"Dean, come on. Come on, Dean, you have to stay awake." Sam tapped Dean's cheek trying to wake his brother.
Earlier Dean had mumbled something about, "spiders, over the ledge..." just before his eyes rolled up in his head and his body went limp. Sam had barely managed to catch him before he slipped off the rock they were perched on.
Ever since Sam had stayed by his brother's side, giving orders when necessary. As the sun had risen it had become easier and easier for the others to find the spiders and add them to the ever-growing pile.
"Sam." Jen stood only a foot away, her nose was tipped bright red, her eyes were bleary with exhaustion, and she was shaking from the cold. She seemed to be moving on sheer will alone.
Sam turned his head, his body curled almost protectively around his brother's body. "Yeah?"
"We're pretty sure we've got them all, Joe even went so far as to check the back trail," Jen offered.
"Pretty sure's not going to cut it. Do you want some family stumbling over a spider corpse on their afternoon hike?" even as he said the words, Sam knew he was out of line. After all, everyone was exhausted, cold and tired.
The problem was, he also knew Dean wouldn't willingly leave unless every last spider was burned. Sam glanced at his brother, his every thought focused on what he should do, versus what he wanted to do. As usual, his emotions won out. "Sorry for snapping, Jen, let's light 'em up and then we can get out of here."
Jen turned, and signaled to Joe who in turn lit the pyre. It was to their benefit that the spiders burned like dry kindling. As the pile flared to life, thick black billowing smoke made a column to the sky. As the fire consumed the black bodies, Sam relished the heat as it radiated outward from the blaze.
Steve stepped up to the fire, wincing at the brightness. "You know, maybe the pile will work as a signal flare. The weather's cleared, today the rescue chopper may be looking for us." Steve's grin almost rivaled the fire for brightness at the thought of rescue.
Sam on the other hand felt his stomach drop. "We have to go." Sam again tried to rouse his brother.
"No, Steve's right, this could be the break we're looking for." Joe stared at the sky, as if he could already see a helicopter coming to rescue them.
"Rescue for you, jail for us. We have to get out of here." Sam continued trying to wake Dean.
"I don't get it, you two are heroes, you saved me, and you saved the town," Jen pleaded, her eyes reflecting her confusion.
"Would you believe it, Jen? I mean if I explained to you what happened." Sam could see that Jen was beginning to understand. "Well, it's the same thing in every town, and with everything we do," Sam looked at her brother, "we need to disappear."
Joe began moving at once, "Well, then we'll make sure you do."
888
Sam still couldn't believe just how much effort, Jen, Steve and Joe had gone to, in order to help them. As predicted, a helicopter soon followed the lighting of the fire. Sam though had little choice but to follow Joe's lead.
Within minutes, Joe had pushed aside their rescuers questions and had gotten them all loaded and ready. The hardest part was convincing a decidedly groggy Dean to board the helicopter. As glad as Sam was to see Dean's green gaze and to hear his brother feeling well enough to complain, he hated having to force him into the helicopter.
"Dean, listen there's a helicopter, it's the fastest way down the mountain."
Dean tried to focus his gaze on his little brother, struggling to rise, he said, "Naw...'m good Sam. We can ride back to the car."
Sam smiled grimly, and said, "Do you know which way the car is, Dude? Cause, I gotta admit I'm a bit lost."
Dean struggled to pull away from Sam. "'S okay we'll find it..." Dean's voice trailed away as he continued to try and stand up.
Sam grimaced, hating to see his brother fighting just to hold onto consciousness. Finally, knowing it was the only way to get Dean on board, he said, "I can't Dean, I was bit in the leg. I can't stand."
Dean forced himself to his feet, his arm hanging limply at his side. He never hesitated. "Okay, Sam, helicopter it is."
Sam tried to hide the emotions that ripped through him at his brother's words. A whispered, "Thanks," was the best he could do. The idea that Dean would willingly get into a helicopter simply because it was best for Sam, floored him.
Gripping Dean's good arm, Sam helped him toward the aircraft. As they headed to town, he pretended not to notice Dean's fear. That his brother's already white complexion, had whitened even more, or the way his brother's fingers curled into the seat in a death grip.
Fifteen minutes later, they landed at a pad on the outskirts of town. Sam was never quiet sure how it happened, but one moment they were getting off the chopper and the next they were hustled not into one of the waiting ambulances but into a minivan instead.
Dean, unable to do more than question Sam with his eyes, obviously felt they were in trouble. Sam though actually began to relax once a more matronly version of Jen climbed behind the wheel. Though dark circles of fatigue shadowed her eyes her smile was identical to Jen's.
As she navigated her way through a crowd of well-wishers, gawkers and news reporters she spoke over her shoulder. "Now, you two just relax and we'll have you home in a jiffy. I'm Carol by the way." Here the older woman's voice began to crack with emotion. "You saved my children." As she looked in the rearview mirror her eyes met Sam's, her whispered, "Thank You," was laced with tears.
Sam nodded and settled back into his seat, he kept arm around Dean, supporting his brother as best he could. He'd tried to get Dean to lay down, but his brother had refused.
"Sam," Deans voice was weak with pain, "what's going on?"
"It's going to be fine, Dean," Sam reassured his brother, careful to hide his own worries.
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Dean came to slowly his first sense to return to him was sound. As he focused he immediately recognized Sam's low voice and Jen's softer responses.
"He's been out for two days now."
"I know Sam, but he's going to be fine. His temperatures back to normal and his wounds have stopped, weeping."
It didn't take much to here the disgust in Jen's tone. Dean vaguely wondered just what his wounds had been weeping. Pushing away the thought he concentrated on Sam's voice. Even without opening his eyes, Dean well imagine Sam's expression. His baby brother would be standing inches from this side, one hand reaching out to Dean, but never quite making contact. His eyes would be hidden by his shaggy hair and his lips would be drawn tight, a frown etched on his face.
Dean opened his eyes just a bit, wincing at the brightness of the room. Once the pain from the light stopped sending needles of pain through his head, Dean widened his gaze. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him as he noted Sam standing next to his bed, one hand reaching toward his him.
" 'M not dead, dude," Dean said, surprised at just how weak his voice sounded.
Sam dropped like a ton of bricks onto the side of Dean's bed in relief.
Dean would have cursed as pain shot through his arm except he knew just how badly Sam needed the contact. Shifting slightly, Dean made sure he was touching Sam, offering comfort. "So, the spider bites were weeping huh?"
Sam nodded wearily. "Yeah, I wasn't too worried until they began to smell. That's when I finally called the doctor in."
Dean didn't know which part of that statement to address first. "Wait, you called a doctor?" Was quickly followed by, "What do you mean smell?"
Sam shook his head, smiling slightly. "I mean smelled, Dude, it was disgusting. Especially the bite on your forearm, that one was the worst. I just kept irrigating it over and over again and it kept oozing."
"Dude, stop, I think I'm gonna heave."
Sam grinned. "Yeah, well walk a mile in my shoes. Anyway, it just wasn't looking good, so Joe got the doctor and he thinks he's gotten it cleared up. At least the smell died away and the goo stopped oozing."
Dean's looked slightly repulsed at Sam's detailed description. Looking down at the offending arm, he fisted his hand, glad to see he could once again feel it. "So where the hell are we. Last thing I remember is getting into that thing."
"Yeah, well that 'thing' brought us here, to Cranston. We've been living in Joe's place for nearly a week now." Sam held up a hand as Dean started to protest. "Don't start with me, Dean, you were out of it. What was I supposed to do, we had to go someone where. And Jen's family's been great, they've kept us a secret. No one knows we're here."
Hearing a sound at the door, both brothers turned to watch as a grey haired man entered the room. "Ah, there he is now, wonderful to see you awake young man. You had us all very worried." He moved toward the bed, one hand automatically reaching out to touch Dean's forehead.
Dean flinched in response, avoiding the man's hand. Eyebrows drawn he stared hard at the man and said, "Sorry, but I'm a dinner and drinks first kinda guy. Well unless you're a twenty-something co-ed," here Dean looked the man up and down, taking in his potbelly and thick white beard, "which you're not."
The man merely smiled a bit at his remark, though Dean could see Sam, shooting him dirty looks. "I'm Dr. Marsh. I was the one that spent two nights by your bedside, while your brother glowered, irrigating your wounds and monitoring your fever. Trust me we know each other well enough." With these words, the doctor reached out and touched a hand to Dean's forehead. With a nod, he pulled back and began asking questions.
"Now, how's the arm, particularly your grip?" The doctor's steely blue eyes focused intently on Dean.
Dean unable to tear his gaze away from the doctor, open and closed his hands several times, before offering, "Not bad."
"And as a whole, how are you?"
Dean, careful not to grimace shifted until he could sit upright. Trying not to sway he nodded. "I'm fine."
The doctor tapped his chin for a moment and nodded. "Alright then, you can leave."
Dean nodded ignored Sam's angry huff smiling at the doctor's words.
"If you can stand up that is." The Doctor raised a brow in challenge.
Sam rolled his eyes and shot the doctor a look of annoyance as Dean, white as a sheet, pushed himself upright into a standing position.
Dean held out his arms, careful to control their trembling. "No sweat."
Dr. Marsh nodded. "Alright then, you can go. Just keep taking the penicillin. I'm not sure what the effects, if any, the poison will have on you, so keep watch and call me if you need anything." The doctor turned toward Sam, and shook the younger man's hand. "You keep an eye on him, Sam."
Sam nodded solemnly and shook the Doctor's hand. "Thanks for everything you did."
"It was a pleasure to help you, after all, you saved our Jen." With that, the doctor patted the young girl on the back and headed out the door.
Jen looked at Dean and smiled broadly. "He's my godfather."
"Great, So Sam we ready to go?"
"Dean, you're in no condition to leave. You need to rest, you were really sick," Sam pleaded with his brother, desperate to keep him from leaving so soon. It was Jen that came to his rescue.
"Well, I was thinking, Dean, Steve and Joe are here and I was telling them how you killed me in Risk. See the thing is, Joe says it was a fluke, he thinks there's no way you'd win again." Jen's taunting smile lit up the young girl's face.
Dean's gaze met Sam and he grinned. "Well hell, bring it on."
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"Let's go Francis, we're burning daylight." Dean slammed the lid of the trunk, only favoring his arm slightly.
Sam rolled his eyes and reached out to shake hands with Joe. "I really appreciate everything you did Joe. Putting us up, getting the car, everything."
"I can't repay you guys, you saved my sister's life. Not to mention Steve's and mine. If you're ever back this way again, I want you to know you're always welcome."
"I second that, Sam."
Sam turned toward the woman that had driven the mini-van. Carol stood before him a basket in her arms. Handing it to Sam, she smiled and reached out an arm to draw Jen to her side.
"Now, there are sandwiches in there and also some sodas. I made a chocolate cake this morning and included a couple of slices. You boys take care of yourselves, and thank you."
Dean nodded. "Thank you." Turning toward Jen, he grinned. "Well this is it, Kiddo."
Jen's eyes began to tear as she pulled away from her mother's side. "You'll come back though right? You'll come to see us again?" With these words, Jen launched herself at Dean. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she pressed her face against his chest.
Dean embraced the young girl, and leaned down to whisper, "We'll come back, after all, I don't think Joe's learned his lesson yet, the man still believes he can beat me."
Jen nodded, her face still buried against Dean's chest.
Dean cleared his throat a bit. "Um, Jen, we need to get going."
Still the girl didn't move.
"God Damn it, Jen, let the man go," Joe called out, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"Joseph, you know perfectly well that's one of the words. I won't tolerate language like that in my home." It was Carol's voice that finally re-called Jen to the present.
"Sorry, Mom," Joe answered, as he reached out and tugged his still dazed sister to his side. "You guys take care."
Sam and Dean waved once more and headed for the car. Sam driving as Dean's arm still wasn't completely better. Once settled, Sam turned to Dean, and asked, "You ready?"
Dean nodded, "Hell, vampires will be a breeze compared to this."