Sam licked his lip, hesitating before he moved to the bed and fished the key out of his jacket. His eyes were locked to his brother’s, and the waves of anger coming from him were palpable. Dean’s eyes were as hard as his voice.

It shouldn’t be this way, but Sam felt an elemental fear go through him. He took a deep breath, told himself it would be fine, and bent over Dean to undo the cuff around his wrist. Seeing the damage to Dean’s skin, he shook his head. “Dammit Dean, why... it was only a half hour.” The metal gave and he started to step away.

Dean watched his brother’s every move. Never looking away from the younger man’s eyes as Sam approached him slowly. Maybe he should have felt guilty for just how nervous his brother looked, but he just had to remind himself that Sam was the one who had left him trapped here, chained him up to the damn bed. If anyone should be feeling guilty right now it was Sam.

As soon as the metal cuff fell away from his wrist, Dean stood up. Ignoring his brother’s ‘personal’ space as he backed Sam against up against the wall. Inhaling the younger man’s scent deeply. Smelling the woman’s as well, but it wasn’t as potent as it would have been if his brother had been… There was no smell of sweat or sex clinging to the younger man’s skin. Just Sam, and the elder man allowed himself to relax a little even though his expression remained far from pleased.

“You left me handcuffed to the fucking bed, Sam.”

Sam’s chest rose and fell as he leaned back as far as he could against the wall, the space between his brows furrowed. He should just shove Dean back, but he didn’t want to escalate... not unless he had to. “I know. I know I did.”

His brother’s face was implacable, his gaze pierced right through Sam. Even though he wasn’t touching him, it felt like he was pinned to the wall just the same.

“Sorry, I just...” pulling his gaze away, he looked out the window and tried to pretend Dean wasn’t inches from him. “I couldn’t risk it okay? I couldn’t fucking risk last night, and I thought I’d be back before you woke. It was just a half hour.”

The silence was killing him. “If you want to hit me, go ahead. Just get it over with.” As if he wasn’t already in pain from the trick Dean had pulled last night. As if they both weren’t.

Dean was still beyond pissed off at his brother. Sam had no fucking clue.

After all the time he’d spent tied up, chained down, imprisoned by those fucking werewolves, did the younger man have any idea what it had done to him to wake up and find himself chained up again.

Obviously not.

“They kept me chained up.” Dean said softly. Without emotion, mostly because he couldn’t deal with all the extra baggage it would dredge up right now if he let himself. So he let go of the anger with a heavy sigh through his teeth.

He understood. He really did. His brother’s fear after what Dean had tried to do last night. He understood, and that’s why he was willing to let it go. This time.

“Christ, Sammy…” Dean whispered when his brother actually ‘offered’ to let him hit him. It was almost like Sam had punched him in the gut instead. Without really thinking, Dean reached out and pulled his brother into his arms. Hugging the younger man to him tightly instead.

“For being so smart, college boy, you can be a real idiot sometimes.” The elder man muttered under his breath.

He'd really expected to be struck, so he was more than startled by the hug. But he wasn't so surprised that he didn't reciprocate. Putting his own arms around Dean, he held real tight, almost burying his face his brother's throat.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, his gut wrenching now that he understood what he'd put Dean through. Even when he felt Dean start to push away, he hung on. "So sorry Dean. I didn't think. I just... I couldn't lose you again. I couldn't."

Stupid tears stung his eyes and he tried to blink them away. How many times had he almost lost his brother in just a week? To wolves, to poison, to that suicide attempt? He wasn't thinking straight anymore, wasn't being smart... his brother was right. But moments like this gave him hope, told him things could be alright, that they'd find their way.

Dean was a little shocked just how tightly his brother held onto him. Almost desperately. Like Sam expected him to simply vanish at any second…

Had he given his brother any reason to think otherwise?

“It’s ok, Sammy.” Dean said softly, reassuring. Sam didn’t need to apologize. They could just forget about it. He started to release the younger man but his brother just kept holding onto him. Refusing to let go.

They were pressed so close he realized he could feel Sam shaking a little in his arms. When he felt the wetness of his brother’s tears against his neck, his own throat felt choked with emotion, and he held onto Sam tighter in return. Running his fingers through his brother’s hair, hoping to calm him. Much as he’d done when they were much younger. When Sam was still just a kid.

Chick flick moment be damned.

“I’m sorry…” The elder man whispered. His own eyes stinging with unshed tears and a chill passing through him as he allowed himself for perhaps the first time to truly imagine what his brother would have gone though had he succeeded last night. Maybe his ‘intentions’ were good. He only wanted to protect Sam, from himself, but if he’d killed himself like that… It would have broken his brother. Dean was beginning to wonder if he hadn’t done that already.

Fuck…

“I’m not going anywhere, Sammy. Ok? Not if I can help it. I promise…” God it hurt to make that promise. He was still so fucking afraid what was going to happen once he turned. Remembering the dream he’d had just before he woke to find himself chained down again made a shiver pass through him he knew Sam would be able to feel too.

But he realized that Sam needed that hope. Much more than Dean himself did. Sam needed him to fight. Just needed him… Dean had almost forgotten how much he needed his brother to need him too.

Unable to speak for a while, Sam just shook his head and let Dean comfort him. He’d asked his older brother to come back to him last night, but he was afraid to let himself believe his wish had come true.

Then for the first time, Dean said the words he’d been begging him for from the first time they’d retrieved him from the wolves. Sam thought something was crushing his heart. Closing his fist, he slammed it lightly in the middle of Dean’s back. “Don’t you make me a promise like that and not keep it, Dean, or I will haunt your ass.” Half choking over the lump in his throat, he wiped his nose with his sleeve, and waited for Dean to pull away.

When he did, they searched each others’ faces. Sam saw nothing but truth and determination in Dean’s eyes. Yeah, he knew his brother was mercurial, that things could change. But right now. Right here, he believed him. The hard won promise was good enough, it had to be.

They both turned away and walked in separate directions, slightly embarrassed. Sam took another deep breath, “all of this wasn’t part of your evil plan to bamboozle me into taking you to the bar tonight, was it?” He tapped his pocket. “Got a ride to the ATM...”

His brother’s half choked words made the lump in his own throat grow, but he forced himself to swallow it down. Holding onto the younger man for another few moments until he felt Sam was more calm, and when he pulled away this time, his brother let him go.

They both looked away at the same time then. Dean cleared his throat a little and ran his hand through his own hair, his fingers still tingling a little from doing the same to his brother. Yeah, it was a bit of an awkward moment. But they both got over it rather quickly.

Dean turning to look at his brother with a grin when Sam mentioned the bar. Oh yeah, a drink right now, sounded exactly like what they both needed.

“Dude, you did not just use the word ‘bamboozle’?” Dean laughed as he picked up his jacket and threw it on. Then threw his arm around the younger man’s neck, dragging Sam down to give him a good old fashioned noogie, just because, before releasing him with a laugh.

“Hope you got enough, because you are so getting wasted with me tonight, little brother.”