Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 6

"Imprint?" Dean asked in confusion and Sam bit his lip nervously. "Okay I'm thinking you don't meant he way baby animals do to their parents so spill little brother." Sam blinked and then chuckled slightly at what Dean had said.

"No it's not the baby animal thing. It's a…wolf thing." He admitted, getting up to pace the room while Dean watched. "Imprinting is…" Sam ran his hands through his hair in frustration and Dean got up, grabbing Sam's wrists.

"Hey, calm down. It's going to be okay." He soothed, hating to see Sam so upset. He could feel Sam's muscles quivering beneath his hands and was a little worried Sam might be about to phase in which case he was standing way too close. "Just breathe kiddo, whatever it is we'll work it out, alright?" He stared at Sam who slowly relaxed and then nodded before going to his bag to get something, handing the piece of paper to Dean.

When a shape-shifter imprints on a specific person, he becomes unconditionally bound to them for the rest of his life. When it happens, the experience is described as being gravitationally pulled toward that person while a glowing heat fills him; the connections of everything else become severed, or simply secondary, and only the imprintee is left to matter, leaving the shape-shifter with a deep need to do anything to please and protect the person.

Imprinting occurs only after a wolf's first phasing. It can happen with anyone, regardless of previous personal feelings. It happens the first time he sees the human object of his imprinting; if the shape-shifter does not react to a human subject the first time he sees them after he phases, that means he will never imprint on that human. Imprinting can't be forced on anyone, no matter how much the shape-shifter may want it.

What would happen if a wolf is rejected by his imprintee is also unknown, though this is assumed to be almost impossible; the imprinter is deemed to be the "perfect match" to the imprintee; he will be anything they may want or need, making rejection extremely unlikely. Should it happen, however, the imprinter may feel unspeakable pain.

It is implied that once a shape-shifter imprints he will be able spend the rest of his life aging alongside his imprintee once he is able to quit phasing. It is also implied that should the imprintee be long-living or immortal, the imprinter will live alongside her as long as he can phase every so often. It is unknown whether shape-shifters need to stop phasing and for how long before breeding.

Dean lowered the paper and looked at Sam with wide eyes. He was Sam's soul-mate? How could that be? They were brothers, both male so that last bit about breeding better not be relevant! He looked back at the handwritten notes and then back at his brother, well that explained Sam's reaction at the coffee shop.

Sam waited for Dean to say or do something, hugging himself nervously and fighting the urge to phase due to the fear growing in his heart. He stared at the carpet, waiting for Dean to yell or something and nearly jumped when a hesitant hand touched his arm. He looked up to see Dean standing in front of him, eyes full of confusion but not fear or hate. "Sammy? You….we're…..I'm your Imprint?" Dean asked and Sam nodded. "So the whole wanting to be touching all the time is because of that?"

Sam blinked when he heard something in Dean's voice, disappointment? He shook his head. "Not just….I missed you." He whispered.

Hearing Sam's admission that it wasn't just the Imprint thing made Dean feel better. "I know you missed me Sam, I missed you too. So what do we do now?" He asked and Sam shrugged.

"It's up to you. Whatever you want from me…." Sam answered and Dean shook his head.

"No, now way kiddo. You are not just gonna give whatever I want." He argued, making sure Sam was looking at him. "Whatever this is, whatever we're going to do….we're brothers, family. Even if we end up…we're equal Sam, you need to tell me what you want and need too." He was not taking advantage of Sam like it seemed this imprinting thing would let him. Sam stared at him in shock but then nodded and Dean grinned weakly. "So…..I need coffee. What do you say we head out?"

"Kay." Sam agreed, watching Dean fold the paper up and put it in his own bag as he packed the rest of his gear. Sam smiled slightly before packing his own things.

"Billy? Is something wrong? Is it the Clearwaters?" Sam asked when the man rang.

"Slow down Sam, everyone's fine." Billy assured him. "I'm ringing on Tribal business."

"Okay." Sam answered, breathing slowing in relief.

"Remember the Cold Ones the Tribe had a treaty with?"

"Yeah, during you Grandfathers time right? But they left decades ago."

"Well they're back. Which means a meeting to renew the treaty or tell them to leave. We'd all feel a lot better if you were here."

"One wolf versus how many?" Sam asked but then closed his eyes. "I'll be there. We just finished a job so I can leave now."

"Thank you. You can be in wolf form; they won't know who you are."

"Alright, I'll be there in a day or two." Sam promised and they said their goodbyes before hanging up. Sam looked out the window to see Dean emerging from the shop with a bag of food and bit his lip, unsure what to do. Would Dean want to come and even if he did should he? Would that be close enough to trigger the gene?

"Got your usual." Dean grinned and tossed Sam the bag before frowning. "Okay what'd I miss?"

"I uh….got a call from the Tribal Elders. They need my help." Sam answered vaguely and Dean stared at him. Sam stared at the bag of food, able to smell the meat.

"Sam…"

Sam sighed. "There's a group of Cold Ones that the Tribe had a treaty with back in our great grandparents time. Apparently they're different to the others of their kind or something. Anyway they're back and the Elders want me there for the Treaty meeting as backup."

"No way."

"Dean….if it wasn't for them I'd still be living wild in whatever forests I could find in my wolf form." Sam argued. "It'll only be a couple of days."

"Sammy…."

"I'll be fine Dean."

"What do you mean 'I'?" Dean demanded.

Sam shrugged. "Dean we don't know how close will trigger the gene." He admitted and Dean winced slightly.

Dean realised Sam was trying to keep him safe but he was not letting him go alone. "I'm going with you Sam, no matter the consequences."

"Dean…." Sam gave up when he saw the look on his brother's face. "Fine but swear you'll stay on the Reservation."

"Fine."

TBC…