CHAPTER 2

A few weeks later

The brothers' life continued as the everyday hunting life. Actually, they had done pretty well with all the hunts. After their previous hunt, they had arrived in another crappy motel with Its nasty stains In the ceiling.

Before Dean left to get some food, he remembered he had to ask Sam something related to the non-stop coughing Sam has had these past few days.

At the same time, Sam coughed in the inside of his elbow.

"You were slower than usual on the hunt. Are you okay? I mean you've been coughing your lungs out even back there. That can easily turn fatal you know" Dean gazed at Sam with a frown.

Sam coughed again. "Nah, I'm fine. It's just this sort of tickling in my throat I've been having a couple of days. Nothing serious"

"'Kay. You want me to bring you some meds to ease that up? I was just about to leave to get some food"

"Food? It's 2 AM in the morning''

''So? I'm starving! And besides, I'm not that tired. But I will get you the meds. I'm not gonna listen to you hack your lungs out the whole night''

''Yeah, whatever", Sam answered playfully.

Sam walked to the sink to fill up a glass of water. The cool feel of the water soothed the tickling in his throat for just a few minutes.

"'Kay then. I will be back in about an hour''

Dean walked through the door jangling his car keys and whistling the chords of some classic rock song.

Besides the fact that Sam was really tired he decided he could do some research while Dean was gone. Maybe he would find a new hunt for them.

Sam wasn't really in the mood for nighttime snacks especially with his throat aching like this, but he should wait for the medicine so he could get better sleep.

He took out his laptop and started scrolling through the news sites hoping to find something

...

Sam had sat on his bed for fifty minutes trying to find something but nothing has come up yet. The now empty glass of water on the table has kept the tickling in his throat away.

As Sam was reading the pages hoping to finally find at leat something he started feeling the tickling seek in the back of his throat. He got up the bed to go refill the glass.

He took a few steps towards the sink when the intense coughing began and he had to stop burying his mouth into the inside of his elbow.

This time It was stronger than It had been earlier.

The coughing became so strong he had to drop to his knees and hands so he could get some air between the strong lung ripping coughs. The glass lied next to him.

As the coughing intensified even more, Sam realized he couldn't breathe.

A slight panic rose inside him when he tried to gasp for air and nothing came in. Something Sam was afraid of was not being able to breathe. It made him feel trapped inside his own body.

The palms of his hands scratching against the fitted carpet as he coughed and then gasped and then coughed again making the weirdest choking sounds.

Black dots started to form in his sight and he started shaking. He realized he had to get some water down his throat and stop the panicking.

He grabbed the glass, forced himself up and realized he felt dizzy. He swayed hard and lurched against the sink. Filling the glass in his shaking fingers he was still desperately gasping for air. The air that felt like it wasn't there.

'Stay calm, stay calm, panicking won't help'

Sam relaxed a little bit, the shaking eased and he managed to get some water down his aching throat without coughing it out.

Removing the glass from his lips he took a long relieved breath, his knees felt like they couldn't carry him anymore and gave up. He collapsed to the floor and continued to take deep breaths. He felt a hand rubbing his back.

Everything was so blurry he hadn't even noticed his big brother appearing by his side. That means Dean had seen all this. He must be worried.

...

Dean pulled the car back to the same spot where it was when he left to get some food and meds for Sam. He took the bags from the passenger seat and headed to their room. Just the smell of the food made Dean's belly growl and he licked his lips impatiently. Thank God for the 24-hour restaurants. He was starving.

At the door, Dean could hear a faint sound of coughing and choke through the thin door. At that moment Dean realized something was wrong. He tucked the keys into the keyhole and rushed through the door.

What he saw made his heart drop. The sight of Sam, panic in his eyes leaning towards the sink trying to get air into his lungs through the coughs. His lips were turning blue for the lack of air.

Dean dropped the bags and hurried to his little brother. He didn't know what to say and decided to stay silent. All he could do was gently rub Sammy's back and try to calm him down.

When Sam had got some water down his throat, he slowly collapsed to the floor sliding his hand across the wooden furniture and Dean realized that he must be exhausted. 'Did he even notice me?'

''Dude are you okay? What happened?'' Dean asked with worry in his eyes.

Sam turned around so he could rest against the cupboard. Eyes closed he lurched his head back. He took a few breaths before trying to speak.

The only thing he could get out of his mouth was a faint squeak before he realized his chest and throat was burning. He winced, placed his hand on his chest and pressed the palm of his hand against his sternum.

Dean was squatting beside his little brother confused about what had happened and shaking. He hated to see his baby brother like that.

Dean took the glass out of Sam's limp fingers and poured some more water into it. Sam lifted his weary hand to take the glass Dean handed him. Sam swallowed the cool liquid and it ran down his throat. It didn't affect the aching and the urge to start coughing again because of the tickling the water had not helped. So he coughed. The swallowing hurt too and it made Sam grimace.

Dean read the expressions on Sam's face and noted ''I will get you the medicine, maybe that'll help''

He dug the medicine out of the bag, poured it into a small cup and shifted his attention back to Sam who was apparently slipping towards sleep.

''Sorry bro, no sleeping yet. You should take this first. I'm pretty sure it will help''

Sam opened his weary eyes, straightened himself and took the liquid Dean handed to him. It sure did help. But God his head was killing him. He realized only now that he had an intense headache from all the hacking.

Sam gently tested his throat and let out a small groan. That ensured the fact that Sam could try to speak.

Dean noticed the groan and asked Sam ''Can you speak now? I'd like to know what the hell happened to you here''

Dean was trying to sound tough but still was worried sick. He was still shaking but it had eased up.

''I-I don't know. I just went to get some water when the coughing escalated-'' Sam coughed because of the speaking, then continued ''The next thing I realized was that I couldn't breathe'' Sam answered Dean with a coarse voice. His throat and chest were still aching but better now since he took the medicine. The pounding in his head had faded but It was still strong enough to keep his eyes shut tight.

''Yeah, your coughing sounded bad, but I didn't know It was THAT bad''

''Yeah me neither'' Sam coughed again.

''Okay then. Let's get you to bed Sasquatch''

Dean helped his brother up and to the bed. Sam felt a bit dizzy and he had difficulties to walk.

Dean gently lowered Sam to the bed where he laid down and closed his eyes again.

''You want something to eat?''

Sam swallowed and pointed out his throat was still aching. Maybe eating wouldn't be such a good idea. Besides he was exhausted.

''Nah, 'mma j'st sleep'' He answered with a sleepy tone.

Sam lied there, on the hard motel bed and pulled the covers on him curling into a fetal position. He listened to his brother move in the kitchen and across the room, The sounds of his brother's presence made him relax.

The strange feeling Sam had had for these past weeks had gotten even stronger. Now he could tell almost if it was good or bad. He's not sure if it's really that bad, but It's definitely not good.

'Could the coughing be related to that. I don't know and right now I don't care. My head is pounding and all I want to do is sleep'

His breath evened out and the next second he was already asleep.