Chapter Text
Both boys were asleep and turned away from each other, arms wrapped around their pillows and blankets tangled around them.
Sam was sweaty against the cheap bedding as he stirred in and out of deep and light sleep. His eyes never opened but he occasionally became aware of the fact he was sleeping and what position he was laying in. He became aware that his eyes were closed and that his lips were slightly parted. He became aware that his blankets were falling off and couldn't decide whether he should move and kick them further off or move and pull them back up for his body felt both chilly from the cooling sweat and hot all over and producing more of the cool sweat.
He groaned lowly, shifting his body off his arm a little but mostly staying put, slumping himself back against the mattress with not much thought. His face scrunched up as a taste began to form in his mouth, though it slowly faded from his knowledge as sleep drifted in to take him once again.
It was exactly when he had drifted back to sleep when chest decided to tighten and force him to cough a little. Hot bile rushed its way up his oesophagus. He gagged, snapping awake and sitting up to lean forward.
He was able to get in a small gasp before he heaved forward into his lap, a disgustingly beige like coloured liquid pouring out of him. He panted as his vision focused on the puddle now covering him, more of the substance dripping from his mouth. He huffed in the back of his throat and hesitantly looked over at Dean, who he could see was shifting up from the position on his stomach. Dean ran a hand over his face as he released his pillow and turned over to squirt through the darkness at his brother.
Dean's face almost immediately began to scrunch up "Ugh, really?" He rasped, tiredly looking at the scene before him.
Sam's head was pounding way too much to even think of something to say in response, let alone actually say it. Instead, he gave a strangled groan before his lip quivered a little and his eyes watered over their corners and leaked out a few tears.
Dean sighed heavily, untangling himself from his blankets and approaching his little brother's bed as he rubbing the heel of his palm into his stubborn right eye. He sniffled a little after his attempts to wake himself up.
He sighed again when he reached Sam's bedside, already prepared to place the back of his fingers against Sam's forehead. Sam's eyes shut briefly as Dean felt his temperature.
"Christ Sammy" he mumbled, voice still deep and heavy with sleep.
Sam mumbled back something intelligible.
"Ok" Dean whispered, pulling his hand away, grimacing a little as he looked down at the sick covering the bed. "You need a bath, man" he noted before reaching to switch on the closest lamp, getting a better look at the mess made.
Sam whined a little, shutting his eyes at the sudden light. "Dee..." he groaned, slurring his words a little. He watched pouting as Dean quickly moved into the bathroom and got the facet of the bathtub running. Sam shut his eyes and furrowed his brow, letting out a strangled sort of whine as he dreaded the thought the sound of the water brought.
"Dee" he mumbled again, hearing the water switch off.
Dean came strolling back out of the bathroom "yeah. Bath, now" Dean reiterated, carefully shifting the sick covered blankets and reaching under Sam to scoop him up.
"Nooooo" Sam slurred as he's jostled into a bridal carry, forced to lean into his brother's chest.
"Yeesssss" Dean slurred back tiredly as he carried Sam into the bathroom and shimmed past the sink to the tub.
He shakily knelt down as he lowered Sam into the water. Sam whined a little, turning into a groan as his body hit the bottom of the tub.
"Dean" he complained, gaze shakily snapping to his brother, who was now focused on getting Sam's clothes off.
Sam flushed when he felt himself shifted as Dean tugged his sweats out from under him. "Hey!" He reached down to fight Dean's grip on his pants.
Dean's eyes rolled up as before they shut into an exasperated expression. He sighed heavily before his eyes opened again and met with Sam's flushed face.
"Dude, you are, covered in vomit, not to mention sweaty as all hell. You need a bath and a change of clothes" he insisted, easily tugging Sam's pants from out of his brother's hands, pulling the now wet fabric out of the shallow water before reaching for a towel.
He laid the towel over Sam's lap and the reached to pull off his underwear. Sam reluctantly let him, shutting his eyes as his cheeks flushed redder. He huffed but took of his own shirt before Dean could get to it and tossed it aside. Dean nodded at him and then reached for a washcloth on the edge of the sink.
Dean grunted as he shifted his sitting position on the tiles, going from kneeling straight on to slanting onto his left leg, shuffling closer to the tub as he dunked the cloth in the water.
Sam whined again as Dean ran the cloth over his sweaty skin. It was luke warm water and honestly felt quite nice against him regardless of if his body decided it was hot or cold.
"Don't be a baby" Dean mumbled, focused on cleaning Sam off quickly but gently.
Sam watched with a pout as Dean washed the residue of sweat and sick off of him. When he was done, Dean laid the cloth over the side of the tub, cupped his hands and filled them water. He awkwardly splashed the water onto Sam's face and ran it through his hair. Sam huffed a little but didn't move, he regrettably liked the sensation.
"Ok" Dean rasped, one hand bracing on the tub as he pushed himself up, his left leg baring most the weight. Dean groaned a little as took a few steps over to the other towel rack of grab another towel.
Sam watched him do so before furrowing his brow. Just before Dean could walk back over to him, he spoke up.
"Why are you limping?" Sam asked, eyes glancing down to gauge the weight distribution of his brother's legs.
"What?" Dean tilted his head. "I'm not" he deflected, subtly bracing himself before he made his way back over to the tub.
"You are" Sam retorted "you're favouring your right leg" he noted, lifting his hand from the water to gesture to the offending limp.
Dean scoffed, smirking weakly as he reached down to drain the tub and began to drape the towel over his brother's shoulders.
"No, I'm not" he insisted, grabbing a corner of the towel and aggressively drying Sam's cheek.
Sam groaned and pushed Dean away. The older laughed a little as he backed off.
Dean straightened up and put his hands on his hips, gazing down at his brother. "You okay to dry yourself off?" He asked "I'm gonna get you some clean clothes".
Sam hesitated for a moment, concerned gaze fixed on Dean as his brother stood before him.
Sam finally looked away and slightly nodded.
"Ok" Dean said before turning for the door. Sam looked up to watch his brother walk out- he was limping.
Dean came back with some clothes from Sam's duffle- though Sam was sure the t-shirt was Dean's.
He set them down on the toilet lid and gave Sam a glance.
"You good?" He asked, gesturing to the clothes briefly before giving a questioning thumbs up.
Sam nodded, mostly dry now but still in the tub.
"You don't need any help getting up or anything?" Dean fussed.
Sam sighed and shook his head "Dean, I'm fine" he insisted before looking his brother up and down "Y-you should go sit down, have you hurt your leg or something?"
Dean's expression dropped and he stood up straight, grimacing a little as he put an equal weight on both legs for just a moment.
"I'm fine, ok?" He replied harshly, slightly glaring at his brother. "Get dressed" he snarled, turning and leaving, pulling the door shut but leaving it slightly ajar.
Sam sighed after a while of silence and then struggled to get up, stepping out of the tub and finished drying himself before changing.
Sam came out of the bathroom to find his bed stripped of its bedding and Dean's remade with the covers pulled down. Dean's stood at the kitchen table with the med kit out in front of him.
He glanced behind him at Sam before going back to whatever he was doing. He took a deep breath as he held up the cup of pink liquid to the light and gazed closely at it. He gave a satisfied nod before turning to Sam, stepping forward and holding out the cup of medicine.
Sam mumbled a thanks and took it, putting the small cup to his lips and swinging his head back to take it in one go. He scrunched up his face and swallowed it, handing Dean the cup back.
"Feeling nauseous?" Dean asked, heading back to the table to pack the med kit away.
Sam shook his head a little "no, I uh, I feel ok" he replied.
Dean nodded "good" he muttered, running a hand over his face once he was done packing up the med kit. He groaned and stretched a little. He sniffled and looked down at his watch. "What time is it? My watch isn't working".
Sam yawned a little and looked down at his own watch "Midnight" he replied.
"Right" Dean rasped, turning away from the table and walking over to his remade bed. Sam watched him baby his right leg. Sam's brow furrowed as he continued to watch Dean bare all his weight on his left side while he fussed over the already neat and pulled back bedding.
"Dean" he began, hoping to get his attention "Dean" he said again after the older didn't look his way.
"What?" Dean mumbled, still not looking over.
"What have you done to your leg?" He asked.
"Nothing" Dean mumbled.
"Dean-".
"Just drop it, Sammy. I'm fine" he snapped, holding a hand out in front of him and towards Sam.
Sam shifted his weight as he stared his brother down. "Come on, it's late, you're sick. Get into bed" Dean sighed, gesturing to his bed.
"That's your bed" Sam noted.
Dean nodded, face full of annoyance "yeah, and yours is covered in vomit" he retorted "it's a queen, we'll both fit. Get in" he exclaimed with a huff, climbing into the bed, shuffling over to make room for Sam.
Sam sighed and strolled over, curling up beside his brother.