"I wonder where Ian is," Sam said with a grin as he began sleuthing through the bunker. They were playing hide-and-go-seek, and Sam was currently 'it'.

Dean and Ian were hiding together, crouched beside one of the cars in the garage. Ian was so excited, he was clinging to Dean and barely containing his giggling.

"Shhh," Dean whispered as he smiled. "He'll find us!" Ian slapped a hand over his mouth in attempt to mute himself. Dean could hear Sam's footsteps enter the large room.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Sam said as he walked through. Dean could see him now, and he scooted them lower to the ground. He watched Sam's boots pass in front of the car they were now behind. Ian's little hand came up to cover Dean's mouth now, and Dean had to hold in a laugh of his own. He watched Sam's boots stop and turn back around. "I wonder where they could be," he said, and Ian started to squeal. "Aha! Found you!" Sam said, having jumped into view. "That means you're it, Dean!"

Suddenly Sam was small. He was his younger self, Ian's age and as excited about the game as the other boy was. Ian took Sam's hand as they ran off together, laughing as Dean watched them go. Dean smiled widely and stood up from the floor. It was good to see Sam like this, happy and oblivious and enjoying something.

Dean covered his eyes and began counting out loud up to ten. "Ready or not, here I come!" he yelled and then uncovered his eyes just in time to see a little sneaker disappear through a doorway. He grinned slyly and quickly followed after it. "Oh Iaaann...where arrrre you?" he called out as he walked through the halls. "Little Saaaammyyyy, I'm gonna fiiiind yoooou!"

Dean rounded his way into the library, following the sound of what had started out as giggling. The closer he got, however, it began to sound more and more like crying. Up ahead, as he passed a bookcase and could see beyond it, he saw the boys on the floor hovering over someone. They were both crying, trying to shake the man awake.

"What happened?" Dean asked, rushing over to them. But they didn't answer. They didn't even seem to have heard him. That's when Dean realized the body on the floor was himself. It was Dean lying unconscious beneath the boys who were desperately trying to wake him.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, guys. I'm right here! I'm okay," he tried to assure them.

"Dean, wake up!" Sam cried, his little hand going to his brother's face. "Please! I need you, Dean! I love you! Please!"

"Sammy..." He wanted nothing more than to swoop him up in his arms and make those tears go away, but suddenly he couldn't move. His arms refused to reach out.

"Dean, please please...please wake up," Sam cried, his voice seeming to get deeper.

"You gotta wake up, man. I can't leave you here like this. I won't. Please..." Sam's voice was clear now. His normal adult voice, Dean realized as he struggled to open his eyes.

"Sammy?" Damn his throat was dry and sore as hell. Why the hell was it so hard to open his eyes? He suddenly felt big, warm hands on his arm, one grasping onto his hand.

"Dean! Dean, can you hear me?"

"'course I c'n-" his response was cut short when the hoarseness in his throat forced him to start coughing. He couldn't quite comprehend what his brother was saying over his own panic at the pain that erupted in his gut and chest as he couldn't seem to stop the coughing. But he did feel the head of the bed raising up.

"Hey! C'mon, Dean, breathe, man! Try and take a drink," he pleaded, and Dean was able to open his eyes to see a small cup being held in front of him. He reached up, grabbing Sam's hands when Sam didn't just hand the cup over. He drank eagerly until the water was gone.

"More," Dean demanded.

"Okay, but...slow down, okay? I don't want you to choke on it."

"Who are you, my mother?" Sam didn't reply as he refilled the cup. "Oh god I feel like there's an elephant sitting on me. What the hell..."

"Dean," Sam began as he handed him the cup now. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Dean considered the question as he drank the water. He finished half of it and handed it back to Sam. "I vaguely...remember you bringin' me here," he replied. He watched Sam nod in thought. "How long've I been here?"

Sam met his eyes again. "A few days," he said, and it dawned on Dean in that moment that Sam looked like crap. "They took the tube out yesterday. Lowered the pain meds in hopes you might wake up. Took you damn long enough."

"Yeah. Sorry I didn't get the memo. Where's my pants?" He looked around the room.

"You don't need your pants right now."

"'course I do. Gotta get outta here. Been here too long already," he said as he tried to sit up fully. The heart monitor next to the bed started beeping a bit faster, and Dean put a hand on his chest, suddenly completely out of breath, his vision swimming in from of him. "What the hell..."

"Dean, you gotta lay back down!" Sam insisted, pushing Dean's shoulders so he'd comply. He went pretty easily.

"Holy crap," he said, still trying to get his breath back. "I haven't felt this kinda messed up in...well damn, it was like ten years ago, wasn't it? The reverend and the trapped reaper?"

"Twelve. Actually almost thirteen years ago actually," Sam corrected. "And that's probably because your heart stopped a couple of times."

"What?"

"You went into arrest twice on the operating table," Sam told him, and Dean could see the wetness in his eyes now. "You almost died, Dean. So don't think you're getting out of here so soon. Not today."

"Hey," Dean defended, trying to remain sympathetic but also make a bit light of the situation so his brother would relax. "I didn't exactly sign up for that. I didn't know I was that bad off, so stop being mad at me."

"I'm not—Jesus, Dean, I'm not mad at you. I just want you to take it easy. For real this time. No shortcuts and no hiding anything from me. I c-" he paused abruptly in his confession, biting his lip. Dean could sense the pain in his brother's demeanor with every little movement he made. "I can't watch that happen again."

Dean reached out and grabbed Sam's hand, making him meet his eyes. "I'll be good. I promise, okay? I'll do whatever you want me to do, and I'll even try not to complain about it."

"Now that's a flat out lie," Sam said with a small grin. Dean smiled back.

"Yer right. I'll try to try, though. I mean it." Sam shook his head, but the smile stayed.

"Thanks," Sam said.

"For what?"

"For waking up."

*~.~*

Dean lasted two more days before insisting on getting the hell outta there. Sam agreed once he got Dean to compromise by spending a couple of days in the spare room at Garth's place. Dean figured that'd be more comfortable than being on a bumpy road for nine hours just yet. He could handle a couple more days of rest, as long as it wasn't in the hospital with the nurses poking and prodding every half hour. Besides, he wouldn't mind seeing Ian for a bit after all.

Jody had been staying over there since she'd arrived in Grantsburg. Now that Dean was leaving the hospital, she felt like it was now okay to head back home. She did have a job, after all. She and Ian had spent the last few hours preparing the room for Sam and Dean so they'd be comfortable, even though sharing...as if they hadn't been doing that their whole lives. At least the bed was big. Garth's wife had brought in fresh towels and set them on the dresser. Garth had been busy cooking something that Dean would be both allowed to eat and also enjoy.

Jody's Target shopping bag sat near the door with the few shirts and jeans she'd bought after that first day. At least she'd be flying all the way this time. On a commercial plane, of course. Her flight wasn't until this evening, so she intended to dote on the brother's as much as possible until she had to leave.

"I see the car pulling up the road," Garth warned from across the house.

"Okay Ian," Jody said as she knelt down in front of him. "Do you have the pictures you made for Dean in your room?" Ian nodded with a big grin. "Why don't you go get them and bring them in here so he can see them." Ian spun and headed upstairs toward his room. Jody smiled after him, then made her way to the living room, seeing Sam help Dean out of his side of the car. Poor kid still seemed barely able to carry himself upright. She wondered if Dean would ever be able to return to hunting. Then she quickly shoved that thought out the window because this was Dean and if there was a way, he would find it.

*~.~*

"This sucks," Dean said as he fought to get his breath when Sam helped him sit on the bed.

"I know it does," Sam replied sympathetically. "But you're getting stronger every day. That was your farthest walk yet."

"Dean!" a little voice sounded in the doorway, and Sam turned so they could both see Ian standing there, a pile of papers in his hands. Garth was just behind him with wide eyes.

"He's talking now?" Sam questioned with a smile.

"First thing he's said!" Garth replied as the boy ran up to Dean, crawling up onto the bed and then giving him a careful hug.

"Hey, buddy!" Dean said, doing his best to hug the kid back. "I missed ya."

"Me too."

"Whatcha got there?" Dean pointed to the papers he'd set on the bed beside him. Ian picked them up and handed them to Dean. "Did you make these?" he asked, looking over each one carefully.

"Uh huh. They're for you."

"Wow. These are real good, Ian. Thank you."

"Come on, little man," Garth reached out to take the boy's hand. "Let's give Dean some time to get settled, huh? You can help me finish dinner." Ian scooted off the bed and followed Garth outta the room.

Sam sat down beside Dean and looked at the pictures with him for a moment. Dean seemed to have gotten his breath back, thankfully.

"You used to make me pictures like this when you were little," Dean said with a small grin.

"Well you were my hero," Sam said with a shrug. "Still are."

"Ya big girl," Dean said, looking at him with a big smile. "Why don't you make me pictures anymore, Sammy?"

"Because you started calling me a girl when I did, jerk."

"That was dad, I thought."

"Oh yeah..."

"I bet if we looked hard enough, there's still some of 'em at Bobby's."

"Hey, if you want me to draw you a picture, just ask!"

"How about I draw you one," Dean replied, then flipped him the bird, a goofy grin on his face.

"Real mature," Sam said with a laugh.

"That's definitely what I was aiming for." Dean laid a hand on his chest, looking a little uncomfortable.

Sam's amusement was swiftly replaced with concern. "Here," he said as he picked up the papers and laid them on the side table. "You should be lying down." Jody had already piled up the pillows for him to be comfortable and inclined. Sam just had to help him all the way into the bed. "Jody's getting your meds ready. It's time to take some of them."

"You don't have to start fussing already," Dean said as he settled back on the pillows. His eyes were already feeling heavy.

"I'll fuss if I want. I have to because you're a big stubborn jerk."

"At least I ain't a bitch."

Sam laughed as he pulled the blanket up to Dean's torso. "I want you to know that if you weren't sick right now, I'd be holding that pillow over your face."

"Oh a joke about killing me! Excellent taste, Sam. Truly. It's definitely not too soon."

"Shuddup," Sam joked, smacking his arm. "Or I'll find the closest burrito place."

"Hell no! You are not staying in this bed after a burrito!"

"I guess that's up to you, huh?"

Dean clamped his mouth closed. "Fine. You win."

*~.~*

AN: Ehhh I think I'm ending it here. I mean, I could go on and do a recovery chapter or two, but...meh...

~Fin~