Chapter Two

Dean almost floored the pedal, as he sped down the highway from San Francisco. He wanted to do anything to put the city behind them as fast as possible. He swerved between the cars on the highway, over taking many as he raced past; the Impala roaring. Yet even the sound of his baby didn't soothe his heart, as it rapidly beat, pounding in his chest. Sam sat; slouched in his seat, head against the window. The cool glass was a comfort to his flushed, hot face. His eyes looked sore and puffy, yet they stared blankly ahead. Dean looked across to his brother, hoping to get some sign that he was okay, but he knew that he was just kidding himself. He almost said something, many times throughout the journey, yet stopped himself just before the words left his mouth. I was clear to him that he wouldn't be able to say anything to Sam to comfort him. Nor did he want to cause an argument. Sam was like a wounded animal, and Dean feared if he tried to help him, Sam would only lash out in defence. Sam didn't understand Dean's inability to connect or understand.

Hours passed before Dean pulled in at a diner. It was getting dark, and the diner looked so inviting, the smell of coffee and food gripped Dean's empty stomach and made it shudder.

'Err...I need to eat something' Dean said, parking in a bay and turning the keys to shut of the rumbling of the engine.

'Okay' Sam replied, he continued just to stare into one of the cars ahead. His voice sounded hoarse, and quiet.

Dean sighed, and pushed open his door, and stepped out onto the gravel of the car park. The air was cool, and the gravel quietly crunched beneath his boots. It was a nice evening, if it weren't for the situation he was in. He looked over to the other door of the car, waiting for his giant brother to magically grow from it, but there was no sign that he was coming. For a moment he thought Sam was going to stay in the car, and dreaded the idea of coaxing his brother to come inside. But then he heard the click of the handle, and the creak as the door swung open. Sam got out and even though he was hunched he still stood tall above the Impala. He faced away from Dean, his head dipped.

'Come on then dude', Dean said, as he began to walk towards the warm orange glow of the diner, and the ever enticing aroma of warm food.

As Dean walked, he felt the presence of Sam following, but then it became ever closer with each step. He could feel his brother almost pressed to his back, his every step perfectly timed to fit into his. He stopped and Sam gently bumped into him. Sam quietly grunted something, and stepped back slightly. Dean felt a pang of affection and care for his brother. If it weren't for his gut, empty and painfully rumbling, he would turn around and drive to the nearest motel so that he could put Sam to bed and watch over him as he slept.

'Come on you', Dean said gently, and carried on walking towards the diner. Sam resumed his close position, and walked with him.

They sat at a table, placed beside a window. Sam absent mindedly pushed his carbonara around the bowl, as Dean greedily munched through a large cheese burger. He did anything to try and get Sam to smile or even just look at him, even acting goofy when he spilt ketchup down his chin. But he soon stopped after he realized his best efforts weren't even gaining a glimpse from Sam.

After staring at the stars for so long, Sam decided that the sky looked deep this evening. The black of the night sky wasn't just one tone; in fact it wasn't black at all, just made up of many tones of blue instead. The brightest of stars seemed to be winking at him, and it had the effect of glitter thrown across the sky. He thought about Madison, and the way she smiled at him. He hated himself, and blamed himself for everything. His mind turned to Jess, and the pit in his stomach began to twinge with pain. He curled his hand into a tight fist, and his knuckles began to whiten. He blinked back his tears and swore to himself he wasn't going to cry in the diner.

'Dude, you alright?' Dean said, worry lines creased in his forehead.

Sam turned to Dean and for the first time Dean could see all the hate for himself that his brother was building up inside. He panicked, not knowing what to do, how to react. He swallowed the lump that began to form in his throat.

'Come on Sammy, eat some more and then we'll get going.'

Sam shoved a small mouthful of the cold pasta into his mouth, chewed unenthusiastically and quietly gulped it down. He pushed the half full plate into the middle of the table and looked down into his lap. Dean's plate was empty except for the streaks of ketchup he hadn't used. Dean sighed, and stood up; he placed his hand on Sam's shoulder and gently pulled slightly. Sam leaned into the touch and it was the first sign to Dean that he wasn't completely shutting himself off from him. Sam quietly stood up from the table. They left the diner, Dean giving the waitress his 'irresistible' trademark smile as he walked out the door.

He had asked the waitress as he ordered about the nearest motel and she informed them that it was only half a mile down the road. It was not long until they pulled up, grabbing their clothes from the back, and stepped into the motel's lobby.

'Two doubles please', Dean said to the woman behind the counter. She had her feet up on the desk, and was fully bent over herself, painting her toenails a maroon red. She smiled at him, keenly chewing on gum, and then looked at Sam stood closely behind Dean. She raised her eyebrows, her face contorting like a snake given a mouse, but didn't comment. Dean frowned and took the keys from her hand, a little more roughly than he should have.

'I better not have trouble from you two!' She called after them, as they walked down the corridor.

Trouble? Whatever she means by that. Dean thought, stopping at a blue door, matching the number on the keys. Sam stood closely behind, once again in Dean's personal space. But Dean didn't care; he liked knowing that his Sammy was stood just there.

The door swung open, whining as it went. The room was appealing; for a motel. They stepped inside together, and Dean shoved the door closed, the slam echoing down the corridors, and into the night.