Hey Everyone! Hope you're doing well. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy :)

Chapter 4: Some Kind Of Monster

Sam had put on one of his brother's favorite songs when they pulled out of the parking lot, hoping that would get some sort of reaction from him. But whenever the song got louder during a guitar riff or the drums were being banged on, the bass would cause Dean to wince, and the lines around his eyes would crease.

So Sam turned it down.

The drive had been silent aside from the calm hum of the engine as the Impala coasted down the highway. The air had been a bit more relaxed a few minutes ago, almost feeling normal again, but Dean shut that down as quickly as it had started. And tension flooded inside the car once again.

They had been driving for just over an hour now, the road stretching for miles and miles, trees blurring on both sides as Sam sped a little. He didn't normally speed, but there was this feeling of urgency he couldn't shake. He just wanted to get to Bobby's as soon as possible.

The sky was a mass of gray fog above them. The clouds were heavy enough that now even Sam was fighting a headache.

Dean rested his head against the window as the quiet hum of the Impalas engine lulled him enough to close his eyes.

Sam had his hands tightly gripping the leather trim of the steering wheel, but he kept glancing over at the abnormally silent older brother. And with him being in the passenger seat, it made it even more strange.

"Eyes on the road, Sam." Dean said in a flat voice, not even looking over. He could feel his brother's eyes on him and he hated knowing that he couldn't even sit for a minute without Sam glancing over or asking if he was alright.

It wasn't even a bad drive. The freeway stretch was as smooth as they could come, the wheels just gliding on the pavement like butter, but that didn't seem to register in Dean's mind.

Dean curled into himself every few minutes they drove over the tiniest bump on the road. He cradled his right hand to his chest, almost protectively. The white wrap around his hand stood out in stark contrast against the gray sleeve.

At first he had tried to get somewhat comfortable, resting on his side, but his neck protested against the hard headrest digging into the back of his head. The seat belt had tightened into his side, under his arms, intent on strangling him.

With an annoyed growl, Dean yanked the seatbelt out from under his body, not missing the concerned look Sam threw in his direction. Finally he settled on just crossing his arms over his chest and leaning the seat back a little. He closed his eyes, letting out a shaky exhale. It wasn't comfortable, but at least he could move more freely this way. And he had won the battle against the suffocating seatbelt.

Sam continued to sneak glances over at his older brother. It's not like Dean could see him do it with his eyes closed, but they had brother intuition and Dean knew what Sam would say or think before he even did it himself. Dean's brother's intuition was a lot more in tune than Sam's, but he guessed that was from Dean parenting him for most of his childhood.

Dean knew even the simplest things about Sam and sometimes it annoyed Sam and sometimes he was grateful for it. Dean knew when Sam was hungry, not feeling well. He knew when he was tired or lost in his thoughts. Dean just knew. He could just tell by a face his younger brother made or the way his body language changed.

Sam wished he had that kind of power of knowing every little thing about his older brother, but Dean only allowed him to see what he wanted him too and that would never change.

But Sam had been around Dean long enough to know that there was something definitely wrong with him. And he was determined to get to the bottom of it even though he knew his help would not be wanted and very much hated.

Sam waited for the light to turn green so he could finally get to the gas station he had spotted a few miles back. He looked over at the passenger side and Dean was asleep, but it didn't look like it was peaceful.

He was bunched up, his arms still folded over his chest. His eyes were closed, but the lines were creased around them. His breathing sounded strange, almost like a slight wheezing every couple of minutes. Unknown to Dean, Sam had shrugged off his jacket and had put it over his older brother.

"Why are we stopping?" Dean croaked out, his voice sounding raspy and hoarse. He had opened his eyes, blinking a few times when the light invaded his pupils and sat up a bit in his seat.

"I gotta fill up and we should probably get some food. Especially you."

"Not hungry." Dean said uninterested, shrugging back down into the seat and closing his eyes.

"It wasn't a suggestion."

Sam pulled up to one of the gas pumps and put the car in park and then turned in his seat to face all his attention on Dean.

Dean could feel Sam looking at him and so he swung one arm over his eyes. When he still could feel the blue eyes burning a hole through him, he finally gave in.

"What!"

"Do you plan on being a pain in the ass all day or just right now?"

Dean sat up quickly, a little too quickly when he had to grab his head and blink the black dots out of his eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what it means. Dude, look at you. You're a mess."

"I'm fine." Dean says, then leans back into the leather, allowing it to cushion his aching back. The green eyes slip closed again.

"Right…."

When silence filled the car since neither brother wanted to speak, Sam broke the stubborn wall between them once again.

"Well I'm not waiting around here. I'm gonna get you something to eat and you're gonna eat it."

Dean smirked despite the nagging headache behind his eyes. Sam trying to make him do anything he didn't wanna do was adorable.

"Keep dreaming Sammy."

The sound of the driver door slamming was his answer. Dean watched with amusement from the front window as Sam stormed angrily over to his side to run his card through to fill the tank.

He stood beside the passenger window, shooting daggers at Dean. He thought maybe instead of being the worried, concerned brother he would try the threatening technique which much to his dismay was only entertaining his older brother.

Dean stared right back at Sam with the same intensity but only softened his gaze a little when he had to rub the side of his temple.

The beep from the pump let Sam know the car was filled and so he took it out, closed the cap and put it back on the holder.

"I'll be back." Sam yelled out with a wave of his hand as he started walking to the convenience store.

Dean curled back in the seat and felt something slip from his shoulder. He looked down and felt a pang of guilt hit him square in the chest. Sam's tan cargo jacket was crumpled up on the floor mat by his shoe.

Sam had taken off his jacket to give to him and he had been nothing but a complete asshole since they left the motel. Actually since he came back from…where did he go again? His memory kept slipping from him.

Actually lots of memories were escaping him. He didn't even remember why they were in the car in the first place. He didn't even know where they were going and he sure as hell didn't want to ask Sam. He had seen the look of worry when he had questioned that before. But now, he had forgotten again.

Dean closed his eyes against the throbbing pulsing in his temples. This headache was the same one he had been feeling for days. It felt like hands were tightly gripping his skull, digging their nails in whenever he moved his head. His muscles felt sore and achy. Rolling his shoulders made him realize he was as stiff as a wooden board. He couldn't even crack his neck like usual. Exhaustion was his main feeling. Even holding his head up was beginning to take a toll on him. He chalked it up to some severe bug he must have caught. But this seemed like more.

His entire body ached in tune with his head. He didn't wanna worry Sam. He had enough to worry about. Whatever they were doing was more important. He didn't have time to be sick. He didn't have time to care. He just had to push through like he always did and would do now.

He watched through half lidded eyes as Sam walked back to the car with a white plastic bag, his face was blank, but his eyes shone with worry.

The car door opened and Dean watched as Sam squished himself into the driver's side.

"Can you hold this a second?"

Dean looked at the bag with disgust, but took it nonetheless, allowing Sam to get his bearings together.

He peered inside the bag and rolled his eyes. Ginger ale, pretzels, some medicine, and two sub sandwiches in plastic containers.

Normally a sandwich like that was enough to make Dean's mouth water, but his stomach gurgled angrily, protesting any thought of food.

"You need to eat." Sam spoke up, after shutting the door. He had heard the gurgle. Dean had vomited a few hours ago and he wasn't even sure how he had managed to throw up that much. He hadn't seen Dean eat anything that day and he was sure he didn't eat at the bar he had gone to. Dean preferred to drink his meals.

"I'm not hungry."

"I know…but at least try a few pretzels or maybe just some small sips of the ginger ale. It'll help."

He had resorted back to the caring approach. Threatening had only made him angrier. Whether at his incompetence to be able to get through to Dean or just Dean being Dean, he wasn't sure but he had given up the threatening tactic all together.

When he heard the crinkling plastic, he smiled. He watched as Dean pulled out the one sandwich and handed it to him.

"Thanks."

Sam opened the lid of the container and watched as Dean hesitantly grabbed the pretzels out of the bag. He took a bite of his sandwich and tried to gauge how his brother was feeling.

"Still got a couple more hours left till we get to Bobby's."

Sam watches as Dean's eyes light up with…realization? His eyebrows furrowed as if the mention of Bobby's name had brought back a memory.

Had he forgotten again?

Sam watched as Dean's hands shook violently as he tried and failed to open the bag.

"Here."

"I can do it."

"I know you can."

That seems to do the trick as Dean begrudgingly hands over the bag. His eyes showed his annoyance. Sam opens it with ease and gives it back.

"Just try a couple and if your stomach can't handle it, just try the ginger ale."

Sam grabs that out of the bag quickly before Dean can protest and screws the cap open, the fizz sounding in success. He knew Dean wouldn't be able to open it and realizing that would make him angry.

"Thanks."

It was quiet, but Sam heard it and that was enough.

For now.

He could hear the crunching and tried not to smile. He was glad Dean was putting something in his stomach. Something small, but still something. Hopefully it would stay down for the rest of the drive.

"How much longer?"

Sam froze mid chew and looked over at Dean. He had just said that not five minutes ago. Maybe he just misheard him.

"What?"

"To Bobby's. How much longer?"

Okay at least he remembered they were headed to Bobby's. Although he had just said that a few seconds ago.

"Just a few hours. I think we can make it now with no stops unless it comes down again."

"Baby can power through any storm." Dean says, patting the car's dashboard affectionately.

Sam smiled, relieved to see Dean slowly returning back to himself.

"Want some music?" Sam asked after swallowing his last bite of the sandwich and throwing the container back in the bag. He noted that Dean had stuffed the pretzels back and just clutched the ginger ale in his wrapped hand.

"What?"

"Music…tunes?"

"Oh…yeah put on that one song by Metallica."

Sam smirked, reaching for the cd casket in the glove box, pulling out the disk that usually was right on top of the stack. It was good to see Dean becoming himself again.

"Okay what song?" Sam asked once he slipped the disk in.

"You know that one….it's called…it's the one where...You know…."

Sam looked over when Dean kept fumbling with the title.

"Yeah?"

"It's literally right here." Dean taps the side of his head.

"It goes like this." He starts humming some kind of tune that doesn't click in Sam's brain, but Sam knew already what song his brother wanted because it was on repeat quite a bit.

"Some kind of monster?" Sam says slowly, knowing full well that it was Dean's favorite song by Metallica and yet he couldn't even remember the title.

"Play it." Dean demands as if he doesn't believe that's the tune he was humming.

Sam clicks the play button, already having the number selected.

It stays quiet for a minute and Sam sighs relieved, hoping Dean is finally relaxing and enjoying the music. Sam closes his eyes for a minute before he starts driving again, letting the sandwich settle in his stomach.

"I don't think this is it, but I like it."

Sam's eyes widened in horror. He leaned up in his seat glancing over at Dean and sure enough Dean just shrugged and started humming along to the guitar.

He didn't even know that this was his song. He forgot his favorite song.

Sam quickly pulls back out into the street to get to the freeway as fast as possible, the tires screeching underneath as he takes a sharp turn, earning a death glare from Dean, but he didn't care. He needed to get Dean to Bobby's now.

Bobby would know what to do.

Sam flies on the freeway. Dean falls asleep once again about 30 minutes back onto the road so Sam shuts the music off. He didn't want any noise to disturb his brother. Sleep is probably one of the most needed things his body could use right now.

And he needed the quiet to think. Dean was losing his memory. Sam was terrified. He had no idea why this was happening. He had no idea why his brother was so sick. There was nothing he could do to help. And even if he tried to help, Dean wouldn't have it.

But there was one other person Dean did listen to.

Not the man who constantly drilled him with orders and made him grow up in hell. Not the man who left him behind and made him pick up the slack. Not the man who made him become a parent far too young. Not the man who made a broken boy turn into a grown man overnight.

No, this man was like a father to both of them. And hell he could be even more stubborn than Dean sometimes and that was saying something.

And that man was Bobby Singer.

He would know what to do.

He had to for…...

Dean's sake.

Okay that's chapter 4! I hope you liked it. I'm sorry I took a little break. Just been busy with life and dealing with some health issues. Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks :)