Author's note: I apologize to everyone for the long delay. I just seems like my workload increased exponentially to combine with my writer's block. This is the final chapter, finally!

Once and for all, thank you to all those who have read, favoured, commented and reviewed. It was much appreciated. If it weren't for your support, I wouldn't have written past the first chapter.

Thank you!

Kaze-chan

Chapter 10

Sam shifted in his chair, the stiff cushion offered limited comfort. Closing his eyes again, he tried to get some sleep. John had gone back to hunting; unable to give up his obsession for even a few months. Sam still got frustrated when he though of it. Both Bobby and Dean didn't seem to really care, however, something that would only frustrate Sam further. According to them, John's presence had never been a factor before and wouldn't now.

He heard the front step creek under someone's weight, the keys easily sliding into the lock. "Sam?" He relaxed at the sweet sound of her voice. Jess looked into the kitchen first then headed towards the living room. A warm smile spread across her face at the sight of both Winchester boys sleeping. When Sam first told her that Dean would be coming to live with them for a little while, she had her doubts. She knew nothing about Sam's personal life before Stanford. And now his seriously injured brother was coming to live with them.

She had always assumed the two brother's had nothing in common and lived in two different worlds; the main reason between the sibling rift. Now, however, it was clear they were one and the same. With Dean around, Jess saw a new part of Sam she never knew existed.

Sam and Dean had gone to Bobby's at first but the lack of nearby medical facilities soon had them all re-thinking their options. It finally came to the conclusion that Dean would go to Palo Alto and stay with Sam; at least for a little while.

Silently, she glided across the living room to the couch where Dean lay stretched out, his injured leg carefully supported by pillows. Jessica picked a fallen blanket from the ground and draped it over the elder Winchester.

"… hey, better not leave me for my brother." Jess looked up to see Sam smiling at her from his slumped position in the armchair. She finished adjusting the blanket and headed towards her boyfriend.

She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. "You know if I did, we could always end up on Jerry Springer." Her eyebrow arched mischievously, making Sam grin. Not wanting to wake Dean, Jess and Sam headed towards the kitchen.

"How's he doing?" She placed a hot cup of coffee infront of Sam and starting getting dinner cooking.

"Better." He stifled a yawn before taking a welcomed sip of the hot beverage. "But Physio-therapy always leaves him drained and tired." Jess nodded knowingly. Dean had physio-therapy three times a week for two hours to recover as much mobility in his leg as possible. The therapy was hard and sometimes painful but they both new it was the only his leg would heal properly.

When dinner was just about ready, Sam went to wake up his brother. After several attempts, his eyelids slowly slid open. "Hey, super's ready. Time to get up." It took Dean's tired mind some time to process what Sam wanted. He whipped the sleep from his face with his hand.

"Smell's good." One of the only ways you could judge exactly how Dean was feeling was by what he did; or in certain cases, what he didn't do. For example, Dean currently made no attempt to sit up or even move.

Ever since Dean had woken up from his coma, he was quiet and still. The old Dean would have done anything to hide his pain. Now, it seemed he wasn't up to the challenge. Sam was still adjusting to this new version of his brother.

Dean winced as pain shot up his leg. He wasn't a rookie to pain, but what he was feeling now was on a whole new level. Sam watched his brother before he quickly took out Dean's prescriptions and handed them to him, along with the glass of water that lay waiting. "Here, these should help." Dean glanced over but didn't extend his hand; he instead grimaced at the small pills.

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks" He did his best to keep his voice even and confidant.

"Dean you need to take these." It was Sam's turn to control his voice. Lately his older brother was reluctant to take his medication. Sam watched as Dean fiddled with the blanket, clearly avoid something. "Why don't you want to take them?"

Dean let out a breath, hesitating. "It's just…." He worked to find the right words, a difficult task when the bone searing pain in his leg fought for his attention. "… I hate how they make me feel."

Sam's brows furrowed at his brother's words. This was one of those things the old Dean would have never admitted. "What do you mean?" Sam took a seat on the edge of the coffee table facing his brother, the pills still in his hand.

Dean glanced over but refused to meet his younger brother's gaze. They sat in silence while Dean concentrated on his attempt to massage the ache from his leg. "I don't know dude, they unsettle my stomach." Dean winced again in pain but he brought his other hand to his stomach, as if just the thought of the pills sent his stomach into summersaults. "They make me loose my appetite."

Sam hated seeing his brother like this. Hadn't Dean suffered enough already? He weighted the small pills in his hands, rolling them in his palm. "How about you eat a little bit first then take the pills?" Dean thought about it a moment before agreeing.

The three ate in the living room, making it easier for Dean to stay where he was. After they finished eating, Dean finally took his prescription pain killers. His stomach threatened to expulse what he had eaten but in the end, he managed to keep his meal down. Only when Dean was finally asleep did Sam also let his fatigue take him; settling back into the arm chair beside him.

***

"SAM!!" Dean rearranged his crutches under one arm and tightened his grip onto the stair railing. "Sammy! By the time you get here, I'm going to be up the stairs already." With slow tentative steps, Dean made it up the second step, sweat already accumulating on his brow from his efforts. Bobby watched patiently as he unloaded their luggage from the Impala.

Every instinct had him running to Dean's side; anything to help the kid. But after a few months of living with Dean, Bobby knew the kid just wanted to do things on his own again. Sam came running out at his brother's yells. In a few quick steps he was by his older brother's side, taking the crutches from him.

"You just couldn't wait, could you." Sam breathed out. Whipping the sweat from his brow, Dean gripped the railing with both hands; easily quickening his pace with Sam following closely behind.

Dean's grin widened as he caught the worried exchange between Bobby and Sam. "Between the two of you," He steadied himself on the step and looked back towards the two other men. "I didn't think I'd ever be able to get out of the house."

Though Dean was in good spirits, by the time he reached the front door his breathing was laborious and his leg had started throbbing again. Without a word, he made his way to the living room couch; the piece of furniture that had served as his bed for a few months.

Sam and Bobby watched from the hallway. In seconds, the eldest Winchester was fast asleep. This had become the normal routine. Dean was staying with Bobby now but twice a month, both Bobby and Dean would come up to Palo Alto to see Sam and see the physio-therapists. It didn't take long for this new routine to become their life.

"Have you heard from dad?" Sam asked once he and Bobby where in the kitchen.

Bobby slowly nodded in response. "No, not since last month." Sam filled them both a cup of coffee. In the silence, they could here Dean's even breathing from the living room. "How are you doing?" Bobby finally asked, eying Sam with concern.

Sam slumped down in the chair next to him. "I'm tired but okay." For the past 6 months Dean had been their top priority. It was only now that Bobby noticed what the entire ordeal had taken out of Sam. Rehabilitation had been hard on both of them and the hospital bills weren't cheap either.

John had called the older man a few times to ask how Dean was doing. For some reason, John would never call his youngest son; stupid Winchester stubbornness. In the end, they had stopped talking about their missing father.

"Hey Bobby?" Neither one of them looked up from their coffee cups. A deep silence filled the kitchen. "Do you think Dean will be alright in the end?"

Bobby took a long sip from his cup. From where they sat, they could just vaguely see Dean sleeping on the couch. "Sam, you know your brother better than anyone. He's the toughest person I know." This brought a small smile to his lips. "Beside, you know Dean. He's always fine; might have to stay away from electricity for a while though."

Both chuckled at the thought. Dean would be fine, Sam knew that; but some days it was harder to believe. The real adjustment they all had to face was the fact that Dean now had two metal pins holding his left femur bone together. They were both too engrossed in their own thoughts to notice that Dean had woken up.

"You two just going to sit there and let the cripple starve or what?" Dean's joking voice filtered through the apartment. "Come on, I'm hungry." A wide smile spread across Bobby's and Sam's faces at the sound of the elder Winchester.

"Yup, he's going to be just fine." Bobby reassured Sam.

-La fin