Notes: Fair warning there is a lot of Hurt/Comfort in the next few chapters. This is basically a case fic with sick!Dean. There will be important parts for the story overall in the chapter after this one. If H/C is not your thing, you could safely skip this chapter if desired.

Still, I hope you enjoy!

P.S - I'm a sucker for reviews! If you like it, let me know! If there is something I can do better, let me know!

Chapter 2: Somewhere in Ohio

Dean was feeling off. He had been feeling off for a few days now. His throat was dry and scratch, he felt run down, and he had been fighting off a killer headache. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. He couldn't shake the fog that was filling his head. He was having trouble getting to sleep lately, which was strange because he kept waking up more and more exhausted. He figured it would blow over whatever it was. They had been hunting with Andy for about a month now. They had got into a pretty decent routine. Sam and Andy did research, and depending on the job they would usually hunt all together. Dean smiled to himself thinking about how nice it was to have Andy around again. He stretched and heard Sam in the shower so he sat on the bed, head in his hand trying to wake himself up. He was caught off guard by a sudden tickle in his throat which caused him to have to cough hard into a fist. He heard the water shut off and the door open. He looked up eyes bleary for a moment. When they focused he just about dove under the bed. Andy was there wearing nothing but a towel rubbing her hair dry with another. It was all he could do to keep from staring with his mouth open.

"Hey Dean. My shower wasn't working so Sam let me in to use yours. I'm done now so you can go ahead." She said nonchalantly.

"Uh, yea thanks," He cleared his throat and got up and booked it into the bathroom only pausing to grab a pair of jeans. His blood was pumping hard now. Defiantly awake. He really had not been expecting Andy, and his reaction to seeing her practically naked in his room was not something he wanted to revisit right away. The hot shower actually helped clear his head a bit. He stepped out and grabbed a towel. The temperature change made him shiver. The sneeze completely caught him off guard. A disembodied

"Bless you," came from Andy in the other room. He froze for a second suddenly grateful that he had thought to at least bring pants into the bathroom. He slid them on and went into the room. Andy glanced over at him and smiled. She hid the fact that seeing Dean shirtless sent a shiver through her and literally started her salivating. She watched the muscles of his back ripple as he put on a tight black t-shirt. He sat on the bed and passed a hand over his face. Suddenly he sneezed again.

"Bless you," Andy said looking over at Dean "Are you ok?"

"What?" Dean said distractedly. "Yea I'm fine." Andy gave him a strange look. But then Sam came in with breakfast and coffee.

"Hey Sam, what you bring us?" Andy asked sitting up. "Greasy breakfast sandwiches, coffee and Tea for the totaler," Andy grinned and grabbed her tea and a sandwich and chowed down.

"So what have we got Sammy?" Dean asked through a mouth full.

"Looks like some kind of water creature that feeds on humans somehow. It looks like it might be keeping its victims alive somewhere and feeds on them slowly, takes about a week, then they die and show up in the river."

"Ok then I guess we have some hunting to do tonight," Andy said. Dean cleared his throat quietly.

"What kills this kind of thing?" Sam glanced at his computer screen.

"I'm not sure. We need to find out exactly what it is first. There are lots of ways to kill water creatures the usual salt silver etc for water spirits. We won't really know until we try." Dean coughed softly into a fist.

"Well I guess we should get ready for a hunt."

"Awesome, well I'm going to go do some research see if we can narrow down the suspect pool." Andy said and got up and left. Sam and Dean finished up their breakfast. Sam was glued to the computer, and Dean sat on his bed and turned on a movie. He sneezed into his fist. Sam looked up at him a bit startled.

"Bless you,"

"Thanks," he said. He was feeling very tiered. His head still felt fuzzy, and his throat was scratchy. Also his nose had started to run. He sniffed and tried to focus on the movie he was watching, but his eyes kept closing. A few times he noticed Sam looking at him, but at this point he didn't care he just wanted to sleep.

"Dean? Are you ok?" Dean opened his eyes and saw Sam standing next to him looking at him worried.

"Jeezus!" Dean said and jumped. "Sam what the hell!"

"You look really tired."

"That's why I was sleeping idiot. Now leave me alone" he said and rolled over.

"Dean, you don't sleep during the day unless you're hurt or sick and as far as I can see you're not hurt."

"Sam give it up. We've been going nonstop for a while now, I just need to do some catching up." He coughed lightly and flopped back down on his pillow. Sam went back to his computer. When he looked up again a few minutes later Dean was fast asleep. Sam shook his head. Dean was getting sick and they both new it. Sam also knew that he would never admit it. He hopped that they could avoid any rigorous hunting for a while and let Dean heal up. Dean rarely got sick, but when he did it hit him hard and fast. Usually when he let himself rest it didn't last long, but if he tried to fight through it the aftermath was never pretty. He heard the door open suddenly. He spun around and motioned to Andy who was coming in to keep it quiet. She froze for a moment and Sam motioned towards Dean's sleeping form on the bed. She came slowly in. Quietly she sat down and lean over to Sam.

"What's happening?" she said quietly.

"Dean's tired, he fell asleep watching a movie. I figured to let him sleep." Andy raised an eyebrow at Sam.

"Dean, tired…doesn't really happen." Sam glanced over at the bed where his brother lay dead asleep.

"That's what I said," She looked over at Dean. He was looking a bit pale. She also could barely keep herself from blushing as she watched him sleep. He looked so sweet and relaxed. As she watched him Dean coughed quietly in his sleep. She looked at Sam and he nodded.

"Uh oh," she mouthed. At that point Dean woke up with a sneeze. In chorus Sam and Andy blessed him. He just gave them a look sat up and rubbed his eyes. If Andy didn't know any better she would have said he had been sleeping off a hangover. His eyes were unfocused and had the beginnings of dark circles under them. He cleared his throat.

"Wha'd you find out Andy?" She stopped staring at him and looked down at Sam.

"Not too much more. I think it's luring its victims somehow though. All the people that have died have been avid swimmers, and know the area really well. All of the friends and family say there would be no way they just drown without something else happening."

"But all the corners reports say there was not marks or signs of struggle, only some ligature marks." Added Sam.

"Exactly," Dean looked pensive for a moment.

"That sounds familiar." He got off the bed and dug through his bag for a moment and came up with his dad's journal and started flipping through it.

"It's a Kelpie."

"Ha!" Andy said. Sam and Dean both looked at her.

"Sorry…I actually know what that is. It's a Celtic legend, their water creatures that can change their appearance to lure their victims into the water then they drag them down. Usually store them underwater somewhere like a crocodile to eat later, usually children or men. But this one sounds a bit different. Ligature marks suggest it's binding it's victims somewhere."

"Exactly."

"So how do we kill it?" Dean asked after clearing his throat.

"That's the thing," Sam continued after eyeing his brother "There is no recorded way to kill it. It's not really a creature it's a creature spirit. There are some legends that say you can render a Kelpie docile by bridling it, but that's about it."

"Maybe once it's docile it's just like any other animal and can be killed," Andy said looking over Sam's shoulder. Sam looked like he was about to say something but he was interrupted by Dean sneezing harshly into his wrist. Both Sam and Andy looked at him. He looked up.

"What?" he said indignantly. Sam just shook his head, Andy's eyebrows furrowed a bit in concern."Well I think we should at least check out the lake tonight, get a feel for the place and just see what happens." Sam said.

"I agree," said Andy. Dean sneezed again. Andy couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

"I'll take that as a yes from you as well. Bless you by the way." Andy stretched and looked around casually. "Wanna watch some T.V with me for now?" she asked as she hopped onto Dean's bed and looked at him with a grin. He looked at her suspiciously for a moment then climbed on the bed next to her. About 15 minutes into the show he was asleep again head resting on Andy's shoulder, mouth slightly open because he could barely breath through his nose anymore. Andy's shoulder was starting to get sore so she shifted. Dean lifted his head in sleep and Andy managed to snake an arm around his shoulders. He settled comfortably back into her shoulder. Andy's hand absentmindedly fell to stroking his hair. Sam looked over at the two of them. In spite of the fact the Dean was looking worse by the hour, he had to smile at the picture. The two of them had been avoiding their feelings for years, and neither of them had ever admitted anything to each other. Sam wasn't sure why. He thought that maybe they both figured there was no point. Whether it was the life, or some other stupid reason, it had just never happened. It seemed like only Sam could see how perfect they were for each other.

Dean woke with a start. He was disoriented for a moment. He was alone in bed, under the covers. He sat up slowly and then whished he hadn't. His head throbbed and sent the world spinning. 'Shit,' he thought dully. Dean got up out of bed and looked out the window. He saw Sam and Andy packing some bits and pieces into the car and Andy's bike. His body ached, his head ached and his chest and sinuses felt heavy. He coughed hard, trying to clear out some of his congestion. It didn't do much. He shook himself and told himself to suck it up. He pulled his boots on, got his jacket and started helping with the supplies. When they were just about ready to go Andy went off for one last thing. A bridle "Just in case" she had said Sam tried to convince Dean to stay behind and rest.

"Dean you're sick! Just stay at the motel Andy and I can handle this."

"I am not sick! There is no way I am letting you do this without me, now let's go." He coughed harshly. "Dean seriously, you shouldn't even be outside let alone hunting." Sam said looking at his brother with worry. He hesitated for a moment. "Andy isn't going to think any less of you if you sit out because you're sick." Dean looked up quickly."What does Andy have to do with this?" He said a bit too loud.

"Nothing. Never mind," Just then Andy rolled up on her motorcycle.

"You boy's ready to go?" She said as took off her helmet.

"You bet," Dean said getting into his Impala. Sam rolled his eyes at Andy who shrugged. Off they went. Sam and Dean drove in silence. The only sound was Dean sniffing and clearing his throat. Until

he sneezed. His head snapped forward and he almost cracked it on the steering wheel.

"You should have at least let me drive," Sam said.

"Shut up Sam," Dean said sounding horse. Not long after they made it to the spot where the victims had been disappearing. Andy came over to the car.

"Looks like there are some drag marks just over there." She said pointing. They went over to check it out. They looked around for an hour. Every so often they would hear Dean's breath hitching as he desperately tried to hold back a sneeze. When he couldn't he only let out painful sounding stifles that made Andy and Sam wince.

Dean was at the water's edge when he heard it. A strange sound was punctuating the clam night. It sounded like a hissing and bubbling. He looked out to the water and saw something.

"Guys!" he called just a little too late. Something grabbed him around the ankles and pulled. He fell and it started pulling him towards the water. Andy had heard him call and his sudden yelp as his feet were pulled out from under him. She came sprinting across to the water just in time to see Dean's head sink under the water.

"Sam!" she screamed as she stripped off her jacket and dove into the lake. It was frigid. Murky. But she caught sight of Dean and booked it after him. She caught up and grabbed him by an arm. She looked at the Kelpie. It glared at her and she glared back and froze all of the water around it. That stunned it long enough that she managed to get Dean out of its grasp. She changed the buoyancy of the water around her and Dean and kicked. They broke the surface like a shot. She heard Sam calling and oriented herself and made her way back. That little bit of manipulation had sapped some of her strength. Ice was never her best product. Sam had to wade out to help her and Dean to shore.

"Dean!" Sam called. "Andy is he ok" Sam said panic in his voice. They laid Dean down on the ground away from the water's edge.

"Hold on a sec Sam," Andy leaned in and listened to his chest. She could hear a heart beat but he wasn't breathing. There was too much water in his lungs. She focused all of her energy and as carefully as she could she pulled it out. Water gushed out of Dean's mouth and then he gasped for air and coughed. Andy rolled him onto his side while he coughed. When he finally stopped he breathed out a nearly silent

"Thanks," Andy chuckled.

"You're welcome. Come on let's get you up," They picked each other up, both breathing heavily. As the adrenaline started to come down both Andy and Dean began to realize just how fucking cold it was. Dean sneezed into his fist.

"Bless you," Andy said between heavy breaths.

"Let get you guys dry," Sam said leading them to the car.

"Hold on a sec Ssam." Andy stopped him. She took Dean by the shoulders. He stood there shivering. Andy focused her manipulation in her palms and brushed her hands over Dean. Every where she could reach. Water poured off of his clothes and seeped into the ground.

"There. It's not perfect but at leasst you wwon't drip on yyour upholstery. Sam you gget Dean back. I'll meet up with you there. There is nno way I'm leaving my bbike here,"

"Andy don't be stupid," Sam said.

"Your ssoaked, you will be half ffrozen by the time you… Huchshew!" Dean said trying to grab her hand.

"Yea and yyou're ssick, and damp, and you would never leave your baby somewhere to get jacked. Get in the car I'll mmeet you at the mmotel." Without another word she started walking over to her bike. She hopped on and took off. She had to be by herself for a moment. She went for a few miles then pulled over. In spite of all the shit she had been through something about having to save people she cared about seemed to get her a bit emotional most of the time. When she had come down she manipulated her clothes dry. She was still freezing but at least she was dry. She revved up her bike and sped off to the motel. She went straight to the boys room. Sam was just helping Dean into the room. She went in with them.

"Sam get him into some dry clothes I'm going to heat some towels." She looked at Dean. His face was white and he was shaking hard. Sam helped his brother out of his clothes and into sweats. Then he made Dean get into bed and put an extra blanket on him. He coughed hard. His lungs felt like they were on fire. Andy came back into the room. She took off her jacket and got into bed with Dean. "W-What are y-you d-doing?" he said through chattering teeth as he pulled himself away from her attempt at wrapping her arms around him.

"Body heat is the best way to warm another body up. So just suck it up Dean." Sam raised his eyebrows and looked at his brother who glared back at him. Dean eventually warmed up enough to stop shaking and at some point they all fell asleep. Andy woke up early with Dean's arms wrapped around her. Not wanting to affect his macho-ness she snaked her arms out from around him, ducked out of his arms and crawled out of bed. He shifted a bit but didn't wake up. She went back to her own room and crawled into bed and crashed hard.

Dean woke up with a start and sat straight up in bed. The first thing he noticed was that his head felt like it was floating. The next thing he noticed was that Andy's warm body was missing from where it had started the night. Dean shivered. He wasn't bone cold like he had been the other night, but he still felt a bit chilled. He got up and put some normal clothes on. Then he went over to Andy's.

She woke up to rough knocking on her door. She staggered out of bed and opened her door. Dean stood there looking like death warmed over.

"Shit Andy you look like hell." Dean said cracking a grin at her. She looked at him still half asleep.

"Speak for yourself. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I thought we could come up with a new plan of atta- attack." Dean sneezed explosively. Andy just looked at him while his fist was still in front of his face.

"Are you serious?" Dean looked over his fist at her with his beautiful green eyes and his usual mask.

"What?" Andy stared at him. Then just shook her head and rolled her eyes. She was about to close the door in his face when she saw him shiver. She looked at him more seriously. The paleness was still there along with the dark bruises under his eyes. What was new was the flush to his cheeks and a grey tinge to the rest of his face.

"Dean, are you ok?" Andy asked brows furrowed in concern. She raised a hand to lay on his forehead. He pushed her hand away before she could touch him.

"Andy I'm fine," she rolled her eyes at him again.

"Yea and you're a big fat liar," she muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something?" He asked clearing his throat. Andy shook her head.

"Dean, it's early. I'm wrecked which means you likely are to. Just go back to bed and sleep for a while longer. Please." Dean sighed heavily.

"Andy I can't sleep with that thing out there we need to make a game plan," Dean looked at her serious with a hint of pleading in his eyes. She could never say no to that face. That sweet face. She sighed."Go get your brother. If you expect me to make attack plans this early I am not getting out of my p.j.'s." Dean smiled and went to wake Sam.

They made a plan. As best they could. They utilised Andy's abilities considering the nature of the creature they were hunting. Andy and Sam would dive into the lake, Andy would keep the water out and they would look for it while Dean kept an eye on the shore. Dean tried to convince them that he should be the one to go with Andy but they both shot him down. He was looking more and more wrecked by the hour. Andy saw him shiver a few times. She thought he might have a fever but it could just be some residual from the swim they took last night. He had started coughing as well. Just a dry irritating cough at the moment, but it sounded painful.

"All right boys, I think we're set. Now both of you go back to your room and get some sleep because I know I could use some more." The boys both chuckled at her and went back to their rooms. When Andy woke up again she had a thought. They had no idea what they were doing. Sure they had hashed out a plan, that might work, but they really knew nothing about this Kelpie. The thought kept at her for most of the morning. So she made a decision. She went out and hopped on her bike and rode back to the lake. She stood there looking at it for a while. Finally she stripped off an dove in. She kept herself dry and cleared the water so she could see. She swam around that lake for an hour before something caught her eye. One side of the lake backed onto a rocky cliff. On that side she saw an opening. She checked it out. It turned out to be an entrance to an network of caves that ran through the side of the cliff. By the drag marks she found by the pool of the water entrance she figured that this was the Kelpie's layer, and that they were wrong about the way they liked to feed. Not wanting to run into the Kelpie Andy slipped back into the water and back to her bike.