Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 11 Love

After they had eaten Dean finished the weapons while Sam threw away the food cartons. When he had finshed Dean stood up from the wall he had been leaning on and walked slowly to his bag to get a fresh T shirt and boxers. Last ones, lucky they were washing.
"Hey, I'm gonna head in for a shower, okay?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, I'll go check the washing. You got your cast cover?"
"Right here in the bag, thanks Florence." Dean indicated his shaving bag in his hand.

After Dean finished in the shower he came out with his T shirt and boxers on. He had been practicing to do the T shirt part on his own and was managing with some success. Sam was putting the weapons back in the bags and the clothes were piled to be put away as well. Dean walked over and helped Sam pack everything away that they could for the night, knowing they would be on their way again come morning. Dean took some Tylenol for his headache and sat down gingerly on the bed with his back on the head board.
"Feel like a rub?" said Sam coming over and showing Dean the tube of menthol sports rub he had in his hand.
"Hell, yes".
Sam moved the pillows down the bed and helped Dean pull his T shirt off again. Then he squeezed in behind Dean leaning against the headboard rubbing Deans back while he was sitting up. He could still count Deans ribs if he wanted to so he made a mental note to keep Dean eating as much as he could.
"Hey Dean?" Sam asked after a few minutes and Dean had started to relax into the rub.
"Yeah."
"Why did you freak out at the blood earlier?"

Dean took a big breath and pushed it out before replying. "Because I did a stupid thing and it ended badly."
"What stupid thing?"
"The damn Harpy. I shot it and fell through the roof. I was supposed to be protecting you. What if there had been more?" Dean spoke softly as if remembering what happened.
Sam didn't want to break the spell that was causing his brother to tell him what he was thinking, so he spoke softly too. "But it's not your fault, Dean there was nothing you could have done."
"Not shooting it while I was over the hole in the roof would have been a start."
"It would have been hard to predict where it would drop you and who knows what it might have done to you if you hadn't ."
"I know but it was still a dumb thing to do. I should have taken more care."
"Hang on. Do you remember falling through the roof?"
Dean shuddered under Sam's hands. "It was horrible, Sam."
"Of course it was. It was four stories Dean, you can't just walk away from that."
"It's was pretty scary."
Wow, a huge admission from Dean.
"I'll bet."
"Sam, I'm sorry for putting you through that. I know what its like Iit must have been hard for you."

Holy crap Dean was apologising to Sam for being hurt and nearly dying!
"Dean, you don't have to apologise to me, we're family. I would do anything for you and I know you would for me. We have each other. I mean that's all that's left of our family and we have to look out for each other. That's what makes us such a great team, right?" Sam pushed Dean shoulder softly to emphasise his point.
"Yeah, we are all we have left." Dean said solemnly.

Sam was quiet while he finished rubbing Deans back thinking about what Dean had just said to him but trying to think of it from Dean's point of view. Dean was always protecting his family from danger and getting injured in the process was part of that. Their job was full of danger. As Dean moved forward to grab his T shirt off the bed, Sam leaned forward and pulled him back into his chest. Dean didn't stiffen as Sam expected but leaned back into Sam's chest letting Sam support him fully. Sam reached up to the collar of his shirt and pulled Dean's amulet off his neck. He placed it back around Dean's neck, its rightful home. Dean's right hand went to the amulet and rubbed it between his fingers. Sam put his left hand under Dean's cast and cradled it for Dean. He wrapped his right arm around Dean, across his chest. Sam let his face sit gently in Deans hair.

The boys lay there for a few minutes just enjoying the feeling of being with each other, being with family and being content with that.
"I love you, Sam."
Sam tried not to look shocked by Dean's admission, lucky Dean was facing the other way.
"I love you too, Dean."
Sam helped Dean put his T shirt back on then Dean lay down to go to sleep. It seemed harder to sleep in the motel bed than the hospital bed. He couldn't work out where to put his cast where he a) did'nt lay on it, or b) almost knock himself out. He ended up putting it up on a pillow next to his head even though it made his side sightly sore and finally drifted of to sleep. Sam watched him from his own bed untill he was sure Dean was asleep then drifted off himself.

Dean woke with the first rays of sunlight streaming in the window with a huge blinding headache. It woke him with such force that he didn't get time to cover it up from Sam. As Dean groaned and brought his right hand up to rub his head. Sam woke and looked immediately over at his brother. He was up and getting Tylenol from the first aid kit before Dean could register that Sam was awake. Sam shook two Tylenol out and handed them to Dean with a glass of water from the sink. Dean took the Tylenol from Sam and pointed to the bottle and curled his fingers in a gesture asking Sam for another pill. Dean swallowed the three tablets down with the water and lay back down to let the medicine do its job. Sam raised his eyebrows at Dean as if to say must be a good headache. Dean nodded slightly at Sam in silent agreement and closed his eyes. His headache was a big one with the pain pounding at the back of his neck and seeming to splice his head in two as it rode sharply to the front of his head. Dean tried to think of the cause. Dehydration? Not enough sleep? The ride in the car yesterday? He hadn't had anything to drink in the car for the five or so hours while he had been asleep. He hoped it wasn't the time spent in the car after so long in the hospital because Dean had hoped to hit the road again today and maybe start looking for some work.

By the time Dean's headache abated enough for him to get out of bed Sam was dressed and had loaded the weapons and his own bag in the car. Dean's back felt a little glassy today so combined with his headache he decided to do another day in sweat pants and T shirt with a denim jacket over the top. Sam helped Dean with his jacket but Dean insisted on putting his own bag in the car. While Sam went to the office to return the key Dean strolled to the vending machine and got himself a couple of bottles of water and two of orange juices for Sam. Dean was waiting in the car when Sam returned and took a bottle of OJ with thanks noting Dean was again drinking water. They drove for an hour before stopping for breakfast. Dean bought local papers at the diner and Sam pulled his lap top out. After an hour spent researching the local area the boys found nothing to hunt thus far. Dean wasn't worried too much. He knew a hunt would turn up soon they always did.

They travelled in the same basic direction they had been heading in. They were fairly comfortable sometimes shooting the shit, sometimes thinking to themselves but always an easy brotherly companionship. Sam enjoyed the time even though he knew he would only be driving until Dean felt ready to take a turn himself. After lunch Dean felt tired and took a nap after telling Sam not to let him sleep too long. Sam let Dean sleep with his head against the passenger side window for an hour before shaking him awake. Dean woke to another headache and sore neck and after shaking some Tylenol out and drinking a full bottle of water. He slowly stretched himself as much as possible in the car. Mid afternoon Sam stopped the car in a quite forest like area and the boys went for a 40 minute walk among the trees. It was slow going for Dean, his legs feeling sore and cramped after the time in the car. Both boys enjoyed the walk. Sam couldn't believe they had never done this before. They had always travelled straight through to where they were going without taking time out for themselves.

They stopped for the night in another motel. This time Dean got dinner and Sam spent time on the net looking for work. Dean bought back the local evening paper with dinner and they swapped over, Dean on the net and Sam looking through the paper. Dean decided to go for a short walk to stretch his legs. Sam wanted to come so they went together and enjoyed the hour long stroll Dean insisted on. They went back to the motel and Sam went to take a shower while Dean surfed the web a bit longer. Sam suspected that Dean was doing something other than looking for work on the net but kept his opinion to himself because it might mean Dean was feeling better.

When he came out of the bathroom Dean was in bed with the covers pulled up. Sam noticed a bottle of water and the Tylenol on Dean's bedside table.
"Dean, you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Still got a headache?"
"mmm."
"Not having a shower?"
"In the morning."
Sam leant over Dean and pulled the covers down Dean's face.
"You sure you're okay? You look a bit pale."
"I'm okay Sammy, just need some sleep."
"Let me know if you need anything."
"You know I will."
"You better." For no known reason Sam bent down and kissed Dean on the forehead, then he tucked the blankets back up and went to bed.

Dean woke to Sam screaming at three in the morning. Even though his head was hurting like a bitch, he pushed himself up and walked over to Sam and shook him awake.
"Sammy you okay?"
Sam's eyes were wide with fear. "Dean you allright?"
"Me? You were screaming. Bad dream?"
"Terrifying!" Sam was trying to shake the dream off but he was still shaking and his head was foggy from the nightmare still coming to him in little flashes.
"You gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, I think…"
"What Sammy?"
"Will you…?" Sam was stammering, embarrassed like when he was young and wanted something.
"What's wrong, Sam?"
Then Dean realised without Sam having to say, he had been in this spot before, a long time ago.

Dean pulled Sam's covers back and climbed in next to his brother gently.
"I'm sorry Dean," said Sam sounding shy and embarrassed.
"Don't be sorry to ask for help Sammy. Its what I'm here for remember, little brother?"
"I remember, big brother." Sam cuddled up to Dean just like when they were little and Sam had bad nightmares. "Thanks Dean."
"It's okay, Sammy. Its okay." Dean soothed.
Dean tried to wrap Sam in his arms and provide comfort without knocking Sam out with his cast. Added to that was the awkwardness of not having been in bed together since they were young kids.
TBC