Penultimate chapter time! (Second to last in laymen's terms) It feels like Sam and Dean are mine, they have become a part of me, but my heart plays me false. Its been telling me lies. But my diabolical imagination. . .that all belongs to me!

.~o()o~.

Castiel walked over to where Sam and Dean crouched on the ground, limping at first, but straightening as he grew closer. Dean was past the ability to form words, but his eyes pleaded with the angel to hurry as Sam bled out in his arms.

Castiel knelt wearily and placed his hands on the boys foreheads and the nightmarish cave was gone, replaced by the hustle and bustle of a busy ER.

"We need a doctor! C'mon Sammy, hold on. Help is here." The shouted words were so close to what was screaming in Dean's heart that it took him a moment to realize the words hadn't come from him. Cas was still kneeling by them, shouting frantically for help and encouraging Sam to keep breathing, clasping Sam's hand in a firm grip as if to anchor him to life. Dean thought he must be hallucinating the pure emotion on the normally stoic angel's face. Were those tears in Castiel's eyes?

Dean could only pull in one laboured breath after another, clasping his brother to his chest, weeping til the paramedics came to take them away.

"Sam," a single word managed to force its way out of his abused throat as his brother was wheeled out of the room. The room tilted around him as he realized it was getting harder to breathe. The pain from his beating hit him all at once and Dean couldn't fight it anymore.

.~o()o~,

Dean came back to himself slowly. He was first aware of a feeling of warmth and a soothing, familiar voice speaking incomprehensible words to him. He let himself relax, feeling safe, then other things began to break through the haze. First there was the beeping noise, and a strange whoosh-click that sounded a little familiar. That revolting hospital smell tickled his nose and it was with horror that he realized he couldn't move his tongue, his mouth was propped open halfway by a tube that ran down his throat and his lungs expanded and contracted against his will. His eyes shot open in panic and he immediately reached for the tube to pull it out.

Large, smooth hands grasped his firmly and held them still. "Stop it, Dean, you'll hurt yourself." Dean finally recognized Castiel's voice and stopped fighting, although he could not feel entirely comfortable with the machine breathing for him.

An unfamiliar face hovered over him. Cool hands felt his throat and a light was shone inside his mouth. "The swelling has gone down enough for you to breathe unassisted. Lets get this out," a woman's voice spoke. "I need you to cough for me, Dean."

Dean complied and after a moment of unbearable pressure and the feeling he was going to puke, the tube was out and Dean was gasping for air. "Sammy. . .where's my brother?" were the first words out of his mouth.

"The man you were brought in with?" the doctor asked. At Dean's nod, she continued. "He is in recovery right now. He lost a lot of blood and is being treated for severe dehydration and exhaustion, but the wounds he suffered, while deep, didn't hit anything vital."

"He's going to be all right?" Dean asked.

"Yes, he's going to be fine. Physically anyway. We were worried about Sam's old wounds. There is extensive scarring on his forearms and much of it looks self-inflicted. Does your brother have a history of depression? Some of them look years old," the doctor put on a sugary sweet face of concern that made Dean want to puke.

"My brother is not depressed. He was held and tortured by psychos and he has been targeted before. I don't know why evil always fixates on my brother but I will not have you talking about him like this," Dean could feel his throat tightening again as it became harder to breathe again.

"Calm down, Dean, or I will have to sedate you. Your throat was swollen closed from a blow to your neck. I don't want to have to put you back on the ventilator. We will be keeping Sam on suicide watch once he wakes up and then we will give him a psyche evaluation to see where he stands." When Dean opened his mouth, she cut him off. "I will take your words into consideration before making any decisions about Sam."

"Sam hasn't woken up yet?" Dean asked.

"No, not yet, but we aren't worried at this time. Your brother has been through a lot. He nearly died. The physical shock has exhausted him. He is simply sleeping it off. As soon as we can, we will move Sam into your room so you can see him yourself," the doctor finished checking Dean over and left the room, leaving Dean alone with Cas. Dean, still worried could feel the tears begin pricking behind his eyes and he couldn't handle Castiel's look of worry and sympathy. He took a deep breath and looked up at castile, winking lasciviciously.

"So, any hot nurses?"

"They keep the hospital at a moderate temperature, Dean. I don't see why any of the nurses should be particularly overheated. If you are concerned I can go look for a thermostat."

"Never mind, Cas." Dean sighed. "Sammy had better hurry up and get his butt in here.

.~o()o~.

Its short I know, but I couldn't leave you in suspense for too long. I am already working on the next chapter.