Scared Sightless, 5/?, [PG13] Dean, Sam & Bobby
Title: Scared Sightless
Disclaimer: If I owned I probably wouldn’t have so much time on my hands…
Warnings/spoilers: To be safe I’ll say the first three seasons but major spoilers for season 3 specifically 3x15, Time is on My Side.
Word Count: 3,146
Summary: Dean’s timing is everything, one second later and things can go much differently. Time is on my Side (3x15) tag with added hurt/limp Sam.
Master Post
~*~*~
Around noon Bobby hears the first movement from either brother. He is expecting it to be Dean, surprised the older brother has slept this long, but Dean remains still, having slid onto his back between the couch and table at some point in time. Sam, on the other hand, is now twisting his head from side to side, eyes blinking rapidly.
Bobby quickly jumps into action, careful of Dean as he takes a seat on the arm of the couch. He gently places a hand on either side of Sam’s head to still the young man’s movements. Bloodshot hazel eyes blink open, wide this time, and though they appear to be staring at Bobby he knows they are unable to see him. Sam’s breathing begins to pick up even more and he fights desperately to take in air.
“It’s okay, Sam.” He gently rubs his thumbs across Sam’s cheeks and continues to speak, hoping the boy will recognize that he’s safe. “Calm down, you’re okay.”
Finally frantic breathing returns to normal and Sam’s tense body relaxes back into the couch. He lets his eyes fall closed again before he slowly pulls himself up into a sitting position, back against Bobby who thankfully helps to keep him from toppling over.
“Bobby?” Though he knows the answer he can’t stop himself from needing the reassurance.
“Yeah, kid, it’s me.”
Sam doesn’t say anything else as he lets his body fall to the right, resting his head against the back of the couch. He closes his eyes again as the burning sensation becomes too much. A gentle hand brushes the top of his head and he can feel Bobby leaning over him, the smell of oil and gasoline actually bringing comfort.
“Eye drops?” He doesn’t bother to open his eyes nor does he care that he sounds like such a child; he just can’t muster enough of energy at the moment.
“Does Dean have them?”
“He did.”
Sam curls even further into the back of the couch, pressing his head into the cushion as hard as he can. He wishes he could be more help but he honestly has no idea. Dean had used them in the car but Sam obviously hadn’t seen where he put them when he finished.
A sharp pain spikes through his head and he can’t stop the whimper that escapes as he grabs a hold of his head, pressing his palms into his eyes. He continues to press as hard as he can until he feels someone trying to pry away his hands, hears someone whispering softly from beside him.
When the pain finally ceases he releases his hands, letting them fall to his lap, and buries his face into the back of the couch once more. The soft words continue, finally becoming clear, as the gentle hand now moves to his back.
“Sammy?” Dean squeezes the back of Sam’s neck gently, his own hands shaking slightly. “Was it your eyes or your head?”
“Head.” Sam doesn’t bother to move his head, his words muffled by the cushion.
“Bobby went to get our kit.” His fingers massage the base of Sam’s skull. Headaches he’s used to, blindness he’s not. “He’ll be right back.”
“The eye drops?” This time Sam manages to turn his head to the side, still keeping the side of his face pressed into the couch.
“Yea, Sammy.” Dean smiles slightly, brushing his other hand across the top of Sam’s head. “They’re in there. I’ll give you some as soon Bobby comes back, okay?”
Sam nods slightly, moaning at the pain it causes but it quickly settles back to the dull throb once again. He feels his body being pushed forward gently as Dean slides onto the couch behind him, hand continuing to massage Sam’s neck. The motion is so relaxing that he can feel the pain slowly being tugged away by Dean’s fingers and being replaced by the gentle pull of sleep.
He finds it hard to believe he’s tired still but there’s no denying that his energy is completely drained. He can’t even seem to hold himself up anymore, always leaning against someone.
Dean’s solid presence disappears from behind him and once again those gentle hands are there, slowly lowering him back down onto the couch.
It’s such a strange feeling not being able to tell if your eyes are open or not but he can tell Dean understands. His brother is so careful of every little moment he makes, letting his hand softly run across Sam’s forehead before slowly lifting his right eyelid. Sam knows what is coming but the sudden cold drop in his burning eyes still manages to startle him and he tries unsuccessfully to pull his head away from Dean’s hold.
“Almost done, Sammy.” Dean speaks softly, his thumb wiping away the artificial tears that streak Sam’s cheek.
He can’t really protest even if he tries; Dean’s grip is gentle but strong, and Sam knows his eyes are in desperate need of the moisture. Biting his lip and curling his fists into the couch cushion, he prepares himself for the rest of the drops, each one feeling just like the first. The burning spikes for a few seconds, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut as tight as he can, trying to escape the discomfort, but it shortly fades and leaves only a dull ache.
“Better?”
“Yes.” His voice is such a low whisper that he wonders if he even said it out loud. “Thank you.”
Dean’s hand remains on Sam’s forehead for a few moments longer and Sam finds himself missing the contact as soon as it’s gone. He knows Dean is still there; most likely never wandering further than a few feet, but Sam needs the reassurance of contact right now. Thankfully Dean’s no chick flick moment rule has been sidelined for the time being and Sam thanks the heavens for a brother who understands what he needs without spoken words.
He knows his eyes are closed and he knows he’s on the verge of sleep but the whispered words from above him grab his interests and he tries his hardest to hear them. Just before the desire to sleep becomes too much, he’s able to make out just a few words and those few words are all he needs to hear.
“I can’t leave him like this.” Dean’s eyes drift down to his brother’s lax face, a face that looks deceivingly peaceful. “I won’t leave him like this.”
Sam’s breathing slowly evens out and he finally gives in, feeling the light tug of a smile as he slips into the welcoming darkness. Dean’s here. Dean will make everything alright.
Bobby tugs at his beard, watching Dean nervously as he speaks, “We’ve been looking for months and now it’s less than three weeks out, I’m just not sure we’ll find anything.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” He lets out a long sigh and sinks onto the couch beside Sam’s legs. “It’s just not a good time now.”
“And it was before?” The older hunter keeps his voice low though his annoyance is still evident.
Dean gently lifts Sam’s limp legs and moves back on the couch before lowering his brother’s ridiculously long legs onto his lap. He shakes his head at Bobby’s words, knowing that there never was, nor ever will be, a good time to leave Sam behind.
“We have to tell him we found a way, Bobby.” He keeps his eyes focused on Sam’s face, wishing there was a way for Sam to be peaceful even out of sleep, but for now he’ll take what he can get.
“You want to lie to him?”
“It’s the only way.”
“The only way for what exactly?” Bobby’s voice rises this time but he quickly lowers it as he continues. “To make him hate you? To make it easier for him to move on when you leave him?”
“Damnit, no!” He’s surprised he’s able to keep his own voice low, though he wants to scream so badly, not just at Bobby but at the whole damn world. “It’s the only way he’ll get his sight back.”
“You’re not going to be able to lie to him when the hellhounds come and take you away, he’s going to catch on when you become…” The words quickly die off when Dean’s own statement finally catches up to Bobby’s mind. “What did you say?”
“The doctor said Sammy would get his sight back if he believes everything is alright.” He closes his own eyes, willing away the slowly growing headache. “He’s not physically blind. His mind’s just telling him he is.”
“That’s a good thing, Dean!”
“How is that good, Bobby?”
“It can be reversed then.”
“By deceiving him!” He loses the battle against himself and can’t stop from raising his voice. “I’m going to hell no matter what. I’m going to hell and my brother’s blind. He needs to believe that everything is okay, that I’m not leaving him anytime soon. I don’t want to lie to him, but it’s the only way.”
He leans his head back against the couch with a sigh; thankful that his little outburst hadn’t woke Sam. There really is no other way around the situation but it definitely isn’t Dean’s favored solution. He hates lying to Sam, not to mention Sam’s ridiculously smart. Any lie he comes up with will have to be some extremely believable and well supported story because Sam is anything but gullible.
The room falls completely silent until Bobby’s had just about enough. A majority of his life is spent in silence, but his time with the Winchesters is usually anything but. Not hearing the typical banter is driving him insane.
“You want a sandwich?”
“Not really.”
“Never thought I’d see the day when Dean Winchester turns down a sandwich.”
“I’m just not hungry.”
“I understand, kid, but you really should eat.”
Dean starts to argue, never taking kindly to someone trying to tell him what he should or shouldn’t do, but his argument is forgotten when he catches a whimper from Sam. The whimper turns into mumbling as Sam’s eyes move rapidly under his eyelids and Dean’s hand instinctively begins to rub Sam’s jean clad calf, offering what little comfort he can.
His own eyes find Bobby’s, searching the older man for answers he so desperately hopes someone else holds. He’s so tired of not knowing what to do, not knowing how to fix their shitty situation but he can’t expect someone else to jump in and save the day, though if anyone could he doesn’t doubt it’d be Bobby.
Bobby’s heart nearly breaks at the raw emotion reflected in Dean’s green eyes. He knows exactly what the kid is looking for and he only wishes he could give it to him but Dean was right, the only option is to lie to Sam. Bobby will never stop looking for a way to save Dean but he also can’t take the chance of Dean going to hell knowing he’s leaving behind a brother whole literally can’t look after himself.
“Tell him I found a way.” He shakes his head, already feeling guilty. “I found a charm to throw the hellhounds off your tail.”
“A charm?”
“Like the ones I gave you for the demon.” He walks over to his book shelf, opening up a small box sitting on the middle shelf and pulling out a small, ancient looking medallion.
“What’s it really do?” Dean holds his hand out for the charm, turning it around a few times as he eyes it suspiciously.
“Nothing,” Bobby laughs softly, hoping Sam will believe in the charm’s powers as easily as Dean had. “It’s a cheap thing I found in one of the cars brought here. There’s at least half a million charms look exactly the same.”
“Nice, Bobby.”
“I knew it’d come in handy some day.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“Me either, kid, but like you said, it’s the only way.”
Sam’s mumblings have become whimpers once more and Dean feels his brother start to tremble slightly. He doesn’t want to wake Sam but he really doesn’t want to make him suffer through nightmares either. Before he can even make the decision Sam’s eyes fly open as he springs up into a sitting position.
There isn’t a doubt it Dean’s mind as to what Sam’s nightmares are about at the moment, but he wishes his brother could catch just a small break once in awhile. Dean thinks it sucks that Sam can’t see anything while awake but as soon as he falls asleep the nightmares start playing in the overly vivid way in which they’ve always assaulted Sam’s mind.
“Its okay, Sammy.” He stays in his position not wanting to startle Sam, but he keeps one hand resting on Sam’s calf. “I’m right here.”
“I know.” Sam instantly falls back onto the couch with a long sigh, his eyes blinking a few times as if hoping one of those blinks would bring back his vision.
“I’m going to go make those sandwiches now.”
“Thanks, Bobby.” Dean’s eyes fall to the charm in his hands once more before returning to Bobby’s and the older hunters knows he’s being thanked for much more than a few sandwiches.
~*~*~
Dean welcomes the silence that takes over once Bobby leaves the room. He really should think things over a bit more before springing such a huge lie on Sam. Even if Sam can’t see him, there’s still a good chance his brother will pick up on the first hint uncertainty in Dean’s voice.
The doctor hadn’t mentioned how long it would take for Sam’s sight to return but Dean imagines it’s not exactly like a light switch. He could make Sam believe his horrible lie but it’ll most likely still be a few days before Sam’s vision returns to normal.
Sam finally pulls himself into a sitting position a few minutes later, swinging his legs off Dean’s lap and onto the floor. Thankfully his eyes no longer burn but he still has a slight headache, probably from nothing more than a combination of not eating and the stress of this whole ordeal.
“I’ve got some good news, Sammy.” Dean waits till Sam turns in his general direction before continuing, praying this will all turn out better than he suspects. “Bobby found a way out of my Deal.”
“That’s not funny, Dean.” Sam drops his head into his hands, not at all in the mood for his brother’s inconsiderate jokes.
“You think I would joke about something like this?” He may pull out humor at some of the worst times but he’s kind of offended that Sam automatically assumes he would joke about something so serious. “It’s not exactly a way out; it’s more like a cheat code.”
“You going to drink baby’s blood after all?”
“Now who’s the jokester?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He motions for Dean to continue as he leans his tired body back against the couch, hoping he’ll stay awake longer this time.
“Bobby found a charm that wards off hellhounds.”
“Like our tattoos?”
Dean nods but quickly realizes his error. Before he can say anything though, he catches Sam smiling beside him.
“I can feel you nod.” Sam laughs, shaking his head at his older brother’s mistake.
“Smartass.” Dean laughs himself, enjoying the moment of happiness and soaking it in, hoping it won’t be the last.
“So why didn’t Bobby say anything sooner?”
“He just got his hands on it.” He knew Sam would be filled with questions and luckily he’s quick to answer. “He wanted to tell us in person but you decided to sleep through it all.”
“It’ll really work?”
“You don’t trust Bobby?”
“I do, it’s just…” Sam closes his eyes again, realizing the action is fairly pointless now since he can’t see anything with them opened either. “I don’t want to get my hopes up too high and have them shattered again.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Sammy.” Dean moves a little closer to Sam, squeezing his knee in a comforting gesture. “This is the real deal. As long as I hold on to this charm no hellhounds will be able to find me.”
“What if you lose it?”
“I’ll have it tattooed on my ass.”
“That’d be an interesting conversation starter every time you drop your pants.”
“You’d be the first one I showed.”
“I hope I’m still blind.”
“Not funny.”
“It is a little.” Sam laughs, kind of wishing he could see his brothers face but by now he knows every single one of Dean’s facial expressions. “If I wasn’t blind already I’m sure that would do the trick.”
After a few moments Sam’s laughter dies down and a silence falls over the brothers, but this time it’s not awkward or nerve racking. The humor slowly fades and leaves Sam feeling even more drained then before. His mind is working overtime to process everything Dean told him and as much as he wants to believe it, something just seems wrong.
He hates that he is so disoriented right now. Of course he’s thrilled that they’ve finally found a way to keep Dean from going to hell but for some reason his mind isn’t processing how extremely wonderful that news is.
Bobby wouldn’t lie to them though. He would have to be one hundred percent sure before he even brought the solution up to either brother. If he can’t trust his own emotions then he has to trust that Bobby knows what he’s doing. Even if he can’t show it properly he truly is relieved to know Dean won’t be leaving his side anytime soon.
“Hey, Dean?” His voice is soft now and he knows Dean is quick to pick up on the change. “Bobby’s sure this charm will work?”
“Yes, Sam.” Dean could easily be annoyed with Sam’s questioning but there isn’t a hint of aggravation in the older brother’s words. “Everything’s okay now.”
“Okay.” He sighs and relaxes back into the couch. “Please don’t lose it.”
“How about you hold on to it for me until I need it?” Dean grabs a hold of Sam’s hand places the charm in his opened palm before curling his fingers closed over it. “Now you’ll be sure I don’t lose it.”
Sam holds the small charm in his hand, tracing his fingers over every groove and trying to picture what it looks like. When he thinks he has a pretty good image, he closes his fist tight and holds it close to his chest, sending up a quiet ‘thank you’ to God. It doesn’t really feel like anything special but if it will save his brother than it’s the most valuable thing in the world and Sam is definitely not going to let it out of his grasp before Dean needs it.
Chapter Six
Disclaimer: If I owned I probably wouldn’t have so much time on my hands…
Warnings/spoilers: To be safe I’ll say the first three seasons but major spoilers for season 3 specifically 3x15, Time is on My Side.
Word Count: 3,146
Summary: Dean’s timing is everything, one second later and things can go much differently. Time is on my Side (3x15) tag with added hurt/limp Sam.
Master Post
~*~*~
Around noon Bobby hears the first movement from either brother. He is expecting it to be Dean, surprised the older brother has slept this long, but Dean remains still, having slid onto his back between the couch and table at some point in time. Sam, on the other hand, is now twisting his head from side to side, eyes blinking rapidly.
Bobby quickly jumps into action, careful of Dean as he takes a seat on the arm of the couch. He gently places a hand on either side of Sam’s head to still the young man’s movements. Bloodshot hazel eyes blink open, wide this time, and though they appear to be staring at Bobby he knows they are unable to see him. Sam’s breathing begins to pick up even more and he fights desperately to take in air.
“It’s okay, Sam.” He gently rubs his thumbs across Sam’s cheeks and continues to speak, hoping the boy will recognize that he’s safe. “Calm down, you’re okay.”
Finally frantic breathing returns to normal and Sam’s tense body relaxes back into the couch. He lets his eyes fall closed again before he slowly pulls himself up into a sitting position, back against Bobby who thankfully helps to keep him from toppling over.
“Bobby?” Though he knows the answer he can’t stop himself from needing the reassurance.
“Yeah, kid, it’s me.”
Sam doesn’t say anything else as he lets his body fall to the right, resting his head against the back of the couch. He closes his eyes again as the burning sensation becomes too much. A gentle hand brushes the top of his head and he can feel Bobby leaning over him, the smell of oil and gasoline actually bringing comfort.
“Eye drops?” He doesn’t bother to open his eyes nor does he care that he sounds like such a child; he just can’t muster enough of energy at the moment.
“Does Dean have them?”
“He did.”
Sam curls even further into the back of the couch, pressing his head into the cushion as hard as he can. He wishes he could be more help but he honestly has no idea. Dean had used them in the car but Sam obviously hadn’t seen where he put them when he finished.
A sharp pain spikes through his head and he can’t stop the whimper that escapes as he grabs a hold of his head, pressing his palms into his eyes. He continues to press as hard as he can until he feels someone trying to pry away his hands, hears someone whispering softly from beside him.
When the pain finally ceases he releases his hands, letting them fall to his lap, and buries his face into the back of the couch once more. The soft words continue, finally becoming clear, as the gentle hand now moves to his back.
“Sammy?” Dean squeezes the back of Sam’s neck gently, his own hands shaking slightly. “Was it your eyes or your head?”
“Head.” Sam doesn’t bother to move his head, his words muffled by the cushion.
“Bobby went to get our kit.” His fingers massage the base of Sam’s skull. Headaches he’s used to, blindness he’s not. “He’ll be right back.”
“The eye drops?” This time Sam manages to turn his head to the side, still keeping the side of his face pressed into the couch.
“Yea, Sammy.” Dean smiles slightly, brushing his other hand across the top of Sam’s head. “They’re in there. I’ll give you some as soon Bobby comes back, okay?”
Sam nods slightly, moaning at the pain it causes but it quickly settles back to the dull throb once again. He feels his body being pushed forward gently as Dean slides onto the couch behind him, hand continuing to massage Sam’s neck. The motion is so relaxing that he can feel the pain slowly being tugged away by Dean’s fingers and being replaced by the gentle pull of sleep.
He finds it hard to believe he’s tired still but there’s no denying that his energy is completely drained. He can’t even seem to hold himself up anymore, always leaning against someone.
Dean’s solid presence disappears from behind him and once again those gentle hands are there, slowly lowering him back down onto the couch.
It’s such a strange feeling not being able to tell if your eyes are open or not but he can tell Dean understands. His brother is so careful of every little moment he makes, letting his hand softly run across Sam’s forehead before slowly lifting his right eyelid. Sam knows what is coming but the sudden cold drop in his burning eyes still manages to startle him and he tries unsuccessfully to pull his head away from Dean’s hold.
“Almost done, Sammy.” Dean speaks softly, his thumb wiping away the artificial tears that streak Sam’s cheek.
He can’t really protest even if he tries; Dean’s grip is gentle but strong, and Sam knows his eyes are in desperate need of the moisture. Biting his lip and curling his fists into the couch cushion, he prepares himself for the rest of the drops, each one feeling just like the first. The burning spikes for a few seconds, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut as tight as he can, trying to escape the discomfort, but it shortly fades and leaves only a dull ache.
“Better?”
“Yes.” His voice is such a low whisper that he wonders if he even said it out loud. “Thank you.”
Dean’s hand remains on Sam’s forehead for a few moments longer and Sam finds himself missing the contact as soon as it’s gone. He knows Dean is still there; most likely never wandering further than a few feet, but Sam needs the reassurance of contact right now. Thankfully Dean’s no chick flick moment rule has been sidelined for the time being and Sam thanks the heavens for a brother who understands what he needs without spoken words.
He knows his eyes are closed and he knows he’s on the verge of sleep but the whispered words from above him grab his interests and he tries his hardest to hear them. Just before the desire to sleep becomes too much, he’s able to make out just a few words and those few words are all he needs to hear.
“I can’t leave him like this.” Dean’s eyes drift down to his brother’s lax face, a face that looks deceivingly peaceful. “I won’t leave him like this.”
Sam’s breathing slowly evens out and he finally gives in, feeling the light tug of a smile as he slips into the welcoming darkness. Dean’s here. Dean will make everything alright.
Bobby tugs at his beard, watching Dean nervously as he speaks, “We’ve been looking for months and now it’s less than three weeks out, I’m just not sure we’ll find anything.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” He lets out a long sigh and sinks onto the couch beside Sam’s legs. “It’s just not a good time now.”
“And it was before?” The older hunter keeps his voice low though his annoyance is still evident.
Dean gently lifts Sam’s limp legs and moves back on the couch before lowering his brother’s ridiculously long legs onto his lap. He shakes his head at Bobby’s words, knowing that there never was, nor ever will be, a good time to leave Sam behind.
“We have to tell him we found a way, Bobby.” He keeps his eyes focused on Sam’s face, wishing there was a way for Sam to be peaceful even out of sleep, but for now he’ll take what he can get.
“You want to lie to him?”
“It’s the only way.”
“The only way for what exactly?” Bobby’s voice rises this time but he quickly lowers it as he continues. “To make him hate you? To make it easier for him to move on when you leave him?”
“Damnit, no!” He’s surprised he’s able to keep his own voice low, though he wants to scream so badly, not just at Bobby but at the whole damn world. “It’s the only way he’ll get his sight back.”
“You’re not going to be able to lie to him when the hellhounds come and take you away, he’s going to catch on when you become…” The words quickly die off when Dean’s own statement finally catches up to Bobby’s mind. “What did you say?”
“The doctor said Sammy would get his sight back if he believes everything is alright.” He closes his own eyes, willing away the slowly growing headache. “He’s not physically blind. His mind’s just telling him he is.”
“That’s a good thing, Dean!”
“How is that good, Bobby?”
“It can be reversed then.”
“By deceiving him!” He loses the battle against himself and can’t stop from raising his voice. “I’m going to hell no matter what. I’m going to hell and my brother’s blind. He needs to believe that everything is okay, that I’m not leaving him anytime soon. I don’t want to lie to him, but it’s the only way.”
He leans his head back against the couch with a sigh; thankful that his little outburst hadn’t woke Sam. There really is no other way around the situation but it definitely isn’t Dean’s favored solution. He hates lying to Sam, not to mention Sam’s ridiculously smart. Any lie he comes up with will have to be some extremely believable and well supported story because Sam is anything but gullible.
The room falls completely silent until Bobby’s had just about enough. A majority of his life is spent in silence, but his time with the Winchesters is usually anything but. Not hearing the typical banter is driving him insane.
“You want a sandwich?”
“Not really.”
“Never thought I’d see the day when Dean Winchester turns down a sandwich.”
“I’m just not hungry.”
“I understand, kid, but you really should eat.”
Dean starts to argue, never taking kindly to someone trying to tell him what he should or shouldn’t do, but his argument is forgotten when he catches a whimper from Sam. The whimper turns into mumbling as Sam’s eyes move rapidly under his eyelids and Dean’s hand instinctively begins to rub Sam’s jean clad calf, offering what little comfort he can.
His own eyes find Bobby’s, searching the older man for answers he so desperately hopes someone else holds. He’s so tired of not knowing what to do, not knowing how to fix their shitty situation but he can’t expect someone else to jump in and save the day, though if anyone could he doesn’t doubt it’d be Bobby.
Bobby’s heart nearly breaks at the raw emotion reflected in Dean’s green eyes. He knows exactly what the kid is looking for and he only wishes he could give it to him but Dean was right, the only option is to lie to Sam. Bobby will never stop looking for a way to save Dean but he also can’t take the chance of Dean going to hell knowing he’s leaving behind a brother whole literally can’t look after himself.
“Tell him I found a way.” He shakes his head, already feeling guilty. “I found a charm to throw the hellhounds off your tail.”
“A charm?”
“Like the ones I gave you for the demon.” He walks over to his book shelf, opening up a small box sitting on the middle shelf and pulling out a small, ancient looking medallion.
“What’s it really do?” Dean holds his hand out for the charm, turning it around a few times as he eyes it suspiciously.
“Nothing,” Bobby laughs softly, hoping Sam will believe in the charm’s powers as easily as Dean had. “It’s a cheap thing I found in one of the cars brought here. There’s at least half a million charms look exactly the same.”
“Nice, Bobby.”
“I knew it’d come in handy some day.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“Me either, kid, but like you said, it’s the only way.”
Sam’s mumblings have become whimpers once more and Dean feels his brother start to tremble slightly. He doesn’t want to wake Sam but he really doesn’t want to make him suffer through nightmares either. Before he can even make the decision Sam’s eyes fly open as he springs up into a sitting position.
There isn’t a doubt it Dean’s mind as to what Sam’s nightmares are about at the moment, but he wishes his brother could catch just a small break once in awhile. Dean thinks it sucks that Sam can’t see anything while awake but as soon as he falls asleep the nightmares start playing in the overly vivid way in which they’ve always assaulted Sam’s mind.
“Its okay, Sammy.” He stays in his position not wanting to startle Sam, but he keeps one hand resting on Sam’s calf. “I’m right here.”
“I know.” Sam instantly falls back onto the couch with a long sigh, his eyes blinking a few times as if hoping one of those blinks would bring back his vision.
“I’m going to go make those sandwiches now.”
“Thanks, Bobby.” Dean’s eyes fall to the charm in his hands once more before returning to Bobby’s and the older hunters knows he’s being thanked for much more than a few sandwiches.
~*~*~
Dean welcomes the silence that takes over once Bobby leaves the room. He really should think things over a bit more before springing such a huge lie on Sam. Even if Sam can’t see him, there’s still a good chance his brother will pick up on the first hint uncertainty in Dean’s voice.
The doctor hadn’t mentioned how long it would take for Sam’s sight to return but Dean imagines it’s not exactly like a light switch. He could make Sam believe his horrible lie but it’ll most likely still be a few days before Sam’s vision returns to normal.
Sam finally pulls himself into a sitting position a few minutes later, swinging his legs off Dean’s lap and onto the floor. Thankfully his eyes no longer burn but he still has a slight headache, probably from nothing more than a combination of not eating and the stress of this whole ordeal.
“I’ve got some good news, Sammy.” Dean waits till Sam turns in his general direction before continuing, praying this will all turn out better than he suspects. “Bobby found a way out of my Deal.”
“That’s not funny, Dean.” Sam drops his head into his hands, not at all in the mood for his brother’s inconsiderate jokes.
“You think I would joke about something like this?” He may pull out humor at some of the worst times but he’s kind of offended that Sam automatically assumes he would joke about something so serious. “It’s not exactly a way out; it’s more like a cheat code.”
“You going to drink baby’s blood after all?”
“Now who’s the jokester?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” He motions for Dean to continue as he leans his tired body back against the couch, hoping he’ll stay awake longer this time.
“Bobby found a charm that wards off hellhounds.”
“Like our tattoos?”
Dean nods but quickly realizes his error. Before he can say anything though, he catches Sam smiling beside him.
“I can feel you nod.” Sam laughs, shaking his head at his older brother’s mistake.
“Smartass.” Dean laughs himself, enjoying the moment of happiness and soaking it in, hoping it won’t be the last.
“So why didn’t Bobby say anything sooner?”
“He just got his hands on it.” He knew Sam would be filled with questions and luckily he’s quick to answer. “He wanted to tell us in person but you decided to sleep through it all.”
“It’ll really work?”
“You don’t trust Bobby?”
“I do, it’s just…” Sam closes his eyes again, realizing the action is fairly pointless now since he can’t see anything with them opened either. “I don’t want to get my hopes up too high and have them shattered again.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Sammy.” Dean moves a little closer to Sam, squeezing his knee in a comforting gesture. “This is the real deal. As long as I hold on to this charm no hellhounds will be able to find me.”
“What if you lose it?”
“I’ll have it tattooed on my ass.”
“That’d be an interesting conversation starter every time you drop your pants.”
“You’d be the first one I showed.”
“I hope I’m still blind.”
“Not funny.”
“It is a little.” Sam laughs, kind of wishing he could see his brothers face but by now he knows every single one of Dean’s facial expressions. “If I wasn’t blind already I’m sure that would do the trick.”
After a few moments Sam’s laughter dies down and a silence falls over the brothers, but this time it’s not awkward or nerve racking. The humor slowly fades and leaves Sam feeling even more drained then before. His mind is working overtime to process everything Dean told him and as much as he wants to believe it, something just seems wrong.
He hates that he is so disoriented right now. Of course he’s thrilled that they’ve finally found a way to keep Dean from going to hell but for some reason his mind isn’t processing how extremely wonderful that news is.
Bobby wouldn’t lie to them though. He would have to be one hundred percent sure before he even brought the solution up to either brother. If he can’t trust his own emotions then he has to trust that Bobby knows what he’s doing. Even if he can’t show it properly he truly is relieved to know Dean won’t be leaving his side anytime soon.
“Hey, Dean?” His voice is soft now and he knows Dean is quick to pick up on the change. “Bobby’s sure this charm will work?”
“Yes, Sam.” Dean could easily be annoyed with Sam’s questioning but there isn’t a hint of aggravation in the older brother’s words. “Everything’s okay now.”
“Okay.” He sighs and relaxes back into the couch. “Please don’t lose it.”
“How about you hold on to it for me until I need it?” Dean grabs a hold of Sam’s hand places the charm in his opened palm before curling his fingers closed over it. “Now you’ll be sure I don’t lose it.”
Sam holds the small charm in his hand, tracing his fingers over every groove and trying to picture what it looks like. When he thinks he has a pretty good image, he closes his fist tight and holds it close to his chest, sending up a quiet ‘thank you’ to God. It doesn’t really feel like anything special but if it will save his brother than it’s the most valuable thing in the world and Sam is definitely not going to let it out of his grasp before Dean needs it.
Chapter Six