"Your brother is being prepared for surgery as we speak." The doctor – who had kept them waiting for what felt like an eternity – informed them. He had introduced himself as Dr Snyder and he hadn't shook their hands. He looked down on Sam like he was some kind of hobo and being Sam's size that meant something.

"What's his condition?" Sam asked ignoring the doctor's attitude. The words where more squeaks than actually words but the doctor seemed to understand them. Maybe every worried person in the world asked the same questions when a beloved one was going into surgery.

"He is stable for the moment." He answered in that neutral way doctors used when they didn't know squat. "We will know more during the operation."

Sam nodded. If he wanted to give his voice a rest or just knew the procedure Victor could only guess. Maybe both.

"What exactly happened?" The doctor tried his best to not openly stare at Sam's abused throat. Beneath the grime the dark bruises were blooming.

They gave quite a picture. All three of them covered from head to toe in dust, blood and other things, they probably had to wash Dean completely before they could even think about surgery. Victor stunk like he had bathed in alcohol – which actually came close to the truth – and he was limping, Dean was stabbed and Sam had strangulation marks. And no, Victor would not cradle his rips. Not while the doctor were sizing them up and were clearly considering if he should call the cops or at least security.

Sam opened his mouth to answer but Victor interrupted him before the first squeaking sound could came out. "We were renovating and when we tried to get the panels off the whole ceiling came down."

His statement earned him two surprised looks but Sam hid his better. The doctor however didn't looked convinced.

"And then some metal stuck in Dean's back." Victor finished his explanation. He didn't care if the doctor believed his story or not as long as he kept the cops out of it. If it wasn't Dean's life at stake it would be hilarious. Here he was standing and trying to convince a doctor in a small clinic somewhere in hicksville not to call the cops.

They were saved by a nurse who gave the doctor the sign that they were ready to start with the operation.

"I would suggest you use the time to clean up. Like that we can't let you anywhere further than the entrance." With a last despised look and an audible sniff the doctor left.

"What a dick." Victor turned toward Sam who had crashed into a chair. And he didn't show any intention to move till he got news about Dean. He had his elbows resting on his knees and his head hung in an expression of exhaustion and defeat.

"But he has a point." Victor continued when Sam didn't react to his words. "Like this they wouldn't let you anywhere near Dean." Still no response. "Sam?"

Slowly Sam lifted his head. His eyes swam with tears.

Victor was an only child so he only had a general idea that siblings where supposed to be close. His years at the FBI had shown him the more common truth: More often than not your brother or sister turns out to be your worst enemy. Victor shrugged. You can pick your friends but you can't pick your family, he guessed.

However, what he read in Sam's eyes hit him like a train. But it made sense, didn't it? The brothers lived in a small world few people even knew exist. They had no family – maybe except Bobby but Victor still wasn't sure about the relation between the Winchesters and Singer – and apparently not many friends. They only had each other. And without Dean Sam just fell apart.

It took a few minutes but then Sam pushed himself up and turned toward the exit.

"Quick." He mouthed. Victor was fine with that. Of course Sam wanted to be there when the doctor finished his work. And Victor had to admit that he wanted Dean to be alright, too.

Limping he followed Sam outside, the stare of the nurse at the front desk burning into his back. Beside the dead women which had led them into town in the first place the hunters probably were the biggest sensation this clinic had seen in years.

This time Victor offered to drive but Sam just shook his head. They drove in silence. Back at the motel Victor tossed his clothes on the bathroom floor and took a shower as hot as he could get. Dressed in clean jeans and shirt he felt human again and the water did a good job to relax the muscles in his leg and to ease the pain. But he probably should stock up on painkillers and first aid supplies when he was at it.

Outside Sam was already waiting for him. His hair was still wet and his shirt, which had a collar that covered most of the bruises, stuck wet to his body. In the back seat he had a bag with things Dean would need. Victor didn't have to take a look to know that much.

Inside the car Sam took the time to get a bottle of painkillers out of the glove compartment. He swallowed two pills with half a water bottle then tossed both objects into Victor's lab.

"How is the leg?" Sam asked while he got the car on the road.

"How is the throat?" Victor washed the pills down with the rest of the water. For a second they grinned at each other. Neither could completely hide his worries.

"That was a good cover story." Sam said after they set once again in that uncomfortable plastic chairs. His voice sounded still rusty but he could speak in actual words and not squeakers.

"Thanks." Victor handed him a cup of coffee and a candy bar. The vending machine had limited assortment but the coffee was hot and tasted not too burned. They both hadn't slept and when he had eaten the last time Victor had no idea, they needed the caffeine and some energy.

"As soon as we get the chance we should tell Dean." Sam managed a weak smile. "Usually it's the wall that collapses while we are renovating. Aunt Betty's house. North-east corner" He wanted to say more but his voice weakened and he fell silent.

Victor blinked but then remembered the case in Baltimore – the Death Omen as he now knew – back then the Winchesters had a detailed story about what happened without the chance to speak to each other beforehand. You probably need to grow up together to pull that stunt.

Suddenly Sam was on his feet. "Doctor."

Dr Snyder reached them with a smile which was a good sign, wasn't it?

"Surgery went well." He informed them. "The … piece of metal nicked the intestine but it missed the aorta. Your brother was very lucky. He get's antibiotics to prevent an infection and I'll keep him on ICU for observation for a day or two."

"But he'll be fine?" Sam asked the only question that mattered to him. The doctor nodded.

"Can I see him?" Sam was already moving.

"As soon as he is settled." The doctor slowed him down. Then he seemed to remember Victor. "Family only. Sorry."

Sam stopped but hesitated just for a second. "He's my brother-in-law."

Was he now? The look on the doctor's face mirrored Victor's thought.

"Oh, OK." Did the doctor sounded a bit disappointed? "While your brother is transferred to the ICU I can take a look at you two. You look a little battered, too. What happened to your throat?"

And here we are again. Damn. Why couldn't the doctor just leave them alone?

"Oh, god. Karen." Sam blurred out with real concern in his rusty voice. "She doesn't know yet. I've to call her." With that Sam stomped off leaving the nosy doctor behind.

Victor shrugged a "sorry" at the doctor and followed Sam. God, that boy was a quick thinker. Behind the next corner he spotted Sam how had cornered a nurse to show him the way to the ICU. Sam gave her the eyes that implied that his whole world would shatter if she didn't take him to his brother immediately. At least she was nice and took pity on him, not like some doctors Victor knew.

"This way, hon." They followed her through long corridors. "Please keep in mind that this is the ICU, things can look a little scary but your brother will be fine."

"I know." With a nod Sam thanked the nurse, took a deep breath and entered the room. Dean lay in a bed, his face pale with dark shadows under his eyes. He had an oxygen support under his nose and his vitals were monitored by a beeping machine. Except for the beeping it was rather peaceful.

They sat in silence – Sam next to the bed, Dean's hand in his – and waited for Dean to wake up.

"Thanks." Victor spoke after a while.

"For what?"

"For letting me in." He made a wide gesture. "You didn't have to make me family."

Sam nodded, his attention back on Dean. "I wanted to have you here."

So you don't have to wait alone. Aloud he said: "Now I'm married with your not existing sister Karen?"

"You are lucky it's not me in the hospital bed." Sam answered with a smile, his thumb caressing the back of Dean's hand. "Dean would have made us a married gay couple."