Thankyou to everyone who has taken the time to review, and special thanks to my anonymous reviewers because i cant reply to yours from the site. Onto chapter four!

Disclaimer: As ever, this is Kripke's sandbox, i'm just playing in it for a while.


Sam gripped his brother against his chest with one hand grasping for his shotgun with the other, Deans head lolling on his shoulder. Finally enclosing his fingers around the cold metal, he shifted his hold on Dean, preparing to stand.

His head pounded with a screaming headache reminding Sam painfully that he himself was not functioning at one hundred percent. With massive effort he finally stood, dragging his brother up with him. His eyes scanned the room, flicking back and forth not trusting the calm which had seemingly descended on the house.

He bent low allowing his brothers prone form to fall over his left shoulder before standing again. Grunting under the dead weight before taking a shaky step forward, he gripped the gun tightly in his right hand. Pausing for a moment, he listening out for the slightest noise, senses on high alert. Hearing nothing Sam took off at a trot, each step jolting his aching head. Gritting his teeth he reached the stairs, and panting, started down.

About halfway along the staircase his brother let out a low groan, stirring on Sam's shoulder.

"Hang on dude, I'll have us out of here in just a sec" he said continuing down.

"…ugh..ribsss" Dean groaned halting Sam in his tracks.

"You hurt your ribs too, God Dean," Sam said shaking his head "think you can walk to the car buddy?" he asked not wanting to hurt his brother by carrying him, anymore than he already was.

"Mhhm hhmm" Dean grunted back.

Sam carried on to the bottom of the stairs before slowly lowering Dean to his feet. Immediately his brother began slipping to the floor.

"Whoa dude," Sam said, slipping his arm under Dean's, "I got you."

Heavily leaning on his brother, Dean took a few shaky steps forwards, eyes slightly clearer and glinting with determination. Sam checked the area surrounding them periodically, leaving his brother to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other.

Both hunters stopped still when a loud bang from upstairs reverberated around the walls.

"C'mon Dean, time to hustle" Sam said, tightening his grip around his brothers back before upping the pace. They both had seen enough action for one night.

Sam ran, all but dragging his brother down the porch steps towards the Impala. Both were gasping when they finally reached the car, exhausted.

Sam propped Dean up against the car before opening the passenger door. His brother frowned at him, panting too much to form words, but trying anyways.

"Give…me…the…"

"Dude…there's no way your driving, get in the car" Sam said pushing his pig headed brother towards the passenger door.

Dean grunted as he flopped into his seat, leaning his head back with his eyes closed. Feeling Sam slip into the seat next to him, he opened one eye to look at him before smacking his impudent brother upside the head.

"…my freakin' car."


Sam sighed in relief when he finally saw the motel lights, getting back to their temporary home in double quick time. He set the Impala to park before jumping out and trotting around to help Dean as quick as his aching muscles would allow. Knowing his brother, Sam reached in to help before Dean could even think about protesting. The older Winchester had been steadily becoming more lucid the closer they got to the motel, and had bitched the whole way back about little brothers not knowing their place in the world.

"I'm good Sam" he said, flapping away at the hand his brother was offering. He proceeded to get out of the car unaided…and would have face planted into the concrete had Sam not caught him just in time.

"Dude you know, in my mind, the whole rescuing the Samantha in distress played out a lot differently," Dean said, finally giving in and leaning on his brother as they walked towards the motel room.

"Well Dean, you know what they say, it's the thought that counts" Sam said, barely able to keep the snigger out of his voice. In truth he was relieved that his brother was up to cracking jokes, for a moment back in the house when he woke up and saw the glassy, confused look in Deans eye, he had been a lot more scared then he let on.

"How about we get you settled and patched up huh Dean" Sam said, opening the door.

"How about you stop talking to me like I'm five and make me some coffee. I would kill right now for a cup of caffeine". Dean gasped as Sam lowered him onto the bed, inadvertently knocking his ribs.

"Sorry dude, what happened to you anyway?" Sam said going to the bathroom and returning with a bowl of hot water and a towel.

"I opened up one Pandora's Box of a bitchin' basement and something decided to give me a flying lesson before throwing a frikken table at me" Dean replied, shrugging off his jacket. He bent to take off his boots, groaning as pain shot through his side.

"Did I mention that the table went 'crack' when it hit?" He said looking up at Sam before shooting him a wan grin.

"Hold your arms up so I can take off your shirt, and I'll check your ribs and wrap them" Sam said moving towards his brother.

"Dude! I told you to stop treating me like I was five already, I can undress on my own" Dean said before moving to take off his top. As soon as he began pulling the t-shirt upwards he gasped and let go of it like it was on fire. Mumbling and muttering he shot his brother a death glare before lifting his arms skyward.

Sam suppressed a laugh at his brothers ramblings before removing Deans shirt. Any laughter died on his lips at the sight of his brothers chest. His whole right side was one big bruise and Sam winced in sympathy.

"Whoa Dean" he said before beginning to tape his brothers ribs. Sam contemplated removing the stitches from his brothers shoulder, the remnants of the wendigo attack, as well before deciding it would be easier to do the next morning when the two of them were more rested.

"Remind me, next time I get a dinner invitation from a spirit to just say no" Dean said, using his usual tactic of humour to distract from the pain. He breathed a sigh of relief when Sam had finished, his ribs already feeling a lot better.

"Ok, now let me patch you up" Dean said moving to stand up so he could tend his brothers wounds. He realised he had moved too quickly when the world took nasty tilt and he thudded back onto the bed.

"Dean! Would you stop being stubborn and sit still I need to check the back of your head," exasperated, Sam sat next to his brother setting the bowl of water on the table near the bed "now turn round so I can look at it."

"Its fine," Dean said waving off his brothers attempts at seeing to his wound "you look like crap Sammy, let me patch you up so you will feel up to the long day of research you have planned for tomorrow."

Sam sat for a moment contemplating his brother. He could see from his too pale complexion and the dark circle under his eyes that he didn't feel half as good as he was letting on, but Sam knew that his brother wouldn't rest easy until he had seen to his own wounds.

"Fine, if I clean myself up, will you let me have a look at your thick skull?" Sam asked sighing in defeat.

"Yeah" Dean said, sitting with his back to against the wall, ready to help if Sam needed it.

Sam's wounds were pretty superficial, cuts and bruises which, while uncomfortable, were hardly life threatening. He took two pain killers for his headache, throwing the packet over to Dean who shook out three, swallowing them dry. Sam then concentrated on the gash on his forehead. After cleaning it he realised it was just a flesh wound, albeit a deep one, which wouldn't require stitching.

He spent the next few minutes removing the stitches from his chest , touching his new wendigo styled scars for a moment before pulling on a clean t-shirt.

Cleaned and feeling slightly better, Sam left the bathroom, intent on checking out his brother. He smiled to himself at the sight that greeted him. His ever vigilant brother had fallen asleep, back still against the wall, chin on his chest. The younger Winchester shuffled towards the bed, laying a hand on Deans shoulder. Shaking him gently.

"Dean, dude c'mon, let me take a look at your head and you can sleep."

His brothers head gave an involuntary jerk and he looked around the room with wild eyes for a few seconds before seeming to remember where he was.

"M'kay" He said leaning forward so his brother would be able manoeuvre around him easier. Sam relaxed slightly when he finally saw the wound. It just needed cleaning, not being deep enough to require stitches.

Finishing up, he eased Dean into a lying position, his brother being half asleep and still covered in dust, before pulling off his boots and covering him with one of the rooms spare blankets.

"Night Dean" he said, turning off the light before getting into his own bed, sighing contentedly as his tired muscles finally relaxed.

"Night Sammy," came his brothers whispered response.


Next update tomorrow

All comments and critiques welcome :)

XsarahX

Return to Top