Dean couldn’t help but feel immensely pleased with himself by his brother’s reaction. The look of pure lust on Sam’s face. The sounds his brother made. An answering growl of lust and possession came from his own throat before he could stop it as the younger man crawled up the length of his body.

The elder man grinned, about to answer his brother, “Plenty of porno, Sammy.” But he couldn’t even get the first syllable out of his mouth before the younger man was crushing their lips together. Dean growled again, his arms straining against the shackles around his wrists wanting so badly to wrap around the younger man. Pull him even closer if it were possible. Tangle his fingers in his brother’s hair and control the kiss, but he could do none of those things. He was completely at his brother’s mercy, and happy to be there.

When Sam finally let him up to breathe he was panting hard. Dean licked his lips, tasting Sam and his own blood on them from where the younger man’s teeth had cut into his lip. He watched his brother intently as Sam did exactly as he asked, turning around, and he could see everything. All of Sam in all his glory. Sam’s huge hot dick pressing down on his chest, his brother’s well rounded, smooth, muscled ass, Sam’s thighs spread wide on either side of him, and that tight blushing hole so damned close.

Fuck, but he wanted his hands free so he could grasp those luscious cheeks, spreading his brother even wider, pulling the younger man closer to his mouth so he could kiss and lick and thrust his tongue deeply up into him. That thought, not to mention the feeling of his brother’s hot wet mouth descending over his aching cock made Dean groan obscenely loud. His hips lifting off the bed, shoving his dick deeper into Sam’s mouth before he could stop himself.

“Fuck, yeah… Sammy… just like that, take me deep into your mouth, little brother. So fucking hot, so wet…” Dean kept up the dirty litany of words, knowing how much Sam liked to hear them. Turning his head enough so that he could lick up his brother’s thigh. Sucking a bruise into the inner muscle of his brother’s thigh, marking him just as Sam had done.

It was so fucking good, he was almost beyond rational thought, his body controlled completely by the lust burning through his veins, so when Sam’s mouth left him Dean couldn’t stop the curses and protests that spilled from his lips. Needing his brother’s mouth on him again, right now, god damn it.

But he was struck silent a moment later when Sam went on to fulfill his next request. Dean watched intently as the younger man’s lubed up finger slipped past the tight ring of muscle, pushing deep inside his brother’s tight hole and groaned. When Sam’s mouth finally returned to his dripping cock, his brother giving him permission to fuck his mouth like he wanted, Dean couldn’t stop himself from moaning at the erotic sight and feel and he started to thrust his hips. Watching Sam’s finger sliding in and out. So close, so damned close. His thrusts between Sam’s gorgeous lips finding the same rhythm as that finger slipping so deep inside his brother’s body.

“Fuck, that’s so hot, baby brother. You’re so fucking hot…” Dean whispered, pulling, his muscles starting to ache as he strained against his restraints, trying to get closer as he kissed a wet path up his brother’s inner thigh. Caressing and teasing Sam’s flesh with his tongue, the only way he could touch the younger man at the moment. He lapped up to his brother’s balls, taking one into his mouth and then the other.

“Lean back, Sammy. Lemme taste you. Put in another finger, spread yourself open for me.”

The sound of the chains clinking as Dean pulled against them inflamed Sam’s lust. Between that and his brother’s whispers... using all the right words... Sam was pushed to the very edge. His cock ached and pulsed and only fucking harder against Dean’s chest helped, but he couldn’t get that and fulfill Dean’s request too. The best he could do was thrust against Dean’s chest a few times, lift up to let Dean see his finger penetrating his ass and hold that position for as long as he could before fucking down on his chest again. It was torture, sheer torture.

Listening to his brother, he moved back a little and groaned as Dean took his balls in his mouth and sucked. Oh God... oh God... need to come, he wanted to shout, but his words were unintelligible, muffled by Dean’s thick cock hitting the back of his throat with every thrust.

His body demanded release. He could get Dean to take his cock in his mouth. They could suck each other off. It wouldn’t take long and it would feel so damn good, so damn good to be allowed to come. He almost gave in to his needs, but Dean’s velvety soft request made him want to please his brother.

Groaning, almost as if he were in pain, Sam lifted his ass up higher and pushed his index finger into himself, forcing his fingers wide as he leaned back, bringing himself close to Dean’s face. He needed to come so bad, didn’t his brother know this? Couldn’t he feel it. Please Dean... please...

Dean could tell Sam was close by the needy sounds his brother was making. He was fucking close too. His brother’s mouth sucking on his cock felt so damned good, taking everything he had to give, his brother’s spit dripping down his length, over his balls. It was amazing. Watching the younger man fucking himself on his fingers for him, letting him watch, fuck, it was so damned hot. It was making his dick throb in Sam’s mouth. Making him drip precome down his baby brother’s throat, he wanted so badly to be inside that tight dark heat.

When Sam did as he asked, inserting another finger into his hole, stretching himself and leaning back closer to his face, Dean groaned. Licking up behind his brother’s balls and not wasting a moment thrusting his tongue in alongside the younger man’s fingers. Dean moaned as he worked his tongue in as deep as he could, before pulling out. Flicking his tongue around the rim stretched so damned tight around his brother’s large fingers, before pushing in again.

Fucking Sam with his tongue while his brother fucked himself with his fingers, Sam sucking on his cock, he could come just like this, but his brother’s mouth wasn’t where he wanted to come. With an almost pained groan Dean pulled his cock out of the younger man’s mouth, and let his head fall back to the pillows. Panting heavily, trying to catch his breath and reign in his desire so he wouldn’t come the instant Sam touched him again.

“Now, Sammy. I want you to sit on my dick, take me into your tight ass. Fuck yourself on my cock, baby brother.”

The much subtler, softer sensation of a wet tongue teasing his hole and entering him, then teasing again, sent more heat straight to Sam’s cock. The ache was so unbearable, he was close to tears, afraid he would lose his internal battle to prevent himself from shoving his own cock down Dean’s throat.

Then Dean pulled out of his mouth. He was surprised, but quick to beg. “Dean please, can’t take this much long—“

And then Dean was calling him his baby brother and telling him he was ready to fuck him, and even before he mounted his brother, Sam was seeing flashes of white... like he did when Dean fucked him senseless before. Without turning around, he scrambled forward, lifted up and holding Dean’s dick, started to push himself down on it.

He screwed his eyes tight at the initial pain, biting his lip and throwing his head back, knowing there would be pleasure in a moment. Once he worked the head of Dean’s cock inside, he sat down, almost falling forward as he impaled himself . Taking a few breaths, he started to rock, then bounce up and down, a sound breaking from him as he found the right position for them.

Gripping Dean’s knee with one hand, and his hip with the other, Sam pushed up and down the length of Dean’s shaft, his movements growing wilder each time he clenched and released around his brother. “Fuck... fuck... Dean...” his jaw ached from gritting his teeth, his muscles strained and burned from the punishing pace he set for both of them. He was close... so fucking close... when the need to see Dean’s face, to see him struggling against the chains... rose inside him like a tidal wave he couldn’t fight.

Cursing, Sam pulled most of the way off Dean’s shaft, holding his dick as he turned bodily and re-impaled himself, this time facing Dean. His brother’s flushed face, the heat in his eyes, the sight of his muscles quivering as he pulled against the cuffs almost had Sam coming right there and then. Giving a tortured groan, he leaned forward and kissed Dean hard, taking his mouth, using it the way he was using his cock, brutally hard, before pulling back and fucking down on him as hard and fast as he could. His eyes were locked with his brothers as sounds started to break from him. He tried to hold them back, but it wasn’t in his control. No amount of fear of later teasing could keep them from slipping out. “Ahn... yeah ... Dean... yeah... fuck....”

The bed started to bang against the wall, but he couldn’t make himself care about that either. All that mattered was that he was here, and Dean was here, and they needed each other right now, like they needed to breath.

Sam’s obvious enthusiasm, his need to get his big brother’s dick inside of him, made it hard for Dean to control himself. His muscles trembled from the strain of holding himself still when Sam’s fingers wrapped around his length, steadying himself. Somehow managing to stop himself from simply thrusting his hips up and burying himself completely into his brother when Dean felt the head of his cock pressing against that tight ring of muscle. Dean groaned, still able to taste the younger man on his tongue, he had to close his eyes and take several deep breaths to keep himself from coming right then and there.

The long low groan that broke from his throat as his brother eased himself down onto his thick cock was almost painful. It didn’t take long before the younger man was sitting down on his lap, his dick buried completely in that exquisite tight heat, and Dean forced his eyes open again. The world seemed to freeze for a few moments. He couldn’t even feel his own heart beating though it had been virtually slamming against his ribs a moment ago. All he could feel was Sam’s inner muscles wrapped around him so damn tight, so damned hot, encasing his length in a velvet soft, tight sheath. Perfect…

“Yeah.. yeah… oh god, Sam… so good…” Dean whispered between uncontrollable moans of pleasure as Sam began rise and fall on his lap, fucking himself on his cock just like he’d asked. Looking so god damned beautiful, like out of his most erotic wet dreams. Faster. Harder. Fuck, he was going to come so damned hard he might just go blind.

Sam suddenly stopped, rose almost completely off of his cock and Dean started to curse a blue streak in protest. But when the younger man turned around, leaving his dick still buried partly in his little brother’s ass as he did it, before impaling himself once again Dean threw his head back with a shout that was immediately lost by Sam’s crushing lips. Dean moaned wantonly into his brother’s mouth, his lips left bruised and aching, and the moans Sam drew from him as the younger man began fucking himself hard and fast on his dick were sinful.

“Sam… ah… god… Sam!” Dean cried out amidst unintelligible sounds of pleasure. Sweat was pouring over his face and chest. His muscles were on fire, straining so hard against the cuffs chaining him he knew there would be bruises around his wrists for a week. His dick was so damned hard, so damned sensitive, every movement Sam made was near torture. His balls so full and heavy he knew he was probably going to blow so hard his come would leak out of Sam’s ass for hours. It was unbearable. It was unbelievable. It was fucking perfect.

“SAMMY!” Dean screamed his brother’s name at the top of his lungs as the first convulsion hit him so hard it was a wonder he didn’t unseat his brother completely the way he bucked underneath the younger man. His come filling up his brother completely in the first spurt and predictably he felt it leaking out of the younger man around his cock, and it only made him shoot more. Moaning so loud and so dirty through his climax the neighbors probably didn’t even need to buy the pay per view porno to get their rocks off.

Only Dean could be tied up and under him and still fuck him like this, make him feel good like this. His brother’s jerky movements and cries told him he was gonna blow any moment, and Sam encouraged it, whispering “fuck me, fuck me, fuck me...” His eyes rolled back as Dean did just that, his balls tightening just as Dean shouted his name.

Biting his lower lip, Sam never stopped moving, riding Dean’s cock and squeezing his own cock as he came at almost the same time. Ropes of his cum coated Dean’s chest, just as Dean’s filled him. He kept grinding on Dean, riding the last waves of pleasure for as long as he could and for as long as he thought his brother could stand it before he got too sensitive to being touched.

As he slowed his movement, he crawled up Dean’s body, rubbing his mouth over his brothers. “How many laws you think we’ve broken today?” he whispered, sucking Dean’s lips, then lifting up to look in his eyes. “Thinking about that will probably get you off again.”

After sharing a few more kisses, Sam mustered up the energy to detangled himself from Dean’s body, but collapsed right back down on him, laughing. “It’s a lot of work, being the only one who can move his hands. Wanna take a shower with me?” he asked, playfully biting Dean’s chin, but not directly asking if he could free him from the chains.

Feeling his brother’s hot come splash across his chest only had Dean shuddering even harder underneath the younger man, groaning like he was in pain as his brother’s body milked him for everything he was worth. Fuck. Sex with Sam had been intense, ever since the first time they’d fucked, but it only seemed to become even more so every time they were together like this. If it got any more so then he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to survive it.

Dean couldn’t help but chuckle softly at his brother’s words whispered against his lips, looking up at the younger man with a teasing grin.

“You’re the kinky bastard of the family, Sammy. Remember?” The elder man arched an eyebrow at his brother and then winked. Licking and nipping at his brother’s lips, trading wet kisses with Sam, still able to taste himself on the younger man’s lips.

When Sam finally climbed off his softened dick, Dean groaned a little, only to huff out a sharp breath as the younger man’s heavy weight all but collapsed against his chest. He gave his brother a mock glare, but couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off his face seeing Sam laugh and goof off like this.

Dean hesitated a moment, knowing what his brother was really asking even though he hedged around the real issue. Finally the elder man nodded.

“Yeah…” Maybe Sam was right. Maybe he didn’t need to be chained up like this 24/7, not yet at least. But he definitely needed to be chained up during times when he might not have all of his senses about him. Like when he was sleeping, if he had some kind of nightmare or something and lost control… He would miss sleeping with his brother in his arms, but if that’s what it took to keep Sam safe.

“You made a mess on me.” He added, trying to keep the mood light for a change.

Getting called a kinky bastard might have embarrassed him if Dean hadn’t kept him busy kissing and talking and grinning, all proud of himself for having tired Sam out. Then Dean was considering his answer to the suggestion that they shower together, and Sam practically held his breath.

When Dean said yes and joked about the mess Sam made, Sam gave him a brilliant smile. “Guess I’m responsible for cleaning you up, then.” He kissed Dean one more time, tenderly, running his fingers in circles over Dean’s flat nipples, the pulling up and getting off the bed.

Once up, Sam didn’t even hide the fact that he was looking Dean over one more time, memorizing the way he looked, all fucked out and tied up. Heat stole up his cheeks, and he cleared his throat. “I could use a beer, bout now.” Yeah, he’d love to sit back on a chair and just stare at Dean. He really was a kinky bastard.

As he undid the cuffs around Dean’s wrists, he winced at the damage. He was about to ask whether Dean thought his wrists would heal quickly, but decided not to remind him of the big elephant in the room. Instead, kissing the inside of first one wrist, then the other, he freed him. “Might have to invest in something softer.” No, he wasn’t gonna mention leather or fur cuffs, hell, he would deny any knowledge of that. The glint in Dean’s eyes told him that would be best.

As they headed to the shower, Sam saw the door and blanched. Taking a deep, calming breath, he went and shoved the back of a chair under the handle. How had he forgotten? The look he directed to Dean who was slipping into the bathroom was very accusatory. It was his brother’s fault for being so damned tempting.

A few minutes later, they were in the hot shower, fighting and laughing as they each tried to get under the stream of the water. Sam fought off Dean’s lewd suggestions. “Dude...” he opened and closed his mouth a few times, testing his jaw. “I don’t know how girls do it... I feel like I’m about to get lockjaw.” Right, big mistake, because Dean looked smugger than usual now. Shaking his head, he grabbed the soap. “Turn... time for me to clean up my mess,” he said, washing every inch of his brother between horseplay and kissing.

Dean chuckled softly and nodded in agreement when Sam said it was his job to clean him up. Then his breath was catching in his throat as the younger man’s hands caressed over his already too sensitive skin, rubbing over his nipples, and making Dean shudder beneath the other man. Dean didn’t know whether to be relieved or curse Sam for getting off of him when he did. Though the way Sam looked down at him once he was standing sent a flash of heat through him anyway and made him wonder if his brother really was trying to kill him.

When the cuffs around his wrists were removed, Dean winced a little at the little pinpricks of feeling returning to his fingers, not to mention just how bruised his wrists were from all the tugging on them. Sam’s soft kiss to the worst of the bruised area on the inside of his wrists both touched him and made him want to bat the younger man upside the back of his head for being such a girl. Sam’s comment about using something “softer” next time had Dean grinning however in spite of himself, even as a flush crawled up his chest and neck to his cheeks.

He had to admit, he had enjoyed that a whole lot more than he had thought he would. Even though he had been the one chained and unable to move, Sam had done everything he’d asked. And even though he couldn’t touch his brother, couldn’t reach out to him, being able to tell Sam what to do and have him do it… fuck, yeah, it had been hot. Maybe he should suggest scarves next time? Or blindfolds? Just how kinky was his little brother he’d always thought was so vanilla?

Dean got up off the bed and stretched his slightly sore muscles, sore from having strained so much against the cuffs probably, and started towards the bathroom. Only to lift an eyebrow as he watched the younger man make a detour to the motel room door rather than the bathroom and he couldn’t stop that laugh that broke free as Sam shoved a chair under the knob.

He couldn’t believe Sam was really that paranoid about being caught. Like their father was anywhere remotely in the area, and if he had been, hearing all the noise they’d made the man would have broken down the door one way or another, chair or no.

Sharing the shower was also a lot more fun than he’d imagined. It was nice for a change just goofing off and horse playing around with Sam like brothers again… ok so with a little more petting than normal brothers should but all that wet skin to touch Dean couldn’t really help himself for long. Sam’s comment about getting lock jaw had Dean laughing and grinning from ear to ear. However he did as he was told and let Sam take his time cleaning the sweat and come off his skin, Dean of course making it as difficult as possible so it took twice as long. Not that he minded in the least with all the kisses he stole from his brother throughout. Dean was rather disappointed when the water started to cool and they had to get out or risk it turning icy on them which definitely wasn’t sexy in any way or form.

Dean dried off himself in between groping his brother, then used his wet towel to smack the younger man’s ass on his way out to the bedroom. He went over to his duffel and pulled out some clothes, which he wouldn’t have bothered if they were staying here but he remembered Sam mentioning going out for some pool and beer, and Dean had to admit he was getting a little antsy.

“So, ready to go take the locals for everything they’re worth, Sammy?” Dean asked with his best shit eating grin as he grabbed the keys to the Impala.

Sam laughed at the burn of the towel smacking his ass. He dressed quickly, as opposed to Dean who took his time and was the exhibitionist in the family, and then half sat on the table, relaxed. What a contrast to just this morning, when it felt like he was developing an ulcer because they were on the outs.

When Dean was ready and smiling at him like that as he suggested they go, he felt something tug on his heart. This was how they should always be... they needed to get off the damned rollercoaster they were on, and just... just rest here... in this perfect moment.

A more impatient look from his brother had him quickly nodding in agreement. Grabbing his jacket, he clapped Dean on the back. “Almost everything... we don’t want to get them mad enough to want it back,” he said with a chuckle, opening the door. Yeah, old habits died hard, and he was still the voice of reason.

A short time later, they were at a pool hall, drinking beers at the bar but conserving most of the remainder of their money to wager. Sam watched as Dean worked the crowd like a pro, making comments about the skill or lack thereof of other players, just waiting for a nibble... by nights end, Sam was sure someone would challenge them.

Sam also noticed a blonde watching Dean and smiling at him, her long hair covering one eye. His fingers closed more tightly around his bottle, even as he told himself to be prepared for the flirting. He’d seen this a thousand times before, and he would probably see it again. Just because Dean had a thing for him now didn’t mean his old habits died, or that Sam had any right to demand that, not when he had his own complications of their relationship.

He forced his mind away and thought back to the time he and Dean had gotten shit faced at the bar in the last town. His first hints that his brother might have unbrotherly interests in him, and his own reaction. His cheeks burning, he realized Dean’s gaze was on him, as if he expected a response. He cleared his throat. “Just thinking...bout the first time we...” he just nodded his head. “At that tree on the way to the motel. You don’t remember, hell you were too drunk to know.” And after that, on the bed, when Dean had grabbed him and would not let him go until he gave him a hand job.

The thoughts tumbling through his mind were making him hard, and just when the hell had he turned into Dean? Tugging on his collar, Sam pulled his gaze away and tried to once again look for marks.

Dean sat on the edge of the stool, his back against the bar and his elbow resting on it close to his brother, in his other hand his second beer that he was nursing slowly. Though his posture was relaxed he surveyed the assembled crowd in the bar/pool hall with the eyes of a predator. Just the way their father had taught him, picking out in his mind who were most likely the easiest targets. Who was likely to put down the most cash on a single game. Who was most likely to realize they were being hustled.

He watched the games already going on. Pretending to be a lot more drunk than he was, talking to Sam, talking shit about some of the other players he’d checked off as good marks, and “drunkenly” talking loudly enough to be heard a few tables down even with all the noise in the bar that time of night.

Dean had to admit, he’d always enjoyed doing this, and he missed it, among other things, when Sam went off to college. Working with Sam like this, oh Dean did fine on his own, but working with Sam they always raked in a lot more cash together than apart. Then again, they’d always done better at everything together than apart.

Though Dean kept his attention focused on the crowd and their potential marks, his attention never wavered very far from Sam, and knew the instant Sam’s eyes were on him. Could practically feel the younger man’s stare and when he turned to look at his brother the younger man’s sudden blush had him grinning like a fool. A warm laugh escaping him as Sam went on to explain, and Dean let his arm drop away from the bar, his hand coming to rest on the inside of his brother’s thigh very intimately.

“You’ll have to refresh my memory later.” Dean practically purred in his brother’s ear.

“Dean!” A warm breath rushed out of Sam at the unexpected touch. Then his brother’s mouth was brushing over his sensitive ear, making him all sorts of aware of dean. Giving a half laugh and smile, Sam pulled away only slightly and shook his head. “Don’t you think we exceeded our quota for the day?” Practically rolling his eyes in response to Dean’s expression that said quite the contrary, Sam lifted his bottle and took a long, cooling drink.

Soon, they both fell back into pattern, saying one thing but signaling each other with their bodies as to what they actually meant and who they would take to the cleaners. Sam had always felt guilty about doing this, and even guiltier about the rush of adrenalin that accompanied these games. That was why he always tried to pick the biggest asshole to hustle, and he’d sometimes let the poor dumb ones slip away. He had a feeling Dean knew, and when they were younger, he’d let him get away with it if they weren’t too hard up for cash.

He knew they’d attracted the attention of a couple of players who kept looking their way. It wouldn’t be too long before they got tapped on the shoulder, with those guys offering to shut them up by winning all their money. Sam pointed his bottle at that table and leaned in to tell Dean something when the blonde he’d spotted earlier made her move.

“Hey, you boys from out of town,” the blond woman purred, stepping practically between them and putting her hand on both their backs. “I haven’t seen you around before, and believe me, if I had, I’d remember,” she said, this time leaning into Dean and practically purring in his ear, the same way Dean had done to Sam, earlier.

Sam froze. He knew the ‘boys’ bit was an act, she was only really interested in his brother, just like most of the rest of the female population. That usually had him amused, or irritated by his brother’s antics, but now? He was just irritated with her. Annoyed. No worse, he wanted to shove her away.

Hating these strange feelings coursing through him, he ran his hand over his face then turned in his seat and trying his damnedest not to look at where her hands were on his brother, and what kind of smile Dean was about to give her.

Dean didn’t bother to hide his grin at his brother’s reaction, and would have loved to leave his hand exactly where it was, but they were here for a reason, to work, and that would be a little difficult if they both had stiffies. Plus they didn’t really want to scare away the natives, so Dean let his hand drop away from his brother’s thigh and went back to watching the crowd. Not before waggling his eyebrows playfully at the younger man, and laughing as his brother rolled his eyes. Yeah, even though they’d wore each other out pretty damn well not a couple of hours ago he wouldn’t mind another round once they got back to the motel room.

When a blonde chick suddenly situated herself between him and his brother, Dean wasn’t sure if he was more surprised by the fact that he hadn’t seen it coming, usually he was much more aware of the female population in a bar, or the fact that that the only thing he felt at her less that subtle flirting was annoyance. Yeah, they were working right now, but that had never really stopped Dean before.

His brain remembered all the things it should be doing. Like giving the woman an easy relaxed smile, showing he was interested. Changing the pitch of his voice to something that would melt butter, and then some. Maybe a light touch over a bare shoulder, or hip to get her skin tingling, then pouring on the charm and letting the heat shine through his eyes until the girl was ready to drag him out back, or to his car, or a room, or hell even do him right where he stood.

None of that happened though. Just like the woman that had hit on him so aggressively back in the bar of the other town, Dean felt absolutely no interest. In fact, he was more than a little annoyed that the girl was taking his attention away from his brother right now. His lips remained flat, his eyes just short of arctic, and his voice was anything but inviting as he replied, “Just passing through.”

Sam tensed just a little more as she kept trying to engage Dean in conversation. She was a pro at it too, she was so good at it that if she’d been talking to him, Sam would have felt obligated to make small talk even though he wasn’t interested.

He stole a glance at his brother, frowning in puzzlement as Dean didn’t bite at any of her flirtatious openings. She was a looker too, stacked the way Dean liked. But no matter what she said or did, he seemed to put her off until she left in a huff. The instant she moved, Sam’s eyes locked with Dean’s, a silent question reflected in their depths.

The moment was broken when one of the guy’s who had a pool table came up to them and asked if they were gonna put their money where their mouths were. Sam started to apologize for Dean, saying his brother hadn’t meant anything and that they didn’t really have a whole lot of money to waste, but the guy kept at them. Taunting them.

Shrugging, Sam got off the stool and pulled out his wallet to count out bills. “How much you got, Dean?” he asked, as they followed the dude.

Dean didn’t relax again until the pesky broad left, the annoyance bleeding off him since the second she’d walked over and began all but molesting him beginning to fade. It was a good thing she’d decided to give up when she had, because his annoyance had been quickly turning to real anger, and he had been about to start snarling at her if she didn’t take the hint.

He looked over at Sam, and raised an eyebrow at his brother’s questioning look. Before more than a look could pass between them however the guys they’d been working all night finally made their move. Dean smirked, egging them on with carefully chosen prods that wouldn’t scare their prey away while Sam expertly played the “sensible” one trying to talk them all out of it, of course finally giving in, though “reluctantly”.

Dean switched from ordering beers to shots, though he made sure to pace himself but acted like he was getting a whole hell of a lot more drunk than he really was. He expertly lost the first round by a mile, and as the pricks gloated and patted themselves on the back he insisted for a rematch to try to win his money back. Sam of course trying to talk him out of it, he’d had enough to drink, but the second game eventually started.

The next game Dean won, though he made sure only by the barest margin. He of course made sure to thoroughly make an ass of himself gloating and of course the other guys insisted on a rematch like he had, certain they’d win their money back. So it went on, and by the end of the fourth game he and Sam were a good five hundred bucks richer.

Of course also by that time Dean’s tipsiness wasn’t all an act, and he tossed the Impala’s keys to his brother as soon as they stepped outside into the fresh air.

Sam was laughing, and telling Dean he hadn't realized how much he'd missed this, even if at the same time he hated taking someone else's money, when the bar tender called to him. He wouldn't have noticed except for all the other shouts of 'hey you.' "Be right there," he told Dean, and walked back into the bar.

"This yours?"

He looked at the brown wallet, raised his brows and shook his head. "Nah, not mine."

"Sorry man, I found it where you were sitting."

"No problem," turning to leave again, Sam came face to face with two burley men. Both were wearing plaid overshirts and thick jackets. Thick enough to hide weapons. He didn't know them, but knew the type very well. "Sorry," he started to walk around them.

"You're John's boy."

Shit. Sam smiled and nodded. If he asked them directly how they knew, it could get him answers he didn't want to know. "Who shall I say said hello?"

"You're the younger one. Where's your brother?"

Sam raised a hand, pointing his index finger up in the air. "Hold on, what's this about?"

"Answer the question boy," the bigger guy demanded, putting his arm across Sam's shoulder in a friendly gesture, but with his hand gripping Sam's neck in a distinctly unfriendly threat.

"Don't fuck with me," he answered, easily breaking the guy's grip. No son of John Winchester would take that, and they both knew it. They wanted to know how honest his reactions were, he knew what they were doing. "Guess you're not a friend of dad's after all."

"Of sorts. You know us, more about alliances than friends." The second man answered. "Where is he?"

"Off on a hunt."

"Your brother, the older one, where is he?"

The bigger one was in Sam's face again, and he couldn't stand the stench of sweat and sour beer coming from him. Fuck, he had to end this before Dean came back inside, or it was just gonna get bigger. "He's with dad, they're away on business, I just told you. Now, you got a message for either of them, spit it out... or I'm outta here."

"Why didn't they take you with them? Why aren't you on business?" the man's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Because I gotta get back to school, alright? I helped 'em out with something—"

"And they just left you stranded," the big one squinted at him. "At least come up with better lies, boy."

"They were in a rush and my girlfriend is picking me up, not that it's any of your fucking business." A group of people walked in, and Sam didn't dare to look outside for Dean. "I don't know what this is about, but I'm telling you, I'm not even in the business anymore. If you need something from dad... you know the channels. I'd have helped, if you'd been... more polite." Giving them the prissy look he knew Dean hated, he started to walk away again.

Dean stood next to the Impala, leaning back against the door on the passenger side of the car, waiting for Sam to get his butt out here. If he’d had the keys Dean would have already been in the car, but since he’d given them to his brother he was left standing outside instead. He didn’t really mind, not like it wasn’t a nice night, and he knew Sam wouldn’t be long, but Dean was impatient to get back to the motel with Sam. To hopefully further exceed their quota for the night…

Sam hadn’t been gone for very long. Not even five minutes really, but all of a sudden Dean began getting a bad feeling. Maybe it was more a reminder of what had happened the last time they’d been separated at a bar than anything else, but Dean started to head back towards the bar anyway. That strange feeling of anxiousness building inside of him with every step he took towards the bar.

Before Dean reached it however, he’d been so intent on getting inside he wasn’t paying enough attention to the other customers going in and coming out of the bar. It didn’t help that the guy who grabbed him had also been up wind, making it impossible for Dean to smell him coming.

Dean immediately began to struggle, almost shouting a warning that Sam might be able to hear from inside the bar, but the man quickly covered his mouth with his hand. Dean should have been able to break the man’s hold easily but he felt the edge of a sharp edge of a knife underneath his throat before he had the chance, and froze. The man taking the opportunity to drag him back into the alley to the side of the bar.

He knew how to deal with the situation. His dad had taught him well. Dean tensed, ready to back head butt the guy and grab the knife hand, and hopefully disarm his attacker before he could react, again before he could however Dean got another surprise.

“Quit your god damned struggling, boy.” A voice Dean recognized well hissed in his ear and the young man froze again, though instinctively obeying or just in shock, he wasn’t sure which.

“Bobby?” Dean asked, unsure if his ears were playing tricks on him, when the hand covering his mouth was removed. Bobby made a sharp hushing sound in his ear.

“Shut up, they’re coming.”

Dean almost asked who was coming, but he wisely remained silent and he found out a second later. Two men walked out of the bar. Most wouldn’t have thought them anything more than a couple of burly truckers or rednecks or something, but Dean knew better. He’d been around hunters all his life. He could pick them out of a crowd. They’d come out of the bar… Sam was in the bar…

Dean took a step as though to leave the alley and go inside, exactly what he was planning actually, but again Bobby stopped him. Dean was beginning to get angry at the older man’s manhandling at that point, his brother was in there, damn it! Maybe in trouble…

“Sam…” Dean started, but Bobby cut him off with a hissing whisper.

“Sam’s smart. If he kept his head they’ll leave him alone. It’s you they’re after, idgit.”

Sam had to fight every instinct in his body to chase out after them and make sure they didn’t spot Dean. But no, that would just get them suspicious. He’d just have to trust that the moment they went out there, Dean would recognize them for who they were and keep a low profile.

He counted the seconds, to make sure he was rooted to his place long enough, before pushing the door open and walking out. He didn’t turn his head toward the impala, but his gaze swept the area. No Dean. That could be good, or bad.

Then he heard voices, and saw it was the hunters making their way to a truck. Pulling into the shadows, he waited for their car to start, and for the truck to pull out of the dusty lot, before walking towards the car. “Dean? Where are you?” Seeing as his brother had sharp hearing now, he didn’t shout. “Dean!”

Only the fact that he'd seen the hunters leaving empty handed had him keeping his cool. His brother had figured them out, and was hiding. He'd come out any moment, and they could get their asses back to the motel.

Dean watched, tense as hell, as the hunters got into their truck and left. He forced himself to wait, as Bobby wanted him to, and finally his brother emerged from the bar as well. Sam looked fine, just like Bobby said he would be, though he looked worried as hell too. Looking around for him. Again Dean made to step out from the shadows of the alley, almost calling to Sam, but once more Bobby stopped him.

“Give it a second.” The older hunter insisted and as much as he hated it, Dean knew Bobby was right. The hunters might still be around, watching Sam now, and waiting…

When nothing happened, finally he and Bobby both stepped around the side of the building, walking towards Sam.

“Sam.” Dean called out softly to his brother so not to startle him.

Hearing his name, Sam turned, recognizing his brother’s voice and knowing that Dean must be aware of the hunters or there was no way he’d be whispering like that when he was feeling high about winning and was a bit drunk.

“Bobby?!” The loud whisper broke out of Sam who immediately walked to him but awkwardly stood in front of him for a moment. He hadn’t seen Bobby in so long. Deciding it was silly to let his worries about what the older hunter thought of him for having quit the business stop him, he suddenly moved in and gave him a hug, slapping his back. “Good to see you. I…”

He’d been about to say ‘missed’ him, but he knew that Bobby wouldn’t mince words and would tell him if he’d wanted to, he could have called or visited. He’d probably knock him upside his head too, he was like dad in a lot of ways.

Pulling back, he looked between the both of them. “Any idea what those boys wanted?” Yeah, he knew damned well. He also trusted Bobby with his life, and even with Dean’s life. But this was Dean’s secret, and he got to say what and how much of it would be shared with Bobby. Course it was possible dad had told Bobby already, and had sent him to help protect Dean.

Dean didn’t fail to notice the hesitation in Sam before he hugged the older hunter. Either Bobby didn’t notice it either or he ignored it, giving the younger man a warm squeeze and a pat on the back before pulling away. Dean didn’t offer a similar greeting to Bobby since technically they’d already had it, more or less. Besides, considering everything, the hunters and Bobby showing up out of the blue, this wasn’t a social call in the least.

“Good to see you boy’s too. Too bad it couldn’t be under different circumstances.” Bobby replied, pretty much confirming Dean’s suspicions. The older hunter took off his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his thinning hair before he replaced it. A gesture Dean had long associated with the older man about to say something he knew they weren’t going to like.

“I heard it through the grapevine. Some hunter, Ian Jacobs, he was found torn to hell and barely alive up in the woods in Washington. Before another hunter put a silver bullet into his brain he was babbling on about werewolves and dropped your name. I tried calling your daddy, but he ain’t answering, so I tracked you boys down myself. Obviously those boys did the same, and more are sure to come. We’ve got to get the hell out of dodge, pronto.” Bobby explained before turning to Dean.

Dean, who felt his agitation growing by the second as Bobby told them the news, just stood there. Why couldn’t anything fucking go right? This was about the worst fucking thing that could have gone down. So now they didn’t just have werewolves to worry about, they had to try to dodge other hunters too. Other hunters who were as good or better or more obsessed about killing evil things as their own father, and were now gunning for him and anything that might stand between them. That meant Sam… and why wouldn’t their Dad answer his phone if he knew it was Bobby calling?

Bobby didn’t ask the question that was obviously burning in the older hunter’s brain. If it was true, was he infected? Apparently he didn’t need to by the grim set of the older hunter’s lips. Bobby turned his attention back to Sam.

“If you boys have anything you need to pick up from your motel room, you best do it now. That’s the first place they’re going to look.”

Ian Jacobs. A hunter put a silver bullet in his brain.

The words reverberated in Sam's head, as he imagined a bunch of hardened hunters doing just that. Only it wasn't Ian Jacobs he was seeing in his mind, it was Dean. Tension flowed through every part o f his body as Bobby explained a little about tracking them. And if Bobby had tracked them without talking to dad, it meant others could. Hell, those two yahoos had come pretty damned close.

"I don't know why dad didn't call you back. He's been in contact," Sam said, biting his lower lip as he worried over the elder Winchester's safety. He didn't say he hoped nothing happened to him, it was a given that all of them would be thinking the same way.

As Bobby advised them to grab their things, Sam's face jerked up. He nodded. "Yeah. Dean, you go with Bobby. Those guys, or others, they could be watching the motel. I don't want them finding you." Seeing the look in Dean's eyes, he cocked his head to the side and gave him and intense look of his own. "I mean it. You're the one they want, not me. It doesn't make sense for you to walk in a trap. Go with Bobby."

Mind made up, Sam started backing away from them. "Once I'm on the road, I'll call you and we can meet up. It might take me… a little time." He gave Dean a pointed look. Hopefully his brother would remember all the hardware he'd had to install on the wall for no reason.

Dean could see the worry in his brother’s face regarding their father and he knew it matched his own. He was already nodding when Bobby suggested they get their stuff from the motel, but when Sam suggested that he go with the older hunter while Sam went back alone, Dean’s eyes narrowed and he looked at the younger man as though he was out of his fucking mind.

Sam didn’t even let him speak, however, and unfortunately, annoyingly, Sam had a point. The hunters had let Sam go once already, it wasn’t likely they would give him any trouble… unless they simply hadn’t wanted to give Sam trouble when he was in a crowded bar. If they decided to be less than friendly with the younger man if they caught Sam alone, that would be an entirely different story. Hell, they could even grab Sam and use him as some kind of ransom or bait, if they thought it might lure Dean out of hiding, and it would work.

Dean was already opening his mouth, about to protest, when again he was cut off. By Bobby this time, and Dean couldn’t stop the soft growl of frustration from escaping his lips and he turned his glare on Bobby next.

“Don’t give me that look, boy. You know Sam’s right. Let’s go before more of those crazy ass shoot first as questions later hunters show up.” The older hunter said, and started walking towards his car, obviously expecting Dean just to follow him. Dean turned back to his brother. Damn it. He didn’t like this one bit… but seeing the look on Sam’s face he realized he also didn’t want to have to explain to Bobby all about the chains and handcuffs, why the bed was all fucked up, and why the motel room probably still smelled like a brothel…

“Call us when you get there, and leave the phone on speaker until you leave. We’ll stay close by, if anything happens…” Dean finally conceded, he’d let Sam go alone, but he wouldn’t let his brother go completely without any back up. Sam couldn’t ask him to do that, and if his brother argued about it he didn’t care what Sam or Bobby said he would go with Sam even if the place was surrounded with trigger happy hunters.

"Bobby's right—" Sam started, prepared to argue Dean to death over this, when he realized that Dean had agreed. Giving an owl like blink, he said, "great." Then there were all of Dean's stipulations and he knew from Dean's grim expression that any hint that his instructions wouldn't be followed to the letter would mean the deal was off. "Okay Dean."

Leaning in, Sam gave Dean a hug, skimming his mouth over his brother's throat since Bobby had his back to them. "I'll be fine. Go, be safe," he said, squeezing him tight one more time before releasing him just as Bobby turned impatiently to look back. "Dude... I am not some helpless chick" he said, putting it in terms Dean would understand.

If the heated look in his brother's eyes was anything to go by, Dean wasn't convinced and Sam had to get out of there before Dean changed his mind. Turning on his heels, he strode away as quickly as he could and never turned back once he reached the Impala.

Twenty five minutes later, he'd taken all the hardware off the wall, fixed the bed so that the pillows covered the holes he'd drilled, and taken Dean's bags and the shackling equipment to the car. He returned for one last bag, his own, when two guys, the same to guys rushed their way into the room.

"Where is he?"

"Who? Dean, I fucking told you... what the hell." Sam's hand slid to his belt and a moment later, he'd whipped out his gun.

Unfortunately, so did the other men. Sam trained his gun on the one he thought could be the leader of the two, and cocked it. "We really want bloodshed? He's not here, you can see that. It's just me."

"Yeah well, we went back to the bar and they said you were working the pool tables with a partner. Where the fuck is he?"

"Partner? It was just some asshole that paired up with me, then he stole our winnings. Shit, it's a good thing Dean wasn't around or he'd have my head. Now open the door, and let me get outta here."

"Where you going this time of the night?"

Shit. Phone was on speaker. "I told you I was getting picked up. I'm gonna stand outside and wait for my ride."

"She a blonde? Redhead?"

Fuming, Sam started to walk past one of them, gun still trained on him. He reached the door, opened it behind his back, the stalked out. Shit... now he had to wait them out, dammit. "I'm gonna sit tight at the diner, until they leave," he said, giving the Impala wide birth.

Bobby had driven them to the parking lot of a small mini mall about a half mile away from the motel. Of course Dean had wanted to park closer, across the street if Bobby would have let him, but the older hunter was having none of it. Insisting that this was plenty close enough, the whole point of this after all was so Dean wouldn’t be spotted by the other hunters, and they could get to Sam in under five minutes if there was any kind of trouble.

Dean sat stewing worriedly in the passenger seat trying not to think of every little thing that could possibly happen to his brother in under five minutes before they could get to him… No, his brother wasn’t some kind of helpless chick. But neither was he, damn it. He didn’t like the idea one damned bit of running off to be “safe” while his brother was in the line of fire.

He didn’t relax, and thankfully Bobby was wise enough not to say anything more about it, until they got the phone call from Sam once he reached the motel room. The entire time Dean strained to hear every little sound over the speakerphone. Listening for any clue that would tell them that there was trouble and his brother needed help. He was just beginning to think that maybe Bobby had been right, that the hunters wouldn’t bother Sam again, and he’d been worried for nothing when they both heard the unfamiliar voices over the line.

“Sa…”

Bobby quickly clamped a hand over Dean’s mouth before the younger man could say anything that the hunters might be able to hear over Sam’s phone. Dean glared angrily at the older man and pulled the hand away but at least when he spoke it was almost a whisper.

“What the fuck?! Bobby. Start the car! We have to help Sam!” Dean’s eyes reflected both fear and anger, the latter the older hunter wasn’t fazed by and he kept his own voice soft and even because of the former.

“Charge in, guns blazing? Ever think that’s maybe what they want, boy?” Bobby asked, and ok maybe the older man had a point, but that didn’t mean Dean had to like or agree with it.

“They could kill him!”

“Better they kill you instead? They aren’t going to hurt Sam. Sam’s a hunter for one, or was. He’s also John’s boy for two.”

“Yeah? Well so am I, Bobby…” Dean “reminded” the older man, and those fuckers still wanted to kill him.

“Sam ain’t a werewolf.” Bobby hissed low between his teeth, looking like the words pained him and Dean swallowed hard and looked away. Bobby sighed heavily feeling tears stinging at the back of his eyes. He hadn’t wanted to believe it. All this time he’d tried to deny it, hoping it was some kind of mistake, but now he knew.

Apparently the standoff at the motel had ended. They heard Sam’s voice over the phone, obviously directed at them, and both men gave a small sigh of relief. Neither Dean nor Bobby spoke again, waiting for Sam to give the all clear that the hunters had given up trying to track Dean down through Sam. For now.

Sam waited a long time before going back to the lot, putting his stuff in the car and heading out. He drove for miles, and pulled off the road, waiting to see if he had any tails. He wasn’t gonna chance letting any hunters get to his brother, not if he had to stay here all night or even if he had to drive all the way to fucking Stanford to throw them off Dean’s tracks. Sure, that would send his brother off the rails, even if it was in his best interest. Letting out his breath, Sam waited. Seeing nothing suspicious, he eventually got back on the road and gave Bobby and Dean his location and the all clear.

A few words were exchanged and he sensed some sort of tension from the other men. He wanted to ask Dean what was the matter, but he was on speaker and there wasn’t much chance for privacy. “Everything alright? You guys haven’t seen any hunters, have you?” He sure hoped the area wasn’t already crawling with them cause leaving without a trail would be a problem.

“Dean, I was thinking…” Bringing it up made him worry his brother would go ballistic. “Maybe just to be sure, I should stay at a different motel or something for the rest of the night. I mean I don’t think I’m being followed, but do we really want to take that chance?” He threw it out there, and if Bobby agreed, he might be able to talk some sense into Dean, like he had earlier in the night. Dean had to know that right now, he was the target, and they had to, at all costs, prevent other hunters from catching his scent.

No more words were exchanged between him and Bobby and Dean wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse. He tried not to think about it. He tried not to think about a lot of things, too bad his brain wasn’t listening to him right now.

He tried not to think about how worried he was about Sam and what they would do if those two hunters didn’t leave the younger man alone, or decided to do something more drastic than just stalking his brother. What if Sam couldn’t wait them out? What if they tried to kidnap Sam, or follow him when Sam tried to leave the diner? What if Bobby was wrong and they tried to shoot Sam simply for not “cooperating” with them… All the horrible what if’s were going to give him a fucking stroke if he wasn’t careful…

He tried not to think about how worried he was about his father as well. Why wouldn’t Dad have answered Bobby’s phone calls? When was the last time he’d talked to John? A couple days ago, before his father had left. Sam had talked to their father since then, hadn’t he? When exactly had Bobby tried contacting their Dad? Before or after that? The older man hadn’t specified. If it was after, then that could mean that their father was in some kind of trouble and they should be trying to get to him to help him rather than messing around with these fucking hunters. If it was before… maybe John hadn’t answered Bobby’s number because he hadn’t been sure how their old friend would react to learning Dean was a werewolf.

After their “talk” earlier Dean wasn’t all that certain either. A part of him kept expecting to see Bobby reaching for his gun loaded with silver bullets. Bobby was a good friend, practically family, but he was a hunter too. Just like the hunters who wanted him dead now. Dean wasn’t sure what he would do if Bobby did try to shoot him. He couldn’t do anything to hurt Bobby, even to save his own life. At the moment he honestly didn’t think he’d do anything to stop the older man from killing him…

Finally, finally, Sam gave the word he was leaving the diner and Bobby finally started the truck and pulled out. Taking a different route than the younger man but heading in the same direction, Sam finally gave the all clear that he wasn’t being followed and Dean allowed himself to finally relax. Well, as much as he could anyway given the situation.

“No, everything’s clear, Sam.” Bobby answered Sam’s question of if they’d run into any hunters. Which kind of bothered Dean to tell you the truth. How the hell had they managed to pick up on Sam, especially when the younger man hadn’t hunted for years. It didn’t make much sense, but considering the fact that if they’d found him first Dean probably already would have had steaming bullet holes in his skull and chest it was probably a good thing.

“No fucking way, Sam.” Dean answered immediately to his brother’s next “suggestion”, before Bobby could say a fucking word. He threw the older man a challenging glare and repeated himself for emphasis. “No fucking way.” Dean wasn’t going to let them tag team him, not on this. He wasn’t going to let his brother out of his sight for a whole damned night, he didn’t care what the risks were, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to use Sam as the “bait” to keep other hunters off his trail.

Bobby gave him a disapproving glare for his language and tone of voice but conceded anyway.

“I’m sure its fine, Sam. Besides, there’s safety in numbers too. If we stay together we can sleep in shifts, keep an eye out.” Bobby said, and Dean relaxed a little more, practically wanting to hug the man. Sam couldn’t really argue with logic like that.

Sam rolled his eyes and sighed at the predicted and automatic response from his brother. He hadn’t even thought about it for two seconds. “Dean...” he started, before Bobby cut him off and gave his own ‘reasoned’ opinion. Whereas his brother thought he couldn’t handle anything on his own, Bobby wanted him because he could add value to the group.

He was gonna have to talk to Dean about that some time. Some time sooner, rather than later. Wasn’t the fight they’d had right before dad left enough to get through to him? Mouth pressed into a flat line, he listened as Bobby gave directions to some safe house in the backwoods.

A couple of hours later, he pulled off the road and started to drive down a rocky path. The car lurched into a hole, but he was able to get it out, cursing under his breath and hoping there was no damage to the car. Otherwise, Dean was gonna have his head.

Under the bright moonlight, he saw the cabin and pulled up in front of it. He’d beaten them there. He got out and found the key in the knoll of a tree, just where Bobby said it would be. Gun in hand, he first went inside and made sure the place was ‘unoccupied.’ He didn’t want any surprised, especially when his hands were full.

Walking back out to the car, he grabbed some supplies and their duffel bags, and brought them inside. The place was small, but better than a lot of places they’d stayed before. A few cobwebs here and there were no bother. There was one bedroom downstairs and a smaller one in like a little loft. Sam took his bag up the narrow stairs, one hand flat against the wall to keep his balance, when he heard bobby’s truck pull up.

A minute later, they were walking in. “I left your stuff downstairs. Figured you and Bobby can bunk downstairs cause the upstairs... dude too small for the two of us, I think it was a kid’s room,” Sam called down, wishing he could see his brother’s face from where he stood.

Dean was more than ready to get out of the car when they finally reached the safe house belonging to a friend of a friend of Bobby’s. He’d always had a pretty relaxed relationship with the older hunter before now. They’d been friends for a long time, Bobby had been friends with their dad even longer, despite the couple of times the older man had threatened to fill John’s ass with buckshot. Now there was an undeniable tension between them that couldn’t be denied. Dean did his best to pretend it wasn’t there, even as he escaped into the cabin ahead of the older hunter and tried to ignore the ever growing sinking pit in his stomach.

Ok, so he was definitely wound up. What little bit of relaxing and good humor he’d managed to find at the bar was pretty much gone by this point. From the hunters showing up, to this new awkwardness with Bobby, to Sam trying to go to another motel to throw the hunters off his tracks. Leaving him… putting himself in danger…

So when he walked in he was rather unprepared and certainly not in the mood for Sam’s suggestion that he “bunk” with Bobby. Away from Sam. That was all he heard. Why the hell did Sam go through such fucking trouble to get him unchained from the bathroom floor in their last motel room if all he wanted was to be away from him now? But then again, considering the last time they’d slept together, how he’d clawed up his brother’s back…

“I’ll take the first watch.” Dean finally forced out. Barely hearing Bobby’s confirmation and something about going to bed because he’d been driving for fourteen hours, and making a supply run in the morning. He didn’t even look in the older man’s direction as Bobby headed off to the downstairs bedroom.

Dean in turn made his way over to some of the supplies and weapons that Sam had brought in, grabbing a couple of guns and a cleaning rag before heading into the living room. Pulling off the white sheet covering the couch he laid it over the coffee table instead and then laid the guns on top of it and began taking them apart for cleaning. Might as well make himself useful…

Sam put his stuff away, and did a little cleaning. He could hear Dean and Bobby, and Bobby’s quick exit. He leaned over the railing and couldn’t quite make out Dean’s face, but could just see that he was sitting at the table.

“Wonder how those guys found us,” he said, turning to straighten the covers on the top bunk. He put his bag up on the bed and started to head down, his back flat against the wall of the narrow staircase.

When he reached Dean, he looked at him, wondering at his stern expression. Sure cleaning guns was a serious business to Dean, but there was a certain tension in the air. Plus he hadn’t answered his question.

Sam turned to look at Bobby’s closed door, then getting two bottles of water, came to sit in front of Dean. “Want one?” He twisted the cap off his own and took a long drink, his gaze glued to Dean’s face. What the hell? His brother was refusing to look at him. What could have happened between leaving that bar and coming to this place that could have him this pissed?

“Something wrong? Dean?” Sam spread his arms. “What’s going on?”

Of course Dean had heard the question, the way his hearing had been enhanced by the werewolf bite it would have been nearly impossible for him to not have heard. But he ignored the question anyway, pretending he hadn’t heard. It was probably a rhetorical question anyway. How the hell was he supposed to know how those guys had found them?

Maybe some of the hunters Dad had called in up in Washington had put two and two together early and followed them? Bobby had said something about a guy named Jacobs dropping his name that he was a werewolf, he wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but it was enough that he was being hunted now by other hunters. He probably would be for the rest of his life, even if Dad did manage to find that miracle werewolf cure he was looking for, who would believe it?

It was looking more and more like life for his father and brother would have been a whole lot safer, easier, if he’d just gone off that bridge or blew a hole in his head when he had the chance…

Dean didn’t look up or answer Sam when his brother sat down in front of him. Then the younger man was asking him what was wrong as though he didn’t have a fucking clue. Dean finally looked up though the frown didn’t leave his face and his eyes narrowed a bit. Staring at Sam as though he were studying the younger man before he turned his attention back to what he was doing, wiping the oiled rag a bit harder over the gun than was necessary.

“Nothing. Go to bed.” He said softly, feeling more tired, hurt, and worn down by… everything… than angry at the moment.

Sam almost flinched under Dean’s angry stare. What the hell? As Dean went back to cleaning his gun, Sam puzzled over his brother’s current mood. He’d been fine, just fine at the bar. And even after, when they spoke on the phone... he’d been normal. But right now, Dean Winchester was anything but fine.

He put his hand out over Dean’s, stilling his brother’s and practically forcing him to look at him. “Did Bobby say something?” Maybe the hunter had dwelled on the bite and the possibilities of Dean going werewolf. His brother had been fighting so hard not to think about it, but Bobby was one of the bluntest and most direct people they knew. “Dean?”

He could just tell his brother was well on his way to closing up and shutting down again, and he couldn’t stand that thought. “Hey.” Sam glanced at the door to Bobby’s room, and dared to lean in and kiss Dean on the lips, slowly, putting all of his emotions behind the kiss, his fears for his brother, his need to help... to be there for him.

Pulling back, but not too far, he looked Dean in the eyes. “We’re in this together. Don’t shut me out, please.” Now he’d know whether their talk earlier about this had even had any sort of impact, though Sam was starting to wonder whether the increasing fullness of the moon was affecting Dean’s moods.

Of course he should have realized that Sam didn’t know when to take a fucking hint. Didn’t know when to just drop an issue instead pushing him. Sam was always fucking pushing him. Never letting things just… settle… Poking and prodding him until he finally caved or lashed out and ended up saying or doing something neither of them would like. Sam had been like that when he was a kid, as a teen, and Sam’s time away at Stanford hadn’t changed any of his habits. Dean knew he should be used to it by now, but for some reason he wasn’t.

Dean couldn’t stop himself from tensing when his brother laid his hand over his own. He froze but he didn’t look up. He refused to. Even though he couldn’t stop the minute flinch he made when Sam asked him if Bobby had “said” something to him.

Yes, Bobby had, but of course the older hunter hadn’t said anything that Dean didn’t already know. He knew he was a werewolf. He knew he was a freak. He knew he was a monster. He knew very well what he was, he felt the changes in himself every damned day. He knew what a danger he was to his family, to everyone around him. He knew perfectly well why the other hunters wouldn’t hesitate in putting him down… It was just…

It didn’t matter what Bobby had said. Yeah, it upset him, but then the truth was upsetting. He was a werewolf, plain and simple. Bobby had never been one to sugar coat things, why should he start now just because Dean was a little “sensitive” about hearing the “W” word.

He realized that Sam had been waiting for an answer for him for a while and Dean had merely been staring at their hands when his brother pulled him out of his thoughts with a soft press of his lips. It almost startled him a little and he almost pulled back, but he didn’t. Even as upset as he was with Sam his brother’s kiss was… calming… and he felt himself relaxing a little almost against his will.

Though when Sam pulled away, looking into his eyes and talking about how they were in this “together” Dean pressed his lips together tightly as though to stop the flow of angry accusing words that tried to break free. Don’t shut him out… god… how many times had Sam asked him that lately? Every time Dean broke. Every time he let the walls he was trying to build around himself to protect himself slip down, letting Sam inside past them. It seemed like every time he did Sam might make it “better” for a while but then he’d only hurt more later. He just… he was so damned tired of hurting all the time, he wanted the hurting to stop…

Dean closed his eyes and hung his head.

“It’s not about Bobby. I’m just… tired… I thought those hunters were going to hurt you, or kill you, to get to me and I couldn’t do anything. Then you wanted to go to a different motel. Now you don’t want to sleep with me, not that I blame you, but…” Dean shook his head. “I’ll deal with it…”

It took Sam a moment to comprehend what Dean was getting at. He might have knocked him upside his head for being an idiot, if his brother’s words spoken on the day their father left hadn’t reverberated in his head. I need you. It made his heart clench.

Sam took a deep breath and licked his lips, staring at stubbornly shut eyes. “Dean, they didn’t hurt me... they didn’t touch me. I just... the hotel thing, you know I just want to protect you. Same as you want to protect me. It’s hardwired into both of us. Tell me you wouldn’t suggest the same thing if our situation was reversed? Or that the thought wouldn’t cross your mind. I just... I didn’t want to lead them to you.”

Sam only just stopped himself from adding that one night at a different motel wasn’t a huge deal. It was for Dean, and he was just beginning to understand how big a deal it was.

Glancing nervously at the door to Bobby’s room, and a little assured by the sounds of snoring, he reached out and put his palm against Dean’s cheek, willing him to open his eyes. “You really think I meant to stick you in a room with Bobby? Come on Dean, you know I was joking. Meant for it to be funny. I’m going to sleep with you... well, at least in the same room. I have the top bunk, and there is no way both of us will fit.. unless one is on top.” There was a smile in his voice as he said the latter and imagined just that.

Dean pressed his lips together when predictably Sam began to argue with him. That the hunters hadn’t hurt him, they hadn’t touched him, they hadn’t taken Sam away from him… of course they hadn’t but they could have. They could have killed Sam and there wouldn’t have been anything Dean could do to stop it.

Didn’t Sam understand that? Why couldn’t Sam understand that? The fact that his worst fear hadn’t come true didn’t erase the fear, because it could have happened so damned easily. Because it might happen still… because Sam was trying to protect him. Yes, he understood Sam’s need to try to protect him, but he didn’t think Sam had ever, or would ever, understand Dean’s need to protect the younger man. Especially now. Even more so than when Sam had been a child and Dean had merely been his older brother looking out for little Sammy.

The thought of anything happening to Sam. Sam being hurt or killed. Sam leaving him… It terrified him. Utterly and completely terrified him. The only thing that he was more afraid of was himself somehow harming the younger man. He just couldn’t explain that to Sam. Not in any way that his brother could possibly understand. Dean was coming to realize that. In some ways Sam could never understand him because Sam wasn’t like him.

Sam isn’t a werewolf. Bobby’s words echoed back to him.

When his brother touched his face, Dean almost reluctantly looked up at Sam again. He didn’t want to argue with Sam again. He could practically hear the thoughts that must be running through Sam’s head right now. He knew his brother thought he was overreacting. That he was being unreasonable, melodramatic, or whatever. He knew Sam didn’t understand and he just didn’t have the energy to try to make Sam understand. He never could and he was too tired, much too tired, worn out, and beaten down by everything to even try.

Yes, he had really thought Sam was going to make him stay down here with Bobby, even if not in the same room, just away from him. No, he hadn’t known Sam was joking. Nothing inside of him had even considered that option. Even Sam’s attempt to lighten the mood now barely affected him. Yes, he was grateful that Sam hadn’t meant it, that his brother still wanted him near, and the sheer amount of relief he felt made it impossible to even crack a smile.

Instead he found himself carelessly dropping the gun and rag down on the table, reaching up to frame Sam’s face in his hands and pull the younger man to him in a deep kiss. Pouring all his love and need for his brother into that contact that was at this moment more vital than breathing.

There was so damned much he could no longer read about his brother just from his body language, and that bothered Sam a lot. Dean had always bottled up too many of his emotions, but Sam could usually see through the front he put up... but not since his brother had been bitten, or maybe it was the fact they’d been apart a few years. Sam wasn’t sure of the cause, but he did feel a big gaping hole in his heart... missing that connection.

But now, in this kiss... it was as if the connection was back, in a different form. The way Dean held him, hands caressing his face, the way he held tight, the way he didn’t low any space between them told a long and complicated story of a love with so many layers, no one but them could ever understand it. As Sam kissed him back, answering every movement of Dean’s tongue, with his own, tangling... letting him make love to him, he listened with his body and with his heart.

In many ways, he’d always been the focus of Dean’s life. Dean had been his too, but not in quite the same way. Dean had been the one to save him, to take care of him, to play mother, father and brother to him. And now... there was a new bond between them. One that anyone else would see as fucked up and dirty and deviant. But as they kissed, Sam knew... he just knew that was all wrong. Dean’s kisses tasted like pure love. Permanent. No holds barred. Possessive, but caring. Needy but giving. And Sam wanted it. He wanted it as badly as his brother. Wanted it bad enough to change his life... bad enough to change his college plans and relationship ... whatever had to happen, he wouldn’t... couldn’t let this thing they had slip through his fingers.

He pressed forward, kissing Dean hard one last time, and pulling back. His breaths were audibly labored, his chest rose and fell with the effort of breathing. “Dean.” He closed his eyes for a moment and licked his lips, tasting Dean... only Dean. His eyes fluttered open and locked with his brother’s intense greens. “I don’t need anymore time to think about this. I know.” He paused, took a breath and nodded. “I love you, and it’s not gonna go away... not ever.”

As Sam kissed him back with just as much need, just as much possessiveness, just as much passion Dean felt the fear in his heart finally begin to lessen a little. The tight knot of it in his stomach unwinding as their tongues dueled and caressed, as their lips crushed together almost bruising, as soft moans of pleasure and want were shared between them. His hands slid back into Sam’s hair, petting, and then moved downwards over the younger man’s neck and back. Dean touched Sam’s back carefully through his brother’s shirt, remembering how he had injured Sam, unsure if it was healed enough to not cause pain but unwilling to take that chance.

When Sam finally began to draw back Dean let him go but only so far. Their hot panting breaths shared between them, even their heartbeats seeming to race in tandem. In Dean’s mind nothing could be more perfect. He’d never needed anything more in his life than this man he held in his arms right now. Loving him. Protecting him. Just as he had when his father had placed his baby brother into his arms, entrusting him to Dean to keep him safe. His brother…

Dean opened his eyes when Sam spoke his name. Watching Sam’s tongue dart out and swipe across his lips with a fascination that bordered on obsessive. It was all he could do not to close the slight distance between them, chasing Sam’s tongue with his own, kissing his brother again and again until both of their lips were swollen and bruised.

At Sam’s words however Dean forgot hot to breathe for several heartbeats. He remembered asking Sam no more than a few days ago if his brother had a choice if he would wish Dean’s feelings were only because of the werewolf venom. If Sam wished that it would go away if he were cured. It seemed like a lifetime ago rather than a few days. Sam had not been able to answer him then. Dean honestly hadn’t been expecting his brother to ever answer him…

Now a smile split his face so wide his cheeks actually ached and to keep himself from practically whooping with joy and waking up Bobby in just the next room he pulled Sam back to him and kissed him again, and again, and again. “I love you, Sammy. Love you. Need you. Love you.” Dean repeated over and over when he allowed them both to finally take a much needed breath.

When Dean smiled – not one of his silly or put-on or mocking grins – when he really smiled like he meant it, it felt just the sun breaking through the clouds. And it was infectious as hell, cause Sam was smiling back even as Dean’s mouth met his... over and over.

Sam had to clamp down on his need to laugh out loud. Arms tightly wound around his brother’s shoulder and waist, he kissed him back, his brother’s vows washing over him, ingraining themselves in his memory, it was a moment in time that no one could ever take from him, and it would top his short list of ‘supremely happy moments’.

When Dean broke the kiss, he collapsed forward, his face buried in Dean’s neck. “Me too. What you said, me too Dean.” He swallowed and tried to catch his breath, still hanging onto his brother. “If he walked out now, it would be bad. But you know what? I don’t care.”

That was when he heard a sound and jerked back, eyes wide. “Okay... maybe I was exaggerating.” His heart stopped thudding as fast when Bobby’s snores resumed. Blowing out a breath, he took Dean’s hand and kissed his palm. “Don’t you dare call me a girl,” he quirked a brow, replaced his mouth with his hand, threading his fingers through Dean’s.

Dean sighed softly, leaning back against the couch with Sam practically cradled in his arms, probably still wearing the stupidest happy grin on his face but to be honest he didn’t give a damned. All he cared about was Sam’s solid weight pressed against him, his brother’s warm breath against his neck, and the younger man basically saying “ditto” to everything he’d said.

When Sam said he didn’t even care if Bobby woke up and found him this way, Dean couldn’t help but grinning more, and then outright laughing when his brother practically panicked when they heard a noise from the older hunter’s room. Dean clamped one hand over his mouth to stifle his snickers, however his urge to laugh and tease his jumpy little brother (like he had any right to talk) was erased when Sam took his hand. Kissing and nuzzling into his palm.

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Samantha.” Dean replied, grinning cheekily, but before his brother could get all bitchy he pulled Sam into a breath stealing kiss. He didn’t let go of Sam’s hand for a long time.