Dean didn't wake again until late afternoon, but once he woke he managed to eat some jello and had a glass of apple juice. Upon keeping it down, the doctors had given Bobby a list of instructions to care for Dean while he recovered, and Dean had been released into Bobby's care. They were now both sitting beside Sam's bed in rather uncomfortable chairs, but as dinnertime neared, Bobby knew he needed to take the boy to get some real food, but getting the child to leave his brother's side was no doubt going to be a challenge.
"Dean—" He began.
"No." The boy snapped immediately and Bobby sighed. Dean lifted his head to glare at him. "Look, I know what you are going to say, and the answer is no. I'm not leaving Sammy. He's not safe here alone."
There was the protectiveness again. Bobby wondered just how many times John had drilled that into Dean for it to be his first and last thought every moment. He watched Dean for a few moments before he responded. "Dean, none of the attacks happened in a hospital." Seeing the kid's expression, it was obvious that logic wasn't going to be enough. "If you refuse to leave here to eat, the doctors will likely force the two of us from this room. Your health is important to them as well."
After a few long moments, Dean bit his lip slightly. "I'll go to the hospital cafeteria. No farther."
"Alright." Bobby relented. He stood and gestured for Dean to get up as well. The kid did so rather sullenly, but his attitude wasn't important at the moment. Bobby had expected Dean to be much more recalcitrant, but assumed the thought of being banned from his little brother was probably what caused Dean to see the logic in listening. He felt a brief wave of guilt at resorting to that threat, but pushed it away. If it got Dean to eat that was enough.
The two of them walked down to the cafeteria in silence together. When they arrived, Dean immediately reached for foods that he wasn't yet allowed, but upon Bobby's chastising look gave a glower and instead dished himself a bowl of the chicken and rice soup. Bobby got a plate of his own and they claimed a table. "Don't eat fast just to get back to your brother. If you make yourself sick the doctors will be all over you again." He received another scowl and Dean began to eat his soup. Despite himself, Bobby felt a small smile take over his face.
Dean quickly scarfed down his meal at then watched with very clear irritation as Bobby finished his meal at a more sedate pace. As soon as Bobby was finished, Dean was back on his feet and they returned to Sam. After a few minutes of sitting beside the boy, he moved slightly and yawned.
"Dean?" Sam asked quietly, his voice anxious.
"I'm right here, Sammy." It didn't escape Bobby's notice that it was Dean that Sam looked for when distressed, not his father.
After a while longer, Bobby sighed, ready for another fight. It was almost eight o'clock and he was exhausted. The doctors had allowed them to stay longer than normal due to Dean's clear need to see his brother well along with wishing to supervise Dean's first few meals, but now it was time for them to leave for the night.
"I got us a motel room across the street." Bobby said quietly.
"I'm not going."
Bobby sighed. "Dean, that's not an option. You need rest, and visiting hours end in an hour. The doctors are already bending rules by letting you stay so long."
"He'll be alone."
"The doctors will be looking after him and we will be right across the street. It's safe here, Dean. You have to trust that the doctors can help him more than we can."
Dean suddenly stood, bumping a table and causing a pen to clatter to the floor. "If they are helping him so much then why hasn't he gotten any better!" Dean was yelling now. "You said they'd help, but Sam is just as sick as before!" A few nurses came in to see what the noise was about.
Bobby grabbed his shoulders lightly. "Dean. Dean, you have to calm down or they aren't going to let you be with your brother. He needs rest." A glance at Sam showed that the yelling hadn't woken the boy, and that was worrying in itself. Not knowing what else to do, Bobby pulled Dean into a tight hug and held him. Dean struggled at first, trying to get away, but after a few moments he went still and then started crying quietly. Bobby rubbed his back gently and gave an apologetic smile to the nurses. After a few more moments, Bobby moved to hold Dean at an arm's length. Why don't you say goodnight to your brother. We'll come back first thing tomorrow morning to visit, alright?" Dean didn't answer, but pulled away and hovered over his brother for a minute before carefully adjusting his blankets.
"Good night, Sammy." He said softly. Bobby dropped his hand onto the boy's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Deal allowed himself to be led to the motel where he climbed into a bed almost immediately.
"I'll see about getting your stuff tomorrow, alright?" Dean shrugged and buried himself under the covers. With a sigh, Bobby went and showered before getting into the other bed. He fell asleep almost immediately, the previous sleepless night had already caught up with him about three hours earlier. He was not young enough anymore to pull all-nighters without feeling them the next day.
He should have expected that the worst was not behind him. His phone woke him up at 5am, blaring loudly as he fumbled for it and quickly silenced it. It was the hospital. Bobby swore under his breath and looked over at Dean. The boy as curled up facing him and still fast asleep, clearly exhausted still.
"Bobby Singer." He answered quietly. "Is Sam okay?"
There was a moment of hesitation. "His fever got worse overnight. He had a seizure and we've moved him to the ICU."
"A seizure?" Bobby echoed worriedly.
"It's not terribly uncommon in children with fevers as high as his and we don't think you don't need to worry this time. We've got his fever down a little." Bobby looked over at Dean again. The kid was still fast asleep. "Pediatric patients in the ICU are allowed to have their parents with them at all times if you wish. We understand the situation and that you aren't his father, but the exception has been made. It is really good for them to have someone familiar with them when they wake up. He was pretty frightened earlier."
"What about his brother? Dean's twelve, but he's been taking care of Sam for the last three weeks. I can't leave him alone either."
"Give me a minute." Bobby was transferred to call-waiting music and rolled his eyes. About four minutes later the phone clicked. "In this situation, Dean will be allowed to visit, though if he becomes a problem he'll have to leave."
"Understood." Dean looked terribly young to have to deal with all of this. "Is Sam asleep right now? Dean is still out of it, and I'd like for him to get as much rest as possible while he can."
"Sam is sleeping. Seizures usually cause some fatigue afterwards and it would surprise me if he woke up soon. You need to take care of Dean, too. Do whatever you think is best for the boys. Sam isn't in any immediate danger."
"Alright. Thanks." After the call ended, Bobby sighed. This whole trip was becoming worse yet he couldn't bring himself to regret it. The two boys had needed someone, and he had been close by. Now that it was too late to back out, he had to keep taking care of them until…something. Bobby wasn't sure what the end to this would be even if Sam was released. The brothers' father was missing, and a hunter going missing was rather unlikely to be found alive.
It was another two hours before Dean stirred. It was rather earlier than Bobby expected, but Dean yawned and opened his eyes, seemingly startled for a moment before he remembered where he was. The why came an instant later and he sat up. "Can we go see Sammy, now?"
Bobby debated telling Dean right then, but once Dean heard he would be impossible to reason with. "Shower first, and then we are going to take a taxi over to the motel you were staying at to get your clothes." The boy's lips drew into an obstinate pout. "You are dirty." Bobby said calmly. "Please don't argue, Dean."
Five minutes later, the boy was out of the shower, and Bobby was willing to accept that as a success. He called a taxi and soon they were at the motel, loading the boys' things into his truck which was still parked right outside their room. None of Dean's clothes were actually clean, something Bobby hadn't really considered, but he found a relatively clean outfit—maybe only worn once before—and Dean changed into that.
When they were in the truck outside the hospital, Bobby took a deep breath. "Look, kid, I need to tell you something, alright?" Dean glanced up at him warily. "Sam's fever got a bit worse overnight." Dean went pale and Bobby decided to leave off the bit about the seizure until Dean saw his brother. "He's been moved to the Intensive Care Unit, but he's okay for the moment, alright?"
"You should have told me right away!" Dean reached for the car handle, and Bobby grabbed his wrist in a firm grip.
"If I had told you right away you wouldn't have showered or got the rest you needed. Now, an exception is being made for you to be able to stay with Sam, so you have to be on your best behavior. If you yell again or anything like that, they can take away that privilege. Understand?" Dean nodded.
"Now can I see Sam?"
Bobby suppressed a snort at the boy's singlemindedness. "Yeah. Let's go see your brother."
A.N. I just wanted to thank all of you for the reaction that this story has gotten so far here! I'm especially thankful to all of you who have reviewed to let me know what you think. There will definitely be more out soon, and I'm still in deliberation on John's fate. I have two possible story arcs. Your opinions will be noted. Thanks again!