Disclaimer:Don't own the boys or their story, but I wish I did! =)

I am truely sorry for all the confusion on this chapter, but I wanted everyone to be happy with me. So here it and I cleared things up and made some changes... review as you like but I'm not changing anything again, even if it doesn't make sense. lol Enjoy! =)


Chapter Nine

"What Bad News?"

"No Sammy! No!" John yelled at his boy, anger coming through him from many directions, but none of those angles were coming from hatred towards his son. Hatred towards the stupid ghost who's after his boy, hatred at the stupid argument that night before the stupid accident, hatred for being so careless while driving, and even hatred at that stupid couple for being even more careless, but mostly hatred for himself for letting Sam to believe that he could ever be useless to him.

John quickly collected himself as he thought about how his words may come off to Sam bt he couldn't think of anything else to say. "No Sammy," He said more calmly, letting his thumb run against his cheeks. "No." John kept stating, not sure of what to say to him to make him feel better. He's never been in a situation like this. How could Sam ever think like that? Useless? Sam was everything but.

But John was happy. His boy was awake and alive! Why couldn't Sam see that he was happy? John wanted to smile and tell him that everything was going to be ok but for some reason he couldn't and not all John wanted to to was hunt something.

The doctor's words ran through his head, "he may have no feeling from his waist down. He can come out of that, but it's all up to Sam" Even with everything that changed, could it still be possible? John stared at his son who continued to cry but looked determined to stop. John wanted more then anything to continue encouraging him, but he couldn't give Sam false hope could he? He just had to wait and ask the doctor.

~D~S~

Dr. Jameson was making his usually rounds when a very tired looking and out of breath Dean came running down the hallway towards him at full speed.

"Dean, you should be off that leg," He told the young man when he finally reached him, clearly out of breath but the pain seemed irrelevant.

"Enough about me Doc," Dean snapped at him. "It's Sam!" He yelled grabbing Dr. Jameson by the shoulder and dragging him down the hallway.

Seeing the distress on the boys face and pull of his shoulder the doctor picked up his pace and jogged his way down the hallway towards his teenaged, miracle awakening, patient. Dean was pulled off to the side by a short gruff looking man and Dean soon got into a deep conversation with him. Ignoring them, Dr. Jameson rushed into the room.

"Mr. Winchester, what's....?" Dr. Jameson entered the room first only seeing John's back but then maneuvered around the bed to meet a pair of watery and tear filled eyes.

"Sam, what's happened?" He asked, rushing to his patient's side.

Sam didn't speak. He looked back to his father who was till caressing him then gripped his hands around his father's wrists and held John's hands to the youthful face.

"Dean chased me down' the hallway for this. Sam, what happened?" Dr. Jameson urged. Though he admired the tender moment of the scared teenager and his 'Tough Love' looking father, he needed to know what was causing the sudden outbreak of the family.

John kept his hands on Sam's face and turned to the doctor. "He say's he can't feel his legs. But you said he could come out of that right? He may regain feeling?" John's eye's seemed to age tremendously as he looked the doctor straight in the eye, leaving the doctor slightly out of words.

Dr. Jameson was forced to look away from John, unable to talk through the emotion John was sending him: hope, remorse, sadness, happiness, but most of all fear. "Let me examine him and I'll give you an answer after that. Ok?" He returned to look John in the eye. John simply nodded, but the passion still clearly visible in his eyes.

John turned to his son who wasn't concentrated on the doctor at all. His full focus was on his father, and though his eyes also showed fear, it showed the worse feeling anyone could feel: failure.

"I'm going to go talk to Dean and Bobby. Let Dr. Jameson take a look over and see what's going on. Ok, little buddy? You're not useless, never." Dr. Jameson heard John mumble the words of comfort, but he didn't think the last words were meant to be heard by him. He simply brushed it off and pulled on some gloves. John gave Sam's cheek one final brush of his thumb then walked out of the room, leaving Sam staring into space. Let there please, be hope, Dr. Jameson thought to himself as he began to examine the teen.

~D~S~

As soon as Dean explained the rest of Sam's leg problem and both good and evil ghosts to Bobby, John reentered the hallway.

"Dad?" Dean rushed over to him, looking over his shoulder into Sam's room. "What's the verdict?"

"The doctor's examining him," John explained, his voice seeming like he just got out of a 10 year old girl's screaming contest and made it to the last round and lost.

"Dad, he's going to be ok," Dean insisted.

John was token by surprise and looked up at his oldest in shock. "Why would you say that?"

"What do you mean?" Dean asked, taken back by his father's reaction.

"How can you stand there and lie? You don't know if he's going to be ok or not."

"Have it be a lie or not, it's what I believe." Dean said, staring at his father in bewilderment.

"But sons are not supposed to comfort fathers. Father's are supposed to comfort their sons!" He yelled at Dean as if he was 6 and got caught steeling a cookie from the cookie jar.

Dean looked back to Bobby who only shrugged with confusion.

"Dad, I don't know what to say." Dean looked to the floor abashed.

"Yes you do Dean. You always know what to say, have it be a smart-ass remark or words of comfort, you always know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it." John said as he paced the small width of the hallway. "But I don't know what to say anymore."

Dean stayed quiet, unable to think of how to respond.

"Where is this coming from John?" Bobby questioned.

"When I was in there with Sam, it dawned on me. I don't know how to make him feel better. I never had to before so I'm at loss."

"Dad, Sam doesn't need you to say anything to him. He knows you care and you're doing the best you can. And I talk alot, so what? But if you're really so irritated by that, then I'll have Dr. Kelly stitch my mouth together."

Once John was sure Dean was done, he declined the space between him and his son and grasped him in a deep hug. "I'm sorry Dean," John chocked out.

Dean let the tears fall and slowly locked is arms around his father. "Me too Dad," He sobbed into his father's shoulder.

They stayed like that for a few moments when Dr. Jameson cleared his throat, trying not to interrupt the moment, but eager to give them the news.

John and Dean released at the same time, turning to the doctor and asking in unison, "How is he?"

"Well Sam has absolutely no feeling in his legs."

"Will he ever regain feeling?" Dean questioned.

"In any case I would say yes, but the infection in Sam's blood is causing more problems then we expected. So there's a 95 percent chance, that no. He won't regain feeling."

All gravity must have been turned off at that moment because Dean felt like he was flying… and not in a good, free, happy way. He felt his insides turn and his head pounded and he could feel the little food he recently ate threatening to come up. He could feel as his blood drain from his face and the sweat forming on his could hardly comprehend it. Monsters and ghosts he can protect Sammy from. He can do anything, he's the big brother. But how can he fix this? The world around him seamed to spin, and he felt his feet become unbalanced and he passed out, unknowingly falling into his father's arms.

"Dean?!" John hauled his boy up to get a better grip, and soon both Bobby was helping John from dropping him while Dr. Jameson ran and got a gurney.

"Here," Dr. Jameson returned quickly and John and Bobby lifted Dean up onto it. A few nurses came also help maneuver the boy into position.

"Dean!" John heard Sam yell from inside the room.

John gave Bobby a quick nod to take care of Dean and rushed to his baby boy's side.

"It's ok son. He just fainted, he should be just fine." He gave his best effort of comforting words, and was sure Dean would be proud of him.

"But-" Sam tried to move his body to look out the door to his brother but John obscured his view.

"No Sam. He's fine," John encouraged with a small smile. Even if you don't know the truth, just lie, John told himself. Not a direct lesson from Dean but it seemed logical in a sense even though he felt awkward saying the words.

Sam seemed to calm down slightly and relaxed back into his pillow.

"I'm going to go check on him ok?" He asked Sam who only nodded.

"Ok," John said and walked back out into the hallway.

Dean still lay, passed out on the gurney and Dr. Jameson was ordering the two nurses to take him back up to his room 274 and page Dr. Kelly.

"Hey Doc," John motioned and Dr. Jameson returned to John and Bobby.

"He just seemed to have passed out but his doctor will give him another full examination just to be sure." He explained and John nodded.

"Is there any way to make that 5% any bigger?" Bobby interrupted the silence, returning the conversation to Sam.

Dr. Jameson took one glance at Bobby and then to John.

"He's ok. A family friend," John reassured.

"I have to admit that if I hadn't given up faith on your son on waking up, this could have been prevented." Dr. Jameson started with a regretful apologetic smile.

"Is there anything we can do?" John demanded

"That infection we found in Sam's blood, well it's being unpredictable and we're not fully aware of the extent it will cause Sam," He continued.

"And now it's affecting his spine?" John urged, his jaw set tight and his fists clenched. "What kind of infection is this?"

"I must be honest. This infection, it's like nothing I've ever seen before. It seems to be attacking his spine slowly, but effectively."

"Can't you just take some of his blood and learn more about the infection? It has so be seen before... it didn't just come out of this air." John stared at the doctor questionably.

"It seems to have taken on a new form. An infection, yes, but it's cells are unreachable. And not being about to walk doesn't seem like it's last resort. And with no information on this infection, there's no telling what it could do. The only way we can learn more about it could probably hurt Sam even more. Surgery is possible but the procedure alone is risky. We could get a better look at the infection and try and treat it directly. But even with that it may only bring his chances up a to 15 percent, 3 percent to walk again." Dr. Jameson looked to the stunned faces of John and the family friend. "Without the surgery, you would have more time with him." He suggested.

"Oh God," Bobby accidentally gasped, bringing his hand to his chin and rubbing his beard nervously.

John simply stared at the doctor with no readable emotion given off to the doctor this time. The next thing anyone knew, John had the doctor pinned up against the wall, his left arm pushing hard against the doctor's chest and the other gripping the doctor's arm very tightly.

"John!" Bobby yelled but John ignored him.

"You gave up on him once, don't you dare do it again you patent ass!" John yelled, letting only one emotion come through his eyes: hate.

"I'm sorry Mr. Winchester!" Dr. Jameson puffed out in staggered gasps for air.

"Well have fun saying all this to his brother you worthless, crude, arrogant jerk!!" John added sarcastically. There we're far more foul words he wanted to cuss out but left them on his tongue because he knew Sam was in hearing range.

Bobby was about to step in, but John released the man and stormed down the hallway. "How risky is the surgery?" Bobby asked the doctor who was rubbing his chest and catching his breathe.

"It's an open one to his back, not preformed much, never by me. Survival rate at that is only 3%"

"Sam's a Winchester, he'd make it through this even with 1 percent." Bobby stated then went into Sam's room, leaving the doctor cringing at the lightest touch to his sore chest.

~D~S~

Dean awoke the moment he was placed back on his bed. The bed he has yet to sleep in since he's been with Sam. He looked around, blinking harshly at the bright lights, seeing two nurses walking out the door. He had a killer headache. He knew what happened… he passed out, again. But why? He tried to think…think Dean think! Oh yeah, Sam... he won't regain feeling in his legs. Oh God no, Sammy!

Plus, why did he have to pass out? That was totally blackmail material for both his brother and his dad...speaking of which....?

John rsuddenly ushed in, his face red and his eyes blood shot.

"Dad, what is it?" Dean questioned.

John rubbed his temples erratically trying to calm himself where Dean could see he was really worked up. "I…uh…Sam…Doctor…Sam…he's…got…uh" John mumbled out, unable to keep his thought straight.

"Dad? What's happened?" His father was shocked at the news of Sam never walking again, but it wasn't this bad.

"Bad, news," John mumble incoherently to himself.

"Bad news?" Dean asked in surprised. How could there be more bad news? Dean perked up. "Dad? What bad news? Dad tell me!" He demanded.

John seemed to regain control of himself at the sound of Dean's worried voice, but his voice was quiet and swollen. "Dean, Sam's blood infection is spreading and they're not sure if they can stop it."

Dean stared at his father in disbelief. "Not sure if they can stop it? What does that mean Dad?"

"They're only giveing him a 5 percent survival rate Dean."

And for once, Dean was lost for words. He felt like the walls were falling in on him and it was getting very hard to breath. Five percent? Please let that be out of 6!

"Dean we just need to relax and think about this," John sat on the corner of the bed and gripped Dean's shoulder, praying he didn't pass out again.

"D-dad?" Dean stuttered. His voice made John seem like he was looking at his 3 year old son in a thunder storm again. Dean looked up to John with beady eyes, determined for something good. "Is he going to be ok?"

John was stunned. As he explained only a half hour earlier, he never knows what to say. It's always Dean to give comfort words. But not now. It was different and John knew exactly what to say. "Yeah son. He's going to be ok." Comforting words, even if it may be a big fat lie.

~D~S~

"Hey Sam," Bobby smiled bleakly to the young man sitting very still in the hospital bed. He could see pain written on the kids face.

"Hey Uncle Bobby," Sam tried to smile but it was a failed attempt.

"What did the doctor's tell you?" He questioned, taking the seat where John once sat for hours on end.

"Everything. Even the infection spreading. But I'm going to be ok." He stated and Bobby had to smile a true smile.

"You never stop believing that ok?" He told Sam.

"I won't. Plus Dean would be lost without me." Sam added with a smile

"Why exactly is that?"

"I hid his porn collection." Sam tried to smile again, but it faded quickly and his bottom lip began to quiver.

Bobby reached over and grabbed the young boys shoulder. "Sam, what is it?"

"I don't want to die." Sam admitted, a single tear falling down his flushed cheeks..

"Don't worry Sam. We're going to fix this, I promise ya." He gave Sam a reassuring wink.

~D~S~

While John went down to discuss the hunt with Bobby, Dean was again visited by Samantha the Candy Striper.

"Hey Dean," She smiled to him, resting her baked goods on the night stand.

"What do you want?" Dean sniped, a little less rudeness then he wanted, but he didn't feel like talking right now.

"I've decided to help,"

"You've already helped the best you can." Dean looked at her oddly, like he did when he first saw her.

"Dean... I... lied." Her fare complextion seemed to crumble and she looked like the was on trial for murder.

"Lied? About what?" Dean sat up in his bed, eager for an answer.

"I told you I didn't know how to stop Jackson. Well I still don't know how to stop him, but I know how to stop what he's doing to your brother."

"How? How Samantha!? How!" Dean demanded flinging his legs off the bed, ready to pounce on her for an answer.

"The infection... he's controling it. And I'm the one that gave it to Sam," She whispered.

"You gave it t him? Why would you do that! You said you were good!" Dean yelled, frustrated, standing and ready to charge at the now shaking girl.

"I thought I didn't have a choice! Jackson controls me! I'm afraid of what he'd do to me!"

"You weren't afraid of him when you were alive remember?" Dean snapped.

"I know! I'm sorry Dean!" She broke into tears.

"Forget that! How do I stop it?!"

She wiped away the tears. "It's a chemical called Stilomenum. It died out in the world a long time ago so that's why no one knows about it. Don't tell me how he got a hold of it, because I don't know. I gave it to Sam before I even met you. I gave it to many patients that he wanted there souls for. I'm sorry,"

"Well how do I get rid of it?"

"The infected area needs to go in direct contact with ferrous oxide. There's a bottle of it on the closet just down the hallway, left here a long time ago when the chemical was live."

"The infection is attacking his spine. How am I going to get it directly on it?"

"I don't know." She said simply, giving Dean a sad smile and dissapearing.

"Wait!" Dean called out but she didn't return. "Damn it!" He grumbled at he darted out the door and down the hallway. He reached the closet, found the bottle, also grabbing a steril scalpal and hiding it up his sleeve.

~D~S~

John and Bobby had gotten all the information on the hunt, when Dean came running into Sam's room, limping and out of breath a dustly old bottle in his hands.

"Dean? What are you doing?" John said.

Dean looked around the room, seeing that Sam was sound asleep. "Dad, stilomenum. It's what's attacking Sam's spine. The Candy Striper told me."

"Deat, what is that?" John questioned.

"An old chemical not found anymore, that's why the doctors don't know about it." Dean explained quickly racing to Sam's side.

"Dean, are you sure?" Bobby questioned. "This candy girl doesn't seem very reliable."

"She crossed Jackson to help Sam, and that's what I'm going to do." Dean said, slowling starting to roll Sam only his chest.

Just then a terrible high pitch scream echoed out through the entire hospital, followed by a blinding white light. Samantha, Dean thought, hearing the girl scream in pain and then be followed by a hollow growl. Jackson found out, which meant Dean didn't have much time.

Dean felt Sam shake under his arms and looked down at his brother, just as he began to scream. "D-dean... it hurts!" He yelped as his back started to spaz and flex oddly.

"Sh, now. I'm going to fix it." Dean stated, rolling Sam onto his stomach and ripping open his shirt.

John ran to Dean's side. "What do you think you're doing?" He questioned as Dean pulled out a scalpal.

"I'm saving my brother," Dean said as he placed the knife just beside his brother's spine, ready to cut and save his little brother.


I edited this chapter because some people weren't happy with my addition of a brain tumor... so I just changed it to a spread of the infection. That's reasonable right? Once I started editing it, I got kinda out of control but I hope you still like it! =)

A/N: I had a confusing time writing this chapter, but I'm pleased with it! =) Reviews are loved! =)

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