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

When Reality Bites

Chapter4 – Alive!

Dean rushed into the room as he saw his brother fall to the ground. He gently rolled his brother over and patted him on the cheek. "Come on little brother…wake up!"

Sam's eyes slowly opened and widened as he saw his brother's face. The muscles on his jaw moved, but no sound came out. He shook his head; this couldn't be happening…he had seen his brother's body for Pete's sake.

Dean watched the confusion growing in his brother's eyes and felt his brother's body trembling. "Sammy…its ok, it was just a nightmare…you're safe…I've got you." Dean wasn't prepared for the bone crushing hug he received from his little brother as he buried his head into his chest. Dean could feel the huge sobs as they shook his brother's frame. Feeling a little awkward, Dean just sat down next to Sam and let the tears flow. He gently messaged Sam's back like he had done when Sam was a child, waiting for his brother to regain control.

Sam breathed in the scent of his brother, holding onto him, expecting him to disappear at any moment. After a few minutes, Sam realized that Dean wasn't going anywhere. His sobbing stopped as he sat back against the foot of the bed, totally spent.

"Say there little brother…why don't we get you back onto the bed" Dean gently helped Sam up and led him back over to the bed. He built up the pillows behind Sam's back, making him as comfortable as he could. He needed answers, but first he needed to make sure that Sam was ok.

"Sam, I'm just going into the other room to get a washcloth…just stay there, I'll be right back." Dean quickly left the room and returned with the damp cloth in his hand. He stopped briefly to also grab the first aid kit and a bottle of water.

"Here Sam, you need to drink this and take a few of these to help with the pain." Dean opened the bottle of water and placed two pills in Sam's hand. Sam swallowed the pills and drank half the bottle of water before placing it on the nightstand. He didn't say a word as Dean gently washed the tears and sweat from Sam's face. Sam grimaced as he felt Dean washing around his bad eye…realizing again that he hadn't noticed until now that he could barely see out of his left eye. He felt his eye in amazement, realizing that it was badly swollen and painful to the touch.

Dean watched Sam closely, trying to determine if his brother was in any other pain. "How many times do I have to tell you Sam…you need to stop using your face to deflect a punch!" Dean smiled as he tried to tease Sam…he didn't like the confused look on his brother's face.

"Ah…Dean…how long?" Sam asked, looking at Dean for the first time that day, realizing that he was here and not just an illusion.

"As far as I can tell, you've been out for at least 8 hours now. I found you lying on the ground outside at about 4:00 this morning…its now almost lunch time. By the way, any idea how you came to be in that position?"

Sam winced as he tried to get more comfortable on the bed. "Well, I remember going out to get a soda at around 3:00…there were two guys hanging around a few doors down from our room. I tried to avoid them…but they attacked me. I was doing pretty well until I felt something hit me in the legs…next thing I knew a little fat pudgy guy was tap dancing on my face."

"Jeez Sammy, how many times have I told you to be careful…you need to stay focused on your surroundings in a fight!"

"You told me to make friends and have fun…well they decided on the type of fun!" Sam glowered at Dean, not in the mood to take the ribbing he knew he deserved.

"OK…ok…just simmer down Sam…you just scared me thats all. I know you can take care of yourself…lighten up a little will yah!" Dean tried to calm his brother down. He needed to get more information from Sam and he knew that if Sam got his dander up…he wouldn't be getting anything from him.

"Look…we need to talk. But first, you need a shower and I need to get us something to eat. Let me help you into the shower…"

"I can take care of myself Dean…I don't need you to…" Sam suddenly stopped as he realized that he really did need Dean…God, what if Dean had really been…

"Yo, earth to Sammy…hey little brother, it's ok…I'll just head out to the diner across the street and grab us something for lunch."

"Dean…I'm sorry…I'm just a little confused…thanks but I think I can handle a shower on my own…just hurry back, ok? Sam hated how needy he sounded, but he wasn't ready yet to let his brother out of his sight for too long. Dean just shrugged and headed out the door.

Sam let the hot spray from the shower ease the tired muscles in his body. A quick look in the mirror confirm that his injuries were a little more extensive than he had remembered from what he now understood to be a nightmare. It had seemed so real though. He still shuddered as he remembered having to identify Dean's body at the morgue.

Sam jumped when he heard the outer door open, but relaxed a few moment later when he heard Dean announce that he had returned with the food. Sam turned off the shower and got dressed…he realized that he was actually starving.

Dean placed the food on the table in the room. He sat down and started to sip the coffee he had brought, waiting for Sam to appear. Looking at the salt once again, Dean reminded himself that he need to get to the bottom of that soon.

"Mmmm…that smells good" Sam remarked as he walked slowly over to the table. Sam was limping slightly and his eye was still swollen partially shut, but otherwise, Dean couldn't make out any other serious injury to his brother.

"Help yourself Sammy!" Dean offered as he silently watched his brother begin to eat. He knew from past experience that he needed to hold difficult discussions after Sam had eaten…the first thing to go when Sam got upset was his appetite.

Sam knew that Dean was waiting to ask him more questions, but he wasn't ready yet. He ate slowly, hoping that Dean would get bored and move on. But Dean had learn patience over the past year of dealing with his younger brother. As Sam finished his meal and sat back to enjoy the rest of his coffee, Dean decided it was time to find out what was going on.

"So Sammy…what's with the salt rings on the floor?"

Sam looked over towards the doorway, noticing the salt he had placed on the floor the night before. "Man, I totally forgot about that" murmured Sam as he realized that the salt had not been present in his nightmare version of reality. No wonder something felt off…Sam smiled as he realized it was just further proof that everything he remembered after the beating was really just a dream.

Dean watched the play of emotions across Sam's face as he waited "So…about the salt?

"Huh…oh sorry Dean, its simple really. When I was in the bar last night, I felt an evil presence…only for a moment and then it was gone. I felt it again for just a second on the way back to the hotel…but once again it was gone. I was just playing it safe Dean…the men who attacked me were evil…but the human kind, not supernatural."

"And you never thought to call me because?"

"Dean, seriously Dude…it was nothing ok…just a feeling. I'm ok…well sort of…nothing supernatural happened last night…it was just a few jerks getting their jollies…nothing more" Sam stood up, starting to pace as he realized that Dean wasn't going to let things drop this time.

Dean decided to let that one slide for the moment "Fine, then explain to me why I couldn't get you to wake up…why you fainted this morning when you saw me…why you thought I was Dead?"

Sam paused, trying to decide how much to reveal to his brother. He really didn't want his brother to see how badly the dream had shaken him…didn't want him to think he was weak.

"I don't faint" replied Sam as he turned his back to his older brother.

Dean wasn't falling for Sam's attempt to divert the discussion. "I mean it Sam…I want to know all of it, not just your sanitized version of events! Look, it may be important…I did some research and it looks like something may be going on…something that we should probably look into." Dean went to stand beside his brother, reaching out to grab his arm gently and leading him over to the bed. Sam sat down, looking so defeated, that Dean almost relented…almost, but not quite.

"Ok Sam…spill it!"

TBC

Raven524: Thanks for the great reviews so far…and for those who hate cliffies…I decided to give you and the boys a little break in this chapter. Keep those reviews coming!