A huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate it and i love to hear what you think (plus i love the cookies!! Even the burnt ones ;o) LOL!) And a huge thank you to those who read only, i know you're out there!!
I have to warn you though, this fic is about to enter the land of the Chick Flick-would never happen on tv-not in a million years, but thats why we write these things!!
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Chapter Four
Count the beats.
Tilt the head.
Push hard and alternate the two major elements.
Count the beats.
Breathe.
Count the beats.
Breathe.
Ignore the blood.
Breathe.
Ignore the coldness.
Breathe.
Ignore the stillness.
Breathe.
Sam had reached Dean just as the oldest Winchester had collapsed under the water, he'd pulled his brother into his arms, only to be carried away by the current and pulled around the boulder. Using all his will power, all his force, and, unbeknown to Sam, a little psychic ability, he'd pulled them both across the river. Onto the shore on the clearing by the hut. It had taken all his strength. His will power and emotions pulled and pushed to their limit.
That's when he realised Dean wasn't breathing.
Whoever figured out the basics to CPR should have been made king as far as Sam was concerned. The actions so exhausting in dry, warm conditions, made ten times worse by the fact he ached all over, the cold and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him yet kept at bay by the incredible panic that one thought had brought.
Dean wasn't breathing.
Sam took a breath, tilted back Dean's head and placed his lips over his brother's, blowing valuable air into his sibling's starved lungs.
He interlaced his fingers, placed them over Dean's sternum and counted the beats.
Count.
Breathe.
Count.
Breathe.
Come on Dean!
He bent his head to breathe more oxygen into his brothers body just as a small wheeze reached his ears. Sam immediately grabbed Dean's shoulder and rolled him onto his side, thumping his back as the wheezing became hacking coughs and Dean spat up river water.
"Oh god thank you!. Thank you thank you thank you thankyouthanyouthankyouthanyou."
Sam pulled Dean close to him, making sure he was still turned to the side, lifting his body into his lap . Dean's head in the crook of Sam's arm. Sam's other arm around his body, willing him to take more breath's. The wheezing, coughing , painful intake of air the sweetest sound Sam had ever heard.
"Jesus Dean, don't ever do that to me again."
The lack of response scared Sam and he bent his head over his brother, trying to see if he was awake or not. The failing light making it impossible to tell.
"Why don't we get in that hut hey? Get warm. That sound good to you brother?"
Silence.
Sam didn't want to let go but he knew from his shivers and the lack of Dean's that he needed to get inside, get them both warm. He gently laid the older hunter down, making sure to keep him on his side. Gathering their supplies he ran into the hut , before starting the fire in the small stove he grabbed the basin and flung it outside onto the grass. Pulling out a blanket from their bag of supplies Sam ran back to his brother. Still in the same position as he'd left him. Wrapping him in the blanket he carefully hooked his right hand under Dean's legs, lifting him into his arms he walked slowly back to the shelter of the hut. The small stove warming the confines of the air within. The feeling washing over Sam as he carefully laid his brother onto the mattress. Closing the door Sam marvelled at the warmth that took over the hut. It may have looked like it was about to fall down and be of no use to anyone, but it had been built well and was serving it's purpose with pride.
Dean's face was covered in blood, after filling his water bottle from the river Sam used a cloth and began to clear the mess in order to see the damage beneath. A two inch gash sat just above Dean's hairline above his right eye. It was deep, but didn't look too bad. The trembling of his hands reminded Sam of his need to get warm. He peeled off his own coat and shirt, boots and jeans, laid them out by the stove and then pulled Dean into a sitting position, one knee behind his back to keep him upright while Sam worked his frozen fingers on the layers of his brother's clothes. He pulled the jacket off, fumbled with the shirt, stripped the t-shirt clear. His eyes wandered across the bruising that was already appearing on his brother's right side.
Laying him down he moved to the jeans, unbuttoning taking more concentration than the action should need. His fingers slowly gaining feeling and making any movement painful. Once the belt and buttons were undone Sam pulled off Dean's boots and shuffled him out of his jeans. The water moulding the denim to his brother's skin making the material refuse to slide. He'd almost reached the decision to cut off his jeans when the material gave way and he fell backwards.
Dean lay before him, clad only in his boxer shorts. He still wasn't shivering. Still wasn't moving. Sam felt his own shivers threatening to knock him off his feet. He grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders, remembering his fathers lessons on hypothermia he knew he couldn't warm Dean too quickly. He couldn't allow the blood to rush too quickly back into his limbs , causing his heart to fail with the shock. He rested his body behind his brother and pulled him close, keeping Dean on his side, wrapping his arms around him and pulling the blanket close across his chest. Sam's own shivers over took him as the cold of Dean made it's way into his bones. He was so cold. Too cold. Sam wished for his body warmth to return, so they could warm each other, have a laugh at the situation, have Dean yell at him for the hug he was currently trapped within. Ignoring the Dean voice inside his head that told him there would be hell to pay for the action, Sam wrapped his legs around his brother, willing every ounce of warmth from his body to Dean's. With his teeth chattering beside his brothers head he felt his eyes grow heavy. He wanted to stay awake, to be ready for when Dean woke up. To tend to his injuries and get them the hell out of there.
He nuzzled against his brothers back and kept one hand on Dean's chest, feeling the heart beating beneath. So slowly, so scarily slow. Sam ignored his panic, knew that once Dean began to warm up his heart would beat quicker.
But what if it didn't ?
What if he stayed this cold?
They were too far out to call for help, the only way they were getting back to the car and then back to the motel was by walking.
Five hours. It was a five hour walk without hypothermia and concussion.
Sam breathed in deep behind Dean and whispered a promise into his ear. He was going to be ok, he was going to save him, he was going to carry him out if he needed to. It was his turn to save his brother.
As his eyes grew heavy darkness finally claimed the land as it's own. All through the forest the night came to life. The light extinguished from existence, except for a small fire, in a small stove, in a small hut near the centre of the woodland.
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Do i get cookies for getting both boys in their boxers?!
Go on and review, it keeps the fire burning x
