Welcome to my favorite chapter I've written so far. This one is all schmoop. Plot? What's plot? More like a massive chikflick moment.

Please enjoy!

~TH~

Caleb couldn't tell if Dean was awake or asleep. It'd been two days since Dean had come back to them and yet he was getting worse and worse. Mac was worried. They all were. It was to the point where Dean could barely sit up without assistance. The one time he had tried to get out of bed by himself he'd made it two steps before collapsing and having to be helped back. He was dying. Caleb knew it as much as he hated to think about it. Mac hadn't said anything yet but… it was coming.

And physically, Dean didn't look too bad. He didn't know what the Entetee did that hid Dean's true condition, but it was just making it worse. There was nothing Mac could do if he couldn't see the problem. He could read the high temperature, he could check the speeding heart rate, but on the outside he looked normal. Only his eyes told a different story. Dean's eyes were bloodshot and had the look of sickness. They were dull. When Dean wasn't hallucinating, he was sleeping. Every once in awhile, Dean would be back. The real Dean with real clarity. But they never knew how long it would last before the fever would spike again. Mac was doing everything he could, but there wasn't much available. They couldn't take Dean to the hospital. They could never understand what was happening. And there was nothing they could do that Mac couldn't.

The Doctor knocked on the door before entering. There was a troubled look on his face that made Caleb's heart speed up.

"Son, could I have a moment with Dean?"

"Dad?"

"I just need to speak with him." The tightlipped smile meant that something else was going on. This wasn't a chat to check on Dean or to test how with it he was. Something else was wrong.

Caleb finally nodded, only taking a few steps back and sitting on the opposite bed. Mac didn't correct him.

"Dean? Can you hear me, son?"

The green eyes blinked open, a strange grayness to them. "I'm here, Mac." And he actually sounded coherent. A bit like the old Dean. A much more tired version, but still the Dean they knew.

"Good," The smile was kind, but forced. "There's something I need to speak to you about."

"Mhm?"

"Dean, you're dying."

Caleb felt his heart drop to his feet. He barely kept from responding. Dean let out a choked laugh. "You think, doc?"

"There's nothing I can do."

"So I gathered."

"But there's something you can do."

Dean raised his eyebrows. Caleb stopped breathing.

"You can kill the Entetee."

The only response was a blink.

"K-kill- why me? I thought you didn't know how to-"

"The only way to kill the Entetee is for a follower to use the sacrificial knife dipped in his own blood."

There was silence.

Then finally, "I won't do it."

"Dean-"

"I won't. You can't make me do it."

"Dean, you will die if something isn't done. And there's nothing natural that I can do. Your only hope is-"

"It doesn't matter. I won't kill him. I can't."

"I'll give you some time to think about it."

"It won't matter."

Mac sighed, rising to his feet. "Let me know if you need anything."

Caleb met him at the door. "It's the only way?" He asked in a whisper.

"I wish I knew of another one. But it has to be him and as long ast that thing is alive there is nothing I can do."

Caleb clenched his jaw. "How long?"

"A few days, maybe a week if he's lucky. He's deteriorating fast and there's nothing… If there was anything I could do-"

"I know, Dad. I'll talk to him."

"See what you can do." He laid a hand on his shoulder as he exited the room.

"I won't do it." Dean said before Caleb had even reached his bed.

"You heard my dad, you have to or you'll die. I can't let that happen."

"I can't kill him Caleb! He's never done anything to me! He's been nothing but good you can't ask me to-"

Caleb felt all of his pent up anger and frustration finally snap. "He's feeding off you Deuce! What about that don't you understand?! Besides the fact that he is literally drinking your blood he's feeding off of your life! Why can't you get that?!"

"I don't know what your problem is. Sounds like what the brotherhood has been doing for years. At least I chose this."

The older hunter stopped before saying what he so badly wanted to say. He turned around, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Then exhaling, turned back. "Okay, alright. I want you to think with me for a minute. I know your head's all screwy right now, but do you think you can stay with me for just a couple of minutes?"

Dean hesitated, unsure of what was happening. "Yes." he finally answered quietly.

"Okay. The Brotherhood isn't always the best place. Your Dad is a stubborn fool who drinks too much and has a temper. He's let you down a lot, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"And Sam, you love him, but he's a little brat most of the time. He doesn't mind if you get hurt so long as he gets what he wants."

"I guess so."

"And even Mac and Jim. They try to be there for you, but sometimes they put the Brotherhood above you. Sometimes they take John's side when they know he's wrong. They've let you down."

"That's what I've been saying I don't-"

"But I want you to think. And I want you to think real hard. Name one time I haven't been there for you."

Dean started to speak, but Caleb interrupted.

"Before this mess. And we both know that it was a fluke accident. You know that if I had had cell service I would have dropped everything and come. So name another time. A time where you asked me to come and I didn't. A time where your Dad was being a jerk and I didn't stand up for you. A time where I ignored you to focus on Sam. Any time I wasn't there for you."

The young hunter looked away.

"Deuce, I've been there for you every time you needed me. Dude I left a bunch of hot chicks to play Santa Clause even though you didn't ask. I went to every game I could. I dropped everything to pick you up when you called. I took the Triad's wrath in order to give you what you want. I got on Jonny's bad side so you could hide in my dorm. And I know, I know that your life has sucked. I've been there. I've watched it happen, and I hate it. If I could take it away from you I would. It's not right that Sammy always comes first. It's not right that your Dad's a mean drunk or that the Triad can't see over the Brotherhood sometimes. It's not fair that you get the raw end of every deal. It's not fair and it's not right and you've just taken it since you were four years old. You take it and you don't fight back. You just grin and bear it. You take on responsibility that isn't yours and make excuses when the people you love hurt you. And you've finally had enough. And you thought you found someone who would fix it all. But he won't. Yes, the Brotherhood asks a lot of you, more than they should. But he's asking for just as much if not more! He's asking for your life. He's asking you to die for him. And I can't speak for the rest of the Brotherhood, I won't. But me? I won't ask anything from you. I never have. I'll do anything for you even if you never do anything in return. And you can try to twist my words or not believe me or whatever you want. But it's the truth. And deep down, under all that hurt and anger and supernatural manipulation, you know it's true."

There were tears shining in both of their eyes. Dean closed his eyes, pushing the tears to fall down his face.

"And listen, Deuce. I know it's hard. And I get why you don't want to. But I need you to. Because I can't lose you. Not like this. So if you kill him. If you take him down so that you can get better, so that you can live, and you still want to leave the Brotherhood? Then fine. I'll walk out the door with you." And that terrified him. The idea of leaving the Brotherhood. He wanted to be the Knight. He always had. But he would do it, he would walk away. He would do anything. "If you want to be done hunting, fine. If you want to keep hunting outside of the Brotherhood, I'll be your backup every hunt. If you want out, I'll get out. But please, you have to do whatever it takes to survive. Please."

Dean finally opened his eyes, they were clear even as the pain still hid behind them. His lips turned up slightly. "We could start our own club. The sisterhood."

Caleb blinked. "The sisterhood?"

"Yeah, I mean we sound like a bunch of girls having a chick flick moment right now."

The psychic laughed in what felt like the first time in years. "Hey man, whatever you want."

Dean's smile dropped and he stared directly into his friend's eyes. "I'll do it. Or… at least I'll try. Damien, I don't know-"

"That's all I'm asking."

"And what if I can't do it? What if I'm not strong enough?"

"I know you, Deuce. You're strong enough to do anything. But if it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out. I've never given up on you before and I'm not starting now."

Dean didn't respond, closing his eyes. Caleb thought he had fallen back asleep.

After several minutes of silence, Dean whispered. "Thanks for being here."

"Always, Deuce." Caleb answered, trying to hold back his tears. "Always."

~TH~

Plot moving stuff happens next chapter. This was more about me wanting Dean and Caleb to talk about their feelings. Hehe. It was fun.

Please let me know what you think!

Love you guys!

Much love and God bless,

Jamie