This chapter is way too short for how long it took me to get it up here. But since school got out I've been going out and doing things. So I took a break from writing for a bit.

So the chapter. This is where it starts towards the end. The curve where they start getting the info they need. And also? I'm not near as creative as the writers. So my killing of the leviathans may be simpler than theirs. That's the beauty of AU though right?

Ch. 19

Dean wakes up to the smell of bacon. A really good smell to wake up to. Slowly though, his mind starts to register that he shouldn't be waking up to the smell of bacon. Especially since they haven't had it since they left their cabin. Before he even opens his eyes, his body starts to actually register that it's alone in the bed. His eyes snap open.

There are few things that shock Dean, but one of them has always been his brother. As he sits up in bed, he warily asses what he's seeing. Sam's okay. Content even. Standing at the stove Dean got working a couple weeks ago cooking the bacon that keeps smelling better as the minutes wear on. Especially since he hasn't eaten in about forty-eight hours. First things first though. "Good morning."

Sam doesn't even flinch, just looks over his shoulder to give Dean a small smile.

He tries not to show his shock as he moves to sit on the edge of the bed. When he goes to stand, he winces.

Sam clears his throat. When Dean looks up, Sam's scowling, pointing to the headboard.

Dean scowls back. "I'm fine." But when he puts weight on his leg, he winces again.

Sam huffs, setting the skillet down and walking over to push and prod Dean until he retreats back to sit against the headboard.

"Okay, okay!"

Sam smirks, walking back over to the skillet to push the amazing smelling bacon onto a paper plate and carries it over to him.

Dean takes the plate, trying not to let Sam know he's assessing him. "So… where'd you get all this stuff?"

"Drew."

Dean eats a piece of bacon, ignoring how hot it is because it's so worth it. As he eats, he watches Sam slide his own bacon onto a plate and go to the big box that Drew brought last night. He pulls out a box of cereal, finally coming over to sit on his side of the bed, cross legged, cereal box between them. Dean finally speaks again. "So Drew came to check on us and you just decided to ask for a skillet and some bacon?"

Sam shakes his head, finishing one of his pieces and reaching for the box of cereal. "Saw your leg was swollen. Found Drew and asked for what they had today so you didn't have to get up yet. He brought the skillet and bacon. Knew our stove worked. Fresh is better."

Dean watches Sam eat the handful of cereal and notices it's one of the off brands of Cheerios. He vaguely wonders if there's any real Cheerios left. Then something clicks. He looks back to Sam. "You went out to find Drew?"

Sam nods.

"Without me."

Sam nods again.

Dean's hand twitches towards his bag. Silver or holy water?

Sam chuckles. "Not shifter or possessed."

Of course Sam knew what he was thinking. His face must show his shock. He leans back against the headboard. "You okay?"

Sam shrugs.

Fair enough. Instead of asking anymore questions, he finishes his bacon and starts taking handfuls of cereal as he tries to make sense of the situation.

Last night, Sam was falling apart. He reverted back to five-year-old-clingy Sammy. Dean had to play parent and make things all better like when they were kids, keeping Sam safely tucked in next to him while they slept. Sam felt better knowing Dean was alive. Then went out and got breakfast when he woke up. And now everything's fine? It can't be that easy.

"I'm fine."

Dean looks to Sam's amused smile. He chuckles. "I'm just a little shocked, is all. Proud maybe."

Sam's smile gets bigger.

"You don't need to prove anything, you know?"

Sam nods.

"Okay." Dean looks down at his leg. "Since you're being all housewife-y today, you mind wrapping my leg?"

Sam rolls his eyes, but throws his plate on the counter before going to the med kit and getting out new bandages. Sitting back on the bed, he moves the leg of Dean's jeans out of the way that's conveniently cut from yesterday when they loosely wrapped it. He takes off the old bandage, frowning at the bruising and swelling before carefully going back with the new bandage. "How bad?"

"Not too bad. Just a little sore."

Sam grunts, not necessarily believing.

"You care to explain how you're just back to being fine?"

Sam shrugs, not looking up.

Dean sighs.

It's quiet for a while. Then, "Figured no use dwelling on it. You're here. Don't want to keep the thought of you not. Just want normal."

Dean blinks. Sam decided to be fine. He decided that since Dean was okay, he'd be fine. "So you're saying you just decided you weren't going to dwell on it."

Sam shrugs. "Basically."

Dean stares.

Sam finishes wrapping his brother's leg, securing it before looking up. He meets Dean's eyes. He grins a little when he still sees the shock there. He sits up, patting Dean's leg before reaching for the cereal box again. He eats a handful before he talks. "When Drew came back without you… I thought you were dead. And I just wanted you back. It's like the world fell off its axis. I just couldn't deal with it."

Dean cringes. "I'm sorry," he murmurs.

Sam shakes his head, hand fisting in his brother's jeans. "But you're back. And I figured that if you keep coming back to life for me, the least I can do is actually appreciate it when you're around. To do that, I need to be comfortable in life. Not acting like every single thing has it out for me. So I'm done being nervous. Done dwelling on hell. I'm here. Not there. And I'm going to live like it."

Dean stares at him. "Old Sam is back?"

Sam smiles nervously. "Not exactly. Maybe a mix?"

Dean chuckles. "I can live with that."

Sam grins. He pats Dean's leg again, looking down. "Doesn't mean I don't need you anymore," he murmurs.

Dean smiles fondly. "I know."

"Good." He stands, putting an abrupt end to the moment. "Drew told me the meeting you asked for will be at eleven. You ready? I want to know how you got here too."

"You let me sleep too late," Dean grumbles as he stands, slowly testing his leg. Sam wrapped it pretty good. It still has a twinge, but doesn't hurt as much. "You're good at this."

Sam chuckles.

Sam's back to being silent as soon as the step out of the cabin. Dean figures the reason he talked so much earlier was because it was important. He can tell Sam still prefers to just not talk. He's okay with that. Sam is still making an effort with everything else. He went out and about by himself today for crying out loud.

Apparently meetings between leaders are held in the lockdown cabin. Sam leads him there, stepping back to let Dean lead when they get there. Everyone makes themselves comfortable when the good mornings are over. It's interesting to see how everyone sits in their chair. It shows how informal everyone feels with each other.

Crow has his chair turned backwards, arms resting on the back. Mark is more formal, though his legs are stretched out straight and relaxed. Drake has his feet propped up on another chair and Sky sits on a windowsill and uses the same chair for his feet. A very laid back meeting.

Dean props his arm up on the back of Sam's chair since it's so close, leaning over to relax his whole body in an attempt to make the throbbing in his chest stop. His knuckles barely brush Sam's arm. "So… I have something to explain to everyone."

"You sure as hell do," Mark growls. "Damn near made me hope Bobby didn't come back to haunt me for gettin' your fool ass killed."

Dean chuckles as Sam smirks. "Sorry. But I have a good reason."

"So, let us in on the secret," Crow cuts in with a smirk. "I for one want to know how you got away if you were stuck buried under something heavy enough that you and Drew couldn't get it off you. Drew told us the story."

Sam looks to him.

Dean sighs. "Buildings started giving away after the blast. Domino effect started."

Sam frowns. His knee bumps Deans.

Dean presses his knee close in reassurance as he continues. "I was pinned beneath a falling wall. I'm just glad it wasn't heavy enough to crush me." He grimaces. "It hurt. But I was hearing things move out there. I could tell it wasn't from falling either. More like a shuffle. So I got Drew to leave. It took a lot of convincing." He looks to Sam.

Sam nods. He understands. He isn't mad.

Dean gives him a small smile before looking away and continuing. "It wasn't leviathans that found me. It was humans."

Mark frowns. "Humans?"

"That's why I was able to escape so easily. It's like they're controlling them somehow. Like the turducken mind control. Only it's different. They have orders and they follow them. But they're still perfecting it I think. It was way too easy to get away. If their orders are limited, they don't know how to act outside of them. They barely had enough mind to unbury me."

"So maybe they were what was left from the explosion, still following orders," Drake muses aloud.

Dean nods. "I think so. I didn't see a leviathan around as I left."

"You kill them?" Crow asks.

Dean nods. "That was a little tougher. There were four of them. And my leg was on fire. But I was a little quicker. As I said, I still think they're perfecting the formula." He chuckles, looking to Sam. "I've always wanted to say that."

Sam rolls his eyes but grins.

Dean stares, unable to stop smiling when he sees that it's closer to Sam's old grin. He nudges Sam's arm with the hand that's hanging over his shoulders. "Those eyes are going to roll out of your head."

"So…" Sky looks to Mark. "Any idea on a plan of action?"

Mark looks to Dean. "You know as much as we do. As an honorary leader of this camp, do you have any ideas?"

Dean looks to Sam. "I might. I'll have to see what Sam has to say. But I think we know just enough to start coming up with a final plan."

Sam nods. Then looks to Mark. "Who do you know that might want in on a murder mission?"

Dean blinks. "What?"

Sam gives him a sideways smirk before looking back to Mark.

Mark chuckles. "You really are the planner of the two."

Sam shrugs.

"I do know someone."

Drake shudders, making Crow and Sky chuckle. "Dude's creepy. You said we wouldn't go back there."

Mark shrugs. "He sounds like what Sam has in mind." He grins at Sam's creepy smile. "But when we get there I'll tell you why I'd prefer if you didn't go in."

Sam looks to Dean.

Dean's assessing Mark.

"I wouldn't take you if I thought you'd get hurt," he soothes.

Dean sighs. Then looks to Sam, who's still looking at him. "Alright. But you better fill me in on this plan of yours."

Sam grins.

"This is by far the creepiest thing you have ever suggested."

Sam shrugs.

"No. Don't 'whatever' me. Seriously dude. It's nuts. I'm actually kind of creeped out."

Sam chuckles.

"Do you really think it's a good idea to go see someone Mark thinks is sadistic enough to want to do this?"

Sam finally looks to him, tilting his head back and looking at Dean from his upside down position on the bed. Where he just flopped when they got back to the cabin to talk. He smiles. "Scared?"

Dean glowers. "Now Sammy. No need to be mean."

Sam laughs, sitting up and crossing his legs to look at Dean who's leaning against the counter. "I hope he's as sadistic as Mark seems to think. We'll need that."

Dean huffs. "So are you going to tell me what your whole creepy ass plan is or not?"

Sam grins.