Good to know some of ya are still interested in this story ^^. More deaf/hard of hearing Sam and finally a conscious Dean.

-SPN-

Bobby could tell that Sam had hardly slept. That was his first task. Getting the kid to sleep. He put a hand on Sam's chin forcing him to look at Bobby.

"Bobby, how did you get here?" Sam asked. Bobby frowned. He had just told the kid the 411. He figured it was either the ears or the concussion.

"I called your phones. Neither of you answered and then I got a call from someone and he told me you boys were in the hospital. And here I am. You understand?" Bobby asked Sam. Eventually Sam shook his head. He was frustrated with his hearing. Bobby wrote everything he said down and Sam frowned.

"So who called you?" Sam asked.

"Dunno, didn't catch a name." He could see Sam staring at his brother. He didn't like the sunken eyes or the paleness of his skin. He had to get Sam something to eat and then sleep. Because when Dean wakes up he's going to be all over him about why his little brother looks like crap.

"He's gonna be fine, Sam." And Bobby truly believed that. Sure, all Winchesters were stubborn but Dean had that overriding big brother protectiveness that wouldn't let him die. Not without a fight.

"Yeah." Sam said dejectedly.

"Don't worry. Right now, I want you to take a nap. You look like you're gonna collapse." Sam started to protest but Bobby just looked at him and said the only thing that would make him comply.

"What would Dean tell you?" Sam dropped his head. Bobby was right. Bobby helped him to the cot. His intense gaze pierced Bobby's soul.

"I know, if your brother as much twitches I'll wake you up." Sam nodded. Within minutes Sam was asleep. Idjits.

-SPN-

Bobby was sitting on the chair previously occupied by Sam. He didn't know who worried him more. Dean looked worse for wear but Sam... Sam looked utterly exhausted and there was this look in his eyes that Bobby didn't like. Sam was at the end of his rope. Dark smudges under his eyes and the paleness to match his brother's. The kid needed Dean just like Dean needed Sam. He looked at Sam. He was finally asleep. Bobby didn't think he'd slept for those two days. Also the fact that Sam's hearing was screwed six way from friday

"You idjit better wake up because your brother can't take much more." Bobby said to Dean. He knew that Sam would never forgive him if he fell asleep now. He had to do a little research for another hunter and what better way to spend time waiting in a hospital.

Four hours later Sam woke up. He had to admit that he felt a bit better. That ever-persistent headache was down to a dull throbbing. He glanced around and saw that not much has changed since his nap. Bobby was sitting, reading some book and Dean, well big brother was still MIA. Sam sighed. He needed Dean to wake up. He looked at Bobby. He wanted to ask if something happen yet he already knew what he would say.

"I've got a sandwich and juice for ya." Bobby said looking at Sam while pointing at it. Sam got up and walked to where Bobby was sitting. Bobby handed him the sandwich.

"Anything happen?" Sam asked as he took the sandwich. He wasn't hungry but he knew Bobby would kill him if he didn't eat something.

"The whole thing Sam." But Sam didn't hear him.

After he ate half of the sandwich he sat down next to Dean.

"Why won't he wake up, Bobby?"

"I don't know, kid but don't give up on yer brother." Sam put his hand atop of Dean's. "The doctor came by. She said that Dean's vitals are better. No signs of infection. They want to take him off the ventilator." Sam perked up at that.

"Did she say when Dean will wake up?" Sam asked.

"Nah, he said that Dean would wake up when he's ready."
"That's bullshit." Sam said. Bobby gave him the look and Sam sighed.

"I'm sorry, Bobby." Sam hung his head. The dull throbbing now again a persistent thrum.

"I know Sam. Take it easy, boy." Bobby could tell that Sam had a headache. He also knew that as long as Dean was unconscious, Sam wasn't going to take care of himself. Boy was smart as hell but unable to take care of himself when something happened to his brother. He would digress back to a little boy who needed to be told what to do.

"Bobby?" Bobby looked at Sam and could see the younger Winchester staring at him.

"Yeah?"

"Why does Dean always end up getting hurt?" It was a question that had bugged Sam since he was sixteen. Because somehow his brother always ended up with some form of injury. Nothing life threatening but you know a cut here, bruise there.

"Cause yer brother's an idjit." Bobby muttered, knowing Sam couldn't hear him. "Listen Sam, I have to make a phone call. I won't be long. Try to get some more rest." Sam just nodded and Bobby left. Sam closed his eyes for a second and automatically started massaging his temples.

Ally Lane entered Dean's room and could see Sam massage his temples. She sighed. Her patient's brother was not doing so well and she wondered if it would change once her patient woke up. She gently tapped Sam on the shoulder. He immediately tensed and looked up.

"Dr. Lane?" A small smile crept on his face though if Ally was being honest it could've been a grimace as well. She took out her pad and wrote something down.

"Hi Sam, I don't know if your uncle told you but I want to take your brother off the ventilator."

"Yeah, he told me. Are you going to do that now?" Ally nodded and wrote something else down.

"You are going to have to step out while we extubate your brother. It will only be for a minute." Sam reluctantly left the room but not before casting another glance at Dean.

-SPN-

Out on the hallway, Sam was pacing back and forth. What was taking them so long? He kept his eyes on the door and the second he saw movement he was standing in front of the door, startling the doctor. She quickly scribbled something on her pad.

"Your brother sure is a fighter." The doctor wrote down as Sam hurried back inside. She saw how he immediately sought physical contact with his brother. She handed him the note and left the room.

"I'm here Dean." Sam said as he squeezed Dean's hand. He fell asleep like that.

When Bobby came back he had to smile at the sight before him. He was relieved to see Dean without the ventilator. Sam was asleep with his hand atop of Dean's. Dean's pallor was a bit better. Not so pale.

"Hey you idjit better wake up." Bobby sat there watching the boys he'd come to love as sons. When he first met them, he didn't know what to think of them. Dean was just a little boy and Sam barely a toddler. And then Dean surprised him with the way he took care of his brother and father and Bobby couldn't deny the feeling that blossomed up inside him. Dean was the one who melted that clump of ice around his heart. He and Karen never had kids 'cause he was too afraid. Afraid to turn into his father. These two proved him wrong. They had wormed their way in to his heart. Dean may have started the meltdown but it was the both of them that made him feel what he felt now. Bobby sat there for an hour before he got restless.

"Stubborn idjit. Yer lucky yer unconscious or I'd smack you one." Bobby couldn't handle this anymore. He looked at Sam and was glad to see the boy still asleep. God knew he needed it. And then the most beautiful thing happened. Dean moved his head towards Sam. Bobby nudged Sam and Sam opened his eyes at the same time Dean did.

"Dean." Sam was met with the most amazing sight ever. He looked straight into those green eyes, those familiar green eyes that always seemed able to comfort him. Sam smiled.

"S'm." Dean's voice was hoarse and Bobby actually winced. Bobby poured him a cup and handed it to Sam.

"Easy." Sam coached Dean as Dean took a few sips.

"Sam." Sam could easily read his brother's lip knowing, it would always be the first thing on his brother's lip.

"Man, it's good to see you again." Sam said with a smile.

"Wha'?" Dean looked confused from Sam to Bobby.

"Later Dean. First the doc is going to check you out." Sam looked at Bobby. Dean just looked at Sam.

"Are you in pain?" Sam asked Dean. Dean had to think about that question. Nope, he was on the good stuff. Before Dean could answer the doctor walked in.

"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to join us. How are you feeling?" The doctor started her exam. Dean's abdomen was pretty sensitive and that illicit a groan from the elder Winchester.

"Sorry." Ally continued her examination and was impressed. This man either had a very high pain threshold or he was really healing faster than she'd ever seen.

"Your abdomen is still pretty tender. Try not to move too much and you won't be getting up without help. That is if you want to burst those stitches and be in here much longer. Is there anything I can do for you?" The doctor asked Dean.

"Nuh, 's good." Dean's speech was still slurred and Sam could see that his brother was well on his way to dream-land. The doctor watched the interaction between the two. Her patient was valiantly staving off sleep until Sam squeezed his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Dean." It wasn't until then that Dean closed his eyes and gave into the sleep.

"Is he always like this?" Ally asked.

"Like what?" Bobby asked.

"Stubborn." Bobby laughed and Sam looked confused from the doctor to Bobby.

"You have no idea. It's going to be hard, getting him to stay in the hospital." Bobby said.

"Well, he's nowhere near fine. The wound to his abdomen is looking a bit raw. I'm going to prescribe other antibiotics." The doctor said while writing it down for Sam.
"Is the wound infected?" Sam asked.

"No, he's not feverish but the wound doesn't look too good. I say it's well on its way to become infected. Hopefully we are able to nip this thing in the bud." She looked at Sam. He was still too pale and those smudges under his eyes, suggested that he hadn't been sleeping all that much.

"Is there anything we can do?" Bobby asked.

"You can make sure Sam has more than a couple of hours' sleep. How's his hearing?" The doctor asked as she pointed at Sam.

"A bit better. Though a lot of times he can't follow the whole conversation. His right ear is still screwed from what I can tell. What did the audiologist said?" Bobby asked.
"Give it time." Ally said.

"You do realize that I'm not deaf, it's just muffled. Like I'm under water, with cotton stuffed in my ears." Sam said indignantly. Though he only caught a small bit of the conversation. He knew he nailed it. Ally just nodded and wrote something else down.

"You should get some more sleep. Dean will be sleeping a lot, so you might as well follow his example and do the same. If all goes well, we'll probably move him down to the regular ward." Sam nodded and followed the doctor's advice. He laid down on the cot and just like his brother, he fell asleep shortly after he closed his eyes.

"Stubborn idjits." Bobby muttered. The doctor smiled.

"I'll come by later this afternoon." Bobby nodded and watched the doctor leave. He sat down on the chair and looked at Dean.

"Good to have ye back, son." Bobby whispered and he too followed example and fell asleep.

-SPN-

Whoo another chapter. Dean's awake. Sam is still having hearing problems. And the whumping isn't quite over yet ;)

Thanks for reading :)