ratherastory: (Always With The Scissors)
ratherastory ([personal profile] ratherastory) wrote2010-08-03 08:42 pm

Because Pink Inhalers Are Totally Manly

Title: Because Pink Inhalers Are Totally Manly
Prompt: From [livejournal.com profile] roque_clasique. If anyone is up and really bored and all "Oh man, I really am in the mood to write a little Dean h/c snippet in the comments of someone's random post," you should totally do it!!! Right now right here!!!
Summary: Yeah. No plot, just gratuitous h/c, smoking!Dean, a bad leg and bronchitis. And very mild schmoop. Oh, and Sam being caring, exasperated, and his usual competent self. :)
Wordcount: 764
Warnings/Spoilers: Mild swearing. No spoilers.
Author's Notes: Off-the-cuff quasi-comment fic. No beta, obviously. It's entirely gratuitous, self-indulgent stuff. Because apparently Roque brings that out in me.


“Hey!” Dean makes an ineffectual lunge at Sam, swiping at the air with one hand, but whatever indignant tirade was going to accompany the gesture is forestalled by another fit of hacking, wet coughs. Sam rolls his eyes, stubs out the cigarette he just confiscated in the motel room's ash tray.

“Smoking with acute bronchitis. Real smart.”

Dean's too busy coughing to answer, hunched over awkwardly on his chair, right leg resting on the only other available chair in the room, but he raises a hand in a gesture that speaks for him all the more eloquently. Sam ignores him, takes advantage of his momentary weakness to snag the pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and toss it to the farthest side of the room. Dean glares, eyes watering, and Sam pulls off his boot.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You're badass. Let me take a look.”

It's a close call, but Sam manages to ease his brother's jeans over the swollen knee without having to resort to cutting them off, probes gently at the joint with sure, careful fingers. Dean hisses, mutters a curse under his breath, but the leg bends without too much trouble when Sam tests it for mobility.

“You feel anything tear or pop when you fell?”

“Didn't fall,” Dean wheezes indignantly. “Got thrown.”

“Fine. When the spirit of the cute little ten-year-old girl in the pink nightie tossed you like her dolly, did you feel anything tear or pop?”

“Fuck you,” Dean twists aside, coughs wetly into the crook of his elbow, sucks in another wheezing breath. “Oh, fuck me,” he mutters, letting his head fall back.

“I vote none of the above,” Sam pulls a chemical cold pack out of the first aid kit, and the pink albuterol inhaler he acquired through entirely less-than-legal means in the last town. He wraps Dean's knee, hands him the inhaler. “Come on, I'm tired of hearing you sound like an eighty-year-old.”

“'s pink,” Dean objects.

“It could have spangles and rhinestones and play Shirley Temple songs all day long for all I care. Just use it. Did you at least take something for the fever?”

Dean hacks something disgusting-sounding into a tissue and pointedly doesn't answer, which is really all the answer Sam needs.

“Dean.”

“I'm going to take a shower, loosen up some of this crap that's taken up permanent residence in my lungs. When I get out, my cigarettes had better not be on the floor anymore, and you had better not look like you've been sucking on a lemon all day.”

Dean makes a show of clapping Sam on the shoulder, pushes himself to his feet, and nearly faceplants into the floor as both knees promptly buckle under him. Instead he collapses right into Sam's arms, because Sam was waiting for it, and casually hauls him up and plops him unceremoniously on the bed.

“Fucker,” Dean mutters, letting an arm fall over his face.

“Yes, absolutely. I am a terrible, terrible brother for not letting you fall on your face on the shitty motel carpet because you're too feverish to stand up on your own.” Sam heaves a long-suffering sigh, grabs the inhaler from where it dropped, holds it right up to Dean's lips, shoving his arm aside. “Come on, dude. Don't fight me on this.”

He's rewarded with another glare, because heaven forfend Dean Winchester ever put up with anything gracefully, but at least the medication gets delivered this way. His brother even grudgingly dry-swallows two Tylenol, lets him manhandle him into a clean t-shirt and sweats, then curls up on his side, coughing. Sam perches on the side of the bed, reaches out tentatively with one hand, rubs up and down between Dean's shoulder blades as he coughs, and isn't sure if it's a good sign or a bad when he doesn't lose his arm at the shoulder.

Finally Dean draws in a shaky breath that doesn't immediately result in another coughing fit, but he stays curled on himself, as though he expects the clenching pain back any minute. “This sucks,” he declares to the room, voice wrecked.

“Yeah, I know,” Sam can totally be sympathetic, when the need arises. “You want some water?”

“Nah, 'm good here,” he rasps.

“All right. You just let me know.”

Sam doesn't move from where he is, just keeps up the same steady motion until he feels his brother's breathing even out into sleep.

[identity profile] de-nugis.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, sometimes plotless h/c with grouchy Dean and longsuffering Sam is exactly what I need. Though Dean is on such overly friendly terms with death, I think he might possibly choose it over the pink inhaler.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
I agree entirely. Roque posted about h/c comment-fic, and I looked at the prompt and was all "Hey, little girl! Would you like to come over here and play on the swings with me? I have lollipops!"

Because Dean totally needed to get bronchitis and sprain his knee and insist on smoking anyway. Oy.

*headdesk*

Anyway, it was a distraction from the other, plotful fics I have on the go, and hopefully got the writing juices flowing again.

[identity profile] tahirire.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
N'AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
:D

Thank you!

[identity profile] roque-clasique.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
OH YES PLEASE YES PLEASE. For some reason the idea of Dean smoking with acute bronchitis pleases me greatly. As does Sam being all eye-rolling and competent and Dean finally giving in, after being the most adorable little grump ever. THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU write more. LOL

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know why I liked the idea so much, that Dean would insist on smoking even when he can't breathe.

Sick!Grumpy!Dean is one of my favourites. I will totally write more. Maybe not this exact fic, but you and I both know I can't leave him alone. :)

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[identity profile] maypoles.livejournal.com - 2010-08-04 03:06 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] maypoles.livejournal.com - 2010-08-05 18:51 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] websterans.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
This is just so totally adorable.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! That's mostly what I was aiming for. :)

[identity profile] mdlaw.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
This felt just right. m ;)

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
*g*

Thanks!

[identity profile] dante-s-hell.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Freakin' adorable! I love those boys!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I obviously needed a bit of fluff today. :)

[identity profile] maypoles.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Yay for self indulgence! ;D This fic makes me happy.

Sick!cranky!Dean is one of my fave flavours of Dean. He's just so cute. And CRANKY. Idk. And I want to marry your Sam.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
I am right there with you in my love for sick!cranky!Dean. I don't know why either, but he's adorable when he's cranky. :)

Poor Sam. So put-upon. ;)

[identity profile] lelaro.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
grouchy dean with pink inhaler is the epitome of cute(although i'm sure dean would disagree)

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
Dean would absolutely disagree, but he'd be wrong. ;)
embroiderama: (Dean - eyes!)

[personal profile] embroiderama 2010-08-04 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmm, sick Dean. Much love. :)

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
:D

I know, right?

Thank you!
ext_14783: girl underwater (SPN - hold me close)

[identity profile] lavinialavender.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
AWWWWW, I LOVE THIS. Sam is so fucking awesome, and he loves his brother, and yay.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

Sam totally loves his brother. \o/

[identity profile] brigidmn.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
I used to insist on smoking when I had just awful respiratory infections. Thank god I finally quit.

And I want a pink inhaler. Mine is red. *offers to trade with Dean*


This was lovely. Cranky!Stubborn!Dean is one of my favorite flavors.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Dean would trade with you in a heartbeat. I based it on my father's inhaler, which is fuschia. :D

My mother smokes when she has awful respiratory infections too. I can't pretend to understand it. :(

Glad you liked it!

[identity profile] primrose-1.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
*sighs happily*

[identity profile] shyriann.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
Awwwww...
This is a turn from the usual Dean frets over sick Sammy, and it just made me happy. Sam being all snarky and mean was totally awesome, and Dean being all cranky and surly and pouty was pure gold.
Love the line about Sam losing an arm at the shoulder, and then the image of Dean just giving up and being pitiful sick "this sucks" while Sammy rubs his back was the absolute win.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-04 12:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, occasionally I like to switch it up. Equal-opportunity whump, is my motto. ;)

[identity profile] darth-firefly.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Ah... nothing like a good h/c fic at the end of a long day. Great stuff!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm glad it hit the spot. :)

[identity profile] hansons-angel.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
Ha-ha, I just read this over like, five times because it wasn't damn near long enough and then I committed it to my mems under, "Dean, smoking, coughing," -- heh, and feverish as well -- the first story in there that has those particular tags. So awesome, I really needed this right now. *sighs happily.*

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, thank you!

It was just a little random snippet, but I'm glad you liked it! :D

[identity profile] saberivojo.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
I love grouchy Dean. I also love Sam catching said grouchy brother before he falls.

I think I love most Sam rubbing Dean's back. Loved this.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 11:06 am (UTC)(link)
I love grouchy Dean too. I don't know why, but he's just adorable that way. :)

Glad you liked it!

[identity profile] claudia-nic.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 08:09 am (UTC)(link)
Perfect! And I love your Sam in this. All hard ass sarcasm but still right there to take care of Dean even though he doesn't want to be taken care of.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 11:06 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, thank you! Sam is pretty awesome. Dean won't let himself be taken care of in a conventional way, so Sam kind of has to improvise sometimes. ;)

[identity profile] fifimom.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
Poor Dean, sweet Sam and lucky us. Thanks for writing and sharing.

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much!

[identity profile] annefenwick.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
lovely in every way!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :)

[identity profile] triquetralmoon.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hahaha! God bless a bitchy Dean. :D

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Isn't he cute? :D

*pets him*

[identity profile] amber1960.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
In real life I'd have even less sympathy with Dean for smoking at all let alone while suffering from a hacking cough, but then like you said, a grouchy, grumpy cocky bastard might not be that appealing in real life anyway so I'm happy to suspend my prejudices and just wallow in the goodies on offer here!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Sam is totally with you on the "no sympathy" thing.

As for me? Agreed 100%. IRL Dean would totally get on my nerves. As a fictional character? I think he's adorable.

Glad you enjoyed my gratuitous little ficlet. :D

Because Pink inhalers are totally manly

[identity profile] taylorariel.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I loved this! Loved the dialogue and the smart, caring Sam and the wiseass,suffering Dean. Wish it didn't end.
Thank You.

Re: Because Pink inhalers are totally manly

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-06 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :)

I had fun with this. Sometimes self-indulgence is a good thing.

[identity profile] lomer.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Great story!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] 27-jaredjensen.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Awww!!!! I love your grumpy Dean and your awesome Sam and the pink inhaler and the back rubbing:)

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
:D

Thanks! I love grumpy Dean and caring Sam, and the pink inhaler was just me adding insult to injury. ;)

[identity profile] saschi212.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
That was thoroughly enjoyable and exactly what I needed :) Thank you!!!

[identity profile] ratherastory.livejournal.com 2010-08-07 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! It's always great to hear people enjoyed my story. :)

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