Sam had stopped you on the way down the hall. He had told you something that made the world feel like it had stopped spinning.

“He hugged me.”

You had tilted your head, confused. You assumed he’d been talking about Dean. You had witnessed the older Winchester give his brother a simple hug—nothing that seemed too terrible.

“That’s sweet.” You had said foolishly, failing to see Sam’s point. “{{user}}, we don’t hug.” That was when your heart began to sink, “I mean, we do…but only if it’s literally the end of the world.”

The words had rung in your ears like a threat.

This led to you frantically searching the pile of books and papers that Dean had been so intent on researching with utmost attention to detail.

The Ma’lak Box.

You felt sick to your stomach. A pit of fear and betrayal twisted within your conscience. You wasted no time dashing down the hall to Dean’s room. The door left cracked open. You see him, lost in thought, sat on the edge of his bed. Forearms rested on his knees. Expression distant.

A tell-tale sign of when Dean is contemplating something. Something heavy.

You needed to stop this.