Siphoning Grace

A/N: I own nothing. Please, read and review. I haven't written many Supernatural Fanfiction (only one other very short story), so I am still trying to find the character's voices, so please, let me know if you think they are out of character or any suggestion you have about that.

Chapter I

He heard a knock and looked up from the book he was reading.

"Sam, you look terrible." Standing by the arch of his bedroom door, waiting, was Castiel.

Sam chuckled, used to the inhuman quirkiness that came with the angel. "Thanks Cas, your honesty is refreshing."

Cas frowned, looking perplexed, probably trying to decide if he was being sarcastic or not.

Sam wasn't sure himself, so he just continued, "Come on in, man. Is time for my healing session?"

He hoped it was. The pain in his head, in his joints… in his everywhere, had been getting worse and worse by the minute. So much so, he had stayed in bed, doubting his ability to stand up and face the day.

Cas nodded, walking towards his bed and placing two healing fingers on his forehead. Sam closed his eyes, welcoming the therapeutic glow.

"You do not feel better?" Cas' voice sounded concerned, but he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes to look at him. The angelic painkiller felt so good on his burning forehead.

"I do." He answered automatically. The Winchester patented 'I am fine' engraved too deep within him. Then Dean's younger voice dinned in his brain "Don't lie to Doctors if you can avoid it, man. You want them to patch you up as soon as possible so we can get the hell outta here and not have to come back!" Their Dad always thought he was the disobedient one. He wasn't. It was just Dean he obeyed. "I did, for a while at least. But then, the pain started coming back. Like I've just taken a painkiller and it was wearing off."

"I see." Cas' tone was controlled, like the doctors in many of those hospitals they'd arrived with nightmarish wounds. Maybe the angel was getting better at this being human thing.

"But that's why we had to do the healing in stages, right?" Sam did open his eyes now and inspected the other man's face.

Cas' eyes shifted away from him and he placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back. "Do you think you can lie down for a minute? I want to check something."

He didn't resist the push and lay down as requested, but asked "Is there something wrong?"

Cas kneeled beside him and gently placed his glowing hands an inch over his stomach. "Give me a minute, Sam, please." He gently started moving his hands throughout his body.

"Cas?"

"It would really help me if you stopped talking and relax, Sam. Close your eyes and lay still."

That statement didn't help him relax at all, quite on the contrary, a thousand questions and concerns came to mind and his whole body wanted to run away. But he did as told, waiting for the angel to finish whatever he was doing. It tingled, more than hurt, like feeling tentacles moving within his organs.

Suddenly the 8th passenger inside him stopped, but instead of something comforting the next words he heard were. "I think I should call, Dean."

He jolted up removing Cas' hands in one swift move. "What? No! Why?"

"Something is wrong." Cas tried not to sound alarm, but the angel was well… an angel and not a good liar.

Sam took a deep breath. It wasn't Cas' fault. He was just trying to help him, the only way he knew how. "I can tell that, Cas. You aren't as good at hiding things as think you are."

"I am not?"

Sam shook his head, placing his feet on the floor, sitting sideways on the bed. "So, what's wrong?"

"I think Dean should be here."

He sighed exasperated but tried to control his temper as he looked deep into the other man's eyes. "Dean asked us to leave him alone, Cas. And there is something wrong with me, not with him, so you should be talking to me."

Cas' didn't shy away from his look, quite the opposite. "I know that Sam. I didn't mean you shouldn't be told."

"Then talk." Sam tried to remain patient, but he hated Cas for dragging.

It wasn't that he even minded that much the whole Dean thing, though it did piss him off. He was a grown man, thank you. He didn't need his big brother to protect him at every corner. When would anyone acknowledge that? Still, the problem was, couldn't Cas tell that telling someone that something was wrong with them was a simple recipe for scaring them shitless? No, of course not, it was Cas, he was immortal. He didn't get sick and if something happened to him, he could heal himself. To top it off, he felt a couple of miles away from his grave. Even parts of his body he had never been aware of before ached. He gave up on sitting and lay down. The angel knew there was something wrong with him anyway, so he needn't pretend he was fine for his sake.

"Dean would never forgive me if I don't tell him!"

Sam closed his eyes and massaged his temples. He swore he could still feel the pins they had drilled in his skull. "I might kill you if you don't talk soon, so his forgiveness is going to be worthless at that point."

"But Dean..."

A/N: Short, I know, but I figured it was a nice cliff hanger. Please, let me know what you think. I know what is wrong with Sam but not why at this point, so I will be open to ideas and suggestions soon.