Disclaimer: I don't own. A. N. So, favorite pairing... Wincest it is, sorry but not ashamed. This was meant to be a fuck or die but took a life of its own and it's past 3AM so it's kiss or die, LOL. What can I say. Enjoy, hopefully.

The Abomination Club

Sam hates - just a little - that his brother is so cavalier with his health. It's not that he wants Dean to go vegan or anything (that'd be scary as fuck and definitely a sign of possession by a weird demon or similar trouble). But his brother has taken care of him all his life. It'd be nice to be able to fuss over Dean too, when he needs it. Fair, too, surely. But his brother is way too stubborn and has his stupid pride and generally needs to be laid up with something a civilian would go to hospital for to allow Sam to help. It's maddening.

It might be just the flu, sure. Or something like that. But Dean keeps pretending like nothing's wrong, and it's been three days since he could sleep, kept up by a terrible cough. Right after the last case, in fact. Sam isn't sleeping, either. It's not just that his brother keeps him up. Even if they bought two rooms, he'd fret anyway. Dean's lowkey germaphobe nature usually keeps him safe from illness. But obviously, nothing works every time.

But since their lives are always absurd, when it gets worse, it goes weird. Couldn't be whooping cough or something else human, could it? Dean has another attack at lunch, and finally, Sam notices. Not the blood - that would mean something is seriously wrong, but it doesn't necessarily mean paranormal problems. No, it's the blood-speckled petal in Dean's plate.

It definitely wasn't there before - there's never a vegetable in his brother's food that hasn't been fried, unless Sam cajoles him, possibly pulling the puppy eyes, and he so isn't going to harass him about healthy eating when he's ill. Dean would absolutely never ever order something decorated with pretty flowers, even if the diner offered it.

"Fuck," Sam says.

Dean wheezes and glares at him. Oh, not for the language. His brother is just annoyed that he hasn't managed to hide it. Is it a new development? Surely, he would have noticed if Dean's bed was covered in petals like he's tried to woo someone in the most cliché of the romantic ways? Can Sam have been that blind?

So, paranormal trouble, started right after the last case... "What did the witch do?" She's dead - very dead - but obviously, that didn't stop her spell, curse or whatever. Part of him is tempted to turn right around and go root through her things, but with their luck, he'd just stumble on something that shouldn't be touched. Besides, things went a bit south and they had to hightail it out of town quicker than he'd have liked...

Dean shrugs. "Not a hex bag."

Sam nods. Of course it isn't. Not like Dean wouldn't have thought of that, or made sure to search high and low.

Another controlled breath, and his brother adds, "She did say something..."

"Do you remember what?" Sam is basically vibrating. If they can discover it, Dean'll be ok.

"Gibberish". And then he's wracked by another cough.

"Never mind. We'll solve it, Dean. Let's get you back to the room now." Dean has already finished his plate, and honestly, Sam doesn't feel like having another bite. Worry knots his stomach anyway.

His brother nods, and Sam takes note. When Dean gets that compliant, at least with him, it's a bad sign.

It might not help, but at least with Dean settled back into his bed, and holding the remote control, Sam feels a bit better. His brother is not going to pass out somewhere. And maybe hit his head, and... It's not Tuesday. This is a witch. They'll solve it, and if...no if. Before he can spin himself into a panic attack (that is not going to help), Sam hides in the bathroom and calls Bobby. He needs help.

Bobby answers immediately, of course, and when Sam launches into the problem a mile a minute, orders him to slow down and breathe. Only it feels like Sam can't, because Dean's - it's already been three days, who knows how long they even have before... no, it's not going to happen. But it's true that Bobby can't help if he can't understand what the hell Sam is saying, so. He forces himself to repeat everything, with enough pauses that their mentor can follow.

Finally, "It does ring a bell," Bobby says, and Sam feels drunk on hope. Before he can ask what to do, though, the man adds. "I am not sure where I read about it, though. I'll call you back as soon as I find it,"

Before Sam can whine at him to hurry up, the line goes dead. He's not offended, though. The man will already be buried in tomes, and the earlier he starts, the earlier they'll know what to do.

He goes back, and smiles at his brother. "Bobby has an inkling. He'll get back to us."

Dean just nods, again.

"I was thinking...the more data we have, the easier this will be to solve. Did you cough up ...anything...again?"

Dean glares a little again, always loath to admit weakness, but he moves the sheet and uncovers five more petals. Sam pushes down the fear and takes a photo, then googles it. Nothing comes up. After some slight rearranging, in the most sensible shape, though, they have a result.

"Moonflower," Sam announces. He's already researching it, both symbolism and the plant, but the more he finds, the more confused he is. Dreaming of love. A prince in love with a commoner was turned into one. There seems to be a thread, but that thread... Well, it can't be, can it?

Then Bobby calls back. "Found it. Hanahaki."

Sam repeats it, and Dean gives him a thumb up. So that 'gibberish' might have been it.

"He won't like it," Bobby warns.

"I don't care," Sam bites back.

"Oh, neither do I. But really, only your brother could manage to get hit by the Japanese curse of unrequited love."

"The what?"

Sam puts Bobby on speaker for that, because he has a feeling his brother wouldn't believe him. It turns out that the curse only works if someone has unrequited feelings, so the witch lucked out, or perhaps could read Dean from his aura or something. (How did Sam miss something like that? Or has he just been ignoring it? His brother deserves better.)

The curse makes whole-ass plants grow inside the poor victim, who ends up dead by suffocation. How quickly depends on the person (some factors must be at play, but Bobby just has the one book that mentions it)...it can be a week, It can take months. Even when it's not molasses-slow, it's painful anyway. Fuck that witch.

One solution would be to have one's love requited, of course. Or, you could try the surgical way...Remove the plant, remove the feelings. Dean is already grabbing around for a knife, but Sam stops him. If anything, he's going to do it. It's already bad enough that they can't ask a surgeon without being committed. He's not going to have his brother randomly stab himself in the chest. Or maybe they should ask Cas. Angels are good at messing with organs, after all.

"That also removes memories of the beloved, though," Bobby finishes, and really, couldn't he shut up?

Because it's like someone cut a puppet-Dean's strings, and he curls up protectively.

"Fuck no!" Sam yells "You don't get to die again on me!"

"Don't be an idjit," Bobby adds, but Dean's only reply is a wracking cough.

"Thank you, Bobby. Don't worry, I'll deal with him," Sam says, before hanging up. He sighs.

"Ok, ok. You don't want to lose - whoever it is. Fine. Let's move, then."

Dean stays curled up, and sends him a suspicious look.

"I don't even have a knife in my hand, Dean. But you're not going to die, so. Requited it is. I mean, with your charm, it shouldn't be difficult." He hopes that his smile isn't as bitter as he feels. Or that it can be misconstrued as 'envious baby brother' instead of jealous. After all, the emotions are quite similar. And if Sam is a monster, and sick...well, he has it under control. Had it for ages.

"No." Christ, why does Dean have to be suicidal?

"Look, if...You know what, punch me, but you had Lisa once, you can have her again. We'll -" He does get punched, before he can get to 'protect her', but not as hard as he thought. Is Dean worse than he looks, or does he understand that Sam is trying?

"It's not her," his brother says, between gritted teeth, and as brilliant a liar as he is, Sam decides he looks honest.

"Ok, huh... I'm pretty sure that Cassie would be thrilled to see you again."

"Yeah." The smile and tone don't really fit with pining, though.

"If...if it's Castiel..." It shouldn't be big trouble, really. And frankly, Sam is all for trapping him in holy oil until the angel comes to his senses, if necessary.

Dean snorts self-deprecatingly, then coughs again. When he has his breath under control, he says, "That'd be nice," So, no.

"If I have to kidnap Doctor Sexy I will, Dee."

The laugh that elicits turns into another vicious cough.

"Ok. Ok. I mean, you know you're awesome. If you think you don't have a chance, they must be dead. Is it Jo? Someone else? You tell me the name, Dean, I'll find a way." Sure, nobody wanted him last time, but maybe, with the apocalypse behind them...Well, they know a way to have people resurrected.

"Don't you dare." Dean's tone is dark. Oh. So he's followed his train of thought. "Besides, that's just gonna kill me quicker."

"Please, Dee." Puppy eyes in full effect. He doesn't know what else to do.

"You need to promise me something."

It's Sam's turn to nod, eager. "Anything."

"Don't leave till I'm dead. If I say it, you're going to hate me...well, you're welcome to kill me, but don't leave me here. Even if I deserve it." It's the longest sentence that Dean's said in four days, and Sam quells his nausea at the idea that Dean thinks he could...

"I won't leave, I swear."

Dean won't look at him, hands on his eyes, and whispers, "Sammy...it's you. It's only ever been you."

Sam laughs. He can't help it. It's the shock. Then gets on the bed, to steal Dean's next wheezing breath with a kiss. Give him all his air.

Still, Dean pushes him away, because of course. "Don't."

"Dee, I'm not - it's not for... You asked me to stay. Why do you think I kept running and running? I hoped I could escape how wrong I was. Blamed our upbringing, the demon blood, blamed everything and anything I could think of. Tried to be good, so hard. But you know what? If it keeps you with me...Yeah. I love you, Dee. And I'm not letting your morals or anything take you from me. Join the abomination club. We have cookies." He's laughing again, crying, hovering over his brother, trapping him between his limbs. He's not going to lose him.

"Come here, baby boy." Dean tugs him down for another kiss. It's perfect.