I do not own the characters or Supernatural.
All credit to Eric Kripke and the writers and producers at the CW.
Dean dropped his bag on the table with a loud BANG, startling Sam awake as he jerked upright from where he'd been resting his head on his keyboard just a few seconds ago.
"Jerk." Sam muttered, peeling a sticky note from his face where it had somehow stuck.
When Dean didn't immediately respond with a smirk and "bitch," but leaned against the table for support, Sam frowned and looked his brother up and down. His first thought had been "hungover" but Dean had a higher alcohol tolerance than anyone Sam knew, except maybe Bobby. Looking closer, Sam noted the dark circles under Dean's green eyes and how all the color had drained from his face. The way Dean was standing was unnaturally stiff; he was hunched over in obvious pain, one hand clenched tight to his side, blood seeping steadily from beneath his fingers as Dean tried desperately to staunch an obviously deep wound.
"Dean..." Sam murmured in shock, trying to peel his brother's fingers back so he could see the extent of the wound. Dean groaned and tried to shove Sam off, but his knees buckled, so Sam lowered him gently to the floor, keeping the pressure tight on Dean's wound.
"Dean, what happened?" Sam asked urgently, panic starting to creep over the edges of his control.
"It's nothing. I-I'm-" Dean slurred.
"Don't say fine. Do NOT say fine!" Sam said furiously, forcing his brother to look him in the eye.
"Dean, I need to know... What... Happened?" Sam said slowly and firmly, trying to force some calmness into his voice.
"The girl..." Dean said slowly.
"Yeah?" Sam prompted him.
"She... She was... She's a... St...Stei...n.." Dean said with difficulty, his breathing very labored now as he winced in pain, every intake of breath filling his abdomen with searing pain.
"Stein?!" Sam repeated in horror, his heart sinking like a stone.
Dean nodded wearily, his eyes flickering before drifting closed.
"Dean? DEAN!" Sam said, in full blown panic mode now. "Dean?" He repeated tentatively, giving his brother a little shake, but Dean's head just lolled helplessly from side to side. Sam couldn't lose him, not like this, not again...
Not looking good for Dean, is it? Next chapter will be posted soon!
