Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters

Sam had been listening to the sound of sirens for the last few hours and it had now begun to mesh into one continuous, head splitting wail. But even after two years apart he could identify the sound of the Impala, his brother's beloved car, rumbling to a stop just a few metres away. It was at this moment that it dawned on the Sam what was about to happen, he was going to see his brother again – but with that would come his father.

Sam had been so consumed with grief and so desperate that he hadn't thought it through when he had called Dean. What the hell had he been thinking? God he really couldn't face his father now, he just couldn't deal with seeing the disappointment on his face. He looked up and watched as Dean got out of the car and began searching the bystanders for him. As Dean spotted him he moved his hand in acknowledgement and that's when Sam came to a shocking realisation, his father wasn't with Dean. Sam swallowed the lump in his throat as he came to the only logical explanation, his father hated him that much that he hadn't come, he didn't feel that Sam was even worth wasting his energy on.

As Dean got out of the Impala and scanned the crowd he had no difficulty in recognising his little brother. He saw Sam sitting on the hood of a nearby-parked car, looking at the building whose flames the fire fighters seemed to be finally getting under control. Suddenly Sam looked up and Dean was transported back to a time when they were younger, when Sam would look at him with tears in his eyes, pleading with him to make everything ok, but then the look was gone. As he watched his brother, he saw sadness turn to disappointment and at that moment Dean's worst fears were confirmed, Sam didn't want him here.

Dean watched as Sam got up from where he was sitting, turned to the person who was sitting beside him, the person he could only assume was Sam's "friend" Zach, watched as he hugged him. He stood back while Zach turned to leave, nodding to Dean as Sam turned to him with his head down and began walking towards him.

At that moment it didn't matter to Dean whether Sam wanted him here or not cause his little brother was hurting and it was Deans job to protect him, always had been and always would be. He forced himself out of his stupor and started to walk to Sam, not knowing what to say or do to make things better. It was all forgotten as he reached Sam, who once standing in front of him, grabbed him into a hug and began to sob.

Acting on instinct, Dean put his arms around his brother, and tried to comfort him.

"It's ok Sammy, it's ok." Dean kept repeating the words, all the while trying to convince himself as much as Sam.

When Sam pulled away from him, he heard his brother mumble something as he returned his gaze to the ground.

Dean leaned forward and put a hand on his brother's shoulder, "Did you say something Sammy?" he asked his brother quietly.

"I said, it's Sam, you jerk. Sammy is a chubby twelve year old."

Dean watched as a hint of a smile graced his brother's lips, and couldn't help smirking himself.

"Well Sammy, if the caps fits, bitch."

Dean looked up and watched as the fire fighters were putting out the last of the fire. He turned and looked at his brother, Sam looked pale and exhausted, and all he wanted to do was get his brother into the Impala, and drive as fast as could away from the source of Sam's pain. As much as he wanted to, he knew it couldn't happen, Sam needed time to deal, he needed time for closure – God he had been watching way too much Oprah.

"You finished talking to the cops?" he asked, not wanting to push Sam to far too fast.

"Yeah, mmmm they think the fire was an electrical fault, some problem with the wiring." Sam said still staring at the ground.

"So there is no reason we can't leave……." Dean didn't get to finish his sentence as Whirlwind Sam turned on him full force.

"Is that why you're here? Is that why you came, to say I told you so?" People in the crowd began to turn to face them as Sam's voice got louder and louder.

Dean reached out his hands to try and pacify his brother but Sam began to step away from him.

"Sam, I didn't mean leave Stanford, I meant go to a motel, you need to get some rest." Dean had started after his brother, his voice pleading with Sam to be reasonable.

He watched as his brother suddenly came to a stop, something obviously grabbing his attention. As Dean looked up his heart broke for his brother as he watched the EMTs carry a black body bag out of the building. Walking up behind Sam, Dean put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"She's gone Dean, she's really gone," Sam whispered softly as he began to sway and Dean had to move quickly, to put his arm around his brothers waist to stop him from hitting the ground.

"Come on Sam, it's time to go." Dean said he quietly.

He led his brother to the Impala and was a little disconcerted by the fact that his Sam put up no resistance. As he closed the passenger door of the Impala, he took in the scene before him. It sent shivers up his spine as his mind flashed back to the night he lost his mother twenty-two years ago. He shook the feeling off, he didn't have time for self-pity, he had to take care of his brother. As he got behind the wheel he looked over and saw that Sam's head was leaning against the window, his eyes fighting a loosing battle to remain open. Dean started the car and headed out in search of a motel, he had a little brother to fix.

TBC...

Please read and review. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. By the way I know that Dean called Sam and not the otherr way around - it'll be all cleared up in the next few chapters.