Chapter Twenty-Five
Later that night, long after he'd put his brother to bed, Dean climbed the stairs to the room he shared with Sam, drained.
He'd left the bedroom door open a couple of inches so Sam would be able to see the light from downstairs and Dean pushed it open now, eyes instantly landing on the form of his brother in the bed furthest from the hallway.
Deciding that he was too tired to change his clothes, Dean sat down on his bed and pulled off his boots. Standing and yanking the blanket down from the headboard, Dean paused, listening.
A soft, strained whimpering-mewling sound reached the hunter's ears, coming from the direction of the sleeping figure in the bed next to his.
"Shit," Dean breathed and dropped the blanket, crossing the end of his bed and moving up to the top of his sibling's.
How could he have completely not realized Sam may have nightmares after the angel attack?
Easing himself down on the edge of the mattress, the older Winchester gently laid a hand on his sibling's shoulder.
"Sammy," he called quietly.
Instantly he received a reaction. The younger Winchester's muscles grew tense and he stopped breathing, the sounds he had been making also quieting.
"Sammy," Dean spoke again, "It's just me, buddy."
Muscles relaxed and the older Winchester breathed a sigh of relief.
"D'n," Sam muttered.
"Yeah, Sammy," he confirmed and moved his hand as his brother sat up.
Dean had left the door open and in the glow of the downstairs lights Bobby had left on, he could see his brother's face was pale, his eyes wide and wet.
"Aw Sammy," the older Winchester murmured and pulled the younger into a tight embrace.
As was usual, Sam remained limp for a long moment before wrapping his arms tightly around Dean so that the older hunter felt as though steel bands were hugging him and not flesh and blood.
"I'm sorry," Dean said, wishing for the nth time there was something he could do to really help his brother.
The younger Winchester made no reply.
After a moment Dean spoke again, "Why don't we stop by and see Tori tomorrow? Would you like that?"
With his head pressed hard against Dean's shoulder, Sam nodded.
"Tori," the muffled name was spoken out loud and Dean smiled.
"Yeah, Sammy," he confirmed, "Tomorrow we'll go visit Tori."
W
Dean woke before Sam- as he usually did these days- and rose from his bed quietly, not wanting to wake his sibling.
As the hunter got dressed for the day in jeans, a grey t-shirt and a green-and-blue plaid button up shirt, he recalled his brother's frustration with zippers and buttons.
Deciding that he wasn't really in the mood to watch his sibling struggle to dress himself, Dean searched through Sam's clothes until he found an old pair of navy blue jogging pants- the kind with elastic at the cuffs of the legs and waistband- and a black t-shirt.
Turning to his slumbering brother, the elder Winchester reached out and touched Sam's shoulder, calling his name.
"D'n?"
The older brother smiled, "Mornin' Sammy."
The younger sibling sat up and rubbed at his eyes with his fists, just like a toddler.
"I'm gonna go downstairs and make some coffee but I'll be right back up, okay?" Dean assured his brother, "I've got your clothes for you so you can get a head-start on getting dressed. How's that sound?"
Sam's green eyes left Dean's face and slid across to the neatly folded clothes sitting on the older Winchester's bed.
Dean straightened his back and reached behind him, grabbing the clothing items, "Look, these'll be comfy and easy to put on, eh? And a t-shirt, no buttons!"
Sam made no response. He didn't take his gaze away from the clothes Dean was showing him.
"I'll be up in a minute or so," the older brother said again before leaving the room and heading downstairs, his need for caffeine egging him on.
SPN
Sam did not move from his bed, his eyes glued to the clothes that Dean has so conveniently picked out for him.
The younger Winchester's mouth twisted in a grimace as he sat up and reached out, picking up the t-shirt between his thumb and forefinger in a pincer grip.
Sam didn't want to wear the black t-shirt Dean had set out for him. He didn't want to wear the dark blue jogging pants. He wanted to wear his jeans and a flannel button-up shirt.
Dropping the shirt as though it had suddenly grown hot, Sam turned and gazed at the chest of drawers where he and Dean kept their clothes.
Standing and walking with exaggerated care in case Dean heard, Sam made his way to the dresser and pulled open a drawer. Reaching into the drawer, Sam shoved a neatly folded pile of shirts out of the way before spying one he liked.
It was a flannel button-up; a brown and orange and yellow and white tartan pattern with cream-coloured buttons up the front and on the cuffs.
Sam smiled and pulled the shirt from the drawer, dropping it on the floor.
Pushing the drawer closed, the young man yanked open another one, nearer to the bottom and chose a pair of blue jeans with the knees worn white and thin. Depositing the pants on the floor on top of the shirt, Sam straightened and grabbed the hem of the grey t-shirt he had slept in and pulled it up over his head. Next, he pushed the jogging pants he was wearing down around his ankles and spent a long minute kicking his feet until the pants were disentangled from his legs.
Anxious and excited to show Dean that he could dress himself, Sam picked up the flannel button-up he'd just pulled from the drawer.
SPN
Dean sat down at the kitchen table as he waited for the coffee to finish brewing. He had intended to head back upstairs as soon as he'd set the coffee maker up but then decided he could wait. Sam usually took a bit of time nowadays to get motivated enough to roll out of bed so Dean wasn't concerned with leaving his brother alone. Besides, he was just upstairs in the guest bedroom, how much damage could he do?
Recalling his promise to his brother the night before, Dean stood up and grabbed one of the phones that hung on the kitchen wall, the one marked "Civilian" and served as Bobby's regular phone amongst others designated as "CIA", "FBI", "Homeland Sec." and the like.
Dialing Marsha's number despite the early hour, Dean decided that he should let his friend know of their intended visit instead of popping in unexpectedly. Besides, it would give Tori something to look forward to.
SPN
Sam fumbled with the small plastic buttons on the shirt's front, biting his lip in concentration, before giving up and settling on focusing on his pants, not even attempting to button the sleeves.
Sitting down heavily on the end of his bed, Sam reached down and pulled his jeans up towards him, shoving one foot into the pant leg. Smiling, he pushed his other foot into the second pant leg and yanked the jeans up.
SPN
"…Okay, see you then."
Dean grinned and hung the phone back in its cradle.
Marsha- though mildly surprised to hear from Dean so soon- had happily agreed to a visit and had told Tori the good news- the hunter hearing the little girl squealing with delight over the phone- and told the eldest Winchester they would love to have him and Sam come over, and Bobby too if he wanted to come along.
As Dean poured himself a cup of coffee from the freshly brewed pot, he realized just how much he had missed Marsha and he shook his head, smiling to himself. After Lisa and Ben, the hunter hadn't intended to get involved with anyone- at least not for a long time- and especially after Sam's rescue, but now it seemed as though his heart had other ideas.
"What're you grinnin' at?"
Dean jumped in surprise when Bobby's gruff voice came from the kitchen doorway.
"Sam and I are gonna visit Tori and Marsha," he told the veteran hunter before adding, "You're invited too, if you want."
Bobby squinted at Dean for a long moment, "Yer getting' feelings for that woman."
"What? No, of course not. Not me," Dean argued halfheartedly but his friend just smiled knowingly.
"Did you check in on Sammy on your way down?" Dean asked Bobby and the older hunter nodded.
"Got himself dressed."
The eldest Winchester smiled, glad his brother had been able to do yet another thing for himself.
"He manage with the t-shirt and joggers okay?" Dean asked Bobby.
The veteran hunter gave a noncommittal grunt and moved into the kitchen, heading towards the coffee maker.
Dean frowned and sat his own cup of coffee down and headed upstairs.
SPN
Sam looked up sharply when the bedroom door opened, expecting Dean.
Instead, it was Bobby who poked his head into the room.
The older man stared at Sam for a long moment before smiling and retreating, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Sam relaxed and pulled his pants the rest of the way up, standing and struggling with the large brass button and zipper.
SPN
Dean's heart skipped a beat, his nerves beginning to jangle with fear.
Which was stupid because if something had happened to Sam, Bobby would have told him.
But Dean couldn't help the feeling of anxiety creeping in on him as he made his way up the stairs and turned an immediate left, pushing open the door to the guest bedroom.
"Sammy!" Dean exclaimed, his nerves relaxing and relief washing over him as his brother stared back at him with large green eyes.
The younger Winchester stood frozen, clothing lying crumpled around his feet, clothes draping his tall frame awkwardly. He had managed to get his arms through the sleeves of his flannel shirt but it was hiked up in the back, giving him a sort of a hunch, the cuffs splayed open and unbuttoned, the front held closed with three buttons that had been threaded through the wrong holes. His jeans looked in danger of slipping down his hips as they were unzipped and unbuttoned, the cuffs pooled around his feet.
"Sammy," Dean said and stepped further into the room, "I put clothes out for you."
He pointed to the t-shirt and jogging pants still sitting on his bed, though the shirt looked as though it had been picked up and discarded.
Sam's face scrunched up as his gaze followed his brother's finger and peered at the clothes on the bed.
"No!" he said vehemently.
"Sam-" Dean began but Sam spoke again.
"NO!"
The eldest brother jumped, startled by his brother's outburst.
"Don't wanna…" Sam muttered, quieter now, "Don't wanna…"
Dean held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, "Okay, okay Sammy. I won't make you wear those clothes if you don't want to."
He felt tears prickle at the corners of his eyes but he blinked them back- now was not the time to get all emotional- and smiled at his brother.
"Can I help you with your shirt and pants?"
Sam hesitated, eyeing him warily as though not sure exactly what Dean meant before he nodded.
The older Winchester approached the younger and slowly unbuttoned his shirt before doing all the buttons up, cuffs included. Next, he hiked Sam's jeans up to where they were meant to sit and zipped and buttoned them.
Bending down, Dean gathered the clothes Sam had slept in and tossed them onto his brother's bed. Then, he grabbed the t-shirt and joggers he'd intended for Sam to wear- noticing his brother tensed up as he did so- before shoving them into the open dresser drawer and closing it.
Sam watched Dean warily, as though he was afraid his brother would demand he put on the clothes he had picked out for him.
Instead, Dean turned back to his brother and hugged him, "I'm so proud of you, Sammy."
His brother hesitated for a moment before strong arms wrapped around Dean's middle, almost crushing his ribs as Sam returned his embrace.
"Let's go downstairs and have some breakfast, what d'ya say?" Dean asked, holding Sam out at arm's length.
The younger Winchester nodded and followed Dean down the stairs onto the main floor.
Peering into the kitchen, Dean saw that Bobby was sitting at the table, drinking from his cup of coffee.
"Save some of that coffee for us," Dean joked and picked his own cup up off the kitchen table where he had left it.
Automatically the elder Winchester went to refrigerator and grabbed the plastic pitcher of grape juice that was sitting on the top shelf. Choosing a glass from the cupboard, Dean poured Sam some grape juice and handed him the cup.
"When are you planning on seeing the Tori and Marsha?" Bobby asked and Dean looked over at his brother.
Sam's eyes were wide and sparkling with excitement, his juice forgotten, and he was trembling with anticipation.
"Whoah, Sammy! We're gonna go see Tori this afternoon, okay? After lunch."
The younger Winchester's shoulders slumped slightly and he nodded, setting the glass of grape juice on the kitchen table and shoving it roughly away so that it tipped over and spilt.
"Sammy!" Dean exclaimed as the dark purple juice spread across the table and dripped onto the floor.
As the eldest Winchester moved to grab some paper towels to clean up the mess, he looked up to where his brother should have been standing to find that Sam was gone.
Dean sighed and gazed at Bobby.
"He was fine a minute ago," he said helplessly.
Bobby said nothing but continued to read his paper as though nothing had happened.
W
Dumping the wad purple-stained paper towels into the kitchen garbage, Dean turned his attention on finding his brother.
"Sammy?" he called as he peered through the kitchen doorway and into the living room.
"Sammy? You in here?" Even though he was sure his brother wasn't in the living room, he checked anyway- behind the couch, in front of the bookshelf, underneath Bobby's desk- but didn't find his brother.
Pausing to peer at the front door, Dean decided that his brother hadn't gone outside and instead made his way upstairs, calling his brother's name.
"Sam? Sammy? C'mon, where are you, man?"
A quick search of the guest bedroom, upstairs bathroom and even Bobby's bedroom revealed an absence of the youngest Winchester.
Taking a deep breath, Dean turned and headed back downstairs.
"Sammy? Sam! Where are you?"
Dean didn't bother checking the basement- the door was secured with a padlock to protect some of the dangerous items Bobby kept down there- and turned towards the main floor half-bath.
Easing the door open, Dean spied the large, dark shape of his brother sitting on the toilet.
"Sammy?" the hunter asked and flicked on the light.
Sam looked up at him, eyes red-rimmed.
"What's wrong? We're gonna see tori," Dean said and stepped into the small bathroom, wedging himself between the toilet and sink.
The older brother reached out automatically and laid a palm against his sibling's brow, checking his temperature.
Dean frowned; Sam was warm but he wasn't running a fever.
"What's wrong, Sammy? Talk to me," Dean urged, "If something's wrong, you know you can tell me, right?"
Sam bowed his head but said nothing.
Dean was at a loss for words.
"Why don't… Why don't I make you some breakfast?" Dean suggested and reached out his hand.
Sam took his outstretched hand and followed Dean out of the bathroom, the episode passing.
The hunter tried not to think about his brother's strange behaviour and instead busied himself with making Sam some toast with strawberry jam and peanut butter.
W
Dean read the front page of the paper as Bobby read the inside, sipping at his now cool cup of coffee. Sam sat beside him, munching quietly away on his toast.
Absentmindedly, Dean once again put his free hand against his brother's forehead and frowned to find his fingers were slick with sweat.
"Sammy, look up at me," Dean instructed and saw that his brother's green eyes were a little too bright.
"I think you're getting a fever there, Sam," the eldest Winchester muttered.
Dean wondered if he should maybe call Marsha back and call off the visit but then thought better of it; Sam would be heartbroken if he wasn't able to see Tori and a little fever wouldn't be dangerous if he gave his brother something.
SPN
Sam frowned as a chill ran up his spine and he looked to his brother. He shivered with such force that he dropped his toast, the slice landing jam-and-peanut butter side down on the linoleum floor.
Dean didn't even say anything as he bent down and picked up the piece of toast, stood and grabbed a handful of paper towels to wipe up the mess.
Sam looked away from his brother, picked up the second piece of toast, and took a bite.
"Hey, Sammy," Dean said, "Don't worry. We'll get some Tylenol into you and you'll be good as new in no time."
The younger Winchester gazed at his sibling from the corner of his eye and continued munching on his breakfast.
SPN
Dean peered at Sam from the kitchen doorway as his brother lay on Bobby's couch, watching some show on polar bears or panda bears or something like that.
"I don't know if we should go," the eldest Winchester said quietly to Bobby.
Dean had been sure his brother would be alright but as breakfast progressed he could see Sam's face growing paler and paler, beads of sweat standing out on his skin, eyes becoming red-rimmed and was seriously thinking of reconsidering his decision to visit the Dodds.
"I don't know what to say, Dean," Bobby told him, "If you go, Sam might not be up to it and won't enjoy it, but if you don't go, it'll just upset him now you've told 'im the plans."
"…And I don't want Tori or Marsha to get sick," Dean added.
Bobby just shrugged.
Dean ground his teeth in frustration. Peering out into the living room again, he decided to take a chance and take Sam to see his friend. Maybe Sam wasn't even getting sick and this would pass.
W
Dean tried to ignore the fact that Sam had fallen asleep on the couch as he stepped into the room to rouse him for lunch.
"Sam? Hey, Sammy, lunch is ready."
The younger Winchester opened his eyes slowly, reluctantly and blinked up at him.
"D'n?"
"Yeah," Dean smiled, "Let's have some lunch and then we'll go and see Tori, okay?"
Sam sat up with agonizing slowness and followed Dean into the kitchen.
As the elder Winchester followed his brother, he laid a hand against the back of Sam's neck and felt greasy sweat coating his skin, heat radiating off him like he was a furnace.
Dean sat down across from his brother, gesturing to the tuna sandwich and potato chips sitting on a saucer sat out for him, a couple of Tylenol pills sitting beside it along with a glass of water.
Sam stared at the sandwich, his pale face appearing to take on a greenish hue, and Dean frowned.
Slowly, the younger brother reached out and picked up a potato chip and crunched it without enthusiasm.
W
"Sammy, we're here," Dean told his brother as he pulled the Impala into a parking spot in the lot that served the Dodds' apartment building.
The younger man peered over at him blearily and smiled a little.
Please let him kick this quickly, Dean hoped and cut the Chevy's engine.
Exiting the vehicle and making his way around to the passenger's side, Dean unbuckled Sam's seatbelt and waited patiently for him to climb out of the car.
As Sam straightened he automatically reached out for Dean's arm and gripped it tightly.
The eldest Winchester did not protest and instead matched his pace with Sam's.
"Ah Sammy," Dean muttered, mostly to himself than his brother, "What are we going to do with you?"
The Winchesters took the elevator up to the Dodds' apartment, Dean's heart pounding.
He led Sam down the hallway towards their friends' door and stopped when they reached it.
Raising a hand, Dean rapped on the door sharply.
There was no response.
"Marsha?" Dean called loudly.
Still there was no response.
His 'hunter senses' tingling, Dean pushed his brother behind him protectively and tried the doorknob. It turned easily beneath his hand.
The lights were on in the apartment but it was eerily quiet.
"Stay here, Sammy," Dean told his brother and stepped forward, weaponless but ready to somehow defend Marsha and her daughter if need be.
As Dean stepped into the apartment's tiny entryway, he heard shuffling footsteps behind him; Sam was following him inside.
"Marsha? It's Dean and Sam. Is everything okay?"
The hunter stepped even further into the apartment.
"Tori? Marsha?"
Something was wrong. It just had to be. Marsha wouldn't leave the door unlocked like this and-
"SURPRISE!"
Dean jumped at the sudden gleeful shout as both mother and daughter popped out from behind the couch, grins on both their faces and wearing festive party hats.
"What… What's this?" Dean asked as Marsha stepped out from behind the couch, laughing.
"It was Tori's idea. She wanted to give you both a party for being such good friends."
Dean felt his face break into a grin as he looked down at the little girl who was giggling, one hand pressed against her mouth.
"Sammy!" Tori called and ran for his tall friend.
The child wrapped her arms around Sam's legs tightly, chin tilted up as she grinned at him.
"I hope you didn't have a big lunch," Marsha spoke to Dean as they went into the kitchen, "Tori wanted me to buy some food for our party."
Marsha gestured to three bags of potato chips, two 2-liter bottles of soda and a large slab cake sitting on the counter.
"Sam didn't eat very much," Dean replied seriously, "I think he'd getting a bit sick."
Marsha frowned, "Oh no."
Dean nodded, "I'm just hoping it's a twenty-four hour thing. I wasn't even sure I should bring him over because of Tori-"
Marsha who was pointing towards the living room stopped the hunter before he could continue. Dean followed her gaze and saw Sam and Tori. The younger hunter was sitting at one end of the couch with the little girl curled against him, looking as content as anything.
"I think they'll both be fine," Marsha smiled.
Dean couldn't help but agree.
"Now," Marsha said excitedly, "Let's get this party started!"
Author's Note:
Thanks to Souless666, Krisuvial, OUATLovr, reannablue, whatnosheep, SPN Mum, Kas3y, ArtistKurai, jensensgirl3, mikeysrevenge, cold kagome, emebalia, BranchSuper, Nyx Ro, K Hanna Karossy, AlxM, mandancie, Wolf77 and Guest for reviewing.
Please take a moment to comment, Constant Readers, and I will reward you with another chapter as soon as possible.