Chapter One

Sam breathed out a sigh of relief as the doctors walked past his bedroom, barely doing anything but flickering a flashlight to make sure he was in bed. He hated the early mornings, as the nurses always did an examination on him. He was so glad it wasn't time for that just yet.

He was only fourteen, yet his father, John, had decided that he needed to be placed in this hospital. Sam still didn't understand it all the way. He didn't belong in a place like this. He would have thought Dean, his eighteen year old brother, would help him, but he encouraged it.

Suddenly the lights lit up in Sam's room. "It's time for your examination, Sam," the nurse said. Sam groaned and she only sighed. "The sooner we get this done the sooner you can have breakfast."

Great, Sam thought to himself, because I want breakfast. He lifted himself out of bed, wiggling his toes through his socks as they felt the cold of the tiled floor. The hospital regulated socks hardly helped with warmth.

Sam walked to the nurses station where there were already several other patients sitting in chairs, either waiting for their turns to be examined or waiting for breakfast, not being allowed to go until everyone was done with their examinations.

"Come on in, Sam," the nurse said. Sam walked inside the room where they shut the door. "Can you step on the scale for me?" He did as she said, the scale giving his weight: 84 pounds. "Okay, now I'm going to need you to take your shirt and sweat pants off for me."

Sam sighed. Since he arrived this was what the routine was of every morning. He removed his clothing so the nurse could see there were no marks on his body. Her eyes lingered on his stomach, causing him to hide himself.

"It's alright, Sam," the nurse said with a kind smile. "Can I see your fingernails?" He handed them to her. "They're a little blue; did you eat dinner last night?"

"I ate a little," Sam said. "I wanted to see my brother."

"Well, visiting hours are tonight," the nurse told him. "You can call him and see if he'll come tonight as soon as we're done with your examination."

"What time is it?" Sam asked. Usually the examinations happened fairly early in the morning, and he worried that Dean wouldn't be up just yet.

"It is six thirty," the nurse answered. "Don't worry, you can always call later."

"Are we done here?" Sam asked.

"Just one more question; do you feel safe?" Sam hesitated. He never felt safe anywhere without Dean, yet he worried if he mentioned that, they wouldn't let him see his brother.

"Yes."

Sam waited for the phone ringing to end. He had been waiting for three rings now. Four. Five. Finally, at the last second, an answer. He sighed in relief.

"Sammy?" Dean asked on the other line. He seemed worried that something had happened. It was reasonable enough.

"Hey, Dean," Sam responded. "Um..." he trailed off for a moment.

"Is everything alright? Are you hurt?" Dean asked in a tone that could only match a mother's worried one.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Sam answered. "I just wanted to know if you would come to the hospital today. Visiting hours are open and..." he trailed off once again.

"Of course I will," Dean said. "I wouldn't miss seeing you for the world. Neither would dad for that matter."

"Yeah," Sam said. "I miss you a lot."

"I miss you too, buddy." Dean laughed a bit. "What time you want us over there?"

"As soon as possible," Sam answered. "Please."

"You don't have to beg, kiddo. I'll always be here for you."

I hope so.