AN: Have to give thanks to SciFiRN, you have been a wonderful help on this story. Don't own, I'm only borrowing them for awhile, but James is all mine. Hope you enjoy more to come. Read and Review.

John sat outside Bobby's waiting for them to return, hoping he wasn't asking for a bullet only knowing that he had to make it right with his boys and Bobby.

His phone rang and seeing it was Bobby, he picked it up. "Where are you?"

"John, we went to check to make sure Dean was okay, but…"

"But what?" John interrupted, asked not letting Bobby finished as he heading back to his truck.

"Dean went into shock, John. We lost him for a minute, but he's back and stable for the moment. They have him on a breathing machine right now and they're talking about surgery and internal bleeding." Bobby took a shaky breath and continued, "I'm on my way back to the hospital and I'll be there in a few. I do believe that you should be there for Dean, even if I do still think this is your fault, but let me talk to Sam before you come in. I don't want a scene." He said making sure John still knew his feelings.

"I'm on my way and thank you, Bobby." John ended the call and started the truck.

John arrived before Bobby had a chance to talk to Sam . Holding up a hand, Bobby held John at the door.

"Give me a minute I just got here myself." He said softly and then went in to talk with Sam. "Sam, I think your Dad deserves to see Dean. Remember, I'm on your side in this. Your dad messed up, but he still loves you…he's just too damn stubborn to know how to show it."

Sam looked up at Bobby and shook his head, "I called, the stupid line was busy." Sam's voice was angry. "He's too busy; probably trying to find a hunt. Bobby, I want Dean to wake up and I want my big brother back. I can't stand seeing him like this. Why won't he wake up, Bobby?" Sam's voice quaked and it killed Bobby to see the younger Winchester in tears.

"Son, your dad isn't trying to find a hunt, he's here. I had to tell him Dean's worse than he was earlier." Bobby said. "If you don't want to be here you can sit outside."

"No," Sam's chin raised stubbornly, "I'm not leavin' Dean. If he wakes up and I'm not here he might panic." Sam wiped tears on his sleeve. "As long as Dad doesn't talk to me then I'm fine."

Bobby left and told John he could come in on the condition, he didn't speak to Sam. John entered, pulled up a chair and sat beside Dean.



"You and Sammy were right Dean, it was my fault and now you can't breathe on your own." He whispered softly to his son, "I wish it was me on this bed and not you." He cleared his throat and continued. "I promise you that I'll do my best to keep you safe…to never put you in this much danger again."

Sam stared at his dad, but he was still angry,

"Dad…" He started, but was interrupted when James came into the room.

"Hi, um Mr. Winchester." He said a little uneasy because he knew that Dean and Sam hadn't wanted him there.

"We said he could stay long as he didn't do anything to distress us." Sam said motioning to Bobby, reassuring the doctor.

The doctor nodded, uneasily, "Okay, as I said earlier, Dean's left lung collapsed. One of his broken ribs must have punctured his lung. It most likely happened when he was moving around so much today. The leak became so bad that the pressure built up and his heart and other lung couldn't handle the strain. The panic attack he had didn't help matters either."

James paused and looked from John, to Bobby and even to Sam, "He needs immediate surgery. We're going to insert a valve and tap the lung to get the fluid out other wise could die. Do you have any questions?" When no one spoke he continued, "Someone will be here shortly to take Dean up for surgery."

Sam looked like he was about to be sick and took off out the room heading to a bathroom. "Bobby could you…?" John started too asked, but Bobby was up and out the door after Sam before he could finish the sentence.

John sat for few seconds before he walked over to Dean's side and leaned over the bed. "I'm so sorry Dean," he said, giving his son's forehead a kiss and running his hand over Dean's hair as his tears fell freely onto Dean's unconscious form. "I should have never put you in that much danger, and I don't blame you for not wanting me around, but I'm not leaving until you wake up. Then, if you want me to, I will… but I want go far.".

Just then, Bobby and Sam came back.

John turned, not wanting them to see his tears. Sam went to Dean and wrapped his arms around him, as best he could. "I'm not leaving you, Dean," he said quietly, brushing away his own tears.

Bobby watched the scene and knew that Sam would keep that promise. When the doctor and nurse came back, Sam asked him if he could go with them to be with Dean.

James knowing that Dean and Sam were close smiled. "I can let you in if you promise me that you won't do anything, unless we tell you to and that you'll stay where we ask you to sit."

"I promise." Sam answered glancing down at his brother, "I can't leave him alone again." Sam took Dean's hand.



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It was a good three hours before Dean was back in the room he'd first been in. This time a tube was in place on the left side of his chest attached to suction that constantly pulled the air and fluid from Dean's chest cavity, allowing the injured lung to expand and heal.

James had put off doing much else, though he had placed a better cast on Dean's wrist and even let Sam sign it like he'd asked.

John and Bobby had been dozing, but as hunters they were awake at the first sound

James said he would return shortly to talk to them, and that it would be a while before he woke up from the anesthesia.

Sam sat down in the chair he'd been in earlier. He was exhausted and it was nearing midnight, he knew that he needed to get some sleep. It had been one long day and the next few days would be longer. He curled up and eventually fell asleep.