I'm a bit embarrassed. I'm pretty sure that I write the same thing over and over again. I guess that is the price I pay for going un-beta'd. This is a short, sort of mindless, one shot set after "Appointment in Samarra". Anyway, thanks for reading… 3 Shannon (Oh, and Happy Holidays friends!)
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"I don't… Where's the…?" Sam looked at Dean with tears in his eyes. "Why?"
"It's okay man. Cas said that it's going to take some time for your brain to catch up with your soul. You're a little scrambled right now, but you are coming back. Coming back to us…" Dean couldn't help but smile as he held Sam's hands in his. He had to hold his hands, he had found that out the hard way earlier, when Sam nearly scratched his own eyes out.
"De… I… um… Wa'…" Sam swallowed exaggeratedly.
"Shit Sam, I'm sorry. Here." Dean held a straw up to Sam's lips so he could drink some water. Sam turned his head away when he was done. Next he looked down at his hands and with a confused shake of his head, sighed.
"My… me… head, uh… mind… um…" Sam's hands broke briefly from Dean's to grasp the sides of his head. Dean stopped him from pulling out his own hair.
"Dude. Stop. You're okay." Dean thought about grabbing the handcuffs again, but he wanted to use them as a last resort this time. He was so happy to have Sammy back that he didn't want to leave him. He would hold his hands to prevent him from hurting himself… for as long as it takes. Dean gently pushed Sam's shoulders down so he lay back on the bed. "Rest Sammy. You've been through a lot."
Sam lay down, but began mumbling nonsensically to himself. He looked so damn lost. He was shaking like a leaf. Dean wondered if that was another side effect. Finally Sam's breathing slowed and he fell into a deep sleep. Dean laid Sam's hands at his sides and sat back in the bedside chair. He had no idea what was coming next and when, or if, Sam would return completely. Should he feel guilty for preferring even this Sam to soulless Sam? Dean shook off the thought, preferring to watch Sam sleep. It had been a long time since the kid had gotten any rest.
About four hours later, Sam's eyes opened slowly. Dean leaned forward in case he needed to grab Sam's hands again. Sam brought a shaky hand up to his hair and ran his fingers through it. "I…I…"
"It's okay Sammy. Everything is gonna be okay." Dean then noticed Sam's eyes staring directly into his.
"S… Sam's… here?" he whispered.
Dean nearly laughed with relief. Looking back into his brother's eyes, he replied softly, "Sam's here. Sammy is definitely… here. Whatever comes next man, it doesn't matter. 'Cuz Sam is here…"