Thin Line

Chapter 10

Summary: John is walking a thin line. His obsession with hunting will jeopardize one son physically and both sons emotionally. Limp Sam to come.

Warning: Touchy subject!

Note: Thank you for reading! I really appreciate all your reviews and PMs, you are awesome! I think I replied to all of them, but if I missed someone, I'm sorry and thanks!

Enjoy...

Dean got to the front of the classroom in record time.

"Dean, Brett came to got you, your brother—." Mr. Glass tried to explain, but was cut off by an impatient Dean.

"Where is he?" Dean demanded.

"His in the nurse's office, he—" The boy started, but Dean was already running out the door.

He ran through the hall, he nearly took out the principal, but he didn't care he just kept going until he reached the door to the nurse's office. He didn't bother to knock, he just throw the door open.

The nurse was getting something out of a cabinet in the office; she was startled by Dean's entrance. "May goodness you gave me a fright, can I help you?"

"Where's Sammy? He's my baby brother—Sam Winchester."

"He's in the back room, right through that door." She told him.

"Is he okay, what happened?"

"He fainted in gym class, but I've checked him out and he seems to be okay. He probably just got a bit over heated, they were running the mile. I think he just needs some food, water and rest. Has he eaten today?"

Dean felt guilty as he answered. "I...don't know."

"That's fine, I've got some cheese and cracker and juice that I'll bring in."

Dean nodded he hurried to the back room, his brother was laying on a cot, unconscious or asleep, Dean wasn't sure. He had a cool compress on his forehead and he looked very pale and thin.

Dean sat on the edge of the cot. "Sammy?" He called as he stroked his brother's hair.

There was a light knock on the door and then it opened. The nurse came in with a cup of juice, a plastic bag filled with sliced cheddar cheese and a box of crackers.

"Has he come around yet?" The nurse asked.

"No, not yet." Dean didn't even look at her.

"I'll just set this over here. Have him eat something when he wakes up." The nurse explained as she set her load down on a table near the foot of the cot. "Should I call your parents?"

"Uh, no our Dad's out of town on business, so I'm taking care of Sam."

"Okay, when he wakes have him rest for awhile then he'll be okay to go home."

"Thanks." Dean said he waited for her to leave the room before speaking again to his brother, he knew Sam would be uncomfortable waking up with a stranger in the room.

"Sam?" Sam moaned and turned into Dean's touch. "That's it, come on Sammy, wake up."

"Go 'way." Sam muttered weakly not bothering to open his eyes, he scooted away from Dean.

"Oh come on, don't you wanna open up your eyes and look at me?

"Not really."

"I look even better than usual today...if I do say so myself."

"You're stupid." Sam said reluctantly cracking one eye open. "Aw, Dean! I think I'm gonna be sick."

Dean looked wildly around the room for something Sam could throw up in. "Hold on, let me find a trash can! What's wrong—is it your stomach?"

"No...It's your face." Sam smiled weakly.

Dean looked confused for a moment then he narrowed his eyes. "You're walking home."

Sam stuck out his bottom lip and gave Dean his puppy-dog eyes. "No, I'm not."

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay, just a bit tired. What happened?" He would never admit it, but he felt like crap, he ached, especially his head and he felt weak; he didn't think he could get up on his own even if he wanted to.

"You are not okay Sam. I wish you'd stop saying that!" Dean pleaded. "You've been having those damn dizzy spells and you fainted in gym class—that's not 'okay'."

"I'm sorry Dean." Sam was ashamed of himself for worrying Dean and for being so weak.

"Don't be sorry. Just tell me next time when you don't feel well."

"I will Dean. Did I really pass out in front of the whole class?" Sam's pale face turned red with embarrassment.

"How should I know? I wasn't there, but I bet you did...right in front of your little girlfriend." Dean teased.

You are so weak, passing out in gym class, what a loser. It's amazing that you didn't cause an earthquake.

"Great, now I'm gonna have to go back to class an—"

"Back to class? Yeah right! We're going home where you can rest and maybe I'll let you up sometime on Saturday. And that's a big maybe Mister."

"Aw Dean really I'm—"

"Sam we just talked about this, please just listen to me this one time."

"I just don't want you to worry about me."

"Well, apparently I need to worry, cuz last time you told me not to worry you ended up passing out in gym class."

"Well, can we go home now?"

"The nurse left some cheese and crackers and juice, she said you should eat some, then rest for a while and then we could go."

"Cheese! Do you realize how many calories are in cheese?" Sam shuddered. "I could eat almost 15 cups of lettuce and it would be as many calories as 1 slice of cheese! And don't even get me started on the fat."

"Sam we are not leaving 'til you eat some of this. I don't know what's gotten into you it's not like anyone is gonna tell Dad."

"Fine, but I'm not eating that cheese."

"We'll see." Dean sighed helping Sam sit up and then handing him some crackers and watching closely as Sam chewed each one for nearly a minute and then reluctantly swallowed.

He continued this practice until Dean was satisfied that Sam would make it to the car without fainting again.

"Happy now?" Sam asked bitterly.

"Just one slice of cheese and then we can go."

"No way."

Sit here all night if you have to, it's not like you have anywhere to be.

"Come on Sammy." Dean said waving a slice of cheese temptingly in front of Sam's face. "You know you want it."

Sam did want it; he couldn't deny that even to himself.

You don't need it.

"Fine." Sam said taking the cheese and examining it thoroughly before taking the tiniest nibble off the corner. It was so good and he wanted to let himself indulge.

No more! Don't do it, give it back!

After that nibble he reluctantly handed the piece of cheese back to Dean, he held it between his index finger and his thumb as if it were a dirty sock. "There. I want to go home now."

Dean sighed. "Fine. Let me help you though..."

Sam pulled himself up on his elbows; he winced and breathed out a soft. "Ow."

"What is it Sam? Are you okay?" Dean asked forcing Sam to lie back down.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sam replied, rubbing his left elbow. "I probably just bumped my elbow when I fell."

"Let me see." Dean reached for Sam's arm.

He's going to make you take off your sweatshirt...remember how tight your shirt is? You're not going to make him look at you, are you?

"No!" Sam protested pulling his arm to his chest so Dean couldn't get it.

"Why not?"

"I just—it's fine, can we please just go?"

Sam pulled himself up into the sitting position and Dean had no choice up to help him stand. Dean knew if he didn't Sam would just did it himself. Sam swayed a bit when he got to his feet. Dean kept a tight hold on him.

"Do you need to sit back down for a minute?" Dean asked.

"No, let's just go home."

The boys slowly made their way out to the Impala, where Dean helped Sam slide into the passenger's seat and then, much to Sam's annoyance, helped him with his seatbelt. Dean went around the car and got in he looked over at Sam. Sam's head was now resting against the cool glass of the window, his eyes were closed.

Dean leaned over worried, pushing his brother's hair back so he could feel his forehead, Sam flinched at the touch. "Sammy? You okay?" Dean asked softly.

"Mm-hmm...jus' tired." Sam thin frame was abruptly shaken with a violent shiver.

"Cold?" Dean asked Sam nodded. "Hold on." Dean started the car, hoping it would warm up quickly, and then he struggled out of his leather jacket and covered Sam with it. He briskly rubbed Sam's shoulders trying to generate some heat.

Sam looked up at Dean. "Thanks." He felt like an ass, he had been a jerk to Dean all day.

Dean smiled as he pulled the hood of Sam's sweatshirt over his shaggy hair. Dean ruffled Sam's hair gently before he drove them home.

Dean shook Sam's shoulder. "Come on Buddy wake up." Sam only opened his eyes long enough to glare at his brother, Dean laughed. "You can go right back to sleep when we get inside."

Dean got out of the car, went to the passenger's side, and opened the door. He unbuckled his exhausted brother and practically drug Sam out of the car.

"No." Sam whined. "Just leave me out here and go away."

"You can't stay in the car Sammy, it's January you'll freeze."

"I don't care."

Dean pulled Sam into the house. It wasn't nearly as hard as it should have, because Sam had lost so much weight. Dean laid Sam down on the couch; he was both amused and concerned by his brother's lack of response. Sam immediately curled up in a ball and drifted off to sleep.

Dean pulled Sam's shoes off and then tucked a blanket around him. Dean sat on the coffee table that was set parallel to the couch and he just watched over his brother.

Sam woke to find himself on the couch; he could only vaguely remember the drive home. He was feeling much better now. He was still tired, but not overwhelmingly exhausted like before.

He looked around the house, he couldn't see Dean anywhere, but he could here soft music coming from the kitchen. He pushed the blanket away and started to stand. He didn't feel as weak as he had earlier, but he was still a bit unsteady.

He was still cold, but he ignored it and went into the kitchen to find Dean stirring what looked to be soup in a pan on the stove with a wooden spoon, humming along to music and bobbing his head in harmony with the beat.

When a guitar solo came on Dean abandoned his spoon for an air guitar and turned in Sam's direction. Dean hadn't heard Sam come in and was taken off guard when he saw Sam standing at the entrance of the kitchen with a smirk on his face.

"He's a triple threat, he sings, he plays imaginary instruments and he cooks!" Sam announced. "Any man would be happy to have you."

"And you're a comedian." Dean replied dryly with a blush creeping onto his face. He turned back to the stove and reclaimed his wooden spoon. "Are you feeling better now?"

Sam nodded. "How long was I asleep?"

Dean glanced at the clock. "'Bout four hours. You look better. I think you just needed some rest and food. You've been pushing yourself pretty hard lately—exercising a lot and not eating very much..."

"I thought the nurse said that I just got overheated."

"It's January, Kiddo, it was like 42 degrees outside...I don't think you got over heated. And besides, that nurse was on crake Dude." Dean said. "Go get washed up, I made some soup."

How much are you going to let him stuff into you? Think of how much you've already had today.

"I'm really not very hungry."

Dean did not look amused. "I don't want you passing out on me again." Dean ladled generous amount of the soup onto a bowl. "I've been slaving over this hot stove for almost 5 minutes."

Sam sighed, knew that the day's events were fresh in Dean's mind and Dean was not going to let this go. "What kind of soup is it?"

"Chicken noodle."

"Can I see the soup can please?"

Dean shrugged he didn't understand stand why Sam would want to look at an empty soup can. "Sure." He replied. He tossed Sam the can.

Sam's eyes scanned the can's nutrition facts.

You cannot eat that—155 calories in one cup!

Sam put the can on the counter by the sink. "Dean?"

"What's the mater Sammy? You look kinda pale again."

"Nothin', I'm just..."

Dean looked concerned "You go lay back down, I'll bring it to you. Can you make it by yourself?"

"Yeah."

Not knowing what else to do Sam went back to the couch. A few minutes later Dean came in with a tray, which he placed over Sam's lap, and the bowl of soup.

You can't eat that, think of something, anything!

"Dean, my stomach doesn't feel so great all of a sudden."

"Well, it'll probably feel better once you've eaten."

"I don't think so..."

"Sure it will, you just need some food."

"I don't think that it'll help."

"Just eat a little and then I'll leave you alone."

Sam hesitantly ate a few spoonfuls of soup, before pushing it away. Dean looked from the bowl of soup to his brother.

"Is that all?" Dean asked Sam nodded. "I guess you can try some more a little later."

No, you will not!

"Sure." Sam replied with a small smile. "Thanks Dean."

Dean just nodded and took the plate and tray back to the kitchen. When he went back to the living room Sam had turned the TV on and Dean sat down beside him. Dean check Sam's forehead again for a temperature and Sam swatted his head away.

"I'm okay Dean."

"Jus' checkin'." Dean shrugged.

"Well don't." Sam whined he absentmindedly rubbed his elbow. The action did not go unnoticed by Dean.

"Is your elbow okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure? Let me see it." Dean demanded.

When Sam tried to protest this time, Dean forcefully grabbed his arm and pulled the baggy sweatshirt sleeve up, past Sam's elbow. A dark bruise covered Sam's elbow and it was slightly swollen.

Dean examined Sam's elbow and moved his arm around a bit while watching Sam's reaction. When he saw Sam wince, he immediately apologized.

"Sorry Bud, I'll get you some ice." Dean hurried into the kitchen and came back with an ice pack wrapped in a dishtowel, which he handed to Sam.

"Thanks Dean." Sam didn't want the ice, he was cold enough as it was, but Dean was waiting for him to put it on his elbow, so he did.

Dean grabbed the previously discarded blanket and covered Sam with it then he went back into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water and a bottle of Tylenol.

"Here take these." Dean insisted Sam obediently swallowed the pills that Dean handed him. "I think you should go to bed now."

Wait a minute, you can't go to bed yet. You've been eating all day and you need to work it off.

Bed sound so good to Sam, but he argued for the sake of arguing. "But Dean it's not even 7:30 yet."

"Well naughty little boys who pass out at school and don't eat all of their supper and disobey their older, wiser and better looking brother have to go to bed early."

He's got you there...he is better looking. You should at least do some sit-ups before you to bed.

Sam sighed. "Fine." He got up and headed to his bedroom, Dean followed him. "I don't need you to tuck me in."

"Ah-ah, listen to your elders Boy." Dean said taking hold of Sam's shoulders and herding him to his room. Dean pulled back the covers on the bed and helped Sam lie down, even though Sam didn't need his help, then he tucked Sam in. "Call for me if you need anything or if you start feeling sick again or if your arm hurts. Okay?"

Sam was nearly asleep already, but muttered. "Kay."

Dean watched his brother as he drifted off to sleep and the smile on his face turned into a frown. Something was not right with Sam and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

Hey friends,

Thank you for reading and those of you who review are awesome, thank you anonymous reviewers also.

I am sorry for making you wait so long for this chapter...I don't even know how many times I rewrote it.

A request for fainting was made in chapter three by skag trendy, it took me a while to work up to it, I hope it didn't disappoint—I know I went a little overboard with the 'brotherly fluff' so I hope you weren't falling asleep, the more serious medical mishaps are coming soon.

Sam's health is going to start deteriorating a lot more quickly then it probably would under normal circumstances, so please excuse medical inaccuracies.

Thank you,

callit