I'm sorry that it took me so long to update, I have been writing but was a little stuck with some of the details. Hope it didn't turn out too bad. Thanks for all your awesome reviews. Love all of you!

Standard Disclaimer applies!

After Sam went back to sleep it was quiet in the room. Neither Dean nor Bobby felt like talking, letting the glances they exchanged from time to time speak for themselves. The younger man was mostly lost in thoughts about his brother, while the older enjoyed observing the closeness between the two. He also wanted to keep a close eye on the older boy to make sure he wasn't overdoing it. After all, it was Sam who was lying in this bed and that always meant Dean would put his own needs on hold.

"Dean, Mr. Singer."

Dr. Connell's voice coming from the doorway interrupted their vigil. Looking up, they noticed the young doctor was accompanied by a gray haired man in a lab coat.

"This is Dr. Friedman, he is the orthopedic surgeon that I called in for you leg Dean."

The older man smiled as he walked towards Dean and stretched his hand out. "Hi, nice to meet you, I hope I can help you get back on your feet faster."

The older Winchester took the offered hand and shook it before responding, "I hope so too, I really need to take care of my brother and that's kinda hard, if I can't walk.

The doctor smiled again, Dr. Connell had let him in the events of the previous day and night, so he was not surprised by the response.

"I looked at your x-rays and first of all I have to say, whoever set and splinted your leg did a very professional job with it."

"That would have been my brother here." There was very obvious pride in his words as he pointed toward the bed.

"He sure made things a lot easier for us." Dr. Friedman smiled, "You have two choices here. We can put your leg in a cast for about three month, which should heal fine but there is always the treat of weakness there. Or we can put some rods in and you can start walking on crutches within a day and it also would be much stronger. It's up to you but I have a feeling I already know what your choice is going to be."

He observed the expression on his patients face and was certain, that he was right with his assessment.

The determination and quickness of Dean's answer just verified his evaluation.

"Ok, when can you do the surgery?"

"I do have a spot open later this afternoon. Otherwise I could do it tomorrow morning."

"This afternoon it is." There was no hesitation in Dean's voice, his mind was made up.

Dr. Connell had been standing by quietly until now, just smirking at the conversation that went exactly as she expected it to.

"Dean, if you going to have the surgery this afternoon, you really need to rest for a while."

"Sam needs me, I can't leave him right now. After all, I will be gone for several hours this afternoon."

The physician let out a sigh, why did he have to be this stubborn?

"Ok, lets make a deal. I give you 1 hour with your brother for every 2 hours you rest, otherwise I make sure Dr. Friedman here won't have time for you today."

For a moment the older Winchester was speechless, this sounded like something he could see himself do to Sam, only now he was the one on the receiving end.

Suddenly he grinned, "I guess you got me beat but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Sam really needs me."

"I know that but you won't be any good for him if you don't take care of yourself."

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The older Winchester reluctantly spent the ordered two hours in his own room trying to rest. His head hurt and so did his leg although he never would admit it to anyone. Yet when Dr. Connell seemed to read his mind and injected him with a small dose of pain medication he couldn't help but give her a grateful smile.

She repeated the same procedure during his next break. It did make him feel better and even allowed him to get some sleep. The thought of the surgery made him nervous, not because of the procedure itself but more because of the amount of time he would not be able to be with Sammy.

So he tried to make the best out of the last hour he had left with his baby brother. Bobby left and rented a room at the motel Nurse Abby had recommended. He promised Dean to be back before the operation and stay with Sam while he was gone.

It was only the two of them in the room now and he wished for nothing more than to see his brother's eyes open again and tell him he was fine. But this wasn't going to happen anytime soon, at least not the part about Sam telling him he was fine. Instead he settled for himself telling his brother he was going to be fine.

He held his hand and watched his chest move in a desperate fight for each rattling breath. His skin flushed from fever and his hair wet with perspiration, he looked almost like he did when he was 7 years old.

Dean remembered how ill little Sammy had gotten after they had eaten take out from the diner down the street from where they had been living at the time. His brother had eaten a salad with his hamburger, already into healthy foods back then, while he had ordered the fries. Later that night the little guy had gotten violently ill, spending half the night in the bathroom, while Dean desperately had tried to help however he could. Which hadn't been really easy for the only eleven year old. Their dad had been out of town for a hunt until the next afternoon. By then Sam had been out of his mind with fever and John had taken him to the hospital without hesitating. He had been diagnosed with E. Coli and it had taken more than a week until he had recovered enough to come home again.

"You always had a dramatic streak in you. Nothing ever simple for you, food poisoning turns into E. Coli and a simple cold just has to become pneumonia."

He smiled sadly as he continued to hold his quiet vigil at Sam's bed side.

After a while he was torn out of his thoughts by Bobby and Abby entering the room.

"Guess my time is up!" It was a statement not a question, as he turned back to the bed and said, "Don't go anywhere while I'm gone."

"I take care of Sam for you." The old hunter noticed the tears sparkling in the younger man's eyes.

"I know you will Bobby." He looked up at his friend and almost added something but then desided against it, "Ok, lets go, the sooner we get this show on the road, the sooner I will be back."

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Bobby settled in his chair beside Sam. He was glad Dean was going to get his leg fixed and hopefully would be back on his feet soon, at least with the help of crutches.

Just like during the night before he did everything in his power to keep the younger Winchester as comfortable as possible. It appeared that even though Sam wasn't really conscious, he could feel his brother''s presence. It seemed to calm him. Now that Dean was gone, he started to become more restless again, moving around in the bed and at times moaning. Ever so often Bobby could make out a mumbled word or two. Usually he called for Dean, once in a while for his dad but what really got to the hardened hunter was the terrified, "No, Jess!" that ended in a coughing and wheezing spell.

Pressing the call button, Bobby lifted his upper body up and rubbed his back, trying to make breathing easier. If he had any doubt about what was going on in the young man's mind, it was removed when Sam opened his eyes and he could read the terror in them. He suddenly felt like he had been right there when Jessica Moore, Sam's girlfriend had been pinned to the ceiling and burst into flames.

Abby, who already heard the coughing and wheezing outside the room came running in the room and immediately prepared a nebulizer treatment. Exchanging the oxygen mask with the nebulizer mask, she looked at Bobby.

"I will put the head of the bed up a little more, then you can lay him back in the pillows. But first I would like to check his lungs, do you think you can hold him a while longer?"

"As long as it takes."

She positioned her stethoscope against his back and listened with a serious expression on his face. After a moment she pushed the button for the electric adjustment of the bed and gave the older man a nod. Carefully he let Sam back against the pillows. His coughing had stilled but the wheezing seemed to get worse.

"Sam, it's going to be ok, the treatment is going to make it better. Just give it a while."

The nurse gently stroked over his hair and continued to soothingly talk to him although she wasn't sure how much he would be able to understand. After about five minutes either her voice or the treatment or both seemed to help and the loud wheezing started to let up and again it was only the rattle in his chest that was audible.

"Can you lift him up for me again?"

Wordlessly Bobby attended to his young friend, while Abby once again listened to his lungs. Still serious but a little bit more at ease, she gave the sign when she was done.

"That's better," she said, " But I think I need to have Dr. Connell check him. It sounds like he is having more fluid in his lungs and I also hear a rubbing sound, which is not a good sign either."

She had been more thinking out loud then actually talking to Bobby. Now she almost looked startled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I could be wrong with my assessment, that's why I'm going to call the doctor in."

The hunter just nodded, watching as she pulled a cordless phone out of her pocket and punched in a few numbers. She waited for a few seconds, then said, "Dr. Connell, would you please come to Sam

Winchester's room."

It took less then two minutes until the tall woman walked into the room.

"What's up Abby?" She asked, readying herself for whatever was coming her way.

"Could you listen to Sam's lungs, I think we got another problem."

While the doctor took out her stethoscope, Abby motioned Bobby to help her lift the limp young man once again.

She listened intently for a while before she looked up again, "You are right, he developed pleuritis but I'm not really surprised, actually I kind of expected this with the severity of his pneumonia."

She then focused her attention on the older man, knowing she would have to give him an explanation.

"Mr. Singer, Sam developed a condition called pleuritis or pleurisy. Let me explain to you what this means. There is a double layer membrane around the lungs, called the pleura. The layers are normally really smooth and glide against each other. If they get inflammed, like in Sam's case, they are rough and it becomes painful to breath. There is also a chance that fluid builds up in between and that could put pressure on the lungs."

She looked at her patient, wondering how much more could go wrong. Sure, pleurisy was a fairly normal complication of pneumonia but it sure didn't make things easier for the young Winchester.

"I think I am going to consult Dr. Pangai, he is a Monologist at the University Hospitals, just to make sure we are doing the right thing for him. In the meantime, I'll start him on some pain meds."

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Afternoon turned into early evening before Dr. Connell came back. Abby had injected Sam with a low dose of pain medication right after she received the order. By now she had finished her shift and the night nurse an older woman with bright blue eyes and a compassionate smile, who went by the name of Sandy just hung the next dose of IV antibiotic.

Entering the room the physician watched Bobby continuing his ministrations by sponging Sam's fever shaken body with cool water. She had to admire the dedication this family had for one another. A trade that wasn't found easy in todays world.

"I have some news." she broke the silence, "Dr. Pangai called me back just now, he agrees with everything we've done but would like to start Sam on a second antibiotic. He is going to be in the area tomorrow, so he will look in on him and see if there is anything else he might want to do."

Bobby gave her a slightly skeptical look, he felt overwhelmed by everything that was going on and just wanted Sam to get better.

"Believe me, Dr. Pangai is the best in his field. I trust him with my life and I mean that literally. If it wasn't for him, I probably would be dead by now. I diagnosed me with a rare form of asthma and found the right treatment to control it, after every other physician had given up on me. That was 15 years ago."

"Doctor, I do trust you, it's just that it has been really difficult for me to see Sam this sick."

"I know, he must be a very special young man."

"They both are, there is nothing they wouldn't do for one another and for other's. You don't know how many lives they have saved." He suddenly quieted down, realizing he already said to much.

Dr. Connell wondered what he meant by that but didn't press him, rather she changed the subject.

"I got some news about Dean also. His surgery went well, Dr. Friedmann thinks, his legs should heal just fine now. But there were some complications with the anesthesia. He had some difficulty waking up. We think it has to do with his concussion."

Bobby held his breath. This was just not happening. Could neither of these ever catch a break?

"Mr. Singer, Dean is going to be fine. He finally woke up half an hour before I came here. He is responsive and knows where he is. He even ask for 'Sammy' before he went back to sleep."

She gave the older man a calming smile, noting how he relaxed and slowly let himself sink back in the chair.

"Those two are going to be the death of me some day."

He shook his head. How had he ever gotten this involved in their lives. He never saw a need for children, not after his wife died. And although he had been kinda fond of the boys when John first started to bring them around, he never really missed them when they where gone. Not until a few month ago, when his friend of many years died, giving his life in exchange for his oldest. When the two had stayed with him after being released from the hospital and he watched their grief and relationship, he suddenly started to become part of it. It happened unbeknownst to him, before he ever could do anything against it.

"We are keeping Dean in his ICU room for tonight, if he is doing well tomorrow morning, we move him to the surgical unit downstairs. Why don't you go over there and see him?" She gave him an encouraging smile.

"I would love to but I promised Dean I would stay with Sam until he would be able to come back." He was torn but knew he didn't want to be on the wrong end of the older Winchester brother's wrath.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I know someone that would love to stay with Sam until you come back. Brenda ended her shift a little while ago and she told me she would come up and check on him. Why don't I wait until she gets here and you check on your other nephew."

Bobby stood up and brushing Sam's hair out of his face, he said, "I'll be back soon kiddo, got to check on your ornery big brother. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone!"

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Dean felt like he had the hangover from hell. His head was hurting and every time he moved, the room would spin around him. The solution for this seemed easy, just lie still, yet that wasn't as simple as it sounded, not if your stomach was up in your throat and tried to make it all the way out of your body.

Nurse Sandy was holding the emesis basin with one hand while supporting his upper body with the other. Her voice was soothing as she tried to encourage her patient to lie back down after this retching had seized once again. Looking in his glazed over eyes, she realized that he very likely had no idea were up and down was right now. So she set the basin on the over the bed table and gently assisted him back in the pillows.

"I got some meds here that will make the nausea and pain better. Just hang in there for a minute while I inject them into your IV."

She smiled as she injected the drugs and glanced at the monitor to check on his vital signs. A small frown appeared on her face as she noted the too low blood pressure reading. No wonder her patient was kinda out of it. She decided she was going to fix this by asking for an order for the problem.

"Oh, hi Mr. Singer, I didn't hear you come in." She said, as she noticed the hunter, who was standing beside her.

"How is he doing?" Bobby had been standing by the door for a while and witnessed most of the event.

"He is not feeling very well yet but I think he will be a lot better in a few hours. I was just going to ask Dr. Connell for an order, his blood pressure is still way low and we need to bring that up."

She walked out, leaving the older man alone with Dean.

"Hey kid, heard you had a bit of a hard time here." Bobby looked affectionately at the pale faced young man.

"How is Sam?" was the only reply he got.

"Holding his own. They called a pulmonologist in, he is going to see him tomorrow morning. He also recommended a second Antibiotic. Dr. Connell told me they were going to start that yet tonight." He took a breath, then continued, "Now that you know everything about your brother, how are you doing?

"You shouldn't be here, go back to Sam, I'm fine." The concern written in his face belied the harshness of his words.

"Dean, you know I wouldn't leave Sam by himself. Brenda, the reception nurse from the ER is staying with him. Why can't you accept, that you matter too."

Bobby wiped a hand over his face in an attempt to contain the anger that started to rise in him. This was madness, sometimes both of the boys behaved more like little children then the men they had grown up to be.

"Do you realize that your brother almost died because you are more important to him than his own life?"

"I know, that's why he needs you, while I can't be with him." Tears ran down Dean's face.

"Dean, you really don't understand, do you? He was just doing the same thing you have done for him over and over again. And you are doing it again. Sam needs you but you need him also. Neither of you is more important than the other. Never was and never will. Not to your father and not to me."

Bobby sat down and watched the other man's face for an reaction. The adrenaline, brought on by the worry for his brother, was starting to leave him and he looked clearly miserable again. But there was also understanding in his eyes.

"Let me sit with you for a while, at least until you get to sleep, then I go back and take care of Sam for you."

Dean nodded and closed his eyes, trying to fight off the nausea that hit him once again. The older man watched the change in his expression and stood up.

"Need that basin?"

"No, just give me a second." He took several slow breaths until he felt his stomach settle, "I think the meds are helping, it's not as bad as earlier."

He relaxed back into the pillows, suddenly he felt very tired. Trying to keep his eyes open, not wanting to give in to the weakness, he gave Bobby another glance before he lost the fight and his heavy lids slid closed.

The older hunter couldn't help but stroke the short hair once again. "It's okay kid, you just rest and let old Bobby worry for a while."

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The night had gone by in relative quiet. Once again Bobby spent the time taking care of the youngest Winchester. It felt like the night living before all over and by now was tired beyond exhaustion. Around 5 AM Brenda had slipped in the room. It was her day off and she decided to help out.

"Why don't you get some rest." Knowing that he wouldn't want to leave, she pointed at the recliner in the corner, "Most people say it's pretty comfortable to sleep in. I'll take care of young Sam in the meantime and if anything changes, I wake you."

Without complaints he took her up on the offer and relaxed into the chair. It felt like heaven to his tired body and he was asleep before he even knew it.

Brenda just smiled and took up her task of caring for the young man that had touched her in a special way. She took the now warm cloth of his forehead and rewetting it in the cool water that was sitting on the table beside his bed. Wringing it out so it wouldn't drip, she stroked the hair out of his face and replaced the cloth. She had taken a look at the chart outside his room and was aware that his fever had once again spiked during the night, reaching 106.5 F. At the last reading 30 minutes ago it had been down to 104 F.

"I sure hope your temp will stay down and go down further or I don't know how you are going to make it." her words were just a whisper, not ment for anyone but herself to hear.

For a moment she allowed herself to be weak and cry a few tears before the nurse kicked in once again and she continued her ministrations.

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It was nearly 10 AM when Dean entered the room. This time he was walking, although with the assist of crutches. Still a little pale but clearly feeling a lot better, he was accompanied by Nurse Abby, who made sure he didn't put full weight on his injured leg yet. Guiding him towards the bed, she left his side to hang the next dose of Sam's new Antibiotic.

After the young man had assured himself Sam was indeed still alive, he glanced around and noticed Bobby still sleeping in the recliner and an unknown woman sitting at his brothers bedside. A trademark smirk appeared on his face.

"You must be Brenda!" There was no doubt in his voice.

"I am, nice to finally meet you Dean." She got up and pushed a chair behind him.

"Thanks for helping out, I know my uncle has been wearing himself out, trying to be here for both of us."

"He sure has, that's why I came in early this morning." She smiled, looking over to Bobby, who was sitting up in the chair now, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

Dean had followed her eyes and couldn't keep from making a comment, "Can't keep up anymore old man?"

The older man grinned good-naturedly, "No one can keep up with the two of you."

He walked over to the bed, looking concerned at his inhabitant. "Any change?"

"His temp went up again since I came but only slightly. It's at 104.4 F now. I do think the last nebulizer treatment cleared up his lungs a little bit more than usually but that could be just my impression. Otherwise he seems to be the same. He has been quite restless in the last hour, calling repeatedly for Dean and someone called Jess." She looked questioning at the two men.

The older Winchester swallowed, it was extremely difficult for him to know how much anguish Sam still suffered over Jessica's death.

"Jessica was his girlfriend, he was going to propose to her but she got killed in a fire in their apartment."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, this must have been awful for Sam and for you too."

"I thought he was getting over it, it's been over a year now, guess I was wrong. Should have probably talked to him about her a little more often." Dean sadly looked at his brother, stroking his hand almost absentmindedly.

"Dean, many times when people go through a fever delirium, they don't live in the present. There are things going on in their minds, that we can't understand. He might have been just fine but now his mind is not working right. You can't blame yourself for that."

"Guess it doesn't matter, what's important right now is that he gets better. So lets concentrate on that. You hear me Sammy, get that into your scrambled up brain, y o u h a v e t o g e t b e t t e r." He put specific emphasis on his last five words.

He looked over at Sam, noting the wide open eyes and the fearful expression in them. His loud wheezing and gasping for breath made him jump up. Brenda was already checking the monitor and pressed the call light, when she heared the high pitched sounds coming from the young man's throat.

"I think he is having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic."

She turned the IV pump off to stop the flow of the liquid running into his veins. At the same time the alarm in the monitor went off and the distressing sounds coming from Sam seized.

"He's in respiratory and cardiac arrest!" Brenda screamed, as she let the head of the bed down and pulled a board out from underneath.

With surprising strength she rolled him over and put the board underneath him before she pushed him back onto his back. She gave him two breath, looked up at the monitor and started compressions, while Dean and Bobby watched her with horrified expressions on their faces.

TBC

So what do you think, let me know, I really love to hear from all of you. Hugs, Vonnie