Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun filling in the time until September!

Double Trouble

Chapter 18 – Road Home

Dean paused as he pulled up in front of the old farm house. The paint had long since worn off the old home and the farm looked like it had been abandoned for years. "He's in the storm shelter?" Dean asked the woman beside him.

"He shore is…now don't wait for me, I'll be there in a moment. You just need to get to your brother." Missouri slowly exited the car and started to follow Dean.

Dean didn't need to be told twice; he headed for the back of the house and quickly spotted the storm shelter. He saw the brand new padlock on the door, and knew that Sammy must be inside. "Sammy…Sammy, I'm coming!" Dean called, hoping his brother could hear him.

Pulling out his lock picks, Dean made short work of the padlock. Opening the old door, he quickly climbed into the dark cellar below. Dean pulled out his flashlight but almost dropped it when he found the huddled form of his brother. "Oh God Sammy!" Dean dropped to his knees and quickly felt for a pulse. He sighed with relief when he felt the weak, but steady beat of Sam's heart.

Carefully rolling Sam over, he grimaced at the wires that were digging into his brother's wrists and ankles. He could see the blood and heard Sam's sharp intake of breath as he gently tried to unwrap the wire from his brother. "Hold on Sammy…let me just get this off of you, then I can take a better look. I swear kiddo, I can't let you out of my sight for a minute!" Dean tried to keep his tone light, not wanting to frighten Sam.

Dean threw the wire across the room as he once again gently turned Sam onto his back. He could see the faint bluish tinge to Sam's lips and the constant shivers that traveled up his brother's body. Dean pulled a couple of the blankets from the nearby shelf and wrapped Sam in them. Sam's body was covered in bruises and his face was a bloody mess. "Sammy…how many times do I have to tell you…you don't lead with your face bro'!"

Dean smiled as he heard a soft groan coming from his brother. "Hey, Sammy, that's it open your eyes for me."

Sam slowly opened his eyes, groaning again as the tremors in his body made his injuries hurt even more than before. He squinted at the dark shape. "NO!" Sam yelled as he pushed the dark shape aside and tried to get to his feet. But his body was too weak. Sam pushed himself against the wall and curled into a ball. "Won't let you in…kill me if you want…but won't let you win!"

"Whoa there little brother, it's me…let me help you?" Dean realized that Sam was probably running a fever and didn't recognize him.

"NO! It's a trick…shape shifter in Dean clothing…won't be fooled….so cccolddd…tired…Missouri, help me! Where's Dean…please…no more…just kill me!" Sam whimpered as he rocked back and forth.

Dean wasn't sure what to do. Obviously Sam thought Dean was the shape shifter trying to fool him. He could understand it, but he needed to get Sam out of here and somewhere warm. He heard Missouri cautiously climbing down the stairs. "Missouri, he won't let me near him…can you try?"

Missouri walked slowly over towards Sam; she didn't make any sudden movements, but slowly reached out with her hand and touched Sam's shoulder. She could feel the heat of the fever within his body, burning just below the chilled skin. "Sam, you gotta let Dean and me help you…you're running a fever child, the shape shifter is dead and can't hurt you any more. Let Dean help you ok?" She continued to murmur softly to Sam while motioning Dean to come closer.

Sam slowly uncurled and looked closer at the approaching figure. His eyes, searching for the one that could make his pain go away…"Dean, help me please?" Sam cried as another sob was wretched from his lips.

Dean ignored the hurt that he had felt when Sam turned to Missouri instead of him, it disappeared at the trust he saw shining from his brother's pain filled gaze. "Don't worry Sam, I'll help you. Do you think you can stand for me? I don't know if I can carry you out of here yet…I need you to help me ok?" Dean wished his ribs and arm were totally healed, but if he had to, he would carry Sam out of here.

Sam noticed the way Dean held his injured arm close to his body. He remembered, Dean had been hurt and he was supposed to be looking after him. "Dean, you're supposed to be in bed…come on, let me help you back into bed." Sam stood on unsteady legs and reached to put Dean's arm around his shoulders.

Dean smiled at the way Sam tried to help him. "Ok little brother, just take it slow and easy ok?"

"Sure Dean, I'll get you back to bed…just lean on me." Sam slurred, not realizing of course that Dean was the one who was taking most of Sam's weight. Dean figured as long as it got them out of here, he'd go with it.

A few moments later, Dean had gotten Sam out of the storm shelter and was helping him towards the car. He paused for a moment and looked at Missouri. "You know what Sam, how about we get you inside the house for a moment. I need to get the car ready for you."

Sam just nodded, too tired to do much more than put one foot in front of the other. Dean had to let Sam lean against the wall for a moment while he worked on getting the door open. Missouri had placed a steadying hand on Sam to keep him from falling. "Damn, having one hand sure is a pain!" Dean complained as he opened the door and grabbed Sam again.

Moving as quickly as he could to an old sofa, Dean lowered Sam down and pulled the blanket tighter around the shivering form of his brother. "You just sit here and rest for a moment with Missouri…I'm going out to the car and get you some thing warmer to wear…ok little brother?"

"M'kay" Sam managed before his head fell softly to his chest. Missouri sat beside Sam on the old sofa. "Go ahead and get what you need to done Dean. I'll watch out for Sam."

Dean nodded and headed back to the Impala. Luckily he didn't have to drag the shape shifter far…just far enough to burn the remains. Normally, he would have preferred to dig a shallow grave, but for now, he would just have to make due. He wanted to make sure that there was no way this son of a bitch could hurt his Sammy again.

Dean watched the fire burn, glad that Sammy wasn't around to watch. He had to admit, seeing his brother's shape going up in flames had a chilling affect on him. He just thanked whoever was looking out for them that it was the shape shifter and not Sammy who had died.

Going back to the car, Dean grabbed a couple more blankets from the trunk and some clothes for Sam. He placed one of the blankets on the seat and draped the other over the front seat. He started the car to get the interior warm before he brought his brother out.

Dean walked into the house and smiled softly. Both Missouri and Sam had fallen asleep; it wasn't clear who was holding up who. "Man Sammy, you're lucky I don't have my picture phone with me…the blackmail." Dean chuckled softly and approached the tired pair.

"Missouri, Sammy…come on you two sleepy heads, its time to hit the road for home!" Dean watched as two pairs of sleepy eyes opened and looked in his direction. Missouri was the first to move. "Dean Winchester, stop your goofing around and help me get this poor boy into the car!" Dean smiled, he could have sworn he saw a slight blush on the woman's face.

"Ok Sammy, let's get you dressed and then up and out of here." Dean helped Sam dress and get to his feet and once again struggled to get his brother to the car. Missouri helped him get Sam situated in the back seat with the extra blanket to keep Sam warm. Dean noticed that the blue tinge was gone from Sam's lips, but his body continued to shiver with the cold.

Dean climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. He looked at Missouri and said softly. "I don't know, do you think we should head for your house or go to the hospital…he's really looking bad."

Missouri smiled as she heard the soft voice from the back seat. "NO HOSPITAL!"

Dean shook his head and started back towards Missouri's house. "Ok Sam, but if you get any worse, I'm taking you to the emergency room…I'm not fooling around."

Sam sighed and closed his eyes as he watched the two in the front seat begin to argue over the music. For the first time in days, he closed his eyes and felt safe.

TBC

Raven524: Just a little more to go on this story…hope you are all still enjoying the ride!