"Dean , You okay?" Sam asked worridely .
He could see Dean getting paler by the second. Dean's eyes were wide open and he was staring fixedly in the air. It seemed as if he was locked in some kind of trance. Even though his eyes were open but it seemed as if he couldn't see anything.
He was panting heavily and sweat was rolling down his face. Sam frowned at him. He couldn't understand what was happening. So far the spell had only affected Dean when Sam was in danger or Dean thought that he was in danger. Then why was Dean looking like he was on the verge of a panic attack? Sam was right infront of him safe and sound.
Suddenly Dean clutched his chest , his fingers intertwined with the soaked fabric of his shirt. He cried out in pain and he sank to the ground on his knees.
"Dean. Please calm down" Sam shouted as he kneeled infront of Dean and took hold of his shoulders. Panic was creeping in his chest. Dean was in pain and it was that witche's fault and Sam could'nt do anything about it . Sam gripped Dean's shoulders tightly. He could feel Dean's tense muscles under his grip.
"Dean , look I'm alright. I'm fine . I'm not going anywhere. Ok" Sam said calmly but it seemed as if Dean couldn't hear him. Sam shook Dean by the shoulders willing his brother to meet his gaze. The sheer terror lined in Dean's emerald eyes was contagious and Sam could'nt do anything to ease his pain. Sam screamed and shouted at Dean but Dean did not even flinch. He just kept clutching his chest as if his heart would leap out of it any minute.
Dean cried out again and suddenly he went limp in Sam's arms. For a moment Sam froze when he felt Dean's body go lax in his arms. Quickly he snapped out of his daze.
Sam gently laid him on the floor and with trembling fingers he checked Dean's pulse. His heart skipped a beat when he felt no pulse. He tried harder but he could'nt feel a vein pulsating under his fingers. Garth had said that a person may die from the curse. No! Sam shook his head and pushed that thought out of his head.
Sam quickly started compression on Dean's chest alternating with breathing air into his mouth. He had to jump start Dean's heart. He knew that Dean couldn't just die from a stupid curse . He was a Winchester for God's sake. The sudden cessation of heart beat pointed to a cardiac arrest so CPR should do the trick.
"Garth " Sam shouted . Garth appeared in the door and immediately kneeled besides Sam . He looked too shell shocked and seemed to be frozen in place. His already huge eyes seemed impossibly bigger.
"Please check his pulse" Sam said as he continued to push at Dean's chest with his palms.
Garth took hold of Dean's limp wrist and closed his eyes focussing on finding a pulse. Sam kept on pushing on Dean's chest using all of his strength , scared that he might end up breaking Dean's ribs. Sam felt warm tears flow down his face.
"Come on Dean " He shouted desperately and salmmed his fist on Dean's chest.
" I found it" Garth suddenly shouted. Sam couldn't believe him. He had to check it himself and sure enough he found a steady pulse.
Sam couldn't stop shaking. He pulled Dean up and clutched him tightly. He did not stop his tears and he burried his face in Dean's shoulder. The sound of Dean's breathing was like music to his ears.
"What the hell happened?" Garth asked . His face frozen with an expression of utter shock and releif.
Sam laid Dean on the floor again. He gulped and cleaned his face with the back of his hand.
"I think that Dean had a cardiac arrest."Sam said in a shaky voice. He couldn't believe that Dean's hurt just stopped.
Sam stood up and motioned Garth to move Dean to the bed. They carried Dean to the bed and Sam sat down on the opposite chair. He kept staring at Dean's rising and falling chest. He needed the assurance that Dean was still alive.
"Garth , please tell me that you're close to finding the counter spell" Sam asked Garth who was leaning with the wall. He still seemed to be wrapping his around what just happened.
"Dean actually asked me to stop looking working on the counter spell."
"What?" Sam asked horrified. Why would Dean want to be stuck with this stupid curse. " You cant stop. Did'nt you see what just happened . I— I cant loose Dean again. I just got him back from Purgatory."
"Whoa , calm down ya Idjit. If he told me to ,it aint mean that I've stopped" Garth said raising his arms.
Sam nodded and dragged his palm on his face. " This is my fault. I shouldn't have argued with him. " He said. His heart was still racing infinitely fast .He pressed his palms into his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"No Sam , its not your fault. Its that damn witches' fault." Garth said fericely. "This is no time for a pity party. We should just get rid of the curse A.S.A.P. "
Sam smiled at Garth. He was glad they were not alone. They still had friends. People they could count on . Sam once again pressed his fingers on Dean's neck. He felt utter relief when he felt that vein pulsating under his fingers.
"Hey , Dean said that he wanted to stop hunting . Like complete mission failed and no start again." Garth said in a grave voice. "He told me not to tell you but its clear that he's lost his marbles"
Sam sighed. It was obvious the spell was messing with Dean's head. Damn witches.
"Look Garth. Keep on working on the counter spell. If Dean says we have to leave then I'll leave but we'll stay in contact. "
Garth nodded . " I've got people working on getting the ingredients. I have a lot of resources. " Garth said in an assuring voice.
Suddenly he jumped. He snapped his fingers and sped out of the room. He returned a minute later with a syringe.
"Dean's blood. This is the perfect opportunity . It's on the list" He said as he tapped Dean's arm like a doctor and gently pricked the needle in the crook of Dean's elbow. Slowly the syringe filled with crimson liquid and Garth capped it. He stepped back and looked at Dean while shaking his head.
"Wow I thought that Dean could never panic. You know . He always seems so —poised and composed."
Sam laughed. Garth didn't know how wrong he was. Dean was never calm. He was actually panicky all the time. He was never still. Thats what made Dean , Dean. The only time he was poised was when he was about to ambush a nest of vampires .
"What ?" Garth asked him.
Sam smiled. "I was just remembering the time Dean nearly had a heart attack" Sam said and he laughed a little.
Garth looked at him curiously , urging him to go on.
"We were working on a case and we had just interviewed a couple of witnesses. We came back to where we had parked the car and we found the Impala missing. Dean was out of hid friggin' mind . He wouldn't calm down. I seriously thought he was gonna have a heart attack."
"What happened?" Garth asked.
"Bella had the car towed. Dean wouldn't stop screaming at her." Sam said as he laughed again. But his laughter died when he looked sadly at Dean. That time seemed like another life. So much had happened after that. Sam had let Dean down so many times. Lucifer , Ruby , Demon blood , Purgatory and now they were stuck with this stupid curse. Could'nt they ever catch a break?
"Dont worry Sam. I promise I'm gonna get rid of this curse" Garth said . He had probably noticed Sam's sappy face.
"Thanks Garth. I dont know what we would have done without you" Sam said gratefully.
Garth nodded to himself and then grinned at Sam. He opened his arms wide.
"Aw , come here . You"
Sam sighed and stood up to give Garth a hug. A hug that did'nt feel awkward at all.
"Why dont you two get a room." Dean said in a groggy voice. Sam quickly parted and made his way to Dean's bed. Dean was rubbing his chest with obvious disquiet.
"Dean how you feeling?" Sam asked while patting Dean's knee.
"Like someone decided to do jumping jacks on my friggin' chest." He said as he groaned in pain.
"Thats called CPR, genius." Garth said while shaking his head.
Dean's eyes went wide . He rubbed his fingers on his lips and made a face of utter disgust.
"No " Dean knotted his eyebrows. " No, Dont tell me that Garth did a mouth to mouth on me " Dean said and he shuddered.
Garth raised his eyebrow with a smirk on his face. Sam rolled his eyes. He was in no mood of jokes.
"Dean your heart had stopped." Sam said in a fear stricken voice.
Dean nodded. "Yeah it felt like it" . He frowned as if he was trying to remember their argument. Sam felt fear rise in his chest. He decided to put the record straight before Dean could have another panic attack.
"Dean, —uh — listen. You were right. We should leave. I mean my idea of separating sucked. We'll figure this together ." Sam said apprehensively.
Dean immediately smiled. He looked better already and sighed in relief. He frowned and sniffed the air.
"Hey is something burning" Dean asked and Garth who had been smiling goofily suddenly jumped .
"Balls !" He yelled stomping his foot, "My eggs". He ran out of the room leaving a laughing Sam and Dean behind.
" Dean , you sure you okay? " Sam asked worriedly . Dean rolled his eyes.
"Relax Sammy . I'm not gonna die cause of some stupid curse.I'm batman. Remember?" He said cheerfully.
Sam chuckled but he couldn't get Dean's limp form out of his mind. He had already endured too many Tuesdays. He shouldn't have argued with Dean .He decided then and there to do whatever Dean asked and not to voice his opinion even.
"So you ready to leave?" Dean asked getting out of bed. He looked too happy for a person who had a cardiac arrest.
Sam nodded. "So —um — what about the counter spell that Garth found" Sam asked quietly.
Dean frowned .
"I mean we can leave . But Garth can keep working on it . Right?" Sam asked.
Dean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah this curse is pretty dangerous. I mean you get sudden migraines and fevers. We have to get rid of that"
Sam smiled and sighed in relief. "Yeah , not to mention your little stunt earlier. You scared the crap out of me , Dean."
"I'm not sure it was cause`of the curse. It was because you were talking of leaving and —" Dean suddenly started panting again.
Sam's heart started thudding in his chest.
"Hey Dean. I'm not leaving . Ok? Us against the world. Remember?" Sam said quickly and thankfully his words calmed Dean down. He smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
After breakfast of burnt eggs and bacon ; mostly coffee for Sam since he could still feel the after affects of that stupid drug, they left Garth's place. Sam asked Dean where they were going but Dean refused to answer. Instead he turned the volume to the maximum which was another way of telling Sam to shut the hell up.
Sam sighed . He didn't know where they were going and he wasn't sure if Dean actually meant that Garth could keep working on the counter spell. Sam didn't argue a lot. So far it looked like they were heading away from West Virginia towards Ohio.
Through out the way Dean seemed to be in a very good mood. He did get one or two mysterious phone calls in between . Sam asked him about the calls and Dean flared up, telling him it was private big brother stuff.
Dean seemed to be talking about buying something but he kept his end of discussion very vague. He mostly said yes or no. Then he talked prices. Sam decided to drop the topic. His head was already pounding with heavy mettalica tunes.
Whenever they stopped for a pit stop .Sam kept texting Garth telling him where they were heading to and in which direction they were going.
Right now Dean had gone off to buy something to eat when they had stopped at the gas station. Sam was talking to Garth on the phone.
"No I really had no idea that imaginary friends were actually real supernatural creatures" Sam said into the phone. Garth had apparently found the Zenna's hair with the help of some hunter's kid and obviously Mr. Fizzles.
The door opened and Dean sat in the car eating the same disgusting chilli looking thing that he had been eating earlier. Sam took his coke while listening to Garth's progress on the phone.
He spared a glance at Dean and raised his eyebrows at him. Dean was looking at him with a rather scrutinising gaze. Sam quickly hung up and looked at Dean questioningly.
"Dean , whats wrong?" Sam asked as he took a sip from the coke.
Sam saw the muscle in Dean's jaw clenching. He extended his hand.
"Give me your phone" he said sternly.
Sam frowned, "Why?" . He really didn't want to give Dean the phone. It was his only connection to Garth.
Sam could feel the beginning of his familiar migraine. He was actually waiting fot it ,dreading it ; since he had been having an unusually pain free day.
"Just give it to me . Sam .I know that you've been talking to Garth" Dean said in an accusing tone.
"So what? Dean , its Garth" Sam said through clenched teeth. He rubbed his temples. He was actually getting good at withstanding prolonged headaches. Great, it was the visions all over again minus the gruesome death scenes.
"I dont trust the guy. What if instead of fixing the curse, the spell backfires and something bad happens.I dont like fighting magic with magic" Dean said feircely. Atleast he was not shaking and panting like a dying man.
Sam groaned and clutched his head. He took deep breaths which always helped subside the pain a bit. Before the pain could spread through his body Sam took out the phone and tossed it to Dean. He did'nt know why he even bothered resisting the curse in the first place only to cave in at the end.
"Garth saved our lives Dean. You should trust him. Its obivious that the spell is messing with your head" Sam said as he slumped into the seat feeling tired and weary.
Dean switched the phone off before putting it in his pocket. He sighed rather dramatically.
"Look Sam . I know he's our friend but — its not like I dont trust the guy . Its just that he's not reliable like Bobby. He can never be Bobby. No matter how much he tries to fill in Bobby's shoes he cant. " Dean said calmly.
Sam did'nt argue. What was the point . He felt despodency at loosing the phone. He didn't know how he was gonna tell Garth where they were going now. He felt too tired to argue with Dean anymore and immediately dozed off.
Sam jerked awake when the car came to a sudden halt.
" 'm awake. Im awake" He said in a groggy voice. He looked around and realised it was almost dark .He could see the last streaks of colour dissapearing above the edge of the vast lake. There was a house besides the lake.
Sam stepped out of the car and stretched . He craned his neck and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
Dean followed him out. They both walked up to the lake and just stared at it , the sun setting over the lake.
"Where the hell are we ? " Sam asked Dean as he yawned.
"Menton, Ohio. Isn't this place great. " Dean said motioning with his hand. He seemed very happy and enthusiastic.
Sam nodded. This place really was peaceful. He turned to look at the single story house. Its walls were covered by a green ivy and it looked unkept . Sam frowned. He was expecting to stay at a motel. He remembered the time when dad used to rent houses leaving them alone for weeks. That was the very reason that Sam hated staying at houses. He preferred motels.
"I actually got it cheap. I've already paid for a whole month" Dean said as he climbed the stairs of the porch. He took out keys from his pocket and opened the lock.
The house was actually nice and fully furnished. It had only one bed room which already had two queen beds in it. It had a huge kitchen and an adjoining living room.
Sam threw his duffel on the bed farthest from the door.
"Let me guess. This was big brother stuff?" Sam asked rolling his eyes at Dean who was exploring all the cupboards and drawers. It was a habit of his. He checked the washroom and peered out of it.
"Sammy , it has the biggest bath tub ever and we have hot water 24/7. That means no rock paper scissors. " He said cheerfully.
Sam chuckled. " No wonder you're relieved since you always loose to me. Every single time."
"I actually used to loose on purpose since my sensitive little brother could catch the flu. I did'nt want you sneezing and missing a shot during a hunt . " Dean said making a face.
Sam smirked, "Yeah right. You keep telling yourself that."
Sam went up to the kitchen and found the cupboards empty . His stomach grumbled loudly. Dean came up behind him and peered into the empty cupboards in disappointment.
"Damn it . We'd have to buy some supplies" Dean said frowning.
Sam shook his head. " I am not eating spaghetti all the time" . He remembered thats what he used to have for dinner every single day since that was the only thing that Dean could cook. Eventually they moved to take outs when Sam grew up.
"Hey , I thought you loved spaghetti" Dean said pretending to be shocked.
Sam rolled his eyes. "I only said that because you loved cooking it so much. No , cause it was the only thing you COULD cook."
Dean smiled mischievously and tried to grab at him. Sam jumped away playfully. He realised it had been a long time since they had not been in sync. The whole purgatory thing had driven a wrench between them. Before Purgatory there was Ruby and then soulless Sam. Then Lucifer ridding shotgun in his head.
Maybe this away time wasn't that bad. Sam was pulled out of his thoughts when he saw Dean sitting hastily on the chair with the kitchen table.
Fear creaped up his throat when he saw Dean getting paler and paler.
"Hey , Dean. Easy , just breath . Talk to me. Whats going on?" Sam asked as he kneeled infront of Dean placing his hands on Dean's shoulders the second time that day.
Dean smiled at Sam appologetically. Sam shook his head and he knew that Dean had already gotten his message . Whatever is bothering you. Just tell me . We'll figure it out.
Dean nodded.
"I cant leave you alone . I have to get the supplies and I dont wanna take you with me" Dean said in a shaky voice.
Sam sighed . He was getting irritated with Dean's stupid logics. He was gonna make so much fun of Dean after all this would be over.
"Okay Calm down Dean. We'll figure something out. I'm right here . I'm not going anywhere. I'll do whatever you want , just please calm down" Sam said desperately.
Slowly Dean pacified at Sam's words. Sam shook his head. This was getting way out of control. Dean still looked too pale.
"Alright . I'll stay at the house if you want. You can tell me to stay inside and I wont have a choice cuz of the curse" Sam said but Dean shook his head.
He groaned. "I though of that but what if you try to leave and you end up resisting the spell. You could get hurt. I know how sick you get"
Sam clenched his jaws. "Then I'll come with you. "
Dean shook his head again . " No , remember what happened when I took you to the bar. Someone drugged you"
Sam stood up and sat on the chair. He huffed out a long frustrated sigh. Garth please finish the counter spell earlier.
"Alright , I've got an idea. " Dean said and thankfully his colour started retuning.
Sam nodded imploring him to go on. "You can come with me . I'll lock you in the car"
Sam frowned . He had no idea how he could be locked inside the car. It's not like the Impala had child lock or something. Sam just nodded and followed Dean out of the house after putting on his almond jacket. He just hoped that Dean was not thinking of locking him in the trunk.
They reached a grocery shop with Dean humming AC/DC the entire way. When he parked the car. He closed all the windows and then all the locks. Sam just sat there looking at him with mild interest. He was gonna tease Dean so much after this was all over. He was already smiling and thinking of all the bitchy comebacks.
However his smile disappeared when Dean produced a set of metal cuffs. He frowned at them.
"Dean , Hah, I knew you were into kinky stuff" Sam said as he tried to cover his tension.
"These are for you , genius" Dean said .
He tossed the cuffs to Sam who caught them.
Dean nervously ran a hand through his hair which always seemed in place no matter how much Dean messed them up. Even when he came straight out of bed his hair never seemed out of place. Sam's on the other hand had a way of standing up in every possible angle.
Sam sighed and shook the cuffs with a faint clicking sound . "Dean I wont leave the car. This is unnecessary"
Dean shook his head. "Im sorry Sammy but this is for your own good." he said firmly.
"Put the cuffs on and attach it with the door handle" Dean said. Sam did not even argue with him for using the curse this time. He just clicked the cuffs in place and pretended not to notice Dean's satisfied smile.
'Oh and empty your pockets. I know you always keep a pin for situations like theses"
Sam gritted his teeth and gave the pin to Dean . He turned his head away from Dean to look out through the passenger window.
"Stay in the car" He said before leaving and locking the car.
Sam had another pin in his pocket but he didn't want to open the cuffs. This was just getting silly. Sam blew his hair out of his eyes as he waited for Dean to come back. He checked the dash board for any working phones but it seemed that Dean had taken them out. Sam was hoping to give Garth a message. Sam slumped back into the seat. They should have just ordered take outs but he knew how much Dean loved to cook . That was why he had agreed to this in the first place.
Dean was taking his sweet time shopping. He must be buying all flavours of pies and lots of bacon probably. Sam closed his eyes hoping to sleep so that time could pass quickly. Suddenly a shrill scream reached his ears.
He looked around and saw a women fighting off a big burly guy. He was groping at the women. Apparently she had been in the process of putting her grocery in the back of her car when the man had attacked her. The plastic bags were lying on the floor with contents rolling on the ground. Sam looked around , maybe someone else had heard her scream but damn Winchester luck ; the parking lot was completely empty.
Sam knew that Dean had specially told him to stay in the car and Sam knew he couldn't fight and resist the curse at the same time. The only logical thing to do was to sit tight because what if Dean shows up and seeing Sam out of the car might set off another cardiac arrest.
The girl screamed again , she was actually fighting pretty well.
"I told you . I'm done with you ." She said. So they knew each other. This looked more like a personal matter, all the more reason for Sam to stay put.
Suddenly the man hit the women with an impressive uppercut and she fell to the ground. Sam took out the pin and in an instant he had unlocked the cuff from the door. The man had lifted the women and was shoving her into the back of the truck.
Sam couldn't just sit back and watch. Damn it , right there infront of him was a classic damsel in distress scenerio. Sam quickly jumped out of the car and ignored the beginning of a very painful head ache. He sped of towards the man who had successfully locked the women in the trunk.
He wanted to get to the man before the pain got worse. But he was already feeling the sharp stabs. The man was not expecting him so Sam easily kicked the man's legs from under him .
The man already had a broken nose. He quickly stood up and tried to punch Sam which Sam easily deflected. Sam groaned as his head threatened to split open. The man took that opportunity to elbow Sam in the face. Sam felt his lip split and blood flowed on his chin. Sam gritted his teeth as the pain flared through his body. With as much strength that he could muster he punched the man one last time. His fist met its mark and the man went down like a sack of potatoes.
Sam groaned and sank to his knees. He doubled over and clutched his head. He had to get back to the car . It was the only way that the pain could stop. He could feel the fever setting in and the cold air made him shiver. Sam tried to stand up but he ended up collapsing again as tremors of pain convulsed through his body.
Sam writhed on the asphalt in pain. He twisted and looked at the Impala . It seemed so far away. He was slowly loosing consciousness. The pain was becoming unbearable and the hot puffs of air that he breathed out burned his throat. He hollered out when suddenly every joint , every muscle of his body felt like it was on fire. The pian was worse than before and it was agonising.
He could feel his vision blackening and he actually welcomed sweet oblivion. The last thing that he was aware of was Dean turning him on his side and damn ; Dean looked pissed
So did you guys enjoy the chapter? Thank you so much for your awesome reviews.