Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!

Dean's Song

Chapter 35– Epilogue

Missouri stayed that way for a few moments, her breathing matching Sam's before she opened her eyes and looked sadly at John and Dean. "Oh that poor boy!"

"What is it Missouri…is the curse still there?" John asked, afraid to hear the answer.

Missouri shook her head. "No, the curse is gone…but Sam, his emotions are all over the place…it's a real mess in there."

"But Sammy is still with us right?" Dean asked, not wanting to think about what would happen if he reverted back to the catatonic state he was in earlier. Dean needed to have his brother back.

"Yes, Dean. Sam's still with us, but he's going to need a lot of support from all of us to get through this." Missouri looked at John, who fidgeted under her gaze. John didn't do touchy feely stuff too well. He left that up to Dean.

Dean looked down at Sam's tear stained face. The practical side of Dean's nature took over as he rose from the bed and went to the bathroom to get the supplies he would need. He stopped and picked up the first aid kit as well on his way back to the bedroom.

John was sitting on the bed next to Sam, gently pushing Sam's hair out of his eyes. "You know son, you really need a hair cut. How can you be a good hunter if you can't see where you are going?" John asked gruffly, trying to keep the tears from his voice.

"Where is Missouri?" Dean asked.

"She went to the kitchen…she muttered something about making tea." John answered as he reached for the wash basin that Dean was holding.

"Man, Sammy's going to love that!" Dean said, trying to lighten up the atmosphere in the room. But without his brother, the room seemed too quiet.

John and Dean spent the next half hour changing Sam's clothes, cleaning him up and placing new clean bandages on his leg wound. They decided to leave Sam in a T-Shirt and his briefs as it would be easier to sponge him down. Dean propped Sam's knee and went to the kitchen to get some ice for the ice bag.

"Hey Missouri." Dean said quietly as he filled the ice bag. He paused for a moment and let the despair settle on him. He had expected that once the curse was gone, Sam would open his eyes and be back to normal.

Dean jumped when he felt a soft pair of arms reach out and give him a hug. He fought it for a moment, but finally gave into the tears of fear and frustration. Missouri didn't say anything; she just offered the young man the comfort he needed. A brief port in the storm of emotions that Dean always kept tightly locked inside. After a few moments, Dean pushed back and smiled into Missouri's liquid brown eyes. "Thanks" was all he said as he turned to leave.

"Dean, you know that Sam will be ok…it may take him some time. But he will be ok as long as you are in his corner. Just remember, you need to give yourself some space too. He wouldn't want you to make yourself sick because of him." Missouri gave Dean a light pat on the cheek.

"Now git, I've got some cooking to do and then I'm going to take me one long nap!"

Dean laughed softly as he walked back towards the bedroom. He was surprised to see his father still sitting by Sam's bed, talking softly to his son. "You know Sam, you can beat this…I've seen you do some amazing things. I know you are scared, and that's ok…if you only knew how scared I get sometimes…you'd laugh at your old man. But you can get past the fear and you will get control over your abilities some day. I know you will, because you have grown into an amazing young man. I'm proud of both of you boys!" John looked up into Dean's green eyes as he said the last statement, letting his oldest son feel his approval.

"Thanks Dad, now if we are done with the chick flick moments…how about we get some ice on that knee Sammy. Missouri will be in soon with some her delicious tea…made especially for you. I know how much you like it…I bet you can't wait!" Dean smiled as he and his father settled in together to wait for the youngest member of the family to join them.

ooooooooo

Sam had lost track of time. He had been floating in a gray fog for what seemed like forever. He was grateful that the voices were finally silent, but the emotions left behind were wearing him out. He could still feel the desperation, fear and sorrow that was now a part of him. He wasn't sure how to get rid of these feelings…in fact, he couldn't tell which were his feelings and which belonged to the spirits that were drawn to him.

Some times, he could hear his brother or father calling to him. He tried to respond, but his mind wouldn't let him. It was if he was disconnected from his body. He could tell that his body was functioning, but his mind was not acknowledging anything around him. Once he felt Missouri trying to break through the fog that seemed to have him trapped, but he had simply gone further into the fog…not ready yet to face the emotions or pain that lay waiting for him.

Sam thought about his life so far. It was easy to remember the bad times, the losses, and the pain. But he found himself thinking more about some of the good times. The time he and Jessie had gone and cut down their first Christmas tree together. They had decided to string popcorn and cranberries for garland and made their own ornaments. It had been a happy time…a time before Sam knew about his abilities.

He remembered times with Dean too, his brother teasing him, laughing with him at the cheesy special effects in the newest horror movie on TV, or just sitting quietly in the car…each comfortable with the other.

Sam was scared. He didn't want these abilities, he didn't want to be the cause of pain for his family and friends and he was tired of having to fight a battle that was not of his choosing. But deep down, Sam was a Winchester and Winchesters never gave up. So, Sam had two choices now as he saw it. He could either stay where he was, relatively safe or he could join his father and brother and continue down the road with them. It really wasn't a choice…Sam knew what he needed to do.

Dean sat quietly by Sam's bed. It had been 3 days since the curse had been removed and Sam still was just going through the motions like he had before. Dean had stayed with Sam, talking to him until his voice was hoarse. John had left them the day before, but made Dean promise him to let him know how Sam was progressing. Dean didn't blame his father. He knew that his Dad could never stay in one place for too long. He needed to get back to the hunt. Matthew had left to take Missouri back home. He told Dean that he and Sam could stay as long as they needed to. Missouri had left them plenty of food and her special tea. There were enough supplies to last them a month or more. Dean was grateful that he didn't need to go anywhere. All he wanted right now was to see his little brother's eyes open in recognition.

Dean sighed as he once again helped Sam sit up, fluffing the pillows behind him. "Time for more of Missouri's special tea. I know you don't like it, but it seems to be helping. Your fever is actually down to 100.1 today. At this rate, you should be right as rain in no time. Of course, you have to open your eyes first. But don't worry, we have plenty of time and I'll be here when you decide its time to come back." Dean placed the cup to Sam's lips and watched as once again his brother swallowed. He looked away for a moment, not wanting Sam to sense his despair. When he looked back, he almost dropped the cup. Sam's eyes were open and they were looking at him, trying to focus.

"Sammy!" Dean cried as he quickly put the cup down.

Sam swallowed, trying to get words past the awful taste in his mouth. "Yuk! What the hell is in that stuff!" Sam whispered.

"I'm not sure, but Missouri said something about snails toe nails I think." Dean smiled as he saw his younger brother's face. "How are you feeling Sam?" Dean asked

"Ok, head hurts, leg hurts…but otherwise…ok" Sam sighed as he started to feel the pain in his body for the first time. "How long?"

"It's been 3 days since the curse was removed. I was just getting ready to stand you in a corner…you'd make a great hat stand." Dean watched as Sam smiled.

"Dean?" Sam said softly.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry…I hurt you, I didn't mean to, but I just couldn't help myself. I just wish…" Sam stared off into space, afraid to see his brother's reaction.

"You know Sam; you really should be careful what you wish for…I think that's what got us into this mess in the first place. Next time, why don't you wish for something soft and pretty…it would save us a lot of trouble." Dean smiled, as he saw Sam grin back at him.

"As I recall, soft and pretty is what got us into this mess…if you could just think a little less with your downstairs brain Dean…I mean, you've even got supernatural chicks after you now."

"Can I help it if I'm just too handsome to resist!" Dean chuckled as he watched Sam roll his eyes up.

Sam smiled as Dean headed out to the kitchen to get something for him to eat. He was still feeling pretty weak and he knew that it would be a little while before he would be able to hunt again…but with Dean in his life, somehow it didn't seem as bleak as it had before.

Sam smiled as he realized he had made the right choice…he would never leave his brother behind again.

The End.

Raven524: Ok, another story complete. Thanks to everyone who read and a special thanks to all my wonderful reviewers. I'm off to start the next story…assuming anyone is still interested! Till then…see ya!