Hi! I got inspired by all the other amazing fics about the aftermath of 13x23. That's why I wrote this little piece. I really hope I didn't mess up the tenses too badly with this one, that's one of the things I struggle with the most when writing in English.
Again not beta'd. Hope you enjoy!
'Hot Chocolate and Nougat' and 'The Third Week' are a continuation of this story.
Jack is standing before the closed bedroom door. Sam's closed bedroom door. One hand holding a glass of water, and the other hand holding a pack of paracetamol and a pack of sleeping pills.
The last few days Sam had been researching, barely eating or sleeping. Jack often hears him getting up at night. Or maybe he didn't sleep at all. And Sam didn't look well. He looked sick—face pinched.
And of course, Jack knows that nobody would feel well when their brother vanished with Michael behind the wheel to do who knows what. But he also remembers Sam's love and warmth for him. His determination to keep him safe. His believe in him as someone who is worth it—someone who can be good. And that's why he's now nervously standing before the closed door (with the knowledge worth a few pages on sleep deprivation—he's done some research himself, too.) He wants to be there for Sam the way Sam is there for him, he wants to help Sam—the one who has quickly become his best friend, his guardian, his family. He wants to give something back to the ones who have given him so much.
Cooking would not be the best idea to attempt. He also has read enough about burnt food and fires to know that that would not end well. Maybe he could ask Castiel or Mary about that one, because the not eating thing that's going on with Sam is worrying him, too (and he's not the only one.) Maybe he could ask one of them to help him with warming up milk later (he also read that drinking warm milk with honey can help against sleeplessness.)
But for now, he's determined to do this one thing for Sam—helping him get some rest (without warm milk or honey, for now.) Maybe he can talk to Sam. Maybe he can help some more with the research on a way to get Dean back—to get his other beloved family member back. His chest constricts everytime he thinks about the pain Dean must be in. The terror and helplessness he must be feeling—being imprisoned in his own body with no way out.
Jack has to help.
He takes a deep breath, heart hammering in his throat. He knocks on the door and calls out softly "Sam?"
