Catch Me When I Fall

Sleep

Sam continued holding Dean until he heard his breathing even out. "Dean?" he whispered, looking down at his brother, smiling when he saw he had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Do ya want me to help ya take him upstairs?"

"No." Sam stood for a second with Dean in his arms and his eyes widened when he felt how light he was. "Oh my god. Kids would probably weigh more than Dean right now," he said quietly to Bobby, sitting back on the couch, adjusting Dean so he was laying comfortably in his arms.

"Do ya need anything, Sam? I'm going out to the garage."

"No. I'm okay for now, Bobby," said Sam, looking down at his sleeping brother. "I'll call you when he wakes up."

Bobby nodded, but he seemed reluctant to leave his boys. "If he needs anything, let me know," he told Sam, before walking out.

Sam didn't hear Bobby, he was too busy staring down at Dean. "You're going to be alright, Dean. You have me and Bobby to take care of you. And I'm not going to let you down. I know what Bobby's like with you. He's nearly as much of a mother hen as me."

Dean started shivering, and snuggled closer to Sam's chest. The younger Winchester leaned forward, and took off his jacket and laid it over him. "There you go," he whispered, running his fingers over Dean's protruding cheekbone. His eyes teared up when he put his hand under Dean's layers of shirts to feel how skinny he was. "Oh my god," he whispered when he realised he could count each rib with his fingertips, he could also feel Dean's hipbones standing up like stones on a deserted beach.

"You can't keep doing this Dean. If you don't start eating, you're going to die." Sam closed his eyes, no longer able to hold back the tears. He rocked Dean gently in his arms, his tears falling down his cheeks and into Dean's hair.

That was how Bobby found them when he came in to check on them fifteen minutes later. "What's wrong, Sam? Is he alright?" he asked, rushing over to them.

Sam jumped, and sat up straight. "Don't do that," he sighed when he saw it was only Bobby. "You could wake him up... he needs sleep." Sam stroked the side of his brother's face gently when he flinched. "Shh. It's alright, Dean. Just sleep. I'm right here."

"No. No fire."

"What the hell is he dreaming about?" asked Bobby.

"I don't know. But thank god he's not dreaming about girls."

"Yeah. That would be awkward."

Sam looked at Dean for a few more minutes, before he turned to Bobby. "We have to do something. I mean we've probably burnt bones that have more meat on them than Dean right now."

Bobby sighed, and looked at the sleeping Winchester. "I know. If he doesn't start eating within the next few days, we'll have to get him some help."

"What do you mean... hospital?" asked Sam, holding Dean even closer.

"We've got no choice, Sam. I know Dean would probably hate us for it, but at least he'll be alive."

Sam stared at Dean for several seconds, before answering. "I know. With the way Dean's been acting, it seems like he could be depressed. He hardly sleeps, or eats. But with the demon almost killing him, and dad dying for him... I can't exactly blame him. But he can't keep going like this."

Bobby cleared his throat, and decided to tell Sam something that had happened a few weeks ago. Dean had told him not to say anything, but now he had no choice. "Er... Sam. There's something I need to tell ya." He waited until he had Sam's attention. "A couple of weeks ago... after breakfast, I heard Dean being sick in the bathroom. He told me he was hung over, but now with all this I'm not so sure."

"Being sick? Isn't that what people with eating disorders do?" asked Sam, frowning. "But he can't have both, right?"

Bobby shrugged. "I did a bit of research, and read that some people who are depressed stop eating, some comfort-eat, some harm themselves. Maybe Dean stopped eating properly, but... I don't know... maybe it just developed... ya know?"

Sam was silent for a minute as he thought about what Bobby told him. It made sense with the way Dean had been acting recently. He was about to reply when Dean moaned as if he was in pain, and he jerked slightly, before his eyes fluttered open. "Dean?"

Dean frowned as he slowly woke up and saw that he wasn't back in the cabin. "What the hell am I doing here?" He looked around, and jumped in surprise when he saw Bobby staring down at him. "Dude, what the hell? You both watching me sleep now? That's just creepy," he said with a shiver. "Dude, get off me."

"Sorry." Sam released his brother, and helped him sit beside him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fi-" Dean cut himself off when he noticed Sam and Bobby were both staring at him. "What now? I swear you two get weirder."

Sam looked away, but Bobby continued looking at him. "Yer going to have to try and start eating, son. If ya don't, me and Sam will have to take ya to see a doctor."

Dean swallowed nervously, and looked at his hands. "Y-You can't.. you can't do that. Sam wouldn't do that." He looked at Sam, who was still looking away. "Sam?"

Sam looked at his brother with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Dean. But Bobby's right... If you don't, you could die." A tear slipped down his cheek, but he refused to wipe it away.

'I should be dead anyway,' Dean thought, but didn't say. "No doctors." He took a deep breath, and bit his lip. "I-I'll try."

"That's all we ask son, that's all we ask." Bobby nodded at Sam, before he stood, and walked to the kitchen to make something light for Dean to eat.

Sam smiled, and reached over to place his hand over Dean's. "Thanks Dean."

Dean gave a tiny smile in return, and waited nervously for Bobby to come back.