Rouge

Chapter 9

Sam sat on the steps leading down to Bobby's basement. In his hand was a strip of leather with a small charm hanging from it. Sam had recognised it as soon as Bobby had pulled it from the old duffel bag. He had given the same charm to his brother so many years ago. Sam ran his hands through his hair, he was just so tired. Four days had passed since Dean had come back into their life all battered and bruised. His long-lost brother now sat in the panic room, at the bottom of the stairs, ignoring all attempts to talk to him.

When they had first arrived back at Bobby's, John and Bobby had gotten straight to work patching up the then mystery man. They were arguing, but trying to hide what about from Sam. However, once satisfied the man wasn't going to die from his injuries and his bones set the best they could, they drugged him up with horse tranquilizers and turned their attention back on Sam. He had told them what he remembered from the attack and how the wolf had protected them. John had then pointed out that he believed the man had followed them for a while, explaining about the weird feeling he had had the pass month and the man in the diner. Sam was not ready for when his Dad had told him he believed that the man was Dean. John had no proof that it was Dean, but a gut feeling and the way the man had acted. Bobby had then volunteered to return to woods the next day to look for clues. He promised he would only check long the road and not venture into the woods alone.

So Bobby had left in his pick-up truck the next day and he returned a few hours later dragging an old Ford. It was a duffel bag found in the Ford that had provided John with the proof he needed. It ashamed Sam to say he hadn't believed his Dad when he first claimed it was Dean. Dean had died ten years ago; John himself had burned the body. Sam believed it was just a coincidence that this man seemed like Dean, or it was a shape shifter just messing with them. Sam believed it couldn't be Dean until they unpacked the duffel bag. A bunch of worn clothes were the first things Bobby pulled from the bag, with John and Sam peering over his shoulders. A cassette player and a bunch of classic rock tapes were next. Followed by stack of weapons; knives, guns and bullets none of which were silver. A handmade EMF reader caused Bobby to pause and John to smile. However, it was the last item removed from the bag which meant the most to Sam. It was a small pendent of a face hanging on a piece of leather. It was the pendent Sam had given to Dean; it was the pendent that his brother never took off. That little pendent was enough to give Sam hope and to cover his world in guilt.

Dean had been quiet in the panic room. He had woken up later the next day and not moved. Dean just lay on the bed facing away from the door. Sam had notice John down there just looking through the vent and talking to Dean. He was rambling on about Sam and his life since Dean's death. He had caught Bobby once warning Dean that if he did anything to put anyone at risk, Bobby himself would put a bullet in him. Sam had tried once to talk to his brother. He had started by simply asking if it was really Dean, and he had actually turned to look at Sam. However, as soon as Sam saw the chunk missing from Dean's ears guilt had hit him so bad that it actually stolen his breath for a second. Sam could not stop the apologies that had started to flow from his mouth. He couldn't have told you what he had said, but when he finally stopped tears were running down his face. Dean however just sighed and rolled back over, so his back was facing Sam and his scarred ear was hidden from Sam's view.

Sam hadn't tried to talk to Dean again. The guilt was too much. He had almost killed his brother and Dean had still tried to save him. Dean had every right to hate him. So Sam spent most of his time on the stair staring at the door to the panic room.

Bobby had a camera set up in the panic room, which played a live feed on a TV in the kitchen. John and he spent most of their time up watching the feed. Sam tried to avoid looking at the TV when he was in the kitchen, it was too painful. However, his eyes were always drawn back to the screen and his brother. It was how Sam found himself the night of the full moon. John and Bobby were watching Dean pretending to sleep.