Supernatural: The Wrath of Pestilence

Summary: Sam and Dean are waiting for Crowley to provide them with the location of Pestilence. Before he can, Pestilence makes a move and comes to the boys; a surprise attack, if you will. An attack on Dean's life. Can Sam help his brother before it is too late?

Note: I do not own anything about the boys, pestilence or anything else from the Supernatural world. It all belongs to Eric Kripke and his company.

Chapter 1:

Sam: [sarcastic tone] Wonder why Crowley hasn't called with anything yet?

Sam turned around in his desk chair and just looked at his brother, waiting for a reply. Dean glared at him in that familiar fashion Sam had become accustomed to. It was a common look that Dean and their father shared.

Dean: Sam, why don't you just back off! He's the best damn lead we've got…unless there is some back pocket deal you got going with Pestilence that I am unaware of!

Dean waits…Sam turns away from his brother.

Dean: Oh, no…I didn't think so!

Sam: I know, but Dean don't you feel like there is something he is not telling us? Doesn't it worry you? Because as I recall, that used to make you furious.

Dean: Of course I don't trust him! He's a demon for god sake! You know, I'm surprised at you Sammy. Once upon a time you used to willingly be some demon's lap dog. Look where that lead us…right to this pleasant family moment we are having.

Dean got off his bed, grabbed his duffle bag and searched for his sweatpants and a t-shirt. Normally he'd be fine in just a t-shirt and his boxers, but it was a particularly chilly night tonight. He wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

Sam: Dean! I'm just saying, we shouldn't sit here with our thumbs up our ass waiting to make our move.

Dean: Sammy, I'm tired, and I don't want to discuss this anymore. Please…just go to sleep. We can figure this out tomorrow, but for now I need sleep. Goodnight.

Sam watched his brother fall asleep. He absorbed every detail of his brother's tense body. He noticed how his brother's face seems to age with each new worry that they face on a daily basis. He noticed how Dean's brow is tense even in sleep and Sam feels guilty for that. He knows that Dean is right, about everything. Crowley truly is their last hope if they plan on stopping the apocalypse and Lucifer. Sam's only concern is that Dean will fall victim to the lies of a demon like Sam had only a year before. He just doesn't want to see Dean get disappointed when Crowley makes false promises to his brother.

Sam's job right now is to try and save Dean, not from a demon or a crossroads deal, but from a force much darker and deadlier; himself. Dean is Dean's biggest threat to his survival. He acts so quickly and doesn't really care what happens to himself in the process. Just a few hours into a peaceful sleep, he hears Dean moan and cough. Dean's body shifts every few seconds and he just continues with the moaning. Sam leaps off his bed and goes to Dean's side. He is 2ft away from Dean and can feel the heat that is radiating off his brother in nuclear proportions.

Sam shakes his brother in an effort to wake him up.

"Dean…"

No response from his brother was ever a good sign.

"Dean, you're burning up. You gotta wake up man."

Sam ran to their medical kit which was tucked away in Dean's duffle bag. He searched that kit frantically for the thermometer. He stuck in Dean's ear and waited not even a second for the reading. It was a higher number than Sam would have liked to see: 104.6.

"Oh my god! Dean!"

Sam was unsure of what to do; he knows Dean would kill him for going to a hospital. Instead, he ran to the ice machine just outside of their room and started running back frantically; filling their tub with ice. When it was full enough, Sam grabbed Dean and practically dragged his heavy body into the tub. Sam could have sworn, when Dean's body was submerged in enough ice, that it literally sizzled from the heat. Even though Dean's eyes remained closed during this whole experience, he still reacted to the sudden temperature change that was hitting his body.

"Sammy….did we make a pit stop in Alaska? Too cold! Sammy….stop…" Dean was agitated by the sudden ice bath he found himself in.

"Dean, you have to calm down. Come on man, just breathe with me. Your fever is really high and it had to come down quick. It's either this or the hospital man. You pick."

Sam knew that his brother would really rather let Sam try and help him before seeking out the hospital. Sam tried to soothe his brother by running a comforting hand through Dean's sweaty spiky brown hair. Dean was still breathing too erratically.

"Dean, come on. You have to calm down your breathing…I need you to try for me."

"I need him to be okay" Sam thought to himself.

Sam suspected that Dean's fever was rising again rather than getting better. He ran back to Dean's bed and grabbed the thermometer again. Just as he suspected, Dean's fever wasn't any better. It had hit 105.1 now.

"Alright kiddo, hospital time."

Sam couldn't believe it, or maybe he could.

"It must be that good old Winchester luck striking again" Sam remarked sarcastically.

He grabbed Dean, one arm under his knees and the other supporting his back, and carried him out to the car in his arms.

"Sammy...where...?"

"It's hospital time Dean. You are too sick for me to take care of you and your fever isn't getting any better. Just hang on man."

"Sammy...? Scared man…"

"I know Dean. I know you are, but I am gonna be with you all the way."

Dean closed his eyes and tried to forget what was going on around him. In the back of his mind, he knew his baby brother would take care of him.

Dean's cough worsened over the 15 minute drive to the hospital. It started as a shallow wheeze, but soon became a strong bark that appeared quite painful for Dean. His cough took on a wet sound that concerned Sam. Sam pulled the impala to the side of the road, looked back at Dean and found the source of the wet sound. Sam looked at his brother and saw red spots on his brother's lips and hands.

"Dean? Is that blood? Are you coughing up blood?"

"What...Oh, hell…," Dean looked equally as shocked as Sam, "Guess you better step on it Sammy."

Sam started the car and raced to the hospital in double-time. Now that blood was involved, things were more serious.

"Hang on Dean!"

"I'm trying Sammy."

Dean's head felt heavier than it had and Dean decided to let it rest on the seat of the impala the rest of the way there.

TBC.