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After leaving the house Dean drove down a few quiet streets, his eyes searching left and right for his brother. Nothing. He had driven about three miles out when he finally saw Sam under the shade of a tree. Dean let out a deep breath and parked the truck on the side of the road.

"Sam!" Dean called out, trying not to let his worry too obvious.

Sam made no effort to respond and continued to lay under the tree. Dean walked toward his brother in a brisk fashion. The roadside was quiet except for the dull sound of the wind. Dean approached his brother, crouched down, and shook Sam's bony shoulder.

"Sam. Come on man." It was strange, Dean thought, for Sam to go out for a walk just to take a nap. "Sam, time to go."

Dean scanned his brother for any visible injuries. Nothing. Then he saw it. An empty pill bottle. He shook Sam with more energy.

"Sam! Sammy! Wake up. Sam!" Dean shouted.

Inside his head Sam had been at peace. There was total silence, calm, and warmth. He felt safe. Then like a bullhorn he heard his name. Over and over again. His muddled brain tried to place the voice. It was so familiar.

"Dad?" Sam mumbled.

"Sam!" Dean said, relieved to see that Sam was still somewhat with him. He had checked for a pulse and was overjoyed to feel a very slow steady beat. Now, Sam was talking, confused, but talking.

Sam opened his eyes just enough to see a figure next to him. Dean pulled out his phone and started dialing for help.

"No!" Sam swatted at the phone, he was weak but the movement was unexpected and sent the phone flying to the ground. " 'm fine."

Dean reached for his phone, but Sam was already starting to wake more fully from his slumber.

"No hospitals." Sam said with more strength in his voice than before.

"Sam, you need-"

"No! They'll put me in there and they won't let me out of there and I can't. Dean I can't. I'm fine."

"Sam, you need help I'm not going to let you die from some stupid overdose." Dean picked up the phone.

"I won't!" Sam spat out.

Sam grabbed his brother's phone and threw it with the strength that he had. Then he did something Dean wasn't expecting. He turned away from Dean, paused for a moment, and then was suddenly emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground next to him.

Sam spat and wiped his mouth with his sleeve before turning back to face Dean.

"Sam. What the hell?!" Dean's eyes kept bouncing between the empty bottle and the empty emotionless face of his little brother.

"Didn't have to do that." Sam said before spitting out the vile taste in his mouth again. He scrunched up his nose, looked down, and realized that not all of the vomit had made it to the ground.

"What I was supposed to let you die?"

"No, I mean I didn't have to…to get rid of all that." Sam repositioned himself so he wasn't leaning on his brother but sitting on his own. He swayed a bit before finding his balance. "There were only a few pills left. Wouldn't have done any harm."

"Sam." Dean paused. Trying to push down the anger and frustration that was building inside of him. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Lying to me, for starters." Dean shook his head in frustration, "You think I don't know how many pills you've been taking? You think I don't care about you enough to check? Sam, I know we aren't what we used to be, but don't forget that there was a time when you and I were close. We were a family. You and me. I knew you better than anyone else and guess what, you haven't changed as much as you think you have. You're still my pain in the ass little brother. I know we can't have exactly what we had when we were kids, but I want you to know that I still love you. I still worry about you and want to protect you. I want you to be happy."

Dean did his best to stay composed. He allowed only a single tear to slide down his face. Sam looked away, out on the horizon. For what seemed like hours the two sat in silence. Then Sam spoke, in a voice so quiet Dean almost didn't hear him.

"I can never be happy."

"Sam –"

"No." Sam spoke louder now. "It's true. I've known that for a long time now. I used to think…maybe someday. But…no."

Dean tried to collect his thoughts, to find the right words to say. There weren't any.

"I know you think that you can shove me in a school, a family, a life, and change everything." Sam looked down at his hands in his lap. "But you can't. I uh, I think it's time for me to leave. I'll go with Uncle Bobby."

Sam waited for Dean to acknowledge what he had just said. He waited for a nod or an argument or any agreement, anything. Finally, Sam stood and as he did Dean jumped up to steady him. Sam held up a hand. He didn't need help. He didn't want it. They walked back to the truck and got in. Dean reached out to turn the key but stopped himself.

"I know I have no right to ask, but would you do me one favor?" Dean asked. He saw the question in Sam's eyes and continued, "Would you give me one more chance?...Please?"

Sam sighed but before he could answer Dean started speaking again.

"Look, I can't begin to image how hard this has been. It's been down right insane the last little while. I know that and I'm not going to try to sugar coat it. But, I think we could make it work, you and me, this life, if you just give it a little more time. One month? One month, ok? After that, if you still want to leave…"

"One month?" Sam said, his mind spinning. His mind flashed back to a time when he would do anything for his big brother, anything to make him happy. Then his big brother had abandoned him. Left him alone with John Winchester and all the other monsters that go bump in the night.

"One month." Dean confirmed.

"Ok." Sam turned and looked his brother straight in the eyes, something he hadn't done often since their reunion. "One month."

Dean started up the truck and headed for home.

"Don't scare me like that again Sammy."

Sam parted his lips to remind him brother to call him by his preferred name, but resisted the urge. He'd put Dean through enough for one day.

"Sorry," Sam said. "I didn't think about you."

Sam meant what he said. He hadn't wanted to scare Dean or illicit any worry and concern. He had gone out with the intention of taking a walk and clearing his head. When the walk wasn't distracting enough he decided to pop back a few pills. No harm no foul. John wouldn't have taken much notice and he wouldn't have been able to say anything if he had. John wasn't the poster boy for healthy coping methods. Things were going to be different with Dean.

"Sam, I don't want to see you hurt…or worse. That's true. But you should care about yourself too. You have worth. You should know that."

Sam shifted, suddenly uncomfortable, "What's next? Do we share a pint of ice cream and rent Titanic?"

"Shut up," Dean said with mock annoyance.

The two brothers sat in silence for the rest of the ride.

"Oh," Dean said as they turned into the driveway, "and from now on I'll be your personal pharmacist."

Sam rolled his eyes.

Sam and Dean entered the Winchester home just in time to see Robin and Bobby snap shut the wedding photo album.

"We're back," Dean said as Robin stood and gave him a quick kiss, "alive and well."

"And smelly." Robin said, confused. "Did you fall in a sewer?"

"Just one." Dean said with a smile. "Sam, you can get cleaned up first."

"And then there are leftovers in the fridge," Robin said.

"Thanks," Sam offered a half smile and left the room. Dean watched him leave the room. He watched Sam with the careful eye of a parent watching a wobbly toddler.

"I think he'll always like you better," Dean said to Robin with a mix of humor and honesty.

"He'd be crazy not to," Bobby chimed in. He stood and smoothed down the wrinkles of his shirt. "You really hit the jackpot kid."

Robin turned a light pink.

"Don't I know it." Dean said.

"Now, I hate to eat and run," Bobby said, "but an old friend of mine a few hours from here called while you were out. He needs my help with a little pest control."

Dean nodded.

Bobby held out a card for Dean, "Here's my number. Call for anything. Anything."

"I will."

"Robin, it truly was a pleasure meeting you." Bobby grabbed his things and headed for the door.

"Likewise. I'm sorry you have to leave so soon. But I wish you the best of luck with that pest problem. Doesn't sound like fun. Next time you're in the area pop in on us." Robin gave Bobby a quick hug. She hadn't known the man for long but he had a loveable quality about him.

"Oh," Bobby turned to Dean as he opened the door, "and don't forget to send me that thing we talked about when I first got here."

Dean smiled as Bobby gave him a wink. Truth be told, Dean was hoping he could send out a baby announcement sooner rather than later.

After Bobby walked out the door Robin turned to her husband.

"What was that about?" Robin asked.

Dean shrugged and Robin smiled.

"Ok, have your little secrets." Robin picked up the wedding album and put it back on its shelf.

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