Pain And Confusion.

Summary. . . . . . Icy weather, pain, confusion. One man walks alone, feeling all three.

Disclaimer. . . . . Sam and Dean belong to Kripkie, the plot and mistakes are all mine.

A.N. . . . . . . Would just like to thank Kris for her amazing advice on this chapter. Enjoy the chapter, Peanut x

"D'n?" Sam asked, gasping in pain as a scream was ripped from his throat, the very act of speaking sending spasms of red hot pain rushing through every nerve of his being, causing the chain reaction of agony and breathlessness to start all over again. He raised a quaking hand to swipe at his eyes, still unsure if the apparition before him was the brother he so desperately wanted to see, the action gaining him nothing but more agony as his clouded vision failed to clear, and the move accentuated the torment, the wretchedness he was already feeling. He tentatively reached forward with the same hand, deciding to take a risk, so sure that if he didn't at least try to find out what was before him, he would continue to grow weaker until there would be no coming back.

He flinched and almost retreated back as his hand struck something solid, yet the texture, the smoothness, the touch of the fabric beneath his fingers stopped him, years of being comforted by that same fabric, allowing his mind to finally accept that Dean was here. He forced his trembling body to move into the warmth generating from his brother, the small effort taking away what little reserves he had left, leaving him panting for breath and wilting into the chest of his sibling, his body screaming in discomfort, but his mind for the first time at ease. He closed his eyes wanting now for the darkness to overtake him, wanting to be allowed to sleep, to rest and wake up when all the pain had been removed, but that irritating tap, tap, tap on his cheek returned, along with Dean's voice speaking words he still had trouble making out, but in a tone that was all too clear, worry, panic, fear.

He tried to think, the process increasing the pounding that was reverberating around his skull, to identify why Dean would be so worried, so panicked, but his thoughts were jumbled, muddled at best. It couldn't be because he was injured, the images he had seen earlier had shown him in worse situations, so what was wrong. One thought kept creeping to the brink, only to jump back as he tried to grasp it. He tried all the more to bring the thought to the surface, his face scrunched up in pain and concentration as his mind fought to keep a hold of the secret he was desperately trying to reveal, it was no use though as no matter how hard he tried the memory just remained too far out of reach; only snippets breaking through. Why was he here? How was he hurt? That was it! Dean was worried not because he was hurt, but because the thing that caused the hurt was still at large, that was why his brother was trying so hard to stop his descent into oblivion.

With this new knowledge came a new fear inside himself, the emotion brewing until it consumed him, over riding all feelings of discomfort he had been battling as a new thought struck like an arrow deep within his heart; Dean wasn't safe, Dean could get hurt, he had to get Dean out of here. He began to push against the firm muscle that held his weakened body upright, in an effort to raise himself of the ground, needing to be ready, to be in a stronger position for when the attack eventually came, but his deadened limbs refused to cooperate, the muscles turned to mush like the snow he had been sitting upon. The fear for Dean, and the knowledge that he wouldn't be able to protect him began to grow again, causing his agitation to increase, and him to strive all the more to regain his footing; confusion and distress troubling him as those same strong arms that had seemed such a comfort moments ago began to push him back down to the ground.

Around a throat that was hoarse and tender, he tried to get out words of warning, but all he achieved were muffled, jumbled noises. Bracing himself for the agony he was about to put upon himself, he attempted to clear his throat of the blood and mucus that was collecting there, allowing the claret to once again stain the pristine white that surrounded him once he had succeeded. Fighting against the pain that wanted to control him yet again, he tried once more to convey his worries to his sibling. "D'n. Beast." Mystified when all he got in response was more comfort and murmurings. He felt more than saw a bottle placed on his lips, and he drank greedily from it's confines, relishing the cool water as it eased his ravaged throat, and seemed to replenish his aching body, giving his thoughts and actions more cohesion. With a bit more strength, he attempted to warn Dean again. "Dean, need to go, beast will be back."

He nearly cried out in relief as the words spoken back to him registered in his battered mind. "What ya talking about, Sammy?"

"The beast, hurt me."

"Sammy, we crashed Bobby's junker. We crashed because of a deer. A freakin' deer!"

"N. . .no beast?"

"No beast, baby brother. We do need to get you out of here though, do you think you can make it? Or should we wait for Bobby, he's on his way?"

"M'kay, make it." He held out a shaking arm, requesting a boost up, his body protesting the change in altitude causing his stomach to turn, and his mind to wonder if he should relent and wait for the extra help; but he was up now and he didn't relish the idea of sitting back down in the cold. He snuggled into the blanket that was suddenly placed around his shoulders, and prepared himself for the torture he was about to inflict upon himself, one thought refusing to allow his mind to rest though. Turning to where he thought Dean was he asked. "Deer 'kay?"

To be continued. . . . .

A.N. . . . . As some of you know I was going to have this as my last chapter, but I've decided to add one more. It will be Dean's POV from the crash, waking up, tracking Sam and the fix up at Bobby's. Thanks as always for reading, I hope that the chapter was to your liking, catch you soon, Peanut x

A.N.2. . . . . . . I will be getting back to The Nutcracker once this baby has been competed, sorry to anyone who's waiting on that one.