Disclaimer:Don't own any of the characters or anything you recongize from the SPN show.

A.N:As promised (or was in threatened? Depends on your view eh? ^_~) major AngstLimp Sam coming up. I'm milking the AngstLimp Sam for all that it's worth. Every last drop. Oh yeah, and a side of BigBrotherGuilt Dean, cause I'm sure right about now, everyone misses him.

Summary:Tag to 5x14- My Bloody Valentine. How was he going to fix Sam when he couldn't even fix himself? Sequel to fanfic: From Laughter to Desperation. Major DepressiveDean, AngstLimp Sam, SupportativeCastiel N Bobby

Chapter 7: Fever Stricken

Dean awoke the next morning rather late. He hardly slept, his guilt eating away at him as well as his depression. He laid in bed staring up at the ceiling. He tried to justify his actions but anyway he sliced it, it did nothing to make him feel better about the situation. He needed to make amends but one question kept repeating in his mind:

How was he going to fix Sam when he couldn't even fix himself?

And that was what kept him up all night. He needed to fix everything but how. It did not seem fixable.

He sat up slowly and ran his hands through his hair. After a moment, he got up and he did his morning routine before throwing on some clothes and walking down the stairs.

A plate of food was all that was on the table. That and a glass of water. Dean didn't feel like eating. The guilt lessened his appetite considerably. Actually the mere mention of food was enough to make his stomach churn.

And not in a good way.

Or once again was that the guilt?

"Morning, you idjit", Bobby gruffed out.

"Bobby, about last night……I'm sorry. I never should have disrespected you as I did." Dean said.

Bobby glared at him. "You are right, but I think your brother needs your apology more than I do."

Dean nodded looking remorseful. "But let me tell you something, boy." Dean looked up at the stern voice.

"You ever and I mean EVER talk to me like that in my own house or talk to your brother like that in this house, I SWEAR to you, I may not be able to walk but I will find a gun and roll behind you till I get a good shot and blast you sky high. Do you understand me?"

Dean nodded.

"I can't hear you boy, speak up!"

"Yes, sir."

Bobby looked at Dean a moment longer. He could see the change in the younger man. "Good now, go take care of your brother like you should have been doing."

Dean nodded once and went to exit the kitchen only to almost run into Castiel. "Cas….."

"Good morning Dean."

Was it his imagination or did Castiel say that with a little ice in his voice? Well, he owed the angel an apology as well. "Hey, Castiel, about last night…."

"You are forgiven, Dean but we still must talk", Castiel interrupted his voice softening. He too saw the change in Dean and was glad that he did. Though right now there was bigger things afoot.

"About what?"

"My concern lies with your brother", Castiel said his glaze shifting to Bobby, who looked worried as well.

Dean looked between the two. "What's wrong?" That familiar worry that had been absent for so long was starting to come back. Dean found he was glad, he had missed it.

There was silence a moment too long for Dean's comfort.

"Your brother has a fever, Dean", Castiel answered finally.

"What?"

"It was probably developing already and last night was no help", Bobby said. He didn't want to put more guilt on Dean but he had to know. Bobby was glad that Dean seemed to be coming out of his zone a little. At least he seemed to be caring about what is going on with his brother again.

Castiel looked gravely at the floor. "I'm worried not about the fever ultimately…..but that fact that……." He trailed off not wanting to say it.

Green eyes bore holes in him. "What Castiel?" Dean asked.

Castiel didn't answer right away but finally he lifted his glaze to pierce Dean's. "Lucifer could use this time to strike."

"Not on my watch", Dean growled before rushing into the living room.

Castiel blinked after Dean before turning to Bobby. "He seems to be doing better this morning", he observed.

Bobby smirked. "Yes, it seems he might be coming back to himself. I believe last night came as a shock to him after all he did."

"Perhaps you are right", Castiel said drawing a seat out from the table and sitting down.

Bobby raised an eyebrow at the angel. Castiel didn't look at Bobby but said, "I'm sure the two need this moment to themselves. I shall give them a few minutes before checking up on them."

Bobby shook his head with a small chuckle.

They were a mismatched group that was for sure.

Dean entered the living room to see Sam twisting on the couch. The blankets were thrown every which a way.

"Sam", Dean breathed. He rushed over and knelt next to Sam. He placed a hand over Sam's forehead. It was hot to the touch. Dean looked around and saw a bowl of water and a damp cloth, that obviously was being used.

Dean took the cloth and put in the cold water before pulling it out and ringing it. He turned back to his brother and pressed it over his forehead.

"Sam, Sammy, you've got to calm down man", he coached, his voice rough with emotion. How did he let it get to this? He should have been helping Sam, not pushing him to this.

Sam moaned in his fever and muttered. Dean couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Sammy, I'm sorry. I know they are shallow words but they are all I have to offer. I'm so sorry, Sammy. I shouldn't have been so caught up in my……..angst not to try and help you. I should have at the very least come to you about it instead of keeping it from you. Please Sammy, you'll beat this. We'll beat this…somehow. I'm sorry I haven't been the big brother you needed. I haven't even been the Dean I've needed but that is no excuse."

Sam groaned but didn't acknowledge Dean's words.

"Sammy, please open your eyes at least", he begged. If Dean could see his brother's eyes, at least something could be salvage in Dean's mind. As long as Sam's eyes were close it would be harder to reach his little brother.

" 'm 'orry", Sam moaned out shuddering, "Didn't 'ean to. I tried. I'm so'ry!"

Dean's eyes widen as he rewet the cloth to make it cooler again.

" 'ease don't 'eve me. God, everyone leaves me!" Sam near sick yelled. He turned his face into the couch's back.

Dean's heart speed up. He turned Sam's head back to towards him to wipe his face.

"I'm 'orry. Please 'on't leave me, Dean. I 'wear 'll do better"

Tears welled in Dean's eyes. How could he have let it come to this? How could he have allowed Sam to think such things when he had it in his power to stop it?

"Sammy, Sammy, open your eyes for me. I'm here now. I'm here. For real now. You're big brother is back again. I gotcha, I gotcha", Dean begged gripping Sam's face with his hands. The cloth lay forgotten on the floor.

Still Sam withed and muttered, apologizing for being a failure.

Apologizing for not being strong enough.

Apologizing for being cursed.

The longer Dean listened the more upset he became over it. Tears began to make his way down his face and onto Sam's own as Dean was level with his brother's face still clutching in with his hands.

"Please Sam, you've gotta wake up."

Sam mumbled something and still for a moment. Dean thought perhaps the nightmares had stopped plaguing his brother but his hope was short-lived.

"Lucifer", Sam mumbled.

That one word made Dean's blood ran cold.

"Sammy!!", he was panicking now.

"Lucifer no. Ahhh.", Sam murmured.

Dean's eyes widen. "Sammy, Sammy!" he repeated, shaking his brother's head then yelled behind him, "Castiel, get your behind in here!"

Not a second later, Castiel stood over Sam.

"Lucifer….." Sam muttered.

"Do something!" Dean begged looking up at Castiel who look upset himself, "Can't you send him into deep sleep, something, man. Just make it stop!"

Castiel looked distressed. "We have to wake Sam up. It's the only way. You must wake your brother up. I cannot do this thing. Either by fever induced or for real Lucifer might have a hold on him and only a strong connection will break it. You must be the one to wake him up Dean. Either way, if he constents, constent is constent whether one is aware of it or not."

Dean felt no comfort from Castiel's grim words. If anything it made his panic worse. That meant if the word 'yes' follows Lucifer's name whether accidently or not, whether Sam knew it or not, all would be lost. Dean would not reliquish his little brother to the likes of that king of demons. He would not!

By now, Bobby had rolled into the room to see the scene. His eyes were wide, heart pounding. He prayed Sam would wake up.

"I can't….I'm sorry…….." Sam cried out unknowingly fighting Dean.

Dean withstood the hits that weren't all that hard by themselves. More annoying than anything. But for his brother he would stand anything. Sam tried to move his head back and forth but Dean's hands held them firmly in place.

"Don't you dare give in Sam! Don't you dare!! I don't care what that ^%*$! says you fight this Sam!"

"Lucifer……I….."

Dean shook Sam by the shoulders quickly before holding his face again. "Sammy!! Please. I'm sorry!!"

"Lucifer….I……"

"SAMMY, WAKE UP, DARN IT!" Dean screamed.

TBC.....

A.N: That got the 'ol heart rate going I'm sure. *fans self* I tortured my own self writing this! Does Sammy wake up? Hmmmm.....

I hope Sam's mumblings were understandable. It probably takes a second or so to figure it out. I tried to make it as plain as possible given the circumstance.