Title: Locked In

Author: Disasteriffic Kaz

Info: Thanks to a witch's curse, Sam has nothing but time on his hands and nothing to entertain him but his own thoughts. Post 7x07 "The Mentalists" hurt!Sam comfort/awesome!Dean

Author's Note: Yep. Yet ANOTHER story born from a piece of a scene I wrote down months ago and forgot about. :P

This story is un-Beta'd. All mistakes are my own.

**Follow me on Facebook as "Disasteriffic Kaz" for frequent fic updates or just to chat!

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Sam stared at the ceiling above his bed. He followed the spider web of cracks with his eyes to a small stain in the corner. Leak in the roof, he surmised and wondered if the cheap motel would even bother fixing it. He could do it in an hour, Sam thought…if only he could move. Dean came into his line of sight again and smiled down at him.

"Hey, Sammy. Twelve more hours or so and you'll be walkin' and talkin' again." Dean patted his shoulder and then palmed his forehead worriedly. "I'm gonna go get some ice and stuff. I'll be back in twenty minutes. Promise."

Sam wanted to tell him it was alright and take some of the fear from his big brother's eyes but of course, he couldn't. The last time they'd seen this particular curse, the witch who'd used it had done so to save their lives from a leviathan. He'd enjoyed it at the time, relieved to have a harmless leviathan even if only for a few days. It wasn't so funny on the receiving end of the curse. Sam wished he'd ducked faster. If only he hadn't turned his back at the wrong moment, if he hadn't let the witch's twisted disciple stab him…Sam focused his thoughts back on the spot on the ceiling. Thinking of the wound in his side only made it hurt more and he couldn't do anything about it; couldn't even ask for something for the pain. He wanted to groan, or moan or scream. Sam sighed. His breathing and blinking were the only things he did have control of now and had only regained the ability to open and close his eyes in the last day.

The now familiar panic worked its way into Sam, spinning his thoughts away in a whirlwind because what if this didn't fade? What if he was stuck this way forever? Sam closed his eyes and made himself take a deep breath and then another, trying to find his calm again. He could blink again, Sam reminded himself and that meant the curse was finally weakening and would continue to.

'I'm not trapped.' Sam said in the confines of his mind. 'I'm safe. This will pass.'

"Hey, buddy. Take it easy."

Sam wrenched his eyes open with Dean's voice and realized he must have been thinking far too hard for far too long. He focused on Dean's concerned green eyes and let his breathing slow.

"That's better. I'm gonna sit you up a little here." Dean told him calmly and Sam inwardly cheered.

He'd gotten tired of looking at the crack in the ceiling. Sam's eyes slowly tracked Dean moving away again and then back. He felt like an infant when Dean pried his mouth open and felt two tablets land on his tongue then his big brother wrapped a hand around the back of his head, tipping it for him and put a water bottle to his lips, letting a small amount trickle in before closing Sam's mouth.

"All you gotta do is swallow." Dean coached gently.

Sam felt Dean rubbing a hand on his throat, trying to convince his body to do what it needed and a moment later he did swallow. Sam exhaled noisily with relief and took comfort in the hand Dean kept on the back of his neck. Dean had tried to give him a drink the day before but Sam had still had no control and it had come close to choking him. His only consolation was the understanding fear on Dean's face as his brother had held him up until his breathing eased.

"That went better than last time." Dean smirked and reached to his bed, taking the pillow and shoved it behind Sam's back to prop him up. "Painkillers. How good's your blinking now?"

Sam watched Dean's eyes and blinked slowly twice in response.

"Nice. So, we're gonna Star Trek this. One blink for yes and two for no." Dean grinned. "Still in pain?" He nodded when Sam blinked once.