Chapter 9

The days bled together, one into the other, as the week passed, and Dean got weaker. Storm found a church in a nearby town that rented used medical supplies and called to reserve a companion wheelchair and shower chair. She sent Sam to pick the items up along with a blood pressure cuff and O2 monitor so she could monitor Dean's vitals and oxygen levels. Storm wanted to make Dean as comfortable as possible since they were going to stay at the cabin for the duration, whatever happened.

Storm had been cooking all of Dean's favorite foods to entice him to eat. She even made him several flavors of pies, but even that didn't work. Since Dean started eating less, Storm had him drinking protein shakes to be sure he was getting the nutrients he needed.

"Hey Babe," Storm cooed to Dean as she sat down beside him on the bed. "You feel like getting up for a while and maybe eating something?"

Dean rolled toward her and worked on waking himself up. He could tell he was getting worse with each passing day but tried to hide it from Sam and Storm. If he could leave the cabin and save them the heartache of watching him die, he would.

"What time is it?" he asked, his voice weak, as he struggled to breath.

"After nine, I let you sleep in. You were restless last night." She took the blood pressure cuff and slipped it up his arm to take his vitals. She put the small monitor on his finger wanting to get a reading of his oxygen level. She noted them on a pad on the nightstand so she could keep track.

"Did I keep you awake?"

"No, I got some sleep." Storm lied, glancing down at the floor since she didn't want to tell him she stayed awake all night watching him because she was afraid, he would stop breathing. She kept a hand on his chest so she could feel the rise and fall of it, as he drew in each raspy breath. Storm had elevated Dean with a couple of extra pillows, hoping to make it easier for him to breath. She had convinced him with a lot of bribing to use the oxygen at night to keep his O2 stats up.

"Yeah, I need to get up," he grunted pushing himself up to sit on the side of the bed. He took the oxygen cannula from his nose and gently rubbed it. He sat there for several minutes letting the lightheadedness pass before attempting to stand. He let Storm slip an arm around his waist as they walked from the bedroom, and he nodded toward the bathroom first. "I got this, I'll come to the kitchen when I'm done."

"Alright, just be careful," Storm told him not wanting to leave, but knew Dean needed to be allowed to do to what he could as long as he could. She headed for the kitchen to fix him some breakfast.

Sam glanced up from the couch in the living room where he was on his laptop. He still had not given up trying to find something that could help Dean. He had turned to the supernatural and was searching every website that he could find and following up with contacts from John's journal.

"How is he today?" Sam asked Storm when he didn't see Dean.

"About the same, I think. His O2 level was down slightly from yesterday." Storm got out the batter from making pancakes earlier for Sam and her and put the pan on to heat. She stirred it and waited before pouring portions to make pancakes. They were almost done when Dean shuffled into the room and sat down at the bar. "Made you pancakes this morning, hope you're hungry."

"Not really," Dean mumbled as he slumped forward with his elbows on the bar.

"Try to eat a little," Storm coaxed. "For me."

"Only for you Babe," he replied, giving her a sideways smile.

"That's my handsome guy," she told him sitting a plate in front of Dean. "Do you want coffee or milk to drink?"

"Let me try coffee."

"Sure thing, coming right up." Storm turned to pour a cup of coffee and sat it where Dean could reach it. She glanced over at Sam who was studying Dean with a critical eye before quickly looking away when he saw Storm staring at him.

"These are good Babe," Dean commented as he cut another bite of the pancakes. He ate a couple more bites before pushing the plate away signaling, he was done.

Storm took the plate, noting he had only eaten less than half of the pancakes. She raked the leftovers into the trash and sat the plate in the sink, running water on it to wash later.

"You feel like taking a ride?" Storm asked Dean as he sipped on his coffee.

"Where to?" he questioned.

"No place in particular, really. I thought maybe we'd just explore."

"Alright, it'll be nice to get out of the cabin for a while. Let me change clothes." Dean got up slowly and went back to the bedroom to put on jeans, T-shirt and a long sleeved shirt. He grabbed a jacket off a chair to take too since he seemed to be cold all the time.

"You want to come too Sam?" Storm asked him as she waited for Dean.

"No, you guys go ahead, I've got a couple of phone calls to make," Sam replied. He wanted to give them some alone time when he could.

"Alright, there's leftovers in the fridge for lunch if we're not back by then."

"Okay, thanks. Have a good time."

"I'm ready," Dean announced as he came back into the room at a slow gait.

"Great, let me grab a couple of waters and granola bars to take with us," Storm told him. She went into the kitchen and put the things in a small bag before joining him at the door. "Shall we go?"

"You coming, Sammy?" Dean questioned.

"No, I've got some things to do here. You two go have a good time."

"I'll pull the car out, why don't you wait on the porch?" Storm told Dean as they stepped onto the porch.

"Okay," Dean huffed leaning against the railing as Storm walked to the carport and got into the Impala to start her up. He smiled as the engine roared to life and settled into a steady rumble as if she was happy to see him. He watched Storm back out and stop at the steps so he could get into the passenger side.

"Let's go exploring," Storm chirped as she gave the car some gas and headed for the road that led to the cabin. She turned to head higher into the mountains that surrounded the area. The road was two lane, narrow, curvy, and fun to drive. Storm took her time as she climbed higher before finding a lookout to pull off. "Look at that view," she commented as they got out of the car.

"It is beautiful, but not as beautiful as you," Dean whispered to her as they leaned against the hood of the Impala and looked out across a valley of multi-colors and textures. It was like someone had thrown a quilt across the valley with its different shades and colors highlighting the shadows and dips of the landscape.

"You always know the right thing to say," Storm mumbled as she put her arms around Dean and brushed a kiss across his lips. "Look, a hawk," she pointed to the bird that was dancing across the thermals in effortless flight.

"Nice," Dean replied.

Storm cuddled into his side as they watched the hawk swoop and glide along until it disappeared into the trees deep in the valley. "Do you feel okay?" she asked him when Dean shivered for a moment.

"Yeah, I'm good," he answered as a chill ran down his back. He zipped his jacket and pulled Storm closer, letting her body heat keep him warm. "I love you," he told her turning her so he could kiss her long and hard.

Storm responded to his advances and returned his kiss with passion and desire. Dean broke away first as he fought to get a deep breath. He waved off her concerns as he guided her to the back of the Impala and opened the door. He pulled her into the car and shut the door.

"Babe, are you sure?" Storm questioned as Dean pushed her down onto the seat.

"Yes, I want you," he insisted letting his hand slide under her shirt to feel her bare skin.

"I want you too," she whispered. "But let me do the work." She moved so Dean was laying down and she was on top. She kissed him again as she ran a hand over his crotch, feeling his erection. Once she shed her jeans and panties, she released his manhood and straddled him, guiding him into her wetness.

"Oh yes," Dean moaned as Storm began to move up and down slowly at first as he rested his hands on her hips. He arched his head back and let Storm take him away to where nothing mattered but the two of them. He felt her increasing her motions as she groaned with desire and could feel his on needs matching her.

"Together, oh yes, that's it…" Storm whispered as she leaned down to kiss him while bouncing her hips taking him deeper and carrying them both away as they climaxed together. She collapsed on his chest as they both trembled in the aftershocks that played out. "Are you okay?" Storm asked with concern when Dean wheezed for air. She quickly moved and helped him sit up as he gasped trying to pull in air.

"I'm okay," he rasped. "Give me a second." Dean made himself pull in several long, slow breaths as his heart beat irregularly.

"Here, drink a little water," Storm fussed as she reached for the bag to get a bottle of water. Once Dean took it, she quickly slipped on her clothes and helped him adjust his briefs and jeans and zip them. She put her hand on his chest and checked his heart rate as he sipped a little water. "Better?"

"Yeah, I'm not dying yet, but if I did, I would go happy," he surmised not realizing his joke would backfire.

Storm sucked in a sharp breath as tears filled her eyes and she looked at him with pain and hurt that she couldn't hide. She turned away from him and sobbed softly into her hands.

"Hey, hey Babe, I'm sorry," Dean mumbled to her as he pulled her into his arms. "I didn't mean to upset you. Don't cry." He rocked her in his arms as she clung to him, not able to stop the pent-up emotions from pouring out. Dean rubbed her back and whispered softly in her ear, trying to comfort her, and feeling like a heel at making the remark he did.

Storm finally pushed away from him and wiped her face as she hiccupped and got her emotions under control.

"Why don't we head back?" she finally said opening the door to get out. "You've had enough excitement for today."

"Do you forgive me?" he asked catching her hands and stopping her from getting into the driver's seat.

"You know I do and I'm sorry I broke down."

"It's okay, we're all stressed and worried about me. I wish I could make it all go away, but that only happens in fairy tales."

"I'm not giving up. Have some faith that we will find a way to save you. There's got to be something out there we just have to find it."

"Babe, I know you and Sam are trying, and I appreciate it, but sometimes things don't work out and there's no happy ending."

"I can't accept that," she whispered stepping into his arms. They stood on the mountainside like that for a while before Storm pulled away and opened the car door. She let Dean slip in and move across the seat to the passenger side and then got behind the wheel. The ride back to the cabin was quiet and subdued.

When they got back, Storm suggested Dean take a shower and put on some warm clothes and rest some. He agreed only if she would join him in the shower and lay down with him. After a quick shower, and change of clothes, Storm lay with Dean until he drifted to sleep and then got up to talk to Sam.

Sam watched Dean and Storm and could tell by Storm's body language that something happened while they were gone. He wasn't sure what and didn't know if he should pry and ask. Storm's clothes were wrinkled and slightly askew and Dean looked pale but actually seemed happy. He thought of one thing that would cause that and blushed trying not to picture it in his mind. Sam heard Dean asking Storm to shower with him and put in earbuds and concentrated on his laptop. He didn't need to hear anything that was going on in the bathroom.

A/N: Storm is not giving up hope, but it is getting hard to have faith and believe as Dean gets worse. One more chapter and we will be coming to the end of this journey. Comments would be great. NC