Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!

Dean's Song

Chapter 7 – Switch

Dean looked at Sam like he had grown 2 heads. "Come on Sammy…a Siren…isn't that the chick that used to lure sailors to their death? The last time I checked, we were not anywhere near the ocean!"

Sam glanced at Dean and shook his head. "Dean, we run up against stranger things than this every day…why is it so hard for you to believe? Look, according to Dad's journal, a Siren has the ability to either use her voice to hypnotize her victims or cause great pain. She feeds on your life force Dean…I told you I saw her kissing you…she was sucking the life from you. That's why you have been so exhausted. She must be using her voice to lure you to her…and I bet that's why I have been getting a head ache when she appears…she is trying to keep me from helping you!"

"Wait a minute Sam…you didn't say anything about her hurting you…why didn't you tell me!" Dean demanded as he took a closer look at his brother. He could tell that Sam was still not feeling well. The sweat on his forehead and the flush to his cheeks were a dead give away.

"Dean, I guess I didn't put it together until now. I thought maybe it was one of my freaky powers acting up again. At least now we know what we are dealing with….now all we need to do is find her and figure out a way to stop her" Sam's voice was getting lower as the illness in his body started to take over again. He put his head down on his arm, trying to will the dizziness and nausea away. He jumped when he felt Dean's hand on his shoulder.

"Ok geek boy…time for you to get some rest. Let me try to see what I can figure out and then we can compare notes…I get the feeling we are both running out of time here." Dean helped Sam over to the bed. He was concerned that Sam didn't even fight him. He went into the bathroom and returned with a bowl of water and the wash cloth. Removing Sam's T-Shirt, he bathed his brother with the cool water, trying to stem the fever that was building in his brother's body. He had Sam take a fever reducer along with helping him to drink the full bottle of water. As he continued to gently wash the sweat from his brother's body, he watched as Sam seemed to drift into a quiet sleep. Wiping his hands on a towel, he gently pulled the covers up to make sure that Sam didn't get a chill.

Moving over to the table, he looked at all the files and knew that the answer had to be there somewhere. Looking over at his brother once again, he sighed as he prepared to dig in and do the research. "You know Sam, some people will do anything to get out of doing their job…researching is your gig, not mine!" Sam groaned, but didn't wake up.

Dean had spent most of the day either reading through their notes or taking care of Sam. He was concerned that Sam didn't appear to be getting any better. If this kept up, they would probably have to take a trip to the local hospital. Dean looked up as he heard Sam call his name.

"Dean…what time is it?" Sam asked weakly as he tried to see the clock on the nightstand. He could tell by the light that it was getting late.

"Well, it's almost dinner time…how are you feeling?" Dean asked, knowing already how Sam would answer.

"Fine Dean…a little better I think. Let me make a trip to the bathroom and I'll help you finish with the research…I'm sorry that I haven't really been too helpful" Sam shrugged into his T-Shirt; reached for the cane and hobbled towards the bathroom.

Dean went to get a bottle of juice from the mini fridge and grabbed a few more fever reducers for Sam. Sam sat down at the table with a groan, his face still flushed, but it didn't look like his fever was as high as it had been before. He took the juice and pills from Dean without comment. "So what have you found out so far Dean?"

"Well, I think your guess that the bed and breakfast having something to do with this might be on target. According to county records, this house was moved from it's original location…you'll never guess where it was originally located!" Dean said, pretty proud of the information he had been able to dig up.

"Where Dean?"

"Salem…I couldn't find anything on the current owner though. Nothing comes up on any of the searches for Alex O'Connel. So maybe this Siren is attached to the house…what do you think?" Dean looked over expectantly at Sam. Sam smiled, he knew that Dean sometimes felt like he wasn't as smart as Sam…but in truth, Dean was every bit as smart, if not more so. "Sounds great Dean…any idea on how we stop her?"

"I went back through Dad's journal…he indicates that she may be able to be killed using consecrated iron rounds…but the problem is how do we do that…she just needs to use her voice and bam…instant zombies!" Dean said snapping his fingers.

"Hmmm…I still think that Alex may either know something or is involved…last night, when you couldn't get free" Sam looked away as Dean shot him a disgusted look "Ah, you mentioned you needed to get to Alex…she must have revealed herself to you Dean…but the spell is blocking your memories of what happened."

"It sounds like we need to check out the bed and breakfast…but first, you need to get some more rest Sam and so do I…man, I'm tired" Dean yawned he hadn't realized how tired he had been getting. Looking over at his brother, he figured he would also be out shortly. "Now about tying me up…I think we can be a little more creative."

Sam looked curiously at Dean as he went out to the impala and returned a few moments later with the portable CD player that Sam had gotten him for his last birthday. "What are you going to do with that?" Sam asked as he watched his brother pull out the ACDC CD…another gift from Sam to bring his brother's collection up to date.

"Well…with ACDC playing, I won't be able to hear the Siren's song…so no more ropes Sammy…I mean it" Dean glared at Sam, making it clear that he would not be pleased to find himself in the same position tomorrow morning.

"Ok…fine…but make sure that the headphones are on good and tight" Sam shook his head, only his brother would be able to sleep through Highway to Hell. Sam hobbled to the bathroom to get ready for bed. He wanted to take a quick shower, but wasn't sure that he could stand that long. Instead, he decided to just splash cool water on his face and head to bed.

Dean watched as Sam limped from the bathroom. He could tell that Sam was on his last leg…his face was flushed and his T-Shirt clung to his body from the sweat. Sam never even made eye contact with Dean; he just sat on the edge of the bed and groaned as he tried to get his shoes off.

Dean stood quietly, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder; he quickly helped his brother slip out of his T-Shirt and removed his socks and shoes. He decided to leave Sam's jeans on as he would have to remove the immobilizer to get them off and Sam was already dead on his feet. "Hold on Sam, I want you to drink some more juice and take another round of fever reducer…don't go to sleep yet"

Dean grabbed the juice and helped Sam take his medicine. "If you're not better by tomorrow Sam, we are going to have to take you to a doctor to get checked out…you can't watch my back if you pass out from this thing."

"I'm sorry Dean…I should have your back on this one, but I'm just so tired…damn…you're always there for me, why can't I be just this once?" Sam's eyes closed as a single tear fell from the corner of his eyes.

Dean reached over and wiped the tear from Sam's face. "Don't you worry Sam…I wouldn't have anyone else in the world guard my back except you…just rest."

Dean yawned again as he looked at the door. Rising, he made sure the door was locked and that the salt rings were in place around both beds, the door and the windows. Slipping out of his clothes, he lay down on the bed and placed the earphones on his head. Turning up the volume, Dean fell asleep listening to one of his favorite groups.

Outside the room, Alex stood calling for Dean once again. She could feel that he was in the room, but once again he wasn't responding. Damn she had to figure out a way to get her chosen one…but how. Alex knew that she couldn't go in…so that meant she needed to lure him out. Stepping back from the door, an evil smile spread over her face. She concentrated and smiled as she felt the one she was seeking respond.

Inside the room, Dean slept peacefully, oblivious to what was going on around him. He couldn't hear the sound of the Siren's song…nor could hear the creaking of the bed next to him or the opening of the door as Sam walked into the night.

TBC