There's no way this story deserves the attention it's had!! But i thank you all and wish i could convey how much your words have meant!! Love you all!!

Only one more chapter to go after this, time to start bringing the boys back to the motel!

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Chapter Six

"Dude! What the hell?"

"Dean I've got to see how deep the cut is."

"You don't have to pull it apart further to see that. Jesus take it easy Dr Frankenstein."

"You're annoyed because you're in pain, so I'm going to ignore that comment."

Dean raised a finger to Sam.

"I'm ignoring that too."

Sam had awoken an hour before dawn, the fire in the stove had dwindled dangerously low and the cold was making it's presence known in the small hut. He'd pulled himself reluctantly from his brother and added more wood. Thankfully no one had cleared out the hut and Isiah had left behind a nice supply of logs for the fire. His clothes now dry, Sam quickly re-dressed and turned back to Dean. His brother was no longer shivering and had pulled the blanket further around him when Sam had moved to get up. He still looked pale, too pale, and his freckles stood out in stark contrast to the rest of his skin.

Sam pulled a metal dish and mug from his backpack and began to heat some water. Once ready he dipped a cloth into the warmth and began to clean the rest of the blood from Dean's head. His brother had opened a lazy eye and attempted to push him away. His movements were still sluggish and uncoordinated. Sam wasn't sure if it was the effects of the hypothermia or the concussion he was no doubt feeling. Probably a combination of both. Sam wiped more blood away and then gently lifted Dean's chin to check his pupils. He had no fear that they'd be both equal and reactive. Dean had woken up during the night without prompting and put Sam's fears at bay as to how bad the concussion could be.

As he tried to tilt Dean's head back to take a better look at the gash, his brother had become more aware, and in typical Dean fashion, had begun to fight him.

"Doesn't look too bad."

"That's not what the pounding in my head is saying." Dean squinted up at Sam in the early morning light.

"Is the headache bad?"

Dean frowned and shook his head in the negative, immediately regretting the action as his stomach cramped . His hand attempted to fly to his mouth but his movements became confused and he ended up smacking himself in the face. Sam grabbed the hand and pulled his brother forward, over a box he'd pulled from the corner of the hut.

By the time Dean had finished throwing up what meagre contents were in his stomach, he was drenched in sweat and barely able to hold himself in a sitting position. Sam coaxed him back down and wiped his face and neck with a cloth.

"You ok now?"

A tired nod, and with that Dean fell back to sleep. Sam sighed and ran a hand through his hair. They needed to get out of there. He hoped that when he woke up again Dean would feel stronger. Sam pulled his brother's bag over to him and began to rummage through, he had pretty much the same items, a metal cup, bowl, some first aid supplies, gun , coffee and, wait…..an industrial sized bag of M&M's.

Typical.

Sam took the coffee and warmed up the water in his mug on the stove. He pulled open the bag of M&M's and began a morning breakfast of champions.

When Dean finally awoke, an hour later, he had to admit he did feel better. Yes he had one major killer of a headache, and his ribs protested every movement. But he felt more awake, more aware than he had since his dive into the river. He accepted a hot mug of coffee from Sam and even allowed his brother to help him into a sitting position. He did however bat away the prying hands that attempted to check his ribs.

"Sam."

"I need to check them Dean."

"I'm ok, really, I am. They're not broken."

"No?" Asked Sam disbelievingly. The bruising covered the majority of Dean's right side.

"Honestly, they're bruised to hell, yes. But broken? No."

"Thank god."

"I can't believe that happened."

"What?"

"Me falling. If anyone was to fall it should have been you sasquatch."

"Why the hell would it have been me?"

"You're all limbs." Dean gestured toward Sam with his free hand while sipping coffee from the other.

"Not my fault you're uncoordinated Dean."

"Uncoordinated? Who was it that broke their hand falling like a damsel in distress while running away from a little itty bitty girl zombie."

"Girl Zombie? She broke my hand Dean, I was fighting her."

"You were running away."

"Whatever." Sam let out an exasperated sigh. " Look dude, we're gonna have to walk out of here. Are you gonna be ok with that? Otherwise I'll go and get help."

"NO!" Dean took a breath and ignored Sam's smirk. "I can make it out of here, you don't need to go anywhere on your own."

"I'll be fine."

"No Sam."

"Ok then. We walk out of here. I'm going to go and fill the canteens with water. You be alright to get dressed by yourself?"

"Yeeeeeeeees." And before his eyes the 6'1" five year old reappeared to Sam.

"Back in a minute."

"Scaredy cat."

When Sam returned he found Dean bent over at the waist attempting to catch his breath. He had his jeans on but the boots had proven too much. He still had yet to put his t-shirt and shirt on.

Silently Sam helped his brother stand upright, pulling the t-shirt carefully over his head and pulling his arms through the shirt. He helped Dean sit back down and ran him over with an appraising eye as he pulled his socks and boots back on.

"You sure you'll be alright man?"

"Yeah Sam. I'm fine, just need to get going and I'll be ok."

"Ok man." Sam gathered up the supplies and slung both bags across his shoulders, ignoring Dean's attempt to reach for one. After putting out the fire they walked out into the cool morning air and began their slow walk back along the path.

"Well that's just friggin typical isn't it."

Sam stopped and turned, followed Dean's gaze and looked out onto the most serene morning he'd ever bourn witness to. The river meandered lazily past them, making a slow trail downstream. Gone was the raging torrent. Gone was the lashing water over the boulders. Instead there was a calm and peacefulness to the scene.

Just to rub it in some more a deer approached the opposite bank and waded into the water to drink carefully while watching the two hunters on the other side.

"Just friggin great."

Sam reached back and pulled Dean forward by the lapel of his coat.

"Come on man."

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Couldn't let another chapter go past without some Dean snark!

I can't believe we're finally gonna have an ep this week!! It's like all my Christmas's have come at once!!