xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dean had the windows down and was feeling pretty good as he slipped in the Whitesnake cassette and cranked up the volume. He may be alone but that didn't make him a loser right? He had cut free from John and never expected it to feel this good to be his own man. His Dad may not like it but at twenty six Dean had the world at his feet. He was at the peak of physical fitness, he had a woman in every town and he had his car. It wasn't much but it was enough for him.

"Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I've ever known." He shouted out the window as he drummed out the beat on the wheel. "Like a drifter I was born to walk alone, and I made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time. But here I go again!."

It wasn't the way he imagined his life being when he was this age but without Sam and his Dad he would have to make do and he was determined to prove John wrong. He had completed his first solo hunt and he was gearing up for the next as he drove towards New Mexico.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Sam, get off!" Jessica slapped his roaming hands away from her waist playfully and pretended not to notice the look in his eyes as she attempted to concentrate on the book in front of her.
He lasted all of three seconds before his hands found her soft curves again and he moved in to kiss her neck making her giggle in spite of herself. She sighed finally and put the book down. "How can I concentrate when you're doing that?"

"You can't." Came the muffled response.

She put a hand in his hair and turned her head enjoying the feel of his lips on her skin. "Not all of us can be as smart as you, some of us actually have to work at it." She reminded.

"Later." He murmured as his mouth trailed over her jaw and eventually found her lips. "Right now I want you to work at something else."

She pulled away slightly and smiled. "Human anatomy isn't my major."

He smiled back flashing his dimples. "It is now."

"And that's some major anatomy you have there." Jessica laughed as he pulled her off the couch onto the floor coming to rest on top of her. He knew it was unfair that just because he was done with his books he should distract her but he couldn't help himself. If she didn't want this to happen she would have gone to the library instead of staying home with him. Sam already had her shirt open and one large hand slipped to her back expertly unhooking her bra as he kissed her more deeply.

Jessica's hands suddenly had a will of their own as she tore at his tee shirt pulling it over his head quickly as her breath began to quicken. "Bedroom…" She managed to say between kisses.

Sam didn't need to be told twice as no matter how much he wanted her, the hard floor wasn't doing his knees any favours. Pulling her to him with one arm he struggled to his feet using the couch as support hitching her weight higher before staggering out with her wrapped around him. Just as he got to the door the phone rang and he groaned. "Let the machine get it." He panted ignoring the incessant ringing.

After five rings the machine clicked on. Hi you reached Sam and Jess and we're busy right now…you know what to do. The voices giggled into the empty room.

"Sam?" The voice that spoke his name was deep and authoritative causing him to stop dead in the hallway. Jess stared at his face as it turned from playful to serious instantly. "You there?"
Sam's body was rigid and Jessica released her grip on him jumping down as he stared into the distance waiting. There was a sigh on the machine. "I guess you're out. I need you to call me Sam, as soon as you get this message."

"Who is it?" Jess whispered.

Sam frowned and turned on his heel heading back into the small den staring at the machine as though it was about to spontaneously combust. It was something about the voice that made him pick up this time; his brother was never scared.

"Dean, I'm here." He said before he got the chance to hang up.

"Thank God."

"What's happened?"

"I need you to come meet me Sammy, soon as you can."

He ignored the use of the nickname he hated. "Is Dad ok?" He asked knowing nothing else would have made Dean call him.

"Dad's fine, I think…"

"Are you hurt?" Sam tried to reassure his girlfriend with a smile that didn't reach his eyes as she watched him from the doorway fastening her shirt.

"Not exactly."

"Dean…" He was getting frustrated.

"I don't wanna explain on the phone…I'm at the Super 8 motel in Santa Fe room fifteen, how soon can you get here?"

Sam looked at his watch. "I can borrow a car and I'll be there in a few hours."

"Ok, as quick as you can."

Sam turned his back to the door and spoke in a low voice. "You're not bleeding are you?"

There was exasperation in Dean's voice with an edge of fear. "I'm not bleedin' but you know I wouldn't ask for your help unless I was desperate, please Sam I'm countin' on you."

"Sure, hang in there Dean, I'm on my way." He hung up and ignoring the look Jess was giving him he buttoned up his clothes and marched past her to the bedroom. "I can't explain but I need your car."

"Ok…" She said following him as he went to the closet and pulled a small trunk from the back of the top shelf. In all the time they had lived together she had never seen it before. All her questions caught in her throat as Sam placed it on the bed and opened it with a key on the chain in his pocket. Reaching inside he pulled out a gun and Jess stared in shock as he quickly pulled it apart and checked it before loading a magazine and putting it back together again like he could do it in his sleep. He frown deepened as he stuck it in his waistband and grabbed his boots sitting on the edge of the bed to pull them on. "Sam?" She muttered quietly.

"I can't explain but my brother needs me." He said without looking at her.

"To do what? Since when do you have a gun?"

He stood up and went to her kissing her quickly. "I don't know how long I'll be gone, don't worry about me, I'll call you when I know more." He said quickly as he made for the door.

"Aren't you going to pack some clothes?" She trailed him to the kitchen as he went to grab the keys for her old Ford and his laptop.

"I have everything I need." He smiled tightly as he opened the front door and paused a second to realize how unfair he was being to her. "I'm sorry…"

"Be careful Sam."

The smile was genuine this time and he winked at her before walking out into the afternoon sun.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam made record time considering the old car and the fact he kept within the speed limit but it still seemed to take an eternity considering the gnawing worry eating away at his insides. Dean hadn't been in his life for a long time but it didn't mean he stopped thinking about him. The thought that he had been forced to swallow his pride and call his little brother for help told Sam two things; their Dad had gone AWOL and Dean was in big trouble.

He found the motel with little trouble and it seemed like Dean's typical haunt as the large neon sign beckoned him in the darkness as he pulled off I-25. Parking up quickly Sam did a quick scan of the rooms and spotted fifteen. Grabbing his gun from the glove compartment he got out of the small car and approached the ground floor room quietly. There was no light coming from within and a Do Not Disturb sign was hooked on the outside as Sam gently tried to turn the knob. He released it soundlessly and grabbed his lock pick which he still carried with him out of habit. It took seconds to hear the slight click of the mechanism releasing and he steadied his breathing as he again turned the handle. Keeping behind the relative safety of the door Sam stuck his weapon around the gap and heard another unmistakeable click, that of a safety going off.

"Dean?" He whispered.

He heard a relieved sigh. "Sammy?"

"Yeah, what are you doing in the dark man?" Sam tripped over something at his feet and squinted into the black room. Feeling along the wall he found the switch and flipped the light on. The room was in total disarray like it had been ransacked. "What the hell…?" He asked his brother who had lowered his weapon and was sitting down on the edge of the bed seemingly uninjured. "Dean tell me I didn't just drive across two States 'cos someone broke into your motel room."

Dean's head hung wearily over slumped shoulders. "I did it."

Sam looked at the devastation all around him and eyed his brother with suspicion. "Why?"

"I was lookin' for something."

"Enough mystery Dean, I'm tired."

"I was lookin' for a hex bag."

Sam was suddenly alert. "A witches hex bag…did someone put a spell on you?"

Dean's jaw was tight as he finally looked up at his brother and Sam stared in shock. "You could say that." He was a mess of stubble and fatigue but his eyes were plain scary; two balls of pure white set in red rimmed and creased skin.

Sam moved forwards quickly and put the gun down waving an experimental hand in front of his brothers' face as he squatted down at his feet. Dean batted the hand away angrily. "Well now I know I don't have to see you for you to annoy me."

"You can't see a thing?"

"No, genius or I wouldn't have had to call you."

"Where's Dad?"

"I dunno, we were on separate hunts, I left messages but when he didn't call back I tried Bobby then you."

Sam tried not to feel gutted that he hadn't been top of the phone tree but he couldn't blame Dean for that. "How long have you been like this?"

"What day is it?" He smirked humourlessly. "It's kinda hard to tell when the sun goes down."

"It's Friday, three am."

"Just over two days…shit."

"Aww man, ok…" Sam stood up and looked around the room. "Sit tight, I'll make this right."

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Sam smiled to himself as he began to search through the room. "There's no need, you're a pain in the ass but you're still my brother."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"No hex bag anywhere…" Sam sat on the hard backed chair exhausted following his search. He'd pulled the room apart including the vents, carpets, mattresses and bathroom panels. Dean tried not to let the worry show on his face but Sam caught it anyway. "Ok, don't panic…"

"Who's panicking?"

Sam ignored him knowing now of all times Dean would be prouder than ever and hated the situation he had found himself in. "First thing's first, when did you last eat?"

"Dude, I'm not hungry."

"You're always hungry…we'll go get some burgers then you can tell me about this hunt."

"The trail's already cold man, we can't waste time."

"Eating isn't wasting time. I'll leave my girlfriend's car here and we'll take the Impala, hit a drive through. You can tell me on the way."

Dean shook his head. "I'm not goin' out and you're not driving my car."

"You wanna wait here alone in the dark then be my guest. If you won't let me drive your car then fine, we'll take Jess'."

"What does she drive?" Dean glared sightlessly.

Sam smiled to himself. "An orange '87 Ford Taurus, you'll look great in it."

"Bitch."

Sam's smile was obvious in his voice. "Jerk." He stood up and looked around the room again picking up something from the desk. He went to his brother and took his hand placing the shades in his palm. "Now you can wear them at night without looking like a dick, you always wanted to be a rock star."

"Yeah a rock star Dude, not Roy freakin' Orbison." He sighed putting on his dark glasses as Sam chuckled. "C'mon let's get this over with."

Sam may not have seen his brother in a long time but he still knew him better than anyone and he would have to tread carefully. "You wanna hold my arm?"

"Or you could just stick a leash on me Sammy, how would that be?" He answered angrily.

"Don't call me that. God, I hate it when you're injured."

"Really? 'Cos I freakin' love it." Dean reached out a hand and Sam placed it on his right arm. "Is that your arm?"

"Yeah." Sam answered slightly embarrassed.

"Jesus man, don't they have gyms at Stanford?" Dean's firm grip pressed on his small bicep.

"I've been busy."

"I can't believe I have Urkel watchin' my back…even Bobby's got more muscle." Dean muttered to himself.

Sam pulled a face at him and moved to the door. "You're the one who called me Dean."

"Yeah and if I knew how outta shape you were I woulda called in the local girl scouts instead."

"You wanna piss me off right now? Really?" Sam moved him through the door and locked it behind them. He laughed suddenly changing the mood.

"What's so funny?" Dean growled.

"Roy Orbison: 'I drove all night, to get to you…'" He sang.

Dean clenched his jaw. "I can't believe you found a woman who not only lent you her car but actually sleeps with you too; you're so gay it's incredible."

"Hey, you're the one holding my arm man…"

"That's what everyone's gonna think…oh my God! Sam, we gotta find these bitches and gank them now!"

Sam laughed again as he led his brother to the Impala.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There was a lot that Dean hated about this situation but having his brother there had made things easier although he wouldn't admit to that under torture. Being able to joke and bitch at the kid made Dean feel more like his old self and less like a blind person. Being alone for two days defenceless and abandoned had scared the crap out of him and in a way he was glad that John hadn't bothered to call back. Sam was calm and good at research, he wouldn't treat him like an idiot for having gotten into this situation and would watch his back without question. Although he was still scared, Dean was no longer alone and that felt good.

They sat in the car eating their burgers which along with pissing and screwing was about the only thing Dean could still do with his eyes closed. As soon as they were done Sam asked about the hunt and Dean started from the beginning.

"So you know Santa Fe's a haven for the new age crystal crowd and all that hippie crap right?"

"It's nice to see you've grown as a person Dean."

"Bite me. So anyway I caught wind of some deaths here and decided to investigate."

"What kinda deaths?"

"Virgin schoolgirls." Dean replied glad that he couldn't see the look on his brother's face.

He still heard the huff. "Virgin schoolgirls! Were they dressed like Britney Dean?"

"No!"

"You're such a hero." Sam scrunched up the rest of his burger in its wrapper suddenly losing his appetite.

"Hey! Don't judge me, I came here to protect the innocent!"

"Sure…the fact they're virgin jailbait has nothing to do with it."

Dean got angry. "I've done some questionable things and some questionable women in my time Sammy but they've all been legal, well the women at least." He shouted. "You gonna let me finish?"

Sam sighed. "Go on Captain America, I'm listening."

"So these high school girls are getting ganked all over the place and I figure it's ritual stuff."

"What kinda ritual?"

"Check the backseat, the research is there."

Sam leant over to grab a stack of newspaper clippings, print outs and notes. "This is a mess." He said shuffling through trying to make sense of it all.

"My secretary's off sick." Dean could hear his brother flipping through the pages. "I do my best ok?" He said feeling uncharacteristically self-conscious.

"Well, your filing sucks Dean but this is some pretty impressive research." Sam huffed. "You tracked them to the same Doc?"

"Yeah, Doctor Sherridan Taylor." Dean whistled. "Best gynaecologist in town. One hot piece of ass and major bitch too."

There was silence in the car for a moment as Sam attempted to collect his thoughts. "Something you wanna tell me Dean?"

"Nope."

"You slept with her didn't you?"

"Pretty much." Dean shrugged.

"Dean!"

"What d'ya want me to say Sam? I had a moment of weakness but I think I'm payin' for it now don't you?"

"You're your own worst enemy man." He exhaled. "Is she still around?"

He shrugged. "No idea. We did our thing and when I woke up she was gone and I was like this."

"So we don't know for sure it's her?"

"C'mon Sammy…of course it's her!"

"Do you even know where she lives?"

Dean shrugged making him huff again. "Dude…" Dean said. "I'm gonna level with you here…I messed up but please just save the lectures for later."

Sam looked across at his brother. "Alright, we're going back to the motel and you're gonna get some rest while I look over all this and make some sense of it all ok?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not so much." Sam dumped the files and started the engine. "Dean," He paused. "No matter what our differences are I just want you to know that you're not alone ok?"

"Oh God kill me now."

"You're such an asshole."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx