Thanks for the continued following guys. :)

Ch. 5

The farther down this tunnel they go, the more Sam is sure this will at least take them in the right direction to get out of here. The railway lines keep going, shovels and carts are left around. This tunnel was obviously used. They just hope it doesn't come to a dead end.

After an hour of Sam's stomach continuously growling, Dean finally decides to take a break. "Geeze, you'd think we never feed you," he grumbles as they sit.

Sam huffs. "Sorry. I'm always hungry."

"And you have those arms and legs that just keep growing, yet you never eat any good food. That's why."

Sam rolls his eyes to himself in the dark. "I eat good food."

"Obviously not food that sticks to your bones."

"Shut up and get the food out."

"You better watch yourself, bitch. You won't get any food." He turns on the flashlight, holding the end with his mouth as he looks through the bag.

"Like you'd do that to me."

"U wever wo."

"Don't talk with your mouth full of flashlight. Makes you sound even more unintelligent." Sam grins when Dean looks up with a glare.

Dean takes out one of the sandwiches, throwing it at Sam's face.

Sam laughs, digging in right away.

"Make it last," Dean grunts, mouth now empty of flashlight. "We only have one more each. And like… two bags of chips."

Sam sighs. "Great."

They use this time as a short break, starting off again after about fifteen minutes, half a sandwich each left in their hand to snack on as they go. The tunnel they're in overlaps with the one below with water in it again, a small gap where the ground fell through showing them.

Sam frowns. "I wonder if it's like an underground river in the mountain. May have caused the instability that made this place start caving in."

"In that case I hope we don't find a place where it makes it up here."

Sam snorts. "That would be our luck."

"Ever the optimist."

"Hey. Usually it's you that's being the downer."

"Whatever."

They're both quiet for a while. Content to just keep walking. Until one time Dean turns the flashlight on and it's just a tiny, dim circle.

Dean sighs, turning it back off. "Let's save it for when it's really important."

Sam nods to himself. "That would be smart. Now we have to be extra careful to not fall into a hole."

"Don't worry. We'll just take it slow. "Okay?" Dean sets the bag down to slide the flashlight into it, feeling his jacket before pulling it on. "Jackets are still a little damp, but it's better than nothing. Do you want yours?"

"Yeah, sure." Sam pulls on his own jacket, reaching out to take a handful of the back of Dean's to hold onto after.

Dean doesn't say anything about it. Knows it's a security thing. Likes it himself. He can feel the slight tug and know his brother is there. Slinging the bag over his shoulder again, they keep walking, slower this time. The dark is a little more haunting when you know you won't have light for too much longer.

"Dean?"

"Hmm?"

"Tell me the truth. How do you think we'll do?"

It's quiet for a long time. But Sam is patient. And Dean knows there's no getting out of this. As they walk, Dean takes the time to really think about his answer. "It really depends on these tunnels, Sam. If we end up stuck here and have to go around. If they take us in the right direction. How far away we are. I honestly don't know."

"You think it will be before we starve?"

"Sam, you know it takes a while to starve."

"Yeah but… if we get stuck. You think they'll be able to get to us?"

Dean stops walking, sighing. "Sam…"

"I just… I'm scared, De."

Dean runs a hand down his face in the dark. Sam admitting he's scared is getting few and far between as he gets older. Makes him hate it more every time. He turns to put his hands on Sam's shoulders to establish a connection in the dark. "Sammy. I'm gonna get you out of here. You hear me? If we end up stuck and have to wait for someone to find us, I'll make sure you don't starve."

"How?" The sarcasm is evident.

"You can eat me?"

"Ew, Dean! Gross!" He shoves his laughing brother away.

Dean full on belly laughs, bending over as he gasps for breath.

"That's not funny, Dean!"

"I wish I could see your face!"

"Dean!"

Dean goes forward to pull Sam into a hug, still chuckling. "Sammy, we'll make it. Okay? C'mon." He tugs his brother with him as he starts walking, snorting when Sam elbows him in the ribs.

It isn't two minutes later that whatever happiness was lingering is taken away.

"Dean."

"What?"

"Does the ground feel wetter to you?"

Dean digs out the flashlight, figuring this was important enough to use it. Switching it on, he shines it down on the ground. Sure enough, they're walking in mud now. As he watches, it starts to get wetter. "Well shit." He shines the dim light around as they keep walking, noticing it's getting dryer the more they walk, not wetter.

"It's coming from behind us?"

"Guess so." Dean turns around to shine the light down the tunnel where they just came.

The brother's watch as water starts trickling towards them. Little by little at first. Barely noticeable. But soon, it starts coming more.

"Dean…"

"Lets' keep moving. C'mon."

"You just had to mention the water making it up here."

"Shut up, Sam."

They start going faster, ducking as they go through a lower part of the tunnel. Their feet start splashing in the water.

"Damnit. It must be raining."

"You think?" thick with sarcasm.

"Sam, you're really not helping."

Getting to another fork in the path, they stop. Dean shines the light down both.

"Let's go to the right. We went left last time." Sam pulls Dean with him.

They get two minutes down the tunnel, and it starts going down. "Maybe we should go to the other one. We should find higher ground."

Sam sighs. "Yeah. Let's go." When they get back to where the tunnel split, the water is getting high enough to seep into their shoes. "Do you hear that?"

Dean listens too, cursing again before pulling Sam with him to go down the other tunnel. "Probably another storm like the one that was going on when we got here."

"That's a lot of water."

"Just keep moving."

Five minutes in and the water starts rising again. And the sound they heard earlier is getting louder. It's like a stream. More water is on its way. They keep walking. Not quite panicking yet. They still have time. This tunnel has a small spot too, and it doesn't go up. It's still better than going down. Eventually though, they get to another cave in. Luckily, it's not quite as close to the top as the one before. They'll have plenty of room to go over. As they get to it, the rest of the water comes.

Sam lets out a small cry of surprise when the icy cold water splashes up onto his legs. By the time they reach the cave in, its up to his knees.

"Alright. Up you go." Dean goes to help start Sam up the wall.

Sam steps back, frowning. "No. Together. I can climb. Let's go."

Dean sighs, turning to start up. "Alright. C'mon."

Sam starts pulling himself up as the flood hits. It splashes up against the wall, soaking the front of his shirt to make him gasp in surprise at the new onslaught of cold water. He's right next to Dean, only a little lower, but as more water starts splashing up against the dirt, it starts giving away below his feet.

Dean makes it to the top first, turning around to reach down for Sam's hand. He has the flashlight in his mouth, casting only a small glow around them.

Sam reaches up to grab his hand just as the next wave of water hits. Though he's lucky enough to close his hand around Dean's wrist as Dean does to his, the water soaks him to the bone, some splashing up in a wave to choke him. As he coughs up the water, he tries to help Dean pull him up the wall. Scrambling with his other hand, he manages to reach the top and pull himself up and over.

Dean grabs his shirt to yank him over the other side and they both slide down together. Dean is muttering to himself as he yanks Sam's jacket off and using the sleeve of his own to wipe off his face and hair. Eventually, he actually starts talking so Sam can understand him. "You just had to be difficult."

Sam is shivering too much to care, letting Dean wipe the water from his face and wrapping his arms around himself after his jacket is stripped away. He leans into Dean when his brother wraps his arms around him and starts wiping his jacket over Sam's shirt in an attempt to soak up some of the water.

"You alright?"

"Jus' cold." He sighs in relief when Dean closes his arms around him and just holds him to his chest. As Dean's body heat seeps into him, he starts to stop shivering. "You're getting wet," he mumbles.

"You're already wet," Dean mutters. "Me gettin' damp isn't gonna kill me."

Sam doesn't argue. Just lets himself revel in the warmth of his brother. "Thanks," he breathes after a while.

Dean sighs. Pulls the flashlight from where he stashed it in his pocket before warming Sam to shine it on the cave in. Water is seeping through, and a little is making it over, but so far it's keeping the water away. "We should keep moving. You gonna be okay?"

Sam nods, stepping away and lifting his shirt away from his chest to shake it in an attempt to air dry it. When Dean looks to him, he waves his hand to the tunnel. "Lead the way."

Dean shakes his head, throwing Sam's jacket to dry over the bag still hanging over his torso and starts walking. The flashlight goes back into the bag. It isn't two minutes before his worry comes to the forefront. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah. Just a little cold."

"You choked on some water back there. You breathing okay?"

Sam huffs out a laugh. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Next time I go to help you, no arguing. Alright?"

Sam rolls his eyes to himself. "Fine."

"Don't roll your eyes at me."

He glares into the darkness. "Shut up."

Dean chuckles.

The next hour of walking isn't too bad. Dean grumbles about his wet boots. Sam punches him in the arm and reminds him of his soaked clothes. Dean throws his arm over his shoulders and holds him close to his side to share body heat as they walk. The longer they go though, the more Sam starts to slow. Another hour later and he asks to sit for a while and take a break. He's starting to shiver again.

Dean frowns as he sits. "You tired?"

Sam follows. "Yeah. A little cold too."

Dean turns and reaches out, taking his face in his hands. "Hey. You alright?" He hums in disapproval. "You feel warm."

Sam presses his face into Dean's hands. "So do you." He shivers, pushing Dean back and crawls into his lap a second later. "Can we take a break?"

Dean sits dumbfounded as his fifteen year old brother curls up into his lap like a cat, even pressing his face into his neck again. Just because he wants to this time, not for comfort. He closes his arms around Sam though, tightening them and tucking him closer when he feels him shiver through the heat radiating from his body.

"Yeah. We can take a break." Inside, he's cursing. Sam is sick. He's burning up. After getting soaked twice, it's no wonder he's getting sick. This isn't good. Not at all. "Sleep, Sammy. We'll keep going when you feel better."

The only reply he gets is a quiet hum against his collar bone.

Using one hand, he opens their bag, finally seeing this as urgent enough to pull out the extra jacket and shakes it open. He slowly brings it over his brother, tucking it around him. He already feels himself starting to sweat but when he feels Sam shiver again, he decides it doesn't matter. Sam needs to stay warm. He rests his cheek on Sam's head, letting his eyes fall closed. They could both use a little sleep.

He wakes up even sweatier than when he fell asleep. The reason he woke up makes itself know when Sam shifts again, a low moan coming from his throat. Dean shifts to look down at his face, seeing it scrunched. He reaches up to smooth away the lines. "Easy, Sammy. I've got you." He pushes Sam's sweaty hair away from his face, kissing his forehead, then sighs. "We need to keep going little brother."

Sam doesn't stir.

Dean ponders for a minute, then sighs again. He sits up, holding Sam to him as he pulls the jacket around and slides Sam's arms into it. "Should have known you'd find a way to get the jacket," he teases his sleeping brother. "But I didn't think you'd go gettin' yourself sick."

"Jerk," Sam mumbles, opening his eyes a little.

Dean grins. "What? It's true." He stands, helping Sam up after. He swallows his worry when Sam sways, turning around and pulling his arms over his shoulders. "Climb aboard little monkey."

"Shut up," Sam mutters, but wraps his arms around his brother's shoulders before pulling up to do the same with his legs. "Not little." He presses his face back into his brother's neck.

Dean chuckles, getting a hold of his brother's legs to support him. "Enough for me to give you a piggy back ride. I thought I was done with these."

Sam huffs into his neck.

Dean smiles. If Sam is still able to get annoyed, then he must not be too bad. Lifting the bag into his shoulder, he starts off again. He uses some of the last of their dying flashlight to keep from running into anything. Doesn't want to take any chances with his brother on his back. Sam falls asleep for another hour. He knows when Sam wakes up again because his arms re-tighten around his shoulders.

"De?"

"Hmm?"

"You might want to set me down."

Dean has heard that particular voice since the kid was five. Now, the waver and grit in it is giving him a warning. A second later, he's crouching down and turning to lower his weak brother to his knees. "Hey. You're alright. Just breathe."

Sam takes shallow breaths, trying to stay in control. "I don't feel good."

Dean huffs out a humorless laugh. "You think, little brother?"

"You probably want to back up."

"Not goin' anywhere, Sammy."

"De-"

"Do you know how many times I had to clean up your messes when you were little?"

Sam's face scrunches and he opens his mouth to answer, but is suddenly cut off with a gag. He lets himself lean forward, finally unable to keep from emptying the contents of his stomach. Which weren't much in the first place. Neither of them have eaten since the sandwich earlier.

Dean stays resiliently beside him, one hand on his shoulder and the other running through his hair. "Easy. Easy. Let it out. Maybe you'll feel better then."

Sam groans. "This sucks."

Dean huffs. "You're tellin me."

Sam spits one more time. "Too bad we don't have good water."

Dean sighs. "Yeah I know. You want a small bite of a sandwich just to get the taste out of your mouth? I'm sure that one little bite wouldn't make you sick again."

"Yeah. Thanks."

Dean hands him one of the remaining sandwiches, rubbing soothing circles on his back before taking he sandwich after Sam takes a bite. "You okay?" He zip locks the bag and puts the sandwich away.

Sam pulls the jacket closer around him. "Just a little cold."

"You good to travel?"

Sam nods. "We need to keep moving."

"Want me to carry you?"

Sam looks up, a crooked, sad, and hesitant smile on his face. "Please?"

Dean chuckles, turning around. "Climb aboard."

Sam does, resting his chin on Dean's shoulder. He turns his face to touch his nose to Dean's cheek. "Thanks, Dean."

Dean turns his head so that Sam's forehead touches Dean's temple. "You're welcome baby boy." He starts walking, hands strong under Sam's thighs to hold him up and back bent to let him lean forward. He tries to keep his sick brother comfortable. As comfortable as he can possibly be down here.

"I'll let you know if I feel sick, 'kay?"

"I'm not worried, Sammy. Don't be defensive. Okay?"

Sam finally relaxes, laying his head down on Dean's shoulder. "Hey, Dean."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

It's quiet for a minute. When Sam is ready to just feel stupid, Dean answers. "You know I love you too, Sam."

Sam seems to try and burrow even closer, arms tightening and turning his face the other way to press in under Dean's jaw. "Always nice to hear though."

The warmth that spreads through Dean has nothing to do with his brother on his back. He turns his head to brush his lips against Sam's forehead. "I know. Love you little brother."

One of Sam's arms moves up to wrap around Dean's neck, fingers sinking into the short hairs on the back. "Thanks."

So... how about that premiere? :)