Disclaimer: Not mine.

Sam's reaction to the virus will be different to the show.

Chapter 9

Caleb slid to the floor at that statement, looking at his arm before moving to clean the wound out. "I am fine."

"Yeah right, that's her blood!" Mark shouted before looking at Dean. "We gotta do it." He said but Dean shoved away from him and offered Sam a hand up.

"Come on let's get the doc to check you both over." Dean choked out.

Caleb pulled away. "No." He didn't need a doctor seeing all the shit that was in him. "I am fine!"

"Caleb..." Dean whispered, holding out his free hand to him, terrified he was losing both his brothers, when he'd only just found one of them.

"Caleb." Sam whimpered, this was all his fault. Caleb hadn't wanted to come; Sam should never have pushed him to.

Caleb just backed away from them, into a corner. He wasn't going to turn into some body dissected on a table cause of what he was. "I am fine... just need to clean the wound."

"Okay, okay, but let's get that professionally covered or stitched okay?" Dean soothed, seeing the fear in the way Caleb moved. "Need to get Sam checked over, come on." Dean pleaded, feeling Sam shaking in shock against him.

Caleb shook his head. "I can take care of myself... deal with Sam. I am staying here..." he eyed Mark warily.

"No way, you're staying where we can watch." Mark argued, aiming his gun at Caleb. If he wouldn't come then he could die now.

"Caleb please." Sam whispered, reaching for him again.

Caleb looked between Mark and Sam, moving over to Sam silently. He wasn't gonna kill this man, there was no reason to. "I do not want her taking my blood."

Sam sagged against him as well as Dean, scared out of his mind. "Okay, she'll just take Sammy's. Clean you both up. It's gonna be okay." Dean whispered, despite knowing nothing was going to be okay ever again.

Caleb nodded a bit and followed the brothers dumbly, moving to clean his wound while the doctor was taking care of Sam. He shied away from her when she went to help him. "Back off!"

"Caleb calm down." Dean ordered and then looked at her.

"Just check Sam's wound again."

"Did her blood actually enter your wound?" She asked and Mark scoffed.

"Of course it did!" He argued.

"We don't know for sure." Dean pleaded.

Caleb glared at Mark, burning the stuff he used to clean his wound to keep her from getting his blood and wrapping it. He tensed when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked behind him. Dean just kept his hand there while glaring at Mark.

"You know what we have to do." The ex-soldier said and Dean glared.

"Nobody is shooting my brothers!" Dean yelled.

"They won't be your brothers soon. You said it yourself."

"Dean they're right, we're infected. Just give me the gun and I'll do it myself." Sam whispered.

"Forget it!" Dean snapped.

"Dean I won't become one of those things." Sam pleaded.

"We still have time." Dean begged.

Caleb just stayed quiet, staring at Dean for calling him his brother. Looking at the eldest Winchester like he lost his mind. Wondering if he did.

"Time for what? Look, I understand, they're family, and I'm sorry, I am. But we gotta take care of this." Mark urged, pulling out a handgun.

"I'm gonna say this one time, you make a move on either of them, you'll be dead before you hit the ground. Understand me?" Dean snarled, his own gun aimed in Mark's general direction.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Mark snapped and Dean tossed him his keys.

"Get the hell out of here, that's what. Take my car. You've got the explosives, there's an arsenal in there. You go with him doc. You've got enough firepower to handle anything." Dean explained calmly.

"What about you?" Mark demanded but Dean didn't answer.

"Dean, no. No. Go with them. This is your only chance!" Sam pleaded and Dean gave him a sad smile.

"You're not gonna get rid of me that easily."

Caleb crossed his arms as he listened. "Go with them Dean... I will catch up later."

Dean looked between them, seeing the sheer terror and grief in Sam's eyes but unable to really read Caleb's. "Caleb you're infected, how will you catch up?" Dean whispered.

Caleb shrugged and shoved him towards the door. "Go."

"They're right, come with us." Mark said but Dean refused to move so the man sighed and started herding the doc towards the door. "Okay it's your funeral."

"I'm sorry, thanks for everything Marshals." Doctor Lee whispered and Dean shrugged.

"We're not actually Marshals." he told her and she blinked in shock.

"Uh. Oh." She left and Dean shut the door, locking it.

"Dean don't do this, just get the hell out of here." Sam pleaded.

Caleb watched the two leave. "Should go with them. I am immune... like I said. I will catch up."

"No, I'm not leaving without you two." Dean told him, happy to hear Caleb was immune but then he looked at Sam who looked so sad and lost. He would not let Sam die alone.

"Just give me my gun and both of you leave." Sam stated, his voice barely shaking. If Caleb was immune then he should leave with Dean.

"For the last time Sam, no." Dean stated flatly and Sam slammed his still casted arm onto the table in anger.

"This is the dumbest thing you've ever done!" He yelled and Dean shrugged, leaning against a desk.

"Oh I don't know. Remember that waitress in Tampa?"

"Dean I'm sick. It's over for me. It doesn't have to be for you and Caleb." Sam begged, tears slipping free.

"No?" Dean asked and Sam nodded.

"No, you can keep going. Teach Caleb or retire."

"Who says I want to?" Dean asked quietly and Sam frowned.

Caleb sighed a bit as he watched the two. "I am getting Cavities..."

Dean crossed the room, pulling out his gun and holding it as he sat on a file cabinet. "I'm tired Sam. Tired of this job, this life... this weight on my shoulders, man. I'm tired of it."

"So what? You're just gonna give up? You're gonna lay down and die? Look Dean, I know this stuff with Dad has-"

"You're wrong. It's not about Dad. I mean, part of it is, sure, but..."

"What's it about?" Sam asked softly, clinging to their talk even as a part of him couldn't help watching the clock. How much longer did he have until he wasn't him anymore? Would he feel it happening? Be able to warn Dean? Or would it happen without notice?

Caleb looked at Dean, he was curious. "If you are tired... why do you want to train me?"

"You share my genes Caleb, stuff's gonna come for you." Dean answered, looking over at him and then he got up and walked over. "You positive you're immune?" Dean asked.

"Yes, Skynet had the virus in its databanks. Made sure we had the antibodies for it."

"No way to use that to save Sam?" Dean asked, trying to hide how badly this was killing him inside. When it came time, he'd shoot Sam and then himself, he would not live without his baby brother. Caleb could go back to Sarah; he figured she'd look after him.

Caleb shook his head no. "Sorry." He looked at the clock.

"How...how much longer does he have do you think?" Dean asked, looking back over at where Sam was still sitting on the exam table, hunched over so Dean couldn't see his eyes but he could see the dark spots on Sam's jeans where the silent tears landed.

"About an hour." He looked at Dean. "You should leave. If you want, I can do it. It will be quick."

"I... I can't leave him Caleb, he's my baby brother. I can't ask you to do that, to carry that. When the time comes I'll do it." Dean told him, reaching out to ruffle Caleb's hair before he walked over to Sam, gently reaching out to raise his head. Sam sniffled and Dean hugged him, Sam clinging on tightly.

"Please Dean, don't want you to die." Sam whispered.

"It's gonna be okay Sammy, we've got some time still." Dean told him.

Caleb tilted his head to the side. "What will you do after you Terminate Sam?"

"Can you make it out of here alone?" Dean asked him, figuring that was answer enough. Dean would not be leaving without Sam. "So who's for card games without cards?" He asked, trying to brighten the mood and Sam gave a watery laugh.

"How... how will we know when... do you think I'll feel it?" Sam asked and Dean bit his lip.

"Don't think about it Sam, you're gonna be fine." Dean said and Sam just gave him a sad smile they both knew he was lying.

"Don't let me hurt you." Sam begged and Dean nodded.

"You are going to terminate yourself." Caleb stated. He tried to not let them see how it affected him, but failed. "So, the clothes, the necklace... do I get the car?"

"Caleb... " Dean looked at Sam who nodded and gave him a small push in Caleb's direction. Dean walked over and hugged him. "I... I can't do it, not without Sammy, I'm sorry. So sorry." Dean whispered. "Go back to Sarah, let her know... tell her I'm sorry." Dean asked him and then spun as he heard the sound of gagging. Sam had curled up around himself and looked almost green as he tried not to throw up. "Is this part of it?" Dean asked Caleb, figuring he was the most likely to know. Caleb shrugged, his face falling into its emotionless mask. It was his defence. Dean moved back to Sam's side and grabbed the trashcan, supporting Sam as he threw up. "It's okay, you're okay." Dean whispered and then looked at the door as he heard a noise form the clinic. "Caleb?" He called, he was having trouble supporting Sam, there was no way he'd get to his gun in time but the kid could.

Caleb pulled his gun and aimed it at the two people as they entered.

"You've got to see this." Doctor Lee told them, looking happy but worried. Dean helped Sam down and grabbed his gun, nodding for Caleb to go first since his hands were free.

Caleb followed her slowly. "See what?" It became obvious once they were outside, the Impala idling on the street, the town was completely deserted.

"Roadblock's gone, it's like they all vanished." Mark told them as he joined them.

"Like Roanoke..." Caleb muttered. He glanced over to Dean and Sam before moving to the Impala. Sam chose that instant to throw up again and the doctor moved to his side.

"This is the second time he's done that. Beverly didn't do this, right?" Dean asked hopefully and the doctor shook her head.

"He's got a low fever too... I think his body's trying to fight the infection." She admitted. Dean nodded and looked at Caleb.

"Can you get the medical bag out of the back? Got some anti nauseous stuff in there that Sam can actual stomach." Dean called to him. Caleb nodded and did so. Tossing it to Dean before shouldering his bag. Slipping away while the brothers took care of each other.

Sam blinked, feeling sick but he saw Caleb moving away, he didn't want him to go. "Cal'b!" Sam yelled as loud as he could with how sick he felt.

Caleb ignored them and just kept walking. Dean pretty much said he'd kill himself after shooting Sam. At least they never threatened to kill him if he hurt one of them. He figured that threat would be soon.

"De'n." Sam pleaded and Dean nodded.

"Can you get him inside? No shooting either! Sam's fighting it, we're gonna wait and see." Dean snapped and Mark nodded, helping the doc with Sam as Dean took off after Caleb. Caleb turned his head slightly to the side; he could easily hear Dean but didn't acknowledge him. "Caleb stop!" Dean grabbed his arm and pulled. He got it, the kid was upset over Dean admitting he would kill himself after killing Sam and he couldn't blame him, not really. "Don't leave. I... I won't do it, okay? If Sam... I'll stay, I'll teach you, stay with you. Okay?" Dean offered quietly. Caleb wasn't Sam but maybe he could be enough to give Dean a reason to keep living.

Caleb shrugged him off. "Do not bother. I am not worth it." He kept walking. "I am just a tool Dean. The sooner you and Sam realize it the better."

Dean grabbed him again; wrapping his arms around him to make sure Caleb would really have to fight him to get lose. "You're not a tool Caleb, you're a person. Part cat or not. You have feelings and thoughts of your own...and if you ever try to tell Sam we had this conversation I will deny it by the way. To Sammy you're the little brother he always wanted, sooner you accept that the better. If Sam... if Sam's gonna then let him be happy for what he's got left. Please." Dean begged.

Caleb stopped, just standing there. "He does not even know me. How can he see me as that? A pet I can see..."

"I'll try and explain later, please come back with me? If you were right on the timing Sam doesn't... he wants to see you." Dean told him.

Caleb sighed and shook his head. "Fine..."

"Thank you." Dean led him back to the clinic where they found Sam curled up on the table under a blanket, shivering and moaning as he clutched his stomach.

"Doc?" Dean asked, moving to Sam's side and taking his hand. Sam clutched it and looked up at him and then at Caleb, reaching for the younger male with his casted hand.

"I don't know, his blood... the virus is there but... it's not reacting like the others. I don't know how but Sam's immune system is fighting it and holding its own." She explained. "I don't know if he's just got more time or if he can beat it."

Caleb looked at the casted hand lost. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. "Check my blood... see if it is doing something similar..."

She nodded and got a needle to draw his blood even as Sam whimpered, trying to reach Caleb.

"Give him your hand Caleb." Dean told him softly. Was it worth Sam having extra time if he was going to be so sick? If Sam lost the fight and turned... no, Sam would beat it, he had to. Caleb rested his hand in Sam's not reacting to the needle in his arm.

Sam held onto them tightly, fighting to focus on them and not how sick he felt. He should have just let Mark shoot him! He stared at Caleb and tried to give him a smile. "Not sick?" Sam asked him.

Doctor Lee compared the two samples and then sighed. Everyone else had reacted the same so why were these two so different? "Your blood seems to be destroying the virus easily... Sam's is fighting hard but nowhere near as effective. If I had the equipment and time maybe I could find a way to use your blood to help Sam but... all we can do is wait and see."

Caleb looked over at her. "Can you inject some of my blood into him?"

"I could but it might not do anything... especially if his body tries to fight it off too." She warned.

"Will it give him a better chance?" Dean asked and then grabbed Sam as he nearly convulsed off the table with the force of being sick. "Doc!" Dean yelled, Sam was throwing up blood.

"Do it," Caleb looked at her hard. "NOW!"

She grabbed another needle to draw more of Caleb's blood but then Sam sagged back on the table, utterly limp and she rushed to his side, checking his vitals.

Caleb stared at Sam wide eyed. He swallowed and rested a hand on Sam's throat, checking himself. "Sam...?"

"Doctor?" Dean demanded fearfully and she frowned.

"He's alive, breathing and heart rate are all going back to normal." She told him, not sure how or why. Caleb relaxed minutely.

Sam moaned and his eyelids fluttered slightly. Dean gripped his hand tightly. "Come on Sammy, wake up kiddo." He pleaded and hazel eyes slowly opened, staring around in confusion.

"Dean?" Sam whispered and then coughed, his throat raw.

Caleb moved and got him some water. "Here."

Sam sipped it slowly and then smiled at Caleb in thanks. "You're okay?" He asked and Dean helped him sit up, letting Sam lean against him since he was exhausted.

Caleb nodded. "Are you fully functional?"

"I... I think so. Tired, bit sore." Sam answered trying not to yawn.

"I'll check his blood again." Doctor Lee murmured, drawing it quickly. Caleb nodded and flopped down in the nearest chair. Absently playing with the necklace. "It's clean! There's no sign of the virus. It's like you were never exposed." She whispered in awe. "When you compare it to the Tanner samples... what the hell?"

"What?" Dean demanded.

"Their blood. There's no trace of the virus. No sulphur, nothing."

Caleb looked over at her, then he shrugged while starting for the car. Once there he crawled into the back seat and lay down. Making himself comfortable. Not much later Dean helped Sam out from the clinic, the doctor following them. Mark was nearby loading up a truck with supplies.

"I'm getting the hell out if here, you should come." Mark called but she shook her head.

"I'd better get over to Sidewinder, get the authorities up here, if they'll believe me. Take care." She called and Mark waved before driving off and Dean looked at her.

"What about him?" He asked and she smiled.

"He's going to be fine, no sign of infection." She assured them as she headed inside.

"Don't look at me, got no clue." Sam argued sleepily.

"I swear I'm gonna lose sleep over this one. I mean, why here, why now? And where the hell did everybody go? It's like they friggin' melted."

"Why was I immune?" Sam whispered.

"Yeah. You know what? That's a good question. I'm already starting to feel like this is the one that got away." Dean grumbled and then leaned in to see Caleb.

"Wanna ride up front with me for a change? We can finish that talk and let Sasquatch here sleep." Dean offered.

Caleb opened an eye and looked at the two. He nodded and crawled out, flopping into the front seat. "Is he going to vomit?"

"He hasn't been sick again so I don't think so. Looks like he just needs sleep." Dean answered.

Caleb nodded and relaxed as they got out of there. He watched the world go by and sighed. "Do not stay alive cause of me."

"Why not?" Dean asked, glancing at him.

"Because I am not worth it."

"Isn't that my decision to make? So you didn't want me killing myself but you don't think you're worth my sticking around for...make up your mind kiddo." Dean told him gently. Caleb frowned and turned back to the window. Ignoring Dean for now. "You still wanna know how Sam can see you as family?" Dean asked after a while, glancing back and smiling at the sight of Sam sleeping peacefully.

"Sure." He looked distracted, and sounded like he could care less. It was a mask. Dean wasn't fooled; he was a Master at masks himself. He took a hand off the wheel and reached over to squeeze Caleb's shoulder gently. Caleb jerked away in surprise and looked at him with wide eyes. "What?"

"You're not fooling anyone Caleb. Winchester's wrote the book on hiding our feelings, we have to for hunting. Too much that'll tear you apart otherwise. So Sam's reasoning..." Dean checked again to make sure Sam was still asleep. Caleb relaxed slightly and watched Dean waiting. "How much do you know about us, about how we were raised?" Dean asked quietly.

TBC…