a/n: I was inspired so this is getting posted much sooner than I planned :-D. Stuff with school is dying down so I should be able to focus more on this and my other ongoing story, but I can't promise that all my updates will be this quick though i will try :).

This is unbeta'ed so I apologize for any mistakes. As I post new chapters I will attempt to clean up old so please let me know of any issues.

The boys ages are 17 and 12 almost 13 (this happens in the spring of '96)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed and/or favorited this story. I'm so humbled by your support. You guys are the reason I got this second chapter up so fast.

Disclaimer: I did not own supernatural. i only own my own warped mind.

I was about an hour out when I called Dean back, I was surprised when a pleasant but decidedly female voice in other words, definitely not Dean, answered:

"This is Milton Hospital, how may I direct your call today?"

It shocked me into silence as I stared at the number. I was used to the boys and other hunters calling from unfamiliar numbers from hotels or whatnot, so when Dean had called from an unfamiliar number I didn't even flinch, assuming it was the hotel number. The boys didn't have a cell phone so it was a safe assumption or it was until that voice shattered that illusion.

"Hello is anyone there?" that professionally polite asked again with an edge of annoyance starting to creep into her tone.

"Sorry about that, I am calling about a patient there, a Sam." I blanked for a second as I was unsure what name the boys were going by as if one of them was in the hospital it wasn't likely to be their real one.

She must have taken my unintentional pause as an end to my request as she replied "I cannot disclose patient information over the phone, especially that of a minor." While the first part was done by rote, the second part was revealing and promising as it demonstrated she not only knew who exactly I was talking about confirming his presence as a patient, but also wanted me to know she was inclined to assist me in any way that would not outright violate patient confidentiality.

"I completely understand, but is there any way I could talk to a visitor then, Sam's brother, Dean, he has been calling me from this number all day?" I asked playing off the sympathy I sensed in her voice. I was moderately comfortable identifying Dean as Sam's brother as while their fake IDs were sometimes of non-relatives I couldn't see Dean taking that chance with health insurance, as it might cause him to not be allowed to see his sick or hurt brother or vice-versa. I knew that Dean's word would have been final on the matter; When it came to taking care of his brother, I could count on Dean's will to triumph over even John's. The only person I had seen succeed in overruling Dean about Sam's well-being was Sam himself and that was only because Sam was both more stubborn than anyone I had ever known including John and had puppy dog eyes that no mere mortal could resist, especially an overprotective big brother; Even with all that going for Sam, he usually found it easier to accede to Dean's wishes than fight it. Personally I suspect that Sam accede most of the time because he knows how much Dean needs it than from actual agreement or inability to fight it.

The female voice on the phone disrupted my musings as she sighed "I can't do that. But if such a person was here, I could then pass on a message for him to call you back."

"Oh yes, then hypothetically could you tell Dean that I'm almost here and would appreciate directions."

I could sense a smile in her voice. "Hypothetically, I could do that if such a person existed and was right now impatiently pacing around the waiting room waiting for me to get off the phone."

"Thanks"

"What for? We were talking about hospital policy. Have a good evening." She hung up without waiting for a reply.

While I was certain she was on our side, I held my breath until my phone began ringing again, which it did almost immediately. I guess she wasn't exaggerating about Dean's proximity. I answered on the first ring and let out a sigh when I heard Dean's voice.

"Bobby? So I hear you are close?" I could sense the beginning of defensiveness in Dean's voice. If I knew that boy, he had been putting off telling me that they were at the hospital as long as humanly possible for good reason; hospitals meant life or death for hunters, especially Winchesters.

"Yea I'm within an hour of the hotel, not sure how far that is from the hospital." I knew it was a dig, but I was still recovering from my shock and was battling a mixture of hurt and fear at my newfound knowledge.

"Um, yeah I was going to call you about that. It's not far." He then proceeded to direct me to the hospital. Luckily it was relatively close to the hotel and easy to get to as it was literally right off the highway.

I made it to the hospital in a little over thirty minutes without attracting the local fuzz miraculously. I parked the truck in the first available space and hoofed it to the entrance. It was a small local hospital so luckily I wouldn't have to bluff my way past too many people. I made a beeline to the receptionist desk that greeted me on entering the hospital. Three women were manning it, all looking a little bit frazzled as they handled the phones, files and concerned family members. My instinct was to run up and demand to know where Sam and Dean were, but I knew that with them both being minors without a guardian, the hospital staff would be reluctant to tell that to anyone that couldn't prove themselves to be family. So instead I scanned the three women trying to discern the one most inclined to help me out. That's when I heard it.

It was her voice, the voice of my co-conspirator, asking one of the receptionists a question while handing off a chart. I knew this was my chance and I was not going to waste it. I started to call out her name to get her attention before I realized I had no earthly idea what it was. Instead I called out the classic "You there", which of course didn't get her attention but did earn me a glare from some other people at the information desk. I moved on to plan B, which was a high risk high reward scenario; I sprinted forward and put my hand on the woman's arm to get her attention. She turned quick as a snake, removing my hand in the process ,to glare at me for my insolence and I have no doubt that she was seconds away from ordering security to boot my butt out..

"I'm looking for Sam and Dean" I quickly supplied to her venomous look, knowing that my name was as unknown to her as hers was to me. At the utterance of those names, she softened and re-evaluated me as friend rather than foe. This all happened in seconds and before anyone else could react to the seeming harassment of a staff member by a crazy looking hillbilly, my new-found ally diffused the situation with a smile and a loudly spoken, "I've been waiting for you to get here, please follow me Mr. Smith, your son is quite anxious."

I followed her by instinct, she was a petite woman but she had a presence that commanded obedience and she was my most likely hope of getting to those boys, one of which she had said was anxious. I knew that if Dean was worried enough to let it show to a stranger than he must be close to full on panic. Worrisome thoughts of desperate boys plagued me as she led me through the hallways dividing up the different sections of the hospital. We stopped in the hallway in front of the door to the pediatric wing. There she turned to me asking, "So Mr. Smith, what is name?"

"It's Bobby, Bobby-"

"Bobby it's nice to meet you. I am Annette, the current duty nurse." I was taken aback by her interruption before I realized her tactic. Knowing my real last name might cause issues in the future, especially if I or more importantly the boys needed me to use an alias. While I was already impressed with this force of nature before, I was blown away by her astute observation of the situation and wisely chosen cautious course of deniability.

"Hello Annette, you have no idea how pleased I am to meet you face to face." She smiled at my allusion to the call before beckoning me into the waiting room. Once inside, her face shifted from warm to professionally polite as she returned to the nurse's station. I shook my head in amazement; I sometimes forgot that not all civilians were as dumb or helpless as they seem, before getting back to the task at hand.

I scanned the waiting room looking for the lanky teenager I knew had to be in it if Annette's word choice in the lobby had been any indication. I spotted him almost immediately, a lone teenager stood out like a sore thumb in a waiting room filled with families. He was fidgeting in his chair with his head down resting between his hands. He must have been out of it as I got within three feet of him before his head shot up. When his eyes locked on me, recognition and relief quickly flittered through those green eyes, before he visibly regained his composure and gave me his usual cocky grin and unreadable eyes. I didn't believe it though, I knew this boy and for him to let even that momentary slip of emotion, things had to be bad.

"So what's happening, boy?" I gruffly demanded, knowing any outward sympathy from me would make Dean flee or shut down, while an order would get me answers. I might curse John for how he raised his kids, but I understood it and knew that an order would reassure Dean as nothing else would, because it meant I was taking charge, as John would have if he was here and, while Dean might be a seasoned hunter, in this situation he was still very much a kid that needed his father. Hopefully an adopted uncle would suffice for the time being.

He just looked at me, desperation leaking back into his eyes, before again visibly recollecting his composure and standing up. Now Dean will always be the little kid I played ball with in my eyes so it's still disconcerting that nowadays he towers over me. It reminded me how fast he's growing up, both him and Sam; Thinking about the youngest Winchester brought me back to the present with the same alacrity as a bucket of ice water.

"Let's go into the hall, it's a long story." Dean said as he headed towards the door beckoning me to follow him into the hall. I followed my heart filling with dread as any remaining hope for a quick solution died with the teenager's grim tone.

A/N; so we still don't know what's wrong with Sam. I fully intended that to be explained this chapter but it got away from me in the best possible way. I promise almost everything will be explained next chapter when Bobby and Dean talk. I have a plan now and its only a little bit evil. Anyway thanks for reading!