A/N: Sorry guys for the extremely long time between updates. I won't go into details other than to say health and family issues played a role in it. All is good now (except now I'M sick, lol); but I didn't want to share my misery with you guys, so... here's the next chapter - peace?
A/N: #2: This story is un-beta'd, so any and all mistakes are mine. If you spot something, just kindly let me know via pm. Also a BIG thank you to those who reviewed - I sincerely appreciate it :)
A/N #3: This story is for Ibelieveinsam for The Winchester House Fic Exchange; because of this, general potty mouth from Dean is expected. Other than that, enjoy the fluff & comfort to come!
Dean tapped his fingers against the table to the beat of an old 80's song he'd only heard a time or two before.
Joshua, his current opponent, was busy lining up his shot, of which Dean would bet the Impala that he had not a fat chance in Hell of making.
Dean was feeling relaxed for the first time in… well, in a long time. He'd never admit it to Sam, but going out tonight and doing something low key, but fun – yeah, they'd both needed this.
Speaking of, Dean glanced behind him toward their table, frowning, when all he saw were two empty bottles. He looked toward the bar, seeing if his giant mop-head of a brother was hustling them up some more beer.
The bartender was wiping down the counter, while a disheveled man threw back a shot of whiskey, quietly perched on a stool a few feet away.
Again, no Sam.
A glance at his watch and he figured he'd been at the game no more than fifteen minutes.
So where the Hell was his brother?
Joshua blew his shot, as Dean knew he would. Joshua's sibling snickered at the table across from them. Swearing, the man stepped away, inviting Dean to make his shot.
Dean flubbed it with barely a thought, more concerned about his AWOL brother. "Back in a few." He said, maneuvering around a few tables as he headed toward the restroom. Maybe Sam had a coughing fit and needed some privacy, he thought.
It didn't take more than a cursory glance at the dingy bathroom to know Sam wasn't there before he walked back out again.
A small crowd had gathered near the entrance. The bartender was on the phone and a small petite woman was asking the gathering of people if anyone was a doctor or who knew first aid.
Worry wormed its way into Dean's stomach and as he caught a glance at her blood stained hands, hunter instincts took over. Dean was beside her a moment later, gently cradling one of her hands in his own. Blood coated her small fingers and was splashed half way up her forearms as well. "I know first aid." Dean said gently, trying to find a wound that he could apply pressure to. "Where are you hurt?"
The woman shook her head. "It's not mine. There's been an accident outside." Her hands now curled around Dean's, pulling him towards the door. "My husband is looking after the guy right now, but he's bleeding pretty badly and we need an Ambulance and some towels or something to stop the bleeding."
Oh no. Dean's stomach dropped, as did his hands. "A guy is hurt?" The woman nodded. "Show me."
The towels were dropped on the counter and were immediately picked up by the woman who headed for the door, Dean hot on her heels.
The small rain storm had picked up since the brothers had arrived, rain pelting Dean in the face as he side-stepped puddles in the parking lot, following the woman as she headed toward the road.
As he hit the road and turned left, he felt his gut fill with ice and his breath stop as he saw his brother lying on the ground. He pushed passed the woman and ran the last few feet and knelt carefully next to his brother. "Sam."
His brother groaned faintly, but didn't open his eyes. He lay face up on the ground, his face bathed in rivets of blood and darkening bruises. A cursory glance downward he noted torn and bloody jeans and glass that littered the road around them. He noted dispassionately that the glass came from the Impala's broken window, where whoever had hit Sam slammed into the car as well. Dean's hands were gentle as he checked his brother for any broken bones.
"You know him?"
Dean almost forgot there was anyone there but him and Sam. He glanced at the speaker, a man whose hands were gently but firmly supporting his brother's head and neck, keeping him stabilized.
Dean nodded, indicating he'd heard the man's question as he returned his focus on his priority. "He's my brother."
The man gave him a sympathetic nod, his elbows scraping against pavement as he adjusted his hold. "Liz." He waited for his wife to settle beside him. "Could you use of those towels and apply some pressure around his shoulder?"
"Yes, of course." She unfolded one of the dark grey towels and as gently as she could, wrapped it around the torn and bloody wound on Sam's right shoulder.
Sam's lips twitched, frowning, but otherwise made no sound or indication of pain.
Dean reached over his brother and grabbed another towel. Pulling his boot knife out, he slit the towel into smaller strips, wrapping one around the still seeping wound on Sam's knee. The other, he folded the cloth in half and applied steady pressure to the cut on Sam's forehead.
His brother groaned from the pressure, eyelids flicking as Sam struggled to return to consciousness.
Dean dropped his other hand lightly on his brother's non-injured shoulder. "That's it, Sammy. Eyes front and center."
It took a few moments, before Sam's bleary eyes cracked open, peering at his brother in confusion and pain.
Dean smiled tightly. "There you are." The smile disappeared soon after as Sam tried to move. "Hey, look at me." Dean could see confusion replaced by fear as his brother became aware of hands holding his head and smaller, more delicate ones pressing firmly against his other shoulder.
Dean cupped Sam's chin with one hand, leaning forwards to make direct eye contact. "Dude, you got smoked by a car – again – you can't move around yet until we get you looked at by a Doc."
Sam's eyes flickered to where a middle aged woman knelt next to him on his right side; her dark hair tucked behind one ear as she applied steady pressure to what Sam assumed was a bleeding wound. A look up had him staring at the forehead of a dark-haired man, his hands tilting his head slightly back and secure. He didn't know why he was on the ground, why these people were here and why Dean was trying hard not to panic.
His breath came in choppy bursts, the gentled his voice. "Dude, slow it down. I left the paper bag at home." He joked, trying to stop a full blown panic attack from rearing its ugly head.
Neither brother were strangers to pain; Sam especially, considering all the Hell – figuratively and literally – he had gone through. Waking up to hands all over you, unable to pinpoint an exact area that hurt – or an area that didn't – and confused about why you were there –yeah, those were the times the fear let itself known. When that feeling of being exposed and out of control was magnified and pain made you lose sense of where you were.
Dean could understand that only too well.
"Okay Sammy," Dean moved his hand to rest against Sam's stuttering chest. "You know the drill – in and out, just like me."
Dean pulled in an exaggerated breath, slowly letting it out, watching as Sam attempted to do the same.
It took a minute, before Dean's hand no longer jumped off Sam's chest, but gently rose with it.
Sam's teeth started to click together, as the rain began to fall heavier, his hair now sodden with water and blood.
Dean eased one arm out of his jacket. "Cold, huh?" Here." He switched hold of the towel with his other hand, pulling the jacket off by the sleeve with his teeth, laying and gently tucking his jacket over his younger brother. "Hang in there, buddy. Ambulance will be here soon."
Dean patted his jacket covered brother on the chest before focusing on the still seeping head wound.
Sam closed his eyes, teeth still chattering, wincing as various injuries made themselves known. His teeth were still clicking against each other a few minutes later, when the Ambulance pulled to a stop beside them, Dean's warm hand on his chest a steadying presence as the storm continued overhead.
A/N: One more chapter to go - will hopefully be up within the week *fingers crossed* Hope you guys enjoyed!