Hey everyone this is the sequel to Skin Walker. I really appreciate all the comments to my last story. I hope everyone enjoys this one just as much.
Disclaimer—I don't own any of the characters from Supernatural. Others I do.
Unbreakable Bond
Chapter 1
Sam's grip on the steering wheel tightened to the point that he thought his hands just might break under the strain. He shot another glance at his brother, who seemed to be sleeping in the most uncomfortable position known to man.
Dean was currently wrapped up in a small ball in the passenger seat. His legs were pulled in to his chest at an odd angle making his ankles twist awkwardly to get his feet in a comfortable position. Dean had one arm wrapped behind his neck as he leaned on the passenger door while the other was wrapped protectively around his abdomen. Small beads of sweat were running down his face and his eyebrows had a slight frown between them.
Sam winced as the impala hit another pothole, making his brother groan in his sleep and jarring his own aching injuries. Sam turned his attention back to the black night as the impala lit up the glittering asphalt in front of them.
They had been on the road for several hours now, stopping only once to grab a quick hamburger from Astro Burger. Dean had been complaining about not being able to get the taste of hospital Jell-O out of his mouth and Sam had tired of hearing about it. He had pulled over at the next fast food restaurant that had come into view and ordered Dean and himself a hamburger with fries and at Dean's insistence a water and chocolate shake.
Dean had only taken a few bites out of his hamburger before wrapping it back up in the wrapper and throwing it back into the bag. He had shoved the straw into the chocolate shake and taken a few swallows before placing it in the cup holder and curling up into his current position.
The doctor had told Sam that Dean would probably not feel up to eating much. He had told Sam that Dean had turned down meal after meal at the hospital complaining that his stomach hurt. The doctor had sent a nurse to get Dean something other than hospital cafeteria food to see if that would tempt Dean into eating something.
The nurse had brought back a greasy hamburger from McDonald's along with a large order of fries. Dean took one bite out of the hamburger and one fry before declaring that he was full.
This worried Sam; Dean had love for very few things outside of his family and the job. He loved to get as many girls as possible, and to clog up his arteries with as much junk food as he could possibly get his hands on.
Sam blinked his tired eyes rapidly trying to ward off his exhaustion and stifling a yawn behind his hand even though Dean was asleep and wouldn't see it. He saw a sign indicating that Austin was less than half a mile away and he silently whispered a thank you to whoever might be listening and pressed on the accelerator a little harder.
Sam made the half a mile in less than a minute and started searching for the most decent motel that they could afford, right now Sam Jacobs had only eight hundred dollars left on his card; Dean Jones' card wasn't in any better shape.
Spotting a motel that looked halfway decent Sam pulled into the parking lot and was relieved that someone was still in the office so that they could check in. Casting one more worried look in Dean's sleeping position Sam let himself out of the impala and went into the office to check them in.
"Hey there. Coming in a bit late are ya?" The man behind the desk smiled brightly revealing teeth yellowing and worn with age.
Sam stared at the man for a moment taking in his appearance, glimpsing from his balding white hair to his slipper covered feet. "Uh yeah," Sam finally managed to croak out when he realized the man was waiting for an answer. "Yeah my brother and I have been on the road all day."
"So you want two rooms or one?" The man asked grabbing a clipboard with a sheet for Sam to sign on it.
"One room, two singles." Sam said filling out the form quickly and handing the man his credit card.
"One room, two singles." The man replied typing something into his computer and sliding Sam's card through the machine. "It is forty-five dollars a night here. How long you planning on staying?"
"Not sure yet a few nights at least." Sam said pocketing his card after the man handed it back to him.
"Well just let me know and I can go ahead and bill you as need be. My name is Arthur buzz if you need anything." Arthur said taking two keys off a hook and handing them to Sam. "You better get some sleep you look like hell."
"Feel like it too." Sam admitted with a small smile and accepting the keys. "Thanks."
He got back into the impala and pulled into the spot as close to their door as he could so Dean wouldn't have to walk as far. Dean hadn't been complaining about anything since they left the hospital two days ago. He hadn't argued with Sam about where they stayed or how long they were in the car for but Sam could see the toll it was taking on his brother's aching body.
Dean slept more than usual and ate less. In fact Sam had almost dragged Dean down to the hospital the day before when Dean had slept for twelve hours straight, took one fry from a big pile on his plate and ignored his hamburger entirely. He complained that his stomach hurt and right after he finished his fry he took a few sips of a milkshake and went right back to sleep.
Sam kept a constant vigil with his brother while they stayed in the motels; and when his exhaustion would finally claim him he would have nightmares about Dean being mauled by the skin walker they had just killed. He would wake shaken and sweaty and resume his vigil on his brother.
Sam killed off the idling engine and turned to Dean watching him for just a moment before shaking his brother's shoulder gently. "Dean?"
Dean grumbled something but shifted deeper into his seat and continued to sleep. Sam shook him harder willing his brother to wake. "Dean."
"What Sam?" Dean asked after a few more hard shakes. He opened one eye and looked at his brother with his unfocused vision.
"We are at the motel you need to get up I'm not hauling your ass in there." Sam said reaching over the bench and pulling his duffel from the backseat. He got out of the car and slung his bag over his shoulder before going to the room and opening the door.
He flipped on the light and headed for the bed furthest from the door before tossing his duffel on it and heading back out to the car, just in case Dean needed help. Sam paused in the threshold as he saw Dean struggling to get out of the ball he had tucked himself into while he slept. Dean winced as he reached over the bench to retrieve his own duffel.
"Hey!" Sam yelled and making a dash for the car. "What do you think you're doing Dean? The doctor said to take it easy." He grabbed Dean's duffel and shouldered it as well and watched as Dean managed to open the door and walk stiffly into their motel room.
Sam followed Dean closely watching him for any signs of unbalance as he didn't want his older brother to fall on his ass anymore than he knew Dean did. Dean swayed slightly as he trudged ahead but didn't falter or pause. He made it to the closest bed and lay back down closing his eyes against the bright light in the room.
Sam kicked the door shut behind him, turned quickly to lock it before heading to Dean's bed and dropping his brother's duffel onto the floor and opening it up with haste. He tore through his brother's unorganized possessions and finally found the prescribed pain killers that Dean was supposed to take twice a day. He popped open the lid palmed a couple of the pills before kicking his brother's duffel under the bed.
Sam grabbed one of the motel's offered Styrofoam cups from the table and went into the bathroom to fill it with cold water. Sam was more than a little relieved when the water came out clear as it should instead of the light yellow or brown that it had been in the last two motels they had stayed in. He filled the cup up and went back to his brother's bed. "Dean you need to take your pills." He held out the cup and the pills and waited for Dean to take them.
"No. I don't want to my stomach hurts." Dean grumbled not bothering to open his eyes. He wrapped both of his arms stubbornly around his abdomen and turned his head away from his brother.
Sam sighed, they had had this little disagreement for the past two days and frankly Sam was tired of it. "I don't care Dean you haven't taken your pills for almost a day now since you wouldn't take them this morning either. Now take the damn pills or I swear I will shove them down your throat!"
Dean opened one eye halfway, turned his head to look at Sam and when realizing that his brother was serious accepted the pills and water. He swallowed them both quickly before turning away from his brother again. "Geez Sam get a grip will you?" Dean's tone was light but Sam had been with his brother long enough to know when he was toeing the line.
Sam didn't care he was tired after driving all day, he was on edge with worry about his brother and he was sick of the nightmares that constantly polluted his mind while he slept. Sam threw the Styrofoam cup into the garbage before switching off the light and made his way over to his own bed. He kicked off his boots before yanking the comforter down and settling himself as comfortably as he could between the sheets. He turned onto his side so that he was facing his brother. He watched as Dean's chest rose and fell in a rhythmical pattern and after a few minutes Dean's soft snoring filled the room.
Sam couldn't help but smile and he closed his own eyes letting his brother's steady snoring and heavy breathing lull him to sleep