Sam was all but asleep when he thought he heard his bedroom door open and close. It went through his head for an instant that he couldn't have pushed it too properly, but then he realised that that wouldn't have caused the door to swing open. Or back again. Something, or someone, had to have opened it.

He lay quietly and listened, every inch of his long body on full alert in case. Nothing happened. He had all but convinced himself that he must have been imagining things, the day had been so strange and he was overwrought at the loss of his brother and the appearance of the near identical but so different being, when there was a definite slight rustle of movement at the end of his bed, by the chair where he has discarded his clothes he had been wearing that day onto. Then complete silence once more.

Sam waited a long time but the door never opened again.

Finally he couldn't bear the tension any longer. He wasn't sure why the other Dean had come into his room but he had. And he didn't seem to have come in to attack Sam, although the young man was still tensed and ready in case.

Carefully he raised himself up on one elbow and began to try and look around his room in the dark, squinting to make out shapes in the gloom. Anything that his brain couldn't immediately equate as not being there previously.

Nothing looked out of place.

By now he was sitting fully up on his bed, desperate to see where the other man was. There was no sign of him by the chair, or by the door, or anywhere. Finally he reached to turn on the lamp beside him on the small table.

And then he paused.

The other Dean was lying on the floor right beside him, curled into a little ball like a kitten would do. Sam could see he was hugging something in his arms. And he could also see the man physically shaking.

He was out of the bed before he had thought. "Dean? What are you doing?"

He knelt down beside him, instinctively wrapping his arms around his brother's lookalike. The other snuffled a little and curled himself even tighter but didn't pull away. Not for the first time it went through Sam's head how strange this must all be for him. He had been physically torn out of his version of reality, obviously a completely different version of reality, and he was obviously a completely different version of his brother. Sam couldn't even begin to get his head around how confusing it all must be.

If there was one thing that Sam was suddenly sure of, it was that this being had not been the cause of what had happened. In fact he was as lost as the real Dean. Sam could only hope that his brother wasn't as terrified as this man was, and he sent out a prayer that the other Sam would be looking after him better than he had managed with this Dean so far.

"Dean, you're shivering. Come on, you take the bed. Let's get you warmed up. Come on."

He had his hands underneath the other by now and physically lifted him up onto his mattress. The man squeaked a little, the only sound he made, and looked at Sam with wide, scared eyes. As Sam also settled on the bed he realised that Dean was clutching the shirt that he had been wearing earlier. Instinctively he reached to take it, but stalled his hand when his brother, well, the other version of him, flinched a little and huddled into himself, still with a tight grip on the shirt.

"I'm sorry." He could barely hear the little voice. "It has your scent on it and you smell like… my Sam. I just wanted to…. Everything's so different… "

"It must be. I should have thought. But what were you doing on the floor? Come on, you're freezing, get under the covers. Please." And he was pushing Dean down into the bed and wrapping the blankets around him, lying on top of them next to the shivering man so he could put his arms around him.

Dean went rigid for a long moment, but then suddenly turned to face Sam beneath the covers and wriggled as close as he could get to him, his face pressed into Sam's neck in the same way as he had done when he had arrived in that cellar. The younger man couldn't help the instinctive judder running through his body as a natural response to the tickle, but forced himself to remain still otherwise apart from tightening his arms and holding the other close. It was with relief that he slowly felt the trembling stop and the man sigh a little as he settled.

"I'm not always like this." It was just a whisper in the darkened room. "It's just… I miss my Sam. And my children. They must be so worried."

"I want my brother back as well." Sam reassured him. "I'm sorry: I've been so worried about getting him back that I've forgotten that you're lost as well and that's not fair. Whatever happened in that cellar, it's happened to both of you. But we'll put it right. Somehow. You have children?"

"Yes. Three."

"My Dean would have loved to have had children. He'd make a great dad, he really would. I wish he could have met someone and got out of this shitty life we lead. How old are yours? And did you and Sam adopt? Or are they yours by somebody else?"

The man stirred in his arms and looked curiously up at him. "They're our children! Mine and Sam's! Why would you ask if I had gone to someone else?"

Sam blinked. "But… I thought Sam was like me? I mean….I assumed he's a man, because you thought he was me. Or I was him…. Whichever…?"

"Sam is like you. Even down to the scent, although yours is very muted. That's why I wanted your shirt because it's covered in it. And your bed is: thank you for letting me use it."

"But how have you got children then? IVF?"

"What's IVF?"

"Help having children when you biologically can't. Or did you use a surrogate mother….?"

Dean pulled away from him suddenly and sat up on the bed, staring at him. Sam lay and looked back at his silhouette in the dark, reflecting as he did that this Dean really did have an extremely strong sense of smell to have located his shirt in the darkened room, and, it seemed, far better eyesight than he did. Or indeed, than any human could have.

And as he registered this definite distinction in one respect, Dean confirmed it in another: "I am their mother! I carried and gave birth to them myself. For my mate, my Alpha. Why are you insinuating that I couldn't be?"

"Wait. Wait!" Sam sat up onto his elbow and tried to process this. "You gave birth to them? As in… you got pregnant? And went through labour, and they're your children!?"

"Of course."

"But you're a man. Aren't you?"

"I am a male omega, yes. That makes me rare, most omegas are females. Sam has had offers for me, but he has told them all to go to hell."

"Sam's your…?"

"Mate. He is my Alpha. And the father of my children."

"I'm sorry, I guess I assumed he was your brother." Sam felt foolish, he hadn't asked a single personal thing about this man….being…thing that was the image of Dean. The coincidence of the two Dean's swapping places, at least he hoped they had just swapped places, and each being connected to an almost nearly identical being called Sam had led to him reaching conclusions far too soon.

"He is my brother. And my mate."

"What?" Now Sam was really…beginning to feel quite nauseous. "Sam is your brother? And you've had children by him? By your brother?"

"Of course. It is rare for an omega to mate outside their own family: unless they are snatched and claimed of course."

"Claim you? As in… you're a slave?"

"Not a slave, no. Why do you think that? I am loved. Really loved by Sam and our children." He was staring at Sam in consternation: the younger man could see his eyes clearly in the dark. Too clearly, they had a slight glow inside them: he was being reminded of wolves or cats eyes, allowing far more light in than his own eyes could. It was becoming more and more obvious that he was lying on a bed in the dark with a being that might look identical to his brother, but most definitely wasn't.

He had two choices: panic or remain calm. And this Dean hadn't hurt him. In fact he would still swear that this far more timid version of his brother probably didn't have it in him to do so. And he was a mom!

So Sam took the chance and rolled onto his back, holding up his arm for Dean to lay into and snuggle down beneath. And the other hesitated for a moment, but then the desire for bodily contact and the fainter but still unmistakeably familiar scent of his Alpha took over. He wrapped the blankets around himself and returned to Sam's arms, his nose buried in the younger man's neck, trying not to tear up as he thought of his husband and children.

He just wanted to go home.

"So," Sam was still trying to get his head around this. "You're an omega…. What's an omega?"

"You don't have omegas?"

"No."

"What about Alphas?"

"No. Well….in dogs, wolves. Alphas and betas. But I've never heard of omegas."

"What do you have?" Dean raised himself enough to look at the younger man, he looked so exactly like his Sam that it hurt: it was only the lack of his Alpha's soothing and strong aroma that gave the noticeable difference.

"What do you mean?"

"What sexes do you have? We have three: Alpha, betas and omegas. And they can all be male and female in gender."

Sam blinked at him. "We have just two: male and female. And pretty much one hundred per cent, it is the female who are moms: they're the only ones who can carry and give birth."

"Pretty much?"

"Science is messing around. But yeah."

"Huh!" And Dean bodily pulled the blankets out from beneath Sam until he could cover them both, wriggling even closer to the younger man until he was nearly burrowing himself into the bed beneath Sam's warm body and smothering himself with the soothing scent.

Sam shifted uncomfortably, fought down his natural embarrassment, and instead twisted himself on his side to wrap his limbs around the other. "This okay like this?"

He felt Dean's nose push against his neck and the man grunted happily as he breathed him in. They lay in silence a while longer.

"So, how do you…? You're male? And yet you've had children?"

"Yes. Omegas of both genders can carry pups. As well as female betas. Male betas can't. And no Alpha of either gender. But they make the strongest children. Male and female betas can have children with each other, but they will only ever be betas. Only an Alpha can sire an Alpha or an omega, whether with an omega or a beta."

"But you've got children? Children that you've given birth to?"

"I've already told you, Sam. Why do you keep asking?"

Sam grinned at him mischievously in the dark. "I'm just imagining my Dean trying to get his head around this!"

ooooooooooooxoooooooooooooo

Dean stood in the bathroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was nervous and he couldn't place why.

"This place," he muttered to himself.

It had not been a pleasant evening: unsurprising considering the circumstances, he supposed. He had sat and tried to talk to the two youngest children, the elder one having disappeared back to his room, but they were so silent and just... so intent on staring at him that he had quickly given up and retreated to the kitchen where Sam was making dinner.

He had watched his younger brother for a moment, then offered to help chop the vegetables. He had been thanked with a smile, and was relieved to at least be trusted with the sharp knife. He had so many questions but didn't know how to ask them, although all thought of asking any had been driven from his mind when Sam had dipped his long finger in to take a swirl of the garlic and herb potato that he had just mashed and held it expectantly for Dean to lick off. Then the kitchen had got very uncomfortable as well.

At least the 'family' meal hadn't lasted long although it had seemed like an age, eaten as it was in near total silence, and then Sam had shooed the kids away to do their respective homework, while Dean had tried to excuse himself and taken refuge upstairs.

Sam had told him to take the main bedroom, while he himself would sleep downstairs on the sofa. But Dean still felt nervous and he wasn't used to that feeling. It was their eyes, all their eyes on him. And the way they scented him. And the way Sam kept touching him in such a free and intimate manner. And the way the boy had looked at him, like he was a present for the young man to unwrap…. He was a human in a world of monsters and he didn't like it. It didn't feel safe: he didn't feel safe.

For one moment he thought about escaping through the window and running away. But from what he had seen of this world that looked so familiar but was so different, there was nowhere for him to run to that could be safer at the moment. He just had to find his way home.

And the sooner, the better.

With a sigh he exited the bathroom, took a step towards the bedroom, and caught his breath with surprise and a slight nervous fear. The boy, Samuel, was standing right outside the door. He might be only sixteen but he was already as tall as Dean, and skinny in the long-legged coltish way that the real Sam had been at that age. But whereas it had been amusing to joke about 'goliaths' and 'Bigfoot' with his brother, it wasn't so funny when this young man stepped forward right into Dean's space in a way that reminded him immediately of Castiel, and stared straight into his eyes.

Instinctively Dean took a step backwards and sideways. Stupid move: the boy simply took one more assured pace forward and then the only thing between him and the wall was Dean's body. Dean moved his head back as far as he could get before it hit the wall behind him: he didn't want to have to force this boy off him, but the way he was getting so close to him…

Then Samuel was reaching with his hands to stroke Dean's face. "It's incredible: you're so like mom, the exact image. And he is beautiful: I know that! My friends have all noticed that, they all already want him. And so are you, yet dad says that you're nothing like us! Your scent might not be strong, but it is just …so pure. So honeyed. So absolutely perfect."

His eyes were staring deep into Dean's, green that perfectly matched his own. And Dean had nowhere to go. Desperately he tried to turn his head, to turn his face away. "Listen kid, I don't know where you're going with this, but I'm nothing like you, or your mom! And before you start getting ideas, I definitely don't do men!"

With all his strength he was pushing the boy away from him, all too aware that Samuel was already strongly built and athletic: he was going to grow into a solid mass of muscle like his father, and like Sam, the real Sam.

The boy wasn't even fazed, he simply stepped back into Dean's face, this time deliberately holding him against the wall with his own leaner but deceptively wiry body. Before Dean could get himself ready to shove him away again, Samuel's nose was buried into the human's neck and he was inhaling deeply, sighing with pleasure.

Dean exclaimed and tried to pull his head away while attempting to push the young man off him, but it was like trying to shoulder block a solid wall whilst wearing a straight jacket for all the effect he was having as Samuel now had his arms tightly wrapped around him as well. It was with relief that he felt the boy release him suddenly with a laugh of genuine amusement, and finally walk away.

The bedroom door had already closed behind him when Sam appeared at the top of the stairs. His eyebrows raised on seeing Dean leaning looking shaken against the wall in the landing, and his nose twitched as he breathed in the scent of his son all over their guest. Dean flinched at the irritation in the eyes of the being that looked like Sam.

"I apologise. His mother is the one that deals with matters of discipline so Samuel is defying me by acting up. But I will make sure my son behaves. You go on into the bedroom. Samuel!"

And he was banging his fist against his son's door, pushing it open and slamming it behind him as he strode into the room. Dean paused, still shaken, and heard the rumble of angry voices begin behind it. Then he became aware that he still wasn't alone.

Looking around, he saw the two other children watching him from one of the other bedrooms in the landing, half hidden by the mostly closed door. For a moment he wanted to just ignore them and retreat to the relative safety of the main bedroom. But they were just kids. And he could never ignore children.

"Hey. Aren't you two meant to be in bed?"

There was a silence then the door opened fully as the younger boy and girl emerged. "Mom always reads us a story. Always. Even when he's tired himself."

"He sounds like he's a good mother." Dean winced at himself: did he really just say that? Man, this world was weird.

"He's the best!" There were tears in both eyes and then he heard the littlest voice. "Where has he gone? And why are you here? I want mom!" And then the crying started in earnest.

"Hey. Hey!" And despite himself, Dean was there, wrapping his arms around the two little bodies and holding them both in a great big hug. "I know you want her….him home. And I'm sorry that I'm here instead: I didn't intend to be. I don't know how I am. But we're going to put it right. I promise. We'll find how to get her…him back for you. I'll never stop trying to get your mom back."

"Why do you keep calling him a her?"

Dean wasn't sure how to answer that one but decided honesty was the only sensible solution. "Because where I come from, it's different. I'm a human and men are like me and we don't have children. I mean, we can't be moms: only the women can, so they're all automatically 'hers'! It's complicated! But finding out that a being that by all accounts looks exactly like me, a male, has given birth to three children is…. frankly a lot for me to take in! But I promise you this: I'll get him back for you. And until then, well….I'll just have to read you your bedtime stories, if you'd like me to, that is."

"We get to choose the books!" "One each!" The enthusiasm and sudden lack of tears made Dean suspicious that he had been tricked, but he smiled the first genuine smile that he had done since arriving there.

"As long as your dad says it's okay, and approves the books."

He began to get up off his knees, only to realise that he now had two new appendages to his body that were both determined not to let go. Eventually he just about struggled to his feet with both children still clinging on to him and giggling, one in each arm. He turned to find Sam standing in the open doorway of Samuel's room watching him with a smile.

"This okay?"

There was an immediate nod. Dean's glance went behind the Sammy lookalike to where other eyes were also watching him: green eyes met green eyes, then Dean was forcing down a shiver and instead turning away to keep his promise to the two younger, and much less threatening, children.

They managed to make it last for nearly another half an hour before he finally managed to find the correct tone of 'bedtime, now' that they accepted as unyielding. To his surprise he then got a kiss from each of them: "can you send them to mommy?" It was automatic for Dean to promise that he would save them up so one day soon they could deliver them in person again. Then with relief, he finally got to escape to his own room.

Or rather, the room where the Dean of this world slept with his…husband? Mate? It was just all too weird.

He wasn't happy though when he opened the door and realised that Sam was on the bed in there as well, sitting resting against the headboard, his long legs stretched out on the covers, reading a book of his own.

"What? Do I have to read you a bedtime story as well?"

The other's smile was genuine but brief. "No. I was going to sleep downstairs…but….Samuel has confirmed what I was already worried about. And all those Alphas in the street noticed as well: your scent might be weak but it is certainly striking. It would be sensible to stay with you tonight so you can at least pick up some of my scent as a cover for yours.

I apologise again for his behaviour: he is becoming very...challenging. Especially as the time of his presenting becomes closer and he is starting to try and raise his dominance in our household."

"Presenting?" Dean looked awkwardly around the room: no way was he going on that bed with his not-brother. Sam watched him but made no comment or movement other than to carefully put his book away on the bedside table.

"When we make the transaction from juvenile to mature. It can happen at any time from the start of puberty up to early twenties, or occasionally even later. But usually between the ages of fourteen to sixteen. It is when we are truly defined: until we present, there is always room for doubt, and assumptions can and are often made incorrectly. But once we have presented there is no doubt: we are betas, omegas, or Alphas. And our instincts kick in. Especially in the case of Alphas and omegas."

"Why them?" Dean was by now sitting on a small chair in the corner of the room. Sam sighed and swung himself off the bed in one easy motion to approach him.

"We are all our instincts. Betas not so much: they are fertile all year around once they present, or, as some would put it, they nonpresent, and remain so until they are about forty years old. They and the Alphas form the majority of the population and can breed together, although without the exquisite joy of knotting of course. Or they can breed with other betas, which unfortunately only ever produces even more betas. And as they can easily control their ability to breed with medication, they are commonplace and have no limits put upon them. Unfortunately, as I have already told you, they are fast forming the majority of the population.

Alphas can go with them: they are okay, but given the chance just about every Alpha would rather have an omega, although so many now have to settle for a beta. But omegas..." he sighed and his eyes softened. "Omegas go into heats that are intense, electrifying and irresistible to any and every Alpha around them. They were created by Our Lady Moon to breed, are incredibly fertile, and to claim one and be able to realise the full potential of knotting is...absolutely amazing. You can never have that with a mere beta: it's just not physically possible as they wouldn't be able to withstand the full sexual act of an Alpha's knot, they would literally be torn in two. It's a shame. Omegas are often hidden once it is established that is what they are, to stop them being stolen and claimed."

"Claimed?" Dean was growing nervous again as his bro…this Sam was now standing in front of him where he sat.

"It is done in the height of passion, at the very moment of the Alpha coming during the first full act of knotting and mating. Our canines descend" he indicated his teeth, "and we mark the neck of our chosen mate. The mark will never fade. It is a symbol of our eternal love and faithfulness, and, until recently, it served as a warning to every other Alpha that this omega will be off-limits to all from now on.

Or should be, anyway.

And a bond is formed between the mates, it is not understood whether it is chemical, physical or even a mental connection but once mated, it's… it's hard to explain to you, Dean: it can only happen between Alphas and omegas. But Dean's scent, my Dean's scent, although strong and extremely arousing before, once the bond was made it became the only scent that mattered!"

Sam turned and paced away from Dean for a moment, then paced back.

"Whereas before I was of course aware of him: his scent is amazing by the way; just like yours but much enhanced, the most erotic, arousing cologne that there ever could be, I knew he was mine from years before I claimed him…but as soon as the bond was formed…"

Sam paused, trying to find the words to explain it to the human and then knelt so he could look openly straight up into the other's face: "I know when and where he is in a room, no matter how many others there are in there. I know if he's upset, I know when he's worried or afraid, or feeling mischievous. I know when he wants me to just bring him home and knot him senseless here in this bed and…" He stopped speaking suddenly as Dean all but choked. "Too much information?"

"Yeah!"

Sam nodded, and smiled suddenly, a wide, open, dimpled smile that caused Dean's heart to ache.

"And, if he's upset, my scent will immediately soothe him, and to know that he needs me as much as I need him is… incredible, Dean. Because I do need him.

I need him in my arms at night, need to feel and sense him slicking just for me, need to give him everything in his heats even though it is exhausting: he has so much stamina and demands so much! I need his smile." He paused. "Dean keeps me sane, and focused: he keeps me striving to provide for him, to be the best Alpha for him that I ever can be, and he deserves the best. I know I didn't give him the choice when I claimed him, but I want to be everything good for him. I would hate for him ever to regret what I did…."

"What did you do?" They were both now back on their feet, Sam leaning over Dean where he stood, and the human trying to sidle sideways out of the way. Being trapped by the son earlier had been unnerving enough, but he knew how strong both Sams were.

"You head for the window as a possibility of escape? So did he, all those years ago."

"What?"

And in that moment of hesitation it was too late: Sam was on him and held him bodily against the wall before Dean could react. He tried to push him off or kick out, but Sam just caught both his hands in one of his larger ones and forced Dean's arms above his head. And his legs were pushing the smaller man's ones apart, nearly causing him to fall, but he had nowhere to go except more into the arms of the being holding him upright between himself and the unyielding wall.

Sam leant down and scented his neck with his nose, mimicking his son's recent action, breathing Dean's muted scent in with a deep inhale. "Samuel is right. You have nearly the exact aroma of my brother, it is so close that it feels me with the same needs as I have with him. Indeed I desire to taste you very, very much."

"Wait! Brother? You're telling me the Dean in this world is your brother as well? How can he be your mate then? I…." Dean swore out loud as he felt Sam's tongue lick down his neck and tried ineffectually to struggle free. The larger man continued unperturbed and with no sign that he had even noticed.

"But there is something extra. You have a muskiness that hums at the back of my throat. And it is really arousing: incredibly desirable. The same, but subtly different from my Dean's: distinctly and uniquely you. And getting clearer with every breath I am with you, every moment I can focus more on it. Samuel noticed it immediately, far faster than me. You are not an exact copy: I wonder what other differences there are..."

"Well you can fucking well stop wondering! I'm not an omega! Or your mate!"

Sam chuckled at the attempt at a snarl from the human, but released his hands. Although he didn't try and move back in any way, so Dean found he was still trapped between a Sam and a hard place.

"I am trying to explain to you, human Dean. I was fourteen when I presented: that first rut, just like the first heat for an omega, comes out of the blue and is far too intense to be bearable. It is almost impossible to be rational during it. I was out of my head with the need to mate, and my only coherent thought was to head straight towards what I had always wanted, and I had always wanted him: my beautiful, beautiful omega brother Dean, your almost exact lookalike. I had desired him since the moment he had presented."

He made sure Dean was looking straight at him for his next words. "He did not corrupt me, but like you, he was worried that he had. It was, actually, the complete opposite, Dean." Sam sighed and looked down at the plush carpet. "I gave him no choice but to accept me: he tried to escape through the window just like you had the intention of but even at the age of fourteen, my suddenly presenting Alpha strength took him by surprise. I held him against the wall, mated him and claimed him as mine."

Dean stopped struggling abruptly and instead stared up at him: the anger in the human's eyes shook the Alpha momentarily.

"Are you telling me you raped your brother? You raped the other Dean?"

"To all intents and purposes, yes." He tried to answer calmly, but he couldn't deny the small spark of shame that he had always tried to bury deep within him. "But that is how it is here. Omegas are to be claimed, Dean: the natural call to mate is as strong in them as it is in Alphas. And they are desired as well as being extremely desirable. I can never let my guard down when Dean is out with me, in case another Alpha decides to dishonour the sanctity of the claiming mark."

"The one you forced on him?" Dean was angry, angrier than he ever thought he could be.

"Yes, I forced it on him. But had it not been me, it would have been another Alpha, Dean. He, my Dean, would not have been safe: you have already seen what it's like here. He was not safe. Dad tried to keep him hidden once he had presented: all Dean's life had been was to go from the car to whichever motel to the car for the last four or five years before I presented, despite the suppressants dad had got for him to mask his scent. He just couldn't take the risk of Dean being snatched."

He moved away from Dean suddenly and stalked back to the bed to sit on the mattress, leaving the human standing where he had been held beside the wall.

"So yes, I forced him to mate with me. And I was selfish, I know. But I do desperately love him and I always will. And I have done my best to make him happy, Dean. I think he is happy: he seems to be."

"Why don't you ask him?"

Sam nodded. "I should. But..."

"What if he's not?"

This time Sam looked down at the floor without any response for a moment. "I'm just trying to explain what it is like here, Dean. You must stay with me when you go out. Whether you like it or not, you smell like an omega. No matter how weak it is, it is still the scent of one. And you are male. And have no claim mark. And male omegas are very, very desirable as they are usually extremely fertile. You saw the reaction earlier to you: this is not a safe world that you have arrived in! Not for something like you."

"You mean we're good for breeding?"

Sam winced at the scorn in the human's voice, but nodded. "Please be careful here, Dean. I want my mate back, but I also do not want you to get hurt. And you could easily, if you will not listen to me."

Dean stood with his back to the wall and glowered at him. "What did dad think? When you 'claimed' your brother?"

Sam stared at the floor again. "He was furious with me. Really angry, but he could do nothing about it. He could have claimed Dean himself but he hadn't out of respect for him, so when I... Anyway, he kicked me out. I never got the chance to try and put it right... I regret that very much. And Dean of course had to come with me as he was now mine.

And then his next due heat never arrived and we realised that he was already pregnant from that first mating. Apparently an omega is fertile for a couple of weeks before and after the main few days of the heat as well, although a conception then is rare but, as we proved, not impossible!

We moved into Uncle Bobby's while I finished school, and Dean gave birth to Samuel. They then stayed there while I went to College: I was determined to give him a good life, Dean. I worked hard, came home regularly and to see him through his heats. I wanted to be the best for him and our son."

"Why didn't you take him with you to College?"

"Do you understand anything of what I've been telling you?" Sam glared at him. "An omega? A stunningly beautiful male omega? Alone during the day with nobody watching out for him? You've seen what it's like out there and it's getting worse! Even my neighbour for God's sake….

No. It was far safer for him out at Bobby's. And he helped with the cars: he's really good at mending cars is my Dean. He and Samuel were much better being there, Dean."

"And after College?"

"I got a job in a law firm. Moved here with Dean and our son. Made friends with other couples so that Dean can go out with them and feel he's safe. Or safer anyway. We'd taken precautions while I was still learning: we didn't want to impose on Bobby too much! But once I was earning, we could try for another child. And then a third.

He is happy, Dean. He is. I know he is."

'Which of us are you trying to convince?' Dean thought. But he didn't say it out loud.

Sam stood up and approached him again, sighing as Dean's body instinctively tensed once more. The younger but larger man reached to take his hand and began to pull Dean towards him. "Please, Dean. I know you don't like this but you must listen. When we are outside, or in company, you must be touching me: holding my arm, hand, anywhere, Omegas are naturally very tactile, and my Dean incredibly so. He gets nervous if he is left alone anywhere that he does not feel safe. And to be honest, here is the only place that he really does, inside these four walls.

It can be very dangerous for omegas, Dean. Seriously. Please believe me when I say I am trying to look out for you."

By this time he was leading Dean back to the bed, holding him gently but firmly enough that the man couldn't break his grip and was in no doubt of where they were going. "You expecting me to sleep with you as your 'mate' isn't here to serve?"

"No, Dean! No! I know I said I would sleep downstairs, but on thinking it through, it would be sensible for you to cover yourself with my scent: you will find it easier to walk around outside." He ignored the other's disdainful snort. "It would certainly attract less unwanted attention."

"And how exactly do I do that?"

"Lie with me. In my arms so you pick up as much of my scent as possible. Believe me, anyone intrigued enough to wonder why you have such a faint one will become interested very quickly if they realise there is the faintest hint of unclaimed omega and I am not there to protect you…."

"Are you serious!" He had Dean beside the bed now, but there was no way that the human was laying on it without a fight. "You get your goddam hands off me!"

He was struggling now, trying to break Sam's firm grasp around his hand, but there was no way the other was going to let go. So instead he kicked out as hard as he could, hurting his own socked feet as he did, but to no avail. But as he began to try and swing his free fist, he was instead suddenly caught up in Sam's long muscled arms and picked up bodily to be put down roughly on his back on the bed, with the being that looked like his brother immediately following him down until he was lying fully on top of Dean, with his legs between the older man's spread ones, and his hands tight around Dean's wrists, holding him down.

"Now, I can sleep like this and you will definitely pick up my scent, although it will be extremely uncomfortable for you. Or you can stop being ridiculous and just lie next to me in a civilised manner, and we can both get some sleep!"

"Third option! You get the fuck out!"

Sam considered for a minute, staring straight down into Dean's eyes. "Third option," he conceded. "You get out! This is my home and my bed. And you have somehow taken my mate from me, so why should I care what happens to you here? Go on, you get out! Go and see what I have been trying to protect you from!"

And with that he was rolling off Dean and away from him to instead get under the covers of the bed, even as the human sprang to his feet and escaped to stand once more by the wall.

Sam reached to the bedside light switch and plunged the room into sudden darkness. "I am tired, Dean, and I am worried about my mate, and I miss him very much. So, you decide, stay here safe with me or go. I won't force you in either." And he was turning away from Dean and settling down to try and get some sleep.

He lay in the darkness for a long moment, although he could see almost as clearly in it as he could in the day. He was worried that he would have to tie the stubborn human down, as there was no way he was going to let Dean walk out of that door and into the world that would be so dangerous for him. It came as a huge rush of relief when he felt the mattress dip behind him and Dean carefully slid beneath the covers beside him, although trying not to touch him physically in any way.

They lay like that for a long moment, then Sam was having none of it, and instead turned to wrap his arms around the smaller man and pull him closer to him, ignoring the tenseness of his body and his grumbles until Dean was laying with his head against Sam's chest and the Alpha could nuzzle his nose into the top of the human's soft short hair to breathe in as much of the scent that he missed so much as he could.

It wasn't his Dean, but it would have to do.