Thank you very much for the wonderful reviews! As a result I was inspired to turn out another chapter. I hope you like it!!

Thank you to Lurker for bringing the 'clothes' thing to my attention, I honestly hadn't noticed but I hate it when others let it slide so it's fixed.

Susanne

The day passed slowly. Dean hovered over his sleeping brother but couldn't leave him. Occasionally he changed the wet cloths keeping Sam's temperature down. Mostly he lie on the bed and looked at the items that littered the place. Yep it was definitely a museum. How could they stand to live among all of this? Dean shook his head. It just didn't seem quite right somehow.

Sitting in a daze beside Sam on the bed, Dean absently watched as the shadows from the large window crept across the comforter. Life didn't get any better than this. God, Dean hoped not. His skin was itching to get back on the road, to be away from these people, and their opulence.

"How's he doing?"Nick asked from the doorway. He carried in a tray with supper on it. He hadn't thought that Dean wanted to leave his brother and they could both do with something to eat. Expertly, he set the tray on the side table. He figured they'd get to it when they were ready.

"The fever is about the same. He hasn't woken up but otherwise everything is just peachy," Dean growled. He knew it wasn't Nick's fault. But he was the only conscious target for his foul mood.

"Here's some supper. It'll keep until you're both hungry," Nick stated. He chose to ignore the acid in Dean's voice. He supposed he'd be in about the same mood if his brother were that sick.

"Who called?" Dean asked. He'd heard the phone ringing a couple of times during Sam's nap. He didn't really give a crap but it was something to talk about.

"The first call was from Jonas. They've captured the man responsible for the demon summoning. Derek and Alex are packing their bags. They want to make sure the gate he used is closed and to make sure he hasn't opened anything else," Nick continued. He moved over to the window and opened it. The room was beginning to smell a little stale. Besides, it was a beautiful San Francisco night.

"Derek and Alex are going?" Dean asked. He'd started this hunt. It wouldn't feel right to not be there when it came to its conclusion. Dean wasn't much in doing the tag team thing.

"They're both perfectly capable," Nick said. He could see the heat rising in Dean's face. While he really didn't blame the younger man it had all ready been decided. Not that Nick had had much input either. He'd wanted to go as well but Derek vetoed the idea. Something about Nick's leg not healed enough yet.

"I'm not used to letting others do the clean up," Dean stated. He glanced at his brother's sleeping face. Sam was still curled into Dean's side. In fact he was beginning to sweat from the heat rolling off his little brother. His colour did seem to be coming back though. At least Dean hoped so.

"I understand that but I didn't think you wanted to head out to Florida without your brother," Nick replied. That had never even been an option Nick had considered. For that matter, neither had Derek, all ready they knew better.

"No. You're right about that," Dean ceded. He replaced the cloth that had been on Sam's forehead with a cool, damp one. Sam shifted listlessly under his hand.

"I'll come and check on you later. Hopefully Sam will have awoken up by then," Nick said as he headed back toward the door. "Rachel wants to check him over in about half an hour."

"Why didn't she go?" Dean asked. From what he understood the house usually went on jobs together. He understood Nick being left behind because of his wounded leg but as far as he could tell the blond woman had no such impediment.

"Derek wanted her to stay here until she's sure Sam's on the mend," Nick said, a slight grin gracing his lips. Whether Derek wanted to admit it or not, he was just as concerned for the brothers' health as he was.

"Oh," was all Dean could think to say. Then Nick left and Dean was reduced to staring at the bed spread again. Why the hell didn't they have televisions in the bedrooms? He wondered.

"Dean?" Sam croaked as his head shifted against Dean's side. Looking down, Dean found himself staring into his brother's eyes. They were clearer than they had been in days. Hope fluttered through the elder Winchester.

"Hello sleeping beauty," Dean quipped as he caught the cloth. It had begun to fall as Sam tried to gain a seated position. "How are you feeling?"

"Thirsty," was Sam's first response. It was immediately followed by "and hungry."

"Well, I just so happen to have some food right over here. I'll check to see what Jeeves made for supper tonight," Dean said in high spirits. He didn't know what the butler's name was but somehow that seemed appropriate.

"Don't you mean Alfred?" Sam muttered. It was the only butler name he could come up with. Besides, didn't that make Derek and Nick Batman and Robin?

Lifting the silver cover on the tray, Dean found a variety of sandwiches and two bowls of soup. Under the bowls were small tea lights keeping the fluid warm. These guys thought of everything. Also on the tray was a small grouping of fruit. There were two bottles of water and two coffee mugs and a carafe of coffee.

"Well, we have soup and sandwiches. What kind of sandwich are you in the mood for? I think this guy has about four varieties in here," Dean called over his shoulder. He pocketed the bottles of water. He had the feeling he was going to need both hands.

"Whatever," was Sam's response. He was hungry enough that it didn't really matter. So long as it was edible.

Rather than making a choice, Dean just moved the table closer. He turned to his tall kid brother and made sure he was properly propped up before handing him the bowl of soup. It was the fastest way to get food and liquid into him.

"Thanks," Sam said as he practically dove into the bowl. He couldn't ever remember being this hungry.

"Don't choke on it, man," Dean admonished. The only way Sam could eat the food faster was to tip the bowl up to his lips. Dean stifled a smile as he took a bite out of his sandwich. He watched as Sam finished the soup, handed him the bowl and snatched the first sandwich he could reach. Yep, Sam was definitely on the mend.

O-O-O-O-O

Later that night Rachel stopped by to check on the brothers. She was greatly heartened by the fact that they had finished everything on the tray. Even from the door way she could see that the youngest Winchester was feeling more like himself. He had showered and changed into clean clothes. When she entered the room he was sitting at the small table in the corner working on his laptop.

"How are you feeling?" the blond woman asked. She remained at the door way. This was the boys' room. She no longer had the right to just walk in.

"Much better," Sam replied as he glanced up from the glowing screen. He'd eaten too much but was keeping it down without a problem. He figured Dean wasn't that worried about him anymore either because he had left to go take a shower too. "Thank you."

"I'm very glad to hear that," Rachel responded, a smile gracing her features. "Well, have a good sleep."

"Thanks, you too," Sam said. It was the first time he'd really looked at the woman. She was older, about forty, but she was still beautiful. Some part of him was embarrassed to have been treated by her. She was too good looking. Shy all of a sudden, Sam ducked his head and looked back at the screen. He was at least grateful that Dean hadn't been here to see his discomfort. Being the older brother that he was, Dean would have never let him live it down.

"Good night," Rachel said, the smile growing deeper. Then she left, headed toward Nick's room and then her own. She wanted to apprise the security specialist of the improvement in Sam's condition before she turned in for the night. At last, some good news.

O-O-O-O-O

There was an incessant ringing in Dean's ears. It took him a few moments to realize the sound wasn't in the dream he was having but in the real world. Blinking awake, the eldest Winchester looked around the room. It didn't feel like it had been very long since he and Sammy had gone to bed. Beside him Sam rolled up into a sitting position and turned toward him.

"What's going on?" Sam asked hoping his brother knew what was happening.

"It's three in the morning, dude. Who the hell calls a house like this at three in the morning?" Dean wanted to know. He pulled the sheet off and stood up. He was dressed in a t shirt and sweats. Sam was dressed pretty much the same. Dean moved over to the door and cracked it open.

Outside the door Dean could hear feet padding toward him. In a nightlight down the hallway he caught a glimpse of Nick. The smaller man held a finger to his lips, indicating that Dean should stay silent. Then he slipped in the door and carefully shut it.

"We have a problem," Nick breathed. He didn't want to talk any louder than necessary. The brothers moved closer. They had picked up on the tension in Nick's muscles and stance.

"What kind of problem?" Dean asked in an equally quiet voice. The whole situation was making the hairs stand up on his arms. He reached between Nick and Sam and extracted his gun from under his pillow.

"We had to contact some of the other houses to find help for Sam. Unfortunately, not all of them are as broad minded as we are about a human having demon blood running through him," Nick explained quickly. He moved over to the door and peeked out before continuing.

"We just got a call from the pier. Two van loads of people have landed on a chartered ferry. We aren't expecting anyone. This just doesn't seem quite right and I'm not willing to take a chance that it's nothing. I want you two to come with me. I know of a place to put you until I know what's going on," Nick finished. Derek was going to kill him but all outside lines were severed. He had no choice but to make sure the brothers were safe until he dealt with the situation.

"I'm not hiding," Dean growled. He checked his weapon and made sure it was loaded and ready to go. Of course it was, it was just a nervous habit.

"Yes, you are," Nick growled back. "If these people are other Legacy members they are deadly serious. How many humans have you killed recently?"

The last part made Dean pause. It was one thing to kill a demon or a ghost. It was something else entirely to shoot a human, no matter how ill intentioned or tempered.

"Fine," Dean finally ceded glancing at Sam. If they were both up to full speed he would have simply left. While Sammy seemed to be feeling a lot better Dean wasn't willing to take the chance of a relapse.

"Okay, follow me," Nick whispered. He checked outside the door one last time and then he slipped out. Dean pushed Sam out next. Then he brought up the rear. He wanted to make sure that Sam made it to wherever they were going. So much for things looking up.