This is the end of my rampage. I hope you have enjoyed this little journey with me. Thanks to those who have read.

Chapter 3

"So how are you…" the nurse started as she entered the room and saw the bed was empty. She glanced at the bathroom but saw it empty too. "Sir, sir!" she urged Sam shaking his shoulder.

"Mm-mm what the…" Sam asked trying to throw off the cotton in his head and the bad taste in his mouth.

"Where's Mr. Nash?" she asked him pointing at the bed.

"He's…" Sam started and saw the bed empty. "Damnit! He drugged me." he growled angrily looking at the cup of water. Jumping up he headed out the door and toward the elevator. "Come on." he twitched waiting for it to come as he shook his body trying to throw off the sluggishness.

Dean saw his car parked in a small lot off the side of the hospital. He slowly made his way toward it catching his breath as his stitches pulled and his vision blurred slightly. Feeling under the back fender, he pulled out his spare key. Sammy thought he was so smart he mused.

Opening the door he sat down glad to be off his feet. Twisting his body into the car sent waves of pain coursing thru his body causing him to see black. Nothing came into focus for several minutes as he looked out the windshield. Won't do that again he thought dragging in a shallow breath. He put the keys in the ignition and helplessly looked at the open door trying to figure out how the hell was he going to get it closed.

"Real cute, Dean." Sam said frowning madly at him. Dean looked guiltily up into Sam's face mad at being caught. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Anywhere but here."

"You drugged my water."

"So."

"Damnit Dean! You nearly died and…"

"Can it Sammy, I'm fine."

"Ok, then close this door." he said stepping back and watching Dean bite his lip as he tried to reach out and pull the door shut. He only succeeded in doubling over in pain and cursing under his breath.

"Well?" Sam asked, standing with his arms crossed and tapping his foot on the ground.

"I hate you."

"Get over it, come on we're going back inside."

"No."

"Yes."

"I'm checking myself out."

"Like hell you are."

"Been there, didn't like."

"Dean, you're acting childish."

"Bite me."

"Fine!" Sam yelled slamming the door shut. "Go ahead, see how far you get before wrecking your Baby."

This got Dean's attention. There was no way he would put Baby in harms way. He hated being wrong.

"And what were you going to do once you left?"

"Find some place to hole up."

"And if you couldn't?"

"I'd think of something."

"Drop the tough guy act, let me help." Sam sighed.

"Why do you care? I thought this was business only? Why did you help me?" he growled. Crap why couldn't he keep his mouth shut, he thought. He didn't mean for that to come out.

Sam clenched his jaw tightly as anger made him see red from his brother's statement. He looked his brother in the eye, turned and walked away. Dean saw the hurt look in his brother's face and kicked himself. He let his head fall on his chest and furred his brows mad at himself. He had to figure what he was going to do now.

Being lost in thought and trying to push the pain down he didn't notice Sam was back until he jerked the door open. "Move over, I'm driving. I signed you out, got you some pain meds, you're in no shape to drive."

Dean reluctantly and painfully shifted his body over to the passenger side. Sam slid behind the wheel, opened the meds and gave Dean a couple of white pills and a bottle of water. He swallowed the pills with a sip of water and looked down at his feet not sure what to say to Sam. Sam pulled out of the lot and on the highway heading out of town.

Dean could feel the meds starting to pull him under and had to say something before he allowed that to happen. "Sammy, what I said." he mumbled trying to stay alert. "Didn't mean…" he tried to continue, but the drugs pulled him under and he was lost in the darkness.

Sam's shoulders slumped slightly as he listened to his brother trying to apologize. He jerked a blanket from the back and tossed it over him for warmth. They needed to talk, but only after Dean healed.

Sam eased the car off the road and into the gas station. He looked over at Dean seeing he was still out. He filled the car and went in the store for a pit stop and couple of waters. He shook a couple more pills out and shook Dean's shoulder gently. "Dean you need to take some more meds."

"Mm-mm" he jerked winching as he turned his head toward the voice.

"Open up." Dean opened his mouth far enough for Sam to slip the pills in and to sip some water. He swallowed most of the water what didn't drip down his chin. Sam used the blanket to wipe his chin and then tucked it back around his neck. He figured it would be an easier trip on both of them if he kept him sedated until he stopped for the night. Sam flipped on the radio and found a station playing mellow music and turned the volume down as he listened to the melody flow.

Sam found a motel as the sun was sinking below the horizon. He was lucky they had a room on the first floor and no steps to deal with. Sam grabbed bags out of the trunk and tossed them into the room before going back to get Dean inside.

He carefully opened the door being sure Dean wouldn't fall out. "Dean, wake up, we're stopping for the night." he called leaning back and shaking his shoulder carefully. He had been the brunt of too many right jabs when waking his brother as they were growing up not to be cautious.

"What…" he jerked regretting it as soon as he moved. Dean sucked in a breath and bit his lower lip trying to determine where he was and what was going on.

"I got us a room, can you make it?"

"Just a sec."

"Hold onto my arm for balance."

"Sonofab*tch!"

"It not far, easy, don't bump your arm. Bed or chair?"

"Bathroom."

"Right, to the left, I got a handicap room so there should be more space."

"Got it." Dean grunted letting go of Sam's arm and closing the door. Sam waited at the door for a second listening for a thump. When it didn't come, he busied himself getting the bed ready for Dean.

Dean finished and turned the water on looking at his reflection in the mirror. The face staring back was one he didn't recognize. He could see the dark coloring of a bruise on the side of his face, gauze covering a wound, several days growth of beard, dark circles under his eyes and eyes that had a glazed drug inducted state.

He blinked slowly several times and splashed water on his face before sipping some, swishing it around in his mouth and spitting it back out. His mouth felt like it was full of cotton and tasted like someone slipped him a rotten egg.

"You ok in there?" his younger brother yelled.

"Yeah, yeah." he answered opening the door and looking around.

"Bed or chair?"

"Chair, where are we?"

"About half way, will you be ok while I get us something to eat?"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Requests, what do you think you can eat." The thought of food right now made Dean's stomach churn uncomfortably. Sam saw Dean grimace and pale slightly. "Why don't I get some soup, maybe crackers."

He just nodded. Sam grabbed the room key and headed out the door.

Juggling the bags and drinks, Sam got the door opened and stepped inside looking over to see Dean still sitting at the table. He began to take the food from the bags dividing it. He sat a chef salad to one side for himself and soup, baked potato and crackers for Dean. Dean looked at the food knowing he should eat, but his stomach rebelled.

"Try a couple of crackers at least." Sam suggested opening a packet for him. Steadying his nerves, Dean took a bite and chewed slowly. His mouth was so dry he couldn't force it down his throat. "Drink." Sam stated as he pushed a drink within Dean's reach. He gratefully sucked liquid into his mouth letting it wash the cracker down.

"Thanks."

"How're you feeling and don't say fine."

"Sore, stiff, headache, feels like I got run over by a freight train."

"Any trouble breathing?"

"No."

"Try a little potato."

"Don't rush me."

"You need to eat so you can get your strength back."

"I'm working on it." he hissed forking a small amount of potato and popping it in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed waiting to see if his stomach was going to revolt or allow him to eat. He tried another bite pausing to sip the drink again. He paused making sure it would stay down before taking another bite.

"Why did you do it?"

"What Sammy?"

"Go after a Rougarou by yourself. You know how dangerous they are Dean."

"It was killing and needed to be stopped."

"Damnit Dean, you could have gotten yourself killed."

"Can we do this later." Dean whispered feeling his stomach clench. Sam saw his distress and didn't press the issue, but this wasn't over.

"I need to check your injuries before you lay down." Sam told him changing the subject.

"Ok." he said quietly.

"Try to drink some more, you don't need to get dehydrated." Dean obeyed taking several more sips before stopping. He calmed himself and swallowed the taste of bile in the back of his throat. I won't throw up, he told himself sternly.

"Let me check the wounds, then you need to rest." Sam said pushing his chair back and going to the bathroom to wash up. Sam pulled the shirt off Dean's shoulder and down his right arm. He sucked in a deep breath seeing for the first time the extent of the injures.

There were dark ugly bruises over most of his back that he could see. His back, side, and arm had large pads covering the gashes from the attack. There was a incision over his liver from where the laceration was repaired. Dean stiffened and the nerve in his jaw twitched. His body tensed in protection mode.

"Relax, I need to move your arm." Sam removed the sling and took his arm at the wrist and elbow bringing it up slowly. Dean jerked, trying to pull it back to his body to protect it. "Stop it! I need to do this, now relax." Sam miffed.

Dean tensed his body as Sam removed his shirt. He felt hands taking the injured arm and gently pull it from his side. Pain shot from his arm and ran down his back making him shiver. He tried to pull it back to his body, but Sam had a strong hold. Black spots swam in front of his eyes as he tried not to pass out. He could here his brother talking, but couldn't understand the words. He was far, far away and all he could see was Sam's moving lips.

"Dean are you hearing me? Let me move your arm, you need to let me do it." Sam urged. "Hey, are you hearing me?" he continued getting down at face level. "Dean!" Dean tried to focus on the voice to bring himself back from the brink. Finally his brother's face swam into view. "Stay with me Dean."

"Trying."

"I need to do this so the arm doesn't get stiff."

"Know." he gritted as Sam moved his arm again.

"Breath 'fore you pass out." Sam urged as he peeled the bandage down to check the wound. He didn't see any swelling or redness and went around to check his back and side. Last, he looked at his head wound. They all looked good for now. Sam grabbed a button up shirt out of his bag and began to slip it carefully over Dean's hurt arm. "Here, put this on, it'll be looser." Grabbing the pill bottle he shook one out. "I'm only giving you one to see how you do."

Dean accepted the pill, taking one more sip of his drink to wash it down. His body shook on it's own before he could stop it. This didn't escape Sam's watchful gaze as he helped him to the bed. After Dean got comfortable, Sam threw an extra blanket over his body. He laid a cool hand on his forehead felling a slight elevation in his temperature. Sam felt Dean turn slightly toward his hand and left it there for a moment feeling the connection they had always had just out of sight.

The bed felt so good as Dean relaxed into it. The stress of the past days seemed to drain out of him as he tried to move into a comfortable position. He felt the pressure of cool skin on his forehead and turned to it. He knew comfort in that touch, but it bothered him, he was suppose to be on the giving not receiving end. He was the big brother, it was his job to protect, but right now he felt useless. He could feel the meds kicking in drawing him into the swirling mist of sleep.

It was easier to come back this time as Dean's eyes fluttered opened and he surveyed the room. He saw his baby brother passed out on the other bed still fully clothed. He was snoring softly as Dean shifted trying to swing his legs off the bed so he could sit up. Biting back a groan, he panted heavily as he balanced on the edge of the bed. Every stitch pulled as he got to his feet swaying unsteadily. He needed to use the bathroom and didn't want to wake Sam. Sliding his feet across the carpet he inched his way toward the door.

"Dean, what the hell, why didn't you wake me?" Sam complained jumping up and grabbing his arm before he fell.

"I can do it."

"You have to let me help you."

"Fine!"

"Lean on me, I don't want you pulling your stitches out."

"I got it now."

"Do you want another pain pill?"

"No."

"Dean quit being a hard ass and take it."

"I said I was ok." he growled opening the door.

"Well you don't look it. Do you feel like leaving or going back to bed?"

"What time is it?"

"Five am."

"Let's leave." he said sitting in a chair and drawing in a shallow breath.

Sam looked over at Dean as the scenery flashed by in the passenger window. He had gone back to sleep thirty minutes into the drive. He still couldn't get him to take the pain meds, but at least he agreed to some aspirin for his fever. His brother could be hardheaded and that worried him. Dean had be thru major pain and suffering thorough out his life. He knew how to hide it so no one else saw. No matter what was thrown at him, he just kept pushing on.

The doctor told him to watch for signs of fever and infection. He must have missed cleaning a wound with holy water, so there is no telling the germs the claws could have left. He planned on checking them more thoroughly once they got back to the bunker. Hopefully, between now and then the fever wouldn't get worse.

Dean's eyes flickered back and forth under his eyes lids as he relived a hunt from years ago. It had not gone as planned and Sam and him were both hurt pretty bad. He took the brunt of the injuries protecting Sam as best he could. His body jerked and he moaned as he saw himself thrown across the warehouse. Then images fast forwarded to Dean trying to save Ellen and Jo and just as the building blew he was jerked awake by Sam slapping his face lightly.

"Damnit Dean wake up, you're dreaming." Sam called to him. Dean jerked awake to see they were stopped on the side of the road. He looked over at a concerned Sam who was eyeing him warily. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, it was nothing."

"That wasn't nothing. I thought you were going to jump out of the car." Dean looked away and tried to slow down his breathing as his headache got worse. He wiped the sweat off his brow and searched for his bottle of water.

"Aspirin?"

"Here." Sam pulled the bottle out of his coat pocket and shook two into Dean's waiting hand. His hand shook at he popped them in his mouth and followed them with water. Sam didn't comment on his shaking as he pulled the car back onto the road. His brother ignored him and withdrew more into himself.

They made it back to the bunker without further incidents. Sam pulled into the garage and parked the Impala where Dean liked to leave it. He went around to Dean's side, opening the door and waiting for him to move on his own.

Dean stilled himself as he swung his legs out and used the frame to pull himself up. The world started swimming for a moment as he tried to steady himself. Sam tensed waiting to see if he needed to assist knowing his brother wanted to do it himself.

"I need to change your bandages and check the wounds. I think I missed cleaning one with holy water."

"Can't it wait?"

"No, it needs to be done now. I'll use the bathroom near your room."

"Fine!" he muttered madly pushing off the car and walking unsteadily toward the bedroom area with Sam hovering close behind him.

His body wanted to rebel as he clinched his jaw tightly and willed himself to put one foot in front of the other. He would not show weakness, he could do this Dean thought. The bathroom was only twenty feet away, he paused for a moment putting his hand out to steady himself with the wall. He willed himself to continue to the bathroom.

Sam stood by the bathroom door waiting, letting Dean set his own pace. He finally stepped into the room and Sam guided him to a chair he had sitting by the cabinet. Dean sat down hard and winced.

"Here, drink." Sam wanted to get holy water in him to hopefully attack the poison inside his body. Dean accepted the glass and downed it in a couple of swallows.

Sam helped him remove his shirt and tossed it aside. "I'm going to take these pads off and check for infection first." Dean grunted and let his head hang forward toward his chest. His body felt warm, but he could feel a chill going up his spine even thought Sam had the heat going full blast.

He started with the head wound, peeling the tape off and examining it with a critical eye. Taking a cloth soaked in holy water he cleaned it and then used peroxide.

"Hey, I'm dripping."

"Sorry, almost done here."

"Good."

Sam continued to Dean's left arm holding it over the sink so he could pour holy water and then peroxide.

"The stitches can come out in a couple more days." He only replaced the pad for the incision after giving it a once over.

"Good, they're starting to itch."

"Don't scratch. Turn around in the chair so I can get to your back." Dean held on to the cabinet as he turned to straddle the chair exposing his back.

Sam put a towel on the back of the chair to make it more comfortable for his brother. He looked around in one of the drawers and found the ear thermometer. "Hold still, let me check your temp."

"Sam.."

"Got it." Sam looked at the reading 100.8, he frowned and turned back to his brother's back. He began removing the pads down his back and across his left shoulder and then he saw it on the lower part of his back. He could see swelling and redness at the bottom of one of the cuts.

"Dean, I need to open and clean an area. This is going to hurt."

"Just do it."

Picking up scissors, he snipped the lower stitches removing them with tweezers. Stilling his hand he took a small pen knife and opened up the incision enough to let pus and blood flow. He could feel Dean tense under his touch as he carefully wiped it and poured holy water over it catching the overflow on a towel.

Grabbing a clean hand towel, he tucked it into Dean's pants. Sam poured peroxide slowly over the wound and watch it bubble furiously. He did this several times until there was no bubbling.

"I'm going to sew it up now."

"How bad?"

"Only need to put six or seven stitches. Looks like the only place and then you can rest." Sam expertly pushed the needle thru his brother's skin catching the other side and pulling the opening closed. They had been stitching each other up or tending to their own injuries their entire life. This was nothing new for him.

"Ok." he muffled resting his head on the towel.

"Do you want a pain pill?"

"No, I can stand it."

"You need to take some aspirin at least, try and keep this fever down."

"Yes mother."

"I'll get you another of my shirts." he commented heading down the hall to his room. He jerked another button up out of his drawer and rushed back to the bathroom to find it empty. Panic set in for a moment as he looked up and down the hall and crossed to Dean's bedroom. He found him sitting on the bed with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

Walking slowly over to him, he slipped it from his grasp and sat it on the nightstand. Dean let him slip has hurt arm into the sleeve of the shirt and pull it around and onto the other one. After buttoning it, Sam rested his hand on Dean's shoulder for a moment before he laid down.

"Look, I'm going to take a quick shower and I'll be back."

"I'm fine." Dean said void of any emotion. He closed his eyes shutting Sam out. Sam draped a blanket over his prone body before turning off the overhead light and switching on the small lamp by the nightstand, also taking the whiskey bottle with him. He paused briefly at the door and looked back one more time at Dean.

Sam pulled a chair closer to Dean's bed as he made himself comfortable. He had showered and changed clothes and felt a little more human. He carefully place his palm on Dean's forehead, feeling heat before it made complete contact. He felt warmer than before and concern crossed over his brother's face. Sam wrung out the cloth and laid it across his forehead. He sat back rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes not feeling comfortable leaving his brother alone.

Dean tried his best to not sleep, but his body needed rest. As he sunk deeper into sleep, images floated in his mind he couldn't quite lock on to. He tried to focus on them, but quick burst of pain kept them at bay. The pain was making it hard to breath and he started panting trying to draw more oxygen into his lungs.

Sam had nodded off when he heard small panicked cries coming from Dean. His body was trembling and twitching under the blanket as Sam sat down beside him. He laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. Dean jerked under his touch and mumbled something he couldn't quite understand. Sam rubbed his back, careful of his injuries, trying to get Dean to calm down.

"Hey, I'm here, calm down." Sam said calmly. "Dean, can you hear me?"

Dean rolled his head back and forth trying to fight his way back. With some difficulty, Sam managed to pull Dean up on his chest where he could hug him. Dean's head rested on Sam's heart. He could hear the steady thump it made in his ear. Hearing the heartbeat seemed to make Dean calm slightly. Sam continued to talk softly to Dean as he listened to his breathing even out and his body relax into his. He pulled the blanket over both of them and tried to settle in. His eyelids grew heavy as his breathing slowed and he drifted under.

Dean could hear a steady beat in his ear as he swam toward consciousness. His senses were waking up, he could hear the beat, he could feel warmth, he could smell a familiar scent, cracking his eyes, he could just make out the outline of his brother's shoulder. Frowning and determining he was laying on his brother's chest, he started trying to push off.

"Dean, lay still." Sam mumbled rubbing his back easily.

"Sam, let me up." Dean grunted. Sam woke up as Dean was pushing up off his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

"You were having a nightmare and I tried to calm you so you wouldn't tear open the stitches."

"Oh." he said laying down beside him. Sam felt his forehead checking for fever.

"You're not as hot, probably wouldn't hurt to take some more aspirin." he commented more to himself than to Dean. Sam got up, grabbed the bottle and shook two out. He gave them to Dean along with some water. With Sam's help he raised up long enough to take the pills and a sip of water.

"How long was I out?"

"Er-er four hours or so. Need anything?"

"No, maybe I'll try to rest a little longer."

"Ok, I'll go fix us something to eat."

Dean watched him leave his bedroom and closed his eyes trying to remember, he flashed back to the hunt. He had been badly injured and Sam had found him. He told Sam to let him die, but he wouldn't. He had tended his wounds and got him to the hospital. What he couldn't understand was after all that he had said to him, why did he do it? Why was he taking care of him? He closed his eyes to rest until Sam returned to the bedroom.

"Hey how 'bout some food?" Sam asked. He sat a tray down and turned helping Dean sit up pulling pillows behind him. He sat the tray in his lap arranging the food so Dean could easily reach it.

Dean looked down at the sandwiches, chips and drinks. Sam scooted the chair closer and took a plate balancing it on his lap so he could eat his sandwich. Dean watched him take a bite of his sandwich and chew slowly.

"Sam what are you doing?"

"What?"

"This? We've barely spoke in months and now…"

"You're hurt, you need help."

"So after I'm better, we just go back the way it was?"

"Dean I…"

"You wanted truth, I asked you to let me die."

"No, you went on a suicide mission hoping to die." Sam said angrily as his voice got higher. "And you won't convince me otherwise."

"Sam, man, you can't have it both ways. You either don't talk and ignore me or we talk and act like brothers."

Sam stiffened at his response not sure what to say. He knew he had pushed Dean farther than he should have. He destroyed his big brother. He took away what was most important in his life, Sam. Sam was his reason to keep on living. He saw that now, Dean was his big brother, his friend, his co-worker, his protector, his mom and dad. He felt shame and guilt over the hurt he had caused his brother.

"Dean, look…man…what can I say to make this right. I know I hurt you, but Dean, can't you understand so much has been taken from me. My choices have not been my own, I have to make my own decisions about my life, can you not understand that?" he begged hoping his brother will listen to him for once.

Dean slid the tray aside and tried to turn to face his brother. Sam quickly set his plate down and assisted him in sitting on the edge of the bed. Dean took a shaky breath and looked up at Sam.

"Sammy, I hear you, I do. We have been nothing but pawns for Heaven and Hell and those in between. We have been used and abused by the worst of them, but we always found a way to overcome it all. You know how, because we stood side by side, together. We are so much stronger together."

"I just want to make it right again. Dean this mark, we have no idea what it's going to do to you. I could lose you." Sam sobbed softly.

"Hey, we'll get thru this together, ok?" Dean replied pulling his brother into an embrace. Sam allowed Dean to hold him before putting his arms around him returning the embrace. This was how it should be, them together, facing whatever fate threw at them.

Reviews make me happy, let me know your thoughts.

NC