Hopefully, there will be something in this chapter that intrigues or entertains you. It is a slow build up.

Chapter Four

Dean didn't believe Sam. As a matter of fact it made him grumpy to even consider it. "No way, Sam. It's just dumb. It doesn't make any sense." He stopped a moment, as if thinking about it. "Yep, it's the DUMBEST thing I've ever heard."

Sam was tired of the entire situation. He didn't have the energy to continue to convince Dean. "So, do you want to eat out or in?" Sam swallowed. He felt Dean's glare through the bandages. "So, in?" He coughed. "Dean, this is temporary. There's no shame in going out."

Dean wasn't about to justify his mood. "If you want to go out, be my guest." He knew from Sam's silence and the tone he'd used, he was giving too much anxiety away. He smiled. "Hey, Sammy… This is your time to shine. I get to stay in and you get to go out and have fun. Go have a drink or ten… meet a lady. With me not around, you might actually stand a chance of getting laid. You're not too ugly." His grin took on a decidedly wicked appearance. "You can bring her back here! I promise I won't look!" He settled back against the headboard, continuing to grin.

Sam shook his head. He knew what Dean was trying to do. It was times like this he was most frustrated. He'd never understand why Dean couldn't just admit the truth with him. It was hard not to take it as an insult. Dean would never let their relationship be equal. Dean would always play the tough guy protecting his little brother from all harm. "I'll order a pizza."

Dean sat up on the edge of the bed. "No, Sam. Get out of here."

"Dean, I've been out all day. Did it occur to you that I might WANT to stay in?"

"It occurs to me that you pity me." Dean bit.

Sam closed his eyes. He didn't know if he was feeling pity, but he definitely still felt guilt. He knew it wouldn't go away until Dean's eyes were restored. He couldn't even begin to think about what would happen if…

"I don't pity you, Dean. This will all be fine the day after tomorrow." He snatched the Impala keys. "I'll go get us something else."

Dean opened his mouth to argue, but stopped. He couldn't let the intensity get to the situation. "See if anyone in this rinky-dink town has some pie. I want pie."

Sam smiled. "Pie it is."

Supernatural

The next morning, Sam changed Dean's bandages.

"How's it looking?" Dean asked pensively.

"I think your face is looking better." He finished smearing the ointment on Dean's burns and reached for the bandage. Dean's hand shot out and caught Sam's. "Hey! How'd you do that?"

Dean chuckled. "Well, you know what they say, Sammy… your other senses are heightened."

"Good for you." Sam again went for the bandages, but was stopped by Dean's hand a second time. "Congrats Dean, now let me finish."

"No… Sam, let's check my eyes." Dean squeezed Sam's arm tighter and didn't release.

Sam swallowed at the desperate plead. His brother's façade was shaking. "No, Dean. The doctor said three days. It could make it worse."

Dean forced a smile. "Yeah, but if I can see now, we don't have to wait, right?"

Sam pushed Dean's hand away and quickly retrieved the gauze. "No, Dean. We're not going to take the risk." He rewrapped Dean's upper face, praying Dean couldn't feel how his body trembled with pent up emotion.

Dean sat in silence at the table.

Sam pushed Dean's jacket into his lap. "Get that on. It's cold outside."

Dean shoved the jacket so it fell to the floor. "I'm not going out Sam."

Sam sucked in a deep breath in preparation for battle. "You need the fresh air and we need breakfast. Let's go."

Dean didn't move.

Sam's heart pounded in his chest as it always did when he confronted his brother. He stooped next to Dean and picked the jacket up. "Get up."

"I said I'm not going."

Sam clutched Dean's upper arm and pulled him up. He was counting on Dean's disorientation to assist and wasn't disappointed. "GET UP." Once Dean was on his feet, Sam shoved him a few feet forward while still holding on to him. Then he handed Dean his jacket. "Put it on."

Dean's body radiated anger and embarrassment. "Maybe I can't?"

Sam scowled. "You can put a jacket on."

"I'm BLIND or hadn't you noticed?"

Sam's breaths threatened to stop flowing. "I did. That doesn't mean life stops. Now, put your jacket on and let's go get breakfast."

Dean was shaken. He'd never felt quite so lost. Part of him wanted to trust in his brother's optimism and the other was terrified. This wasn't just unfamiliar territory, this was as close to hell as he could imagine. "Just this once, Sammy." He whispered.

"What?" Sam asked turning back to face Dean.

Dean swallowed. "Just breakfast. I'm not going out again."

Sam's heart went from pounding to electric. He'd gotten through to Dean. There was some hope. "Yeah, just wait until the girls hear your story. They'll be dripping all over you."

Dean hadn't considered that possibility. He took a tentative step forward and then a few more with Sam's guidance. As he reached the threshold, he stopped. "Dude, you gotta SWEAR, only hot chicks! You got it." He pointed his finger in the general direction he assumed Sam to be in. "I swear if you let some… I'll kick your ass."

Sam grinned. "I promise Dean. I'll only let hot chicks hang on you."

Dean nodded. "Chicks I think are hot, not your opinion."

Sam grimaced. "What's wrong with my choice in women?"

"Dude, you have had a couple good scores, but I so remember that one girl… hello, bow wow!" Dean smirked at the memory of Sam's first official date long ago.

"Hey!" Dean's grin stopped him from further reply. "Let's go."

Supernatural

As predicted, Dean got his fair share of attention from the ladies of the diner. As Sam pulled him out, Dean was making plans to meet a few of them later for dinner. "Come on, Romeo. I want to stop at the grocery store before I get you back."

Dean's senses went into overdrive. "What for?"

"Ah, food? I thought it might be nice to have something to eat in the room."

Dean had already formed ideas based on the mili-second hesitation in Sam's answer. "Fine." When they got back to the room, Dean held out his hand to take a bag as he waited next to the Impala.

"I got it." Sam insisted.

"What about the other one?" Dean asked.

Same paled, but of course his brother didn't see it. "There's only one bag… It's full though, can we get going?" He nudged Dean forward.

"I definitely heard two bags Sam." Dean resisted.

Sam closed his eyes in hesitation. "No, Dean. You're hearing things."

"Sammy, you can't mess with a blind man. We know what we hear." Dean's voice was confident.

Sam laughed. "Dean, you've only been blind for like one day. That doesn't make you an expert." He pushed Dean again.

"Maybe not, but I've been your brother your whole life and I know when you're planning something." He reached out and grabbed Sam's jacket. "You're not going after this thing alone."

"No, I'm trying to get my idiot brother into the hotel room before we freeze to death." When Dean didn't budge, he began to walk away. "Fine, get there by yourself." Once inside the room, he dropped the bag and turned back to watch Dean as he held on to the Impala to move forward. He stepped back out of the room. "Ready for some help now?"

"Get over here!" Dean barked. When Sam arrived, he clasped his arm. "You're staying in today."

"Excuse me?" Sam gulped. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out. "And you're going to stop me?"

Dean froze. He knew he was in no condition to physically stop his brother. "Sammy, I just… Stay in. We'll watch daytime television. We'll plot ways to get that fabric softener bear."

Sam let his brother's concern wash over him. "I'd still like to do some more research." His voice was small. "Like you said, it's kinda unbelievable."

"What, like an hour or two?" Dean pressed. His mind running through the possibilities of trouble Sam could get into in a short period of time.

Sam nodded. "Sure… Maybe there's another way to lure it out or kill it. Maybe I got it wrong."

"You never get it wrong, Sammy."

"But still." Sam pressed. He wanted out and despite the guilt, he would go.

Supernatural

Sam went back to the library only after assuring Dean he would be back shortly. Dean had earned that much from him.

When he returned they watched a few episodes of the X-Files on a Sci-Fi marathon and then cleaned up to get some dinner.

Dean was anxiously waiting for Sam in the door. "Come on, Scully!"

Sam laughed. "This morning I had to push you out the door AND I am NOT Scully."

Dean grinned. "Yeah, right. This morning I didn't know Susan was waiting for me. She's hot." He made a sound as if steam was rising.

"How do you know?" Sam teased.

"I can tell!" Dean barked.

Later that evening, as Dean sat in a booth draped by women, Sam sat at the bar. The bar tender offered him another round. He waved it off. "One of us has to be sober." He indicated his brother.

The bartender chuckled. "Yeah, he's quite popular. There'd be trouble if the regulars weren't staying in tonight. Home seems better."

"Home?" Sam asked, his senses heightening.

"Yeah, a lot of the local boys are in the fire department and they got called out to a pretty tough run today. There's been a rough patch for them."

Sam was growing tenser by the word. "What happened?"

He shook his head. "A local gal, Gina, she burned to death in her car just outside of town."

Sam felt like his world had just shattered even though he hadn't known her long. He thought she'd be safe. "Car fires are hard." He muttered.

The barkeep slapped his towel down. "That's the thing. The car didn't burn, just Gina. It's the weirdest thing and it's not the first time."

"Creepy," Sam mumbled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out several bills. "Thanks. This should cover it."

Dean didn't enjoy being dragged away from his fan club, but once Sam explained, his mood had equally soured.