Disclaimer: I don't own SPN.

This is totally tonight's episode's fault. I mean, I was SO THRILLED that Luci finally came back! And then they had to show Sam with that single man tear. I'm still sobbing. Sammy just needs a hella lot of love and hugs.

Although the whole time we were watching it, my best friend and I were acting like a cross between Rowena (in this episode; I live for 11x09 Rowena) and a demented hyena. And then the promo came on and we absolutely lost it and I'm pretty sure my sister thinks I belong in a loony bin.

Thanks to masterjediratgrl31, Siriusly loving densi, RangerHorseTug, mollienaturerocks, Jess w and Bipi for your reviews :)

164. Overwhelmed

There was something wrong with Sam. Dean was certain of it. Sammy was his little brother and if he said that there was something up with Sam then there was. He'd been fine when Rose was here but a few days after she'd left to spend some time with her extended family on the other side of the country, Dean had noticed some changes going on. For one, there were huge bags under Sam's eyes. For another, he was hardly eating and Dean was convinced that he was going to start seeing his baby brother's ribs any day now.

"What's wrong, Dean?" Cas said when Dean just couldn't muster up enough energy to pretend to be engaged in their make-out session. "I sense that you are not fully invested in this."

"Sorry, Cas." Dean rolled off Cas, staring at the ceiling moodily. "I just think there's something wrong with Sam. But he's not telling me anything and I'm thinking of going and making him talk, even though I don't do chick flick moments and he'll snap at me."

Cas reached out and stroked Dean's hair tenderly. Dean closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

"Then go and talk to him," his angel said. "I'll come with you. I also thought that there might be something wrong with Sam but you didn't say anything, so I simply thought that I was imagining it."

Dean was already nodding and swinging his legs off the bed.

"C'mon."

The two of them made their way to Sam's room and Dean raised his fist to knock when he paused and exchanged a look with Cas. They could hear the sound of soft sobbing coming from inside the room and so, not even bothering to knock, Dean pushed the door open and strode inside.

"Sammy?" he said. The lump on the bed shifted. "What the hell's wrong with you?"

"N'thing," Sam mumbled.

"Bull. Scoot over, Sasquatch."

Dean sat down near the head of the bed and pulled the blanket down. His heart ached at the sight of his baby brothers with tears running down his cheeks and red, puffy eyes.

"What the hell? This isn't nothing, Sam! What the hell's going on?"

"Go 'way, Dean." Sam turned over but was met with Cas, who gave him a fierce glare.

"Tell us what's wrong, Sam," Cas ordered. Dean would have shivered at the commanding, 'angel of the Lord' voice if the situation hadn't been so serious. "Now."

"C'mon, Sam. You're always telling me to talk about my feelings so do the same and don't be a bitch."

Sam's attempted bitchface fell very short. He groaned and closed his eyes.

"I dunno," he mumbled. "I just…I started having nightmares a while back. Flashbacks to the Cage. And I have no freaking clue why I'm having these dreams or why they've come back now but Rosie…she kept them away. And now she's gone and there's nobody to stop them or tell me that they're not real."

Dean felt his insides slowly shatter. He exchanged a horrified look with Cas, who looked guilty as hell, and he reached out and carded his fingers through his brother's hair, in a move that he hadn't made since they were kids.

"'S okay, Sammy," he said in a low voice. "You're here. On Earth. In the Batcave. With me and Cas. Lucifer's never gonna get ya again."

"I apologise, Sam," Cas said heavily. "If I had not removed the wall in your mind –"

"Not your fault, Cas," Sam murmured, closing his eyes. "Stop blaming yourself."

He stiffened and a small, tortured sob escaped from him.

"Wasn't always hot," he whispered, more tears being squeezed from under his eyelids and trailing down his face. "Sometimes it was cold. Really cold. Burned just as much."

Dean realised with horror that Sam was shivering. Violently stabbing his mental protests of 'chick flick moment' with an angel blade, he pulled back the covers and slid into the bed before grabbing his gigantic brother and pulling him close, manliness be damned.

"Go back to bed, Cas," he said quietly. "I'm gonna stay with Sammy tonight. He need me."

Letting out another choked cry, Sam fumbled for Dean and clung on tight, trembling. Dean stroked Sam's hair, mentally marvelling at the fact that Cas was the reason that he'd even considered doing this; Cas and his damn ability to make Dean have even the cheesiest, sappiest moments!

"No." Cas slipped into the bed as well, despite hanging off the edge – Sam's bed really was not big enough for the three of them – and he began to stroke Sam's back. "Sam is my friend and he needs all the comfort that he can get. I will stay with you, Dean, and help you comfort your brother."

Sam shook his head.

"Go t' bed," he said, almost unable to be heard. "Jus' bein' a baby an' both'rin' you two."

"No," Dean snapped. "Dammit, Sam, I'm not leaving you alone like this! And if Cas really wants to stay then he can. You're not being a baby and it's my job to look out for you. You're my little brother."

He saw Sam's lips twitch, though he nearly missed this, and he felt Sam's octopus grip on him tighten. Glaring at Cas to let his angel know that he was the damn reason for this next move, Dean then bent down and pressed a quick kiss to his brother's head.

"Go to sleep, Sammy. We'll be here."

Slowly, Sam's sniffles began to die down and Dean was relieved when his baby brother's breathing finally evened out and he started to snore softly.

"You're a good brother, Dean," Cas said, still tracing patterns on Sam's back comfortingly. Dean shrugged uncomfortably.

"Just doin' my job, Cas."

"Yes but you never would have gone this far to comfort him a few years ago."

Dean rolled his eyes.

"What can I say? I was touched by an angel."

He saw Cas' teeth flash at him in the darkness in a clear grin and then he shifted, trying to get comfortable, and allowed himself to drift off while still stroking Sam's hair.

Sam didn't mention anything the next day but if he looked at Dean pleadingly that night, well, Dean didn't say anything and just snuggled back in his baby brother's bed for another night after convincing Cas to stay in their room and get a good night's sleep. And he definitely didn't say anything if this ended up being their usual arrangement until Sam's nightmares finally began to taper off and finally disappeared by the time Rose got back. But Sam's grateful look and puppy-dog eyes were all that Dean needed.

Oh, and the absolutely hot sex that Cas had with him in order to show just how much he loved Dean's caring side. That was definitely a huge bonus.