Here's some S14 for you :) No spoilers though, because I wrote this before Ep 2. Enjoy the feels!

19. Exhaustion

"You really think you can get rid of me this easily?" Michael sneered, smirking with Dean's mouth as he stood as close as he dared to the holy fire they had trapped him in. "With some pathetic contraption?"

Sam held up the hyperbolic pulse egg as Cas finished the spell.

"Get out of my brother," Sam snarled and braced himself as lightening cracked and shot from the metal egg and straight toward Michael, hitting him in the chest.

The archangel wearing Dean jolted, spasming from the electrical currents. He growled, trying to fight against it, but it was too strong.

Sam gasped, as he tried to keep his footing. He was so weary; this had to work. It had to. The wind buffeted his body, tearing at his hair and clothes. The electrical currents made his hair stand on end. He took a staggering step back, gritting his teeth as he fought to keep hold of the egg.

"Sam!" Suddenly Jack was there beside him, bracing him, holding onto one of his arms to keep him steady. In another instant Cas was on his other side, the two holding his arms up and the metal egg with it, bracing him from behind so he didn't fail.

Michael seemed stronger than Lucifer when they'd taken him out of the president. He was fighting and Sam felt his energy draining somehow. Michael was screaming incoherently, rigid with the agony of being forced from his vessel.

"Almost! Just a little longer!" Cas shouted, gripping Sam even tighter.

Sam grit his teeth and held on, until finally the last of the energy beams left out of Dean's chest and disappeared.

Sam, Cas and Jack collapsed on the ground in a heap. The world was suddenly still and there was nothing but their breathing.

Sam dragged himself up first, forcing his feet under him. "Dean," he rasped, staggering forward and kicking dirt onto the ring of holy fire. His brother lay limp in the center of it. Sam collapsed beside him, cupping his face in his hands, feeling for a pulse and breath.

"Dean, come on, please. Please be okay," he pleaded, trying to hold back the threatening tears.

Cas and Jack were crouching beside him, waiting breathlessly.

And then Dean's eyes cracked open, and he inhaled sharply. He groaned and Sam let out a half laugh-half sob of relief.

"Dean, thank god," he cried.

"Wh-where am I?" Dean murmured, glancing around, bewildered. "What…"

"It's okay, you're fine, Michael's gone," Sam assured him and simply dragged his brother into a sitting position, throwing his arms around him and holding him tightly. "You're okay now. Everything's fine."

Dean still seemed out of it, but eventually, he hugged Sam back firmly and then Cas and Jack couldn't wait another second and joined in until all four of them were simply clutching each other in relief, unable to say anything.

It was a long time before they all stood up, helping Dean to his feet. He was understandably wobbly and latched onto them tightly.

"Are you hurt?" Cas asked.

Dean was silent for a moment then shook his head. "No. Sore, exhausted. God I'm starving."

Sam huffed a laugh. "Let's go grab something to eat."

They made it back to the Impala and Dean let out a sigh of relief and slumped against his car's side.

"Hey, Baby," he said softly.

Sam bit his lip and reached into his pocket, offering the keys. "Do you…?"

But Dean shook his head. "Not yet." He opened the door and slumped into the seat.

Sam went around to the driver's side and fumbled with the keys once he sat down. His hands didn't want to work anymore. He just wanted to lie down. Now that Dean was safe everything, all his fears, and his anxiety, and his determination were fleeing, leaving only pure exhaustion in their wake. The sleepless nights, and the rough fights had finally caught up to him and felt like they were threatening to eat him alive.

He somehow got onto the road and drove back toward the nearest town. He wanted to be home, back at the bunker, but he didn't think they would make it that night. He certainly wouldn't anyway.

"Sam!"

He jerked, blinking hard as he realized he had been driving off the side of the road. Cas' hand was on his shoulder jerking him back into the real world as he straightened the car.

"Sammy, how long has it been since you slept?" Dean asked tiredly from the passenger seat.

Sam shrugged. "Been looking for you."

"Well, you found me," Dean said. "Now let's find a motel before you crash my car."

Sam glanced into the rearview mirror and saw Cas and Jack nodding in agreement. They looked as exhausted as he felt. Jack was already slumping more heavily against Cas' shoulder. None of them had gotten much rest the last couple days tracking down Michael. Dean obviously had been worn thin too. Sam nodded. "Okay. Next motel, we'll stop."

They went through a drive-through first to grab food and Dean wolfed down two burgers before they even got to a motel. By the time they did, Sam was completely done. He could barely see straight. He actually couldn't remember when he had last slept. It had at least been two days. Probably more. Cas had to go in to rent the room and came back as quickly as possible with the key.

They trooped into the room, or, stumbled really. Dean grabbed a pair of his own clothes from his duffle that Sam had kept in the trunk, and went to change. Sam simply sat on the edge of one of the beds, and before he knew it, he was lying on his back, half on the bed, half off, and Dean was nudging him.

"Mmm," Sam murmured, groggily sitting up and having to catch himself before he fell off the bed.

"Just thought you should take your shoes off," Dean said, "And actually get in the bed."

Sam blinked and kicked his shoes off. Jack was already fast asleep in the other bed, and Cas was sitting up against the headboard beside him, eyes closed.

"I should be taking care of you," Sam protested, looking around as he made to get up. "I—I need to call Mom…" He grabbed Dean's shoulder but the elder brother simply reached out and put his hand around the back of Sam's neck squeezing comfortingly.

"You can. Later. Right now, you sleep. And Cas already called Mom." He patted Sam's shoulder and squeezed. "Thanks for saving me, Sammy," he whispered, eyes wet.

Sam swallowed hard and nodded, clasping his hand over Dean's for a long second before he couldn't stay upright another second. He crashed sideways and allowed his eyes to close.

He was barely aware of Dean's weight on the other side of the bed as he too lay down. They were all too tired to care about sharing, and really, Sam was almost glad for it. The last trace of anxiety left him as Dean settled his back against Sam's and his deep breathing lulled the younger brother to sleep just like when they were kids.

Sam fell asleep, knowing that no matter what came next, they would face it together. And that was good enough for him.