"You give what you have when you decide that you keep burning like fire,
It's burning you down."
Sam was going to wake up any minute and tell his brother to turn on the damn air. It was sweltering where he was and he just needed to cool down. The sweat on his skin made it seem like he just went swimming but he felt a little relief at the cool air that caressed his naked torso. He felt he was lying on something equally cold and it felt good to his hot skin. He felt a tightness on his left side but it wasn't painful any longer.
Sam's eyes fluttered open slowly and he tried to look beyond the darkness that seemed to envelop him. The moonlight was enough to show him that he was lying on the ground close by the forest that his brother dragged him out of before.
When was that? Minutes ago? Hours?
Sam's mind was too fuzzy to comprehend what was happening. He just knew without a doubt that he was hot and he opened his mouth to call for his brother.
"Dean."
There was no response to his call and Sam turned his head to the left to try and see if he could catch a glimpse of his brother. All he saw was the tire to the Impala and his hand reached out and let his fingers trace the silver hubcap. It was cool to the touch and Sam grabbed a hold of the metal and pulled himself slowly towards it. The ground under him tore at the remainder of his shirt but he didn't care.
Finally getting as close as his energy could get him Sam rested his forearm against the cool metal of the hubcap. He made sure his wrist was lying flat against it as he felt his pulse pumping the blood throughout his body. The instant relief it gave his left arm had Sam's choking on a sob and he just wished he had another hubcap for his right arm.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Instead he made sure his right wrist was flat against the cold concrete and he turned his head so his cheek lay against it as well. His pants were still on and he wondered if he should try to take them off but he knew there was no way he could do it. He had no energy and he was surprised he was able to pull himself closer to the Impala.
His vision was filled with forest and he wondered again where his brother ran off to. Did the witch get him? No, the witch was dead. He remembered that much.
"Dean."
Sam knew he was whispering and his voice sounded like gravel over rocks but Dean should have been close to hear him. Did something happen to his brother? Should Sam try to go find him? The thought of even trying to get up made Sam want to cry but for his brother he would give it a shot. Sam was just willing to grab a hold of something and pull himself up when Dean came stumbling through the woods.
Dean gave Sam a smile before coming to kneel next to him laying his cold hand on Sam's forehead. Sam leaned into the touch as he closed his eyes against the coolness of Dean's palm.
"Sam, keep this in. I have to get a reading."
Sam locked his mouth around the thermometer knowing he could do this small part for his brother. Dean left him there and Sam heard him messing with the trunk before closing it softly. The thermometer was beeping at him but he didn't move it. Dean wanted him to keep it in and he would do it until he couldn't anymore.
Dean was there again and took it out of his mouth before looking down at it with a frown. He shook his head before placing the device into his jacket pocket. He came to stand over Sam with one foot on either side of his brother as he reached down to grab Sam under his arms. He lifted until Sam was on unsteady feet and leaning mostly on his brother.
"Alright little brother. We have to make a little field trip."
"Dean…"
"It's not far. I promise. Just stay awake."
Sam let Dean get comfortable around him again before he was being pulled away from the safety of the Impala back towards the trees.
"Dean….no."
"Just keep walking Sam. Do it for me."
As they stepped back into the woods Sam felt terror as he realized they just left the woods. They just left and Dean was dragging him back in. Sam only wanted to lie on the cold concrete and try not to burn alive. The energy it was taking to walk again was causing Sam to sway and it took the Winchester everything he had to stay awake.
Do it for Dean. Keep walking.
Time seemed to slip away and Sam wasn't sure if he was walking for minutes or hours. It felt like an eternity before he was stopped and his head lifted to see where they were. A stream was in front of them, barely fifteen feet across. It didn't look that deep and there was barely any current. Dean started dragging him towards it and Sam knew for a fact he didn't want to go in there. He wanted to go back to the Impala and go to sleep. He wanted to wake up and have this nightmare be over. He used all the willpower and determination he had to stop his movement and even pull his brother away from the water.
"Sam, you have to. The fever is getting worse and I have to bring it down. I'm sorry but it's the only way."
Dean was pulling him in and Sam whimpered when the water starting filling up his boots.
"Dean, please. I don't want to."
"I know Sammy. Just for a few minutes."
Dean gave one good tug and Sam was falling into the water. Dean caught him and both landed into the water chest deep as they both fell to their knees. The cold water rushed over Sam's hot skin and before his body went limp with pain Sam screamed.
"We didn't start the fire, No we didn't light it. But we tried to fight it."
Sam's fear was thick enough that Dean could have cut it with a knife. He was whimpering and pulling away from the water and Dean' heart broke as he dragged his brother in. The water was freezing; Dean felt it fill his boots almost immediately. He thought for a second that maybe he should have spent the time undressing himself and Sam but now it was too late.
"Dean, please. I don't want to."
Sam's voice was a whisper and he was begging and pleading with his brother. Don't do this to me that voice said. Yet Dean knew this was the only way. The closest motel was too far and Dean's idea of going back to the cabin to look for ice probably wasn't that great to start off with. However, as he ran through the trees he came upon this stream and after testing the water temperature he ran back to his brother.
"I know Sammy. Just for a few minutes."
He pulled on Sam hard and they both went falling with Sam's weight. They hit their knees in the water and Dean wondered for the hundredth time if this was a bad idea. Sam's scream as the water came over him put a clench around his heart but Dean had other things to think about. His brother went limp and Dean caught him; pulling him against his chest as they sat in the freezing cold stream.
Dean was already starting to shiver and shake but Sam was still in his arms. Dean combed his fingers through Sam's hair, letting some water run down his sweaty face. His brother moaned at the touch but he didn't wake. Dean took out the thermometer, shaking it while silently praying water didn't get into it and it still worked. He placed it into his brother's mouth and closed his hand around his jaw.
The wait was excruciating and Dean wanted to yell at the little device to hurry up. He needed to know if this was working or if putting Sam through this pain was useless. The beeping had Dean grabbing the thermometer, letting Sam's limp head fall forward to land on his shoulder. Dean's other arm tightened its hold around his brother as he read the reading.
103.1
Dean sighed in relief and wrapped his other arm around his brother, bringing him close. He would give it another few minutes; let Sam's body truly soak up the cold water. Then Dean would start the task of dragging Sam back to the Impala. Sam's wet jeans and shoes would hopefully help to bring his temperature down some more and Dean would strip his brother of his wet clothes before helping him into the Impala. Then and only then would he drive to the motel.
Dean's arms squeezed around his brother and he let his head fall until it rested on the top of Sam's half wet locks. Sam wasn't as hot as before and Dean allowed his eyes to close from the relief it was giving him.
"Too close."
Dean wasn't sure if he was speaking for Sam's sake or his own but he knew this hunt was almost a complete disaster. Sam was so close to dying and Dean just hoped that the fever was the only thing he had to deal with. If something else was waiting to pop up Dean wasn't sure Sam's body could take it. Already it barely had the strength to handle the fever.
He sighed deeply again and silently counted the seconds as the tremors took over his body. Only a few more minutes then he would get to work again but now he could relax knowing he did all he could. He gave Sam a fighting chance.