Chapter 11
"Sam, wake up."
Sam jolted awake at the sound of Cas' voice, his head shooting up before his eyes could even open. He winced at the aches in his back and neck and rubbed his face tiredly; he'd fallen asleep while poring over books of lore again, turning the small motel room table into a makeshift work station.
"Cas?" Sam asked groggily. "What's going on?"
"Something's wrong with Dean."
Without another word, Sam reached out to the angel, who firmly gripped his arm, and the motel room disappeared.
Sam blinked and he and Castiel were back in Dean's hospital room. His brother was sleeping in the bed, but he looked different. His pale face was flushed, and sweat glistened on his forehead. His breathing sounded raspy and wet, as if he were trying to breathe underwater.
"He started running a fever not too long ago," Cas said, his face lined with worry.
"Did you hear what the doctors said?" Sam asked.
"They gave him some medicine, but they said if it gets any higher, they'll have to move him back down to intensive care for closer monitoring."
Sam glanced at the machines next to his brother's bed. One of the monitors indicated that Dean's body temperature had risen to 102 degrees, and was getting worse.
"Is there anything you could do?" Sam asked hesitantly. He knew Cas had already been trying for days.
The angel looked at the ground, his face full of anger and sorrow. "He's dying, Sam. His mind… whatever part of him survived has reached its limit. He can't hang on any longer. If I could just reach him, maybe…"
"Then let me help look," Sam said. "Take me in with you."
Castiel shook his head. "It's too dangerous. If Dean dies while you're inside his head, there's no telling how that could rebound on you. You could be lost forever."
"What other choice do we have?" Sam said quietly. He looked at his brother's still form. "It's what he would do."
Castiel thought for a moment, but defeat weighed heavily on his shoulders. He knew Sam was right. They were simply out of options and out of time.
"All right," Cas said heavily. "You should sit down."
Sam quickly pulled a chair over to Dean's bedside. He took a breath and nodded to Castiel.
Cas placed one hand on Dean's head, and the other on Sam's.
"Stay close to me," Cas told him.
And then they were gone.
