Hey! Here's the next one. Dean's got something to ask his brother and someone has some information for Dean that's going to change the way the story goes. Sorry for the little delay, couldn't get this to play nice, hope it makes sense.

Thank you all again for sticking with this and all the wonderful reviews. They do mean a lot to me at the moment because RL is such a pain in the backside! STILL trying to reply to them all, think I'm as far as the end of May? Only another hundred or so to go - not that that is a bad thing at all. Loving the love! Mary xx

Dean was sitting in the kitchen when Lisa came downstairs, coffee cup in hand and some papers spread out in front of him.

"Morning." She placed a kiss to his neck as she walked by him, moving over to the cupboard and snagging a cup from it. "Where's Sam?"

"Still sleeping."

"You keep him up late?"

"Nah, he just didn't sleep very well." She turned to catch him rubbing at the back of his neck. He stopped it when he realised that she was looking at him.

"Bad dreams?," Lisa asked slipping into the seat opposite him.

Dean nodded. "Yeah. Bad dreams."

"You okay?"

"Yeah." He leant across and kissed away her worried frown. "I didn't sleep very well either. No bad dreams though," he added with a little smile.

Lisa shifted in her seat, slipping her coffee and studying him. "What is it? You've got that look…."

Dean bit his lip, looked down at the paperwork in front of him and then took a deep breath. "I want to ask you something." He looked back up. "It's a big ask, huge in fact." Green eyes stared solemnly at her. "If it's no, I'll understand."

She reached her hand out and rested it on his one that was lying on the counter. "Yes."

He chuckled at that. "How can you say yes when you don't know the question yet?"

Lisa pretended to think and then patted him on the hand. "If you want Sam to, he can stay here. We'll work it out somehow but only if that's what he's wants too."

"What about him hunting?," Dean asked worrying at his lip as he spoke.

It was Lisa that sighed this time. "It's something that I'm not happy with but we can talk about it. There must be some middle ground somewhere, some way we can get it all to fit together. Don't know if you don't try right? Do you know if he wants to stay?"

"I don't know if he'll want to but I'd like him to." He paused. "There's something he's not telling me."

Lisa's eyes narrowed a little at that. "Good or bad not telling?"

"Not sure but if he's here I can maybe get him to talk to me."

"Getting a Winchester to talk to you and tell you what's wrong," she rested her hand against her face and tilted her head at him, "hmmm." Laughing she pulled him over for a kiss. "Good luck with that one."

Sam came down about half an hour later, fully dressed but with tiredness still clinging to the plains of his face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to lie so late," he apologised, pushing his hair back from his face as he did.

"It's only eight thirty, don't sweat it," Lisa replied with a shrug, standing as he walked round the island towards her. "You up for some breakfast? There's eggs, bacon, sausage…"

Sam's stomach grumbled in reply causing him to blush and Lisa to laugh.

"God, you really are brothers. I'll take that as a yes. Can you set the table while I get this started, cutlery and plates are over there. Thanks."

"Where's Dean?," Sam asked as he set about the task Lisa had given him.

"Ben had to go into school early, Dean's running him there, he won't be long. How are you feeling this morning?" She prodded gently. "Dean said that you didn't sleep very well last night?"

Sam raised an eyebrow at the fact they'd been talking about him but didn't say anything. "It was nothing. Just a dream. Haven't had one in a while, just caught me off guard is all."

Handing him a jug of juice she motioned for him to sit down. "You should talk to him. If anyone can help you get over what's happened it's your brother."

"Dean's dealing with enough himself."

"He's worried about you."

"Doesn't need to be. I'm alright. Honest."

There was a little strained silence which was broken by the sound of the front door being opened as Dean arrived back. Lisa smiled at him as he appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Did you smell the food?"

Dean grinned as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms round her waist. "How's my timing?"

"Impeccable as always. I was just going to serve it up. Grab a seat."

They sat down to breakfast Lisa just listening to the two men discussing everything but what their plans were, skilfully avoiding the conversation that both really needed to have with small talk. Dean caught her looking at him. "What?"

"Didn't you have something that you wanted to ask Sam?"

He made a face at her.

She stare right back at him.

"So what was it that you wanted to ask me?" Sam was loading his duffle into the back of the car that Bobby had lent him watching as Dean gave the vehicle the once over.

"Did you say something to upset Bobby?," Dean asked as he opened the door and stuck him nose inside, recoiling from the smell that assaulted him.

Sam gave him a bemused look. "No. Why?"

"This was all that he could give you? I wouldn't give this car to my worst enemy to drive! It's a piece of shit!"

Sam laughed. "I just needed something that ran Dean. I didn't care what it looks like. Stop changing the subject and ask me what you want to ask me."

Dean tilted his head to the side and looked at his brother. "Is there something you want to tell me Sam? Something you think that I should know but you're scared of how I'll react?"

His brother flushed a little. "Like what?"

"I feel you're holding back on me here Sam. Is it something about what happened in the pit?...If it is, I won't judge you, cause you know I couldn't, not after what I did down there….. I might be able to help though if you'd let me." Dean's hopeful tone killed Sam a little.

"It's nothing to do with the pit Dean," he informed his brother quietly.

"So there is something then, I'm not just imagining it?," Dean pushed.

"It's nothing Dean. Don't worry about it okay?"

Dean leant back against the back door of the car. "Okay." He scuffed his boot along the sidewalk. "So, I spoke to Lisa."

His brother joined him against the car, moving in so that they were shoulder to shoulder. "And?"

"If you want to come back, stay here for a while, then she's okay with that. I don't know how it'll work but we can figure it out. If you want to that is." Dean rushed the last words not looking round at his brother.

Sam looked down at the keys in his hands, turning then as he thought out his reply.

"Well?"

"I'd like that. I really would but I don't think it'd work. I'd still want to hunt and Lisa was pretty clear that she doesn't want that."

Dean moved to look at him. "We could work round it or better still use this to make a completely break from hunting. Get us both out for good."

"You're really done with it aren't you?" Sam tried to keep the amazement out of his voice.

Dean ducked his head. "It got to be just a job Sam, and not a good one at that. I don't feel it anymore man. That joy at saving someone, the thrill of taking down a fugly? It's gone."

"I have to hunt Dean. I don't know what else to do. It too late for me to go back to college. I'm not trained for anything….what am I suppose to do if I don't hunt?"

His brother snorted. "Preaching to the choir here Sam yet I still managed to find something."

"I can't fix cars Dean. Me and mechanicals don't mix, you know that!"

"So? You could work with me in the bar. Share the load."

Sam pushed off the car. "I'll think about it. I swear. I need to go." He walked round his car and slid into the driver's seat. "I'll call you at the end of the week. We can talk then."

Dean scratched at his forehead with his thumbnail before bringing his hand down and wiping his face. "Fine. Okay," he said resignedly.

"Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad Sam. You don't want to stay, it's cool." Dean banged the roof of the car and then stepped back. "Be careful." With that he just turned away and walked back inside.

Sam sighed and rested his head on the wheel for a second, wishing that he could stay but not wanting to tell Dean why he didn't think it was a good idea. He put the car in drive and pulled away.

Lisa didn't ask and Dean didn't offer. She just watched as he gather his stuff and then kissed her goodbye.

"Are you working late tonight?," she asked as she saw him to the door.

"No, but I need to swing by the bar, pick up the books."

She put a hand on his arm. "He might come round to the idea Dean."

A pained look crossed his face. "Yeah, because Sam's always been the one that's had to compromise. I'll see you tonight."

She watched until he drove away and then walked over to the phone. "Hey Bobby," she greeted as the old hunter answered. "Think we've got some work still to do."

Dean opened up the bar and headed for the manager's office, intent on just snagging the files he needed and getting the hell out of dodge before someone found something for him to do or someone called in sick and he got stuck. He'd made it all the way across the carpark when the voice stopped him.

"So, I see that your brother stopped by to say hi after all," Rufus' less than dulcet tones offered from behind him. "Nice seeing you two boys back together again. Family should always have each other's backs and all that."

"You're beginning to feel like a stalker, you know that?" Dean sighed, rested the paperwork on the car and turned. "Is there something I can help you with Rufus or have you just run outta things to kill?"

"That's never gonna happen son, no matter how much you and I might wish it." He grinned at Dean. "So how was your brother? He seem okay to you?"

"What are you try to ask me here Rufus? I'm a big boy, just spit out the question and if I can, I'll answer it." Dean folded his arms and leant back on the car.

The old hunter's eyes narrowed. "You do any checks when your brother came calling?"

"Checks?," Dean asked obtusely, suddenly not feeling like answering, his skin crawl at the way Rufus asked him.

"Don't play coy with me boy. I can whip your ass any day of the week, twice on a Sunday. Checks. You know damn well what I mean. It's one of the reasons why I sent you after him, figured you would know if there was something," he searched for a word, "off, about your brother."

"Off? There was nothing off about Sam. Why?"

"You gonna answer my damn question? Did you check him?" Rufus brought his hands up to his hips.

"No. I didn't check him. I didn't need to. It was him."

"U-huh. So Sam gets his ass drag down to Hell with Lucifer inside and Michael on his tail and you're telling me they just let him walk outta there?"

"Who told you that?," Dean hissed at him. "And how did you find me?"

"I went to investigate the zombie thing at Sioux but you boys beat me to it. I kept an eye on you since then." His face took on a wicked smile. "Low jacked your damned car. Ain't nowhere you're going without her." He shook his head. "Really thought you might have noticed but then you did have other things on your mind." The smile faded. "I was there. At Stull. Saw your boy jump in the hole. So you think they just let him stroll on out of there? Is that what he told you, what you're telling me?"

"No that's not what I said. What I did say was my brother was just that. My brother."

"Was Sam able to do the demon killing thing before he went to Hell then?" Rufus's smile spread slowly at the shocked look on Dean's face. "I see he was. Now that's interesting. I'd heard rumours, never did believe them myself….until I saw it him do it with own eyes and your face just confirmed it that is."

"When did you see Sam use his….ability?" Dean chose the word carefully. "There something you'd like to share with the class?" He stepped forward and Rufus had to steal himself not to step back at the look on the other man's face.

"Sam's ability is the reason I came here in the first place. Reason I wasn't sure that it was Sam that I'd seen all those months back. Friend of mine said he saw your brother lay out five demons with nothin' more than a twitch of his nose. 's why I went back looking for him. Needed to see it myself to be sure. Did too. Watched the boy walk into a house with ten demons in it and walk back out without a mark. When I checked, they were all dead. No knife marks. No bullet wounds. All clean as whistles."

Dean closed his eyes, his tongue coming out to lick at his lips. Then he opened his eyes again and held his arms out wide. "So what?," he spat out. "My brother can kill demons with a look,... how is that a bad thing?"

Rufus held up a hand. "Didn't say it was bad. Do you think it's bad Dean?"

"Don't do that. Do not put words into my mouth!" He started forward again and then stopped, not sure what he was thinking of doing to the hunter in front of him.

"Those words are in your eyes though Dean. I can see 'em," Rufus said, the words almost goading.

"You know what Rufus, go to Hell!" Dean turned and headed for the car.

"You're gonna need him and his little parlour trick. There's been a girl been asking round after you. Nasty black eyed bitch and her little bunch of merry men."

Dean stopped but didn't turn. "And?"

"She really doesn't seem to like you."

The younger man snorted a laugh, half turning as he did. "That doesn't really narrow it down any Rufus. She got a name?"

"A name? Now let's see." The hunter raised a hand and tapped the side of his face. "What did Austin say it was as he was bleeding out in my arms?"

Dean ears perked at that. "Austin? The soldier guy from River Pass? You took him hunting with you?"

"Not much difference between being a hunter and a soldier, war's a war, know what I'm saying. He was a good kid though, didn't deserve what that bitch did to him."

"So you had a name to give me?," Dean said, sure that he already knew who was on his tail.

"Told him she was gonna take your family from you the way you did hers. Figured that it was either Sam she was talking about or that sweet girl of yours and her boy. Maybe both. Figured you might like Sam where you could keep an eye on him or you'd need him to help keep your girl safe. Bitch has left quite a little slaughter trail in her wake. Thought I'd give you the heads up."

Dean walked back to him. "What you did was lead her right to me you idiot. Did you see the angel at Stull. The guy in the trench coat?"

"He was the one that healed you and Bobby."

"That's right. He made it so they couldn't find me. Hid me from them. How do you think I've avoided any trouble for four months? So they needed help to find me and you just gave them it." Dean scrubbed at his hair with his hand. "I don't even have salt on the damn windows Rufus, didn't need it until now!"

"Shit son, I was trying to help you not them." Rufus actually looked regretful.

"Then you should have just told me outright the first time instead of playing games with me like you always do. At least now I kinda get why Sam didn't come tell me right away. He knew that I'd be upset that he can still do his demon killing thing as you put it." Dean shook his head and stepped back. "They were probably watching Bobby's yard the whole time, just waiting for me to cave and go back hunting. Instead, you sent me back there to look for Sam."

"I can stay and help," Rufus offered but Dean just held up his hand.

"No, I think you've been enough help." The younger man started back towards his car.

"You not wanting that name boy?," the older man asked.

"Don't need it." Dean looked back as he got in and started to pull the door closed, gunning the engine as he did. "I already know what it is."

TBC

Note: Austin is the soldier that asked Dean were he served in 5.02 and that attacked Ellen at the end. River Pass was the 'possessed' town that they were in.