#23 In my brothers shoes.

The walls seemed to be closing in around Sam. The motel room could have passed for being smaller than the last time he had entered it; over six hours ago. 

Six hours ago Dean had been the one with the problem, John had been fully awake and ready for battle and Sam had been confident that they could beat this Demon. End it that night. But it was all different now, it was scary.

He heard the demon mocking him, teasing him. It hurt so bad he just wanted to rip his heart out just to stop the pain.

A gun was gripped in one hand, a notebook in the other. Scraled on one of the pages was a letter.

"Dad?" Dean asked softly

John coughed before slowly opening his eyes. He smiled.

"Son. You're okay. How's Sam?"

"He's a little shaken; he went back to the motel room." Dean fought the guilt of lying to his father," He's okay though."

John relaxed believing his eldest son. He looked Dean up and down.

"You seem different." He said softly.

Dean simply smiled.

"Yeah. I don't feel the demon anymore. I just saw you laying there not moving. I thought you had left me, dad. And it scared me. You know, because it was kind of my fault. That was it, I dragged you out and ever since, I haven't felt him."

"You don't know how glad I am to hear that. I just hope you're right, and that it really is gone for good, and never coming back."

That was it; John smiled at Dean in that fatherly way.

"I'm proud of you son."

All Dean could do was grin and keep back his tears. It had been years since he had heard those words escape his father's lips and have them directed at him. It felt so good to hear them.

"Go and get Sam. I want to see both my boys." John whispered.

"Dad? You're not going anywhere! You're not dieing!"

"Why the fuck would you think that? Of course I'm not dieing. I just want to see my boys. Tell you both how proud I am."

"Okay. I'll go now. I'll be back soon."

As Dean walked away he couldn't help but be afraid. Afraid of the fact that his brother might not be at the motel. Afraid of what he might find there waiting for him if he was.

He was feeling exactally how Sam had felt just hours ago.