Bobby pushed the door open and stepped quietly into the room, his eyes immediately going to the boy in the bed.

He looked amazing.

Bobby had been expecting bandages and black eyes, but instead, it just looked as though Dean was sleeping peacefully. There wasn't a visible mark on him. If it wasn't for the tube trailing out of his mouth, there'd be no indication that anything was ever wrong.

The nurse looked up and smiled. "You must be the uncle. That was perfect timing. They just wheeled him back up from surgery."

Bobby nodded, approaching with his hat in his hand. "How's he doin'?"

She smiled again, as she positioned the pillows to make Dean more comfortable. "He's doing amazingly well, actually. I can't really give you specifics, but I'll ask the surgeon to stop by before he leaves to fill you in."

"When will he wake up?"

"He's on some pretty strong pain relievers right now. So I wouldn't expect too much until late tomorrow at the earliest."

"He's going to be okay though, right?"

She nodded. "It looks real good. He's young and strong."

Bobby moved to the bed and stood looking down at the boy he thought of as his own. "Has his brother been by?"

"You mean Sam." She grinned, saying it as a statement and not a question. "Up until last night, we couldn't peel him away. He sure thinks the world of his brother, doesn't he? It makes you feel good to see such a young kid that concerned about a family member. He hardly ever left the room."

"That'd be him. So you haven't seen him since last night?"

She shook her head, gathering her tray together. "Said he had to go to work but that you'd be arriving at any time. I think he left you a note though, over there." She nodded to two envelopes positioned in full view in the window well.

Bobby frowned. That was odd, why the Sam Hill would he leave a note. He knew they would be seeing each other sooner than later. But the old hunter sighed and picked up the envelope with his name on it. Ignoring the one addressed to Dean. His mouth fell open as he read:

Bobby,

I'm sorry I couldn't be here and that you have to pick up Dad's slack yet again. Thanks for dropping everything and just coming, Bobby. I don't know what I'd have done if I hadn't been able to get hold of you either.

By the time you read this, I'll be at my job as a greenhorn on a local crab boat. It's a four-week boat is called Brown-Eyed Girl, and the captain is Jayjay Yazzi. We departed from Dutch Harbor early this morning, heading out into the Bering Sea.

It was the only thing I could find in a pinch, and it pays enough to make the finance woman happy so that they would schedule Dean's surgery. Until I brought her a copy of the contract, she refused to let the hospital treat him. She was going to make them wake him up and make him fly back to Sioux Falls in terrible pain. I'm pretty sure there's a special place in Hell for her.

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. The part that I hate is being away from Dean when he needs me so much. And I hate that you got pulled into the Winchester drama yet again. I don't know why you put up with us really.

I never was able to reach Dad or Jonesy. I'd worry about them, but after everything that Dean is going through, I don't have the time or the energy to worry about Dad and his baggage.

I'll call as soon as I'm able. If you don't hear from me for awhile, don't worry. The captain is a real nice guy, and so is his crew. Nothing bad is going to happen to me.

I wrote Dean a note too - one without all the drama. Please see that he gets it when he's able, and let him know that there's no way I wouldn't be there with him through this unless there was no other way.

Take care, Bobby. I love you, man. And thanks for being there for Dean, for both of us.

Sam

"Balls!" Bobby swore, crumpling the letter into a tight ball. The nurse had left minutes ago, and only Dean was there when the older man's eyes welled up. "John, you bastard. You damn well better be dead." He fished out his phone and dialed Sam's number, but the call went to voicemail. He left his message.

"Sam, Dean is gonna kick your ass when he wakes up. And when he's done, I get my turn. I know you had to do something fast, but a freakin' crab boat in the middle of the freakin' Bering Sea ain't it, ya idjit. Take care of yourself, boy, and when I see that useless father of yours, I'm kickin' his ass twice.

I ain't kiddin', Sam. Crabbing ain't a life for just anyone. You watch your six, boy. Cause if your butt ain't back on that dock with the first delivery, Dean'll flip out. You know your brother, and you know I ain't lying, so get yourself back here, kid. Safely."

The older man sighed as he settled himself into the uncomfortable chair beside the bed. His eyes drew to the window where the sun was just setting in a blaze of fire. "Red sky at night …" He murmured, twisting his already abused hat into oblivion.