Shattered

Synopsis: Dean overhears a conversation between his father and Bobby that wasn't meant for him. Will John and Sam be able to figure out what's wrong with Dean in time? Will his stubbornness hurt him? Dean!Whump, John&Sam Angst!

Setting: Pre-series. Just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dean is 14 and Sam is 10.

Disclaimer: Supernatural and all associated content belong to Eric Kripke and the CW. If I owned the boys well….I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

A/N: Guys! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews/follows/+ Faves and some of you are my FAVORITE Supernatural fiction writers! No beta just me ^.^ mistakes are my own. Please see the note on the bottom and let me know!

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."

― Winston S. Churchill

The Impala flew down the highway, her precious cargo bundled inside. The closest hospital to them was a half hour's drive but John was gunning for twenty minutes.

They were still ten minutes from the hospital when Dean began to wake up.

"Nngh Sammy?" Dean said as he opened his eyes and looked around.

John heard this and gave the boys a quick glance in the rearview mirror.

"Sam- Keep him calm." John said as he focused on the road.

Dean tried sitting up, getting irritated when Sam wouldn't let him.

"Offa me princess I'm fine." He continued his struggle but it was futile. Sam was ten but he was, after all a Winchester and Dean wasn't in top form.

"Dean you stay down and relax we're almost to the hospital kiddo." John ordered from the front seat

"Hospital?" Dean frowned before remembering his dad and his warning that they couldn't afford hospital visits and the phone call with uncle Bobby…

"I'm fine dad I promise I just need more sleep." He was ignored.

"Please dad I'm sorry I don't want to go to Bobby's please just take me home and I'll get some rest and…"

John was trying his hardest to focus on his son and the road. "Bobby's? You ain't going to Bobby's Dean we're getting you to the hospital."

The conversation was too much for Dean to process and he closed his eyes and leaned back into Sammy's lap with a groan before falling asleep.

"Dean?" John asked when he heard the groan.

"He's okay daddy." Sam said as he put his ear over Dean's mouth "He's still breathin."

John's heart stuttered when he heard the endearment from Sammy. He hadn't called him daddy since he was 6 so he knew how scared his little boy was.

"Good job Sammy we're almost there just keep an eye on him okay?"

Sammy nodded; Dean always looked out for him it was his turn now.

John could've cried in relief once he saw the fluorescent hospital sign in the distance. He gunned the engine and the Impala roared forward towards the ER entrance.

Not wanting a scene with the police, John pulled his car into a handicap spot near the entrance but far enough away to not block the ambulance bay.

After gathering Dean into his arm's he sent Sam ahead to get help and started moving as quickly as he could towards the entrance with Dean.

Sam's long legs reached the entrance before Dean and John could already hear him calling for help for his big brother.

At the automatic doors John was met by an aid with a stretcher and a nurse that took one look at Dean before calling out for a doctor.

John gently placed Dean on the stretcher and followed the small crowd into the ER room labeled "Trauma."

"Sir, I need you to tell me what's happened to him and we need you to fill out these forms allowing us to treat him." The nurse said kindly as she took his arm and attempted to pull his attention away from Dean and the people surrounding him.

"Um I…" John was trying to focus on what she was saying but couldn't she see that he needed to be with his son more?"

Sam carefully took the folder with the paperwork out of her hand and gave it to his dad. "Dad Dean needs us right now."

John looked down at Sammy and smiled, trying to calm his youngest "You're right Sammy."

He turned to the nurse "He's had muscle spasms, weakness, periods of unconsciousness, exhaustion, a headache, and he felt a fluttering sensation in his chest about 30 minutes ago when he was outside attempting to mow the lawn."

The nurse and doctor were both listening now so the doctor interjected "How long have these symptoms been apparent?"

"He ran home from school yesterday in jeans a t-shirt and got overheated. We cooled him down, had him drink some water, and he went to bed shortly after." John shrugged his shoulders and looked at his larger-than-life son lying in the bed "I honestly thought it was just head exhaustion so I treated it accordingly but when he collapsed in our yard I felt his pulse and it was tachycardia so I knew it was more than I could handle at home."

"How did you know to recognize the tachycardia?" The nurse asked, curious.

"I was a combat medic." John told her as he signed the forms "That's why I didn't bring him in yesterday but this is more than heat exhaustion to me."

The doctor looked over to John and gave a knowing glance toward Sammy "Alright sir we'll take great care of him but I need you guys to step out so we can do some tests and get down to the bottom of this okay?"

Sam let go of Dean's hand and walked over towards his dad who was standing near the door staring at the activity.

"Dad?" Sam asked "Let's go so they can make Dean better."

John didn't hear a word he said, his attention solely focused on Dean.

Sam tried a new tactic and pulled on his dad's arm "Dad." He encouraged "Let's go."

John looked down at Sam as though seeing him for the first time and apologized "Sorry kiddo let's go."

But before they left the room he did a very un-characteristic thing and walked over to Dean and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and whispered in his ear "hang-on for me kiddo. Sammy and I need you."

The aid showed John and Sam where to find the waiting room and showed John where the phone was so he could call Bobby who was in Phoenix helping Jim with a hunt.

John sat Sam down in a chair only ten feet from the phone so he could see him and started to walk over to make the call.

Before he got too far, Sam asked him a question.

"Dad, why did Dean think he was going to Bobby's?" Sam asked

John turned to Sam "I really don't know but we'll find out when we can see him okay?"

Sam nodded and continued to bite his nails nervously.

John dialed Bobby's satellite phone and waited for the call to connect.

It was only a minute before Bobby's gruff voice came across the line.

"Agent Singer."

"Bobby." John said as he closed his eyes in relief at hearing his old friend.

"John? Where the hell are you boys?"

John opened his eyes and stopped for a moment "How do you know we're all out Bobby?"

"Because I'm at your house idjit I went by the shop to try to talk to Rufus' kid but no one was there so I figured I'd surprise the boys and stop by for a visit on my way back north."

"We're at the hospital Bobby, the one up on 20."

"What?" Bobby asked and then spoke again before John could interrupt "I know the place I'll be there in twenty." And he hung up.

John smiled despite the situation and headed back to Sammy. "Uncle Bobby will be here soon."

Sam tucked his legs under him and sat as close to John as he could without touching him. They just weren't a 'chick-flick' family as Dean had explained to him once.

John could sense that Sam needed some reassurance and he put his arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. "Dean will be okay kiddo."

Sam just nodded his head and finally let the tears he'd been holding back go.

This was how Bobby found the small family when he arrived.

As soon as Sam saw Bobby he released his death grip on his father and sprang towards the older man.

"Uncle Bobby." He cried when he saw him "Dean's sick."

Bobby may have a reputation among hunters as being a bit of…well an asshole to be honest but that didn't apply to John's boys who were his surrogate nephews.

Bobby pulled Sam to him and looked towards John for an explanation.

"We thought it was heat exhaustion." John told him wearily "But the symptoms didn't all add up."

Bobby looked at Sam and then back at John and leaned in and whispered 'paranormal?'

John looked back at him "Not from what I could tell. He hasn't been back there long we're just waiting now."

Bobby pulled Sam away from him and whispered conspiratorially in his ear but loud enough that John could still hear "Whaddya say we go get some ice cream from the cafeteria kiddo? It's hot as hell here!"

Sam sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes "okay!" he exclaimed

Bobby patted John on the shoulder "Wanna come along?"

John shook his head and gave Bobby a grateful look "Nah I'm gonna wait here but thanks Bobby."

Bobby just muttered under his breath about stubborn Winchesters and took Sam's hand and led him towards the desk to find out where the cafeteria was.

By the time they returned nearly forty minutes had passed and no one had come out to give them any type of an update.

John had given his seat to Bobby in favor of pacing the waiting room.

"I'm going to go see what's going on." John said as he started walking towards the door.

Before he had the chance to even open the door, the nurse came out and waved him and Sam towards her.

Bobby stood with Sam and walked to the door.

The nurse allowed the trio to follow her but instead of taking them towards the room Dean was in she ushered them into a small conference room and shut the door behind them.

"Alright Mr. Winchester Dean is being moved to a room right now so you'll be able to see him soon." She turned to Bobby "And you are?"

"Robert Dylan, Boy's uncle on their mama's side." He said, daring her to argue with him.

She nodded "I just had to confirm that you were family."

"What's wrong with my boy ma'am?" John asked her, desperate for answers.

"I can't tell you that." She said "But the doctor will be here any moment to let you guys know what caused all of this. Would any of you like some water?" She asked as she made her way towards the door.

When she received no answer she left the room after again promising that the doctor would be with them soon.

True to her word the doctor knocked on the door almost as soon as she had exited.

He held his hand out to John to formally introduce himself "Ed Nolan."

Both men shook his hand and John again asked "Please doc, can you tell me what's wrong with my boy?"

"Why don't we go see him." Dr. Nolan said much to John's relief.

As they walked, the doctor explained everything to John.

"I took what you told me into consideration about the heat exhaustion from yesterday and we ran some bloodwork and an EKG on Dean. There were several abnormalities in his bloodwork and his EKG but most noticeably were his potassium and magnesium levels."

John nodded to show that he was listening but he didn't fully understand what this meant.

"Low potassium can cause the body to do all sorts of wonky things." Nolan continued "It can throw the heart rate into an uproar, it messes with the musculoskeletal system, it causes weakness and tiredness, and essentially makes the body very angry."

John nodded "Now what?"

As they reached the door labeled 231 in pediatrics Nolan opened the door and turned to John "See for yourself." He said with a smile.

John entered the room and was shocked to see Dean sitting up in bed drinking water from a small glass.

He was still pale but he looked considerably better than he had.

Sammy ran to Dean and hopped onto the bed next to him while being cautious of the leads still attached to Dean's chest.

Dean returned Sam's tight embrace and smiled at Bobby. "Hey Uncle Bobby."

John had stopped in the hallway and waited when it was clear that the doctor wanted to continue talking. "That's a great kid you've got there." Nolan told him with a smile once the door was closed.

"We're going to keep him overnight for observation and to keep him hydrated with an IV but after giving him some potassium you can already see the improvements." John nodded and held his hand out "He is a great kid." John agreed "And thank you for everything."

After Nolan walked away John opened the door and was shocked when Dean gave him the saddest smile he'd ever seen. He looked so much like Mary at that moment that it took John's breath away.

"Hey Dean-o." John said, hoping to get a rise out of him "How you doing kiddo?"

"It's okay dad." Dean said, confusing John. "You don't have to pretend."

"What are you talking about Dean?" John asked

"I heard you on the phone." Dean confessed "I know you want to send me to Bobby's and I understand. Just please take care of Sammy."

Sammy looked just as confused as John and Bobby did and teared up. "You're not going anywhere without me Dean." He said, looking to his dad for clarification.

It was at that moment that John's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Oh Dean." He said as he wiped a hand across his weary face "It's not at all what you're thinking."

He gave Bobby a desperate look "Can you take Sammy for a walk?" he asked quietly.

Bobby nodded and took Sam for more ice cream after promising that Dean would still be here when they got back.

John walked right over to Dean's bed and pulled the skinny fourteen year old into his arms and sat down.

"You're not going anywhere kiddo I promise you." John said, his own eyes tearing up as he realized the heartbreak his eldest must have felt since hearing that conversation.

"But dad…." Dean started to interrupt but John shushed him and began to explain. "Dean I've had Nick Adams at the shop with me for the last few weeks. You remember him he's Rufus' son."

Dean nodded and John continued "He's been doing a real bad job at the shop and everything you heard was about him Dean. How could you ever think I'd send you away?"

Dean finally understood that his dad didn't plan on sending him away and he broke down, burying his head into John's shoulder.

John just rocked him as he did when he was little, before the fire. "I'm so sorry Dean." He whispered, feeling that he had completely failed as a parent. "I've let you down Mary and I'm so sorry."

*End* Or is it?

Reviews = LOVE!

Question for you all: Someone wanted me to continue this beyond my third chapter and here is the idea I had. Dean goes home to continue to get better and recuperate and Bobby stays with them for a while after John begins to get sick to help take care of the small family. It would include more Dean comfort and some John whump/sickfic.