Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews. I wasn't sure if I should post this or not... but figured, hey why not? I know that it's short-- I'm still thinking. Sorry. And YES, I will continue "Looking Back". I am currently re-vamping my entire website and as soon as I finish it, I'll start writing again!

Sam groaned softly, kicking off the blanket that covered his body. "God, Dean. Why couldn't we get a motel room with air conditioning? It's gotta be at least eighty degrees in here." He threw an arm over his face and groaned again. There was no response from the lump lying next to him and it annoyed Sam to no end. His brother was really a big pain. He never had any sympathy for his 'geek boy' little brother. He shoved Dean's shoulder, wanting to bring his attention to his current plight.

The instant his hand touched Dean, Sam's eyes flew open. Dean was burning up! It wasn't hot in the room; the heat was coming off of the body pressed against him. Sitting up, he leaned against the arm he'd rested over Dean's body. "Dean?" He called out, shaking his shoulder, "Dean, wake up!"

Dean's eyes fluttered open, then quickly shut a moan escaping his lips. Concerned, Sam placed his hand on Dean's forehead. His concern only grew when Dean didn't push him away, as he'd been expecting, but leaned into the touch.

Taking on a hushed tone, Sam couldn't help but whisper, "Are you alright, Dean?"

Dean swallowed hard, his hand flying towards his neck with a grimace. Finally, when the 'frog in the throat' feeling had lessened, he mouthed that he was fine; the lack of voice contradicting him with absolute certainty.

Gently pushing Dean's hand aside, he placed his fingers along his neck, palpitating the area underneath. The swollen glands he'd felt before seem to be even larger. "Dean, open your mouth. Let me see your throat. You might have strep or something."

For a minute, Sam thought that Dean was going to be stubborn. But after a few moments of indecision, Dean realized that it'd be easier to just do as Sam asked that to have to brokenly whisper his arguments.

Sam frowned at the sight of his brother's inflamed throat. No wonder he said that it burned. "Dean, I'm going to get the thermometer. Be right back." With that said, Sam ran to get his bag—he rummaged around through it for the small plastic object.

Returning to his brother's side, he was surprised to see that Dean had dozed off once again. Not wanting to wake him, he gently turned his head to expose his ear, then inserted the digital thermometer.

It beeped a few seconds later, the display proving what Sam had already known, Dean was really sick and had a high fever. He stared at his brother's flushed face, considering the next option. From his own experience of the past week, Dean most likely had come down with the flu. A doctor wouldn't prescribe anything but fluids and rest (antibiotics wouldn't work on a viral infection).

So, it left Sam with only one remaining option.

……….