This one isn't quite as long as some of the other chapters, but i felt like it was a good place to end... but Chapter 8 will be up soon! Hopefully... :)

Chapter 7

Dean backed quickly out of the door, a strange glint in his eyes as he glanced up and down the corridor, quickly realising that Sam was nowhere to be seen. This did nothing to improve his mood, and the absence of his brother only seemed to make him angrier. He didn't even know what he was going to say to Sam, though he had a faint idea that it was his fists that were going to be doing the talking. On many occasions he had felt the urge to lay into his brother, though this had simply been a passing fancy, a kind of animalistic impulse that every normal person had. But this was different, even worse than the rage that had taken over Sam back in Rockford. At least in parts, that had been self induced. However, the fury that was eating away at him wasn't his fault and if he had anything to do with it, he'd be incapable of feeling such atrocious anger. He didn't want to be angry at Sam, but at the same time he didn't want to forgive him either.

Sam and Maddie had committed the worst of all sins and no matter how hard they tried, he'd never be able to forgive them. Out of the two of them, it was Sam's betrayal that hurt him the most. Maddie, he could almost understand. She was his girlfriend, but he didn't own her. She had always been independent and even though he'd secretly called her "his", he'd never truly believed it. Not that he'd ever forgive her, as cheating was bad enough, but cheating with his own brother was inexcusable. But Sam? Sam was his own flesh and blood, and he'd slept with the person Dean had loved the most. Even if there wasn't another life involved, he didn't think he'd ever be able to forgive either of them. Course he'd still love them, you couldn't simply give and take love like that, but he'd never feel quite the same about either of them.

He thought the grief over his father's death would be the worst he'd ever feel, but that was nothing compared to this. He was livid yet utterly distraught at the same time. Focusing on how furious he was at both of them took his attention away from how broken up he was about everything. Finding out that he was going to be a father, and then being told that it might be his brother's was too much to bear. The more he thought about it, the more he hated them. It wasn't so much the cheating that made him hate them, it was the fact that they'd broken his heart. They'd affected him much more than he'd be willing to admit out loud, and this was what kept him going. All he wanted to do was find Sam and let out some of his anger. Maybe then it'd make up for having his heart ripped out.

He shook his head, as though trying to rid himself of these thoughts. Trying his hardest to push them aside, he made his way towards the hospital exit where he knew he'd find his brother. He paused as he reached the automatic doors, breathing deeply as he hovered just in front of the sensor. Everywhere around him, people were rushing about and lounging around on chairs, not noticing the distressed young man lingering at the front of the foyer. Those who did notice him, didn't think him worthy of a second glance, simply another shell shocked relative of the injured. All except a young girl, no older than five, who was sat playing with her teddy bear as her mother read a health magazine. She stared intently at him, frowning as he began to play with something around his neck. "Mommy, that man doesn't look too good."

Her mother looked up from her magazine and followed her daughter's gaze. "No honey, he doesn't."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know sweetheart. Maybe like the rest of us in here, he's had some bad news."

"You mean like us and Daddy?"

Her mother paused for a second, lip quivering and her eyes sparkling. "Yes, honey."

"I bet he doesn't feel too good either then." The girl gazed at him for a while longer, messing with the arms on her teddy bear with an concentrated look at on her face. Then as though she'd made her mind up, she slid off her seat, leaving her mother immersed in her magazine.

Still standing in the foyer, Dean jumped as he felt something pulling at the bottom of his jacket. Looking down, he noticed a young girl with flame red hair tugging lightly with one hand, whilst holding a battered old teddy bear in the other. "Mister, you look sad."

He smiled at her, crouching down so that he was level with her. "Well little lady, you might just be right. And who might you be?"

"I'm Jennie, I'm here visiting someone… So, why are you sad?" She asked inquisitively, hugging her teddy to her chest. When he didn't respond, instead looking pensively off into the distance, she waved her hand in front of his face. "I can keep a secret, you know."

He laughed, flashing her his wicked grin. "I don't doubt that... Do you really want to know?" He asked, motioning her to forwards when she nodded. "Well I just found out some devastating news, and now I have to go and confront one of the people involved."

She nodded, and he wouldn't have been the slightest bit surprised if she actually understood what he meant. "The same thing happened to us and my Dad."

"What happened to your Dad, sweetie?" He asked, glancing from her to her mother, who was now leaning back against her chair with her eyes closed and a troubled expression on her face.

"He got sick. He woke up one day and didn't feel too good. And yesterday he collapsed." She hugged her teddy even tighter, and Dean could see bits of stuffing poking out of the seams.

"Oh honey I'm sorry. Is he going to be okay?"

She shook her head, looking solemnly up at him with big, round eyes. "My mommy told me he's going to be okay, but that's not what the doctors said. I heard them talking."

He ruffled her hair, smiling remorsefully at her. "Can't get much past you, can they?" He laughed as she nodded and grinned at him, amazed at how quickly children could deal with things. If only us adults could do that, he thought, frowning as his mind tried to drift back onto Sam and Maddie. "So, who's this then?" He asked, touching her teddy's paw.

"Oh, this is Paddy. He looks after me." She replied, holding out Paddy's paw.

"Well I should think so." He grabbed Paddy's paw, and shook it. "It's very nice to meet you Paddy, my name's Dean."

"Do you wanna hold him?" She asked, tipping her head to the side and looking at him inquisitively. "It helps. He made me feel better when I found about my Daddy." She held him out and reluctantly, Dean took hold of the bear, holding him out at arm's length.

"You sure about this?" He asked, eyeing Paddy suspiciously.

"Sure, he doesn't bite."

Still eyeing Paddy warily, Dean gave him a quick bear hug, which isn't as impossible as it sounds, before handing him back to a delighted Jennie.

"Do you feel better?" She asked, beaming at him.

"You know what, I actually do." He replied sincerely. He didn't know what it was, whether it had been the bear or simply talking to someone with an unbiased view on life, but he did feel better. He still wanted to knock Sam's lights out, but he now knew that despite everything, this wasn't the end of the world. If a girl as young as Jennie could accept that her Dad was dying, surely he could accept something like this?

"Good, I told you so." She replied cheekily, grinning up at him.

"You sure did, smart ass aren't you?" He responded, laughing as she looked at him in disgust.

"You really shouldn't swear, Paddy doesn't like it." She frowned at him, putting her hands over the bear's ears. "Anyway, I'm going to go see my Daddy now. I hope everything turns out okay for you, Mister." She turned to go and then paused before virtually jumping on him, giving him a comforting hug.

"You too, sweetheart." He whispered into her ear, watching her as she dragged Paddy back to her mom.

As well as making him feel a little better, Jennie's visit had given him something else to think about. He'd never even given children a second thought before now, but after finding out he could be a father and after talking to Jennie, the idea had never appealed more to him. When they were kids, he'd spend most of his days looking after Sam and he never realised how much this affected him until now. Even though he wasn't known for his modesty, especially when it came to his looks, he hated to admit that he could turn out to be a good father, considering the experience he'd had with Sam. And of course with Lucas and Jennie.

Standing in front of the automatic doors, Dean finally came to a decision. No matter what happens between him, Maddie and Sam, if the baby was his, then he'd be a proper father to it. He could hate Maddie all he wanted, but he couldn't take his feelings out on an innocent child. Assuming the baby was his of course. If it was Sam's, then he honestly couldn't care less. They might be his flesh and blood, but he really didn't know if he could live around the people that had broken up his longest ever relationship. Plus he didn't know whether he'd be able to cope, watching Sam and Maddie with a child that should and could have been his. That'd be too much to take, and he'd rather be alone that have to put up with that kind of emotional torment.

For the first time today, Dean felt immensely satisfied, finally realising that despite how he felt now, this wasn't the end of the world. Course it'd take time for him to really accept what had happened, and he'd never fully forget what had happened… who would? But he now knew that no matter how furious and upset he felt now, it'd get better in the end.

With this in mind, he finally walked out of the foyer into the bright afternoon sunshine. Squinting and shading his eyes, he glanced to his left and noticed Sam sitting on a bench, head in his hands. Dean felt a small twinge when he noticed how helpless Sam looked, yet forced himself to ignore this as he walked over and prepared himself for what could be a full on war.

"Guilty conscience?" He asked, revelling in Sam's stunned expression.

"Why would I?" Sam replied, standing up and folding his arms defensively across his chest.

"Maddie woke up."

"Wow, Dean, that's great!" Sam exclaimed, moving as if to hug his brother, but Dean shoved him roughly away, earning himself a hurt and bewildered look. "What's your problem?"

"My problem? What do you think my problem is, Sam?" Dean spat, advancing on his brother, who stepped back cautiously. "Maddie told me everything."

"Everything?" Sam replied, biting his lip nervously and glancing side to side.

"Yes, Sam, everything."

Sam hesitated for a second, twitching nervously, and Dean could almost hear the cogs turning. "Dean, I'm sorry, I really am. I never meant for anything to happen, I swear! I'm so sorry!"

"So you should be." Dean looked furiously at Sam for a moment and he must have seen something in his brother's eyes, as all of the anger that had been eating away at him finally became too much to bear and he sent Sam flying to the ground.

"Dean, what are you doing?" Sam spluttered, wiping the blood from his nose.

"Making myself feel better." Dean replied, bending down and pulling Sam up by his jacket, bringing their faces together so that their noses were almost touching. He faltered for a moment, as though he was about to say something. But then everything Jennie and Maddie had said came flooding back to him, and he brought his and Sam's foreheads together with a sickening crack. Both of them stumbled and Dean let go of Sam, who collapsed back onto the floor.

Dean grimaced, gingerly touching his forehead as he staggered over towards Sam. "Why aren't you fighting back?"

"Because I deserve it." Sam muttered through clenched teeth, nursing his head in his hands.

"Damn right you do." Dean threw back, regaining his balance and landing a sharp kick to Sam's ribs, taking great pleasure in the harsh gasp that escaped his brother's lips. "Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me, Sammy?"

"No, but I can guess." Sam wheezed, taking in short, fast breaths as he tried to sit up. "Dean, you know I never meant to hurt you. That's the last thing I wanted to do!"

"Oh yeah, then what about the incident in Rockford, Sam? You didn't mind hurting me then!"

Sam looked up at him in disbelief, snorting and laughing despite the amount of pain he was in. "That was different, and you know it. I never would have even thought of hurting you if it hadn't been for Ellicott."

"Oh really?" Dean snapped, pulling Sam to his feet again. "So the fact that sleeping with Maddie would be the best way to get back at me, never crossed your mind?"

"Not at all." Sam replied, now looking at his brother in utter disgust. "I'd never do something that spiteful, and you know it. I love her-"

"Oh spare me. Just shut up, Sam. I can't trust a word you say anymore!" It was as though something in him had just suddenly snapped, and the rest of his pent up aggression came bursting out of him at the mention of the word "love". He knocked Sam to the ground again, this time not giving him chance to get up and fight back, instead laying into him with a frenzied barrage of kicks and punches.

If anyone had been walking past, all they would have seen was a brutal and violent attack on a seemingly innocent victim. Yet in Dean's eyes, it was a just and fair punishment for tearing his world apart, and at the moment, he didn't regret a thing. Now he finally let up and stood back from his brother, tears in his eyes as he stood there transfixed. Then he headed out towards the car park and his beloved car, leaving Sam lying bloodied and motionless on the floor.