Disclaimer: Supernatural and all its characters belong to Kripke and the CW. I own nothing.
Previously on Supernatural- Pushing the glasses back up on his nose the physician took a deep breath. "Dean, I'm afraid I have some bad news."
SPN
Dean grabbed onto the handle of Bobby's wheelchair to steady himself. This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to leave the hospital. Bad things always happened when he and Sam were separated. Swallowing back the lump in his throat the older brother shakily asked, "What is it, doc? What's wrong?"
Dr. Walters nervously clutched the clipboard in his hands as he worked out the best way to deliver the news. Hoping to prevent having an irate older brother on his hands he decided to begin with an apology. "Mr. Winchester, let me start by apologizing on behalf of myself and my staff. I want you to know that the nurse only had your best interests at heart. She wouldn't have…"
"For crying out loud, would you just spit it out already!" Bobby shouted slamming his hand down on his knee.
"Yes, yes of course" the doctor hastily replied taking an unconscious step back from the angered hunter. "Okay, as you know the nurses all had instructions to call you when Sam was brought back to his room." He waited for the family to nod before continuing. "Well, when Sam was brought back to his room earlier, he was sleeping. The head nurse knew that you hadn't been gone long and that you were all exhausted and she decided that she'd wait a couple of hours to call you. She didn't think…"
"Sammy's been back in his room for TWO HOURS!" Dean growled voice rising with each word.
"Yes, Mr. Winchester" Dr. Walters agreed. "As I said Sam was sleeping and she didn't think he'd wake up. She thought you could get a little more sleep and he wouldn't be any the wiser."
"But" Bobby prodded motioning for the doctor to get on with it.
"But Sam woke up sometime in the last hour. When Nurse Hilda took him his dinner, he was totally unresponsive to her. And he's been that way ever since." The physician explained sidestepping as Dean barreled past him and into his younger brother's room. Turning to his patient's aunt and uncle he softly said, "The nurse was just trying to look out for you folks. She treats all her patients and their families like they're her own. She'd never intentionally harm anyone. Please tell Dean that. I'm having a cot brought into Sam's room and advising the staff that you are allowed to stay 24/7 until Sam is ready to be released. I'm so sorry about all of this. Hilda really thought she was doing the right thing for all of you."
"Tell that to Sam, doctor" Ellen gruffly told the man as she followed Bobby into Sam's room. Closing the door behind her she silently walked over to the couch and took a seat. Tears filled her eyes as she watched Dean sit on the bed, gently pull his little brother up to rest against his chest, and slowly begin to rock.
"Hey Sammy, what's this I hear about you not talking, huh?" Dean whispered as he carded a hand through his sibling's hair. "I thought I taught you better than that bro. Didn't I teach you to be nice to the ladies, kiddo? Remember, you were four, I think, and you ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. You were so sick that time and the meds and treatments they were giving you were making you feel even worse. After a day or so, you cried every time you saw a nurse come in. Remember, what I told you, Sammy?"
Sam sat curled into a ball in a corner of the cold, dark room. Forehead on knees that were pulled up to his chest he rocked back and forth repeating the same two words over and over. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" he chanted pausing as a familiar voice penetrated the fog engulfing the room. 'Sammy…taught you…kiddo' "Dean" he hopefully whispered. He perked up at the thought of his big brother only to deflate again a moment later as a little voice reminded him that Dean had left him; that he didn't want to be his big brother anymore. Throwing his hands over his ears Sam huddled farther into his corner willing the voice to stop taunting him.
But the voice didn't stop. It droned on recounting memory after memory of their childhood. Happy, sad, or even scary; it didn't seem to make a difference. The soothing voice related them all becoming louder and more clear with each new story. And as the voice spoke pictures began appearing on the walls. Starting on either side of the closed door the framed snapshots of their youth soon filled the two walls. They then started decorating the two side walls.
Sam sat enthralled by the voice and the memories. He slowly stopped his rocking and removed his hands wanting, needing to hear his brother's calm voice. He let the memories wash over him filling his soul with an unconditional love that he hadn't felt in a very long time. For the first time in months Sam felt the strong bond connecting him and Dean. The bond he had thought was gone for good only grew stronger as memories of happier times continued to flow over and through him. Sam wanted to stay here in the warmth of his big brother's love forever.
He gazed contentedly at the pictures on the walls frowning as their appearances seemed to be slowing down. It was then that he noticed the voice had changed; it was getting lower and the once calm voice was now cracking with emotion. Panicking at the thought of losing his last connection to his brother Sam uncurled and quickly stood. He couldn't lose the voice, not now. He took an unsteady step towards the door willing the voice to rise once more. Hearing it weaken instead the youngest Winchester practically flew across the room. He reached a trembling hand to the door handle before stopping unsure of what to do. He stared apprehensively at the door shaking his head in disbelief as his brother's quiet voice suddenly stopped. Sam waited for a few seconds hoping that the voice would begin again only to be crushed as silence reigned. Unwilling to lose his last connection to Dean the littlest Winchester jumped into action. Grabbing the handle he threw the door opened and walked into the light.