Disclaimer: The characters of "Supernatural" were created by Eric Kripke and are owned by the CW Network. No profit is being made.

Note to Readers: Thanks again to all reviews and PM's. They are appreciated. Also, thanks again to those readers that review but don't sign in, so I can't personally reply back to you. Not sure how much longer this story may be. My free time is going to go up in smoke in another couple weeks. So, this story may only have another 1 or 2 chapters in it. I admit, I'd like to make it longer but time isn't on my side lately. Plus, I'd like to have it wrapped before the new season starts on the CW. I'll try to post next weekend but I may be too buried. At any rate, I will post as quickly as possible. Happy Reading, I hope.

Our Solemn Hour

By Dawn Nyberg

Chapter 16: The Unsaid Things, Part 2

"… people cry and people moan, and they look for a dry place to call their home, and try to find some place to rest their bones while the angels and the devils try to make them their own …" Lyrics excerpt … version by Nirvana, Lake of Fire

Sam was pulled partially from his sleep by the familiar rumble he had known most of his life … the Impala. He smiled to himself into his pillow. He wanted to get up he really did but the bed felt so damn good and it was a nightmare free night, so he just nestled into the pillow and inched the blanket a little more. He listened to the noises downstairs and heard Bobby open the front door and push the screen door open. There was soft sunlight coming through his thin curtains that he could see through his closed eyelids. He sighed.

"Welcome home," Bobby replied easily as he looked at Dean a long moment. Dean offered a small smile. "How you doing?" Bobby asked.

"I'm good," Dean answered. He saw Bobby study him trying to root out the compete truth. He acquiesced, "it wasn't easy walking away from them but this is where I'm needed … where I belong," Dean answered honestly. He looked beyond Bobby into the house and saw no sign of his Sequoia of a little brother, "where's Sammy?"

"Asleep." Dean raised an eyebrow in concern.

"He okay?" he looked at his watch it was 7:30 AM.

"Yeah, we stayed up late watching a game and I didn't hear a peep last night," Bobby winked. Dean smiled.

"You mean no nightmares?" Bobby nodded.

"You must have almost driven straight through, huh? We didn't expect you until tomorrow sometime."

"I stopped once and grabbed a five hour nap at a motel and cleaned up … hit the road again."

"Hungry? I'm makin' some omelets." Dean's stomach growled in answer. Bobby chuckled. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." Dean looked chagrined and then smiled.

"Yeah, sounds good."

Dean sat in the kitchen and glanced at the clock and debated checking on his brother. But, there was something that had been nibbling away at his mind for a while now and he decided to ask Bobby. "Hey, Bobby," he started in a casual tone.

"Yeah," Bobby answered over his should as he cut up some onions and peppers to throw into his Texas omelet.

"Uh, I've been meanin' to ask you somethin'."

"Uh-huh," Bobby looked over his shoulder and briefly made eye contact with Dean. "What's on your mind?"

"It's .. well…" Bobby put the knife down and turned leaning against the counter.

"Cat got your tongue boy, spit it out." Dean took a breath and pushed forward.

"Back when I called you to tell you that Sam was in the hospital … I was also telling you for the first time that he was out of the cage and back from Hell … you never really acted surprised. I was too worried about Sammy at the time to really think about that, plus I was just glad you were coming to Kansas, but …"

Bobby rubbed his beard and leveled a look on Dean, "one thing you've never been Dean is non-observant, I'll give you that," he conceded.

"What are you saying?" Dean's brow quirked into a mild scowl.

"I think you know." The realization hit Dean hard and he sat there dumbfounded into a moment of silence as his brain processed the truth … Bobby knew Sam was alive already.

"How long did you know?" Dean's hands were fisted on the table as he stared at the wood grain not meeting the older man's gaze.

"He contacted me when he got out and was topside. He wanted to make sure you were okay but he never came to see me Dean, he stayed away. I tried to make him contact you, begged him but he wouldn't do it and said if I told you he'd drop off the planet and we'd never find him. You know the kid and I knew he'd do it, so you weren't in contact with me and I just let it go. He checked in from time to time but mostly he was MIA to me Dean. But, yeah, I knew, I'm sorry, if I could have told you and not think he'd run, I …"

Dean looked at Bobby then, he was mad but there was something in him that understood, too. Sam would have run and he'd have lost him all over again just in a different way. He had him back and was even under his little brother's roof. He stood up, "leave the onions out of Sammy's," Dean said casually "and extra in mine," he said with a glint in his eye. He left the kitchen and started up the stairs. He had a little brother to wake up. Bobby watched Dean leave the room and took the young man's words as what they were, an acceptance, forgiveness… and absolution. Bobby turned back to the breakfast preparations with a soft smile.

Dean climbed the stairs to his brother's room; he passed a spare room that was mostly empty, small but empty except for some boxes. He decided he'd ask Sam how he felt about turning it into a room, so he didn't have to keep sleeping on a pull-out. After all, he was staying for the long haul. Buy a bed get some furniture. Yeah, he'd mention it to his brother soon and the fact he'd contacted Bobby when he got out of Hell would need addressed to, but not right now there was plenty of time for that. Really, he was partly glad that Sam had at least contacted someone and sort of understood why Sam hadn't contacted him. He didn't have to like it but he sort of got it, too. He stood in the doorway to his brother's room and watched his little brother's back for moment, "come on lazy boys … rise and shine sleeping beauty," he kidded and walked over and patted his brother's leg.

"I'm awake," Sam groaned into the pillow as he ground his face into it. "I heard you pull up." Dean walked around to see his brother's face when Sam didn't roll over.

"Why didn't you come down?"

"Too comfortable man," Sam sounded tired but his face was calm and there were no signs of disquiet.

"You okay? How's the pain in the ribs?"

"I'm sleeping on my side aren't I? That's gotta mean something."

"It's not your bad side … how many pills you pop?" Dean eyed him critically.

"Just one before bed last night," Sam assured. "I'm okay Dean. You got back quicker than I thought you would."

"Yeah, well I stopped once; it's not that long of a trip."

"How are Ben and Lisa?" Sam asked as he studied his big brother. He saw the fleeting moment where Dean's jaw twitched but it passed quickly. "Tough leaving, huh?"

"It's all good Sammy," Dean replied. He knew Sam would push for more info but he also knew his little brother wouldn't push too hard too soon either and he was thankful that his kid brother still knew him.

"How was the game?"

"They won. They got a spot in the national competition, so Ben was pretty stoked about that."

"Stoked?" Sam looked amused at his brother.

"Hey, at least I'm talking in text," Dean bantered. "You know … OMG … LOL …" Sam laughed a pure from the soul laugh and Dean knew in that moment he had done the right thing for himself and his brother. "Come on, Bobby's makin' some omelets."

Dean leaned down and helped Sam up to a sitting position. "I could have done that myself ya know."

"Yeah, I know, but no reason to strain more than you have to, right?"

"I suppose," Sam conceded.

"Come on ya idjits … the foods getting' cold and I ain't getting' no younger," Bobby's voice called from the kitchen. Sam and Dean both smiled and headed toward the stairs.

To Be Continued