Chapter One:

Blood Moon Fever

Sam Winchester woke with a start, his sea-green eyes unable to find comfort in the dark and unfamiliar motel room.

There was no sound of his brother, comforting even in sleep, with his gentle, peaceful breathing; something he could always latch on to, a template to steady his own shaky breaths.

But no, the lack of Dean was obvious, and Sam could feel himself trembling as the nightmare replayed with vivid Technicolor accuracy inside his tormented mind.

Unwilling to repeat it, he squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his hands to his ears as though the very action would stave his dark dreams away.

It was all in vain.

He could still see the blood, the gushing blood, from the woman he thought he remembered, someone from his past…

Still he couldn't quite put his finger on it, she was only young…it seemed so long ago…

Nausea roiled in his stomach as his heart rate climbed rapidly and a film of cold sweat covered his brow.

Right now, he needed his brother; he craved that security…true enough, sometimes needing his older sibling beside him made him feel weak, unworthy as a hunter, but right now, Dean was all he could think about, as breathing became more laborious.

Right at that moment, when Sam felt so scared, he could cry, the lock clicked and the door opened slowly.

Dean was trying to be stealthy. He didn't want to wake his brother.

As he shut the door, he heard the gasping breaths of his sibling and frowned.

"Sammy?" he inquired, concerned. "Are you okay dude?"

"D-d-dean," Sam moaned as a sharp stabbing pain in his chest told him his heart wasn't pumping enough blood.

The elder hunter flicked the light on and Sam recoiled, his constricted pupils trying to adapt to the sudden change in illumination.

"Sam, bro, tell me what's wrong?"

Dean crouched before his brother and peered up at him with concerned moss green eyes.

"C-c-c-can't b-b-breathe," he wheezed, clutching at his heart, which was pumping rapidly to compensate for the lack of blood to his brain.

"Sammy, you're hyperventilating. You need to calm down…" Dean said soothingly, climbing beside his younger brother to comfort him.

Dean rubbed his back gently and tried to get him to breathe properly.

"That's it kid, breathe in, and out…there you go…c'mon, you can do it…" he encouraged, heaving a sigh of relief when Sam's breath normalized.

Sam blinked at Dean owlishly as the eldest placed a hand gently on his forehead to push his damp bangs from his fearful eyes.

"Damn, bro, you have a fever," Dean stated feeling the heat radiating off his brothers skin.

"S-s-s-sick," Sam said tremulously, clutching his abdomen tightly.

"Yeah dude, I think you might be coming down with something," Dean agreed but frowned when Sam shook his head vigorously.

"Gonna…be…sick…" he said tightly.

The eldest hunter jumped out of the way to let his brother pass.

Sam stumbled, doubled over into the small ensuite where he proceeded to be sick.

As the young Winchester retched, Dean leant against the doorframe with his arms crossed, debating whether to go and comfort Sam or not.

Deep down he knew that his younger brother didn't want to be coddled, but his protective big brother mode kicked in once he heard a tortured sob over the sound of Sam's now dry gagging.

"Sammy, you need to tell me what's going on man," Dean said softly, crouching beside the ill young man and placing a comforting hand on his back.

Sam looked up at him with tears in his tired eyes.

"Nightmare…vision…" Sam stated.

"You sure dude? I mean, this has never happened before," Dean replied.

"I'm sure, Dean. It's my head,"

Dean sighed. "Alright, whatever. C'mon kid, lets get you back to bed, then you can tell me what you saw,"

"I'm hardly a kid anymore Dean…I can tie my laces and everything," Sam deadpanned.

Dean's mouth quirked into a small smile. "Sarcasm, Sam, is the lowest form of wit," he said knowingly.

"This coming from the king of sarcasm," Sam replied, using the toilet to heave himself off the floor.

He flushed and turned the cold water tap on full.

Bringing a cupped hand of water to his mouth, he caught his reflection in the mirror.

He really did look like shit.

Once he had cleansed his mouth of the vile taste, he trudged back to his bed and burrowed under the blankets.

"Righto Sammy, spill," Dean, said, sitting by his side.

"Forget it," Sam said.

"Am I gonna have to call a shrink? Or Missouri?" Dean asked casually.

"I'd rather not remember, my stomach hurts and my throat is killing me," Sam muttered.

"Wuss," Dean teased jokingly, though he felt sympathy toward his sibling. It wasn't fun being sick.

"Bitch," Sam shot back easily.

"Hey! Bitch is my line, bitch!" Dean exclaimed with a grin.

"Have it back, jerk,"

"So are you gonna spill?" Dean inquired, wanting to get information from his brother.

"Do I have too?" Sam said in an almost petulant voice.

"That all depends…do I have to put nair in your shampoo again? Or do I have to die your hair black so it suits your brooding, emo bitch face?"

Sam glared at his brother coldly, but Dean remained cool, his eyebrow quirked inquisitively.

"Well…"

The youngest hunter knew he wouldn't dare, but he obliged anyway.

"The blood moon…" Sam began.

Dean blinked. "You mean…"

"Yeah, when the blood of an innocent is about to be spilled at the hand of a dark force," Sam finished.

"Okay…well tell me what you saw," Dean encouraged.

"Yeah, well… I saw a forest, and the ground opened up…this freaky…carrier demon, they called it, appeared from the hole, and it was walking for ages, through the trees…it—He, was hurrying to get somewhere."

"Aaaand?" Dean encouraged him to continue.

"It was a sacrificial ceremony, everybody was…naked, feasting…and then the boss…he made everything disappear, and…"

Sam blushed and looked away.

"C'mon Sammy, spill, I've seen you naked for Christ's sake, not that it is something I care to envision, but what could you possibly be embarrassed about?"

Dean said exasperatedly.

"They had sex…"

"Come again?"

"The Chief Warlock dude, and the witch…he chose her and they had sex. In front of everyone,"

Dean gave him a wolfish smile.

"Ooh Sammy boy has mind pornography," Dean teased.

"Dude, shut up! Can you please not get junior into this? I don't wanna be sick again,"

Dean shrugged. "Envy is a sin Sam," he said.

"I'm not jealous Dean…I've got it where it counts,"

The eldest hunter snorted. "You care to measure?"

"No, thank you…now could I please continue?"

"Meh,"

"Well, the witch…she took a knife, and killed a woman…they had her tied up on a stone table…and she said something…god…um…" Sam scratched his head absently, as he tried to remember the finer details.

"Ashes to ashes…dust to dust…blood to blood…bone on bone…the blood of the innocent shall be spilt forever on this stone…man…she was sofamiliar,"

Dean scrubbed his face. "Well, the way I see it…is your stressed and—"

Dean stopped short upon seeing the look on his brother's face…a look of wide-eyed shock.

"Sam…what is it?"

"I-I-I couldn't remember where I saw the woman from, but now I—oh god…" He buried his face in his hands.

"Sammy, who was it?"

"It was Lori…Lori Sorenson,"


"Lori Sorenson—the cute sorority girl who sent the Hookman after her boyfriend?" Dean asked.

"Yes! Her! Oh god Dean…we have to go to Iowa!" Sam jumped to his feet and rushed around the room stuffing discarded clothes into his duffle bag.

"Whoa there Francis. How do you know that this wasn't just an ordinary dream? I mean you had a thing for Lori, maybe your consciousness is playing on that!" Dean said, then added: "Though the reason you incorporated naked witches and wizards having kinky sex is beyond me. That's sounds too much like something I'd dream up. I'd make an awesome wizard,"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Warlock, Dean. Have you been watching Harry Potter again?"

Dean shrugged. "Gotta do something with my time… I love when that teacher turns the evil kid into the ferret…that was hilario—"

"Dean! Could we please focus! We need to pack!" Sam cut him off.

"Dude, it was just a dream!"

"No it wasn't! It was real! And I intend to do something about…it…" Sam trailed off.

"Sammy, why you spacin' out on me?" Dean inquired, but Sam said naught…He just continued to stare into nothingness, his eyes glazed over.

"Dude…wake up!"

Dean slapped him hard across the face and Sam jumped.

"What the hell did you do that for Dean?" Sam cried.

"You went all stoned on me…don't tell me you've been smoking secret joints,"

Sam rolled his eyes, but winced as the movement caused pain and dizziness.

"You okay?"

"Yeah I…" Sam stooped as the room around him began to tilt and sway wildly around him.

He planted his feet on the ground to gain balance, but the spinning intensified, and he was beginning to feel as though he went on a roller coaster eight times on a full stomach.

"Sammy, why are you standing like that?" Dean asked, concerned.

Sam didn't reply. Instead, he lost balance and fell forward.

Dean rushed to his side, and caught him before he hit the carpet.

"Are you okay?"

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Sam asked, gripping Dean tight.

"I dunno, just relax Sammy, I'm gonna get you to bed,"

The eldest Winchester grabbed Sam under the armpits, dragged him to the bed and laid him carefully in it.

"I cant relax…why is the room spinning?" Sam asked, with a slight, panicked slur to his voice.

"Breath bro…c'mon, you can do it. Close your eyes and relax."

Dean pulled the blankets over his brother.

"Dizzy…" Sam muttered.

"Hold up kiddo…just hang in there,"

Dean rummaged through the first aid kit and pulled out a bottle of prescription tranquilizers.

He took out three and handed them to Sam along with a glass of water.

"Take these, they'll help you relax and get some sleep," Dean assured.

Sam swallowed them and settled back onto the pillows.

"D-d-dean," Sam groaned.

"Shhh bro…sleep," Dean said gently, placing a hand on his forehead.

His fever was climbing.

"Night…" Sam whispered, allowing his heavy eyes to slide shut.

Dean patted his passed out brother on the shoulder.

"Night Sammy, sleep well."


As Dean opened his eyes the next morning, it took him only several moments to realize that something was wrong with Sam.

He could hear, over the passing cars and trucks outside, the sound of labored and tight breathing.

Sitting up against the headboard, he looked over at his brother and frowned.

Sam was tangled in the bed sheets, lying on his side, with sweat dripping from his hair and the tip of his nose.

Blood pooled above his upper lip and Dean swallowed convulsively.

Slowly Dean climbed out of bed and crouched by his unconscious brother.

"Sammy, wake up," Dean said gently, putting a hand to his cheek. "Jesus kid, what the hell?"

"D-d-d-dean?" Sam slurred, opening fever dull eyes.

"I'm here Sammy, its okay," the eldest soothed.

"C-c-c-cold," he shivered.

"No you're not…you have a fever,"

"F-f-f-freezing Dean…s-s-so cold," Sam pulled the blanket to his chin.

Dean retrieved the thermometer from the nightstand and placed it in Sam's mouth.

He recoiled in fear.

"Whoa Sammy, I'm just checking your temperature. Calm down," Dean soothed, watching in horror as the mercury climbed to 105.4.

"Shit," Dean muttered, shaking the device to see if it was faulty.

Deep down he knew that it wasn't.

He looked at his sweating writhing brother, unsure of what to do. The kid really needed a hospital, but with the feds on their case, it would be really difficult…

"Sammy…Sam I'm gonna call 9-1-1, I need you at a hospital," Dean said, finally sure that his was gonna save his brothers life.

"N-n-no h-hospital. H-H-Hendrickson…"

"I don't give a damn about Hendrickson. You need help," Dean said firmly, though not unkindly, as he searched for his cell phone in their untidy room.

"You help D-D-Dean…not medical…s-s-supernatural…" Sam gasped through chattering teeth.

"How do you know? Your fever is through the roof!"

Sam cringed and Dean softened, though concern still lined his young face.

"T-t-trust m-me…" Sam said, before his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he passed out.

"Um…shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Dean ran a hand through his short dirt blonde hair, thinking of a way to cool him off.

Of course there was the tub, but the water wouldn't be cold enough…he needed ice.

"Ice…" he muttered, looking in the bar fridge. Not even nearly enough.

Then as the curtain caught the fresh summer breeze outside, he saw a sign.

"SKEEZIES GAS!"

"Damn Dean, how could you be so fucking stupid?" Dean asked himself as he reefed the door open and tore across the busy street.

"Hi, can I help you in any way?" asked the ash blonde girl behind the counter, whose name, as her badge proclaimed, was Anny.

"Yeah…um I need some ice, really fast," Dean rushed.

Noticing that Dean was constantly throwing nervous looks toward the motel, Anny frowned. "Is there anything wrong sir?" she inquired.

The hunter scrubbed a hand over his face.

"Um…yeah, my brother, he's really sick. He's fever is one oh five four. I need ice!"

The cashier paled.

"You need help gettin' it over?" She asked taking the key to open the ice chest.

"Yeah, that would be great," Dean, muttered.

"Why don't you get him to a hospital?" she questioned.

"Sweetheart, he aint gonna last that long," he replied, heaving two bags over his shoulder.

"COREY!" Anny yelled over her shoulder toward the adjoined garage. "A CUSTOMER NEEDS SOME HELP! GET YOUR GREASE MONKEY ASS OUT HERE NOW!"

Dean stared and Anny shrugged.

"The more the merrier," she proclaimed.

"What is it that you can't handle Ann?" Came a female voice, entering from the body shop, wiping grease from her hands.

"We need to get ice to the motel…right?" she aimed the last part of the sentence to Dean who nodded, and exited speedily, darting across the road.

"What's up with him?" The woman named Corey asked, grabbing an additional two bags from the chest. "His drinks goin' warm?"

Anny snorted humorlessly as she snatched a couple more and slammed the ice chest shut.

"His brother has a high fever apparently," she said with a shrug and dashed through the honking traffic.

They entered the dim room that Dean had disappeared into and followed the splashing noises into the bathroom.

They didn't even notice Sam.

"Here's your ice sir," Corey said, drying her icy hands on her grease-smeared jeans.

"Good. Pour the bags into the water, and you, Anny," He nodded toward the room. "Strip him to his boxers and bring him in here,"

Anny blushed for a moment, and then did as she was told. Like she was gonna let a kid die…but as he discarded the bedclothes, she was almost shocked to see a full bodied young man lying unconscious in the bed, and she could feel the heat from her distance.

Hesitating only for a second, she pulled the t-shirt over his head and gently pulled his sweat pants off.

"D-D-Dean…" he moaned in his sleep as Anny looped her arms under his and dragged him to the bathroom.

As she entered, Corey gasped.

"Jesus Christ…" she muttered, as she helped Dean lower the man into the tub.

As he hit the water, his eyes flew open, and he began to scream out.

"Please! Stop! It hurts! Stop! Dean, please!" he cried.

"Calm down Sammy, we're here to help you," Dean said gently, smoothing the lines on his forehead.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Corey asked.

"I think so. You girls can go now if you want, but thank you for helping," Dean said.

"Dean, right?" Anny said.

He nodded.

"We'd like to stay…you know, to see how he goes. We'll help if you need it."

Dean smiled genuinely. "Thanks girls, really…you have a gas station to run, and we would hate for you to lose your jobs,"

Corey scoffed. "Dude, we run our own business, we say when we work. Besides, all I've been doing for the past hour is tryin ta figure out what some snotty business dude did to his precious fucking car. It can wait, seriously," She returned the smile with a dazzling one of her own, which lit her light green eyes.

"Okay…you can stay, but when Sammy's better, we insist on taking you two out for dinner,"

Anny smiled. "Hell, we aint gonna say no to a double date with two fine lookin' brothers. You're on. Im gonna lock up the station, be right back," and she was off.

The two remaining turned to Sam, who was beginning to calm down.

"What do you think is wrong?" Corey asked, amazed at the tenderness shown by the older brother.

"I have no idea, but I'm scared."