Parting Gift
Disclaimer: Winchesters are Kirpke's, Brotherhood characters are Ridley's.
Chapter 14

When Dean woke up it was dark in the room. He had worried that his memory of Sam being in the room with him had been a drug induced illusion, but the faint, familiar snore told him different. The firm grip that held his hand gave him solid proof that his little brother was safe. His last clear memory of Sam was his little brother stumbling into the Tomb, clutching his head. The look of pain on his face was like nothing Dean had ever recalled seeing, deep-red blood was trailing from his little brother's nose. Dean's first, his only instinct was to get to his brother, but then his world had gone dark.

Next it was Caleb's panicked face staring down at him, blood covering his best friends face. Fear was never a look he ever recalled seeing in the Knight's eyes, but it was terror that he saw as the pain from the pressure being applied to his neck had caused Dean to clinch his eye's shut. The muffled sound of Caleb's voice, begging, pleading for him to hold on was the last sound he recalled before he was pulled under again. His only thought was 'where is Sam?'

The fuzzy memories of waking in the hospital were like glimpsing images that would just pass at the edge of his vision, never really making any sense. He remembered asking about Sam, but it was always Caleb's face and voice that greeted him. Telling him Sam was okay, but if Sam was okay where was he? But now he was here. His little brother was with him, he was alive, and he was safe.

Sam was asleep, awkwardly leaning on the bed, but he was there. That was all that mattered. "How are you feeling?" A familiar voice drew Dean's gaze from his brother to the man that was like a father to him, especially since his own father had died, Mac.

"Is Sam okay?" Dean whispered, not wanting to wake his brother since Sam looked like hell, even in his sleep.

"He will be, just like you it is going to take some time." Mac replied. The former Scholar didn't know how much the two brother's had talked before Caleb and Mac had returned to the room a few hours after Sam arrived.

"Whatever happened, it wasn't his fault." Dean looked toward his brother again. He had allowed his brother some space after the confrontation. Then he had silently watched as his brother seemed to be fading away in front of him. They had all needed space after all that had happened, but he had never meant for Sam to face his pain alone.

"We know, and in time Sam will understand that, but now we have to deal with what happened and it will take time." Mac put his hand on Dean's arm, "Now seriously, how are you feeling?"

Dean closed his eyes a minute, his body felt heavy. He hurt all over, but the pain medication was keeping the worst at bay. "Sore, tired and confused." Dean glanced toward the window where another chair sat. Caleb's sleeping form could be made out in the shadow of the light. "How's Damien?"

Looking toward his son Mac took a deep breath. "Like the rest of you he will heal with time and before you ask, Joshua has returned to New York to assure Carolyn and his mother that both he and I are okay and that you all are on the road to recovery. Eli and Ethan returned to Texas yesterday, but are doing well. I talked to them earlier and they said if you need anything don't hesitate to call them. And Bobby returned to the farm, but will be back in the morning."

Yawning Dean spoke again, "Do we know exactly what happened?" Again the Guardian's gaze fell onto his brother.

"We have an idea, but we can talk more tomorrow. You need to rest now, we aren't going anywhere." Mac commented as he gently squeezed Dean's arm, "Sleep now." Reluctantly Dean felt his eye's closing, but at least this time he knew for sure his brother was with him, his brother was safe.

Muffled conversation greeted Dean's return to consciousness the next time. Morning light filtered through the blinds as the aroma of coffee was strong in the air. Looking toward the window he could make out Mac, Caleb, and Bobby. But most importantly he could make out the form of his brother. A smile crossed his face as he spoke, "Where's my coffee?" He whispered out, his voice still a little hoarse.

All heads turned toward him, relief could be seen on all of their faces. "I don't think your doctor would appreciate us giving you caffeine right now Deuce. Your blood pressure has been giving them enough of a concern." Caleb returned a smile as he raised his cup to take a drink, purposely antagonizing his friend.

"Just you wait…" Dean swallowed hard as he tried to rise up some. "Next time I'll let Sammy pick the coffee at the farm; you'll be drinking some of his 'girly' flavors." It was an ongoing joke at Sam's choice of flavored coffees. Caleb's hand gesture gave Dean his reply on what he thought of that. A small chuckle escaped the Guardian as he winced at the pull on his aching body.

"Dean?" Sam's fearful voice had Dean opening his eyes to meet the worried brown ones of his little brother.

"I'm good Sammy. Pain meds are wearing off." Dean grimaced again as he tired to find a more comfortable position.

"Easy Dean," Mac found the controls to the bed and raised the head just a little. "Your doctor should be in shortly."

There was a nervous silence that settled over the group, Dean's voice finally breaking it, "Is somebody gonna fill me in on what happened that landed me in the hospital and Damien looking like he made a shot for the heavy-weight title?"

"Lucifer was a shitty loser." Caleb spoke first as he pulled a chair closer. Sam took a seat on the edge of Dean's bed; Mac took the other chair while Bobby stood at the foot of the bed.

"Yeah, that much I think I got." Reaching for his brother's arm, Dean directed his next comment to Sam. "Like I told you, whatever it was, it wasn't your fault."

"I let him in. I opened the door for him to put his final play into motion." Sam couldn't meet his brother's eyes. Guilt overshadowed every thought at the moment.

"Damn it Sam…" Dean attempted to sound harsh, but at that moment pain shot through his neck and shoulder, causing him to inhale sharply.

"Dean?" Sam's and Mac's voice echoed each other as "Deuce?" was heard from Caleb. Dean could feel Bobby's hand on his foot. It was that grounding presence he focused on for a moment as the pain passed.

"Give me…minute" The Guardian gritted out between clinched teeth.

"I'm calling your doctor." Mac's voice filtered through as Dean heard movement.

"Not yet…" Slowly Dean opened his eyes again, meeting Mac's. "I need to know what happened. They'll just give me more of those damn drugs and that shit knocks me out. It's passing." a few deep breaths and the pain lines started to recede from the younger man's face.

Once the few tense moments passed Mac spoke. "The best we can guess is that Lucifer left a parting gift in the form of a way to overload Sam's telekinetic ability. It was an overload that he couldn't control and all but shattered his psychic blocks."

Sam's telekinesis wasn't something that was as fully developed in Sam as it was in Mac. Dean only knew of Sam moving a few objects, but usually under extreme duress. Like that cabinet when Max Miller had locked Sam in a closet and Sam had a vision of Dean's death. Dean knew Mac's ability was much stronger, he had actually seen the former Scholar pin his father to a wall one time when John's temper threatened to get out of hand.

"So what does that mean?" Dean looked at his brother, who was still staring at his hands. "Sam? What does it mean?"

Scared eyes met Dean's as Sam finally looked up. "It means I'm having some problems controlling it, but Mac's helping me."

Dean looked at Mac questioningly, "Until Sam can gain full use of his blocks again, he needs to be conscious of any build up in the energy the fuels his ability. If he doesn't there is a chance of another uncontrolled episode."

The Guardian looked worriedly at the Scholar, "Sammy?"

"Mac and I have a plan that will help me in rebuilding my blocks and gain control of this and I really hope you agree with it." Sam spoke quietly, almost hesitantly.

As he looked around at his family that now surrounded his hospital bed, Dean realized he was the only one at the moment not aware of what the 'plan' was. Finally drawing his eye's back to his brother, Dean looked between Sam and Mac. "What exactly is this plan?"