Exams done! Thank you so much for being so patient. And as a reward you'll get a long chapter from me (at least long for me). :) Have fun reading!
Chapter 7
Dean should have expected it. Sam had already looked half-passed out when he'd reached him. It had been a miracle that the kid still found the strength to saw through the cobwebs which had been immobilizing him and free his arm for him to proceed. But he'd been so focused on cutting through the webs which had been sticking to him like glue, that it still took him by surprise when Sams eyes suddenly closed, body going limp. He barely had time to react, arms shooting out, half-stumbling over the last remnants of the spider's prison. He slid to his knees and just caught his brothers head before he got himself another souvenir of this goddamned hunt.
„Sammy!" He slightly shook Sams shoulder, but to no avail. „Come on buddy, not the time for a nap now. Open your eyes!" But his little brother had always been too stubborn for his own good.
Dean sighed and sat down, streching out his legs that responded with a painful twitch after not being used for such a long time and put Sams head on his lab. His face had a ghostly colour and his long bangs were damp, sticking to his forehead which felt way too hot. His brothers body was trembling slightly despite his unconsciousness and Dean strained himself to take off his jacket, wincing at the soreness of his muscles, and covered Sam with it.
His eyes shifted to his brothers broken arm and he winced when he saw the once white bandage smeared with blood. The cut on it must have reopened. Dean looked around for their duffel bag, intending to change the dressing, but noted with a sinking feeling that it wasn't close by. Of course Sam couldn't have carried it with him in his condition. Damn!
His attention was drawn back to his brother when he felt him stirring on his lab, head rolling from one side to another, eyes moving beneath his lids.
„That's it Sammy! Show me your puppy-dog eyes."
Sams eyelids twitched before they slowly cracked open to slits, revealing confused green eyes shifting nervously, apparently searching until they stopped at his face. Sam squinted, wrinkling his brow and the quiet rasping whisper that followed gave his heart a jump: „'m no puppy-dog..." Dean couldn't suppress a smile, glad his brother was back with him and obviously alert enough to be bitchy already.
„Damn right! With your gigantic frame and shaggy hair you'd be more like a full-grown irish wolfhound."
Sam frowned at him, then a smile crept up his face. But when he shifted slightly, apparently trying to sit up and in doing so accidentally jostled his broken arm, it turned into a grimace and he pinched his eyes together.
„Easy Sam, don't move yet."
„Should have told me that before." Sam panted, trying to breathe through the pain.
„Why? Because you always listen to your big brother?", Dean smirked.
Sam just rolled his eyes, but followed his brothers words and stayed down. His eyes wandered around the cave, visibly shuddering at the sight of the dead bodies before finally coming to rest on Dean, watching him closely in the dim light. He still had some cobwebs sticking to his hair, his face was dirt-streaked and a small cut above his right eye stood out. Numerous bruises and shallow cuts littered his bare arms and exhaustion was written all over him.
„You're alright, Dean?"
„Me?" Dean shook his head in disbelief. „Think I don't have to remind you that you're the one who'd just passed out, little brother. And not for the first time tonight. This is becoming a habit with you."
„No Dean, I mean it." Worried eyes looked up at him and Dean bit his lip.
„Don't worry Sammy. I'm just a little banged up, but no real damage done. I promise."
Sam didn't look convinced at all, but still nodded and let it go.
„Okay, so what do you say to getting the hell out of here?"
„No objection here. Just help me up." And he was already half sitting up before Dean could stop him.
„Oh no, not so fast tiger!" He gently but emphatically pushed Sam back, grabbed his leather jacket which had fallen to the ground and slid it under his head. „First I'm gonna have a closer look at you."
And before Sam could even open his mouth, Dean had already started to carefully pull apart the tear in his jeans, revealing a nasty looking puncture in his brothers thigh, examining it closely.
„It doesn't seem to be deep and the bleeding must have stopped a while ago. Is it still hurting?"
Sam shook his head. „No, it's more like numb now."
Dean looked up at him with concern. „What was it that the spider pumped into you? Some kind of muscle relaxant? You went all limp after it got you. Totally freaked me out, dude!"
„Sorry!" Sam gave him a half-hearted smile. „I... I think so, was really out of it. Can't remember much afterwards. But the effects are gone now, it's just my leg now. Maybe some kind of aftereffect?"
„I have no clue, but I don't like it at all." And he wasn't gonna take any chances. When they got out of here, they'd be going straight to the hospital. He still had to think of a good cover story, but who knows what kind of poison this was? Not to mention Sams broken arm and the obvious infection he had.
„Dean?" Sams voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked up. His brothers eyes were wide open, gazing at something behind his back and Dean whirled around. But besides the cocoons and corpses, he couldn't see what had upset Sam.
„Sam, what...?"
„The flashlight, Dean. Have a look at the corner in the back."
Dean did as he said, picking up the flashlight and taking a few steps forward, throwing light upon a dark shape in the back of the cave. He took a moment to process what he was seeing, but then his confused look changed into one of disbelief.
„Oh come on, you've gotta be kidding! Is this what I think it is?", Dean asked, turning around to face Sam, who had sat up to get a better look.
„I'm afraid it is." His brother seemed to be as startled as he was.
There was a big heap of spherical things, each about as big as his fist, piled up a few feet high and it somehow looked a lot like eggs. Spider eggs as a matter of fact.
„Shit Dean! Looks like our spider isn't the only one around here. Must have a mate."
Dean groaned. His senses were sharpened again and his eyes scoured the cave suspiciously for any sign of movement.
„Your gun, Sam! Were is it?"
Sam stared up at him with a puzzled look. He moved his good arm to the waistband of his jeans, but his hand came away empty.
„I don't know." He knitted his brow in confusion. „Must have dropped it somewhere. Can't remember, everything is a bit fuzzy. Damn!"
„It's alright Sammy, not your fault." And it was true. He was glad that Sam had even managed to find him at all. But Dean still cursed silently. They didn't carry any weapons now – the small hunting knife didn't count, it wasn't even silver - and he felt utterly exposed.
Sams voice broke the silence. „Could be back at the spiders dead body. Our duffel bag too."
Dean looked surprised. „You took the bag with you?"
„Yeah, wasn't sure what we'd need to kill the monster." And he added with a smile: „And to rescue your sorry ass of course."
Dean gave him a dirty look. But deep down he was quite proud of his little brother who'd still kept a cool head even though being hurt badly.
„Alright, let's go then!" And he made a step towards Sam, ready to help him up.
„Wait! Why don't you go back and get our stuff. We have to burn those eggs before we go."
„Oh no, I won't let you out of my sight Sammy. You're far from ready to fight when the second fugly makes an appearance. I wanna get you out of here first. We can come back later or get Bobby or some of his friends to clear out this thing."
Sam opened his mouth, but Dean just cut him short. „No ifs and buts! Now let's get you up."
Dean reached for the flashlight and his leather jacket. „You still cold?" Sam shook his head, but he couldn't deceive him. His hands felt like ice and shivers wracked his body now and then. Dean ignored his brothers protests when he helped him getting his good arm through the first sleeve and tucked the jacket around his big frame. He then pulled Sam up, keeping him steady with one arm wrapped around his waist and Sams good arm slung over his shoulder. His brother swayed for a moment, blinking a few times before regaining his footing.
„You ready?"
„As ready as I can get." And together they set out slowly, leaving the spiders cavern behind.
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When they'd started out, Sam had surprisingly felt much better. The little rest he'd got while Dean had checked him out gave him back a bit of his strength. But unfortunately it didn't last long. As soon as they'd left the cave behind, he was already out of breath. He had a hard time controlling his right leg and was leaning more and more on his big brother. He felt Dean glancing at him every now and again, worry reflecting in his eyes, torn between watching him and keeping an eye out for any movement.
He was so focused on putting one foot in front of another, that he startled when Dean carefully nudged him. His brother was lowering him to the ground, back resting on the wall and with a „Be right back.", Deans supporting hand left his shoulder. His vision was still a bit blurry and his head didn't wanna stop spinning. Sam blinked a few times and it took him a moment to get back his bearings. First thing he saw was a huge looming shape in front of him and he cringed, panting out his brothers name.
Deans face came into his sight of line in an instant. „Easy Sam. It's just the squished spidey. It's dead, remember?"
Dead? Oh yeah, the aftershock. A hand came up to his forehead, comfortably cool against his fiery skin and he gave in to the touch, relaxing a bit.
„Your fever is going up, kiddo." Dean couldn't conceal the concern in his voice. „Here, take this!"
His brother was holding up two small pills. „One for the fever and one for the pain." Sam nodded and swallowed it gratefully, Dean helping him with the bottle of water.
„Dean, shouldn't we keep going?"
„In a bit, just wanna do a little patching up on your leg before infection sets in. And if there's still poison, we should stop it from spreading any further."
Sam got a glimpse of their duffle bag, lying opened up right next to Dean. His brother had already taken out the first aid box, holy water and antiseptic in his right hand, silver gun in his left.
„Listen Sammy! You gotta keep watch while I'm working here, alright? I know you're tired and played out, but we can't let another spider get the drop on us. Can you do that for me?"
Sams eyelids felt heavy and his head pounded like hell, but if his brothers attention was on him, he would need to watch his back. No matter what. He took the gun from Dean.
„Good boy."
Dean started to tilt the bottle when Sam suddenly stopped him. „Wait! Try holy water first."
„You're right! College boy speaking there." If the poison was anything supernatural, holy water should have an impact. Sam looked away and tried to concentrate on his task of keeping watch.
He was scanning the room closely, but couldn't stop a small whimper from escaping his lips when the wound did react to the holy water and sizzled viciously. But his eyes stayed focused on the darkness of the tunnel ahead. At least until Deans freaked out voice reached his ears.
„What the hell?"
Sam dared to spare a look and instantly regretted it. Some kind of dark green liquid welled up from the depths of the wound, fizzing and slowly vaporizing. The burning pain registered at the same time as his stomach did a salto and he was soon retching violently onto the floor, Deans hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. There wasn't much left in his stomach anymore, but dry heaves kept coming, giving him barely time to take breaths in between.
It felt like a lifetime till his abdominal muscles finally started to relax a bit. He took a deep breath and just started to sit up when he heard a strange rattling sound in the distance. Before he could even comprehend what he was hearing, he'd been pushed hard back to the ground – thankfully missing the mess he just made about an inch – and cried out when his broken arm got buried beneath him and his brother who was lying just on top of him. He faded out for just a second, the pain consuming him entirely, before two earsplitting shots brought him back to reality.
TBC
Hope you enjoyed it? Comments are always welcomed. :) I'll try to update sooner this time. Have a nice week!
