So, figured it was about time I get another chapter done on this one! And I figured what better time than right before Christmas! Hope you enjoy.

Cindy

"If you three don't get your butt's onto those beds so Josh and I can fix you up, I'm gonna start tanning hides!" Caleb spat in exasperation as he glanced from one stubborn Winchester to the next.

"You're gonna tan our hides? Really?" Dean scoffed, an amused smirk on his tired, handsome face.

Caleb lifted his arms then dropped them back to his sides in a show of defeat. He glanced over at Joshua and scowled. The older hunter was leant up against the wall chuckling at his friend's predicament. "What?" Josh asked when Caleb narrowed his eyes and growled.

"A little help would be nice, asshole!" Caleb hissed.

Joshua laughed out loud as he pushed away from the wall. "And what would you have me do, brother? You know these three. If they don't want to listen, they aren't going to listen," he said.

"Look at 'em! Sammy's bleeding all over the place and the other two look like death warmed over! John's gonna murder us if he comes back and finds them anywhere but lying down on those beds! And there you are being useless!" Caleb cried.

Dean and Daniel, at Caleb's words, dropped the grins from their faces and turned to their baby brother. Sam was standing at the foot of one bed, his body swaying as he watched them closely. He seemed almost unaware of what was going on around him. Daniel rushed to his brother's side and gently grasped his arms.

"Hey, Sammy…you need to lay down so we can get you patched up, kiddo," Daniel said as he eased Sam down onto the end of the bed.

"No," Sam cried as he attempted to push back onto his feet. "I…I'm fine. You and Dean…you're worse off than me! You…you…"

Dean joined his brothers and helped Daniel keep Sam down. "Sam…look at me. Just look at me okay?" he said as he took Sam's chin in his hand and lifted the young man's face. "Danny and I are fine. Tired and hungry, but we're fine. You…"

"You were tortured…he…he hurt you both. You're not fine," Sam argued weakly.

"You were tortured too, kiddo…very recently and you're still bleeding," Daniel said as he checked his little brother over.

Sam looked down at the hands that tenderly poked at the wounds on his torso. He lifted his hands from the bed and took one of Daniel's in his. "Your hands…they're all cut up," he whispered, then he looked over at Dean and tears filled his eyes. "Yours are too," he said. "You both were hurt protecting me when it was supposed to be me protecting you. Some brother I am," he added softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Caleb and Joshua looked at each other, neither man quite knowing what to do at. They felt like intruders at the moment, but they knew they couldn't leave the brothers unattended…not in their current condition. They stayed back and allowed the brothers the time they needed to work the situation out and then hopefully they would be able to begin working on getting them cleaned up and mended. They both turned back to the brothers when they heard Dean speak.

"Sammy…you're the best brother either one of us could ever hope to have. If it weren't for you, we'd be dead now. You saved us."

"But…"

"Dean's right, kiddo. You found us and…and even after you'd been tortured, you still protected us…kept that bastard Torrence away and bought us all the time we needed for Dad and the guys to get there and end him for good. You're the hero here, Sammy," Daniel said, a warm smile gracing his face when Sam turned glistening hazel eyes his way.

"'m not a hero…just did what I had to do," Sam whispered.

"Well, you're a hero to us so you may as well get used to it," Dean said as he gently took Sam's arm and together with Daniel, eased the youngest sibling up the bed until he was laid back, his head resting on a flat, dingy pillow.

Dean and Daniel sat on either side of Sam, both looking like they could pass out at any moment, but neither eager to leave their baby brother's side. It was only when they heard someone loudly clear their throats that they looked up and saw Caleb standing at the foot of the bed.

"What?" Dean asked dismissively.

"Both of you on the other bed. Josh is going to work on getting Sam patched up…that leaves you with me," Caleb commanded.

"We can patch Sammy up," Dean responded.

Caleb's face began to turn red, bringing much delight to Dean. The middle Winchester brother chuckled as he turned his attention back to his baby brother. He looked up again when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The smile left his face when he saw Joshua staring down at him.

"Dean, I get it…I really do, but do you really think you and Danny are the best choices right now to stitch Sam up? Both of you are shaking more than hairless Chihuahuas in December. You could cause him more pain than is necessary…plus, he isn't going to relax until he knows you two are being taken care of. I'll work on him while Caleb works on you two…you'll be able to see everything I'm doing and I promise you, I'll be as gentle as I can possibly be," Joshua explained, an understanding look in his eyes.

Dean glanced over at Daniel who gave him a short nod then looked back up at the older hunter. "Okay, Josh…I guess you're right…just…don't hurt him…please," he said hesitantly.

"You know I won't hurt him, squirt," Joshua answered with a smile.

"What the frickin' hell!" Caleb cried in exasperation. "I've been trying to get those two down for how long now and all they do is laugh then you…you say a few pretty little words and they're like scrambling to do your bidding! That ain't right…it just ain't right!"

"What can I say? Some of us have the touch and some of us don't, my friend," Joshua responded with a grin and a wink.

"You suck!" Caleb spat under his breath before turning his attention onto the three brothers.

Dean chuckled as he turned back around and looked down at his little brother. He smiled when he saw that Sam was out for the count. He tenderly brushed the hair from Sam's eyes then slowly stood and moved to the other bed, dropping down on the side nearest Sam's bed with a deep sigh. He watched as Daniel gave Sam's hand a squeeze before he too stood and walked around the beds to the opposite side of Dean. Once both brothers were stretched out on the bed, Joshua and Caleb got to work. Hot water was brought from the bathroom along with all of the washcloths, hand towels and towels. First aid kits were laid out beside each bed, both older hunters working with experienced precision as they tended to their patients many wounds. Once all cuts were stitched and all burns were cleaned and bandaged, all bumps and bruises iced, all three brothers were given pain pills and within minutes were in deep, healing slumber.

Joshua and Caleb, exhausted and weary, took up vigil beside each bed and waited for John to return, then he could take over and they could get some much needed, and deserved rest.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

John pulled up outside of the motel room, cut the engine to his truck and leaned back in his seat. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. This time had been close…way too close and John still hadn't shaken the fear that had enveloped him from the moment he learned that he was in danger of losing all three of his boys. He was scared, angry and relieved all at once and the warring emotions within him threatened to tear him apart. He was so angry at Dean and Daniel for getting themselves into a situation without any back up and at Sam for defying Caleb and Joshua and taking off half cocked to rescue his wayward brothers, but along with that anger came a deep sense of pride in his boys. Dean and Daniel had put the safety and well being of someone they didn't know ahead of their own safety and had done what they felt was needed to try and save him and Sam…Sam had proven in true Winchester style that he would do anything and everything within his power to protect his family…a trait John had never had to instill in his sons…it just came naturally to all three of them. The pride in his sons did not however dispel the anger…or the fear. John was still determined to let each one of his boys know exactly how he felt about their risky actions, but for right now, all he wanted to do was get into the room and see for himself that they were going to be okay.

John sighed deeply then pushed open the door to his truck. He trudged to the door and lightly gave it a few quick knocks. He smiled wearily when Joshua opened the door and stepped aside to allow him entry. His dark eyes immediately found his boys all sound asleep on the two beds and he nodded appreciatively at his two comrades. "How are they?" he asked as he moved to take a seat in the chair next to Sam's bed.

"Stubborn as always, but their wounds are all cleaned and taken care of…no sign of infection, but we'll need to keep a watch out," Joshua answered tiredly.

John looked up and smiled. "You guys are beat, I know…and I hate to ask this, but…"

"We can go get the Impala, John…no problem," Caleb interrupted as he stood and moved to stand next to Joshua.

John nodded and brushed his hand over his face. "I appreciate it…everything you've done for the boys. I can't thank you enough," he said. "Once you get back, why don't you get yourselves another room and get some rest…you both look like you could use it."

"You sure you don't need us the help watch over the boys?" Joshua asked.

"No, I can handle it…you guys did the hard stuff and now you deserve rest. I'll give you a call if I need anything," John answered.

"Okay…sounds good," Caleb said.

The two hunters slipped on their coats and headed toward the door. They stopped when John called out to them. "You may need these. Not sure if they left the keys in the car or what," he said as he pulled a set of keys from his jacket pocket and tossed them to Joshua.

"You keep a spare set of keys for the Impala?" Caleb asked.

"Yep….never know when you may need 'em," John answered with a grin.

Joshua nodded toward John then turned back and opened the door. Once he and Caleb had shut the door behind themselves, John turned and looked down at his youngest son. He pulled the blankets back from Sam's bare torso and lifted the bandages to inspect his friend's handiwork. Satisfied that all looked good, he checked his son's wrists then pulled the covers back up over his chest. He stood and moved to the other bed and methodically checked each of his other son's wounds. Once his inspection was complete, he walked to the coffee maker and made himself a fresh pot of strong coffee. He was in for a long vigil and he would need all of the coffee he could drink to stay awake and alert for his boys. Once the coffee was done and he'd poured himself a cup, he walked between the two beds and planted himself on the floor, his back leaning up against the nightstand that divided the beds. He took a long swallow of the hot coffee then set the cup on the floor between his legs. He laid his head back against the stand, closed his eyes and sighed. He could hear the soft breathing of his sons and it helped to calm him…to let him know that as close as he'd come, he hadn't lost them…that his reasons for drawing breath were beaten and battered, but still alive and still kicking. That was all he needed…all he ever needed.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

John jerked awake, his blurry eyes scanning the now semi-dark room for what had startled him. He cursed himself for falling asleep as he hurriedly got to his feet and listened. He turned toward Sam's bed when he heard a soft, muffled cry. Sam's head was turned, his face buried in the extra pillow on his bed and John could tell by the way his legs were jerking under the blankets that his son was in the grips of a nightmare. He groaned as he pushed up from the floor then stretched his back out before easing down on the edge of Sam's bed.

"Sammy? Hey, kiddo…wake up," John called as he gave Sam's shoulder a gentle shake. He turned when he heard mumbling from the other bed, but was relieved to see that neither of his older boys had awakened. He turned back to Sam and shook his shoulder again. Sam's eyes flew open as he sucked in a startled breath. "It's okay, Sam…it's me…it's Dad," John said soothingly as he brushed the sweat soaked bangs from Sam's forehead.

Sam looked up and blinked his eyes a few times then instantly calmed when he realized who was sitting over him. "Dad…I…sorry for waking you," he whispered, his voice thick from sleep.

"No, Sammy…you didn't wake me. You okay?" John responded comfortingly.

"Uh…yeah…I'm fine…I just…I…"

"You were having a nightmare. You want to talk about it?" John watched as Sam swallowed deeply and brushed a shaky hand through his tangled hair. The young man turned his head away and sighed. "Sam?" John prompted, his large hand gently gripping Sam's arm.

"It…it was Wilcox," Sam whispered as he turned back to face his father.

John closed his eyes and took a calming breath. He opened them again and gazed down into his youngest son's wide, hazel eyes. "Which one, Sammy?" he asked.

Sam licked his lips and absently lifted his fingers to his chest, to the point where under his tee shirt the scar from two different bite marks was. "Both of them," he answered softly.

John cursed under his breath and shifted closer to his son's side, his hip touching Sam's arm ever so slightly. "How long, Sam?"

Sam shrugged as he shifted his gaze to the deeply shadowed ceiling above him. "They haven't really stopped. Not completely at least," he answered.

"Why didn't you tell me? Or your brothers for that matter?" John asked as he gazed down at his son's face.

"I didn't want to worry you guys. I'm fine, Dad…really. It's just when I get stressed out or overly tired. I don't have them all of the time and they're getting less intense as time goes by," Sam replied, the young man once again shifting his gaze until he was looking up at his father. "Please don't tell Danny and Dean. You know they'll freak and it's really not a big deal," he added hastily.

John sighed as he absently brushed his fingers up and down Sam's arm. "I guess I was foolish to think that you'd ever be totally free of those bastards. I just…I want so badly for you to be happy, Sammy, and…"

"I am happy, Dad….really. They're just nightmares…nothing I can't handle. They're dead and I know they can't hurt me ever again. You don't need to worry about me," Sam said sleepily.

"I do worry about you, son…that won't ever change. The times I've almost lost you…it never leaves me either and…and this last stunt you pulled…you…well, we'll have that discussion once you and your brothers are up and healed. Now, go back to sleep. I'll be right here beside you so don't you worry about a thing, kiddo…okay?"

Sam nodded lightly, hazel eyes glistening in the moonlight that filtered through the thin curtains into the room. "Okay, Dad, and…I'm sorry for scaring you…I had to…"

"Just sleep, Sammy…we'll talk about this later," John interrupted. He pulled the twisted blankets free from Sam's legs and pulled them up over his chest before lightly patting Sam's arm. He smiled when Sam's eyes slowly slid shut and when the young man's breaths evened out in sleep, he pulled his legs up onto the bed, kicked off his boots and settled next to his son, his back resting against the headboard. He didn't want to lose contact with Sam, as much for himself as for the boy. He glanced over at the two young men in the other bed to make sure they were still sleeping restfully and when he saw that they were, he smiled slightly and took a deep breath.

"These boys, Mary…what am I gonna do with them?" John asked softly into the darkness, his fingers absently twisting the wedding band on his left ring finger. He stayed up the rest of the night, watching over his boys and listening with the deepest love imaginable to the sounds of their breathing and wondering how he could ever carry on without them.

Awww, some daddy Winchester love for our boys. One more chapter to go guys. Thanks so much for reading and sending me such lovely comments. Love you all soooo much! Take care...Merry Christmas and a Happy, Happy New Year to you :D

Cindy