One little Ouch factor in this one, beware
----
Sam had fought about being sent away but his brother was adamant. "You can't be here. Not with Lucifer, not in the same room. My plan isn't going to work if you're here. I'd just be handing you over to him!"
"Dean." Sam pleaded.
"No Sam. Cas'll take you some place safe. He'll fetch you back when it's all over." Dean bit his lip and touched his brother's shoulder. "This time, will you stay with Bobby and Cas? Please? No revenge, no paybacks. I need you to promise that you'll keep yourself safe."
Sam huffed and nodded. "I promise this time will be different. This time I know the cost of not listening to you."
The moment was awkward. Sam wanted to hug his brother to him and never let go but he could tell that Dean had already built whatever defenses he would need to get through the next few hours and Sam didn't want to break them down. "If Cas can do anything, I'll see that he does. If we can get you out….."
Dean frowned at that. "Do not do anything stupid on my behalf."
Sam shook his head in disbelief. "Yeah? Like you just have you mean? Again?"
His brother just shrugged. "Do as I say, not as I do Sammy. Promise me?"
"I promise."
Dean turned to Cas. "Get him out of here and then get back. I need your help with the ritual."
Sam smiled as the angel scowled at his brother's tone but said nothing about it. "I will not be long." With that and a touch to Sam's head, both men disappeared.
Dean sniffed and breathed deeply. "So help me Sammy, if you don't do like I ask this time, I swear that I'm gonna come back and haunt your ass."
He turned into the living room to find Bobby and finish his preparations.
---
"I can't do this." Bobby paced the room, casting a quick glance over at the bare arm of the man sitting on the desk. "You can't ask me do to this."
"Please Bobby. Cas has taken Sam away and then he's gonna be busy setting up the finishing touches to the ritual. I can't do this myself."
Bobby rubbed at his head. "Why not?"
"Because I'm probably gonna pass out the minute the damn thing touches me. Bobby, please?"
"I hate you," Bobby stated but without an ounce of vitriol in his voice, ".. just so you know." The older hunter crossed over to stand next to him. "I hate your idea and I hate that you're making me do this to you. I hate having no choice in the matter."
"Not as much as I do. Can we get this over with, please, before my time runs out?"
"Fine." Bobby folded the leather belt that was on the table. "Bite down on this."
Dean opened his mouth and obediently bit down, shifting to lie down. He laid out his arm to the side, but resting it still on the table.
Bobby crossed to the fire and took the iron out from it. "Son, I'm sorry." He brought his hand down on Dean's wrist and the hot metal down quickly on the arm that was outstretch, counting the seconds off until he could raise it again, trying to ignore the muffled screams that a Dean who hadn't passed out as planned was making. Throwing the iron back in the fire, Bobby quickly poured cold water on the burnt skin, the sizzling noise from Dean's flesh making him want to puke. He pulled the belt from between Dean's still tightly clenched jaws and lifted him up against him. "It's ok. I gotcha. I gotcha." He rocked the younger man back and forth slowly until Dean found his voice.
"Sonuvabitch. That hurt." The words were almost sobs.
"Like you didn't know that it was gonna? Don't ever ask me to do anything like that ever again."
"Probably won't get the chance Bobby." Dean tried to sit upright on his own and failed.
The older hunter caught him and eased him back down. "Lie back down for a spell, I'll get something to wrap round that so's that he don't see it."
As Bobby went to walk away Dean caught his wrist with his hand. "Thank you."
"What else are friends for 'cept for branding marks into your flesh? Lie still, I'll be back."
Dean closed his eyes and let his mind shut down for a few minutes to the pain, trying not to think that this was nothing compared to what he had just signed up for.
TBC