Cave In.

Disclaimer: I am still bereft of anything Supernatural or of the Winchester persuasion, well all except for the ghost that shares my place with me, and my friendly vamps and umm oh yeah then there's the sexy werewolf guys ... anyway sorry to say I still don't own the show or the characters from Supernatural ... SIGH

Author's note: My first Weechester story, so we'll see how it goes. Sam is 12 and Dean is 16.


CHAPTER 4

Sam glared at the doctor and therapist standing at the end of his bed holding what looked more like a piece of medieval torture than anything else. 'No.' He said flatly crossing his arms.

'Sam it will help with your movement and stability.' Jason tried to reason with the young man but Sam was not having any of it. The doctors said that he had more swelling that caused his pain, pressing harder than ever on his spine, now they wanted to strap him into a contraption straight out of a torture chamber.

'I said no.' Sam repeated his glare almost daring either man to try.

'What's going on in here?' John demanded as he strode into Sam's room closely followed by Dean who moved to the chair next to Sam's bed and sank down.

'We have a special brace for Sam, after his little foray down the hallway, we thought that perhaps this would be better than a wheelchair.' The doctor explained, his own weariness etched across his face, 'but Sam seems to have other ideas.'

'I don't need it Dad.' Sam declared jutting his chin out a little more his green eyes glittering so dark that they looked black.

'Sam if the doctor thinks that it will help you ...'

'Look at it Dad, I may as well have a sign painted on it saying look at the freak.' Sam snapped.

Dean watched the altercation between his sibling and his parent and all he could think of was that this was a snapshot of what was to come with Sam, as he got older. 'Dude and a wheelchair doesn't?' Dean interjected focusing solely on Sam, 'at least you can wear the brace under your clothes.'

'Dean.' Sam turned to face Dean, the glare quickly morphing into a look of pure desolation. 'I don't wanna.'

'I know kiddo but it's better than the alternative.'

'I'll wear it if I don't have to go to school until it comes off.' Sam announced moving his stare to his father's face, almost daring him to argue.

'Sam you are going to have to go back to school.' John ordered but then softened when he saw the tears threatening to spill in Sam's eyes. 'How long does he have to wear the brace?'

'Minimum six weeks.'

'Sam six weeks off school is going to be a lot of missed work.'

'I don't care.'

'Well maybe I do.'

'Doc, Jason come on guys surely there's a way around all of this?' Dean implored the non-family members. 'Sam needs some schooling.'

'I am sorry I really am, but Sam if you do not want to use the brace then it will be the wheelchair.'

'But I was doing okay without it.' Sam pouted.

'Until you got hurt again, Sam you have a lot of pressure on your spine because of the swelling. When they attacked you, they damaged the same area again causing more bruising, now, now after your impromptu walk, the swelling has spread and ... Sam I don't want to alarm you but if you don't wear it or use the chair then we will have to operate to alleviate the pressure. If the swelling continues at the rate it is growing and if it keeps placing undue pressure then you may end up permanently in a wheelchair.'

'I – I could be paralysed for good?' Sam asked his face paling even more. 'No, no surgery.'

'Well what is it to be?'

'The brace.' Sam admitted sullenly, turning his head to look out the window and avoiding the smug looks surrounding him. They may have won this battle but the war was so full on.

'Sam?' Dean finally broke the tense silence, 'they've all gone.'

Sam turned his head back towards the direction of his brother's voice, tears shone in his eyes, 'Dean I'm sorry.'

'Hey kiddo don't worry, I would be pretty pissed off too.' Dean grinned, 'damn it.' He grunted as he tried for a more comfortable position.

'Dean? Dean are you alright?' Sam asked his own problems forgotten when he saw how pale his older brother was becoming.

'Yeah just trying to get comfortable.'

'Dean ... want me to call Dad or someone?'

'No, no I'm fine Sammy, why don't you get some rest?'

'Dean can you um...'

'Can I what kiddo?'

'Tell me a story?' Sam asked with a small smile.

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John paced the small waiting room and tried to calm himself down, they let them out on bail, he couldn't believe it, and they let those punks out on bail.

'John you are going to have to calm down before you end up in hospital yourself with a stroke or worse.'

'Jim they let those little shits out on bail.' John half-wailed, half-yelled, 'they knife Dean and ... and hurt Sammy again and they're out on bail.'

'Apparently that Rick kid is the son of the local sheriff.' Jim said slowly not wanting to enrage his friend any further.

'What?'

'That's why they think they can do what they want; his Dad bails him out all of the time.'

'Damn it Jim, the boys they're not safe here are they?'

'I – I don't think so.' The cleric sighed, 'I wish I could tell you more John I really do.'

'Neither of the boys ... they're not well enough to travel far.' John mumbled collapsing into a chair as though something sapped all of his energy from him.

'John I have more than enough room at my place.' Jim said with a small smile, 'Sam can be transferred to the Blue Earth hospital and Rehab until he is well and Dean will be close by him, you can call it home John as long as you like.'

'Jim I ...'

'Nonsense you and the boys, you're my family and family look after each other.'

'Thanks Jim.'

'Aside from the fact that I think Sam would settle a lot easier away from those bullies.'

'That I can't agree with you more.' John scrubbed at his face and took a deep breath, 'let's go tell em.'

---------------------

'So there was the little squirt aiming a gun too big for him at this funny looking monster, and his cool big brother was running to cover his back, their super-Dad was out for the count but that was okay coz they were on the case. The little squirt took a big breath and squeezed the trigger catching that fugly monster with a load of rock salt giving his cool big brother time to finish it off. Then they rescued super-Dad and were all safe again.'

Sam giggled and smiled tiredly at Dean, 'thanks dude.'

'Ah super-Dad out cold?' John's voice rumbled softly making both boys jump in fright 'seems like I remember that particular story slightly differently.'

'Yeah but it's all in the telling Dad.' Dean smirked when he saw the amusement in his father's eyes. 'What's up old man?'

'Nuff of the old.' John chided him gently and then he sat down on the edge of Sam's bed, and looked at both of the boys silently taking in their individual injuries before he spoke again, 'the police, they ah let Rick Manson and gang out on bail,' he started and then stopped when he felt more than saw Sam's reaction. 'Sammy listen to me, Jim and I were talking and we think that ... that perhaps we should go and stay with him for a while in Blue Earth.'

'We? Does that mean you too Dad?' Sam asked trying to stop himself from shaking.

'Dad?' Dean asked his face so white his freckles stood out even more. 'Dad what else?'

'Nothing Dean, it's just we think that both you and Sam will be safer away from here.'

'But, but that Reaper lady she's still here.' Sam said, 'we have to get rid of her first.'

'Sam?' John and Dean said in unison.

'I-I can feel her she's still here.' Sam said.

'And when were you going to tell me this little bit of information?' John demanded his face darkening with anger, 'damn it Sammy.'

'John.' Jim snapped, 'stop right there.'

'He should have told me immediately Jim, it's not like we haven't got enough to worry about.'

'Dad please don't upset him anymore.' Dean asked quietly staring at his younger brother. Sam laid against his pillows with large tears rolling down his pale face, his eyes wide and glassy and his entire frame shook with tiny tremors.

'I'm sorry Daddy.' Sam wept, 'I'm sorry.'

'Ah damn it Sammy don't cry.' John tried to comfort his ailing son but all he saw was a weak child with a penchant of crying at the drop of a hat.

'You were gone, an', an' Dean was asleep when I felt her come back but, but I didn't see her.' Sam hiccuped between sobs, 'it, it was last night.'

'Sam I ...'

Sam shook his head and turned to stare out the window again as he tried to control the tears and growing fear in the pit of his belly. He could feel Dean's hand on his but he still didn't turn around, he could face them again knowing that he failed his father once more.

John stood up and avoided the accusatory stares from both Dean and Jim, 'I'm ah going to see about getting Sam discharged.'

'Dad don't leave it like this.' Dean said standing up he blocked his father's exit, 'you need to talk.'

'No, no it's alright Dean Sam told me now and that's what's important.' John said trying to make it sound believable.

'Dad?'

'I'll be right back.' John left without another look at Sam, Dean cast a look over at the preacher but Pastor Jim shook his head and shrugged, not knowing how to bridge the divide between John and Sam.

------------------------

John passed the nurses' station and kept walking ignoring the looks and the sound of Sam's doctor calling at him; he had to get out before the walls completely closed in on him. Taking a breath of fresh air he strode over to his truck and got in, roaring off before he decided where he was going.

Pulling into the visitor car park John sat slumped behind his steering wheel and stared out at the expanse of state park in front of him. looking around and making sure that no one saw him, he locked the truck's cabin, armed himself and hurried off on the path he knew so well.

Reaching that cave, he stopped and hesitated before going in; something he couldn't quite place was calling him, leading him back to where the cave in happened, trapping his babies..

The park rangers had shored up the walls and roped off the rear of the cave but John ignored that, walking as though he was in a trance he continued deeper into the cave until he found the spot, sliding into the hole he finally stopped. Sitting amongst the rocks and rubble, he stared down at the brownish stains on some of them, his boys' blood.

'John?' A whispered female voice broke through his trance and he turned tear-filled eyes to the apparition floating above him.

'I salted and burnt you.' He croaked out.

'No John, I am still here, where are they?' the woman shimmered and disappeared only to reappear closer to the hunter, 'where are they?'

'I don't know who you are talking about.'

'I want them John they are so young, so tasty.' She gnashed her teeth together baring fangs, 'you have no idea who I am have you?' she laughed aloud, her terrible gales of laughter causing the rocks to shake and threaten another cave in.

'You are not getting my boys.' John said pulling himself out of his reverie.

'Yes I am, you don't want them, and they are damaged goods.'

'That is not true.' John yelled, 'they are my children and you are not getting ... you you're the Reaper at the hospital aren't you.'

'With you here and I can take both of them yes.' She nodded changing her appearance to resemble the Reaper complete with tears.

'Over my dead body.' John cried out angrily.

'That can be arranged John Winchester.'

John turned and pushed his way through the opening knowing now that it was all a trick to lure him out of the hospital. Dean and Sam needed him and he was gone again. Running blindly down the mountainside John stumbled and fell rolling his ankle painfully but he kept up his berserker rush. A chill set in his bones and he couldn't shake it. He had been well and truly suckered.

-------------------

'You are not taking my brother.' Dean declared standing between the Reaper and Sam's bed, he risked a glance down at Pastor Jim lying unconscious on the floor close to where he was sitting just a few minutes ago.

'Actually I want both of you.' She said conjuring her special tears, 'you are both so tortured and broken now. Mmm so tasty.'

'Stay away from him bitch.' Dean growled he could feel blood running freely down his back and a growing cold spreading across his shoulders.

'Come my children come to me.' she held out her hands to both Dean and Sam.

'No, no get away from him you hag.' Dean yelled fighting the impulse to follow her blindly.

'It is time boys.' She said weeping more tears as she floated over them. One tear splashed on Sam's forehead and he still immediately.

'Sammy no!' Dean cried out but he felt himself falling as another tear fell on his back freezing him. 'Sammy?'

'D-Dee.' Sam tried but he couldn't move his mouth to form the words. Tears fell freely down his face as his terror grew.

'Sh my darlings you will be so happy with me.' She cooed, 'I want you unlike your father.'

'N-n-no.' Dean cried out as he felt the darkness encroaching, he tried to force his unresponsive body into action but he could only watch frozen as the apparition floated closer to Sam.

'Boys?' Jim slurred his head hurt so badly and he was so damned cold. 'Dean? Sam?' Pushing himself up he watched as the Reaper or whatever she is entrance the Winchester brothers, 'No!' he cried out and with his strength waning. 'Get away from them.' Chanting in Latin, he tossed the last of his holy water at the creature, 'get away from them.'

She screeched and bared her teeth as the words started to affect her, 'No!' Her scream echoed through the hospital. 'I will not be denied.'

'Go back to the devil.' Jim hissed as he finished the rite and succeeded to dispel her for now. The ringing of his cell phone made him jump and he squinted at the screen reading John's name.

After a brief shouting match Jim hung up and went over to where Dean still lay so still. 'Dean? Dean son can you hear me?'

'Mmmph Pastor Jim?' Dean blinked and looked around confused.

'Dean I know you have a lot of questions but I need to get you to have Sammy ready to travel. Can you help him with his brace?'

'Yeah, yeah I guess why?'

'You and Sam are coming back to my place, those boys are free again Dean and that Rick Manson's father is the local sheriff.

'Ah shit.'

'Yeah, so get yours and Sam's stuff together, 'we'll take the impala and see if we can meet up with John somewhere.'

'It's all my fault.' Sam whimpered softly.

'No, no Sam it's not your fault.' Dean said, 'that Debbie was playing me and Rick off each other, you just got in the way dude.'

'Dean...'

'Nuhhuh Sammy none of this is your fault.'

'I'm cold Dean, I'm so cold ... where's daddy?'

'We're going to meet him Sammy; can you hang in there for me?'

'Yeah I guess so.' Sammy smiled wanly and let Dean help him into that hated brace. 'Daddy will find us?'

'Yeah squirt Dad will find us.'

'Owkay.' Sam sighed leaning forward resting his face against Dean's shoulder, inhaling his brother's scent, he finally started to feel warm again.

TBC