First off, once again a huge thanks to everybody who has read and reviewed the last chapters! You're all amazing, and keep me writing. :) A special shout-out and thanks to Emerald-Water, who has been so wonderfully supportive through this whole story, not only with her awesome reviews but with her lovely PMs too. They kept me going, girl! :D *

Okay, so here it is - the final chapter of "Only Brothers Understand". At least I think it'll be the final chapter. It depends on if I come up with any other ways to make Dean miserable in the next few weeks. :P
It's a lot shorter than the previous chapters, but I went back to the same sort of light-hearted setting as the first two. And it does involve some of my *favourite* thing, brotherly clutching of the shirt. *eeee!* After watching "I Know What You Did Last Summer" again recently and watching Dean hold onto Sam's shirt after Alastair beat up the poor boy... oh my gosh, gotta love it!... I knew I had to put it in my story again. :D (I'm sure you noticed that almost every single one of the other chapters - if not all - had Dean clutching Sam's shirt at one point. LOL)

Anyway, I hope it lives up to expectations! On with it. :)

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Dean's so tired, he can't even walk straight.

"Dean?" Sam's voice sounds loud.

"Yeah?" He catches himself on a tree, turns a little towards his brother's voice.

"Are you okay?"

He doesn't answer, instead shoves himself off the tree and keeps walking. If he stops again, he's most definitely not going to start again. And that'll be bad news, seeing as they're out in the middle of nowhere, hunting some stupid frigging spirit, and it's cold and dark and he can barely keep from laying down in the middle of the path and sleeping.

"Dean!" Sam sounds annoyed now. He also sounds closer.

"What?" Dean keeps walking, not looking back.

Sam's hand grabs his arm suddenly, making him jump just a little. "Dean, would you stop? Did you hear me at all?"

"Hear you? Yeah I heard you. What, do ya think I'm deaf or something?" Dean tries to pull his arm out of Sam's grip, but Sam holds on like a... Dean doesn't know what. Damn huge hands.

"Well you didn't answer me. Are you okay?" Sam pulls Dean around to face him, irritation giving way to concern when he sees his brother's face.

"I'm fine," Dean says, shoving at Sam uselessly. His eyes don't seem to want to stay open all the way.

"Sure you are. When's the last time you slept, Dean?"

Dean tugs at his arm again, a little fascinated by how Sam is so strong, his hand doesn't even budge. It's like iron. Or steel. Maybe he's like Wolverine, adamantium or whatever it's called in his bones.

"Dean!"

Dean jumps, dragging his stinging eyes back up to Sam's. "Huh?"

"When was it?"

"When was what?" Dean is lost.

Sam takes a long, slow breath, the kind he takes whenever he's getting mad. Dean wonders what his problem is. "When. Was. The last. Time. You slept." It's not a question anymore, he's demanding an answer now.

Dean bristles a little and shakes his head to clear it. Sam's face is clearer now.

"Last night?"

"Is that an answer, or a question?" Sam asks, the bitch-face coming into play.

Dean sighs and shifts his feet. "Pick one."

"Okay fine, I pick question. No, you didn't sleep last night."

"How the hell do you know? You were sleeping like a log," Dean snaps, still pulling fruitlessly at his arm.

"Only some of the night." Sam's eyes are getting all stern and Dad-ish.

"Why?" Dean asks.

"Because I had a feeling you weren't going to sleep! And I really don't know why, but what I really do want to know is why you would not sleep when you know we're going hunting the next day?" Sam huffs, flinging his other arm out wide. "You know how dangerous that is. And now you're walking like a zombie, when any minute this spirit could come out and attack you. And you wouldn't have a chance."

Dean glares at him for a long moment, finally saying "I am not walking like a zombie. Have you ever seen the way those things walk? I'm definitely…"

"Dean. Come on. This isn't safe. You could get attacked, or I could, and you wouldn't be there to back me up."

That stings. "I would too be there to back you up!" Dean wrenches his arm out of Sam's grip, and this time he's successful. 'Ha' to the adamantium. No match for me when I'm mad. "So maybe I'm a little tired. But I think I would notice if you got grabbed by some ghost!" He's upset now. How can Sam say that? He'll always be there to have Sammy's back.

Sam immediately looks sorry. "Okay – I'm sorry, Dean, I didn't mean that. I know you'd back me up. But let's face it – something could happen to you, right? And I don't want that to happen."

Dean shrugs, looking away. Despite his sudden burst of defiance, he's still feeling pretty dragged down. His eyes sting with weariness, his body doesn't want to do anything he tells it to, and all around he's feeling pretty miserable.

"Dean." Sam's voice is softer now.

Dean wonders if Sammy can see the misery in his eyes. Knowing Sam's uncanny ability to know what he's thinking or feeling, yeah, he can see it.

"What's up? You look like you haven't slept in days. And if last night was any indication, I'd say I'm right about that."

Dean looks at him desperately, trying to speak to Sammy through his eyes. Come on Sam. I don't want to have to explain this.

Sam looks back at him for a moment, and then realization hits him. "Is it nightmares again?"

Got it in one. He nods quickly, glancing away. He hates the nightmares about Hell, hates them so much he doesn't even want to sleep. But now he knows that he hates something else more – and that's being the weakest link. Bringing down Sam cause he's too tired to hunt properly. Good one, Dean. Just go ahead and ruin all the hunts, how about?

He rubs his eyes, frustrated. "Sorry, Sam."

"You don't have to apologize." Sam sounds all big-brotherly, which throws Dean a little, because he's the big brother, not Sammy. But more and more these days, it's like Sam's the older, protective one.

Dean isn't sure whether he likes it or not. It's his job to look after Sam, but he can't help liking the feel of having someone there to protect him, too.

"Come on, Dean. What do you say we go back to the motel, and we finish this hunt tomorrow?" Sam's already starting to walk back in the direction they came.

"Aw, come on Sam! We're already out here, can't we just do it?" Dean tries his best to sound like he wants to be out here, but he can't really pretend that Sam's suggestion doesn't sound good. Not that he'd end up sleeping, but still. It's cold out here, and he really just wants to lay down and close his eyes.

Sam does a slight huff, the kind he does when he's not really mad, he's just surprised at Dean's stubbornness. "Dean. We're going back. This spirit can wait." He starts to reach out for Dean's arm to pull him along, but Dean's already following him.

Dean watches as Sam tries to act unsurprised and keeps walking. You're such a bad actor, Sammy.

He trails behind Sam, focusing on his brother's back as best he can, until Sam finally drops back to walk beside him. "You good, Dean?"

"Hell yes I'm good," Dean mumbles, when suddenly a wave of exhaustion hits him, and he stumbles, preparing himself for the hard ground, too tired to try and stop.

Instead, Sam's arm catches him immediately, like he's just been waiting for Dean to fall. He puts his arm around Dean's waist and takes most of his weight. "Dude, you are so not 'good'."

"'Mm always good," Dean slurs, leaning heavily on Sam, lifting his right hand to hold onto Sam's jacket.

Sam huffs again, this time in amusement, and keeps walking.

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Back at the car, Sam gently loads Dean into the passenger side. "Dude, I can get in the car myself," he tries, but Sam ignores him and, making sure none of Dean's arms or legs are in the way, he closes the door.

Sam climbs into the driver's seat and starts up the car, and while they wait for it to warm up he glances across at Dean, who is sitting with his eyes closed. "Think you can get some sleep now? It's a long ride back to the motel," Sam says.

Dean can feel Sam's sharp eyes watching him for any signs of… whatever. Fear, he guesses. Fear of going to sleep and returning to Hell, over and over. He sighs a little, wishing he could just stay awake and never have to revisit the pit.

Next thing he knows, Sam's hand is on his shoulder, heavy and warm. "I'm right here, Dean. You can go to sleep. I promise I'll wake you up if you start dreaming."

Dean looks at Sam for a minute, his eyes a mix of gratitude and apprehension. He appreciates Sam's gesture, but Sam doesn't really know what it's like.

Or maybe he does. He did have dreams about Jessica for practically a year. Maybe he does understand.

Either way, Dean feels safer here in the Impala, with Sam only a foot away, awake and looking out for him. And he really is tired. Maybe it'll be okay to close his eyes. Just for a bit.

He gives Sam a weary smile of thanks, and lets his head fall back on the seat, exhaustion finally taking over.

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Sam smiles, watching as his brother finally gives in to sleep.

Dean looks kind of uncomfortable, with his head leaning back like that. His neck's gonna be sore when he wakes up, Sam thinks. Then he thinks What the hell, and pulls Dean carefully over so his head is on Sam's shoulder.

"No hugging," Dean mutters, apparently still awake.

Sam grins to himself when Dean doesn't move, he just settles down further and sighs a little, finally relaxing.

Sam doesn't know what Hell was like. He doesn't know what Dean sees every time he closes his eyes.

But he does know what it's like to be terrified to sleep, terrified to see your worst nightmare played over and over again in your head. And he also knows that it makes everything a million times better to wake up to someone with big, understanding eyes and comforting arms. Someone who loves you and will always have your back.

Dean did it for him before, and now he'll do everything in his power to be there for Dean, too.

It's my turn to be the big brother now, Dean.

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Well, there it is. Thank you so much again, everyone, for all your wonderful reviews and support on this story! It's been such an enjoyable experience. :)

Please review on your way out and let me know what you thought. :D

As I said, this will probably be the last chapter. But... you never know. ;) If inspiration strikes...

See you the next time I think Dean needs to be holding onto Sam's shirt! *TOO adorable* ;D

Deanandhisimpala