Dean Winchester was floating on the sun, swimming through space. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead and his breathing was ragged and uneven, like an elderly man's. Somewhere in the distance, a witch was cackling, her cruel laugh echoing and bouncing off the walls.
"That's some fever you have." the ghoul commented as she finally drained the coroner of all his blood. She smacked her lips and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The skin began to melt away and her blond hair fell out in clumps, at her red stilettos. Dean's vision focused, then unfocused as her fingernails were shed from her hands and she completely transformed into the man in the corner.
"Sam?" Dean asked weakly, obviously very confused. The man, slightly overweight, walked over to him and laughed heartily. "Oh, babe, you're still out of it? I guess this isn't going to help."
The man knelt down to Dean and made a new cut on his shoulder, tearing deep into his flesh. The oldest Winchester let out a cry of anguish, struggling against the binds on his hands like a wounded animal in a trap. To his horror, the ghoul placed his lips on Dean's abrasion and lapped up the flowing blood.
Dean felt the dizziness set in and he allowed it; he was ready to give up the fight already. Within seconds, the colour drained from his face. His stomach protested angrily, tossing and turning, while his head swam. The fluorescent lights were wreaking havoc on his aching head and Dean felt his eyes flutter shut.
Wham! The monster slapped the hunter across the face with extreme force. Dean yelped in both pain and surprise as he heard a distinct crack and felt his jaw dislocate. He moaned before promptly passing out, much to the ghoul's dismay.
Sam hastily parked the Chevy Impala and through open the car door. "Let's go, Cas!"
Castiel followed Sam in close pursuit as they both jogged to the back of the funeral home.
The sight that met them was not a pretty one. Dean, unconscious, bloody and pale, tied up in a chair and that monster leaning over him, sucking the very life out of Sam's brother.
"Dean!" Sam yelled as his instinct took over. He immediately got a punch in on the ghoul, Sam's large fist making crushing contact with the fiend's face. A hook to the stomach and a kick to the balls brought the thing down, but only for a second.
"Ooh, you're a fiesty one, you are! And my, your feet are large! You know what they say about men with big feet; they have big-"
Sam grabbed the ghoul by the neck, forcing him into a wall. With astounding strength, the villain overthrew him and hit him in the eye, blurring his vision. The thing was on top of him now, wailing on Sam's face. Before either of them knew it, Castiel broke a light fixture off the ceiling and pegged the monster in the head.
Despite the pain he was in, Sam smiled. "Head trauma, Cas; that's what kills ghouls. You did learn something."
Castiel nodded, quickly turning his attention to Dean and cutting his hands and feet free. The angel placed his hand on Dean's forehead. "Sam, he's lost a lot of blood and he's got a fever. I think his jaw may be dislocated."
The younger brother took of his shirt and tossed it to Cas, who then placed it on Dean's gaping wound.
As Sam sped them back to the motel, going about 65, he glanced in the rearview mirror and couldn't help but think how small Dean looked in that moment. How vulnerable, how very broken he was. Seeing Dean like this hurt Sam more than his brother or anyone else for that matter could ever understand.
Dean was lying on his back, his head in Castiel's lap, the angel's cold hands on Dean's fevered skin. Without really thinking about it, Cas ran his fingers through Dean's messy hair, murmuring what could've been a prayer. When he closed his eyes, he could feel the hunter's shaky breaths and practically feel the pain he was in.
"Cas… jaw hurts..." a ragged voice muttered. Dean coughed dryly, which proceeded to develop into a coughing fit.
"Dean, shh, I'm with you." Castiel assured him. "Sam is driving us back to the motel room."
"'m thirsty." he moaned, coughing again. Sam's ears perked up. "Cas, I have a bottle of water up front. Here." he said, handing it to the angel. Castiel helped Dean sit up a bit, so he was now leaning on Cas for support rather than laying on him. "Dean, water."
Dean felt the plastic being eased into his mouth and gladly drank from it, soothing his parched mouth.
"We're here." Sam announced, pulling the keys out of the ignition and coming around to help Castiel with Dean. Together, the younger brother and angel carried him into the motel room and placed him on a bed.
"Just sleep, Dean." Castiel advised. The eldest Winchester nodded off instantaneously without further encouragement.
AN - Again, thanks to all my reviewers, VioletErin.26, Tricia and DearHart! You guys rock! And of course, thanks to all my followers and favouriters! :) I think I'll do one more final chapter for this one... I'm starting a new fanfic, a collection of winter-themed drabbles and one-shots now because it's officially December. For that fic, I'll write one drabble/one-shot a day and I'll even take requests for them, if you guys are in the mood. Anyway, thanks and enjoy!