Here's the last chapter, and then we have an epilogue.
Chapter 10:
Foreman lay on the hospital bed, resting, and after Cameron stood there watching him sleep for a few minutes she went back to Sam's room. Both brothers looked up to her as she walked in, Sam slightly sleepy-eyed.
"I was just talking to Sam," Dean said quietly. "We're gonna haul ass. You know how we're getting out?"
Cameron stared at him, blank-faced, for a few moments before she nodded. "Yea." She folded her arms, looking to Sam. "How are you feeling?"
Sam paused to consider the question carefully. "Very, very good," he stated with a crooked smile.
Dean couldn't help a smile looking over to his brother and then back to Cameron. "Yea, we aren't really used to the good stuff, so Sammy here's enjoying being drugged up."
Cameron nodded again. "Good."
The smile slipped from Dean's face. "Look, Ali—."
"Don't," she interrupted Dean. "Just…don't." Her voice was surprisingly devoid of emotion. Cameron licked her lips anxiously before she swallowed, looking over to Dean. Dean looked back with an uneasy gaze. "You've already said you're sorry. A few times. So enough of that. It was my decision to bring you guys in here under the radar and I'm not sorry for that. You guys are like brothers to me and I wouldn't have turned you away when you needed help."
"Ali—," Dean started again.
"But this is your fault too," she said through clenched teeth, glaring at Dean. He looked away. "You brought this fight to me. I left it for a reason. Foreman's lying in a hospital bed because of a shifter that you led here."
"Ali, thissis not Dean's fault," Sam told her explicitly, doing his best to defend his brother. "Shiftshapers are evil and—."
"Sam, if I had to do it all over again I'd make the same decisions," Cameron told him. "But…just don't count on me any more after this. Because I'm out. Next time you need help, you go to another hunter. Not to me."
Sam stared at her for a long moment, almost sadly, before Dean spoke. "Fair enough," he murmured.
Cameron gave a final nod. "I'm going to go get a wheelchair and the nurses that are helping us and we'll get you out of here." At that, she turned and left the room, closing the door.
Sam stared at his brother, even in his drugged state able to read the expression on his face plain as day. Mostly because he'd seen it before. Dean had failed to protect someone he cared about. He'd brought the danger straight to Ali. It didn't matter that everyone was okay or that it was Ali's decision to cover for them. Dean still felt guilty. And Sam couldn't help him with that. Hell, Sam felt guilty too.
"Dean issnot—," Sam started, hardly realizing he was speaking.
"How're the stitches holding up?" Dean asked, rubbing his hands together, looking over to Sam.
Their gazes met and Sam's chest tightened slightly, even through the morphine, as he saw the mask he was familiar with. The one where Dean was feeling badly about something, but was the slightest bit too tired to successfully disguise it with a fake grin.
"Dean…" Sam murmured.
"Sam, let's just get out of here, okay?" Dean asked, getting to his feet. He forced the mask further, managing to get it to the level where he could fool strangers into thinking he was fine. Sam could still tell, of course, but he pushed it aside.
"Yea," Sam replied with a sigh. "We gah'some happy pills to-go?"
"I swiped some, enough so we'll have some left over for whatever crap rains down on us next. Even got some of the good stuff," he said with a smile.
Sam nodded drowsily. "Nice," he sighed. He stared at Dean for a few moments before Dean looked up to him.
"What?"
Sam blinked. "Nothin'."
Dean continued to look at him. "You want to stare somewhere else? I mean I know I'm good-looking, but seriously, dude."
Sam blinked again, his eyebrows furrowing. "B't…yer m'brother."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Sam sighed, as if annoyed that Dean didn't understand the statement. "And…I'm tired."
Dean pursed his lips and nodded. "Close your eyes. I'll get you up when Cameron gets back, we'll shlep you to the Impala, get out of here.
Sam didn't reply, just let his eyes close. He knew Dean didn't regret bringing Sam here. He knew Dean didn't regret asking Cameron for help, manipulatively or financially. It was their best option to keep Sam safe and healthy, which was always Dean's primary concern. Like Cameron, Sam knew that Dean had no regrets.
But it didn't mean he didn't have a wish or two.