Chapter Ten

Bobby watched as Sam picked at his lunch, seeming to have no appetite, even after spending three days without food in the basement of that old factory.

Dean and John on the other hand, had no problem eating and both elder Winchesters gobbled down the bland hospital fare.

"Are you all right, Son?" Bobby asked Sam quietly.

The thirteen-year old shrugged. He had regained consciousness shortly after his father and brother and demanded to see them as soon as he realized they were both awake and recovering from the Murraue attack. Dr. Hollis had at first been reluctant to let the young teen out of bed, especially when he still had a high fever but Bobby promised to take the boy back to his room if he needed to.

That seemed to sway the doctor and within hours the three Winchesters were reunited, Sam running into the room to embrace Dean tightly and then John.

The two older men in the family didn't remember anything about what they had dreamed while under the Murraues' spell, which Bobby thought just as well, seeing as all the sources claimed that the comas were usually plagued by hellish visions meant to terrify victims.

Dean, his cheeks stuffed with food, stopped chewing and looked at his younger brother.

"What's wrong, Sammy?" he asked.

The thirteen-year old, sitting on the end of his brother's bed, set his plastic fork down on his tray, looked at his father, looked to Dean and let out a stifled whimper.

"You almost died," he whispered, "Both of you… And I couldn't do anything about it."

"Sam," John said, his dark eyes pinning his youngest son, "There was nothing you could do."

"I tried! I tried to get us out but… but I wasn't smart enough or s-strong enough… not like you… you would have gotten us o-out."

Bobby looked to John, stricken by the boy's anxiety.

The younger hunter, who may not always win the Father of the Year Award, sighed and pushed his own lunch tray aside.

"Come here, Sam," John encouraged and patted the sheets beside him.

Slowly, the thirteen-year old slid off his brother's bed and crossed the short distance to his father's climbing up onto the hard hospital mattress with some help from Bobby.

Sam seemed a little bit unsure of his father- John usually didn't display affection, especially to his youngest son- and even Bobby was surprised when the man reached out and place an arm around the boy's shoulders, drawing him closer.

"You did the best you could in that situation," John told him, his stern voice soft, "You know I'm not a miracle-worker; even I wouldn't have been able to get us out of that basement."

Sam appeared to think about his father's words for a moment, "Really? Even you?"

John smiled and the gesture dramatically changed his face- Bobby thought he looked years younger- and gave his youngest son a quick squeeze, "Really."

SPN

John reached out and gave Bobby an uncharacteristic hug. The grizzled hunter stared, agape at his younger friend and John chuckled.

"You saved our lives, Bobby," he reminded him, "You and Caleb."

The veteran hunter nodded, "Yeah, after I almost got y'all killed."

John sighed, "Just be glad you had a bad feeling. We both know that sometimes intuition can serve well in this line of work."

Bobby nodded.

"Will you be all right?"

John smiled, "I feel fine."

"And the boys?" Bobby asked. He peered into the Impala's backseat where both Sam and Dean were sitting, the younger brother curled up against his older sibling.

"Sam's injuries still have to heal a bit but he'll be fine in a few days."

Bobby nodded, "Guess you're gonna find another hunt?"

If he knew one thing about John, it was that the man went from case to case faster than a chain-smoker switched cigarettes, that man could never stay idle for long.

"Actually," John said, "I was thinking that a near-death experience deserves a bit of rest."

Bobby raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You, take a vacation?" he said incredulously.

John nodded, "Not long, just a few days, but it will give all of us time to recharge."

Bobby gave a small smile, "The boy's will like that."

SPN

Dean glanced down to see Sam's eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. Dean smiled, his brother still looked a bit sickly and any chance for rest would do him a world of good.

The seventeen-year old reached out and brushed his sibling's bangs off his forehead, causing Sam to shift position slightly and mutter in his sleep.

"Wake… up…" Sam whimpered, "Wake…up…"

Dean frowned for a moment, considered doing just that and rousing his brother from his slumber, but then Sam quieted down and seemed peaceful once again.

The Impala's door squeaked as John opened it and sat down, "Ready to go?"

"Yes sir," Dean replied.

John turned the key in the ignition and began to pull out of the parking spot, lifting one hand to wave to Bobby as he did so.

"Where are we heading to now?" Dean asked, "Do you have another case in mind?"

From the rearview mirror, the teenager saw his father smile, "Nah, I was thinking we could take a little vacation. What do you say?"

Dean's eyes widened, "No hunting?"

John nodded, "No hunting. Just you, me and Sam."

The seventeen-year old grinned, "Sounds awesome, Dad."

John smiled back at his sons and drove out of the hospital parking lot.

Author's Note:

Well, as they say, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this story and will stick around for the next coming attraction.

Thanks to Trucklady53, kase7123, SPN Mum, Masami Mistress Of Fire, TheFantasticLadyMax, and jensensgirl3 for reviewing.

Please take a moment to leave a final comment. Reviews are love!