Empire of Dirt

AN: Hey! This is a story that was originally going to be a little oneshot that was inspired by something that happened to me when I was younger. Something I owe to my own little brother (Who strangely looks just like Sam with Dean's personality. Really, it's scary) but it has taken on a life of its own and has grown into something I never expected.

I am also going to introduce my own version of Caleb and Joshua. I decided to make them brothers just cause. I thought it would be interesting and it could help in future stories. It's never said that they're not, and I bet they aren't, but it's just a thought.

Anyway, please review and be kind! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Too bad, so sad.

Chapter 1

Dean Winchester sat in his algebra class and watched the clock. He hated school in general, but knew there was a special place in hell for whoever decided that algebra needed to be in the curriculum.

He knew he could be doing more important things like kicking demon ass with his dad. He'd left for a little more dangerous job two days before about 100 miles away. Dean had wanted to go, but his little brother Sammy had wanted to stay behind so he could actually go to school. Dean swore sometimes that Sam was either adopted or from another planet. Sam got his way and Dean knew not to mention anything about wanting to go because it was his job to watch out for Sam.

Dean decided to look away from the clock to give it some time to move. He looked around the classroom and found mostly everybody seemed to be as bored as him. He checked out the cute blonde, Shelly, in the back row. She smiled at him. Smiling back, he made a mental note to talk to her once class was over. After a quick look out the window he looked back at the clock. It hadn't had moved and now Dean was convinced that it was stuck. He was about to suggest this to the guy next to him when his teacher, Mr. Davis, interrupted his thoughts.

"Mr. Winchester?" He was holding a note in his hand and Dean thought back quickly. He wasn't exactly a model student and spent his fair share of time in either detention or the principal's office. This time, though, he was positive he hadn't done anything.

"I didn't do anything." He said seriously. That caused a few laughs from his classmates and he shot them a grin.

"It's from Ms. Shorter." Dean frowned. Ms. Shorter was the school nurse. "Your brother is in her office and she'd like to speak with you."

"Oh, ok." Dean said quickly and gathered his books. With one more smile at Shelly he quickly went out the door.

As he walked to the nurse's office he wanted to kick himself. Sam hadn't been feeling well since their dad had left. He kept insisting that he was fine. Dean was worried that this had been brought on by a poltergeist they had gone up against the week before. It had pushed Sam off the porch and into a muddy puddle. Dean had given him his jacket, but he still had wet clothes on the two hour trip home. He had looked paler than he had before that morning, but Sam kept saying he was fine and Dean decided to just let it go.

When he finally got there, he saw Sam sitting next to Ms. Shorter's desk while she looked though papers. The nine year old looked even worse than he had that morning. He also looked pretty pissed off.

"Sammy?" Dean said going toward his brother. Sam shot him an annoyed look.

"Oh, Dean," Ms. Shorter said looking up. "It's good to see you." Dean smiled at her in acknowledgement and then turned his attention back to Sam.

"Are you ok?" He asked kneeling down to Sam's level.

"I'm fine," Sam's eyes were big and glossy. His voice was horse and Dean could see he was sweating and slightly shivering. "I tripped in science class. It was embarrassing enough; I didn't have to be brought here in a wheelchair." Dean was surprised. Sam didn't usually talk like that to anyone but him and his dad. He was always so good-goody with people. He would win them over with his nice, gentle nature and big puppy dog eyes. Although Dean had to smile, maybe Sam wasn't adopted after all.

"Your brother fainted." Ms. Shorter informed him. "He was out for a good 30 seconds." Dean shot Sam a worried look. Fainting was never good. Not on his watch,

"I may have gotten a little light headed. We were mixing stuff with sulfur and it might have gotten to my head a little." Sam admitted.

"Really," Ms. Shorter interrupted. "Your teacher told me that you were watching a video on the reproductive system." Sam looked at her with wide eyes and she smiled back. Dean laughed out loud. He had always liked their school nurse.

"The reason I sent for you is because I wasn't able to get a hold of your father."

"He's out of town," Dean said standing up straight. "On business,"

"Oh," She picked up a paper from the file she'd been looking though. "The emergency contact, Jim Murphy, is out of state." She looked to Dean as if she wanted some kind of explanation.

"Yeah," Was all he could really say.

"Is there someone staying with you I could call." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sam give him a nervous glance. They were never allowed to tell anyone that they stayed home alone for long period of time. Dean was only 13 and they knew it might cause them trouble.

"A friend of our dads is staying with us, but he's out of town too. Just for the day though. He won't get back till late this evening." Ms. Shorter frowned and looked back down at the paper as if it would suddenly give her the answer she was looking for.

"I could walk him home. There's only one more period." He suggested.

"I can't allow that." Ms. Shorter said looking back at Dean then to Sam. "Why don't you stay here until school is over then have Dean take you home. You can get some rest."

"Can't I just go back to class?" Sam asked.

"Can't let you do that." Ms. Shorter said sounding sincerely sorry for him. Sam looked at Dean for an answer.

"I'm with her on this one kiddo," Dean said holding up his hands. "You look like crap." Sam sighed and looked down at his hands.

"Fine, I am kind of tired." He got up and went over to the crappy plastic beds and lay down. Dean watched. He really didn't want to deal with this right now. He bit his lip and drummed his fingers on his legs nervously.

"Don't worry," Ms. Shorter said interrupting his thoughts. "I think it's just the flu."

"Yeah," Dean said giving her a small smile.

"To bad its right before spring break, I hope you didn't have any plans." Dean looked at her confused before quickly answering.

"Oh, no, not really," They were going to join the dad if he felt it was safe enough.

"Well I guess I should let you get back to class and we'll see you after school." Sam nodded and looked over at Sam. "Go on," Ms. Shorter said smiling. Dean smiled and walked over to him. He was glad to see that he was already asleep. Dean knelt down and ran his hand through his brother's hair and smiled.

Dean sat in his last period class but couldn't pay attention. He was too worried about Sam. He wasn't the type to hide being sick, especially from him. Sam wore his emotions on his sleeve. Something was up.

When the final bell rang Dean jumped up and went quickly to the nurse's office. When he walked in Ms. Shorter smiled at him and waved him over to her. After looking at his still sleeping brother, Dean walked over to her.

"Just make sure he gets lots of fluids and plenty of sleep tonight. Remember you feed a cold and starve a fever." Dean nodded not really paying attention. She had no idea that taking care of a fever were usually the least of his problems.

"Thanks," He said. She smiled.

"Get him and into bed." She instructed. Dean smiled and nodded. He walked over to Sam and knelt down next to him.

"Hey Sammy," He said softly running a hand through Sam's sweaty hair. Sam's glassy eyes fluttered open. "You ready to get out if here?" Sam shut his eyes tightly and nodded. Dean helped him up, grabbed their stuff and with a wave to Ms. Shorter they headed home.

"Well I guess no school for us tomorrow." Dean said as they walked home.

"You could still go." Sam said softly kicking a rocks and grass.

"Someone has to play nursemaid to you."

"I'm 9 now Dean, I can take care of myself." Sam said puffing his chest out a little.

"Not getting rid of me that easy Sammy boy." Dean saw Sam smile out of the corner of his eye then Sam stopped walking altogether.

"You ok?" Dean asked. Sam's face turned a shade of green and he turned away from the street and puked in the grass.

"Gross man," Dean said under his breath. He went over to his brother and rubbed his back till he was done. Dean put his arm around Sam and lead him away from the little patch of grass that now was covered with the little bit of food that had been in Sam's stomach.

"Are you done?" He asked and Sam nodded. "Do feel any better?"

"A little," San croaked out.

"Alright, let's go home."

Dean got Sam home and he immediately put him to bed. They were currently living in an old run down house in a small town in Indiana. They had only been living in the house for a little over a week. They had been living out of hotels since they arrived in town that fall.

John had promised them the house was safe, but Dean was getting a bad feeling about the place. John had also seemed to want to get out as fast as he could. Dean didn't think too much about it. He didn't question his dad.

"You gonna vomit anymore?" Dean asked Sam that night. He'd hadn't been able to hold anything down that Dean was trying to give him that whole evening. Not even drinks.

"I don't think there's anything left to throw up." Sam grumbled getting further under the blankets.

"Well tomorrow we'll try some chicken soup and sprite and cross our fingers." Dean said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Whatever," Sam said turning his back to Dean. When Dean didn't move Sam turned back around. "What?" He asked innocently.

"Why didn't you tell me you were this sick?" Dean asked. "That's not like you."

"I'm not that sick." Sam said looking down, away from Dean's eyes.

"Yeah, you fainted in school and have been puking your brains out all night. If that's not sick then…"

"Alright," Sam said interrupting Dean. "I'm sick." He said starring down at the blankets.

"See," Dean said smiling. "Why couldn't you have just told me that in the first place?"

"I wanted to go to school." Sam said looking up.

"Oh god, what a geek," Dean groaned and Sam shot him a look. "Sorry, go on."

"I really like it here and the school is fun. I'm actually making friends. I know dad said that we would stay here till the end of the year, but just in case we don't, I don't want to miss anything." Sam looked away for a second then back at Dean. "So I guess that's why." Dean smiled and ruffled Sam's hair.

"I'll make you a promise ok?" Sam nodded. "I promise that no matter what, we'll stay here for the rest of the year. Even if it's just the two of us."

"You really promise." Dean smiled and put an arm around Sam and pulled him closer to him.

"I would never lie to you Sammy." He said. Sam smiled brightly.

"Thanks Dean," He said then he raised his eyebrows. "Are we having a "chick flick" moment Dean?" He asked laughing.

"No we're not," Dean said standing up. He pulled the covers up to his chin. "Your fever must really be high if you're starting to hallucinate." Sam laughed and rolled on his side. "Get some sleep." He said and turned off the light.

Dean woke up a few hours later with a headache. 'Shit' he thought. 'Please don't tell me I'm getting sick.' He sat up and looking over at Sam he almost had to laugh. Sam only tossed and turned when he was sick. Otherwise he stayed so still that there were times Dean actually checked to make sure Sam was actually alive.

But know, with a high fever raging in his tiny body, Sam had somehow gotten the sheets off the bed and was lying on the mattress with only a corner of the blanket on him. Dean got up and replayed the blankets and tucked all his limbs back on the bed. He walked out to the door to the kitchen. He kept the door open so he could keep an eye on Sam.

After taking something for his head, Dean flopped down on the couch to watch some T.V. He checked over his shoulder to check on Sam every couple minutes and soon his eyes got heavier. It wasn't long before he was asleep.

"Dean," Sam's voice said softly. "Dean, wake up." Dean opened his eyes to a nervous Sam standing over him. 'Shit' He said up quickly.

"I fell asleep?" He asked Sam who nodded. "What is it, what's wrong?" He asked looking around.

"There's something in our room." Sam whispered. Dean jumped up, grabbing the rifle that was under the couch on his way up. He grabbed Sam by the shoulder to move him so he stood behind Dean.

"What was it?" He asked peering into their room and slowly inching toward the room.

"I don't know." Sam said. "It looked like a gerbil." Dean stopped and slowly turned to his brother.

"What?" He asked.

"Well it did!" Sam exclaimed. "Look, I know it was bad. It was growling and laughing. It had glowing eyes."

"A growling, laughing gerbil?" Dean asked to clarify. Sam looked slightly hurt.

"I know what I saw," He said. "I know the bad things from the good things."

"I know," Dean said quickly. "Let's check this out." They slowly made their way into the room. Sam stayed at the door while Dean checked every corner of the room. He was heading toward the closet when they heard a scurrying, scratching sound run down the hall.

"Sam, get back!" Dean ordered pulling Sam into the room. Gun raised he headed down the hall. He followed the sound to John's room when it suddenly stopped. Dean didn't lower the gun and continued to look around. Suddenly a scream made Dean's heart stop.

"DEAN!"

Let me know what you think! The title comes from the song "Hurt" Really don't know why. It was just going through my head. I'll have Chapter 2 up soon!