Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sam Winchester lay sprawled out on the top of the motel bed, an arm draped over his eyes, the bright TV glow illuminated the dimly lit room and a soft humming in the background from the show currently playing. His body ached from his pounding headache to the very tips of his toes, in all honesty he felt like he had been run over by a truck and because the pain itself from that wasn't enough, someone had then picked up a bat and swung it at what felt like his already broken body. His breaths came in quick and shallow every time a fresh wave of pain washed over him.

Dean had gone out to some whacky bar in Indiana, they had been chasing a case and the ends had grown cold, having not found much to go off on. The boys were taking it slow as there hadn’t been anything new to catch on to, Dean very much enjoying the Indiana nightlife and the chics that came with it.

Sam had been feeling off for the last couple of weeks but he felt much worse right now, there had been on and off sharp pains in his joints, even dizziness that appeared to almost consume him into darkness. Dean had grown suspicious at times during their last hunts, trying to figure his little brother out, but Sam had gotten good at hiding it and when he seemed to be alright again, Dean would just brush it off thinking he was just overreacting and that his little brother was indeed fine as he claimed to be.

Dean had quite a bit that night but not enough to be wasted yet when he decided to head back to the motel finally calling it a night. As he entered the dark room he spotted Sam’s form under the bed sheets of the bed furthest from the door. The youngest Winchester was out cold flat on his back only just managing to drift off, as a result of such little relief that had succumbed to his aching joints. Dean quickly uses the washroom and strips down to get into some more appropriate bed attire, and quickly follows suit to Sam. Sleep also taking over him from his late night.

Dean wasn’t sure how long it had been after he’d drifted off but the next thing that brings him to his senses are the sounds of shuffling sheets and pained grunts followed by gasping breaths. He squints around the room noticing he couldn’t have slept long as it was still dark outside.

“Sam?... Sammy- you okay?” Dean flips the sheets off him rubbing his eyes and walks over to Sam’s bed peering down at his brother's pained grimace and sweat covered face, his fringe sticking to his forehead, eyes still clenched shut.

“Yeah… sorry did I wake you–” Sam panted, his chest rapidly rising and falling between the words.

“Nah man, all good. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

“Dean.” Sam began but a sharp wave of jarring pain rang through his joints, causing his spine to arch back a pained moan escaping his lips. Dean was worried now, if he hadn’t already been enough all but two seconds ago, seeing Sam in such discomfort had him over the edge.

“Whoa, easy there man. What’s hurting, you possessed or something?” Dean starts searching the room panicking, wondering if the root of Sam’s suffering was a witch's hidden Hex bag or curse of some sort.
“Dean! Stop it's not supernatural, well at least I’m pretty sure it isn’t.” He collapses back into the pillows watching as his brother walks back towards him, no longer tossing the room around. Dean placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder to gently provide some comfort.

“It hurts all over, like my muscles cramp up and sometimes it feels like knives from within my bones.” Sam was trying to brave a smile to reassure Dean it wasn’t as bad as he probably thought but he wouldn’t believe it himself because the pain was unbearable and over the counter painkillers were not enough anymore.

“Sam, we should get you to a doctor. I don’t believe this is the first time this has happened and it seems to be getting worse, not to mention we don’t even know what this is.” Dean, hinting on the times Sam had tried concealing his discomfort. Dean was thinking back to their last hunt a couple days prior knowing Sam had taken quite a beating on their last hunt but nothing major.

Sam felt his chest aching and the familiar feeling of his lungs once again struggling to take in air, especially with the mix of pain and what Dean had been saying. “Shhh, bud you're okay… calm down your working yourself up and it's gonna make it harder for you to breathe.” Soothingly rubbing the sides of Sam's arms gently. “ Just take a deep breath, in…and out..” Dean waited a little for Sam to follow his instructions, him also taking exaggerated breaths for Sam to copy. The younger man struggled to focus on his brother's breathing, trying to calm himself down the pain in his joints for the most part had resided to minimal throbbing and he shifted his legs from under the sheets.

“That’s it Sammy. You’re okay, you’ll be fine. You taken anything for the pain yet?”
“I would just take some tylenol or aspirin if I could, but recently they don’t seem to be doing much..” Sam sighed, looking down at his hands. Dean was sitting in front of Sam on the edge of the bed with one leg bent under him, his hand now resting on Sam's knee.

“Look, we need to get you looked at.” Dean thought back to all their previous encounters with medical professionals in the past, the lies and fabricated stories they had told before. “Think you can make it to the morning and I’ll give the nearest Doctors office a call.”

Sam pondered for a little, he was tired as hell and that couldn’t be more obvious from the developing circles under his eyes, so a trip to the hospital right now in the dead of night just didn’t feel ideal. Plus Dean was probably also tired and he didn’t really class this an ‘emergency’. “I think I’ll be fine till the morning, the pain has sort of calmed down.”
Sam forced a smile, not sure if he was convincing his brother or himself more.

Chapter Text

Sam woke up from the couple hours he managed to get in before coming to terms with an all too familiar aching in his bones and he let out a shaky breath. Looking to his right he sees Dean is still asleep snoring softly head pressed into the pillow laying on his stomach. Some kind of night he must have had. Sam thought to himself.

Sam slowly peeled back the sheets from his clammy body and quietly made his way to the bathroom, his movements slow and calculated as he didn't want to make any unnecessary moves in fear he would awaken the monster of pain within. Sam peels his shirt off but as he brings his arms above his head a yelp escapes his lips and he quickly brings them back down to his sides. He had underestimated his ability to complete otherwise previously simple tasks. It took Sam about ten minutes to remove his clothes as carefully as he could, before he was finally standing underneath the warm water. It felt heavenly against his joints and he shut his eyes letting it take over him.

—

Dean had begun to stir shuffling under the sheets and he ran a hand through his hair, coming to the awareness of the running shower and last night's events resurfaced. He quickly fumbled around the sheets and grabbed his phone from the nightstand by his bed. Dean had noted a Doctor’s office a couple miles back from their motel, so he rang them and managed to get Sam in for one o’clock. Just as he had gotten off the phone he heard the water stop and shortly Sam appeared with a towel wrapped around his waist, his walk still slow and it was almost as if he was limping.

“Mornin’ .”

“Morning Sammy, how you feelin’?” Dean greeted him almost too enthusiastically for the current circumstances.

“Been better.” Sam mumbled as he sat down on the bed, still with only a towel around his waist remembering the struggle he now faced to put all his clothes back on. Conscious of his brothers’ glare as he’d awkwardly made it to the bed.

“Sam, I got you a doctor’s appointment for one today. So how about we grab some breakfast and then it should be time.”

“Okay…” Sam didn’t even argue the case and that worried Dean.

—

Once both the boys were dressed and ready, Dean drove to a nearby diner and they settled down into one of the booths for breakfast. The waitress walked over to take their order and of course Dean had a hell of an appetite this morning, pretty much ordering almost the whole breakfast menu. Sam just requested a black coffee and even that he didn’t have the stomach to get through half of it. Whilst Dean wolfed down his food, Sam shuffled uncomfortably in his seat feeling the deep aches subtly resurfacing.

“Hey man, you doing okay there?” Dean asked a frown of concern laced in his voice as he assessed his brother's face having sensed his discomfort.

“Yeah, I’m fi–”

“C’mon Sam, you don't have to keep pretending you are okay. You didn’t even order anything to eat. Coffee alone won’t do you any good if you’re fighting something off you’re gonna need the strength.”

Sam forced a smile, still trying to be convincing he was more than okay, but in all honesty he was beginning to feel nauseous.

“I know. I’m just not hungry.”

Dean just hummed in response trying to go easy on the kid as he couldn’t exactly force him to eat and reminded himself that they would find out what was wrong with Sam soon.

The waitress returned to ask them if everything was okay. When Sam thanked her she looked at him throwing him a sympathetic smile as she could tell he wasn’t feeling too hot. As she was turning to leave Dean remembered something.

“A slice of pie would be great, thanks sweetheart?” He said, mouth still full, causing Sam to roll his eyes, wondering how he could possibly have room for more.

“Sure thing, hon?” She smiled back sweetly, making her way to the kitchen.

—

Almost an hour later they both found themselves in the waiting room of the said doctors office Dean had spied on their way into state. Dean, having checked Sam in just a couple minutes prior and who now stood at the desk flirting, in Sam's opinion terribly, with one of the nurses at the reception. She had shoulder length dark brown hair that was slightly curled at the ends and she wore sky blue scrubs giggling at something Dean must have said a faint blush across her cheeks. Sam just rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time today as he tried to get his mind off why he was here right now and not burning some spirits bones to ashes, but that was merely impossible as an all too familiar pain began to climb his lower limbs.

Dean returned to Sam’s side, back into protective brother mode. He places a hand on Sam’s shoulder as Sam grunted through another spasm of pain running deep through his legs, eyes tightly shut and biting at his bottom lip. The older Winchester takes the seat next to him comfortingly rubbing his back not having much to say, other than some comforting words as they waited. Sam was so lost in the pain he didn’t even notice a nurse calling his name until Dean had to nudge him and guide him out the chair slowly to follow her a couple doors down the hall and into an exam room.

—

Sam was seated with his legs dangling off the edge of the exam bed pretty much touching the floor, watching as the nurse moved around the relatively small room.

“Mr Witton, I’m just going to take your vitals, height, weight, all the basics for when Dr Richards comes in. Are you okay with your…” She looks at Dean questioningly.

“Brother. I’m his brother.” He flashes her a pearly white smile looking toward Sam who was looking pale and as tired as ever.

“Are you okay with your brother staying in the room?” She continued, Sam sported a tired and unfazed look on his face, arms holding his upper body up against the bed.

“Yeah, he can stay…please.” Sam replied, almost sounding like he was begging for Dean to stay. From as long as he could remember his older brother was more of a parental figure in his life than even their own father had been. Although they didn’t always see eye to eye, Sam had always sought safety and comfort from Dean and there was no one else he’d rather be in this position with than him. He watched Dean walk over to him from near the door and take his place standing near Sam, cautiously leaving enough space for the nurse to work but he watched her every move intensely.

—

Around fifteen minutes after the nurse had finished, there was a gentle knock on the door. Both Winchesters looked up to see what they were sure to be Dr Richards, who sported a classic white doctor's coat greying hair styled back and a stethoscope round his neck.

“Afternoon Mr Witton, I’m Dr Richards. I apologise for the wait I was held up by a patient.” He peers at the young man on the bed from above his glasses slightly adjusting them further up his nose.

The younger Winchester just nods before he answers “It’s okay, and just Sam’s fine”.

“Hey Doc, Dean. Sam’s brother.” Dean greets the Doctor before he even has the chance to ask.

“Pleasure Dean. So Sam, I see that it says that you’ve been feeling unwell, experiencing a tight chest and pain throughout your body. Can you tell me when this started?” He turns his attention back to his patient, visually assessing him and it was quite apparent that this kid was a wreck, just from the way he held himself on the bed and the evident fatigue from the dark circles under his eyes.

Sam was fumbling with his hands on his lap and looked towards Dean who then jumped in to answer, understanding what his little brother wanted.

“Yeah, Sammy here has been feeling a little rough for a while now at least the last month, maybe a little before that, but it's only recently gotten worse and last night was bad, he was struggling to breathe an’ all.”

“Okay, quite some time then.” Dr Richards looked down at the charts in his hands taking down a quick note.

Dean was annoyed at himself, that he hadn’t dragged Sam’s ass in sooner when this had started, but the kid had gotten good at hiding his suffering.

“So the pain in your joints, how does it feel exactly when it's hurting, is it a dull ache or like a tingling sensation?” For this one Dean couldn’t answer because he didn’t know how it felt.

“It’s.. sometimes sharp when I move around a lot but more of a deep ache when I’m trying to fall asleep or not moving as much. It’s mainly my lower back and legs” Sam said in a quiet voice. “Even my arms most days.” Sam looked back down at his lap, Dean throwing him another worried glance before looking back at the Doctor. Remembering last night when Sam had struggled to catch his breath and a sadness in him as he realised that last night was probably not the first time his little brother had gone through that.

“Just trying to piece all the facts a little better here, Sam. Are there any other symptoms that you are experiencing aside from the fatigue this pain has caused you and what you've told me already?”

Sam hesitates for a moment trying to recall in his foggy mind what he had literally all but two seconds ago told the Doctor already and what he hadn’t. He could feel Dean’s glare on him awaiting his response.

“Headaches. Sometimes I get headaches, not always just…” Sam’s voice got quieter and eventually he stopped talking.

“Okay thank you, Sam. I just want to check a couple things, first a quick listen to your heart and lungs if that's okay with you?”

Dr Richards put the clipboard down beside Sam on the table and began unwinding the stethoscope from around his neck looking up at the patient awaiting his consent. He could tell that Sam was a little nervous and not to add the mere fact that his brother would talk for him at times or that he was in the very room with him right now. Though Dr Richards thought it was bittersweet and that Dean seemed very protective and concerned for his brother.

Dean put a gentle hand on Sam's knee bringing the kid's attention back to the room as he seemed to have drifted away after Dr Richards’ last question.

“Hey Sammy, you there?” Dean says gently watching his brother’s facial features as they slowly come back to reality. “You hear what the Doc said?” Sam knitted his brows, confusion evident on his face clear that he had indeed not heard what the Doctor had last asked.

“He wants to listen to your chest? You gonna let him do that, yeah?” Dean coaxed feeling as though Sam was much younger all over again as he had been when he was left to look after him all those years back. When John Winchester would leave them for days at a time hunting down some estranged monster. Dr Richards stood patiently watching both boys with a sympathetic smile, wondering what they could have gone through in their lifetime that made them the way they were right now.

Sam straightened up, carefully bringing his hands up to unbutton the front of his flannel. Nodding his head whilst he replied with a quiet “Yeah…okay”.

The Doctor put the earpieces of the stethoscope in his ears bringing the chest piece up to Sam's chest.

“It’s going to be a little cold here, Sam.” He warned and Sam sharply inhaled from the cold touch of the stethoscope against his skin and an impulsive shudder ran through him. The doctor instructed Sam through deep breaths and the youngest hunter couldn’t help but let out a shudder from the cold device every time it touched a new location on his chest or back. Dean watched as his brother struggled to hold a deep breath in and how he would wheeze or wince before letting it go.

Once Dr Richards was done listening to both Sam’s back and chest he replaced the stethoscope back to its original position around his neck. “Heart sounds okay, lungs are crackling a little..” Dean runs his hand through his hair, sighing.

Dr Richards moved on to taking Sam's temperature, looking down his throat and feeling his glands. Sam had retracted from the light from the Doctor's penlight, having felt it was worsening a migraine he was sure was brewing at the back of his head.

“Right…, nearly done Sam. I just want to take a look at your lower back and limb function just so I can see if there are any visual implications of your discomfort." After making a few more notes on Sam’s chart he put the clipboard down. “Sam, can we get you to lie back a little?” The head of the exam bed was slightly elevated and Sam was grateful for that as he had previously felt as though his back and breathing felt worse when he would be flat down horizontally.

“Come on man, lets get you back there” Dean says as he guides Sam’s shoulders gently and helps lift his legs up on the bed, hearing Sam take another sharp inhale as he is jostled. “That‘s it, bud.” Dean places his hand on Sam's leg in a way of comforting him, as he stands by Sam's bedside.

“Sam, I'm going to start by feeling around your shoulders and arms. I want you to tell me if anything gets too much, okay?” Once again Sam just nods, unable to find the energy to use words right now.

Sam felt Dr Richards’ hands on his shoulder pressing his fingers deep into the sore flesh and making their way carefully but thoroughly down to Sam’s elbow and forearm. He gently lifts Sam’s arm carefully watching the boy's facial expressions as he flexes the limb. “Any pain there Sam?” He knew his patient was hurting but getting him to admit he was, was near damn impossible so it seemed.

“It’s not too bad.”

Dean rolled his eyes, of course the kid would say that. Down playing symptoms was a standard Winchester thing. Even Dean could see right through him, Sam bit down on his lip and his chest was rising and falling quickly letting out a strained moan from deep in his throat.

The doctor put Sam’s arm back down to the bed moving to the young man's other side repeating the process. Whilst he had Sam lying back, he took the chance to palpate the young man's abdomen for any discomfort, though he had not complained it hadn’t seemed like the greatest experience for him. Dr Richards moved to the foot of the bed checking his patients legs warning Sam that he once again was testing their functionality as well. Sam was just about done with this exam. It had hurt him enough already and he was tired, just wanting to fall into a deep sleep with no aches or painful moments of utter suffering. He just wanted to be okay again, sitting in some library with his dorky nose in a book carrying out research for another hunt while remaining strongly caffeinated with gas station machine coffee.

“So Doc, what's wrong with him?” Dean asks, tense to find out what was wrong with his brother.

Dr Richards cleared his throat before he responded looking up at the worried hunters. “ Well, I believe your brother here is suffering from what we call arthralgia. The aches he’s experiencing and joint inflammation definitely put me towards that direction.” Dr Richards looked down at Sam, the young man had his eyes tightly shut trying to block out the ringing in his ears from the migraine he was experiencing.

“Arthro-what? What does that mean?” Dean asked, arms reaching out to aid Sam who was trying to sit himself up straighter on the bed.

“Sam, it’s okay, just try to sit back and relax. We’re not quite done yet. I'm going to send a nurse in for some blood and urine samples before you leave so I can confirm the diagnosis but also to find out the root cause.” Dean nodded and helped his brother lie back down noticing how he paled at those words.

“So, arthralgia typically affects the joints and because of the strain from the aches, your body can sometimes cause spasms, which is your muscles contracting from the response to the pain you're experiencing. Which is why you’re finding it hard to catch your breath sometimes. It can affect everyone differently, unfortunately it seems Sam here has it quite severe judging by his discomfort and progressing flu-like symptoms. Which is why you’re finding it hard to catch your breath sometimes, Sam.” Both boys listened intently as Dr Richards carried on.

“You are running a mild fever and your BP wasn’t exactly where I would have liked it to be. What we really want to figure out is what caused this as there are multiple reasons. Have you been injured before or partaking in excessive physical activities that are straining your body?”

Both boys remembered how one of their last hunts had gone down with Sam having taken a beating so injuries were definite. Though Sam had claimed he was fine just bruised from being thrown into a wall and it was nothing that wouldn’t heal itself in a few days. As for being physically active, you could say their hunting gigs involved enough of it.

Before Sam had the chance to come up with a lie, Dean was already on it. “Yeah, Sam works construction, he gets banged around every now and then so always something hurting you know.” Dean offered the Doctor a half smile as Sam nodded in agreement trying to make his brother’s lie believable.

“That would make some sense as to why this is taking quite the toll on you, Sam. But I would say we’re looking at maybe a viral link too.” Dr Richards said.

“Okay, how do we fix this then?” Dean was trying to catch on to where this was going.

“So until we know why, we can only manage his symptoms, like reducing inflammation and breathing trouble. After I get the results from the blood and urine tests I can prescribe the right medication to what we’re up against here.”

“Phew, sounds good Doc. Whatcha say huh, Sammy?” He grasps his brother’s shoulder gently, relief evident in his tone that they could now focus on getting this kid on the mend so they could hit the road again. Quite literally.

Chapter Text

Dr Richards walked over towards a small supply cabinet by the far end of the exam room, taking out a device from its plastic packaging. A portable nebuliser. He spent the next five or so minutes showing the boys how and when to use the machine, in particular Dean, as Sam appeared to zone out every now and again, exhaustion encapsulating him. He gave a rundown of how they could manage the joint aches and tense muscles with heat, also including some stronger pain relief to prescribe.

“Okay, I’m going to write up your prescription Sam. I entrust that Dean here is taking you home and can look out for you for the next few days?” The Doctor asked. Wanting to make sure Sam would not be alone and had someone to take care of him at his worst, the kid was in no shape to get himself anywhere far or keep up with pain management and medications being prescribed.

“Yup, don’t worry Doc, I’m not taking my eyes off this one.” Dean answered before Sam could once again.

“Okay, make sure you have plenty of fluids and rest Sam. I will call you boys when the results are in from the tests and I would like to see Sam again in the next week or so. I’ll send the nurse in and she will finish up in here. Get well soon Sam." With that Dean thanked him, and he smiled at the Winchesters walking out the room curtly.

“You hangin’ in there man?” Dean looked at his tired brother who was still lying back on the slightly raised exam bed, struggling to keep his eyes open as the weights on his lids won over, now and again.

Sam didn’t want to stay any longer, he just wanted to be back in that motel room sound asleep right now. He forced his eyelids open looking at the older hunter by his side. “Dean? Can we just leave now?” Sam’s brows were knitted and his eyes pleading.

“Look, Sammy we gotta wait for the nurse, Doc’s gettin’ the prescription and we’ll be outta here. We’ll pick the stuff up and get you on the mend in no time, just hang in there.”

Sam sighed letting his heavy head fall back against the crinkling paper of the bed behind him. He kept thinking to himself that once again Dean was stuck with him. They were supposed to be enjoying the few days they had intended to stay in state following a lack of leads on what they had been hunting or so they thought, but instead here they were in a doctors office because Sam couldn’t keep his damn mouth quiet last night.

“I’m sorry.” Sam shut his eyes tight, avoiding his brother's eyes, guilt rich in his voice.

Dean threw a questioning and confused look towards the sick hunter on the bed, wondering what reason in hell could he have for apologising.

“What are you talking about?”

“You shouldn’t have to be here, I know you had plans…That new place you want–”

“Sam! Just stop…” Dean growled, upset that his brother could think such a thing. Sam would literally be saying his last words on earth and they would be an apology, whereas Dean would have said come up corny joke or some smart sarcastic remark.

“You got nothin’ to apologize for, Sammy. Nothing to feel guilty about, you're sick…damn I should have been the one to have caught on to this sooner.” He sighed, wiping his palms across his jean clad knees.

“No. I didn’t say anything, I hid it from you.” Sam’s gaze is now focused on his brother. “Please don’t blame yourself like you always do when something happens to me…”

“Sam. I'm always going to wish I could’ve done more even with your stubbornness. I have to protect you and, I’m bound to feel it's on me, it’s just what I’ve been taught-” Of course Dean was going to make this about what John Winchester had always taught him all those years back. How it had been drilled into him quite literally since Sam was born, to make him his number one priority, then came hunting and the Impala of course.

“No.” Sam abruptly cuts him off. “I know what dad would tell you, but some things just can’t be helped. Like this” He gave a nod to his body splayed out on the bed.

“Listen, it’s no one's fault then Sam. Not yours, not mine. Deal.”

Sam thought for a second watching Dean’s knee bounce up and down in his peripheral vision.

“Okay. I guess we can work with that…”

“Oh, thank god! We almost turned this into a chick-flick moment.” Dean smirked, raising a brow.

As if on que, there was a small tapping at the door and the same nurse who Sam’s vitals earlier walked in greeting the boys again with a pleasant smile. She handed Sam a cup and pointed out the bathroom before she told Dean to grab her once it was done and she briskly walked back out and down the hall.

“You need a hand, man?” Dean teased.

“No, I’m good.” A slight flush raised on the young man's cheeks as he shakily got his legs off the edge of the bed and slowly got up making his way to the bathroom.

—

Once he had produced the requested sample the nurse was called back in, she secured the cup leaving the room to return a minute later with numerous items in her hand. Sam was now back sitting on the edge of the bed, still looking rather pale and recognising what the nurse had in her hands. Boy did he forget about that.

“We just need a couple vials of blood from you today, hun.” She carefully brought up the sleeve of Sam's left arm with her gloved hands, noticing how he rested his arm back on his lap when she turned back to grab the tourniquet from the tray. Sam was knackered and he just wanted the ground to swallow him whole if that meant not having to be here right now. He wasn’t deathly scared of needles, he would just rather not have one poked into his arm right now as his body was sore enough without. He felt a tightening around his bicep and a cool sensation briefly brushing the skin on the inside of his elbow and he looked down.

“Sam, some people choose to look away at this point but you don’t have to.” The nurse suggested taking in the ghastly white face of the patient in front of her, with a sheen layer of sweat against his forehead. She threw Dean a worried look when Sam continued to stare at what was about to go down on his arm, almost seeming like he was miles away. Dean got up from his seat, taking his place at Sam’s right side grasping his brother's shoulder.

“Hey, let’s look the other way shall we.” He placed both hands on either side of Sam's head, whose skin felt warm, gently guiding it to the side, getting his little brother to focus on him.

“That’s better huh Sammy.” Dean glanced at the nurse giving her a small nod letting her know she could proceed.

Sam hazily tried to concentrate on his brother’s face but he couldn’t as a sharp pain seared through his head and he stifled a small moan tightly shutting his eyes. He didn’t feel the needle, didn't feel his blood being withdrawn or when the needle was removed and a cotton ball taped in its place.

“Good job, Sam. All done.” The nurse praised clearing away the equipment.

—

The next few moments seemed to rush past Sam in a blur. He was in the car waiting with his noggin resting against the window of the passenger door as Dean filled his prescription at a drugstore closest to the motel they were staying at. The doctor had sent them home with the said nebuliser and many instructions to help Sam, mainly for Dean.

“How ya feelin’?” Sam heard as the car door was opened and Dean took a seat placing a paper bag on the bench seat between them.

“M’okay.”

“Let’s get this show on the road then.” Dean started his baby up, swiftly reversing out from the parking space and into the main road. Every couple of moments Dean would pry his eyes off the road and glance at Sam who had tried to fight the sleep off but had now given in, with his mouth hanging partly open, making Dean smile a little.

Dean knew that it was going to be a rough couple of days, and his heart sank when he remembered the conversation he and his brother had inadvertently started at the doctors. He never wanted Sam to feel he was a burden or that Dean would rather be somewhere else doing something else instead of looking after him. And hell sometimes he did want to be elsewhere and they needed space, it's a tough gig after all. If he was being truly honest, and of course he didn’t plan to share the details of this to Sam, but he loved hanging out with his dorky little brother more than he probably let on. Sam needed him now and he was going to be there for him like they had always been when they were younger and get this little Winchester back on his feet.

As he pulled up outside of their room, luckily it was on the ground floor, the younger hunter was still asleep. Dean grimaced as he could hear Sam’s breath hitching and a wheezing sound followed when his chest rose and fell with every breath. He didn’t like the sound of that. He really didn’t want to have to wake him up but he didn’t have much choice as he leaned over and rubbed a hand up and down his brother's arm that was closest to him.

“Sam? Sammy..? Wake up man, we're here, let's get you to bed.” He said gently.

Sam lets out a groan, stirring awake and lifting his heavy head from the window.

“We're here dude, let's get you in.” With that Dean grabs the bag at his side and walks around the car opening Sam’s door watching as he forcefully blinks his eyes to keep them open. With his free arm he helps his brother to his feet and into the room.

Dean pulled back the sheets on Sam’s bed and he turned his brother around, guiding him back against the pillows, lifting his legs up on the bed. Sam let out a sigh, not really having the energy to do very much as his body felt like it was being held down by weights. He could now feel his boots being removed and the sheet gently pulled over him up to his chest. He managed a small thanks, Dean just about heard it before letting his eyelids droop down shut.

“Okay, let's see what we got here.” Dean took a seat at the table against the wall and retrieved the brown paper bag, taking out its contents. He knew Sam was still awake just closing his eyes and he knew he needed to get some of this medicine in this kid quick. Dean was still worried about the noises Sam’s breathing was making which seemed louder now he was lying down. Dr Richards had advised him that the neb should be used daily in the morning and evenings before bed, but that Dean would be able to tell if Sam needed it outside of that. For example if he was struggling to catch his breath or experiencing pain and tightness in his chest.

“Sam? Does your chest hurt?” He asked. Waiting for a response as the man on the bed slowly opened his eyes.

“Huh..” He subconsciously rubs a palm against his chest trying to ease the tense muscles realising at that moment the answer to Dean's question. “A little, I guess.”

Dean raised his eyebrows looking at the youngest Winchester in front of him. A little to Sam probably translated to a lot but I’m going to downplay this as much as possible.

Dean sighed. “Let’s get this thing on you for a bit then.” He attached the tube and mask to a small port on the machine and turned the power on to test it was working, recalling what he had been shown earlier that day. The machine whirred and mist gently expelled from the mask. Satisfied Dean takes it over to Sam's bed.

“Okay, man. Ready?” He watched as Sam nodded, knowing full well there was no way out of this and all he wanted was to get some decent shut eye now. Dean grabbed another pillow from his bed and put it under Sam’s head, bringing the mask up to his brother's face and securing it behind his head. When Sam’s head was back down on the pillows he tries to talk but realises his words are more muffled. He brings up an arm to pull the mask down, but Dean stops him before he could by his forearm placing it back down on the bed.

“Hey none of that now, no talking for a bit, okay.” Dean walked back to check out the other medications and when they should be taken once he was sure Sam was settled. He placed a bottle of water on the nightstand by the bed along with two of Sam’s prescription pain killers, ready for when he woke up and was off the nebulizer.

Dean decided that he would have to pop out quickly to get them some grub and other necessities they may need for the next couple days. He made sure Sam had his phone near him, he would probably be back before his brother woke anyways.