Usual disclaimers apply along with any glaring typos! Sorry for the delay in posting this but my old PC died a terrible death taking the original version of this chapter down to the burning orange world of cyberspace hell. So a new PC later and me typing away like a frenzied dog and this is the end result. Long chapter so be warned as a result of manic fingers going into meltdown mode! Feedback as always warmly welcomed even if I am a slow coach in saying my thanks. Rozzy.
Growing Pains – Chapter 11: Confessions
It was never easy his relationship with his youngest and John would freely admit that fact to anyone that asked. Sam had a mind far too sharp to control and also a stubbornness about him that drove him crazy at times. It had left him floundering to find a middle ground to try and keep their relationship on any firm footing. But hearing his son beg him not to turn his brother against him literally took his legs away from under him.
Deep down he had always assumed that despite their differences that his son knew that he loved him. Now as he heard his boy spill out his doubts he felt what he presumed to be understood as unconditional love crumble away.
Now his baby boy thought that he hated him, and his whole body shook with disbelief as he wrapped his arms tighter around his son and whispered out his denial. "No not ever, no."
"Gonna hate me too…" whispered back Sam, his mind caught up in the imagery of his big brother's return and the furious disappointment that would go with it.
Aware that Sam needed reassurance John tried to keep his voice level, "I don't hate you son, neither will your brother. You're just confused and not thinking straight."
With his words he had hoped to lessen his son's agitation but instead he felt long slender fingers physically pinching skin under his shirt as Sam feverishly shook his head, "If I do all the chores like I should have maybe then you know just how sorry I am. I can do it, all of it, more, just give me the chance to prove myself."
As his son's breathing became choppy as his desperation grew John became afraid of the damage he was doing to himself, "No listen, you have to calm down. Right. Now."
It was an order, loud and clear, and John cringed at the sound of his own voice as he heard the deep juddering inhalation of air before Sam pushed himself away, his fingers unclenching so fast from any contact with him it was as if he had touched fire.
"Yes sir," gasped back Sam as he jack-knifed backwards finding enough strength in his legs to support himself again. Hastily he brushed away any trace of tears with the flat of his hands, gritting his teeth in horror that he had shown such fragility to a man who brooked no such weakness in his sons.
The title of 'Sir' was a sharp reminder for John of the long drive from California to Wisconsin with a son made silent by his harsh words that he had never managed to take back.
Lurching abruptly to his feet John tried to offset any further damage appealing directly to his boy, "Listen son all I want you is well again."
Sam looked at him guardedly through his stringy sweat soaked bangs before visibly stiffening as he nodded his agreement, "Can't afford to be sick. Got it sir."
John shook his head realising that his boy was hearing only the negative qualities in his voice. Taking a step forward he put out a hand to reach for him only to freeze when he saw Sam visibly recoil with a soft hiss of alarm at his approach.
Dropping his hand leadingly back to his side John fought back his own pain at his boy's rejection and couldn't keep the tremor from his voice as he admitted, "I know I've made some big mistakes here and you got hurt because of them. And believe me I get it - that if anyone has a right to hate anyone right now its you, but I am still your father and all I want to do is help you son."
When Sam just continued staring at him glassy eyed John added weakly rubbing a tired hand over his mouth. "You know your brother is going to want to kick my butt when he gets back for letting this happen."
Sam's eyes widened in alarm at the reminder of Dean coming back to find out what had happened and his own self-loathing bubbled back to the surface, "Oh god see, that's what I mean. I should have kept my big mouth shut and then no one would be upset."
Shaking his head in disagreement John quickly answered knowing that it was more than just the fever twisting his son's thoughts, "You shouldn't think like that. You got hurt and needed help and the only stupid thing you did was try and keep quiet about it."
Fisting his long fingers threw his hair Sam shook his head, "Stupid, yeah that's right and Dean will think that too, that I let him down when I promised I wouldn't."
Realising that he had to give his distraught boy what he needed to hear John quickly acquiesced, "Sam listen up, if you really don't want me to tell your brother then I won't. I'll leave that to you when you're good and ready. Okay son?"
He awaited a response but Sam just stared blankly back at him and he wondered just how much his boy was able to take onboard and process as he swayed slightly before him once more.
Daring once more to reach out a hand he brushed the sweat drenched bangs from his boy's face and couldn't stop his top lip from curling as he caught sight of a fresh trail of crimson running down along his hairline. "Anything you want Sam - just let me help get you well again."
"You really would do that? You mean not ever having to tell him if I don't want to?" queried Sam his confused eyes locked on his dad's face searching out the truth behind his words.
Brushing the blood away with his thumb John nodded his agreement as he leant in to absorb the heat from his child desperate to keep him calm and stop his temperature from rising further, "With your brother gone I should have been there for you, but I am here now so just tell me what you need from me to make this right?"
Sam jerked back at his words, peeling himself away from his touch, breath hitching in his chest all too aware of what his dad thought about him before leaving California, "Need? No, not supposed to… gotta be just like you, like Dean."
Swallowing back bile John's eyes glittered dangerously with unshed tears as his boy innocently spun his own words back at him. Struggling past the constriction in his throat he croaked out, "I would like to think that you would always need me Sammy."
There was a pregnant pause as Sam struggled with the raw emotions rolling off his dad and his confusion rose, "But you said I'm too 'needy'. Remember…. you said it to Dean, that I wasn't worth anything because of it."
John unable to tolerate the distance between them any longer grabbed Sam up in a tight embrace his voice breaking as he admitted, "God help me if I made you feel that way. If we don't need each other then what do we have son? Its all we have."
Sensing the resistance fall away from Sam he took on his full weight as he whispered out a soft plea "Let me try and make you better son. You need to rest up, get this fever under control and may be then you'll see that things aren't so bad after all."
"Yeah tired… real tired," confessed Sam as his long rubbery legs gave up the battle to keep him supported and his forehead slumped into the dip of his dad's collarbone as all strength deserted him.
In a quick scoop John had him secure in his arms, "I got you Sammy. Lets get you to bed, eh?"
Sam nodded back up at him and John's breath hitched in his chest as he saw the trust settling back in his son's eyes. So easily regained he wondered how on earth he had dared to lose it in the first place.
Grimly he headed out of the kitchen determined to get him settled before Josh returned with his doctor friend. He stalled though when he was met by a pale faced Jim Murphy and guessed that he had heard everything. "You hear all that I take it?"
When Jim nodded with eyes suspiciously bright from his own tears he added bitterly, "Good, 'cos now you know exactly what a mess I've made of my boy."
Swiftly passing by his friend he headed for the bedroom huffing a grunt of discomfort as Sam was no lightweight kid anymore, having packed on enough muscle onto his tall frame to make him grateful that his room was only a few short strides away.
Jim silently followed after them, having as John suspected listened in to Sam's fevered fuelled pleas to his father. He had bitten his tongue enough to draw blood to keep himself silent and on the sidelines as the two Winchester's emotional defences crumbled away. Faith had bolstered his hope that this old friend would do right by his boy and remember what being his father was really all about. Now as he watched John walk by with his son in his arms he prayed that he had been right to take a step backwards like he had.
Murphy watched sadly as John carefully laid a semi conscious Sam on the bed, wrapping a sheet gently around his shivering form and without needing to be asked handed over the medikit. "Joshua should be back with the doctor soon John. Do you want to wait till then?"
Inspecting the deep laceration on his son's scalp gingerly John shook his head, "No, best get it over with. It's only going to need a couple of stitches max. It will be less traumatic if I do it rather than some stranger. Besides you and I both know its nothing compared to the mess on his back. Best let the Doc concentrate on that and other stuff…"
Jim nodded his understand and went to the kitchen to get a basin of hot water. John opened the medikit and tried to thread the needle but it took a good few attempts as the tremble in his hands betrayed how petrified he still was for his boy.
Sam's fighting to stay awake kept his eyes locked on his dad, fascinated by his stuttering movements as he struggled to thread the needle and a small smile ghosted across his face.
John caught the quick flash of dimples from his youngest and paused a little surprised to see the amusement clear on his sons' feverish face. He threw his son a weak lopsided grin and admitted, "Look at me all fingers and thumbs. Just a big clutz hey Sammy."
Sam admitted again, lucidity winning over the fever for a few minutes, "My hands kept shaking too. Must be something they put in the local water. Couldn't even get the butterfly strips to stick never mind thread a needle…"
A smile softened John's features as he looked at his boy whose head rested on his lap and he stroked a hand over his head, "Good job too Sammy or I'd hate to think of the mess you'd have made of that ginormous head of yours if you tried to stitch this up by yourself."
A big yawn escaped as Sam muttered back, "Yeah might have ended up looking like Frankenstein's monster…Dee would just love that."
John heard his son sigh, heard his breathing deepen and watched anxiously as his eyes fluttered close. Saying a small prayer of thanks he put in the first suture as deftly as he could managing to still the tremor in his hand to quickly finish up after another three stitches.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Boredom did many things to Dean Winchester and one was his ability to pick at something till he turned the smallest of cracks into the widest of craters to get at what he wanted.
For the last few hours this trait had married itself to his throbbing backside to niggle away till all his thoughts were focused on Caleb and his back history. The fact was that he had been around the man most of his life, but outside of their shared hunts what he knew about him would be half pressed to fill the back of a postcard.
Dean let his curiosity eat away at him till finally he had to say something, "So I was thinking about what you said when I rang Sam and we got into one a few nights back, about just how bad things were with you and your dad."
"Well that's a first, Dean Winchester actually thinking!" muttered back Caleb sarcastically not liking where the conversation was going.
"Jerk," spat back Dean automatically but still undeterred continued, "So like I was saying I was thinking about your family and I was wondering if you were ever planning on getting things fixed with them?"
Caleb stiffened at his question but instead of answering eyed the greying skyline ahead and muttered back, "Looks like its gonna rain."
Not deflected by the change in subject Dean continued, "You ever try and see them at all. Like you could be an uncle or something dude and not know it!"
Caleb's knuckles went white at the wheel at Dean's continued probing, his mouth now a tight slash in a refusal to answer. The impala juddered slightly as he pushed it past ninety miles an hour to overtake a large truck as he tried to outrun Dean's persistent questions.
Dean didn't even flicker an eyelid as the speed increased and was necessarily thick skinned enough not to stop his digging, "Come on man. From the telling you just upped and dumped your brothers all because of some stupid dingdong with your old man."
"My old man as you put it was a first class bastard," spat back Caleb with enough venom in his words to make Dean flinch, "He ruled my family with fear and his fists. So yes I just upped and run if that's what you want to think. Personally I think at the age of sixteen it was more akin to my survival instincts kicking in."
Despite the bitterness in his friend's voice the need for the full story made Dean probe for more information and he remarked tellingly, "You've got two brothers Cal out there and I don't even know their names."
Shaking his head in irritation as Caleb remained determinedly silent Dean pushed for a reaction by adding, "Pretty cold thing to do, just cut them off like they're nothing to you, if you don't mind me saying."
Dean got his long awaited response as the gas pedal was pressed harder and the impala sped down the highway in a blur as Caleb vented his anger, "Fuck you Winchester. You know diddly frigging squat about me and my brothers."
Dean ignoring the speed the car was going, confident of Caleb's ability not to wreck his baby, confessed, "That's why I'm asking man. You were only sixteen and your brothers just let you go. If Sammy did that - well I just can't imagine my little brother being gone and out of the family. Hell he is our family."
Caleb threw him an unreadable look before his eyes visibly softened as he thought on the Winchester brothers close relationship, "Your lucky you have that with Sam. The fool kid hero worships you despite all the crap you keep on feeding him."
Uncomfortable at the reminder Dean laughed softly, "Yeah maybe, but that's only until he sees the state of my behind. Then I'm so going to get it in the neck from the little bitch."
Dean paused aware that he had been pushing too hard and tried to lighten the situation, "You know I can take a guess at your brothers names, Dumb and Dumber right? Just liked you're really named Lil' Dumbass after them."
He got a sour chuckle out of Caleb before he tiredly finally offered up, "Junior and Gil. Junior was the oldest by seven years, named after our dad as you might have guessed and Gil was 3 years my senior."
"Was?" asked Dean with a suddenly tongue suddenly too dry wishing that for once he had kept him mouth firmly zipped.
Caleb's eyes were once again fixed on the road ahead as the speed at which they had been travelling lessened before he sadly confessed, "Dad got them killed two years after I left."
"Jeez I'm sorry Cal," gasped out Dean feeling his guts twist at the news before hastily adding, "But you had a chance to make things up with them before that?"
'Please' begged Dean silently to himself for the man sitting besides him sake
"Yeah, sort of, but it was hard you know. I saw them a few times when the old man wasn't around but the damage was done long before I left. I don't think they had a single thought in their heads other than saying 'Yes, Sir, three bags full Sir' to dad. They forget to think for themselves and in the end that's what got them killed."
Dean shot a look at his friend and saw the pain etched into his tight features and his own heart betrayed him as he thought on his brother being gone, not liking the feeling at all, "How did it happen?"
"They took off on a hunt in the Appalachian mountains in the middle of winter, after some old spirit terrorising the woods. Like always dad did things his way and wouldn't take the advice of the locals that the weather was turning bad. No siree, he went in guns a-blazing thinking it a simple salt and burn."
Dean closed his eyes for a long second before daring to look at him again and ask, "And it wasn't I take it."
Sucking in a breath it took a moment for Caleb to admit, "Course not. It left JR and Gil bleeding out in the middle of nowhere while he continued with the hunt. For him saving face came before everything and everybody and by the time he got back hypothermia had killed them both before the blood loss could."
Trying to find a balance to the story Dean found himself defending a man he had never known, "Cal we both know how quickly things can go bad on a job. Blaming your dad like this…"
Angrily Caleb shot him a look, his voice vicious as he spat out, "Hell yes I blame him. That bastard stole my brothers from me."
Dean flinched but bit back a response knowing that Caleb needed to get this off his chest. Despite his own growing levels of physical discomfort as the wounds in his back throbbed mercilessly now he kept his mouth firmly closed.
As if sensing he was given the chance to unburden himself Caleb threw his friend a small sad smile before finally confessing, "See they wouldn't have died if he had swallowed his pride and rang Bobby, the man was only an hour away. But he didn't call him or the emergency services, no one, because then he would have had to admit that he made a mistake. And my dad didn't do 'mistakes' in any shape or form."
"One hell of a mistake to live with Caleb," agreed Dean softly before daring to ask, "Just how'd you find out about it all?"
"Singer. My dad left it to a virtual stranger at that time to bring my brothers bodies home. Dad had gone off on a bender to end all benders and didn't even turn up when we put them in the ground."
Dean was lost for words, stunned into silence as Caleb continued, "Bastard might as well have pushed my mom into the ground right after my brothers that day. Two months later her death certificate said heart failure but that man had broken her years ago. Losing JR and Gil just finished her of quicker that's all."
"I'm really sorry Caleb, I could cut out my tongue with a rusty blade for pushing like this," whispered back Dean ashen faced.
"Don't sweat it man. Its all ancient history how."
Dean threw his friend a knowing look, guessing that this wasn't quite the end of his story and asked, "But what of your dad? He ever show up to make things right with you?"
Caleb gave a soft cynical chuckle at the idea, "Yeah the bastard did turn up a few years afterwards stinking of whiskey fumes and little else. By that time Jim Murphy had me under his wing determined to sort out my little 'attitude problem'. Hell even got me to go back to school and get my diploma."
"Good old Pastor Jim," smiled back Dean with genuine fondness in his eyes for the man as he admitted, "He was always a safe harbour when we were kids."
"Yeah but that didn't sit well with my dad me staying with a man of the cloth. He turned up one night, mouth running away with, fists flying, wanting to haul my ass back under his control. Tried anyways until I pulled out a handgun and threatened to blow his skull apart."
Dean was barely able to breathe as he asked, "And did you?"
"No, but I should have maybe," confessed Caleb grimly as he kept his eyes firmly on the road ahead, "The coward got an easier ending than he deserved. Got so freaking drunk one night he smashed his car into a river and got himself drowned. Have to tell you I had me a party for a week after I heard that little snippet of news."
"Shit Cal he was still your dad," mustered back Dean in response not able to take onboard anyone hating their own father so much that they could rejoice in their death. "You must have felt something when he died."
"Yeah sure I did. I felt fucking cheated that's what. Cheated because I never got to beat the crap out of him like he did my mom, my brothers and me."
Sucking in a long breath at the memories his talk with Dean had dredged up Caleb bitterly added, "There are monsters out there that are fully human kiddo. Best you never forget that."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Joshua impatiently pushed his friend over the line of salt and into the cabin. "Come on Birdy get a move on the kid needs you."
"Will you stop your shoving Jay or so help me I'll forget I'm a pacifist and snap off parts of your outer extremities that you are sorely going to miss," snapped back Dr Hal Birdstrom with more than a hint of irritation in his raised voice.
"Bird you still pissed at me man?" queried Josh a little astonished at his friends continued recalcitrance, "I thought you would have gotten past that by now."
"You literally manhandle me out of my work place, force me into your truck and drive like the psychotic idiot that you are to the back end of beyond and have the cheek to be surprised that I may not be happy with the whole experiences. So yeah forgive me if I'm left a little shell-shocked and ever so slightly pissed off here – and no before you label it as just some little quirky adventure this is a full blown kidnapping."
Eyebrows raised Joshua stood back with a wondrous expression on his face, "Jeez Hal, that was freaking amazing. You swallow an extra set of lungs or something, cos you didn't even pause for a breath, not once then."
"Jay so help me I'm gonna remove your testes without the benefit of anaesthetic and feed them to Betsy."
"That's real low man, offering up my crown jewels to that that rat of a Chihuahua of yours!"
"You must be Joshua's friend," came the calming voice of Jim Murphy as he stepped into the two men's warring path, "Its really good of you come out like this."
Hal strangled a derisive snort at the implication that he had come along willingly as he studied the older man, "Not much choice as I see it. Seems Jay's brewed himself up a storm of trouble and needs my help to sort out one his messes as usual."
"Jeez Bird you owe me big time after all those times I saved your scrawny lily-livered ass in the past so this is payback. Just stop your bitching, it makes you sound like the whiney little jerk you are."
Slowly Hal cocked a look at the pastor as he deliberately ignored his friend's comments, "And you'd be?"
Joshua snorted out his impatience as he pushed past his friend and barked out, "Pastor Murphy meet Dr Birdstrom, mega nerd extraordinaire, a hanger on from my wasted years at UCL."
Extending a hand of greeting Jim calmly shook the doctor's hand glad at its firmness. "Joshua despite his unorthodox way of doing things is right, there is a young boy in need of your expertise."
Grumpily Joshua huffed out, "So now you've said yer howdy dos lets get Birdy here to the kid.
Keeping himself firmly rooted to the spot Hal shook his head, "Did the big idiot tell you that I'm supposed to be I supposed to be on duty tonight and that I'm liable to get my ass canned for this little disappearing act he has me doing?"
Jim tried to assess the man further, noting his slight frame, thinning hairline of mousy brown hair and non-descript face but all that blandness was negated by the sharpness of his tongue and he found himself immediately liking him. "Like I said our Joshua can be a little impatient at times."
Shrugging out of his jacket Joshua sniffed indignantly at the pastors words as he rolled up his sleeves as if readying for action. "Impatient my ass. All I want is that the kid gets better."
"As do we all," agreed Jim before he turned his attention back to the doctor, "I presume Joshua managed to tell you what has occurred?"
"Some," muttered back Hal cagily. "Teenage boy got hurt in car smash a few days back after some drunken driver tried to assault him. Though I do find it bloody incredible that you guys didn't think on taking him direct to the ER."
"You'll see why," confessed Jim as he guided the still reluctant doctor to follow him. When he pushed open the bedroom door he added. "It breaks my heart to see the boy like this. I imagine it's the combination of shock, his injuries and the weather but he's running a high fever now on top of everything else."
On hearing the door creak open John's head snaked up fully alert as Jim stepped into the room with a slight looking man at his side. Holding his half asleep son closer to him he queried, "You the doctor? Took you long enough to get here."
Birdstrom swallowed nervously under the older man's intense scrutiny and sensing his discomfort Joshua came to his rescue, "I got him here as soon as I could John. Try not to bite his head off as he's here to check Sam over, remember?"
The fire went out of John's eyes and he nodded tiredly, automatically placing a hand on his son's head to still him as muttered something into his dad's lap. "Ssshh Sammy, its okay. He's not here to hurt you."
On seeing the gentler side to the fierce looking man Hal felt a little easier. Putting down his medical bag on the foot of the bed, he muttered out an introduction, "Hal Birdstrom freshly kidnapped from County General,"
Looking at the bundled figure shivering by his side he added a little softer, "Is this my patient?"
When John mutely nodded he carefully pulled back the top blanket off and saw for himself the fever flushing Sam's cheeks and could only guess at the cause. More tellingly the soaked bangs had parted to reveal the dark bruise on his forehead and small strip of gauze turning pink in his hairline.
Not expecting his patient to look so young Hal found himself rambling, "His name is Sam, right? Fifteen years old Jay said. You know how long he's been like this?"
"I really don't know - Jim found him about an hour ago. My boy seems lucid one minute then pretty much out of it the next," admitted John. "He was up and about this morning and I didn't spot a thing wrong then. Then again I wasn't looking, lord help me."
Hal cast a look over at Joshua before he pulled the surrounding blankets away despite the boys obvious reluctance. Noticing immediately the dimpling of bruises along Sam's throat and what looked like a man's handprint vivid on his forearm he asked, "Joshua you said you were with him last night, didn't you see any of this bruising on him then?"
"No he wouldn't let me touch him…and I sure as hell didn't know about the wound on his head or his back."
"I fixed the head wound. Took just a couple of stitches," confessed John as his gaze lingered on the bloody gauze and basin with pink coloured water in it on the bedside table.
Tutting out his disbelief the doctor took stock of the situation. The boy was trembling clearly with a fever and the first thing he needed to see just how bad it was. It took him three attempts before John stepped in to calm Sam down enough for him to get a reading and when it came back nudging close to 103 degrees Hal felt his concern rising. Children even as old as Sam could spike a temperature pretty high at times but this was nudging beyond the dangerous levels.
Coughing anxiously he took Sam's pulse to find that racing too and looked at John as he asked, "So no seizures, no convulsions?"
When he was met with a mixture of shaking and nodding heads he cocked an eyebrow at the three men not quite sure who knew what, "Well that's nice and helfpul guys. So firstly we need to get his temperature lowered before he does cook his brains. We really can't afford to let it get any higher."
Noting how his breath curled into feint grey wisps every time he exhaled Hal realised he had already half an aid to get Sam cooled down, "Lets strip him down. Its cold enough in this room to freeze a polar bear so hopefully that's gonna help. If that fails puts some ice packs on the pulse points. We need to keep checking his temperature and if it goes any higher be prepared to put him in a cold bath."
"Don't want no bath," muttered back Sam wriggling in his dad's lap.
Snapping to attention at the doctors instructions John quickly pulled away the blankets that Sam had insisted on wrapping himself up in before slowly turning him on his tummy to pull off the sodden sheet now sticking to his son's damp frame.
"Sorry son," he whispered in apology as Sam whimpered at the loss of the comfort of the sheet as the cold air hit him fully, touching the wound on his back like an icy slap.
"It hurts," Sam whispered out hollowly fisting the pillow under him as John pressed a knowing kiss on top of his head.
"Whoa there, I bet it does Samuel," spat out Hal as he eyed the colourful array of bruising together with the festering wound on his back.
Slipping on a pair of latex gloves he hastily inspected the wound unable to mask his alarm wondering just what sort of men these were to let the kid suffer like this. "This happened how many nights ago? Did no one think to treat this at all?"
"We were out of town when this happened and we didn't know till tonight," warned Murphy as he watched John deflate even further. "Samuel seemed intent on keeping things quiet about what had happened to him. That's why you're here Dr Birdstrom."
Maintaining as much of a professional air as he could Hal looked at the pastor and then back to the father as he forcefully gave him his opinion, "Your boy needs a hospital sir. He needs to be on intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics to fight this infection and bring his fever under control. More importantly he needs a surgical input to have this wound debrided for it to heal."
"Dad no," whispered out Sam in alarm as he turned on his side to face the doctor with a worried frown, "Don't send me away. Gotta be here when Dean comes back."
"Shush Sammy, no one is taking you anywhere. No one will keep you from your brother. I promise."
Unable to mask his disbelief Hal threw his hands in the air, "This is insane. The boy can't be treated here. What is with you macho Hunters thinking that you're immune to the disease and frailties that the human body can be subjected to?"
Twisting away at hearing the doctor's rant a coughing spasm wracked through him before Sam managed to flick up watery eyes up at his dad and whisper out his discomfort, "Thirsty."
John nodded his understanding and lightly brushed his fingers over the now drying bangs, careful not to pull the stitches he had put in place only minutes earlier. Tossing a look at the three men he got the response he needed as Jim jumped at the chance of being of some use. "I'll get him a glass of water Johnny."
Hal watched him leave then brought his attention back to Sam, pinching a soft fold of skin on his hand and he shook his head, "He's severely dehydrated. When's the last time he ate or drank anything?" On receiving blank looks he tartly added, "Today, yesterday, when if at all?"
Again he was met with a small round of shrugs and he found himself voicing out his disgust. "Seems like you guys don't know a lot do you? I've got the distinct impression that you idiots may be able to fucking hunt to you all drop but you'd be hard pressed to organise a piss up in a brewery in the real world never mind look after a kid. Its no wonder this boy is in such a mess."
John's face soured even further but it was the small escaping giggle from Sam that suddenly broke the tension, "Piss up in a brewery dad - that's a good one. The doc sort of sounds a bit like Dean at times, all sarky like his boxers have crawled up his ass."
A deep fruity laugh met his statement as Joshua shoved playfully at his old friend shoulder, "Birdy always has been a little anal, but he does have a way with words Sammy that's for sure. Bet you he could give your brother a run for the title of motor mouth given half the chance."
Sam smiled weakly back at him before another coughing fit hijacked his attention. At that moment Jim returned with a jug of water and a glass in hand, and Hal stood up offering his advice to John as he comforted his son as the coughing died down, "Get him to drink it slowly."
The doctor then turned his attention back to his friend. Pulling him to the corner of the room he whispered loudly, "This is beyond stupid Joshua. Just what the hell do you want from me here? That boy's back is a mess and from the sound of his lungs and the fever he's spiking he's got the onset of pneumonia too. If I didn't know better, and right now I don't, this looks like neglect, plain and simple."
"Aw come on Hal you know that's not true. No one here would ever hurt that kid."
"No? Well what I do know is that he is hurt and the best place for him right now is a goddam hospital."
"You think I don't know that I screwed up, that Sam is sick because of me? That some bastard might have molested him and I wasn't here to stop it," growled out Joshua bitterly.
When Hal went to protest further Joshua stabbed an angry finger at his friend, "You know damn well what will happen if we take Sam to hospital with those marks and bruises on his body. You want me to risk that do you? Losing Sam to some fucking do-gooder whistleblower who has no idea what really happened here."
Sucking in a steadying breath Hal looked at his friend and then back to the quivering boy, torn between his friend's pleas and the needs of his patient. "We could create a cover story and try keep the authorities out of it."
"No," snapped back John his hearing sensitive enough to hear their mutterings as he guided Sam back down on the bed, "I can't risk having social services take him from me. Just do what you can here."
Hal blanched at the suggestion as his eyes flitted around the mildewed room, "I don't think I can or would risk doing anything here. Not in these conditions."
"We don't have a choice," stepped in Jim putting a firm hand on the young doctor's shoulder. "I trust you to do your best for Sam. Just tell us how we can help you here."
"Please Birdy, I know I'm asking a lot but the kid is like family to me," pleaded Joshua in tandem with Jim's forceful stare. Throwing him a cheeky grin he added, "Think of me as his personal medical insurance cover and you can hit me with the bill afterwards."
"It's going to be more than a couple of crates of beer this time," snuffled back Hal as he slowly nodded his agreement sensing it was pointless arguing any further. The young boy needed help but he knew that they were right, that the moment they stepped through the ER doors social services would be instantly alerted.
John glad of the doctor's agreement took his son's temperature again and he held his breath as the reading came down half a degree less. "It's going to be okay son. The doctor is going to make it all better."
"Dad…" whispered Sam as he struggled to stay awake, aware of only the comfort of his dad's hand on his shoulder and the promise of earlier echoing in his head, "You won't tell him will you?"
John nodded his agreement as Sam leant his head into his lap, "Whatever you want Sammy. Lets just get you better. That the best thing you can do for your brother right now."
Hal pulled out a pad from his bag and hastily scribbled out a list before shoving it into Joshua's hand. "I don't want to know how you go about it but I need what's on this list. And I need it like yesterday."
Whistling softly as his gaze travelled down the list Joshua face split into a knowing smirk, "Consider it already done dude."
"Don't you dude me! I'm up to my neck in crap here so don't you dare lead the cops back to my doorstep. You do know that you're seriously gonna get me struck off one of these days."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Caleb knew it to be a bad idea from the get go, but with Dean's endless nagging and the persistent sour taste left in his mouth after confessing all about his family the neon sign that led them to 'Crazy Freddie's Bar' just couldn't be resisted.
A few beers later the sour taste had lifted and so too had Dean's ability to sit up straight.
"Dude I told you to hold off the pain meds till later," worried back Caleb as he watched Dean smirk idiotically back at him as he pulled him up straight again in his chair. "You're going to end up disgracing yourself by puking everywhere."
"S'right it's all cool, not gonna puke anywhere. 'Sides we Winchester men don't do that sort of thing."
"No? Well I remember you chucking up a stomach full of enchiladas and cheesy jalapeno fries in New Mexico two summers back. Goddam splattered my back seats in such spectacular fashion that they had to be reupholstered. The stench was worse than when your kid brother skunked my car."
Frowning Dean leant forward and wagged an exaggerated finger at him, "You know I think that was my most singularly most disgusting night ever."
"I can remember worse I'm sorry to have to admit," smiled back Caleb ruefully. "Remember that ugly midget of a girl with the buck teeth and bald head who drank you under the table all for a bet of ten dollars. Lots and lots of vomit that night too…"
Dean straightened up abruptly as he looked at his friend intently. "You know that's why I love you dude. Your vomit-proof."
Blanching at the news Caleb's eyes darted around the bar to see who else had heard this drug and alcohol fuelled confession. "Ah man enough is enough. Lets get you tucked in for the night before you start singing Dolly Parton love songs at me or worse."
"Nah, love you dude, just like a brother," slurred back Dean patting a knowing hand on his friend's cheek and said a little to loudly for Caleb's comfort, "You're the only one I'd let touch my ass like that. Wouldn't even let Sammy touch my goods like that."
Choking on his beer Caleb determining that it was now time to get his charge out of the bar and back to the sanctuary of some faceless motel room, "That's it, time to get you back to a motel and to bed before your mouth totally runs away with you."
"Ah look at the pretty boys getting all romantic together. Can't wait to crawl into the sack together," sneered a beefy bruiser of a man sitting at the bar and near enough to them to have overheard their conversation.
Turning to his two companions he added, "It's a freaking disgrace if you ask me that perverts like them can come into a decent place like this to stink the place out."
Dean's head snapped up at the man's vicious words, his eyes narrowing in temper at the stranger's suggestion and he pointed his beer bottle at him, "Oh go screw yourself you homophobic dickhead. It's a free country and I can damn well drink where I like so stop having such a bitching fit Princess Pissy Face."
"What did you just call me?" growled out man-mountain, standing to his full height to make Caleb feel small in comparison.
"Dean!" hissed out Caleb in warning as he watched the man's drinking buddies stand up now readying for action at his side and knew he would be hard pressed to take out all three of them down if it turned into a fight, "Put a goddam sock in it."
Smirking Dean's ignored his friend's warning and slurred out his contempt on really taking a good look at the man, "Sweet Jesus I take it back about you being a princess as your momma birthed one damn ugly sonofabitch."
Clamping a hard hand on his arm Caleb tried to draw him in but Dean shrugged away from him aiming further insults to the all readying fuming bruiser of a bar hog, " Must be hard getting laid with a face as ugly as yours. Suppose if you put a paper back of over your head you might just get lucky one day."
Knocking a solid fist into the palm of his hand the man took a step forward growling out a warning, "I'm gonna knock that them pearly whites right down your pretty boy throat, then we'll see whose so goddam fucking ugly then."
"Hey, hey," growled out the bartender suddenly aware of just how nasty the situation could play itself out, "Take it outside fellas or I'll call the cops." Adding as he pushed a warning finger at the big man's shoulder, "You ain't gonna go smashing up my bar again O'Malley, ya hear me?"
Putting up a placating hand Caleb hastily stood up, dragging a giggling Dean with him hissing out a warning, "Can it you idiot."
Throwing a look at the man the bartender had called O'Malley Caleb tried to make their exit as safe as possible swallowing crow as he said, "Look no offence guys. We'll be on our way. The kid here didn't mean anything, just had a beer too many is all. No harm done, right?"
For a second Caleb thought they had made good their escape but Dean twisted his head around and threw a parting remark, "Yeah I'm sorry. Sorry that your so freaking ugly that even the local whores go hide when they see you coming."
"That's it," growled out Caleb under his breath pulling Dean in front of him, "Time to get you and your gobby little mouth the hell out of here."
He didn't get far when he felt the hairs at back of his neck bristle in alarm. Pushing Dean ahead of him he ducked low enough to miss the first punch thrown his way, and looked around just in time to see the follow up punch come towards him with enough time to block it with his forearm.
Huffing out his annoyance he offered up his own hard fist to the taller man's jaw and felt a satisfying sting on his knuckles at the man staggered back with a grunt of pain, falling into one of his drinking buddies in the process.
After that Caleb doing his best to shield Dean, who had taken one punch that had knocked him clear on his ass and it seemed that was were he was going to stay for the rest of the fight, busted his knuckles in a good old fashioned bar fight.
Caleb soon found out that his three opponents didn't want to fight fair as one goon tried to shove a broken bottle in his face. A broken wrist later and with a pair of tenderised testicles from a well placed kick the man was on the floor, hands clutching his groin as he whimpered out his discomfort.
"Stay down," he growled out in warning to the man before he threw another punch at O'Malley who fell back again screaming in pains as his broken nose gushed out a stream of red.
Battling low and dirty, not above hair pulling, Caleb grabbed at the straggly ponytail of the third goon and swung him around to slum-dunk his face onto the bar counters edge with a loud satisfying crack before he too sunk like a sack of potatoes to the floor.
A fist hit him and he fell backwards to land on a tabletop and his world went momentarily fuzzy. As O'Malley reached down for him he managed to use his long legs to kick out and hit him in the guts and he managed to roll away, shaking his head to clear the buzzing noise from his head.
On standing his mouth fell open when he heard a familiar voice singing out, like some cheerleading mantra, "Go, Cal, Go."
In disbelief he risked a glance at Dean, still sitting the floor, who gave him a quick thumbs up and whispered 'Awesome dude' back up at him with a wide grin of delight.
Caleb quickly turned back to his opponent only to see him drop boneless to the floor to join his friends as the baseball in the bartenders hand cracked against his skull.
Clearly miffed the bartender turned to Caleb and barked out, "Get you and your scrawny assed partner out of here before I call the cops. And don't ever think of ever heading back this way ever again."
"S'right, don't think we'll be going out of our way to revisit this backwater dump ever again soon anyways" slurred back Dean who was still sitting on the floor, gingerly fingering his nose for any break.
"Get him the fuck out of here," growled back the bartender shaking his head as he heard the low groans coming from the three men at his feet.
Caleb winced again at his friend's tart words but leant down a hand to pull him back on to his feet. "You up to walking out of here now dude, or you still got something else to say that's liable to get us killed?"
Hissing as his wounds pulled as he was tugged back onto his feet Dean shook his head with a rueful grin as he felt the sting worsen on the deep slash on his left butt cheek as he was helped out of the bar, "Yeah I'm good to leave now. But Caleb…"
"What?" snapped back Caleb, his senses still on full alert till he got them back to the car.
"Think your gonna have to touch up my ass all over again," smirked back Dean as his he slipped his fingers inside the back of his jeans and they came back bloodied.
Rolling his eyes in disbelief Caleb groaned out, "For the love of….you are turning into a first class major pain in my ass!"
"Um Caleb…" gulped out Dean as the fresh air fully hit him.
"Dean?" queried Caleb as he felt Dean draw to a sudden halt to see the green hue on his face and shook his head in disbelief, "Oh hell no."
The sound of vomit splattering the ground by his feet and the pungent smell made his own stomach clench in rebellion. When the last heave left Dean he side stepped past the mess before he dragged Dean back to the car, spreading a towel on the seat first before pushing none to gently inside.
"Thanks dude," grinned back a suitably chastened Dean wiping the spittle off his chin with the back of his hand as the car started up, "Just glad its you… you know…with my ass and other stuff."
"Yeah, I know you 'love me' because I'm so goddam vomit-proof," Caleb muttered under his breath as he gunned the impala out of the bar's car park. "You told the whole fucking bar just how much you loved me remember?"
Despite himself Dean started giggling again. "They thought we were a couple Cal. If Sammy ever hears about this one we are so totally screwed. He'll dine off this for a year."
"Sam's never gonna hear a thing about this, not ever, not about the bar or the fact that my fingers have ever had to touch your sorry ass," sniffed back Caleb, absently fingering his jaw that bore the knuckle marks of more than one lucky punch.
"Silence is truly golden," grunted back Dean shifting in his seat trying to get comfortable. He threw a regretful look at his friend as he confessed, "Ow…this hurts like a bitch. Must have a pulled out a few stitches."
Groaning at the implication Caleb shook his head muttering sourly, "The things I have to do for you Winchesters truly goes beyond the love of man or country at times."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Hal Birdstrom took the offered cup of coffee with a small nod of thanks to Joshua, "He's a tough kid that's for sure."
"I know. Takes after his old man. So how is he really?"
"For the next twenty four hours he needs careful monitoring. I've hooked him up with some strong antibiotics, but the wound will need redressing and lets just hope we caught the pneumonia in time to halt it in its tracks."
Joshua bit his bottom lip shaking his head before asking again, "Yeah, but really how is he Birdy?"
Hal mouthed formed a silent 'O' shape as he finally understood his friend's concern. "I checked him over and the only physical injuries are what you can see."
"So he wasn't…. he wasn't…." Joshua couldn't get the words out, his voice choking up as his tears of relief started to roll down his face.
Hal looked at his friend clearly astonished to see the tears. In all his years of knowing the man not once had he seen such a genuine display of emotions from him, having always schooled himself to keep them in check.
Understanding his friend's need to have affirmation that the boy he had supposed to been there to protect hadn't been raped Hal gave his friend a small smile of reassurance, "No Jay. Like young Sam said he fought his attacker off. All the trauma he sustained was in the crash and fighting the bastard off. Got the split knuckles to prove it too if you look close enough. Tough kid like I said."
"Thank god," whispered back Joshua finally. "And John knows, right?"
"Yeah, he stayed, wouldn't leave when I examined Samuel. I just was thankful the boy was sedated enough not to know what I was going on."
"Thank god, Hal. I really dropped the ball with this one. I don't think I could have lived with myself if Sammy had been hurt like that."
Surprised still at his friend's emotional display Hal asked, "The boy means that much too you Jay?"
Wiping at his tears with his meaty fists Joshua nodded, "Uh huh, like I said he and his brother have been like family to me. John asked me to keep him safe, to protect him from all the dark fugly monsters out there Hal and I didn't."
"Yeah but it wasn't some dark fugly monster that crawled out of the dark this time Jay, was it?"
"I know. I just thought him safe here in a small community like this. I just didn't think that a man like Burnett would be out there wanting to hurt him too."
"Well he's safe now. Sound asleep as is his dad, snoring away so loudly that I'm surprised the boy could sleep through it."
"John's asleep?" asked Joshua clearly astounded at the news.
"Collapsed is nearer to the truth I fear. The man as your friend Jim has told me has been holding his own hurts in check with a concussion and bullet wound to the arm. The moment he found out Sam was going to be okay he just curled up next to his boy, put a protective arm over him and then fell fast asleep."
TBC
Again apologies this chapter was so long! Rozzy.