TV Shows » Supernatural » Under the Weather
A/n: Alright everyone, here it is, the end. Thank you so much for reading "Under the Weather." I hope you have enjoyed it.
Thank you to all my followers as well as those who read, review and/or favorite this. Also, thank you to jojospn, Guest, miXiZ, and LilyBolt.
CH8
A loud thumping sound interrupted the quiet that had fallen around Dean followed by another less continuous sound. Words were being said. Well, word, name actually. He didn't move to respond to it, maybe if he just ignored it the beckoning would stop. It only got louder and now he felt as though his body was being moved around in an annoyingly repetitive gesture while his name was being shouted. His name! Someone was trying to reach him. It was still too muffled for Dean to connect the name with the voice, but he knew that he knew them. As he continued to be shaken around like a rag doll, the voice became clearer. It was far too deep to be his little brother's. Sammy!
Dean's eyes flew open as the memory of Sam passed out came back to him. Stay awake, he had to stay awake. His brother needed him.
"Dean, there you are. I was starting to think you weren't going to make it." It was still too dark for the older hunter to see much of anything, but he didn't need to see the man to know who it was.
"S'ts bu't tme y'u sh'wed up. C'lld y'u l'k h'urs go'. S'mmy n'ds y'u."
"You have a concussion," the angel stated. To an untrained ear, his words would sound emotionless, only factual, but Dean had been around his friend long enough to detect the concern that touched his voice.
"'M f'ne. Jus h'lp S'm."
"Dean," Cas started apologetically. "I can't help your brother. I imagine with your head injury that you may have forgot that I no longer have the ability to heal. Or teleport."
"Yah C's, I kn'w," Dean snapped pushing himself up out of the mud.
"You should go slow," the angel warned.
"Yah yah," Dean waved a hand at his friend and the movement sent him spinning. His hand he had been flailing landed back into the mud and he leaned over away from himself just as his stomach emptied. Once he was done, he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his mud soaked jacket and glared up at his friend. "Littl' h'lp." He held out his hand towards Castiel who took it and as slowly as he could, pulled Dean up. The elder brother had a tight grip on the angel's hand and leaned up against him slightly, trying to find his balance and keep himself from spinning. "Alr'ght," he said patting his friend's shoulder in thanks, "n'w Sammy."
"I couldn't wake him," Castiel admitted.
"W'r g'nna hav t' carry h'm. Y'u g't ne s'de and 'll get the 'ther." Dean's speech although improved since the angel woke him, was still a sign that the older man wasn't in any shape to help move another full grown man.
"Dean, this isn't wise. You're in no condition for this."
"I can't leave him here and y'u can't telep'rt. I d'nt have a ch'ice." Castiel sighed in defeat and positioned himself so that he could keep himself anchored to the ground as he grabbed onto Sam's left arm. Dean did the same with his right, though teetered a bit. "Alright 'n three. 'Ne, tw', three!" Both of them struggled to lift the 6'4 unconscious man up off the ground. After a few tries, and Cas having to help pull Dean back to his feet most of them, they managed. "That wasn't s' bad," Dean replied with a weary grin. "Alright, let's get Sammy h'me."
It was slow going between Dean still not being strong enough to really support the extra weight of his brother as well as trying to stand without swaying and neither the angel nor the injured hunter knowing exactly where they were or where to go, but they made it. Of course along the way they had had to readjust and get a better hold on Sam, and Dean had had to stop and regain his balance or vomit, but finally the body of the sleek black Impala came into view. Dean got to work at fishing in his pocket for his keys while they directed Sam towards the car. With the door unlocked and open, they worked together at gently placing the giant man into the passenger seat. The older brother hooked the seatbelt and positioned the unconscious hunter so that he didn't slide into an uncomfortable position before closing the door and turning back towards Cas.
"Alright, meet y'u at the h'tel." As he turned to head over to the driver's side, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"No. You've done far more than you should have with a concussion. I'll drive."
"I d'n't even let Sammy drive her that 'ften, why w'uld I let y'u?" He frowned.
"Because you don't have a choice. You have a head injury and can barely speak or walk and Sam is unconscious and close to death. Now, get in." Dean stared at his friend, surprised by the demand that filled his words. He wasn't asking him, he was telling him. The older Hunter obeyed and climbed into the back seat. For the first few moments, he kept a close fuzzy fix on his friend and how he maneuvered the Chevy, but soon his eyelids drooped and he was lost to sleep once again.
The jerk of the car stopping brought Dean back and this time, he regained awareness quicker and without slurring.
"Alright, let's get him up to the room." The older brother threw himself out of the Impala, pressing himself against it as the world spun again. Too fast, definitely too fast. Castiel came around to the passenger side and together they worked on getting Sam up and out. Dean tried to hurry his sibling up the stairs the best he could, which had felt to him like it was only two notches faster than a snail's pace. Finally they reached the top and leaned the giant man against the wall while the older man fought to open the motel door. Once inside, they laid him on the bed and Dean stood hunched over both arms outstretched and pushing on the mattress as he tried to steady himself.
"Cas, take that bucket there and go fill it with ice," Dean ordered. The angel didn't lose anytime in collecting the container that had been mentioned and rushing out. The older brother pushed himself off and swayed to the bathroom where he got to work cranking the knob labeled cold in the bathtub. Water shot out of the faucet and he quickly clogged the drain so that the it would begin to fill up. His friend returned and began to dump in the ice he had requested. Another trip later, the ice cold water was ready. With difficulty, they once again grabbed Sam and gently rested him in tub.
Dean watched nervously as his brother remained unresponsive and the once clear fresh water that surrounded Sam turned a murky brown from all the mud. When there was still no response from the younger man, Dean pushed his brother's head down under the water. A few seconds later, he could feel his sibling trying to fight back and he released him, allowing Sam to re-emerge. The younger man gasped and launched his upper body up and out of the water, blinking and shivering as he stared from his brother to the angel.
"Finally," Dean sighed in relief. "Cas on the nightstand there should be a bottle of medicine that's purple, Sam needs that." Castiel nodded and left. With the angel gone, the elder brother brought his full attention to his sibling. "What the hell were you thinking back there?" Dean snapped.
"What?"
"When you took off with that thing chasing you. What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking we were screwed," Sam responded moving to climb out of the ice water. He was pushed back by his brother's hand.
"Oh no, you're staying in there until I take your temperature."
"Dean," Sam rolled his eyes.
"Don't 'Dean' me," the elder brother raised his voice. "I let you go on this suicide mission and you nearly died out there! I told you something bad would happen if you tagged along in your condition and as usual, I was right." His voice was harsh but as he glared into his brother's hazel eyes, the younger man could see that it wasn't just anger that inhabited them. "That was stupid Sam. Stupid on your part and stupid on mine."
"No, it wasn't," his words were soft and hoarse. "It was smart. If I hadn't been out there with you, YOU would have died. What I did worked and we both came out alive."
"Barely," Dean retorted.
"But we did. Ok yeah it was a close call, but we still made it."
"Here," Castiel rejoined the brothers, handing Dean the bottle he asked for.
"You're taking this, you're taking your temperature, you're getting into clean dry clothes, and you're getting into bed." The angel looked from one Winchester to the other. Sam pulled himself out of the tub, grabbed a towel, snatched up the Nyquil his brother had been holding, and left the bathroom. Dean rubbed a tired hand over his face and sighed.
"You should get some sleep Dean," his friend coaxed.
"Not until Sammy-"
"Sam's a grown man, he can take care of himself." The older brother glared at his friend and then rolled his eyes. He had a point, Dean knew that and he also knew that he had been saying he would let up on Mother-Henning his little brother for years now, but old habits die hard. Sam would be sixty and he would still be watching over him, that is, if either of them were still alive.
With his brother vertical and vocal, Dean could feel the collision with the Basilisk's tail. His face didn't look that bad, just a cut above his hairline and mud. His hands however had little red cuts from when glass had fallen over him, but again nothing he needed to worry about. His pupils did look a bit dialated which was to be expected with a concussion and he could feel his muscles screaming at him in pain, but he'd have to manage for now. He washed his hands and face, dried off, then rejoined everyone.
As Dean entered the motel room, there was a loud beep and he watched Sam pull the thermometer from his mouth. The younger man sighed and tossed it on the nightstand, yanked out a pair of sweats and a dry t-shirt, and made for the bathroom; slamming the door behind him as he did. The elder brother walked over to pick up the thrown thermometer and pressed the button to activate it. It complied with a beep and displayed in black line numbers 101.5. Dean cussed and returned it to the table, then turned back to the angel.
"Thanks for the help Cas," he replied readying his clothes so that he could change once Sam was done.
"Of course Dean. I have a favor I have to ask of you now however."
"Say the word."
"I'm going to need a lift back to retrieve my car from the Sanctuary. Well it's not mine, the mechanic who's working on mine let me borrow his."
The older man raised his eyebrows and whistled.
"Wow, that was nice of him. You got it Cas, first thing in the morning Sammy and I will take you." The angel grinned and nodded.
"Thank you." The corners of his lips turned down as he brought his blue eyes to fall on the bathroom door. "How is he?"
"He's pissed, but he's alive and that's all that matters," Dean reported. "Temperatures still high."
"I felt his forehead when I first found you guys, it was bad Dean."
"Yeah well don't worry. I let him try it his way and that didn't turn out so great, but we're doing things my way now. As soon as we drop you off tomorrow morning, we're going back to the Bunker and Sammy isn't leaving it until he's right as rain. Oh yeah, speaking of which," Dean pulled out his soaked leather wallet and handed his friend a card. "Go get yourself a room for the night." Castiel shook his head.
"Thank you but that's not necessary Dean. I may not have my powers but I'm not human either. Don't forget I still have another angel's grace, even if it's pretty well tapped out now." Dean replaced the card in his wallet and tossed it on the little table.
"Speaking of, how're you doin'?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm alright." Never had Dean believed he would be talking with an angel, let alone having one as his best friend, so to have one actually learn to adopt his behavior and outlooks was something unheard of. Castiel was most certainly not alright, but like his teacher, it was his way of trying to avoid the subject. Just then, the bathroom door opened and Sam reappeared wearing his night attire. He didn't say anything as he took the waded up clothes he was holding and laid them out on the chairs to dry. His face was still pale even as he made sharp movements to show his brother he was still angry. Dean now occupied the vacant bathroom and began to change into his own sweats and t-shirt.
Castiel watched the younger Winchester quietly.
"How are you Sam?" He finally asked. Sure he had been sent to rescue Dean from Hell, but over the course of time, the angel had built a friendship with his little brother as well.
"I'm fine Cas. You?"
"I'm alright. I know you're angry at your brother, but he's just concerned about you."
"When isn't he?" It was a rhetorical question and thankfully for Sam, Castiel seemed to have finally caught on to what sarcasm is. Yet another thing he had learned from the brothers. "I get he's concerned, but I'm thirty-two and he's always concerned. Besides, I think it may be something else," Sam lowered his voice as his eyes grew worried.
"You think it's the Mark of Cain."
The younger brother nodded in confirmation. "He's been walking on eggshells around us ever since the slaughter," he whispered.
"He's worried he'll do it again."
"He's worried he'll do it to us," Sam corrected the angel.
"Dean's not wrong to think that Sam, the Mark of Cain is extremely powerful. Although your brother is strong and a fighter, it's using those two things and turning them against him. I imagine it's only a matter of time before his emotions are heightened by the Mark and twisted into anger. It would seem that it's already starting. Look what he did to Metatron."
"We have to do something Cas. I can't just stand idly by and watch that damn thing consume my brother."
The bathroom door opened and Dean padded out, eyeing the angel as he approached his bed.
"Cas, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here. I'm hitting the sack," he brought his green eyes to meet his brother's. "And so are you." Sam gave the angel one last look before shuffling over to his bed and climbing under the covers. "Thanks for all your help man, you sure you don't want a room for the night?"
His friend shook his head.
"No, it would only be a waste. I'll see you in the morning. Good night Dean, Sam."
"Night Cas."
"Bye Cas."
With the angel gone, Sam rolled so that his back was facing his brother and closed his eyes. In the bed parallel to his, Dean shut off the light and collapsed onto his own mattress which squeaked at the weight. The room was silent with only the sound of the rain and an occasional roar of thunder.
The next morning, both brothers got up early and packed their bags. Dean's sight had improved though he still hurt, and Sam still appeared pale and had outbursts of snot and mucus. Once Castiel showed up, they checked out and took off back to the Sanctuary where the angel's borrowed car was parked.
"Thank you again," he said unhooking his seatbelt.
"Here, take this," Dean replied passing his friend the same card he had the previous night. "You got lucky the guy let you borrow the car last night, you're not gonna be as lucky with the bill."
The angel opened his mouth to reject the offer, but instead closed it.
"Thank you Dean."
"Don't thank me, thank...who's ever card that is." Castiel grinned.
"Wait, Cas," Sam said, turning around in the passenger seat to see him. "How did you know where we were last night?"
"Dean called me and told me." The angel stepped out of the car and closed the door. Both brothers waved and then Dean accelerated out of sight.
"How you feelin'?" The elder brother asked keeping his eyes on the road ahead. It took a bit longer then he would have liked, but finally Sam answered.
"Bout the same," he sighed.
"Well, we'll remedy that soon," Dean promised. The car fell silent with the exception of the rain tapping on the car and the rhythmic screech of the windshield wipers. Much to his dismay, it hadn't let up any. "Thank you."
The words seemed to come out of nowhere to the younger Winchester and for a split second, he thought he had imagined them. He turned his hazel gaze to his brother who's own was still fixed on the road in front of him with no indicator he had said anything.
"What?" Sam asked as a cough tickled his throat. A pause, then the older man cleared his own.
"Thank you."
"For?"
Dean's jade eyes turned from where he was going to fall on a baffled Sam.
"You were right," he responded simply.
"Care to elaborate?" The elder brother licked his lips and gave an embarrassed eye roll.
"What you did was smart. Had you just stayed home like I wanted you to, the outcome may have turned out different. Worse." The younger man threw a glance out the front window before returning it to his company. "And you're right that I'm afraid of what I might do to you, or Cas," Dean's voice broke and he turned his attention back on his driving not willing to meet his brother's eyes as he confessed. "I'm scared Sam, I'm scared that in the long run, this thing is going to be too much for me and no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to fight it. Every night I'm reminded of what I did. I can see them laying scattered and gory all over the floor and I can see my hand gripping the blade drenched in their blood." His face twisted in disgust at the memory. "I can still hear them screaming and see that disappointed look on your face and all that brought back for me was a reminder of what happened all those years ago." Dean didn't have to elaborate on what he meant this time. Sam would never forget when his seemingly thick skinned big brother broke down and shared with him his time in Hell. It haunted him for years, it still did and as much as the younger sibling wish it would some day evaporate into the past, he knew it never would. "I have it in me, Sammy," he continued, pulling Sam out of his thoughts. "I can take lives without blinking an eye. Have been since I was about six. I can't take any chances of me snapping one day and killing-" he trailed off.
"I'm not disappointed in you Dean. I never was, nor have I ever been. Why do you think I've looked up to you since I was a toddler?"
"Well it's not like you had anyone else," he countered.
"It's more than that Dean. You're a fighter, you always have been. You always fight for me and I may not say it all the time, but I appreciate it. But you need to fight for you." Dean glanced back over at his brother, this time he was wearing the baffled look. "You can beat this Dean, you're strong enough and even though you don't think you are, you're smart. And I'm not leaving you to fight this on your own, so you can just get that out of your head. Neither is Cas. We took out a creature that I didn't even think existed and is said by Legend to be damn near impossible to kill." Sam shrugged and a tired yet sincere grin touched his lips. "I kinda think the odds are in our favor." Dean scoffed but Sam saw in his eyes the drive that he had been so accustomed to all his life.
"Always a glass half full with you isn't it Bitch?" The older brother teased.
"Always Jerk."
- Fin -
A/n: I'm excited to announce that I will soon be starting to post an AU story, that has been a work in progress, titled "He's My Brother." I'm going to try and get a schedule for that one so hopefully I can update it regularly.
Thanks again for reading!