Chapter 5

Sam stopped at a gas station to check more closely on Dean's injuries and fill the Impala. He parked where the light was the best and grabbed the first aid kit from the back. He turned Dean's head and saw the side of his face was red and blisters were starting to form from a burn. Sam pulled his shirt up and saw more ugly red splotches making him grimace. For burns like this he needed help but did what he could for now.

After grabbing a couple bottles of water from the gas station, Sam wet gauze and placed it over Dean's face and neck, pouring a little more over the gauze to keep it wet. He didn't bother taking off Dean's jacket and shirts and poured the remaining water over them to keep the burns moist and ease any pain. Once he got to Bobby's, he would see just how bad they were and get Bobby's opinion on if he needed to take him to the hospital.

Once Sam did all he could, he jumped back into the Impala and sped away heading north to Sioux Falls. He kept glancing in the back at his brother who was still unconscious. This puzzled him since he couldn't find any head wounds that would have caused it. He knew Dean had been hit by whatever Zortus had tried to throw at him. He wiped his face as guilt and anguish ate at him because that should be him lying hurt and unconscious. His brother had sacrificed himself again to save him.

Sam gave a sigh of relief when he saw the lights of the salvage yard ahead of him and slowed to turn through the gates. He drove around to the front of the house and threw the car into park and killed the engine, so he could stumble out and ran for the door, banging on it hard.

"I'm coming! Don't need to break the damn door down," a familiar voice growled through the door.

"It's me Bobby, I need help!" Sam called frantically.

"Sam, what's going on?" Bobby asked when he saw the panic on his face.

"It's Dean, he's been hurt and won't wake up," Sam rushed out pointing to the car.

"Let's get him inside and upstairs," Bobby ordered seeing Sam needed guidance.

They went to the car and got Dean out of the back and carried him upstairs to the spare room since it had a full size bed. Sam got Dean's boots off and began taking off his clothes being careful of his injuries. Once Dean was stripped to his briefs, Sam sucked in a breath as he looked at the deep red burns and blisters on the upper part of his body and face. He bit back the bile that threatened to come out, swallowing several times.

"What the hell happened?" Bobby asked in surprise as he looked over the boy's body.

"Demigod. Dean stepped between him and me and took the hit. He was protecting me," Sam mumbled as tears filled his eyes. He pulled a blanket up to his waist and tried to decide what to do. "I can't find any head injuries or any other ones but the burns. Why is he still unconscious?"

"You said this demigod did something?"

"He created a ball of energy, power, fire, something like that and threw it at me and Dean took the hit."

"There must have been something in that ball that did this. It may not be something that's physical but supernatural in nature."

"Great!" Sam complained throwing his arms up in the air in anger. "What do we do? Taking him to a hospital won't do any good with that. What do we do Bobby?"

"Let's treat his burns and give it a day to see if he comes out of it," Bobby suggested. "I'll do some research on this demigod and see what I can find out while we wait."

"Alright," Sam sighed letting his head fall to his chest for a moment. "I'll get the first aid kit and clean the burns and doctor them."

"I've got extra cream downstairs if you need it. I'll go start a pot of coffee and make some sandwiches. You looked exhausted and need to take care of yourself."

"Okay Bobby." Sam left the room to grab the first aid kit. He relieved himself and washed his hands thoroughly as he thought about what he needed to do. He grabbed a plastic tub and filled it with warm water and got a clean washcloth to clean several of the burns that had dirt and bits of threads from Dean's clothes stuck in them.

He carried the items to the bedroom and sat the tub on a chair he moved closer to the bed. He dipped the soft cloth into the water and started cleaning the burns that needed it. He was careful not to break the skin or the blisters that had formed. Once that was done, he pulled on gloves and generously applied the burn cream to each place, being careful of the burn on Dean's face. He didn't want to get the cream in Dean's eye, nor irritate the burn further.

Sam didn't bother to tape the nonstick pads down since the cream would hold them in place. And he didn't want to chance pulling the skin off when it was removed. He stood and looked at his brother being sure he hadn't missed any places before taking the tub and kit back to the bathroom. He washed his hands again and looked at his haggard reflection in the mirror. Dean had to be okay, he thought letting his head sag to his chest. He pushed from the counter and headed back to the bedroom.

Bobby found Sam sitting by the bed watching his brother. He sat the tray with food and drink on the bed by Sam hoping he could get him to eat.

"Here you go son, try to eat something."

"Not really hungry, but thanks," Sam replied feeling the acid roll in his stomach and didn't think he could keep anything down.

"You gotta take care of yourself too Sam. I'll leave the tray on the dresser if you change your mind," Bobby sighed moving the tray before looking back at Sam. He knew it wouldn't do any good to suggest he go lay down in the other room. "I'll be downstairs in the office if you need anything."

"Alright," Sam mumbled as Bobby left him along with his brother.

"I don't know what to do Dean. It should have been me," he whispered rubbing his temples as a nagging headache began to build behind his eyes. He pushed himself up and went to the bathroom for some drugs before it got worse. He sat back down in the chair, tossed the pills in his mouth and washed them down with the water from the tray.

Deciding to chance it, he picked up half of the sandwich and took a small bite, chewing slowly. He finally got it swallowed and took another bite. It was tasteless but he knew he needed something on his stomach after taking the meds for a headache. After a few more bites he gave up and sipped on the water, feeling his stomach churn. He moved the tray out of the way and sat on the bed by his brother, resting a hand on his forehead to check for fever. He felt Dean's chest and carefully pulled the sheet up higher to keep him warm.

"Come on bro…I know you're strong; you can beat this…You need to come back to me…" Sam whispered as he fought to keep the fear from his voice. He bit back a sob and wiped his eyes before the tears fell. "Why did you do that? It should be me lying in this bed, not you…"

Sam never left his brother's side and Bobby came up several times to check on him offering to relieve him, but he wouldn't have it. He needed to take care of his brother, not anyone else. Bobby gave up after the third attempt and told Sam he was heading to bed, and he should do the same. Sam just nodded as he gazed at his brother's still body. He watched Dean's chest move up and down in shallow breaths since that was the only way he knew he was still breathing.

There was a lamp burning in the bedroom where the oldest Winchester lay unconscious, lost in the darkness. The youngest brother was slumped in a chair by the bed, his head resting on his chest as he dozed fitfully. He would jerk and twitch in his sleep as nightmares plagued his mind. Dean was hurt and he couldn't get to him or save him. After one really bad nightmare, Sam almost fell out of his chair and shook himself awake, panting for air. He drew in some long breaths and looked at his brother who hadn't moved a muscle since he was hit by the ball of energy from the demigod.

Sam reached over and felt his forehead again thinking he felt warm and got up groaning in pain as he rubbed his stiff neck and back. He got his balance before walking unsteadily to the bathroom to get a cold cloth to put on Dean's forehead. He didn't want to give him any pills for fear of him choking. Sam went back to the bedroom and placed the cold cloth on Dean's forehead and dropped back down into the chair. What little sleep he got was not restful and he was feeling it. He looked to the window and saw the first light of a new day chasing away the night.

"Hey son, how's he doing?" Bobby asked when he came up a while later with a cup of coffee for Sam.

"No change, he hasn't moved at all," Sam sighed accepting the cup and blowing across it before taking a sip. It was strong and doctored to his liking. "Thanks for the coffee."

"Figured you could use it. Did you sleep any last night?"

"Dozed off and on, not much," Sam admitted. "Did you find anything last night?"

"Not much that made any sense. Seems there wasn't a lot written about this demigod."

"Crap! I was hoping you would find something I missed. What do we do now? How do we help Dean?"

"We need someone with heavenly powers maybe," Bobby suggested wondering why Sam hadn't already called the angel.

"Castiel," Sam huffed as he pinched his facial features together. He was going to have to ask him for help and wasn't sure he would. He knew the angel didn't like him very much and had made that clear. "Alright. I'll try. Castiel, it's Sam. I know we haven't been on the best of terms lately, but I need your help. Dean needs your help. He's been injured and I don't know what to do. Please do it for him, not me…."

"I heard your prayer," Castiel spoke from behind them. He looked to the bed at the unconscious man before stepping closer. He cocked his head as he studied him trying to determine his injuries.

"Can you help him?" Sam asked hopefully. "He's been like this a couple of days."

"I can heal his physical injuries and sustain his body until he wakes, but there is something else going on with your brother," Castiel replied as he moved to sit on the bed by Dean. He laid a hand on his chest and allowed his grace to flow into the young hunter, healing the burns. Castiel suddenly froze like a statue with his hand still on Dean's chest as his eyes lost focus and went blank.

"Cas?" Sam asked when he saw the angel not moving. "Castiel what's wrong?" He looked at Dean and took the gauze from his face to see the burns had been healed. He removed the other pads finding the same thing, but Dean gave no indication of coming out of the comatose state he was in. "Bobby, what's wrong with Cas? It's like he zoned out too."

"I don't know Sam; this is all new to me. They haven't written a book on strange comatose states for humans or angels."

"Damn it! What do we do now?" Sam questioned. "I was sure Castiel would be able to help."

"The only thing we can do; we wait and see what happens. It was too late to make calls last night. I'm going to make some calls and see if I can get any more information on this Zortus, demigod. Then maybe we can find out what's happening to those two." Bobby left the room to make the calls.

Sam moved to Castiel's side and tried to move him but found him stiff and frozen in place. He made sure his hand wasn't hampering Dean's breathing and let him be. Whatever was happening to the angel and his brother, he hoped they were together and could help each other.

"Castiel, I don't know if you can hear me, but help my brother, please…I can't lose him…I need him back…" Sam let his voice trail off and slumped back into the chair by the bed resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He couldn't give up hope; he had to be positive and keep the negative thoughts out of his mind.


A/N: Sam calls on Castiel, for help, but things don't go as planned. Can Bobby and Sam figure something out? Where did Castiel go? Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I do like reviews/comments. NC