Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of the characters so far (But, boy, would I like those brothers). I am not making any money off of this (But, boy, do I wish I was).

Warnings: Violence and slight language, but nothing too bad.

I figure that Sam is about 16 and Dean is 20 right now.

My Brother's Keeper

Chapter 1: The Fight

Sam quickly pushed the door open, not bothering to close it behind him. Dean and his father weren't far behind and he didn't want to have another confrontation. Getting to his room and losing himself in an English essay was the only thing on his mind at the moment. The teenager just needed to forget this last hunt. They all just needed time to forget.

This month they were living in a small house on the outskirts of town. The place was said to be haunted, and was, therefore, cheap. It consisted of a kitchen, a small bathroom, a large room that served as a dining and living room, a bedroom, and a loft. Dean and Sam slept in the loft, while their father used the bedroom, not only to sleep but to store all of his notes and supplies. It was the loft that Sam was heading for, knowing that if he got up there no one else would follow for at least a few hours. He wasn't that lucky.

As Sam got to the foot of the stairs a callused hand landed on his shoulder and pulled him around. His father was standing in front of him, an angry look on his face.

"I told you that we weren't done." John Winchester stated

Sam threw his arms out to the side, "I already said that I was sorry! What more do you want from me?"

"'Sorry' doesn't mean anything when we're on a hunt, Sam! Dean could be dead! And do you think 'sorry' would have brought him back?"

"I wasn't there! What could I have done?" Sam demanded. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dean saunter into the kitchen, ignoring the rest of his family.

"You should have checked on him!"

"I did, but it had already gotten to him."

"You're supposed to be paying attention! We watch each other's backs. How am I supposed to trust you out there if you can't even hold up your end of that?"

"Then leave me behind! I'm sure you and Dean will be a hell of a lot safer!" Sam yelled before he fled up the stairs.

John called for his youngest to come back, but it was no use. Sam rarely listened to him these days. It was frustrating. He wished, not for the first time, that Sam was more like Dean. It would make things so much easier, for all of them.

By this time Dean had come back in, holding a beer in each hand. He held one of the cold bottles out to his father.

John took the offered drink and then gestured to its opened twin in his son's hand, "Think you should be drinking that?"

Dean looked down at the beer with blank eyes, before looking back to his father, asking, "Why?"

"You were out for a couple of minutes. Could have hit your head. Maybe you oughta hold off."

"I'm fine." Dean assured him, taking a swig from the bottle. Both men moved into the living room and sat down on the couch that had come with the house. A comfortable silence filled the room as the two hunters settled in.

Sound came with John's sigh, "Guess I should stay back from the Marley place, huh?" He felt a slight twinge of anger at the whole situation. Chris Marley, a friend of a friend had asked John to come up to a cabin he had just bought. He was having problems of the supernatural kind and wanted him to do a little bit of ghost busting. What had sealed the deal was his willingness to pay. It was an easy job he had planned on doing by himself.

Dean was shaking his head, "Nope. We need the money."

"Dean I can't leave you here alone when we don't know what just happened to you."

"Look. I'm fine. Not a scratch on me. You don't need to worry."

'Yes I do. I'm your father.' ran through John's head, but never made it to his lips. Things like that never did, not in the Winchester family. However he did ask, "What about Sam?"

"I can handle Sam."

John stared at his half empty beer. They really did need the money. Credit card fraud could only get them so far. He nodded, "Okay." He got to his feet, putting the beer down for Dean to finish. He continued, "I'll be heading out early. Call my cell if you need me."

"'Kay. 'Night dad." He watched his father leave, letting an eery smile spread over his face. He wouldn't need his father. He knew exactly how to teach Sam a lesson.

TBC

A/N: This is my first Supernatural fic, so please be gentle. I know its kind of a short chapter, sorry. Criticisms are welcome, but please no flames. Tell me what ya all think.