Part 6:

Sam knows its the drugs, he keeps checking in and out of his own head. He's sure he can hear Dean talking to him, but can't focus. Then he's gone, far away, for a long time, months, years even. Then he's back again and Dean's still talking.

"...Otel...Es...I don't know...Y..."

He moves his head and can see his brother pacing up and down, phone to his ear.

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It's weird. She knows its him when the phone rings, before she's even looks at the screen.

She turns over in bed and groans, her head still hurts from the minor concussion she sustained getting slammed against the counter by that demonic fucker.

"Dean?"

"Jo."

Something in his voice...Oh God.

"Dean are you ok? Mom just called from the roadhouse. There are some pretty pissed hunters looking for you... "

"It was Meg." He informs her. She knows immediately what he's referring to.

"Meg...The Demon from Chicago?" She asks. "Dean is Sam..?" She trails off. God forbid Dean had to hurt his brother.

"She was mad..." He murmurs, there's a hitch in his breath. "At me...For sending her back to Hell...She...She took it out on Sammy."

She swallows a rising lump in her throat.

"Dean is he...?"

"No, No he's alive...But...God ...Jo!"

"What did she do Dean?" She asks. Dreading the answer. Her heart rate skyrockets when she realizes he's crying. "Dean what happened?"

He sniffs, and takes a deep breath, attempting to pull himself together.

"Jo is it safe for you to travel? I mean, without being followed? I...I need some help."

She shudders. Dean winchester doesn't ask for help. Not from her.

"I can't ask Bobby, they'll be watching him and your Mom..."

"It's ok Dean." She calms him. "It's ok, As far as I know, no one has been snooping around here. Where are you?"

"Sparrow Motel. Near Pine Falls...And Jo...Bring a med kit if you have one."

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What happened? He wonders Does he have a hunt? I can't hunt. I can't even move! Is he going to leave?

"Don't leave." He tries to say, but his jaw feels too heavy to work.

He must have made a sound because Dean looks up at him, walks over and places a hand on his forehead. Sam wants to somehow melt into his brothers hand so that he can't leave him here alone.

Dean's face is level with his. His eyes shadowed with exhaustion but earnest. His lips are moving but Sam can't hear him.

"...ammy...onna...ust...ine..."

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"Don't be scared Sammy. Every things Going to be just fine."

Dean lies. The kids running a fever, his eyes are glassy, He's clearly in pain even while stoned on the meds. Crap!

''Dean?'' Jo is still on the phone.

"Yeah."

''I can make it in a couple of hours.''

"Thanks." He mumbles and shuts off the phone.

He didn't want to involve her, especially since Meg had roughed her up. God dammit he didn't want to involve anyone but he couldn't do this alone and The thought of telling Bobby... He could never tell Bobby... It would break the old man's heart.

Jo could keep a secret and she was practical. Aside from that she was a woman, and Sam would be less likely to freak out... He hoped.

He refilled the ice bucket , opened a water bottle and placed a straw in it.

When he re-entered the room Sam was mumbling something, over and over, whimpering. He leaned over his brother to hear him better.

"Don't Go." Was the whispered refrain. Ah God Sammy!

Dean placed his hand between Sam's shoulder blades, and gently rubbed a circle over the bruised, swollen skin.

"Shhh...It's ok...I'm not going anywhere." He assured him. "I'm right here."

He gripped the bottle with the other hand and held the straw to Sam's lips.

'Drink some water for me Sammy." He said softly, but firmly. Sam didn't oblige, zoned out again.

"Come on buddy." He tried again patiently. After a few minutes of coaxing, Sam seemed to come back to himself and attempted a half hearted swallow of water. He grimaced.

"Good Boy!" Dean smiled. "Not enough though, you're dehydrated dude, you need to drink some more ok?'

"Hurts." Sam croaked.

"Drinking?" Dean asked, nonplussed for a moment.

"Throat."

"Your throat hurts? Even just a sip?"

Sam nodded.

"Too much...Too many...Didn't know..." He shook his head violently. "They hurt...Don't want..." He attempted to push himself up.

"Shhhh..." Dean began rubbing circles on his back again. " Stay still! It's ok, you're safe now."

" They didn't know!" Sam whispered imploringly, staring at Dean wide eyed as though begging to be believed. "Dean I'm sorry!"

Dean stared at his brother, examining his feverish face.

"Sam?" You didn't do anything wrong ok? I understand."

"I couldn't tell them...Sh...She made me! I tried to fight her..." He sobbed suddenly and turned his face away. "I'm sorry!"

Dean couldn't reply, his throat had closed up with repressed tears. He ran a hand through his brother's dirty hair again and again, hoping to communicate to him, through his drugged haze, the only thing he wanted to say:

Not you fault little brother.