Chap. 21 – Arm Wrestling

Then

"Fine he rests for a week. Between the two of us, he won't have a choice." I should have felt more ecstatic that I had won, but something wasn't right. Dean knew how much I hated secrets, but I wasn't some dumb kid. I just had to figure out the right strategy to weasel this one out of my Jughead brother.

Now

Caleb and I talked while Dean slept. I suspected Dean's fib about his health didn't include some very important details. I understood my brother's instinct to run instead of dealing with the issues, especially if it involved emotions. So I took precautionary measures to make sure my brother couldn't easily escape before we could talk. He had some serious explaining to do.

Dean started thrashing around in my bed and then yelled, "No it's not happening again."

I must admit I didn't react with kid gloves or in a very brotherly manner. But in my defense Dean hates being mollycoddled. I know it's warped but watching my brother blush when he realized only one lone sheet kept him covered somehow itched my funny bone. I'll bet money he even thought that Caleb had somehow provided the perfect excuse for a hasty exit only to be thwarted in the end by his little brother. I could tell he was a little disoriented from the nightmare and probably trying to figure out his location.

"I'll give you three guesses. Bet you're surprised you didn't pull off the perfect getaway." I smirked but must admit my smile slipped a little when Caleb didn't join in the ribbing. Nothing's worse than having your joke fall flat.

"Sam, where the hell are my pants?"

"I think it's perfectly clear, obviously your last hunt did a number on you, unless you fainted…"

"Sam, damn it, get me my pants…I'm fine."

"Hey you two, can you both cut it out? Dean you need to rest, your fainting spell proved it, so buck it up and deal."

I must admit I smirked watching my brother squirm, as he wasn't ready for us to gang up on him.

"Get me my pants. Caleb and I will split before you're embarrassed by us at the stupid party, or perhaps you've forgotten how much your friends plan for us to mingle. I know how much you'd hate that, so give me a little privacy and I'll be out of your hair…"

"Dean, drink this and shut up. We aren't going anywhere today. You're getting some rest. Sam can make up an excuse for his friends, and we'll see how you're feeling tomorrow. In case you've forgotten, I've got the keys and the car is hidden courtesy of…"

"Yours truly. Look I'll even splurge for your favorite slice of pie for just being lazy for a few days."

"So you plan to bribe me with just a slice of pie?"

"Fine, a whole pie. Your pick."

I must admit I wasn't prepared for the interruption. Before I knew it we had several guests. Luis, Brady and Zack all stood in the kitchen and Brady smugly announced. "Sorry to hear about your brother being indisposed. Figured some chicken soup would do the trick. Don't worry Dean; payment will be some simple stories about Sam here. I know how much older brothers love to humiliate their younger siblings, so go ahead and tarnish his reputation. I know he has an image to uphold, but we loved to hear about his flaws. Don't hold back."

With a united front, I threw a pair of sweats at Dean and pushed my friends back into the kitchen. Caleb took care of the door as we left the room.

I guess what really shocked me was Caleb's protective streak and his reaction to my friends barging in without any invitation. The fact they had overheard our conversation didn't make it any easier. Surprise didn't even adequately describe what I witnessed next.

Caleb's growled out order, "Dean, stay in bed," and that my brother obediently obeyed as Caleb slipped out of the room with Dean's sweat pants, slightly unnerved me. Obviously he felt my brother needed rest more than dignity. Then he dared ordered my so-called friends to leave.

"Guy's, I can appreciate the need to know all the dirty little secrets, but right now Dean needs to rest. He'll rest easier without an audience. So if you'll be so kind as to give us a few days to recover, then Dean might be easily persuaded to give away a few little dirty secrets provided he could keep the beer down. Of course, you'll willing supply all the drinks necessary to pry the information out of him so that Sam won't want to strangle him in his sleep."

Everyone laughed but it was a forced chuckle instead of a real release of amusement. Tension ran high and Caleb had masterfully taken charge.

"Hey next time knock instead of just barging in, you never know when someone will react badly and you might end up hurt. It's never a good idea to embarrass someone who is under the weather, especially if that guy is a little trigger-happy.

Caleb's little threat motivated my friends immediate exit. Brady quickly made some excuses about needing to go study and my friends left faster than a hawk scooping up his meal. "Thanks, I know Dean wants to kill me now." I admit I was slightly confused on Caleb's easy victory with my brother, and I wondered what military background he shared with my father. So I wasn't quite ready for his reply.

"Doubt it, most likely he is fast asleep. Sam we need to talk."

"Sure after I check on him." I opened the door and Dean was sound asleep. "He's really sick isn't he?"

"He's off the hunter's rotation for a bit, if that tells you how concerned your father feels about it. Sam he would kill me if I told you, but I guess you need to know, he almost didn't make it. Sometimes the worst experience is living with the regrets, wishing you had just one more day to tell them the one thing you never got a chance to say. Maybe you'll take this warning, before it's too late. He's recovering this time, but don't waste the chance you've been given. Don't make too big of a deal or he'll be out the door before…"

"Before I can even start. I know my brother, Caleb. We make a good team, ganging up on him, maybe you can help me convince him…"

"Not in your wildest dreams. No, we leave in two days. Sooner if he gets a second wind. I'd plan your words very carefully. Otherwise…"

"I'll be talking to thin air. I know my brother, Caleb. He's family, and if I thought for a moment he'd leave Dad…I just wished he wanted something other than hunting. Sometimes I dream of us exploring normal together, I know he would never go to college, but he could work in a garage. He is great with cars, but…whom am I fooling, he'd rather hunt than live a normal life. I just have to accept that I lost my family years ago, that college changed our relationship forever. Thanks for the heads up. I'll think about it while he gets some sleep.

Funny how I'd planned the conversation to happen in my head, but then reality stepped in and everything fell apart right in front of my eyes.

"Sam, stop. I'm fine. Fact I'll get out of your hair in a flash."

I lost it, "Really, you driven out of your way to just check up on me and never even intended for us to meet…why Dean, why come here in the first place. You're fine, just dandy!" I shoved him, he tried to push me back but my temper took control and I didn't think, I just ripped open his shirt exposing how much weight he had lost. The image increased my fury, as I always despised when Dean refused to take care of himself. "Look, you're skin and bones. A soft breeze could knock you on your ass! You couldn't back a fly in a hunt!"

"Is this your court strategy, beat the criminal into confession? I'm fine." He turned away from me.

"No, you're not," I didn't think, I grabbed his shoulder and without meaning to, I shoved him off-balance. In slow motion he collapsed sideways as he fell backwards and hit his head on the coffee table. I barely caught him before he hit the floor. Dean was totally unconscious. I wanted to wring his neck, but that could wait until after the hospital visit. I dialed 911 as I pressed the shirt I had torn to his forehead.

A/N: Oopsie. A terrible cliffhanger. Will Sam wring Dean's neck? Will Sam sit on Dean? Where's Caleb?

I can say that reviews inspire me to write faster and may even be guilty of fleshing out the next chapter. Reviews determines how soon Dean gets out of the hospital. So what do you want?

Of course the real question is...do you want him to stay in the hospital or do you want to take him home with you?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope this chapter gave you some pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to read and most of all bringing me some joy by writing a review! :)