at everyone and found relief in their faces. Matt's face was as bright as Sam's and it made Kyle contemplate on the possibility that his little brother indeed was Sam's mirror image, that they used to be twins in their previous life. Kyle shook his head, dissipating his thoughts as he did so.

"Sam, we better get him inside," Kyle reminded Sam. Dean was far from safe. He was starting on hypothermia judging from the fierce trembles and blue tinge of his body. "Need to warm him up."

Sam didn't let go of Dean but he shifted his arms – one across Dean's back and another went under his knees – and heaved his big brother up into his cradle. Determined as hell, Sam carried Dean towards the cabin though every muscle in him protested with the action. His body ached and his head throbbed but they weren't going to stop him from looking after his brother. He would not fail Dean this time.

Dean's trembling was so hard it shook Sam's body. It hurt him to realize Dean was far from alright. Death still lurked around him, ready to strike again if they were careless. But Sam was not going to let that happen again. Death had to cross over his dead body to get to Dean – he would make sure of that. Sam had had enough of seeing Dean dead in front of him. The first time, he didn't blame it on death – he blamed it on Lilith. The second time, he blamed himself for being reckless. But if there was going to be a third time, he would blame it on death for picking a fight with him!

"Sam-my…" Dean mumbled.

"Dean! Hang on man! Just hang in there!" Sam persuaded gently but there was a commanding tone in his voice. The cabin was just a few strides away but Sam already felt tired to the bones. Dean's weight was beginning to be a strain and Sam knew he couldn't take it any longer. The adrenalin rush which had been his energy boost a while ago had started to fade and he had nothing to cling for strength to go on except the sheer will to take care of Dean. Sam was frustrated when he felt his knees buckle under him, bringing him and Dean down to the ground. But strong hands caught him before he even could go down.

"We got you son." Bobby heaved Sam up to his feet and he got help from Jack. Both of the older hunters were holding Sam at his sides, supporting both his weight and Dean's. Kyle was ahead of them, opening the door for them and Matt was picking up the blanket Sam had abandoned on the porch not long ago. The youngest Callahan ran over to him and spread the blanket over his shoulder – at the same time covering Dean.

'We're not alone Dean' Sam whispered and hoped Dean could hear him.

……………………………..

After so much toil and labor, Sam finally reached the living room and he was too exhausted to walk any further. His body craved for a break and it protested with the extra weight he was carrying. So he resorted to laying Dean down on the couch instead – which was turned into a makeshift bed by Kyle and Matt. Instead of bending to put his big brother down, Sam half stumbled to the couch as his legs turned to jelly, bringing down Dean with him. Luckily Bobby was there to prevent them from face-planting on the floor.

The older hunter assisted Sam to the couch while carefully tending to Dean. Sam was too dazed to care. A severe wave of vertigo hit him, everything he looked at seemed to move in circles. There was too much commotion taking place around him, making the pounding at the back of his skull increasing tenfold. Everyone was rushing here and there but he couldn't make out what they were really doing. Sam squeezed his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to extinguish the heat threatening to bake his eyeballs.

"You okay?" Bobby's concerned voice roared in his ears and Sam frowned. Suddenly everything sounded so loud he wanted to scream to make them go away. There was a loud ringing in his head which did not help in easing the noise. He could hear voices bobbing up and down around him but none of them made sense. Sam was losing his fight with consciousness, pulled in by the dwelling darkness. "Sam?" he could hear Bobby calling him but he was too tired to stay awake, to tell Bobby he was okay.

"Ssam…sammy…"

The much familiar voice pulled Sam away from the tempting slumber. He was alert in an instant and his fatigue seemed to vanish for once and for all. Sam opened his eyes and turned to Dean who was seated next to him. Dean's body shook furiously from the cold and his eyes fluttered in vain attempt to fight unconsciousness. His skin was awkwardly white and his face was horrifyingly pale.

"You 'kay?"

Dean's lips quivered and his speech was slurred. But Sam had been living with Dean for too long to not being able to read his big brother's lips. The question itself had been Dean's everyday mantra and sometime Sam was able to foresee it and he would answer without the need for Dean to ask.

Sam cursed himself for being selfish. Here he had Dean worrying about him – when Dean himself was a total wreck – and Sam was caring too much about his own sickness that he ignored his brother totally.

"I'm okay Dean…I'm okay," Sam muttered softly as he moved closer to Dean and slid an arm behind him. He pulled Dean towards him – albeit Dean's grudging response – and wrapped him in his embrace, trying to channel the heat from his fevered body to warm Dean's cold one. "And I'm not going anywhere," he promised.

Dean's trembling body shook Sam's figure and it wrenched his heart so greatly Sam felt like crying. He could hear as Dean's teeth chatter and his breath wheeze. Once in a while, Dean would pant and heave a deep breath, desperate to get air into his abused lungs. His brother's skin was cold and tight under his own skin and Sam tightened his embrace until he could hear Dean flinch.

…………………………………

Matt bit his lips nervously as he watched the Winchester brothers shaking from pain on the couch. There was something he needed to tell Sam and later to Dean - after his recovery. But where could he find the courage to say it after the great consequences of his action? Matt looked at Kyle and found his brother studying him so intently. Once their eyes met, Matt was the first to retire from the staring game. He was aware his brother knew. But he didn't know what was playing on Kyle's mind - was he angry? Was he disappointed? Matt was scared to even think of the answers. He watched as Kyle walked to the Winchesters and covered them with a blanket.

His big brother was always the strong one. He wished he was a little bit more like his brother and his father. Sometimes Matt thought he was too soft hearted and too gentle. Most of the time being thoughtful hurt so damn much. Nobody understood him. Neither his father nor his brother could relate when he was feeling all sympathetic and sorry for a grieving spirit. They didn't understand him when he felt there was a need to console the distressed family of a haunting spirit. They even made fun of him, saying he was a baby, a girl and et cetera.

They just didn't understand.

…………………………..

Sam shot Kyle a thankful gaze when he pulled a blanket over them both and the latter returned his thanks with a smile. His eyes fell back on Dean whose trembling now was harder than before. Bobby was crouching at Dean's feet, carefully pulling down his soaked jeans, leaving Dean half naked under the cover. Sam thanked God for modesty saved by that piece of blanket. For a reason, Sam knew Dean needed to stay half naked until his trembling lessened and he knew he was doing something good by taking Dean in his arms.

"It hurts Sammy…" Dean whined painfully and Sam cringed at the sound of his big brother's voice.

"I know Dean." He gulped nervously. How should he know? He was not the one in pain.

"It hurts when you go." Dean's stammered explanation caused Sam's distress to peak. 'He's not talking about the pain at all!'. Sam felt his body shiver harder than Dean's. His vision turned hazy from unshed tears and his throat felt rough and dry like sandpaper. Unable to hold the tears any longer but unwilling to expose it to anyone, Sam burrowed his face into Dean's damp hair and cried silently.

"I'm sorry Dean…I'm sorry." He chanted the apologies so sadly and hoped Dean would listen. He pulled Dean closer to him and hugged his brother not willing to ever let go. "I'll never leave you again" he made a promise he was uncertain he'd be able to keep.

Amazingly, his promise somehow caused Dean's trembling to lessen. His brother's body went limp and relaxed, Dean's breathing was clearer and his teeth stopped chattering. Sam waited for his tears to dry and looked down to Dean's face. It looked weary and worn, yet so serene and Sam felt guilty as hell to realize he just made a false promise to save Dean. How many times had the Winchester lied for a good course? Or was it only an excuse so that they wouldn't feel so much guilt?

Suddenly Dean screamed out loud as he arched backwards, away from Sam.

"Dean!?" Sam was frantic. How could a situation turn the other way around in just matter of seconds? Just a second ago Dean was doing just fine and the next he was in tremendous pain. "No…no! Not now!" Sam begged. Dean had had too much of suffering for one day. Couldn't he at least get a break?

Dean started on a series of spasms but Sam didn't let go. Instead he held on to Dean stronger and firmer – pulling Dean so close to him until he felt their hearts beat together in complete harmony– and whatever would happen he wouldn't abandon Dean. No way!

Sam's tears – which he tried to hide so desperately before– rolled down his cheeks in an endless stream. If he could say something, he would tell everybody how much it hurt to feel Dean's muscles twitch and turn under his skin. He would tell Bobby, Jack, Kyle and Matt that it was no fun holding your brother while he's screaming and wailing in agony.

He wished he could tell somebody he had had enough of seeing Dean suffer like this. Sam really wished he could tell the Lord that he had had enough of the life they were in. If only he could trade places with Dean…if only…

To think of all the things he could not say or do, Sam cried out loud. He cried so sadly, Bobby and the Callahans almost break into tears.

"Oh God!! Oh God!!!" Sam wailed as Dean thrashed in his embrace. "God…"

'Please don't abandon us…'

TBC

a/n: Thanks to everyone for such wonderful reviews you took the time to write for the previous chapter and I'm so sorry for killing Dean then. Here, he's back! And I hope this chapter's not an anticlimax, I'll freak out if it was (whimpers). Oh yeah! I've posted a poll to survey on readers' preference towards future AU series on our boys and the Callahans, please check my profile and vote if you have the time or you could just mention it in the review. Okay, now that you've read the chapter, a review would be nice (puppy eyes). Love ya'!