John does not like hospitals. He'd rather stitch himself up and risk and infection than to risk and infection in a hospital. The only time he ends up in a hospital is when he's hurt enough that he can't but go. This time the gashes are just too deep.

This time Joe Barton drove him to the ER. He's bleeding out. Hunting accident, he told them. They put him in a room and stitch him up. He passed out from blood loss. When he wakes up its morning already. Freaking ghouls.

John closed his eyes again. He knew he's going to be laid up for a day or two. Lucifer and the boys were going to wonder where he is if he doesn't call. He felt a very angry twist in his gut. It just hits him sometimes. This time it hit him on December 5th, Mary's birthday. John never lets Lucifer near him on Mary's birthday. In fact he's normally not in town. John didn't used to come home for Mary's death day either, but Lucifer convinced him that the boys needed him, and Lucifer stays away.

But John was home on the 5th. Almost every other day of the year John is fine with their… whatever it is. He's over sleeping with a male shaped non-human being. That he can deal with. He's had feelings for men before Mary, and caring about anyone after Mary is more troubling than anything else. But sometimes it just gets all over him.

Lucifer killed Mary. Not him personally. The bastard who actually did it is dead. Lucifer ripped him apart right in front of John's eyes. Of course Lucifer's comments about how much of a shame it was to lose such a good servant still pissed John off all these years later, even if Lucifer hadn't expressed any similar sentiment since.

John stayed for Christmas and New Years, but he shouldn't have been home for the 5th. John didn't like that Lucifer made cupcakes with Sam and Dean for Mary's birthday, like there was any reason for Lucifer to celebrate or care.

John had only spoken to Lucifer when necessary since then.

John opened his eyes when he heard the door creak open.

"Good morning Mr. Winchester," the nurse said. She was pretty, blonde, like Mary. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I'm in the hospital," John said.

"Well, you are observant, aren't you?" the nurse asked with a smirk. John decided her liked her. Mary had that type of sass and backbone. Ellen did too, and with any hope her little girl would as well. He liked a girl with a lot of fight, because it was so worth it when they let you protect them.

"When do I get out of here?" John asked.

"Well, I'll know once I've checked, won't I? It's time to changed you bandages," she said. She had firm hands. She was a professional. It still hurt, but the nurse, Kate Milligan, told John stories and anecdotes to keep his mind occupied during the tedious process of changing bandages.

"Your wounds seem to be healing faster than we anticipated. Looks like you've got angels on yoru side, Mr. Winchester."

"Or Lucifer," John muttered. Kate laughed, and John's mouth pulled into a dark smile.

"Well, you'll probably be out tomorrow."

"Then maybe you'll have dinner with me."

Kate smirked. She looked around and then sat back on the bed. "Only if you tell me the truth."

"About what?" John asked, smirking. He leaned in closer and lowered his voice like Kate had.

"Those wounds you got. This isn't a place for bear attacks, and those aren't bear swipes. Joe Barton's been really odd since you showed up too."

"Have you been watching me?" John asked, raising his eyebrows.

"It's a small town, John. So tell me."

John shrugged and got the feeling of his stitches pulling uncomfortably for the trouble. "Ghouls."

"Like, things that go bump in the night?" Kate asked, looking half convinced already.

"You believe me," John said, surprised despite himself.

"My uh… uncle used to tell me that monsters were real. He said he hunted them…. until"

"Until?"

"Some animal got to him," Kate said.

"What was his name?"

"Ralph Johns"

"Oh yeah," John said. Ralph had died early in John's career as a hunter. Bobby had been very upset, and John had met the man once or twice. "Werewolf."

Kate closed her eyes and John felt the sudden need to apologize, but Kate placed her hand on John's arm and that silenced him. She opened her eyes and they were wet with unshed tears. "I had that idea,' she admitted in a whisper. "So… dinner?"

John smiled his most charming smile. "Tuesday."

"Deal," Kate said and left.

John smirked and leaned back against the pillows. He closed his eyes, planning to sleep some more. He had nothing better to do anyway and Lucifer would fuss at him if he didn't. The idea of Lucifer made him open his eyes. Then he closed them again. They weren't married. They weren't dating. Lucifer was a big boy, if he got hurt feelings, so be it. It wasn't like John hadn't been with other women since then. Of course he refused to address the fact that they had been between the time he found out Nick was Lucifer, and when John let Lucifer back in.