Hey guys… sorry this one took a little longer than a week. Things have been getting more hectic as finals get closer, and then I got tickets to go see the midnight premier of Twilight… Which if you read the book, I wouldn't recommend you spend your money to see it in theaters. If you haven't read the book, you would probably like it… But hey, the music was beautiful throughout, and the preview for the sixth Harry Potter was shown, so it was worthwhile, I guess.

Anyway, thank you guys for your reviews. I love seeing each one of them show up in my inbox!!!

And hey, did you all know that they still made War Heads? I swear my face is going to stay puckered if I eat anymore of them.

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'I know I've been this place before
I only come here after dark
I step on through the open door
And take the path that I must walk
In my dreams I walk with you
The silence of the waking world
In my dreams I talk with you
And then forget all that I've heard'

Scanners – In My Dreams

XXXX

Dean woke to a crash and a groan.

A distinct little brother groan that he had known all his life. That little bit of information snapped his eyes wide and set his senses on complete alert.

Pushing the blanket off himself and pulling the blade from beneath his pillow in one smooth motion, Dean jerked his head around, scanning the room for any danger. In the process of that search, he found Sam's bed rumpled and empty.

What the hell? The question popped unbidden into his mind, and Dean's brows furrowed, his face losing the look of deadly intensity as they found the room free of threats.

"Sam?" He called, voice hoarse from sleep, even as he slung his legs sideways from the bed to place them on the floor- and found his little brother instead. He jumped, feet scrunching back towards his chest, before he registered that his brother was unconscious on the floor, bump on the side of his upturned face, and throwing off heat like a radiator.

"Sammy?" He asked again, sliding the floor on his knees, being careful of the younger man.

He reached over and with strong, steady hands turned his brother so he was on his back, face turned toward the cracked plaster of the motel room ceiling. Sweat glistened over every unclothed part of his body, and the arm Dean was holding felt like it was burning, a kind of hot the human body should never be.

"Shit, Sam." Looking at the clock he found himself two hours short of his brother's next dose, but he knew he had to do something to get his brother's fever down, and if that didn't work, the ER was his next option.

After looking back down at Sam, Dean stood, heading for the bathroom. Grabbing the thermometer that rested precariously on the edge of the sink, he walked back into the room, dropping to his knees once more beside Sam.

As if waiting for that moment, Sam's body started jerking, his face screwing up in pain, even in unconsciousness.

Dean panicked.

Trying to remember what he had been taught, Dean, settled Sam onto his side and steadied his head, remembering not to try and restrain his brother. Once he had a firm hold on Sam, he called for Ruby, knowing without a doubt she would come.

Sure enough within a few seconds the brunette was standing in the room, irritation lining her every feature. When she saw Sam, the annoyance cleared and concern replaced it, even as she walked forward and knelt beside the younger Winchester.

"What happened?" She asked, trying and failing to find a place to put her hands.

"I was going to ask you the same question!" Dean half yelled. His worry and anger were merging together until he really didn't know what to do.

"This didn't happen last time!" She hadn't meant to yell, but the atmosphere seemed to call for it.

"That's it," Dean reached for his cell phone, flipping it open and pressing the nine before Ruby grabbed it from his hand.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Getting him to the hospital, bitch. What are you doing?" He seethed.

"And just what do you think the hospital can do that you can't?" She asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "This isn't some normal sickness Dean. This is supernatural, and if you take him in like this, the next thing you know, the CDC will be called in, and you'll both be quarantined. What good will you be then?"

Shit.

Though he had thought of the consequences of taking Sam to a hospital when the fever had first begun rising, but those thoughts had conveniently fled his mind when Sam had begun convulsing on the damn floor.

"So Miss Know It All, what do you propose we do?" Dean growled, anger and concern mixing and coming out in a low snarl.

"Well if you quit your Mama bear imitation and listen, maybe we could figure something out." She growled back.

In the end, the bickering continued, even as between the two of them they got Sam to the bathroom. Ruby held the younger Winchester slumped halfway over her shoulder, while Dean ran the water until it was cold and turned the spray on. He motioned Ruby forward, and she dragged Sam under the spray, standing behind him with her arms wrapped around his stomach to steady him.

Sam gasped, and his eyes shot open as the water hit his skin. "Bur's" he stuttered, staggering back a step. Ruby held him steady, looking to Dean as he stared at his brother.

"Get him some dry clothes, Dean, go!" She urged, not wanting to get in between the brothers, but knowing that Sam did need the clothes, and that Dean needed to not see his baby brother like this.

Dean obeyed mechanically, walking stiffly out of the bathroom. She could hear the zipper being roughly torn back and scuffling as Dean searched through his brother's bag.

"Hurts," Sam whimpered, trying to turn away from the beating water. Ruby turned her attention back to him and kept him facing the spray, making shushing noises that she was sure another demon never would have made.

"Shh, Sam, I know it hurts. It will help you though." Keeping one hand around his stomach she reached up to thread her free hand through his wet hair. "Just calm down and let it help you." She soothed.

Sam shivered but stayed where he was, letting his head drop back onto her shoulder. Ruby stiffened, not knowing what to do. It had been centuries since anyone had turned to her for comfort and yet here was Sam Winchester trusting her to help him get through this.

She kept her hand in his hair and held him there, silently wishing that Dean would come back in soon.

As if hearing her thoughts, Dean walked back into the room with sweat and a tee, setting them on the sink before grabbing towels and crossing back to the shower. He stopped short seeing the position Ruby and Sam were in, before brushing it off, and shutting off the water.

Together Ruby and Dean got Sam out of the shower, undressed, dried, and in dry clothes. After that, Dean insisted on being the one to get Sam back to bed, while Ruby followed closely behind, making sure that Sam was okay.

She shivered in her wet clothes as she watched Dean take Sam's temperature, and feel his forehead. When she heard the breath of relief from the older Winchester, she smiled briefly before smoothing her features and saying, "Well, I'm going off to break into a pharmacy, you know how to reach me." With that she was gone.

Dean shook his head and looked back to Sam, shaking his head. "You humanized a demon Sammy-boy," smirking he squeezed Sam's shoulder, "only you little brother." When Sam didn't respond, he sighed and smiled sadly. "You better get through this Sammy." He said softly.

XXXX

A/N: So yes I know, shmoop it is…

Let me know.

Take care,

DS