A/N: We are at the end of the journey. I hope you enjoy this AU. I do like reviews. NC

Chapter 5

The bus pulled to a stop and Sam waited until everyone else got off before exiting too. He looked around the bus station then headed to the office to get a schedule and find out when the bus he wanted left. It was late and the bus heading west wouldn't be leaving until four pm the next day. Sam asked about a motel and began to walk down the street following the directions.

He strolled by a bar and saw a familiar car sitting under a light in the parking lot. Sam shook his head and walked over to it to run a hand lovingly over the top as he thought about his brother. He stared to turn away when something in the floorboard caught his attention. Walking around the car to the passenger side, Sam stared hard at a shoebox filled with cassette tapes, tapes his father had first played and then his brother. He looked toward the bar realizing his brother must be inside and stood there trying to decide what to do.

Should he leave? Should he go inside? Should he wait here for him to come out? Questions bounced around inside his head as his heart pounded hard inside his chest. He remembered what Sun had told him and drew in a shaky breath before slowly walking toward the front door of the bar.

It was dimly lit inside as Sam pushed open the door and stepped inside taking a quick glance around trying to find his brother. He turned his head toward the bar as voices were raised and saw his brother trying to stand on wobbly legs. Dean was arguing with the bartender who was removing the empty glasses from in front of him. He almost fell if he hadn't grabbed the edge of the bar. Sam didn't hesitate to hurry to his brother's side and catch him before he fell.

"Does he owe anything?" Sam asked the bartender.

"No, he's paid, you gonna see him home? He sure don't need to be driving."

"Yeah, I'll take care of him. Thanks," Sam told him getting a good hold on the waistband of Dean's jeans and slipping one of Dean's arms around his shoulders to help him walk. Dean was oblivious to who was helping him and muttered incoherent words to Sam.

"'m f'ne..." Dean slurred trying to make his rubbery legs hold him up and trying to pull away from who was supporting him. He was too drunk to recognize it was Sam who was trying to get him out of the bar.

"Sure you are," Sam grumbled, dragging him now more than supporting him.

"L' go..."

"And watch you face plant? Just cool it," Sam fussed as he felt Dean's body going limp in his arms as he passed out.

He steered them toward the door and got him outside and moved to the Impala. Sam fished around in his jeans pocket for the keys and found a motel room key and then the car keys. He got the car unlocked and guided Dean's limp body into the back seat. He went around to the other side and pulled him further into the car carefully closing the door and going back to the other side to bend his legs so he could close the door. Sam got into the Impala and cranked her up, pulling out of the parking lot and heading for the motel.

spn

Sam was lucky there was a parking space right in front of the Dean's room. He got out and opened the door to the room to drop his bags in before going to get his brother out of the back seat.

"Come on bro, need to get you inside," Sam told his brother as he pulled him to a sitting position to ease him out of the car. Dean was too drunk to be of any help as Sam got a good grip on him and got him on his shoulder to carry him inside. He saw Dean had gotten a room with two beds and stopped at the first bed sitting his limp body on it. While holding him up, he slipped off his jacket and tossed it to the other bed before easing him down on the pillow. Sam knelt down and unlaced his boots to pull them off before lifting his legs to the bed to make him comfortable.

Sam sat down on the other bed and looked at his brother's still body. He could tell that Dean had lost weight and he had dark splotches under his eyes and had a pallor color to his face. His hair was too long and un-kept and he had a beard. This was not like his brother and he cast his guilty eyes to the floor wondering if he caused his brother to end up like this. Sam looked up quickly when Dean stared making gurgling and gagging noises as he tried to sit up.

"Dean, hey man?" Sam called to him realizing what was happening and pulled him up and off the bed heading for the bathroom. He got Dean to the commode just as he began to throw up from all his drinking. Sam wrinkled his nose in disgust as he held him there letting him empty his stomach. He flushed the commode when Dean starting dry heaving several times before groaning and leaning his head on his arm. "Think you can rinse your mouth?" Sam asked reaching one hand for a glass and running water. He helped Dean hold his head up and put the glass to his lips trying to get some in his mouth. Water and drool ran from his mouth as his head lolled to the side. Sam wet a washcloth and wiped his face and neck before getting Dean to his feet and carrying him back to the bed. He threw the covers back and got Dean back in bed and covered his body. Dean mumbled and moaned in his stupor but never opened his eyes.

With a sigh, Sam went into the bathroom to use it. As he moved back into the room a ringing caught his attention. He hurried to Dean's jacket and started going through his pockets looking for a phone. He pulled one out but it wasn't ringing and he looked in the other pocket and found another one. He flipped it open and answered it.

"Hello," he said cautiously waiting for an answer. All he heard was silence from the other end and spoke again. "Hello? Anyone there?"

"Sam, is that you?" a rough, gravely voice asked in surprise.

"Bobby?" Sam asked recognizing his voice. "Yeah, it's Sam."

"Where's Dean?"

"He's passed out and I put him to bed. I found him in a bar drunk."

"Son, are you okay? Where have you been all this time?"

"It's a long story, but I'm okay. Bobby what happened to Dean?"

"That's a long story too. You need to talk to your brother Sam," Bobby told him. "You're not planning on disappearing again are you?"

"No, not unless Dean wants me to," he said sadly not sure what Dean was going to say when he saw him.

"You listen to me son, I expect you to come back here with yer brother. You hear me? Don't make me come after ya."

"Yes sir."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright," Sam said hanging up. He looked down at the other phone in his hand and it dawned on him this was the phone he lost at the wreck. He had no idea why Dean would be carrying it around all this time. He stood to move the things off the bed when a flutter of wings and disturbance had him turning to see Castiel standing in the room.

"Sam...Bobby said you were here," Castiel said stepping to him and embracing him tightly in his arms. "We have been looking everywhere for you. Are you well?" he asked finally letting him go.

"Yeah, I'm fine Cas," Sam said a little shocked Castiel was being so affectionate.

"Your brother did not fare well while you were missing."

Sam bit his lower lip as he looked away still clutching his phone as the message played again in his head. He couldn't say anything at the moment as he clenched his jaw tightly.

"Sam what's wrong?" Castiel asked before he noticed the cell Sam was hitting against his leg. "It's the message isn't it? Sam that wasn't Dean, you were manipulated that night. The demons addicted you to the blood to use you in their plan to free Lucifer," he tried to explain to him. "The angels did nothing to stop any of this, they wanted it to happen too. That's why they tried to stop Dean from getting to you that night and telling you. I never meant to hurt you when I wrecked the car Sam."

"What about Lilith? Did Dean kill her?"

"No, no one did. Lilith was the final seal to be broken. Killing her would have un-leased Lucifer into this world. Ruby lied to you and the angels lied to Dean. They wanted you two to fight and turn against each other. It was the only way their plan would work. They wanted the Apocalypse to happen Sam. You were their key to starting it. The demons and angels both wanted you two hating each other so you wouldn't figure any of it out. I took her away and hid her from all so she could never be used to raise the devil."

"But it was his voice..." Sam started. "He told me..."

"No Sam, here, this is what he really said," Castiel insisted grabbing Sam's arm tightly and pulling him to the bed. He forced him to sit beside Dean and placed a hand on each of their foreheads before searching Dean's memories to find the true words he said. He pulled up the memory and allowed Sam to see and hear it.

"Hey, it's me...Look, I'll just get right to it, I'm still pissed and I owe you a serious beat down...I shouldn't have said what I did. I'm not Dad. We're brothers; family...No matter how bad it gets that doesn't change. Sammy, I'm, sorry..."

Sam listened to his brother's words and gasped in shock finally learning the true. Dean hadn't meant what he said, he still thought of them as brothers. His eyes filled with tears as Castiel moved back before he spoke.

"That is what he really said. Dean has been searching for you all this time. The guilt he carried just about killed him. He's been drinking heavily and going on dangerous hunts alone. It's like he was punishing himself. He's lucky his injuries haven't killed him," Castiel told Sam. "Bobby wanted me to be sure you came home with your brother."

Sam only nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment as he looked down at his brother. He cupped Dean's cheek for a moment before getting up to strip the other bed of the comforter, folding it into a pallet and positioning it at the end of the bed. He pulled the blanket off the bed and grabbed a pillow to make his bed.

"I'm gonna get some sleep," he mumbled before kicking off his boots and settling down on the comforter on the floor. What Castiel told him bounced around in his head as he tried to make sense of it.

"Very well, I will wait over here until you both wake up," Castiel told him sitting down on a love seat across from the beds. He was not letting Sam out of his sight now that he was back. Bobby had made it very clear to him to bring Sam back conscious or unconscious, didn't matter to him. Castiel studied Sam's sleeping body closely and puzzled over him. He wasn't sure why he was sleeping on the floor when he had a useable bed right there. There was something different about him that he couldn't understand. He looked healthy, tanned, but there was a sense of calmness and peace about him that was not there before. But something had changed about him that he could not put his finger on.

spn

It was early the next morning that Dean started to slowly come around with a sudden need to pee. He cracked his bloodshot eyes and saw he was in his motel room. How he got here he didn't know, but that had been happening over the past months. Dean pushed the covers off him and grimaced at the foul, nasty taste in his mouth. He swayed as the room spun and he took a step toward the bathroom.

"Dean wait..." Castiel said trying to warn him.

One of Dean's foot kicked a boot and the other stepped on another causing him to loss his already off balance and pivoted him around to land partly on the end of the bed and gracefully fall off onto the sleeping body of his brother. It couldn't have been performed any perfectly if it had been choreographed for him. He felt his body falling but was in no shape to stop himself and he just went with it waiting to hit the hard floor when he fell onto something solid, but softer than the floor that started moving.

"Wha..Dea' bo'y..." Dean slurred trying to push off whatever he was laying on as quickly as he could.

"Not dead," Sam wheezed, physically lifting and moving Dean off him so he could breath again. Dean had knocked the breath out of him and almost kneed him in his privates.

Dean rolled over and tried to push himself up staring in shock and disbelief at what looked like his brother raising up on his elbow to look at him. He struggled and yelled out trying to get to his feet.

"Not real!" Dean cried hoarsely pushing himself away from Sam fear etched across his face. "No! No!"

Dean's fog covered mind couldn't comprehend what he was seeing in front of him. His only thoughts were it was a hallucination from being falling down drunk or he was being haunted by his brother's spirit. Either way he couldn't process what was happening right now and it was overloading his mind to the point of him completely losing it.

"Dean!" Castiel called to him trying to get his attention. He stepped to him and reached down to grab the front of his shirt and easily jerk him from the floor and pull him into the bathroom. Castiel had seen Bobby do this to Dean on several occasions to sober him up. He pushed him into the shower and turned on the cold water full blast. Dean jerked and started cussing as Castiel held him steadily under the spray, letting it soak his clothes and hopefully sober him up.

spn

Sam got up and sat on the edge of the bed as he watched Castiel drag his brother into the bathroom. He stared down at the floor and reached for his boots, slipping them on and tying them before getting up to retrieve his jacket from the chair. He put it on and walked slowly toward the door picking up his pack before opening the door to leave.

This wasn't going well and he didn't feel he should stay and upset his brother further. Sam's shoulders slumped as he walked toward the front of the motel watching the first fingers of a new day chasing away the night. Sam stopped at the road and looked left and then right trying to decide which way to go. He was a couple miles from the bus station so he turned to head that way figuring to get the next available bus to wherever it was going. At the moment he didn't care just as long as it was away from here. He fought the tears that blurred his vision and clenched his jaw trying not to cry. Sam was trying to accept maybe he didn't belong with his brother anymore.

spn

The first icy fingers of cold water hit Dean in the face making him sputter and start to fight the steely grip holding him. He slapped out and started cussing as his clothes became soaked and clung to his body making him shiver uncontrollably. He tried to talk but couldn't get out anything but gurgling and coughing as he spat out the cold water that filled his mouth before he could turn his head. He finally gave up struggling, to weak to continue and just stood there until he heard a voice talking to him.

"Why don't you wash the stink off of you and come out and talk to your brother?" Castiel asked releasing his grip and turning on the hot water to warm the spray as Dean grabbed for the handicap bar to hold himself up.

Castiel stepped back into the main room to speak to Sam but when he looked around he couldn't find him. He stepped to the bed and saw his boots were gone and so was the pack that was sitting at the door. He stomped to the door and went outside looking around the parking lot for Sam. He saw the Impala was still parked in front of the room and unless he jacked a car, he was on foot. The angel hurried to the front of the motel and looked up and down the road in search of the missing Winchester. He was not letting him disappear again now that he was back. Castiel had promised Bobby he would bring him back and he intended on keeping that promise. He began to walk down the road looking for any signs of Sam. When he came to an intersection, Castiel paused to look each way and caught a glimpse of someone just turning the corner and disappeared.

Sam had his head down looking at the sidewalk and didn't see Castiel standing in front of him until he bounced off him.

"Sorry my fault," Sam mumbled starting to step around the person without looking at him.

"Sam, where are you going?" Castiel asked stepping in his path again.

"Cas?" Sam questioned taking a step back and looking at him in surprise.

"You need to come back to the room."

"No, Dean doesn't want to see me," Sam said sadly trying to get around Castiel.

"Dean was still drunk and confused, please Sam," Castiel begged laying a hand Sam's arm.

"I don't..." Sam sighed blowing out a hard breath. "I can't..." he tried to explain.

Before Sam could say anything else, Castiel gripped his arm tighter and they disappeared from the sidewalk and reappeared inside the motel room.

spn

He wiped the water from his face and stared at Castiel as what he said sunk in. He had said his brother. Could it be possible that he wasn't hallucinating and Sam was in the other room? Castiel had already stepped from the room before he could ask him more. Dean worked at unbuttoning his shirt and working his arms from the sleeves, letting it drop into the tub. He steadied himself so he could pull his tee shirt over his head and let it drop on top of the other shirt. Using the bar for support he got his jeans undone and pushed them down his legs until he could step out of them and moving them with his foot so he wouldn't fall over them. He got his socks off and stood under the warmer water letting it slowly bring up his body temperature. He turned it slightly hotter before reaching for the soap to wash his body. Once he was done, he upped the water as hot as he could stand it to try and sweat the rest of the booze out of his body. If his brother was out there and that was a big if, he wanted to be sober so he could think clearly. He ached all over and his ankle hurt when he put a lot of weight on it, but other than that he was okay. He turned the water off and dried his body and cinched the towel over his hips so he could step out to get some dry clothes.

spn

Sam stumbled slightly from the sudden movement and grunted madly when he saw he was back in the motel room. He jerked his arm from Castiel's grasp and stepped to the door to leave again only to find he couldn't open it. He pulled and jerked on the door knob, but it wouldn't budge. Sam turned back around to glare at Castiel when the bathroom door opened and Dean stood in the doorway fresh from the shower holding a towel around his waist. They stared at each other, one in disbelief and uncertainty; the other in sadness and guilt. Sam's eyes took in the new scars that stood out on Dean's chest and arm as neither one spoke and the silence seemed eerie. Sam couldn't look away from him as he bit his lower lip, not sure what to do. Dean wasn't breathing as things around him seemed to blur and he felt lightheaded.

"Here," Castiel spoke pushing Dean's duffle into his arms. "Put some clothes on," he continued pushing him back into the bathroom and closing the door. "Why don't you make coffee Sam? Your brother is going to need some," Cas directed at Sam who hadn't moved from the front door. "Please," he said softer.

Sam huffed once and dropped his pack back at the door and stepped to the dresser where a coffee pot stood. He pulled the pot out and held it for a moment before stating.

"No water," Sam said holding the pot out.

"Okay," Castiel said snapping his fingers and putting water into the pot.

Sam looked at the water as it moved gently in the pot for a moment and turned to pour it into the tank. He found the prepackaged coffee in a filter and slipped it in before turning it on. He stood there waiting for the coffee to start dripping taking in the smell of it percolating. He took in the aroma as he stood with his back to Castiel and the bathroom door. He didn't want to be looking when Dean came back out. He couldn't take the lost, dead look he had in his eyes. Sam heard the bathroom door open back up and stiffened but didn't turn around. He waited in silence to see what Dean was going to do.

"Is it really you?" his brother's voice asked quietly close by.

"Yeah, it's me," Sam replied turning slowly to see Dean dressed in jeans and tee shirt standing near the middle of the room staring at him with uncertainty and threads of hope woven together.

"Sammy?..." Dean whispered taking another unsteady step toward him. He licked his lips as he took in his brother's form. He almost didn't recognize him; Sam looked buff and tanned. He took in the way too long hair and beard as his eyes swept over him and back up to his face. This was Sam, his Sam, not the demon's Sam but his looking almost like before he had gone to hell and yet better. His vision blurred with hot tears as he awkwardly stepped closer wanting to feel his brother so he could convince himself he wasn't dreaming, that it was real. "Bitch..." he said softly into Sam's ear as he wrapped his arms around a solid body. It didn't matter that tears were running down his cheeks and he was quietly sobbing into his brother's neck.

"Hey Dean..." Sam answered moving from his position toward his brother. He blinked quickly to stop the tears when suddenly Dean's arms were around him in a bear hug and he clung to his brother and let the tears fall. He heard him whisper their word and responded in such, "Jerk..." Sam mumbled back to him as he held him up feeling his body trembling slightly in his grasp. He could feel Dean's hand moving up and down his back and up to his long hair and back down like he was trying to be sure he was there and real. Sam felt Dean's sobs against his chest and shushed him massaging his neck gently trying to comfort him.

"Anyone want coffee?" Castiel asked innocently from where he stood nearby not sure what he should do. He knew the brothers needed to reunite and come to terms with everything that had happened. "Should...I get some food?" he questioned looking at the two brothers.

"Yeah Cas, food would be good," Sam told him when he saw Dean couldn't answer. He wiped his tears on a sleeve but didn't let go of his brother for fear he would fall. He watched Castiel disappear and began to back Dean toward the beds so they could sit down. "Let's sit," he urged Dean letting his legs hit the bed and bend at the knees. He lowered him to the bed and sat down beside him with his arm still resting on Dean's shoulder.

"I-I didn't say...that," Dean finally got out looking into Sam's eyes.

"It's okay, Cas showed me Dee. I know," Sam told him softly as he squeezed his shoulder. He eyes showed his forgiveness and understanding knowing words weren't enough. "We're good."

They sat in silence as each gathered their thoughts and got their emotions under control. Dean wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt and drew in some shaky breaths so he could talk. He watched Sam pull his hair back out of the way and smirked slightly.

"I really need a pair of scissors to cut that hair."

"You ain't gettin' near me with a pair of scissors," Sam half chuckled and argued with him.

"Sammy, what happened to you?" Dean asked cautiously.

Sam puffed out his cheeks and drew in a deep breath because he had been waiting for that question. He looked down at his boots but still kept a hand on Dean's shoulder wanting to assure him this was real.

"I ran," he finally said looking up when Castiel appeared back in the room with two bags of food. "Look, I know you want to know what happened, think it can wait 'til we get back to Bobby's so I only have to tell it once? Besides, foods here, let's eat while it's hot."

"You're not gonna go disappearin' again are you?" Dean questioned him with a hint of fear in his voice.

"No, I won't leave," Sam assured him as they stood together to move to the table where Castiel was setting out food.

"I got some of everything," Castiel told them. "I wasn't sure what you would want."

"Thanks Cas," Dean replied sitting in a chair at the table.

Sam took off his jacket and tossed it to the bed as he joined Dean at the table. He sat to his left and looked at the food Castiel had bought in surprise. He was right, he did get a little of everything.

"Sam, what's that on your neck? Is that a tattoo?" Dean asked when he noticed the strange markings in a blue/grey ink on Sam's neck below his ear and continued under his shirt. He knew Sam didn't have that the last time he saw him.

"What? This?" Sam asked putting a couple of fingers on the marking and feeling the slightly raised skin under them.

"I have never seen this language before?" Castiel said stepping to Sam and pulling the neck of his tee shirt and long sleeved shirt back to see it continued.

"Personal space Cas," Sam fussed a little pulling back from him. "It was given to me by a friend," he said not giving any further information.

Dean looked at him as Sam opened a salad and looked at it before picking up some dressing to put on it. Besides the hair and beard, there was something changed about Sam. He seemed more at ease and there was an air of confidence surrounding him. He seemed in total control of himself but still alluded a subtle air of danger.

This was the first time he had ever seen his brother like this and wondered just where he had been and who he had been with. It worried him that even Castiel didn't know what that tattoo meant, if it was a tat, it was like none he had ever seen. He opened a burger and focused on it trying to decide if his stomach would tolerate the grease yet.

"You gonna be able to handle that?" Sam asked him when he saw his hesitation.

"Yeah, that cold shower sobered me up pretty good," he said casting a glance at Castiel who hovered nearby watching them. Well Sam it seemed more than him. He picked up the burger and took a bite, savoring the taste as he chewed. Castiel had brought drinks and he sipped on one, hearing his stomach gurgle and couldn't stop the sudden burp that came out. "Excuse me, hadn't really ate much in a while."

"Just take it easy," Sam cautioned him. "Don't think it will taste as good coming back up."

"Don't I know it," he agreed taking another bite, smaller this time. He watched Sam looking at his food as if studying it before finally putting it in his mouth to eat it. Sam had always been picky but it seemed more...Noticeable now. He didn't know what Sam had gone through, but he had to admit, it seemed to have made him stronger.

They finished their meal and packed to head back to Bobby's. Sam drove, Dean dozed in the passenger seat and Castiel sat in the back watching both brothers closely. He even went with Sam to the restroom when they stopped for gas making Sam look at him strangely. Castiel planned on keeping his promise to get him back to Bobby's so he wasn't giving he any chance to leave. Luckily the drive back was less than four hours and they made good time cutting it down to three and a half. Sam looked happily at the salvage yard as Dean pulled through the gates and slowly drove the car to the front door to park. Dean didn't even have the Impala turned off before the front door was open and Bobby stepped from the house looking their way.

spn

Sam stepped from the car and looked toward the porch to see the grisly hunter he thought of as a second father standing on the porch waiting for him. He stepped that way a small smile on his face, walking up the steps to the man.

"Hey Bobby," Sam said gently before Bobby pulled him into a hug that took his breath away.

"Son! You're a sight for sore eyes," he told Sam, pushing him back to look at him. He took in the long hair and beard and the huge grin on his face. "Well c'mon you three get on in here."

"I'll get your bags," Castiel said to Dean as he climbed the steps, stopping beside his brother.

"Good to see you too son," Bobby told him throwing an arm around his shoulder and patting him on the back. He walked both of them into the house bursting with pride to have both his boys home and safe once again.

"Who wants coffee? Or I can find something a little stronger."

"Coffee's good. Think I'll lay off the stronger stuff for a while," Dean told him giving Sam a knowing look.

"Glad to hear that boy," Bobby nodded going to the coffee pot and pouring three cups of coffee, doctoring one for Sam. He carried them to the table and sat them down pushing one toward each brother. They accepted the cups and sipped on the hot liquid. Castiel joined them a few minutes later after taking Dean's duffle and Sam's pack up to their bedroom. He took a seat at the table waiting quietly.

"Okay, we're all here," Dean finally said. "Wanna tell us what happened?"

Sam looked into his cup of coffee as he worked on choosing his words wisely. They did deserve to know his story.

"When the car wrecked, I got out and ran into the woods," he started. "I saw Cas kill Ruby and thought he might do the same to me."

"Sam, I would never harm..." Castiel started upset with his words.

"Easy Cas, let's let him talk before any questions are asked." Dean said to Castiel who stopped talking and sat back in the chair miffed.

"I had a concussion, bruised ribs and some minor scraps and scratches. I went as far as I could in the dark and tripped, rolling down a hill unconscious. I don't know how long I lay there before coming to and I continued deeper into the forest until I could go no further and collapsed. I was found by a wise and powerful Shaman and she took me to her shelter. She nursed me back to health; she saved me. I called her Sun, since she said I wouldn't be able to pronounce her true name." Sam paused for a moment as he sipped on his coffee and to let them absorb what he had just said.

"Sun was able to take away the blood lust I had. She was a Shaman for the ancient ones, had been for a long time. The Shaman before Sun found her lost and dying in the woods, took her in and she was accepted by the ancestors to be the next Shaman. She was trained in the ways of the People and taught all their secrets. She lives off the land and some trading with other tribe members. Her land is protected from all and none enters without her allowing it. I guess that's why no one could find me. I asked her to teach me what she was allowed. She was filled with so much knowledge, it was unbelievable. She helped to heal my body as well as my soul and gave me a new perceptive on life. As far as the tattoo, I guess you could call it, is a sign to others that I am under the protection of the People and her. I knew it was time to leave and come back, Sun knew it too and encouraged me to face my demons. So it was sheer luck that I saw the Impala and found you in that bar. And here I am," Sam said with a sigh draining the last of his coffee. "Anyone want more?" he asked getting up and going to the pot.

Dean, Bobby and Castiel looked at each other as they weighted what Sam had told them. They waited until Sam came back to the table and sat back down.

"What tattoo?" Bobby asked before anyone else said anything.

Sam stood and unbuttoned his shirt to slip it off and caught his tee shirt by the hem and pulled it off revealing just how lean and muscular he was now. Dean looked at Sam's upper body with arched eyebrows as Sam turned to show Bobby the markings.

"This," he said sitting back down and turning so they could see.

All three stared openly at the marking seeing how intricate and ancient it looked. Bobby studied it, wondering what powers it held and what language it was in. Sam waited another minute before replacing his tee shirt, feeling a little uncomfortable unclothed.

"I am so sorry Sam," Dean said slowly. "If I..."

"No, stop it Dean. None of what happened to me was your fault," Sam told him cutting him off before he could finish.

"I need to do something in the study, Castiel can you give me a hand?" Bobby said feeling this conservation should be done in private without an audience. He got up and pulled the angel with him, leaving the brothers alone in the kitchen.

"What is it we need to do?" Castiel asked as Bobby pulled him out of the room.

"Dean, I'm serious," Sam continued glad that Bobby and Castiel left. "We were both manipulated and led to believe lies. They wanted us at odds, to turn against each other. What you said when we fought..."

"Sam, I was angry and hurt thinking you had chosen a demon over me, your own brother. I lost my temper and wasn't thinking straight."

"When you died and went to hell, I was lost. I was naive and stupid and the demons saw that. They played on my need for revenge against Lilith because she sent you to hell. I let my ego and pride blind me to what was really going on. I'm to blame too. Please Dean, I forgive you, you gotta forgive yourself. Sun showed me life is too short to let our anger and guilt overcome us and take over our lives. It happened, it's in the past, let's leave it there. She told me to listen to my heart and it would guide me; she was right. We are brothers and will always be brothers, we are family," Sam said earnestly.

"I meant it when I said I wasn't Dad and no matter how bad it gets, I'll be there for you Sammy. We're so much stronger together than we ever were apart. That much I know," Dean told him.

"Are we good?" Sam asked him looking deep into his eyes.

"Yeah Sammy, we're good. No matter what is ahead of us, we'll face it together."

"Together bro," Sam agreed holding out his hand for Dean to clasp which he did, before pulling him into a tight hug. They smiled at each other knowing it didn't matter that it was them against the world, they were ready to face it now.

The End