Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 2

Sue peered into the guestroom and smiled sadly when she saw Sam sleeping on the floor but at least he'd pulled the blankets down as well. After a year in the wild a bed obviously felt weird.

"Sam." She called quietly but his head shot up instantly, hazel eyes wide and alert as he looked around wildly.
"It's okay Sam, its Sue, you're in my guestroom." She soothed and he stared at her for a few seconds longer before blushing, lowering his head so his hair would cover it.
"It's alright, you'll get used to being back in civilisation soon. Breakfast's ready when you are." With that she left him alone, knowing her seeing him like that was making Sam uncomfortable. She set the table and Harry sat down, nodding in greeting when Sam hesitantly joined them.

"Sleep well?" Harry asked.

"Yes sir…Harry." Sam answered, accepting the plate from Sue.

"I thought we could go to the library; try to track your connection to the tribe if you want." Harry offered and Sam chewed his lip. Did he really want to know? If he did it then they'd know his name, they could track down Dean or even Dad…would it put them in danger?

"You said it runs in families so if I…..my brother…." Sam asked and Harry sighed.

"Then there's a chance that given the right circumstances he could change too." He answered and Sam stared at his plate.

"Okay." Sam said and Harry nodded.

"The children will be home this afternoon from school. We have two children, Leah and Seth, both younger than you. Leah probably won't be around much, she has a boyfriend. Seth can be very energetic so let him know if it's too much." Sue explained and Sam nodded as he continued eating. Neither older adult wanted to think about what he'd been eating the last year and considered it a good thing that he was easily adapting to normal food. Once they were done Sam stood up to help with the dishes, making Sue smile. After that Harry stood and motioned for Sam to follow him. They weren't sure how Sam would react but the La Push library was small and rarely had people other than staff inside so Harry was hoping Sam would be okay. He didn't think the kid would shift because of a crowd, he just didn't want him feeling overwhelmed and like he had to run.

Sam tensed up as they hit the more populated areas, trying to keep calm. He knew he couldn't shift here, he wouldn't put Harry in danger and he was walking far too close. Besides he didn't want to freak them out and end up with a hunter showing up. Sam could feel his breathing speed up as more and more people surrounded them but then Harry's hand was on his back, gently guiding him and he relaxed. So apparently he trusted Harry and Sue, at least enough to believe they wouldn't purposely hurt him. They walked into the library and Harry suppressed a chuckle as Sam stared at the books hungrily.

"Go look around Sam, I'm gonna get us some computer time and see about getting the tribal records ready for our search." Harry told him and Sam nodded before vanishing into the stacks.

"Good morning." The librarian greeted Harry who smiled and nodded.

"Good morning. I'm going to need internet access and into the tribal records in a while. Doing a family search." Harry explained and her eyes flickered to Sam.

"Of course, here is the user name and password, good luck." She told him and Harry walked over to the computers, smiling when Sam joined him, head in a book, hungrily reading. Well he had mentioned being at college so he probably missed books.

"If you want to read that I'll borrow it for you." He offered and Sam looked up at him before nodding, giving him a small smile.
"Let's get started then. You know how to use this thing?" Harry asked, getting a bigger smile from Sam who took the user details and typed them in before bringing up the search engine. Harry watched him as he worked but then Sam hesitated.
"Sam?"

"Not sure where to start."

"You're parents would probably be easiest." Harry offered and Sam nodded, bringing up the appropriate page for Kansas. Harry watched as he typed in John Winchester and Mary Campbell so at least they now had a last name for the kid.

Sam laughed as he tossed the ball to Seth who grinned as he caught it. Sue watched the two play from the kitchen, happy that Sam seemed to have finally truly settled in. The first three months had been hard on everyone but finding out the boy was actually Harry's cousin several times removed had made things a little easier with the others. The fact that Sam was a wolf had only been revealed to the Tribal Council and they had all been shocked but pleased that someone so distantly related still carried the ability. It wasn't any secret they wanted Sam to stay forever either but it was obvious Sam had no intention of settling down to live in La Push. Instead Sam had taught those who wanted to learn about the other beings that were out there and how to defend themselves from them. The first thing he'd done after telling their family everything was carve wards into the very walls of the house and lay salt lines. Since then they'd appeared in several other houses.

Sue had taken it upon herself to make sure that Sam had time to just play and he got alone well with Seth despite the gap in their ages. He helped him with his homework whenever Seth asked and spent time teaching him to fight, just in case. She knew Sam saw Seth as a younger brother now and that Seth adored Sam….she only hoped that when Sam left it wouldn't hurt either boy too badly. She laughed as they tumbled into the kitchen, giving them both food before Sam chased Seth upstairs to work on his homework, Seth laughing the whole way.

Sam ran along the boundary, revelling in the freedom his other form gave him. He knew those in the know wanted him to stay and be their protector but he couldn't do it. They'd been great in helping him learn about his wolf side but he figured teaching them about demons and all was a pretty fair payback. He just couldn't settle on the Res, maybe one day but he knew soon enough he'd be back on the road again.

Sure his life had definitely improved a lot and he really enjoyed being a big brother for Seth…..but he found he missed life on the road. If someone had suggested that before he'd left for college he would have never believed it but now he did. He just didn't feel like he really belonged anywhere anymore. Yeah Sue and Harry were great, Leah was a bit annoying and Seth pretty much worshipped him but honestly? He missed his own big brother, he missed Dean. He often wondered what Dean was doing, if he was okay, was he even still alive?

Sam watched the kids fool around as he cleaned a table. Sue had tried to discourage him, saying they would get him what he needed, but he refused to take anymore charity from them. So he was working at a dinner in Forks to save up for a car. After six months he'd gotten used to being around people again and had very good control over his other side so he wasn't afraid of getting mad and shifting in front of some poor civilian. He liked being around people who had no clue, to them he was just another guy who just happened to live on the Res for some reason and worked in the diner, cleaning and waiting tables. It was…..uncomplicated and at the moment he sort of needed uncomplicated.

"Why are you leaving?" The quiet voice Sam had been dreading all day asked and he turned form his half packed duffle to look at the kid in his doorway.

"Seth…..come here kid." He called and Seth ran to him, hugging him tight and Sam hugged him back.
"I'm not leaving for good; I'll be back all the time. You have my number and a little gift in your room, you can call me anytime." Sam explained and Seth glared sullenly at the floor.

"But it won't be the same." He mumbled and Sam sighed.

"Seth…I know you've heard some of the stuff I've told your parents. There are people out there that need my help. I'd stay if I could but I have to go." Sam told him and Seth scuffed at the floor with his shoe but nodded.
"I promise little brother, if you ever need me I'll come." Sam promised and Seth nodded, hugging him again before leaving. Sam smiled as he watched him go, Seth was a good kid and if it wasn't for everything he would stay and be the big brother he needed, like Dean had for him. Instead he was going to have to be a mostly absent one.

Sam stared down at his phone. Sue had been on his back for the last month to make the call; she'd even gotten Seth onto her side. So now he was in Seattle, in a run down motel trying to work up the courage to call the one person he missed more than anything. Shaking fingers slowly dialled from memory, not sure whether or not he actually wanted the number to still be good.

"Hello?" A familiar voice answered and Sam closed his eyes.

"Hey Dean." Sam whispered.

"Sam? Sam is that you? Where are you? Are you okay?" Dean demanded and Sam choked on a laugh.

"Yeah, I'm okay, it's uh, good to hear your voice." Sam answered and Dean fell silent.
"Dean?"

"How do I know it's really you?" Dean demanded, suddenly suspicious and Sam sniffled.

"Guess you don't since anything pretending to be me would have access to me memories."

"Damn it Sam what happened?" Dean asked and Sam closed his eyes.

"I…I can't tell you. I just wanted you to know I'm alive and I'm okay. I wasn't for a long while but I'm good now. I miss you and I'm sorry for not calling or anything."

"Sam where are you?"

"No Dean, I can't." Sam answered, moving to hang up.

"Sam don't! Don't hang up yet. Come on kid, talk to me." Dean pleaded and Sam took a deep breath.
"It'd been two years Sam, give me something."

"I can't." Sam whispered brokenly.

"Please Sam, where are you? Let me come see you, wherever you want, however." Dean begged and Sam hesitated.
"Please." Sam sobbed, Dean was begging, Dean never begged.

"Seattle. Starbucks on 3rd Avenue." Sam finally whispered.

"Okay, I can be there in two days." Dean answered quickly.

"Alone and unarmed. 2pm." With that Sam hung up, unable to keep talking.

Dean arrived half an hour early but he figured that Sam would know he would. He took a good look around and casually set up a few things, just in case it was a trap. He never even noticed Sam watching from nearby with a small smile on his face. When two o'clock came Dean went inside, got a cup of coffee and sat down, two minutes later Sam followed, getting a cup of his own before sitting down opposite his brother.

Dean couldn't help staring even as he whispered Christo under his breath. The kid was tall! He'd bulked up a bit too so it was a very good thing he wasn't a demon, they were strong enough without the body's muscles backing them up. Sam quirked a smile when he checked though. Dean could tell Sam was nervous…..scared even and that worried him, Sam had never been scared of him before.

Sam avoided eye contact and shakily brought the cup to his mouth, drinking the scalding liquid. He was scared and he knew Dean could tell. He wanted to believe Dean would accept him still but he knew Dean was a lot like their Dad….that was why they were meeting in public; no way would Dean try to shoot or stab him. But he wanted his brother back so badly. Sam finally looked up at Dean, meeting his eyes and then gasped; feeling like someone had hit him with a two by four. His whole word shifted and narrowed until Dean was all he could see.

"Sam? Hello? Sam!" Dean called and Sam finally blinked, shaking his head. Dean frowned, something weird had definitely just happened but he wasn't sure what.
"Sam?" Dean tried again and Sam smiled at him.

"Hey Dean." Sam answered softly.

"It's really you?"

"Yeah, it's really me. I missed you." Sam admitted and Dean stared at him, not sure what to think.
"Guess the unarmed thing makes the silver test difficult though. Um….you're ring is silver…" Not sure what Sam was getting at Dean took his ring off and handed it over. Sam gripped it tight in one hand and then rammed it into the other.

"Sam!" Dean grabbed his hand, gently wiping away the red, human blood.
"Why'd you do that?" He chastised as he used a napkin to stop the bleeding from the ragged wound.

"You needed to know." Sam answered, watching Dean's movements. Dean took his ring back but slipped it into a pocket, not wanting to wear it while it had Sam's blood on it. Dean held Sam's hand in his for a few seconds, just forcing himself to realise that Sam was alive and well in front of him.

"I went to Stanford to see you, talked to your roommate. He said you were upset, borrowed his car and then it was back and you weren't. I looked everywhere Sammy….I thought…" Dean trailed off, unable to say it and Sam looked away.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you." Sam whispered.

"Sammy why? Why did you leave? What happened?" Dean asked and Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. Dean frowned as he realised Sam was wearing it a lot shorter, almost the same length as his own.
"You cut your hair?" He asked and Sam looked at him before laughing.

"My hair….with everything….you ask about my hair. Yeah I cut it. Still longer than yours though."

"Not by much." Dean argued and then sighed.
"Sam…."

"Okay…..not here though."

"Sam…first you want in public and unarmed now what?" Dean growled in frustration and Sam actually flinched slightly making Dean wince.
"I just want to know Sammy." He whispered and Sam nodded, standing up.

"I'll tell you. Come on, there's gonna be some show and tell and well, the show bit's better in private." Sam told him, holding out his hand and Dean looked up at him before nodding, taking Sam's hand. Sam smiled shakily and led him from Starbucks, heading down the street. Dean followed him, taking in the sights and watching for danger, since he'd never actually been to Seattle before. It was a generally quiet town when it came to the supernatural. It wasn't all that surprising when Sam led him to a motel, the sort of place they'd spent most of their childhood staying in. Sam unlocked his door and led Dean in. He relaxed a bit at seeing the protections Sam had placed on the room. Dean smiled when he saw the two beds and Sam shrugged, sitting on the edge of one so Dean sat on the other.

"So explanation please?"

"I've been here, well not in the city but nearby for the last year." Sam said quietly and Dean was happy that Sam finally seemed willing to talk.

"Before that?" He asked gently and Sam stared at his hands.

"Running, hiding from people." Sam admitted softly.

"Why? Sam what happened?" Dean asked and Sam hugged himself.
"Sam whatever it is you can tell me." Dean urged.

"I…there was something killing people near campus so I went after it. Worst mistake I ever made. It…..I'd never heard of something like it. As cold as ice and harder than stone, eyes blood red…..it threw me around like I was nothing. But then…." Sam whispered and Dean froze….whatever it was it hadn't made Sam like it, he'd touched Sam and the kid was warm….too warm actually.
"I didn't know what was happening to me so I ran, lived in the woods alone off what I could hunt. A year later I heard someone scream. This guy was trying to hurt her, I couldn't let him. Chased him off and went to check on her….she wasn't scared of me." Sam kept going and Dean frowned, scared of him? Why would anyone be scared of Sam? Sure he was really tall but one look at those eyes and anyone could see he was a good kid.
"Did you know Mom's family had Native American in it? Our great-great grandmother was from the Quileute tribe here in Washington. Her name was Mary Clearwater actually." Sam suddenly babbled and Dean froze at the mention of their Mom. Okay so how did that tie in to whatever was going on.
"Not making a lot of sense am I?" Sam asked and Dean shook his head.
"I…..I don't know how…." Sam trailed off, finally looking at Dean again and he could see the fear and pain in Sam's eyes. He knew one thing from what Sam had been saying, he wasn't entirely normal anymore. But looking at the kid and hearing how he'd cut himself off form civilisation to keep people safe…..Dean reached out and pulled Sam into a hug. Sam stiffened but then relaxed, hugging him back tightly. Dean didn't care if Sam wasn't really human anymore as long as he was still Sam.
"Guess it's time for the show portion." Sam whispered and then stood up, moving away from the beds.

"Sam?" Dean called, standing up but Sam shook his head.

"Stay over there, I need room for this. Just…..don't be scared please." Sam pleaded and Dean nodded, giving him room. He stared as Sam stripped off, eyeing the tattoo on his shoulder with interest, it looked tribal. Sam took a deep breath and Dean knew he was about to find out why Sam had disappeared for two years. Dean nodded and Sam gave him a shaky smile before seeming to explode. Dean gasped and then stared in shock at the massive wolf crouched where Sam had been. He was a beautiful animal with a chestnut coat and deep hazel eyes, just like Sam's. The wolf whined, tail drooping and Dean held out a hand.

"Sam? Can you understand me? Its okay little brother." Dean called and Sam crawled closer on his belly, as if trying to make himself unthreatening. When he was close enough Dean buried a hand in his fur, smiling at the softness. Sam lifted his head and licked Dean's cheek, making him smile.
"This is why you ran?" He asked and Sam nodded. Dean knelt and wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck, hugging him.
"You could have told me Sam, I would have come. You're still you, I can tell." Dean whispered and Sam whimpered, moving to lie in Dean's lap as much as he could.
"You're heavy kiddo." Dean murmured but petted him. He didn't even flinch when Sam changed back, just hugged him and ignored the fact he was naked.

TBC…