Hi readers! Here I am with another chapter, which actually turned out to be the second to last chapter! It's just the way the story took me so look out for the epilogue coming soon!

I really hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. This was my first ever story, so it's not perfect but I've learnt a lot and I hope to make my next story even better!

I'm actually going to try and start to write my new story idea and get a good chunk written first instead of going chapter to chapter. Fingers crossed it won't take too long! Look out for the new story soon; it'll be called A Moment in Time, it's a little different and there may or not be time travel involved!

A/N: Thank you to all who have followed, favourited and reviewed this story I get a thrill every time receive one, it really makes my day!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of the wonderful characters that I am taking on this journey.

Chapter 21

One Is The Loneliest Number

Taking a step back, Dean contemplated his next move, all his instincts were telling him to run to Sam and kill what ever it was that was hurting his brother. However as that thing was his own brother, he had to rethink his whole way of thinking and stay calm. His little brother needed him to be strong and hopefully a guiding light out of this darkness.

Dean walked slowly over to the screaming figure of his brother. Although he knew what he was seeing was all in Sam's head, it was a little unnerving to see his kind hearted, brilliant little brother in so much self inflicted pain. He swallowed and pushed all his emotions down, this wasn't about him, it was about the emotional well being of his little brother.

"Sammy? What's happening?... who's hurting you? Tell me who it is? I can't help you if you don't tell me... Sammy?" Dean asked anxiously. He watched as his little brother lifted his head and looked at him with his scared, horror filled, glassy eyes, his emotions plainly visible. "Oh Sammy... I'm not going to hurt you... please don't be scared of me" Dean felt his heart break just a little more.

Caleb watched the interaction and realized how inept he was to handle this whole situation. These brothers were going to break his heart at the rate they were going. This was not going to be as easy as he had assumed. Steeling himself he walked to Sam's other side, looking closely as the injuries on Sam's back and shuddered at the bleeding, broken flesh. "Hey Sam... It's me man... I'm here too..." Caleb said in a soft voice not wanting to startle the youngest Winchester.

The youngest Winchester watched them both with trepidation, were these two people really here with him, these two people who made him feel safe, secure and loved. This place had only ever made him feel pain, guilt and blame. Looking at these men again and listened to them speak softly to him, he decided he needed to know if this was real or if this was another trick by his tormentor. "A... Are you real?" He asked barely above a whisper. He swallowed trying to clear his dry and hoarse throat having not been used for more than screaming for mercy that was never given.

After hearing the soft question from his little brother, he looked over at Caleb who was just as taken aback as he was. "Yes, Sammy. We're real" Dean put his hand out slowly, Sam's big fearful eyes watching his every move and stroked his sweaty fringe out of his eyes, he continued the motion and when Sam realized that he wasn't going to hurt him, he closed his eyes and leaned into the warm hand.

"I'm sorry Dean... I'm so sorry" Sam said in his hoarse scratchy voice and squeezed his eyes shut allowing a tear to escape.

"Hey, hey, Sammy, you have nothing to be sorry for..." Dean replied, dread sinking all the way to his feet.

"I'm sorry... It's my fault Mum died... It's all my fault" Sam said, sobbing, tears speaking down his face along the well-worn paths of tears already shed.

Dean shook his head; he looked away from his sibling. There was NO way his brother had been thinking that all this time. He looked back at his brother and sighed, he kept his hand on his brother's face, this was going to be a lot harder that he thought.

Bobby sat watching the still bodies of Dean and Caleb, he really hoped that they were making progress in Sam's head. He looked over at Sam and when the young father moaned and turned his head in distress the father figure put a hand to his forehead and cursed. The young man was starting to burn up. Walking to the bathroom, he filled a small bowl with cold water and tossed a washcloth into it, moving back over to Sam, he squeezed out the water and wiped Sam's sweaty face, chest and arms.

If they couldn't help Sam, they could loose him forever and Hope would be an orphan, Bobby couldn't even contemplate how sad that would be. How heartbroken he would be to loose the closest thing to a real son he had ever had. Dean was of course as much his son as he was John's but after everything that had happened to Sam and his little family, they had bonded and become as close as any blood father and son.

When the Winchesters first plonked themselves on his doorstep, he was not looking forward to changing diapers and reading bedtime stories, but after a few hours in their presence, they had both latched onto his heart and never let go, healing the hole left by his wife. When they got older and moved away and he saw less of them, they still held a special place in his life. When he reconnected with Sam while he was at college and became a confidant and friend to the youngest Winchester, he had jumped at the chance to be needed again. Sam would ask his advise on most things and the older man enjoyed their talks, the more normal and mundane the better.

Now, after Sam had finally been granted one of his greatest wishes, the young father had truly come into his own, he smiled and laughed more, he had more confidence and he was starting to believe in himself as well as his brother and father. Bobby just hoped that this story had a happy ending.

Dean looked back at his brother and saw past the broken man, who was a mere shadow of his former self and moved his head so he could see into his little brother green eyes. "Sammy... You listen to me... Mum's death is not your fault, Dad never blamed you, I certainly don't blame you and mum... well, she definitely wouldn't blame you. I don't want you to think that her death had anything to do with you. I mean if anything, you, gave us something to live for. We both love you Sam... Mum loved you... and before you start thinking it, Jess wouldn't blame you either... She loved you so much; she gave you her greatest gift... your daughter… Hope, because she loved you. Please don't forget that" Dean hoped that he was getting through to his little brother. "Sammy... You don't need to punish yourself anymore... Not for Mum, Jess or even Me and Dad, none of it is your fault... In fact, I want to thank you, it's because of you, that I am the way I am... you made me a better person, I'm so proud of you that I feel like I need to be better, a better brother, a better friend and a better uncle... Please tell me you believe me?" Dean blinked his teary eyes and looked at his brothers wide-eyed expression and gave him a little watery smile. Sam's expression was of disbelief, shock and gratitude, the grief and shame had diminished some what. Dean took that as a win, that they were making progress.

"D'en... I... Thank you" Sam's voice was barely a whisper but Dean heard it loud and clear.

Caleb smiled at the interaction, knowing that what he was about to say would help the youngest Winchester to realize everything he had believed about himself, wasn't true. "Sam?... I gotta tell you something..." He said as Sam moved his head to look over at him, shy and tentatively. "I just want to tell you that... when you were growing up...I was a little envious of your brother... because he had you" watching as the injured mans eyebrows shot up in question. "Yeah... You were SO smart and clever, you ran circles around your father with your research skills and you were so funny, not your brothers smart ass kind of funny but witty. You looked up to Dean like he hung the moon, like he had something you would only be lucky to have one day but I always thought he was the lucky one... Even though you struggled to get your fathers approval and sometimes Dean would have other interests... of the female kind... you never gave up... You never stopped being yourself... You never let your struggles get you down... I really admired you" Caleb said, Dean could tell he was being sincere and was extremely grateful that his friend had told his little brother that. They had a rocky relationship, they never really clicked as friends or hunters but Sam being Sam had still listened and respected the hunter but would never go out of his way talk to him or accompany the two of then to bars for drinks after a hunt. Dean would always wonder what had happened between them to create such a relationship but never really questioned it.

"I... don't know what to say..." Sam was struggling to breath, he was still tied up as Dean hadn't wanted to touch him. Sam took a deep breath and went to move his mouth as if to say something, so both Dean and Caleb didn't say anything so as to give Sam the floor. "I... I always umm... God It seems so childish now... But I always resented you... You and Dean were like best friends, talking on the phone, hunting together, you'd go to bars and I would hear you coming guys coming back to the motel and you'd be laughing and... I always felt left out. I was just a kid, I wasn't anywhere near as good as Dean at ANYTHING, at least that's what Dad would always tell me... But I only had Dean... Dad didn't really want anything to do with me, he didn't get who I was, he would do the drill Sergeant thing and make me run around the block, practice exorcisms, Latin, weapons, training, training and more training... but I just couldn't quite measure up... I would see you guys laughing, even Dad and I would just feel so small and insignificant." Sam had tears in his eyes and he was panting and straining, he was getting more upset the more he spoke. Dean desperately wanted to untie him and hold him in his arms and tell him he how wrong he was. "It's silly kids stuff"

"Sam... It's not silly if that's how you felt... I know it was hard, as kids, the way Dad brought us up... I know how you felt back then, about Dad, school, hunting, you used to tell me everything... but when you got old enough to know what you really wanted out of life, we grew apart... but I never stopped watching you, seeing you struggle and it made me sad... because you didn't or wouldn't come to me anymore... I focused on what I knew, hunting and women... I'm sorry if you thought I was ignoring you... or replacing you with this hound dog" he said the last bit looking over at Caleb and smirked, hoping the joke would ease some of the tension.

Sam tried a small smile, knowing what his big brother was doing and appreciating the effort. "I... can you help me down off this thing... please?"

Dean's smile got bigger and he and Caleb moved to undo the rope, knotted tightly and had rubbed his skin red raw. Sam collapsed like a house of cards, once his arms were no longer holding him up, Dean immediately fooled him down to the floor and held onto him, rubbing his arms to warm him up, speaking soothingly to him so he knew he wasn't alone. "D'en... I'm sorry... I'm... I'm so... selfish..." Sam was sobbing, embarrassed that he was showing his weakness not only in front of his brother but in front of Caleb as well.

"Don't say that... You're the most unselfish person I know..." Dean said, surprised that brother didn't know that. "Stop saying stuff like that about my brother... or I might have to kick your ass... Sammy I need you to trust me okay" Dean saw the small smile cross his little brothers face, even through the pain, he could still see the little boy who beloved in his big brother.

"Alright so, can you stand or... Can you walk here or?" Caleb asked, feeling awkward having seen the huge display of brotherly bonding.

"Yeah, I... In my head I can still walk... Why? We're we goin?" Sam asked with that fearful look back on his face.

"We're getting out of here" Dean said matter of factly.

"What? No, I can't... he won't let me" Sam suddenly looked scared out of his mind.

"Who? Who won't let you? Sammy?" As he spoke Dean looked around, trying to spot his brothers tormentor.

"Him... He won't let me go... I have to… be... punished" Sam said, the last part whispered.

"Who Sammy?" Dean had an inkling of who it was but wanted to hear it from his little brother.

Sam shook his head and closed his eyes, how was he supposed to tell Dean he was scared of himself? "It's me... my conscience... He won't let me get away... He says I have to be punished" Sam knew how crazy he sounded but considering they were all in his head, crazy was sort of expected.

"Like hell!" Caleb and Dean yelled at the same time. Sam was taken aback at first by the defiant outburst. He then realized that they both wouldn't allow his conscience to hurt him anymore. "Sam... You don't deserve to be punished... even by yourself... If he tries to hurt you again, I will..."

"We will kill him" Caleb cut in and gave Sam a little nod, he had to make sure the youngest Winchester understood that he was not going to be punished anymore.

"Okay... Oh shit... he's coming Dean... You have to go... now!" Sam's panicked voice started to turn to begging.

Dean looked at Caleb as lights they didn't know where there started to flicker and burst as a door to their left opened and through it came an angry, smirking, snarling version of his usually gentle little brother.

"What the hell are you two doing?..." This evil version says, stalking towards the broken man swaying in his brother's firm hold. "Sam, it's time to be punished... You remember all the things that you've done to disappoint your father, your brother, even your mother... All your failings, all the mistakes you've made, all the times you made your brother and father wish you didn't EXIST!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the hell? No, no, no, that's NOT true! Sammy, don't you listen to word out of his mouth" Dean really hoped that this evil version of Sam hadn't just destroyed what little confidence he had just given his little brother.

Sam stood there shaking in his brother's arms, they weren't just from being cold or from shock, but from fear. "I... No I... I'm not..." Sam tried to find his voice but the words just wouldn't come.

"He is not to blame for any of that stuff. You are not to blame. I know Sam has always felt like an outsider, like he didn't belong to this family and that maybe the reason that Dad was always hard in him was because he blamed him for Mums death but that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just sorry we never told you... him... both of you that" Dean said, his mind a little befuddled by the weirdness of the situation.

"That's rich coming from you... whenever I would ask you about mum, you would tell me to shut up and stop asking stupid questions, then you would walk out on me and go to a bar for hours... I don't know anything about my own mother, I only have an old photo I would sneak a peak of from Dads journal when ever I could. You have NO idea what that feels like... But considering it was HIS fault, I guess we deserved it" Evil Sam said with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"What? No! Okay, sure I didn't talk about Mum but it wasn't because I wanted to keep it from Sam or because I blamed him or that I was selfish or something..." Dean could feel the familiar emotions bubble up in his chest, he swallowed to keep it down, even after all these years he still feels like that little boy, scared and forever traumatized by the death of his mother. He looks over at Sam and realizes that Sam really doesn't know his mother, he knows that he loves her because she is his mother but he never knew the love of a mother, or the devastation of loosing her.

"No don't... I... Please... Stop!" Sam's mind was all muddled up, he knew what he wanted to say but his mind had been conditioned to blame himself so changing his mind was a little confusing.

"Sammy?... Calm down" Dean tried not to overreact at his brother's confused state.

"Yes 'Sammy' calm down... You big baby!" Dean decided that evil Sam was the biggest douche he had ever met as Sam put his head down so his fringe covered his face to hide his shame.

"Listen to me you little shit head! Sam is leaving with us so you can shove your head up your ass and roll back into the dark and putrid cave you came out of!" Caleb yelled, his hands were scrunched into fists; he took a big breath and stepped forward as evil Sam stepped backwards into a wall, away from the angry glare from the older hunter. Caleb gave a small smile, his outburst had the effect he hoped it would, it scared evil Sam into a scared little boy who had been using intimidation and violence to mask his pain.

Sam looked on in wonder; his brother and his friend had both defended him and were willing to put themselves in danger to protect him. This revelation made the small flicker of hope in his belly, flare to life with renewed vigor. He started pushing himself to a standing position, which in itself was quite liberating and invigorating, he would relish the opportunity to walk and stand while he still could, the road to being able to walk in the real world was a long and often littered with setbacks, obstacles and stumbling blocks, it wasn't going to be easy but with friends and family like the two men before him, he knew he could do anything.

"I'm done... you're done torturing me for shit I didn't do... It stops now" Sam was surprised he didn't stutter and stood just a little bit taller.

"Wait!... You can't go... Not yet" evil Sam said, staying against the wall, trying to stay as far away from Caleb as he possibly could. "They have to answer three questions first... It's not me I swear... It's the curse.. please don't hurt me!" He begged and Caleb and Dean looked at him angrily, and moving towards him as he spoke.

"What three questions? this better not be a trick" Dean growled at the cowardly man shrinking back even further against the wall.

"Well... The first one is... Who did Sam write his application letter about when he applied for Stanford?" Evil Sam asked and looked over at Sam who was swaying in his big brothers arms. "You can't ask him for any hints"

"Umm, I don't... I didn't read it... Okay let me think" Dean said, straightening Sam in his arms and running his hand soothingly up and down his arm. Dean took a breath and thought about his little brother at the time, how argumentative and smart he was at the time, how they had started to grow apart and Dean had wondered if he was no longer the hero he had been for his brother during his adolescence. He then remembered what Sam said earlier about being jealous of Caleb... Wow, how could he be so stupid? "Me... You wrote your application letter about me..." Dean looked down at his brother and spoke softly just for him. "I'm so sorry Sammy... I was such an ass to you and you still looked up to me... after everything… I'm so proud of you" he pulled his little brother more into a hug and put his hand on the back of his head, he could feel shudders going through his little brother's body.

"What's the next one?" Dean asked hoping the next one wasn't going to be as emotional.

"Do you know what Sam stole from your duffle bag the night he left for Stanford and still has in his possession?" Dean looked at Sam who's eyes were wide with sudden fear, they look into each other's eyes and speak to each other without words and after three heart beats the fear in Sam's eyes disparages and tears begin to gather, tears of gratitude and affection.

He thinks about what his little brother could have stolen and what, in all these years that had passed, he hadn't noticed was missing. A band t-shirt? maybe... his lighter? possibly... Then he realized the one thing that he had noticed was missing from his belongings however he had always thought his father had taken it after that fateful night. Actually he remembered anything that reminded their father of Sam was either shoved into the trunk or thrown away so he has assumed the photo of the two of them with their arms around each other, smiling like idiots holding up the fish they had caught had been a casualty of that erasing everything Sam related. He looked at his brother and again he felt the guilt and shame of not fighting for his brother, of not standing up for him. "Sammy... It was you who took that photo from my wallet, wasn't it?"

Sam looked away and breathed out a shuddery sigh. "I wanted something to remind me of what I had left behind..." Looking back at his big brother, he gave a small apologetic smile and said "I also took a photo of Dad and Mum, when she was pregnant... I just... Dad kicked me out of my own family... as far as he was concerned I would never see you both again... It was never meant to be like that... I always wanted to come back... to hunt with you when I was on break, to help you out with research... maybe even bail you out of jail if I could... all things considered... I'm not really sure it was worth it all in the end... I mean, yes I met Jess and we had some wonderful times together, she gave me our daughter... but with everything I lost... I feel like I owe you something... maybe everything" Sam really didn't want to sound so negative, he was going to really try to be more positive but he had felt this way for a long time, so it was very hard to change.

"Ahh Sammy... you don't owe me or Dad anything... In fact it sounds like we owe you... a lifetime of memories and... Just about anything you could ever ask for man... We really dropped the ball on this one... about everything" Dean was overwhelmed, by the sheer volume of crap he and their father had dumped on Sam, about their mum, about Stanford... Everything.

"Wow, bro you guys suck! Hey Sammy, let me give him a beat down for you... In the real world, where it'll really hurt" Caleb asked, quickly dodging the hand that came out to slap him in the head.

Sam gave a slight chuckle but with the pain running through his body it probably sounded more like a grunt. He watched as his brother and friend chuckled right along with him and gave a small smile, he couldn't help but think about how lucky he was and wonder why he had at one point given up any hope that he would ever have a family again.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt but you still have one more question to answer before you can leave" evil Sam said still trying to push himself against the wall he currently plastered against when Caleb glared at him.

"Okay, okay... What's the third one?" Caleb asked on behalf of Dean who was adjusting Sam's weight in his arms, which were slowly falling asleep.

"The final question... And this one is tricky... If there were only enough time to save one person, who would it be... Your father, John Winchester, your niece, Hope Winchester or your beloved brother, Sam Winchester... Who would it be?" By the end of the question, evil Sam had turned to hide his face against the wall, scared that the two men would punish him for such a cruel question.

"What?... What the hell kind of question is that... Sammy? How the hell do I answer that?" Dean looked at Sam who shook his head, knowing he couldn't help his big brother with the answer. Dean looked up at his friend who looked just as shocked by the question the potential repercussion's from whatever answer he gave.

"Dean... You can do this... Just think carefully" Sam said knowing that was about as vague as his assistance could be. He knew in his heart what the answer should be but whether or not his big brother knew that or could come to the same conclusion was another question.

Dean swallowed down his nerves and tried to focus on the task at hand. "Alright so... If we were all in grave danger... But there was only time to grab one of you and run to safety... Who the hell would I pick... I mean... Why wouldn't the both of you just run out along side me?... Maybe you're injured... That's not such a stretch of the imagination... Okay, if I saved Dad who I have always looked up to... I would have to feel the guilt of not saving my brother and his daughter and we would bother turn to drink... If I saved Sam... He would never get over the loss of his daughter, probably go mad and try to kill himself and I would turn to drink... If I saved Hope..." Dean could feel the love he felt for his sweet little niece flood through him and he knew that even though he would feel sadness and guilt that he had lost his father and brother... That little Hope was quite literally the one great hope at healing his heart and of living the life her father wanted for her and of letting their names live on... Hope was the answer.

"Hope... I would save Hope" Dean said and watched the smile grow on his little brothers face and felt his arms grip his jacked just a little bit tighter. Caleb clamped his hand on his shoulder and felt relief and knowing that it was the right answer.

"You are free to leave" evil Sam turned to face them and disappeared, suddenly the darkness around them disappeared and the room they were asleep in came into focus and then everything went black.

Bobby had just poured himself another coffee when Caleb and Dean both shot up from were they were laying, gasping out a breath as if they had been holding it, causing Bobby to jump, spilling some of his coffee onto the bench to drip over the edge to the floor. Forgetting the coffee, he strode quickly to them to check on them, a million questions running through his head as Sam appeared to be sleeping on. "John!" He yelled, knowing the eldest Winchester was trying to get his granddaughter sleep in the other room but not succeeding, she knew something was going on and she desperately wanted her father but the older men were unable to convince her that everything was alright. She had cried herself hoarse and even though she was now quiet she did not close her eyes but held onto her grandfather like a lifeline.

As John came into the room with a red eyes Hope, Sam's eyes shot open and a loud gasp on his lips, his chest heaving and his hands shacking... The ghostly figure of Jess appeared beside her husband and tried to sooth him, Sam gave he a small smile in thanks but put his hands out to Hope as John had hold onto his granddaughter tighter to keep her from falling out of his arms, he moved quickly to Sam and Hope practically leapt into her fathers arms, Sam let out a soft 'oomph' but noticed that she wasn't putting all of her weight on top of him like she usually did, he wondered not for the first time whether his little girl was a heck of a lot smarted than anymore thought possible. "Hey sweety, were you a good girl for Grandpa Bobby and Pappa John?" Sam rubbed his warm hand along his daughters back in a soothing and loving way. "I missed you... my little snookie wookie pumpkin" Sam whispered into her ear and she giggled and buried her head in his neck.

"I'm lovin the family reunion... really... but... we gotta do the spell and hopefully all this stuff will finally be over" Caleb jumped in to once again bring everyone back to the topic on hand.

"Sam are you up for this now... Do you need to rest up first?" Bobby asked, his fatherly instincts kicking in as he gazed at his tired and drawn looking sudo-son.

"Yeah I'm alright Pa... I can rest later... we need to... um when I say this spell it's going to send our ghostly loved ones back to heaven" Sam said sadly as he turned Hope around so she could see her mother better "So you better say your goodbyes" Sam watched as his wife's ghost linger beside him and their daughter, kissing her forehead even though she wouldn't be able to feel it. He knew this moment was coming but he could feel his heart breaking all over again.

John grabbed the journal with the spell written in Sam's small, neat handwriting and passed it to his youngest son, he lingered a moment longer than necessary and touched his shoulder, before walking away, emotions choking him. He looked up at the ghostly figure of his beloved wife and understood that she knew how much he loved her but felt as if there were never enough words to express it or enough times to say it.

Dean walked over slowly to his father and mother as they spoke softly to each other, their foreheads touching, he glanced at his brother who was openly weeping as he told his wife how much he loved and missed her and that he was sorry how her life ended. Dean felt torn, should he interrupt his father and mothers good bye or should he third wheel his way into his little brother heartbreaking goodbye.

"Dean" John called to him and he took a relieved step forward and all the tears he had been holding at bay came streaming down his face. Manhood be damned.

As all the men quietly made there good byes to their loved ones, the room grew quiet, then when they were done, they drew closer to Sam and Bobby started to light the candles ready for the ritual to be recited. The mood in the room was a somber one and they all wished they could have just a little more time but were also looking forward to this whole thing to be over.

"Goodbye, it been a pleasure being able to spend time with you all... Take care of each other" Mary said on behalf of the other ghosts who where all gathered together.

Sam started to recite the spell and by the end the candle light grew brighter and taller and the smoke that came out of nowhere, started to swirl and darken, each man felt themselves getting hotter in their chests, then the heat spread to their arms and legs, it wasn't unbearable but it did feel as if they were in a sauna.

When Sam said the last word of the spell everything went black and then after a few beats it was as if a light turned on or they had opened their eyes, everything was quiet, bright and there was no sign of the ghosts or smoke and the candles were all cold as if a period of time had past.

"Is it done?" Caleb asked and as all the men in the room looked at each other questioningly, they all hissed out a pained breath and grabbed their right forearms, a white shot heat shot through their arms sending sharp stabs of pain through their bodies. Hope let out a small cry and made a few unhappy noises.

"Ow!"

"What the hell?"

"Shit!"

All the men lifted their shirtsleeves at the same time and burned onto their skins was a brand; it was of a intricate version of a Devils trap with their initials woven into it.

"Well I guess we should have looked at the fine print... because, that freakin hurt man!" Caleb whined rubbing his hand over the burn mark to try to ease the pain.

"Oh stop your whining, Hope made less noise" Bobby teased "Speaking of... I hope she didn't get this thing branded into her skin, she's only a baby"

Sam smiled down at his daughter and rubbed his thumb over round tattoo on her arm. "She's fine, so far it's just this little circle, I think maybe, as she grows and changes, it will too"

"Huh... they really thought of everything..." Dean said impressed that they didn't put the same brand on a little girls skin, it would have looked like a Salvador Dali painting by the time she was 30.

It was finally over, Sam smiled and cheered their fortune internally but as he realised that they would all finally be safe from here on out, his smile fell away, what the hell were they going to do now? He could quite easily fall back into being a run of the mill Dad to his daughter, working out and learning to walk again, finding a job where he could use his intellect. His family however had all grown accustomed to hunting, even Bobby only used the salvage yard as a front to hunting, perhaps the surrogate father could resign himself to being the go to man for research but Sam knew, he enjoyed the hunt. His father and to a lesser extent his brother, had used hunting as a crutch for his grief, focusing on saving people and chasing down the monster that killed his wife, but somewhere along the way, he got lost and forgot what was important. Sam knew that he could never go back to hunting, not just because he couldn't walk but because he had found a new meaning to life, the blonde angel in his arms. He would never subject her to the fear of hunting or the heart breaking reality that monsters are real. He knew his father and brother wouldn't like him living with his head in the sand, or putting blinders on his daughter but for now, she was going to live her life in blissful ignorance, and when Sam believed she was ready, he would tell her about what was really out there.

Sam could feel deep down in his soul that this would be the last time they would all be tougher in the one room. He told himself that it was selfish and unrealistic to think that they would all settle down and live close by so they could all enjoy each other's company and live out the rest of their days as a civilian. As mush as he would enjoy, actually getting to know them all again, he knew that it would be difficult to give up their way of life without some resistance.

Looking down at his hands he swallowed down his disappointment and told himself to be grateful for the time he got to spend with them and to not take it personally when they all left to continue the fight.

"Hey Sammy? Where did you go?" Dean asked, he had been watching his little brothers face and knew he was lost in his own thoughts and by the looks of it, it wasn't a happy place.

"Nothing... Nowhere... What?" Sam replied cringing at the lame attempt at a lie.

"Yeah right... Spill it" Dean said, his big brother instincts running rampant.

"It's fine... I was just thinking about what we were all going to do now... I mean, you guys are probably going to keep hunting right? I mean, the fight doesn't end here..." Sam said rather nervously. Knowing something to be true and saying it out loud and waiting for the inevitable confirmation was hell.

"I don't know about these old timers but... I'm done... I'm retiring... I can work on cars and baby sit Hope while you go out on dates with hot single mothers and work your ass off at the library or bookstore or something, so she can go to collage" Dean said smirking, the visual of that was kinda funny.

"Wow... Did you just come up with that?" Sam asked bewildered "Wait... You'd retire... From hunting?" Sam really couldn't believe his ears, he had only resigned to the fact that his brother and father would probably go back to hunting and know his brother was saying he would stop and settle down. I was a little confusing. "Don't do it just for me and Hope Dean, please... I don't want you to resent us later"

"Its my decision Sammy... believe me, if I didn't want to stop hunting I wouldn't. Sam, I feel like I've missed too much and I want to be part of your lives. I'm done" Dean was adamant, no more hunting, no more danger, no more crappy hotel rooms with water stains and funky smells.

"Same goes for me" Caleb said, putting his hand up like he was casting his vote.

"Really?" Sam asked shocked but thankful that his friend was also going to stick around.

"Sam, son, I hope you know that I'm staying right here... Wild horses couldn't pull me away, you and hope are the best things that have happened to me" Bobby put his hand affectionately on Sam's head, his emotions getting the better of him as a tear slid down his cheek.

"Pa... I... Thank you... I don't know what we would do without you... I was hoping you didn't get another taste for it with all this..." Sam put his hand over Bobby's hand that was still on his head. The two men had dropped all barriers they had built up over the years and now when it came to touch and showing affection, it came as easy as breathing. After everything the two men had been through, they realised that they needed each other, with Sam in his wheelchair, for the first three months, he needed Bobby to pick him up, help him with his bath routine, messaging his legs, putting cream on his burns. Touch became second nature and it had healed their bruised and battered hearts, for Bobby it was being able to help someone you cared for like a son and for Sam it was being to show affection and be vulnerable and not get teased or told that strong men didn't need it.

John watched the interaction and not for the first time felt conflicted, he was a jealous man and wanted nothing more than to tell Bobby that Sam was not his son and that he was a poor substitute of a father but on the other hand he was also grateful, the older hunter had been there for his son like he had been too prideful to be. The realized that the gratitude far out weighed the jealousy he felt, besides they were all connected now, in more ways than one. "I think I might be able to find something to do with myself, other than hunting... What do you think?" John asked to a freaked out Dean whose eyes had grown larger with shock.

"What! You? Dad, what are you going to do with yourself? Hunting has been your life for over twenty years..." Dean asked shacking his head.

"It's going to be tough but... I really don't want to miss any more than I have and I think it's time... we've given so much... It's time for someone else to take over" John said well aware that this was going to be the first time in a long time that he will be in one place longer than a few weeks. He wasn't sure how he was going to feel about this decision in the morning but he was very happy it at the moment. "I used to be a mechanic... If Bobby doesn't protest, too much, maybe I can help him out around here... I promise not to get too big for by boots" he said smiling at the older man with light in his eyes.

"As long as we closed up every Friday to go fishing" Bobby said smiling right back, a little giddy at the prospect.

"My god... I can't believe it... John Winchester is going to retire... I think hell just froze over" Caleb joked. The bearded father had never given any indication that he would EVER retire. As far as anyone who knew him was concerned he would die hunting and nothing could change his mind. That was until he found out he was a grandfather and his youngest son had been through a life changing catastrophe.

"Yeah I know... but... I think, over the last few months... I've learnt what's important... What I forgot was important" John said, his head down almost shyly, he was not accustomed to sharing his feelings but knew the new life he had chosen to retire to, he would have to learn to be more open, with his heart as well as his head. "And you know, this whole thing has given me a little perspective... I don't need anything else to feel satisfied, I have everything I need right here"

"That's a lovely sentiment... really... but can we go do some manly things now?" Caleb said feeling a little uncomfortable with all the emotions flouting around the room.

"Only a real man can express his emotions like that" Dean said in response, chuckling "Maybe you need to man up" pocking his tongue out at his friend then taking a quick step back to avoid the hand that had shot out towards him.

Sam sat in his wheelchair, holding onto his daughter who had snuggled into his neck and was now sucking on her thumb as she tried not to go to sleep. He felt relief that she would now be safe, her family would now be safe and by the sounds of it, they would all be settling down... together. If someone had asked him a month ago that he would have his family back and that they would now all be staying together, being normal, safe and ordinary.

"Hey Sammy?" Dean asked, bending over to try to see his little brother's face. He could see his brother was in his head again and usually that meant it wasn't a happy place.

"Yeah?" Sam said lifting his head up. He had been so enthralled with his own thoughts that he wasn't sure how long his brother had been calling for him. He looked around the room and noticed that everyone had already left, all the candles were out and the circle had been erased.

"What's got you all broody little brother?" Dean watched Sam try to smooth out his worry lines on his forehead but Dean was not fooled.

"Yeah, yeah... I'm fine, I was just thinking" Sam replied knowing as the words came out of his mouth that he wasn't hiding anything. "It's just that... the future is looking pretty bright, you know? finally and I... I just can't believe it..." Sam had to swallow down the lump in his throat. "I can't wait to see what's next" he rubbed his hand up and down his daughters back as she finally closed her eyes to sleep.

"I know Sammy" Dean smiled at his niece and brother. He nodded his head in agreement, he was excited to see where they all would go and how they got there, it was certainly going to be a fun ride. "Are you ready?" Dean asked finally.

"Yeah...yeah I think I am" Sam replied confidently, he really didn't know what the future held but was looking forward to finding out. Moving towards the kitchen where they can both hear the older men talking and laughing to each other while making coffee and sandwiches and they looked at each other with smiles on their faces because this is what home felt like.

Tbc