Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or any of its related characters or themes.

AN1: This takes place a little while after 1x15 'The Benders'

AN2: A big shout-out to smalld1171 and PrettyGirlyFan for their reviews on Chapter 4 :) btw, I still can't believe it took me over a month to update! LOL!

I've really appreciate all everybody's fantastic reviews, story alerts and favourites! They've really inspired me to get this chapter out faster! W00t! You all rock!

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Composed

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"Dean... Dean!"

The older Winchester's eyes fly open as he jerks awake. He blinks three times before finally focusing on Sam.

"You were having another nightmare..." Sam says with a tired sigh as he backtracks to the lamp on the bedside table. The light blankets the room in an orange glow, "You okay?"

Dean doesn't even bother sitting up this time, he just rolls over to face Sam. It almost looks like he starts to shake his head, but he ends up nodding instead. Sure.

Sam drags his hand over his face and rests his chin on his hand, "... I suppose a doctor's out the question?" he says and rubs his head absently.

When Sam doesn't stop, Dean prods Sam's knee with a concerned frown. You okay there, chief?

A curt nod came as a reply, but Sam's got both hands over his face now, groaning. "Sorry... I just..." and that's all Sam manages to say before falling off the bed, grabbing his hair.

In a second Dean's by his side, palpating Sam's forehead and neck to check for fever. He grabs his water-glass on the nightstand and reaches blindly for the Kleenex under his bed. He dowses the Kleenex and slops it on the back of Sam's neck and starts rubbing circles on Sam's back.

Sam takes in a deep breath, exhaling with a shudder, "I-I'm okay... " he manages to grunt before suddenly sitting still.

Silence stretches a good few minutes, and Dean decided to retreat to the bathroom for a few minutes to give Sam some space. The coughing becomes rattling by the time he finally manages to fill a glass full of water and gulps it down.

The knock on the door tells Dean that Sam's migraine attack seemed to have died down. "D-dean... are... you okay i-in there?" Sam grunts and impatiently knocks again.

Dean manages to grunt, and knocks at his chest a few times before opening the door.

"I'm alright..." Sam said with huff, but he's still got his hand covering his eyes and his smile seems to be straining.

Even with a snap-crackle-and-popping chest; cheese-grating sore throat and a constantly sore neck, Dean's big brother instincts never seemed to have died down, and he's heading to the First Aid kit before Sam even thinks to ask. He scrambles around for the aspirin and digs out the ice-pack from behind his dirty tee-shirts. He cracks the ice-pack and shakes it, feeling the icy cool flow as the chemicals mix.

"D-deaannn... ?" Sam murmurs, blindly shuffling back to his bed.

Dean meets Sam before the younger Winchester reaches his bed, helping him to sit down. He swaps the improvised ice-pack for the real one, patting it down until it's moulded around the back of Sam's head. When Sam sighs with a smile, Dean knows it's working.

"I just... had... " Sam starts, but winces when Dean manages to prod a particularly sensitive spot on the back of his neck.

"Ssshhhrrryyy..." Dean manages to grumble, trying to clear his throat as even the soft mumble felt like razors cutting at his throat.

"Uugghhh... I just... had another..." Sam starts again, rubbing at his forehead and groaning, "It's... ". Sam heads over to the table next to the TV and grabs their dad's journal. He pages through a few times before pausing at a particular page, "This... "

Dean takes the journal and scans over the page and Sam can practically read Dean's mind just by his expression. What the hell is this supposed to be? He points to the first sentence under the description and shakes his head with a huff. These aren't exactly Jack the Ripper spin-offs.

"Kobalts... they're usually good spirits and lucky charms... but when neglected or insulted..." Sam points to the picture on the next page.

Dean's checks out the picture before grimacing, 'They ate the guy?' he mouthed and swallowed with a wince.

"I think we should get some sleep... " Sam mutters, sighing as he takes the aspirin packet from Dean, "I'll finish up the research later on...". He pops out two aspirins and swallows them dry. "Thanks..."

Two pats on Sam's neck and Dean's meandering over to his own bed again. No problem, dude. He shuffles back into his bed and pounds his chest a couple more times when he starts coughing again. Dean nabs the cough syrup from the bedside table and downs a mouthful. Ahh, the great taste of bicarbonate of soda and menthol. Yummy.

The younger Winchester yawns and throws his duvet back over himself, "I'll check out the lore later on..." he checks his cell and sighs irritably, "I'll reset my alarm for about three... "

Dean smiles tiredly and rubs at his eyes. He yawns as well.

"You just had to ask..." Sam snaps half-heartedly, finally setting the alarm for four.

It's the first time in about a week that Dean's getting some real shut-eye and loving it. A soft feathery lull of nothingness that finally starts to dull out the nightmares and the searing pain in his throat and chest. Dean knows it's still those damned hillbilly's from hell who're causing him all these nightmares, they single-handedly managed to cripple the little faith Dean's ever had in the human-race.

But, right now, right at this moment, that's all long gone. Things were settling down between him and Sam, they had a lead and there was a breakfast meal with his name on it.

His stomach suddenly grumbles and decides for him that he wasn't about to take his naptime just yet. He softly sits up and wriggles out from the covers and heads over to the breakfast Sam had bought for them about three hours ago. He grabs the bag and heads back as quickly as he could and dives back under the warm covers.

The smell is heavenly, and even though the meal is on the cool side, it looks fantabulous nonetheless. He takes a whiff and sighs contently. Thank yooouuuu, Sam! He dives into the bacon and eggs, loving the crunchy-ness of the bacon and the slight softness of the eggs. It's been a couple of days since he's been able to enjoy a real meal... instead of just coffee.

"Arrnnnt you gonna sleep?" Sam slurs, already half-asleep.

Dean smiles, his egg-and-bacon mash peeking through. Nah, I'm okay. You go ahead.

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