Hey guys!! Sorry this was supposed to be done and up last week, and it was done but I had no internet and I sort of got kidnapped (twice) for my birthday, (which was on Sunday the 11th- but did that stop them?? NO!!) and didn't get the chance to finish and post this when I wanted.

Sorry!

Loving the reviews from all of you they make me smile.

Happy reading.

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'I climb, I slip, I fall
Reaching for your hands
But I lay here all alone
Sweating all your blood
If I can find out how
To make you listen now'

Paramore – Breathe

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Throughout the whole process of being moved into Missouri's house and into the bed farthest from the door in her guest bedroom, Sam had never been coherent enough to more than slur Dean. He had then slept (been unconscious) for the rest of the morning and into the middle of the after, Dean never far from his side.

Dean had hovered around Sam the whole time, jumping whenever Sam made a move or a noise, completely ignoring Missouri's suggestions that he too get some sleep. Even if he were to let his exhaustion creep in, his big brother instincts would never let him get farther than that place between awake and asleep.

It was no use to even try.

So when Sam finally stirred at quarter to four that afternoon, Dean jumped at the chance to talk to his brother. He had been dying to find out just how Sam was doing since the night before when the first attack hit him.

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"You look like shit," Sam whispered as soon as his eyes had opened enough for him to be able to get a good look at Dean.

"You don't look too hot yourself, Princess." Dean shot back, none of his usual heat infused in the parry.

"Seriously," Sam said, his hoarse voice cracking around the word. It was enough for Dean to flinch, and Sam reached up to place his hand on top of the one Dean had rested on his shoulder. "Dean, I'm okay." He wasn't sure who the statement was meant to reassure more, but it wasn't working for him and it certainly didn't seem to lessen the tension in Dean.

"Sure you are, Sammy." The statement was said softly, surprising both Winchesters, both of them knowing the conversation was headed to a chick-flick, both of them surprised that it was Dean who was leading it there.

"Watch it Dean, you're headed into dangerous territory." Sam said with a smirk and a raise of his eyebrows, pushing himself up onto his elbows. He grimaced at the strain on his overtaxed muscles, but continued pushing until he was sitting propped against the headboard, completely ignoring Dean's protests.

"I'm fine Dean, just a little sore." He said, trying to reassure the older man, and wipe the ever present concern off his face.

"Yeah. Sure." Dean muttered, obviously not believing a single word Sam was spouting. "Anyway," he said a minute later, after giving Sam a good once over as if evaluating his real condition. "Missouri wants to talk to us as soon as we've had a chance to eat and get cleaned up."

Sam paled at just the idea of eating anything, his stomach protesting harshly, turning itself into knots. "Uh, Dean, not sure about the whole eating thing." He clenched his teeth as nausea threatened, and placed a protective hand against his stomach.

As Sam watched him, Dean's lips pursed at the news. He knew that he was worrying his brother, but Sam didn't fancy the prospect of eating only to see that food thrown up moments later. He wished there was something he could do to reassure Dean, but the one thing Dean wanted was out of the question.

"Yeah," Dean blew out a sigh, not wanting to fight with Sam, when he was so obviously not okay, and was only trying to tell him the truth.

A knock at the door interrupted both men from their thoughts, and they both turned to see Missouri standing in the doorway, her lips pursed in concern for both men in the room. She bustled her way through the entrance and over to Sam's free side, leaning in to hug the youngest Winchester fiercely before pulling away and looking him in the eye.

"We'll figure this out Sam, and in the meantime, I think I may have something to settle your stomach enough for you to be able to eat something." When Sam looked back at her with a smile that was lined with more than a little uncertainty, she smiled and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm not losing another Winchester on my watch." She told him with an air of certainty that even Sam couldn't challenge.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Good," she said, pushing back from the bed and walking back towards the door. "Now, both of you get moving," she said, turning back towards them when she reached the door jamb. "Dinner's getting cold and I didn't spend the last two hours cooking for you two not to eat." With that she turned and bustled out of the room, leaving two smirking Winchester's staring after her.

"You heard the woman, Sammy," Dean said a minute later, "let's go," he cooed, making shooing motions towards the door.

"I heard that, Dean Winchester!" Missouri yelled up the stairs only seconds later. "Don't make me use this spoon!"

"Sorry," Dean yelled back, not looking at all like he meant it.

"You best not smart with me boy!" She yelled again, and Dean heard footsteps heading towards the stairs.

"Really am!" Dean said, with raised brows and widened eyes. He blew out a sigh of relief when he heard her steps stop.

"Good," the woman said back, and Dean could hear her steps retreating back towards the kitchen, "Now hurry up, the both of you! And Sam, stop laughing at your brother's lack of manners."

Dean turned back to see Sam snickering, and his anger spiked. He was about to lay into the younger man, but seeing some color return to his brother's cheeks and the actual smile that adorned his face, stopped him in his tracks. "C'mon," he said instead, smirking back at Sam. "Let's go, before she comes looking."

"Yeah," Sam said still looking unsure, but smiling anyway as he turned, swung his legs off the bed and pushed to his feet in one fluid movement. That one move turned out to be too much, and Sam swayed, his legs threatening to crumble beneath him as his head swam.

"Careful Sammy," Dean said, moving to take one of Sam's arms and pull it across his shoulders. Sam blinked, trying to clear his vision, and looked at Dean.

"Thanks," he whispered, gripping the shoulder his hand rested on.

"No problem, now let's go see what the dragon lady cooked up for us." Sam's dimples deepened and he huffed a laugh, nodding.

"Yeah, let's go." Just being in Missouri's house seemed to lessen his headache, and he had no doubt that Missouri would be able to think of something to settle his stomach and allow him to eat for the first time in days.

Sam just hoped that she would be able to help him with his powers, or at least tell him what was wrong, if he was dying or whatever else was going on.

Sam didn't voice his thoughts, just smiled at Dean and let his brother help him down the stairs and into the dining room.

In the end, he just didn't want to be right.

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A/N: So kind of a transition chapter and a chance for me to get Missouri in character. Hope you liked it.

Take care,

DS