Chapter 9

After Dean left the second time, Nitro opened her kit and found what she wanted, a syringe with a mild sedative. She turned to the young man and squatted down to his level before slipping a little closer.

"Hey Pup, remember me?" she asked softly trying to catch his eyes. "You don't have to be afraid; no one here will hurt you. I swear. You're safe. Estás seguro," she said hoping she could get him to understand. She had seen this type of confusion before with captives who had been tortured like he had been. Their minds were so overloaded they didn't know they had been rescued and it took a little time for them to comprehend it.

Sam jerked out of his fitful daze when a new voice spoke to him. He had heard it before and associated comfort with it, not pain or hurt. Sam looked to the slightly blurred features of a woman easing toward him and let her lay a hand on his knee and rub his arm. The comfort and touch felt good and assuring to him as he leaned his head back against his knees closing his eyes.

"That's it, you're safe now," she said watching him for any outburst. She continued to stroke his arm for another five minutes making sure he would let her touch him. Nitro moved to feel his forehead, unhappy it was sweaty and feverish. She went back to her kit and found some Tylenol and picked up a bottle of water. "Think you can swallow a couple of pills Pup?" she asked reaching up and touching his lips with them. She watched him automatically open and pushed them in his mouth. "Now a little water to wash them down," Nitro said holding the straw to his lips, watching him capture it and pulled a little water into his mouth.

Sam worked on swallowing the liquid in his mouth and tried to get the pills down that seemed stuck to his tongue. He grimaced at the taste and sucked more water, finally washing them down with a sigh. He looked at her with glazed, scared eyes that he could barely keep open, his body tense and trembling.

"I'm going to give you something to help you relax. This won't hurt at all; it's just a little stick," she assured him. Nitro injected him with the sedative and watched him flinch slightly but got no other reaction from him. She recapped the used syringe and tossed it in a nearby trashcan before taking his bloody arm and looking at the lacerations. "You're gonna need a couple of stitches to close these. I'll just wait until the sedative takes effect and get you back in bed. It'll be okay Pup; you need to let yourself rest and heal. Just go to sleep...Relax and sleep," she cooed as Sam's head slowly fell sideways as the drug kicked in. His arms slid from his knees as his body became limp. She pushed him back, letting his head rest against the wall where he would be more comfortable for now. Nitro got up to get Dean so they could get him back in bed and she could tend to his injuries.

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The car seemed full of bags and when he opened the trunk he found a collapsed wheelchair and shower chair along with more bags. He pulled each out and carried them into the cabin deciding to leave them in the hallway so he could get the rest of the bags. He sat them on the counter and the dining room table to sort and start putting the food away. Dean began to fill the fridge and cabinets with produce, meats, milk, coffee, soups, frozen vegetables, snacks, beer, bread, sandwich meat, cheese, condiments, and various other items they would need. He sat the laundry detergent and fabric softener in the laundry room and toilet paper on the counter to take to the bathrooms. The bags that had clothes, which he figured were for Sam, he tossed into the laundry room to be washed and finally he found what he was looking for, a couple bottles of Jack Daniels. He found a glass in the cabinet and proceeded to pour a generous portion into it. With a deep sigh, he tilted the glass and gulped the fiery liquid down in two swallows, grimacing when it hit his stomach and made his eyes water. He coughed and cleared his throat before pouring another smaller shot. Dean felt her presence before she spoke but didn't look her way.

"I need your help getting him back in bed," Nitro finally said looking at the glass and the bottle of whiskey.

"He won't let me near him," Dean grunted swirling the amber liquid around in the glass while he contemplated drinking it.

"I gave him a sedative, he should be out the rest of the night," she explained. "Gunny, I know you're hurting, but that's not the answer," she advised him softly as he threw back to second drink.

Dean sat the glass down by the bottle of whiskey without saying a word and turned to head for the bedrooms. He pushed the wheelchair in front of him to the bedroom, leaving it near the dresser. He looked to the corner and saw his brother slumped in it knocked out. Sam's body was limp and his head hung to the side with his mouth drooping open with a string of salvia hanging from it. Sammy looked so young and vulnerable slumped in the corner, raspy breathing coming out of his mouth. It brought back memories of when they were young and played hide and seek and he would go to sleep hidden in a corner or behind a curtain waiting for Dean to find him. He could see that innocence was gone from his facial expression now and his heart ached with his chest tightening making it hard to breath.

Nitro followed him with the shower chair. She took it to the bathroom sitting it by the tub to be used later. She stood at the bathroom door and watched Dean stare at his brother, a longing and painful look on his face before it was quickly replaced with a neutral one. He went to his brother and carefully scooped him up in his arms like he was a baby.

"Let me turn the bed down first," Nitro said before he could put Sam down.

"Alright," Dean answered holding Sam in his arms by the bed waiting for her. He shifted slightly and pulled his brother's body closer into his chest letting his head fall onto his shoulder. Dean leaned his cheek to Sam's forehead and felt how warm it was.

"He's hot," Dean commented.

"I know, I got him to take something a few minutes ago. I need to put a couple of stitches in his arm to close it up," she told him as she pulled the covers back and caught Sam's arm before it landed on the white sheet. Nitro placed it on his chest after Dean laid him down and went to get a couple of wet cloths from the bathroom. When she came back Dean was gone and Sam was alone in the room. She signed with worry before going to Sam and sitting on the bed to clean his arm and stitch it. She folded one washcloth and put it across his forehead to help cool him.

Smelling the aroma of urine, she knew he needed dry briefs and needed to check his other wounds so Nitro got up looking around for the package to get a dry pair and for the wipes. She felt it would be better for her to do this now and hoped they wouldn't have to do it much longer. She could tell he was getting a little stronger with the nourishment he had been getting. Nitro pulled the sheet over Sam's hips and worked his sweats off deciding to leave them off for now. She reached under the sheet and pulled the wet briefs off, then wiped him before slipping a dry pair up his legs and under the blanket. She inspected his other wounds before tucking the sheet around him and spreading a blanket out over him too. Nitro picked up the trash and straightened up around the bed, picking up the things knocked from the nightstand. She turned on the overhead fan and left a small lamp sitting on the dresser on, casting the room into shadows before leaving. One brother down and another to take care of, she thought heading in search of the older brother.

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The air was cool from the storm that had passed through as Dean stepped out on the deck and moved to sit in one of the chairs on the open part of the deck. He still needed to check the area out for dangers and get the lay of the land, but that would have to wait until it was light. He looked out toward the lake seeing the darkness of the water through the trees. A half moon would occasionally light a little section of the water, sparkling for a brief moment before disappearing. Sounds he didn't recognize echoed around through the forest causing him to pause and listen assessing any danger. Once he was satisfied there was nothing out there, he settled back in the chair and sipped on the third glass of whiskey in his hand. It burned going down and settled into his stomach as a wave of warmth began to spread throughout his body. Not one for heavy drinking, Dean was starting to feel the effects of the whiskey on his body. He had a lot of thinking to do and decisions to make and it all hinged on his little brother. A lone wolf's mournful howl could be heard off in the distance only to be answered seconds later by another wolf from across the valley. He knew how the first one felt, alone and searching for another.

Nitro went in search of the other brother looking in each room trying to figure out where he was. She looked out the front window and saw the Impala still parked where she left it so he had to be somewhere nearby. She opened the front door and looked onto the porch seeing it was empty. Frowning and wondering if he had taken a walk she turned and saw the sliding glass doors at the rear of the cabin. Nitro headed that way and looked out onto the deck seeing the shadow of Dean sitting in a chair at the end of the deck. She could just make out the bottle of whiskey as he poured himself another drink. She watched his slumped shoulders and rubbing of his temples knowing he was hurting thinking Sam was rejecting him.

"Gunny...Wanna talk?" she asked stepping onto the deck closer to him.

"I'm fine," he grunted not bothering to look her way as he studied the darkness.

"Okay, but if you want to, just know I'm here. Don't stay out here too long, it's getting chilly tonight," she said knowing it wouldn't do any good to press the issue right now and went back inside. She knew he wasn't in the mood to share so didn't waste her time trying to get him to talk. She pulled her cell from her pocket and punched in a number. "How long before you're here?" she asked quietly listening to the reply from the other end. "Sooner the better, but stay out of sight you know he can sense anyone watching him...Okay, bye."

Nitro went back to the kitchen and finished putting up the remaining groceries and gathered up the empty bags to store in the laundry room. She was exhausted and headed for her bedroom to get some rest. After using the bathroom and changing into sleep clothes, Nitro left her door opened so she could hear any disturbance before crawling between the sheets. It didn't take her long to drift off to sleep, ever keeping an ear out for trouble.

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Nearly four days had passed since they had gotten to the cabin and Sam was in and out of consciousness for short periods, but never fully woke. They got what fluids they could into him when he was conscious enough to drink. Nitro continued with the antibiotics and Tylenol and kept check of his wounds for any further infection. His temperature came down slowly and his fluid intake began to increase. Sam would still scream out from nightmares crying out for his father or begging an unknown monsters to not hurt him again or gibbering in Spanish to some imaginary person.

They tried to comfort him as best they could during these times. Dean hardly slept at all since they had gotten to the cabin and the lack of sleep was staring to show on him. He looked haggard, bleary eyed with dark patches of skin under his eyes. He would doze off sitting in a chair by Sam's bed or sitting at the table during a meal. Nitro tried to get him to let her sit with Sam, but he wouldn't have it, telling her Sam was his responsibility. It was on the fourth day that Sam seemed to be resting easier as his temperature was almost normal and he had not been plagued with nightmares. She hoped this was the turning point for him and he would start waking up for longer periods.

The morning of the fifth day dawned clear and crisp as Nitro rolled over and checked the time. She was never one to sleep in and enjoyed an early morning run whenever possible. After slipping on some sweats, sports bra and an oversized T-shirt that she thought belonged to one of the guys, she headed down the hall stopping first to look in on Sam. He was still sleeping peacefully in his bed but when she looked to the other it was empty and had not been slept in. She headed into the other room and saw socked feet hanging over the end of the couch in the family room. As quietly as she could, Nitro let herself out and stood on the porch for a moment breathing deeply and stretching before jogging down the driveway.

Dean lay still when he heard movement in the room knowing it was Nitro. He was used to her early morning routine and knew she was heading on a run. He lay there with a splitting headache knowing he shouldn't have had that last glass of whiskey. His mouth was extremely dry and felt like someone used it as an ashtray. He sat up slowly and waited for the room to stop spinning before weaving his way to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

Once it was brewing, he stood in front of the pot staring intently at it wanting it to perk faster. He closed is eyes for a moment and turned to the fridge for a bottle of water. Dean hungrily gulped several large swallows of water before hunting his jacket and searching his pockets for Tylenol. After finding the small bottle, he shook four out into the palm of his hand and threw them into his mouth along with several sips of water. He found cups in the cabinet and set two out before looking in the fridge for breakfast items. He pulled out eggs, a pack of bacon, found some frozen hash browns, sliced fruit and started putting together breakfast. By the time Nitro came back in the front door, Dean had breakfast almost done. He knew Sam couldn't eat what he was fixing and was going to fix a tray with applesauce, cream of wheat, protein drink, hot tea and toast for him. He would add some scrambled eggs and let Nitro decide what he could have.

"The eggs are ready to cook, go grab a quick shower and I'll have it ready," Dean told her before she could say anything.

"I won't be long," she said heading for her bedroom. Even thought he tried to hide it, she could see the smudges of bruising under his bloodshot eyes, the slight tremor in his hand and the pinched look of his face knowing he drunk too much last night. The only good thing about that was that was the last of the whiskey she had bought. She quickly shed her sweaty clothes and got the water going so she could shower, dress and get back out there. It was a surprise to see Gunny had cooked but thought maybe he was trying to stay busy so he wouldn't dwell on his brother.

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When Nitro stepped back into the kitchen, Dean had the table set and food laid out ready to eat. He pulled out a chair for her and poured coffee for both of them knowing she liked hers black too.

"You look like shit Gunny," she stated, not trying to sugar coat her words as he spooned eggs onto her plate.

"Good morning to you too," Dean huffed knowing if he looked anything like how he felt he must look rough. "When you're done, I'll fix a tray for Sammy."

"You wanna help him eat?"

"No, I don't think I should be in there," he mumbled looking down at his food. "It might upset him again."

"Let's see how he is this morning Gunny. He might be more alert."

Dean didn't say anything as he held a bite of food near his mouth but didn't eat it. Any appetite he had suddenly vanished as he remembered the look on his brother's face last night. He pinched his lips together and tried to push those thoughts aside for now. After what seemed like forever, he put the bite in his mouth and chewed the tasteless food. He didn't notice Nitro studying him as she forked egg into her mouth and sipped some coffee. She didn't say anything to him knowing it wouldn't help right now. She finished eating and stood to take her plate to the sink.

"You can change anything on the tray if..." Dean started getting up to scramble an egg and fix the cream of wheat and hot tea.

"It's fine," she said giving it a once over and adding napkins and straw and waited for him to add what he had cooked to the tray. Nitro headed to the bedroom, sitting the tray on the other bed and went over to wake Sam. "Hey Pup, hey? Think you can wake up for me?" she asked patting his cheeks and giving his shoulder a gentle shake to rouse him.

Sam grunted and groaned as he rolled his head toward her voice and squinted his eyes against the light. He used a hand to rub his eyes and yawned trying to wake his sore body. He blinked the mist from his eyes and looked up into the blurry face of a woman with dark hair that framed her face. He was still having trouble seeing clearly, but it was better this morning. He could tell she didn't seem threatening as she sat down beside on the bed.

"There you are," she said smiling sweetly. "How are you feeling this morning?"

He cleared his throat and answered in a rough, gravely voice. "Not...Sure."

"Think you can maybe eat something?"

"Maybe."

"Let's get you set up in bed here," she said helping him slide up in the bed and adjusting the pillows for him. "Let me caution you to take it slow. You've not had solid food in a while and you don't want to make yourself sick," she said getting the tray and sitting it on his lap before sitting back down beside him. Nitro unfolded a napkin and placed it under his chin and on his chest before he started eating.

Sam looked at the food on the tray and glanced around the room seeing nothing familiar to him. His mouth watered with the smell of the food and tried to decide what to eat. With a trembling hand, he spoon a little applesauce up and lifted it to his mouth. He rolled it around in his mouth before swallowing the slightly tart sauce. After it seemed the sauce would stay down, he tried another, spilling part of it on his chest. Nitro wiped up the spill but continued to let him feed himself, no matter how messy he was. He sipped some tea and coughed a couple of times before trying to speak. He had so many questions now that his mind was starting to work again and he was accessing his situation.

"What's your name?" he asked blinking hard trying clear his vision so he could see her better. So far his stomach was not protesting the food he was eating. He tried a bite of egg, chewing it slowly until it was tiny pieces before swallowing. He drank some of the protein drink as he waited for her to answer. There was so much missing in his memory about what had happened to him and he hoped she could tell him.

"Well, most just call me Nitro," she said cocking her head and looking at him.

"That's different, but I like it," he mused. "How did I get here? Where am I?"

"I was part of the team who rescued you."

"Rescued me? Did my Dad hire you?" he asked quickly. "Where is he?" He looked toward the door waiting for her to answer him, wondering if his Dad was in the other room and why not in here with him.

"No it wasn't your Dad," Nitro said knowing she shouldn't be the one to talk about Sam and Dean's father.

"Uncle Bobby?" Sam questioned. He tried a spoon of cream of wheat but it stuck in his throat and he had to wash it down before he choked.

"I served with your brother; he was our team leader..." Nitro started slowly. "He got his old team together and we came after you. Your brother rescued you."

Sam's whole demur changed at the mention of his brother. He stiffened and hatred filled his eyes as his face started to redden in anger and his mouth worked to say something. "I don't have a damn brother! That sonovabitch is dead to me! He...He..." Sam hissed out, his voice laced with venom and his anger overtaking him so much he couldn't talk. He shoved the tray away sending food everywhere, including on Nitro, and turned to his side away from her. Sam was heaving shaky breaths as hot tears ran down his face and he bit into the pillow to keep from crying out. He hadn't thought about his older brother in years, not since their Mom's death and he abandoned him, and didn't want to talk about him now or see him for that matter. His mind reeled with this news as he panted in short hard gasps trying to stop the overflow of tears that wet his face.

Neither of them knew that Dean was standing outside the door listening to them talking and heard the angry, hurtful, earth shattering words Sam said about him. Any remaining hope he had of reconciling with his brother vanished and he stumbled down the hall to the door, grabbing his car keys along the way. He didn't look back as he got in the car and drove away. His heart shattered into a thousand piece and his soul lost all its shining luster and glory as the words, Dead to me, echoed around in his head. Hot tears blurred his vision as he swiped a hand across his face so he could see. He stopped to open the gate and drive through it. He stopped at the road and looked both ways before randomly turning and heading nowhere. Dean's mind shut down and he was driving on autopilot, not seeing or hearing the world around him. Strange sounds filled the Impala and he tried to determine what it was and realized it was his own hitched sobs filling her silence. It was getting hard for him to breath, but he kept going wanting to put distance between his pain and him.

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Sam tried to stop the grief and hurt that flashed through his mind at the mention of his brother. Old wounds were suddenly slashed open, leaving them raw and bleeding and he wasn't in any shape to handle all the emotions bombarding him. He didn't hear the silent footsteps until a tray was slammed down on the nightstand making him jump and stare wide eyed at the woman named Nitro who still had food on her clothes, face, and in her hair.

She didn't say a thing as she looked down at him and Sam could see the fire and fury dancing around in her eyes. He cringed slightly knowing full well she could kill him if she wanted to; instead she walked over to the wheelchair and brought it to the bed and opened it up leaving it sitting there. She turned on her heels and walked away without a single word, pausing for a moment at the door to toss something onto the bed hitting him on the bottom. Sam looked over his shoulder to see her disappear from the room and quietness settled around him.

He was still so tired and weak from his ordeal that it took all he had to pull himself over to the end of the bed and snag the water bottle from the tray. He opened it and swallowed several mouth fulls to quench his thirst. He looked at the tray and saw yogurt, toast and a banana laying on it. He lay back on the pillow to get his breath as a fleeting image crossed through his mind of an older guy leaning over him saying something. He couldn't hold onto it long enough to understand what he was saying or to figure out who he was. Could that have been his brother, Sam thought.

His mind floated back to a troubled fourteen year old and the day he found out that his brother was gone. The grief he was feeling doubled and nearly consumed him because he thought Dean had left because of how badly he had been treating him. He blamed himself and the guilt had resurfaced again at the mention of him. Sam wondered if he traded one cell for another only this time it was going to be mental and emotional torture. He didn't know how long it had been since being rescued. He didn't even know what day it was. His hand drifted to the raised scars on his arm and rubbed them absently, digging a fingernail into one scar drawing blood as he raked the nail across it without thinking about it.

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"You need to get here now, Gunny's gone," Nitro said hurriedly into her cell. "He has no money, no clothes, hell he doesn't even have his license...I have no idea, just get here." She never dreamed that she'd get that type of reaction from Sam when she told him about his brother rescuing him. His words were filled with so much hatred and anger she was taken aback at first and then she got angry, especially when he threw his food like a bratty kid. Nitro picked up the dishes and tray and left the bedroom not sure how to explain her appearance to Dean. When she didn't see him in the kitchen or on the deck, a sense of dread started to build in the bottom of her stomach and she ran to the window to see the Impala was gone.

Nitro punched the wall and cussed knowing Dean must have heard what his brother said about him and left. Now she was here stranded with a little brother who couldn't take care for himself yet and the need to go looking for the older brother because she knew he was devastated from the rejection. Knowing she couldn't do anything to help Dean, she turned and headed back to the kitchen to fix another tray for Sam. He was still her responsibility and she promised Gunny she would take care of him, but she didn't have to like it. She just hoped reinforcements got here soon before he got too far away and they didn't stand a chance in finding him. Gunny was extremely good and if he wanted to go off the radar...Well, no one would find him.

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Nothing looked familiar to Dean when a blaring horn pulled him out of his stupor and he jerked the Impala back into his lane out of the oncoming traffic. He pulled off the road, shutting the car down and panting hard when he realized he almost had a head on collision with a semi that would probably have killed him instantly. He was white knuckling the steering wheel so tightly that it took him five minutes to force his fingers to let go. When he finally got them off the steering wheel, Dean leaned his head forward and let it rest on it as he tried to slow his pounding heart and catch his breath. It took him ten minutes before he could raise his head with some semblance of control. What the hell was he doing? This wasn't like him to give up so easily on anything that he started. He wasn't a quitter. Hell! He was a tough, hard nosed, ass kicking Marine and he just ran from the cabin like a coward with his tail tucked between his legs, all because of some damn words. It wasn't the words as much as who was spouting them.

Being a Marine meant everything to him and that meant you took care of your own, be it a fellow Marine or family. Could his brother really hate him that much after all this time? He knew the reason had to be that he left all those years ago without getting him to understand why he had to. Dean's guilt and sorrow was slowly being replaced with anger and a hardness that froze his heart and darkened his soul. He clenched his jaw and pressed his lips into a thin, tight line.

This wasn't the way he wanted to see his brother and Dean decided he wouldn't be driven off like that. He was a grown, responsible man and he couldn't leave his problems to others to take care of. It wasn't fair to Little Wolf who was back there stuck with his brother right now having to take care of him. He had a feeling if that wasn't his little brother laying there in that bed, he would be dead or very injured right now.

Little Wolf was a complex person, but one thing she was was very protective of the ones she cared about and would take out anyone without hesitation if they threatened them. He mulled over everything in his mind, sorting through what had happened and worked out a solution. He was a problem solver; there wasn't anything he couldn't work out, given all the parameters.

Well, one thing he knew, it was going to be hard to get anywhere when he didn't have any money, no id, and none of his weapons or clothes. All he had was the Impala and a hidden hand gun in the trunk. He would go back to the cabin and deal with his brother his way, whether he liked it or not. He was going to dish out some tough love and it might not be pretty.

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Sam had eaten what she brought him earlier and it had helped, but his stomach had protested. He glanced down at the package by his hip and pulled it closer to look at. Sam looked under the sheet and then back at the package wrinkling his nose in disgust. That was why he felt wet and wondered how long he had been wearing a diaper. Deciding he didn't like this part, Sam worked his way to the side of the bed and shifted into the wheelchair, panting hard from the action. He sat there for several minutes before getting enough strength to move the chair. He saw the other bed and a bag sitting on it and moved toward it. He found clothes in it that weren't his and found some briefs. They might be too big, but it was better than wearing what he had on. He finally got into the bathroom and over to the commode as the pains started in his stomach and lower intestines. With the help of the counter, he slid onto the commode and got the wet diaper briefs off just in time as his intestines let go. He groaned and bent over gripping his stomach in pain as he passed gas and a little soft diarrhea. Not having eaten enough to produce much, he grunted and tightened his bottom muscles as a dull pain down there made him bite his lip and take deep breaths. He sat there for fifteen minutes being sure he was done before slipping on the briefs he had found and worked his way back into the wheelchair. With shaky arms, he rolled back into the bedroom to the side of the bed and that was where Nitro found him.

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Nitro paced from the family room to the kitchen as she paused with each trip to check out the window praying Gunny would be pulling up. She looked toward the bedroom and her hackles went up again. It was time for lunch and she knew he needed to be fed. With a disgruntled growl, Nitro headed to the kitchen and heated soup, then put yogurt, fruit, crackers and tea on a tray and headed back to the bedroom. She found Sam sitting in the wheelchair looking exhausted and weak, with a pinched look of pain on his face. He looked up at her and stiffened, sitting up straighter as she stepped closer and pulled the sheet over his lower body as his cheeks reddened. Nitro clenched her jaw so she wouldn't say anything and sat the tray down and removed the other before walking toward the door.

"Thank you..." Sam said quietly causing Nitro to falter in her steps. "Could you please help me...Get back in bed?" he asked cautiously in a trembling voice, not sure if she would or not. He thought maybe he could do it after he rested in the chair for a bit to gain his strength back, but it didn't seem to be working. He was still too weak to get his body back in the bed without falling. He watched her stiffen and clench her fists before turning around and stalking back to where he sat. She reached down and put her arms around his body under his arms and lifted him onto the edge of the bed and let go. Even though she was still angry, she was gentle with him. Sam pushed himself up a little more and got his legs up on the bed covering them with the sheet. He was surprised when she sat the tray in his lap, still not saying anything, and left the room, leaving Sam alone to eat.

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Late afternoon rolled around and Nitro had gone back in and removed the tray, finding Sam asleep. He looked so young curled up on his side with his hands tucked under his chin, but lines of exhaustion were etched across his face. Nitro was washing the dishes when a familiar growl had her running for the window. She sighed with relief when Dean pulled the Impala under the carport at the side of the cabin. She jerked her cell out and quickly sent a text to Shadow that Gunny was back and they could go on to their cabin. She would keep them posted on what was going on.

The door opened and Dean stepped into the foyer without speaking and headed for the bedroom. She saw a look she had seen many times on Gunny's face. Nitro followed him and looked into the room to see Dean had pulled a chair over to the bed and was sitting there looking at his little brother. She didn't say anything and slipped back to the kitchen to finish the dishes. She knew when he wanted to talk he would find her.

Dean sat stiffly in the chair, watching Sam sleep. His face was blank of any expression and his eyes were hard and unreadable. He didn't move from the chair while he waited for his brother to stir. It was nearly two hours later that Sam started to move around under the covers and grunted as he wiped a hand down his face before sensing someone watching him. He got his eyes opened and looked beside him to see a man sitting in a chair staring at him. He blinked quickly a few times to clear his vision as much as he could and focused on him again, pushing his upper body up on his elbows to see better. He knew this was Dean even thought he had changed since the last time he had seen him. Sam started to open his mouth to make some smart remark when his brother spoke in a deep, commanding voice.

"Don't speak! If you haven't guessed, I'm the one who rescued you...Me and my team. I'm your sonovabitch dead brother," he sneered at Sam, wanting him to know he heard what he said. "I already know what you think of me so you listen closely. I will stay around until you are able to look after yourself and then you can do whatever the hell you want. We don't have to talk, hell, we don't have to even see each other, but you will not disrespect Nitro in any way or you'll answer to me. She saved your life when we got you out and you should be thanking her not throwing damn food at her," he stated getting up to tower over Sam who shrunk back on the bed. "You will eat what you are given and do whatever she asks of you with no complaints. You can lose that shitty attitude and show some respect to those helping you. None of them had to risk their lives getting you out, they did it for me. Have I made myself clear?" Dean told him in a stern, commanding, no nonsense voice that left Sam slightly frightened of him. When he didn't answer, Dean questioned him again. "Do- you- understand?" he asked slowly and harshly, raising his voice a level.

Not trusting his voice, Sam nodded his head up and down quickly, his long hair falling into his face. He saw the hardness and anger and something else he couldn't describe in his brother's eyes and by his body language knew he needed to do as he said. Sam watched Dean turn and move the chair back to the corner before leaving the room. He let his body fall back on the bed and let out the breath he didn't know he was holding in one sudden swoosh as he worked on sucking in a shaky one. Sam had to admit that Dean scared the shit out of him. What he didn't understand was why he would risk his life and his team going to Mexico to save him if he felt this way about him. He still wondered where their Dad was and why Dean hadn't mentioned him. Sam was sure that he would be happy to see Dean after all this time even if he wasn't.

The sudden urge to pee hit Sam and he worked his way to the edge of the bed and the wheelchair knowing his legs wouldn't support him yet. When he finally got situated in the chair, he rolled to the bathroom and relieved himself and washed his hands. Sam saw a shower chair in the tub and thought it would feel nice to get a shower but was afraid to try it by himself.

When he wheeled himself back into the bedroom, Sam saw a stack of folded clothes sitting on his bed and wondered who put them there, Dean or Nitro. There were briefs, sweats, socks and T-shirts that had been newly washed. He picked up a T-shirt and pulled it over his head and let it settle down his body, then took some sweats and worked them up his legs and wiggled around until he had them over his hips. It felt good to have clean clothes again after the tattered, stinking, rags that he had to wear for the last few weeks. He sat by the bed thinking it would do him good to sit up for a little while. Sam wanted to explore this place but he was afraid to leave the bedroom for fear of running into his very angry brother.

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Dean found Nitro in the kitchen cooking dinner and looked in the fridge for something to drink. He opted for a root beer and took a seat at the bar. Nitro was stirring pots on the stove and was looking in the oven when Dean finally spoke.

"I owe you an apology Little Wolf. Sammy's my responsibility not yours. I shouldn't have run out on you," he said quietly not taking his eyes off the soda bottle.

"It's fine Gunny. I didn't know you heard what he said, I'm sorry you did. There's a lot of anger and hurt in that boy," she told him compassion and understanding in her voice. "I can handle him if you need to step back from this."

"I'm surprised you didn't deck him or worse," he chuckled softly.

"I thought of it. I don't like wearing food, maybe when's he better if he steps out of line I might not be as polite."

"I told him to show you some respect, you did save his life."

"You didn't have to do that, I can take care of myself," she insisted with a disgruntled huff. Gunny looked after everyone else before himself, always had since they had been together. He would not put his team in any danger that he wouldn't go into himself.

"What smells so good?" Dean asked changing the subject.

"Baked chicken breast, wild rice, green beans and rolls. I also have a pie baking for dessert."

"You've outdone yourself Little Wolf. This is a treat; I can't wait to eat."

"Do you want to bring your brother in here to eat?"

"No," he stated firmly. "I'll take him a tray."

"He'll have to come out sometime Gunny. Don't make this another prison for him," she cautioned him trying to be a mediator. "Maybe after both of you calm down, you might be able to have a civilized conversation. And then maybe you can work on becoming brothers again. Look, you take the other bedroom and I'll sleep in the bedroom with Pup."

"I can use the couch; no use you having to do that."

"No. There's no use arguing, it's settled so deal with it," she stated as she pulled the chicken and rolls from the oven. "I'll get a tray ready for Pup." Nitro poured soup into a cup and set it on a tray along with a couple of rolls, protein drink, small bowl of wild rice and green beans, ginger ale, and a banana. She started to pick it up but was stopped by Dean who hefted the tray and headed for the bedroom before she could say anything. Nitro watched him walk down the hall and sighed thinking she had her work cut out for her.

A/N: So first meeting didn't go so well between the brothers. I couldn't have it be easy now could I? Thank you to everyone for the support you have given this story. Only two chapters left now and it will be ending. I hope the journey has been a good one. I do like reviews, if you have a moment please leave one. NC