Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!
Broken
Chapter 11 – Unfinished Business
Sam realized that the demon was right…he was too weak to be a Winchester and it was time he accepted it.
Dean woke slowly, his mind was foggy but he noticed someone was in the room with him. "Sammy?" Dean whispered.
"Hey son…how are you feeling?" John said as he moved closer to Dean.
"Dad? Where…what happened?" Dean couldn't figure out why it was so hard to think.
"You're in the hospital Dean. You have an infection from the wound on your broken arm. You're going to be ok Dean. You just need to rest."
"Joshua…is he ok?" Dean struggled against the drugs in his system.
"Yeah…they are keeping him overnight for observation. He was mostly dehydrated and has a badly twisted ankle and two broken ribs. But he'll be fine." John could see that Dean was having trouble keeping his eyes open. "Dean they've given you something for the pain. You need to let your body rest. If your fever breaks, they will let you go home tomorrow."
Dean nodded as he felt himself falling asleep. But something was missing…"Dad, where's Sammy?"
John looked away for a moment before responding. "He's back at the hotel Dean. He tried to come visit you…"
"No Dad, don't let him come near here…you don't understand, that bastard had him strapped to an examination table. You didn't let him come here did you?" Dean started to reach to remove the IV. He had to get to Sam.
"Whoa there son. Sam is fine. He went back with Nick. You need to stay here and relax." John gently pushed his son back onto the bed. "You'll get to see him tomorrow. "
Dean sighed, he had a feeling that his father wasn't telling him everything. "Dad, we have to be careful, Sam keeps having these flashbacks…I'm afraid that he's going to give up. We can't let him do that Dad."
"I know son, Missouri is here too so don't worry. Sam is in good hands. Now you need to get some sleep. Nick and I have to go back to the well and finish Aaron. I just hope Nick can pull it off."
Dean smiled. "He's a good hunter Dad…he's helped Sam and me more than once. You should take Sam with you too as back up Dad."
"Dean, you just told me that your brother is unstable…how can I take him with? He froze up while we were getting you out…what if he does that while the spirit is attacking? Sam will have to stay with Missouri…Nick and I can handle this one."
Dean had a feeling that his father was making a mistake with Sam. But the drugs in his system were making it too hard to stay awake. A moment later Dean was sleeping again as John spoke softly to his son. "Don't worry Dean, you and I will figure out a way to help Sammy…but you need to get well too. I won't lose either one of you."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nick looked once again at the sleeping figure on the bed. Sam had just walked into the room and immediately collapsed onto the bed. He hadn't spoken a word. He knew that Sam had to be exhausted, but he couldn't help but feel there was something else going on.
Nick looked up from his notes as he heard a soft knock on the door. He moved to the door, pulling out the gun that Dean had given him from his waist band as he slowly cracked open the door. He smiled as he saw Missouri on the other side. "Hello Missouri, I hope you're feeling better."
"I'm just fine boy, but I see our friend over there isn't doing too well." Missouri entered the room and went to sit beside Sam. She could sense the despair that covered the boy like a cloak. "Let me guess, John wouldn't let Sam help."
"Well, to be fair, Sam sort of froze after he and John disagreed on how best to get Dean up. I'm not sure that John was entirely wrong. But I think he was more upset because he couldn't handle the hospital…I think he feels that he's failed Dean somehow." Nick shook his head.
Both heads turned as they heard a key in the door. Nick motioned for Missouri to stay where she was while once again he took up a position behind the door, the gun in his hand ready to protect Missouri and Sam if need be. The door opened slowly as John entered. He only saw Missouri and Sam in the room. "Missouri…where is Nick?"
"Right here John." Nick said as he stepped from behind the door, quickly placing the gun back in his waist band.
John nodded in approval. "Looks like Dean was right, you can handle yourself just fine."
Nick grinned. "Thanks…I think."
Missouri stood and faced John, her hands on her hips. "What part of take it easy on Sam didn't you understand John Winchester!"
"Whoa there missy…I didn't do anything."
"You sidelined him didn't you…you didn't let him help." Missouri stood her ground as she saw the anger quickly leave John's face.
"It wasn't like that Missouri…he wanted to go down into the damn hole. I didn't have time to have a discussion…a decision needed to be made and quickly so that we could get Joshua and Dean out. Look, I'm sorry Sam was hurt. But until he can prove to me that he can hold his own…I don't want him to go on any more hunts. I can't lose him Missouri…" John sat on the other bed, looking at his son in the other bed. He looked so innocent…Sam never should have had to live this life to begin with but now, he wasn't sure that Sam would be able to continue to hunt at all.
Missouri softened her voice. "John, if you give up on him…what is to stop him from giving up on himself…if he hasn't already."
"It's ok Missouri, Dad's right. Until I can hold my own I'm just a liability. I could get whoever was with me killed." Sam said softly as he slowly sat up on the bed. The pain in his body almost matched the pain in his heart as he realized that any ground he had gained with his father over the past few months was now gone. "Missouri did you bring any of those pain pills with?"
"You don't need those pills Sam…I've got my salve with me. John, why don't you help Sam get undressed while I pop next door to get what we need. Nick could you help me?" Both left giving John and Sam time alone.
"Sam…let me explain." John began as he moved towards Sam. He was unnerved by the stillness of his son. Missouri was right, Sam thought he had given up on him and was giving up on himself.
"M'ok Dad. You can go finish up the job with Nick. I can get undressed on my own." Sam stood, but quickly sat down again as the room spun. John quickly grabbed Sam and helped him sit back down on the bed.
"Now let's get one thing straight here Sam. You are my son and I love you. You have not failed me nor am I ashamed of you…that is unless you continue to do what you are doing right now."
Sam looked up at his father, confusion reflected in his eyes. "What do you mean Dad, I couldn't even help you get Dean…I'm useless and you know it." Sam looked away again, he couldn't see the disappointment in his father's eyes.
John sighed as he helped Sam pull of his shirt and slip out of his jeans. His eyes noted the numerous wounds that covered his son's body. His breath caught in his throat. "Sammy, what the hell did that bastard do to you?"
Sam looked up, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry Dad, I tried, but I couldn't take it any more. I gave in and did what he told me. I always give in…he was right, I'm too weak…" Sam started to shiver as his mind started to return to the memories. This time, he didn't fight…he couldn't fight it any more as he once more fell into his own living nightmare.
John watched in horror as his son curled into a ball on the bed. His heart broke as his son sobbed and begged him not to hurt him anymore. "Oh Sammy…shhh…it will be ok, you'll be ok…you have to be."
He looked up as Missouri and Nick once more entered the room. Missouri immediately moved towards Sam. "You need to talk to him John…he needs to know you're still here."
"Sammy…Sam, can you hear me. You need to focus for me."
Sam heard his father's voice calling him. He closed his mind to the demon's words and the images that were threatening to overwhelm him. He slowly blinked his eyes, trying to focus on what his father was saying.
"Sam, that's it. I'm so proud of you son, you're doing good. Let me help you get more comfortable here so that Missouri can use her salve on you. Then we'll get you something for the pain ok?"
"Dad?" Sam whispered, the shame clear on his face as he realized that once again he had broken down.
"Hey there…just relax Sam, I've got you. You don't need to worry about anything son and I want you to understand something. You don't have to face this alone…we are all going to help you fix this. Do you hear me Sam? You have nothing to be ashamed of…you beat the demon at his own game and I'm proud of you. But you can't let him have any more power over you. You're stronger than he is and I know that you can beat this." John watched as Sam began to relax, his eyes searching to find his father's eyes.
John looked into his son and let him see what he normally hid from his boys. He let him see the love that was always just below the surface. For a moment, John Winchester was no longer a hunter…he was a father who would do anything to save his sons.
TBC
Raven524: Ok, it always bothered me that John would never say what Sam needed to hear from his father…so I did it. Of course, this is just the calm before the storm…will they all be able to survive? (hmmmm…maybe, maybe not…guess we'll just have to wait to see.) On a separate note, I can't believe that the alerts still aren't working…what a bummer. I am reading the reviews and wanted to thank all of you for sending them despite the site's problem…I really enjoy hearing from you guys!
