Okay, I've got a bit longer of a chapter for you. I hope you like it.
Cindy.
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Bobby entered the ICU and instantly sensed that something was wrong. He hurried to Sam's room and slipped through the curtain. The first thing he noticed was the breathing tube protruding from Sam's throat.
"Dean, what the hell?!" he cried. Dean slowly turned his head toward Bobby. His eyes were swollen and red rimmed. He looked more tired than Bobby had ever seen him.
"Sam stopped breathing. His throat was swollen completely shut. The doctor had to cut a hole in his throat and shoved a friggin tube into it so he wouldn't suffocate!" Dean cried. "Shit Bobby, Sam nearly died! And I just stood in the corner and watched, helpless to do anything!"
"So, is he okay now?" Bobby asked.
Dean jumped up from his chair in an instant. "No Bobby! He's not okay! The doctor doesn't think he's going to live. He told me to prepare myself for the worst!" Dean cried.
"Dean, I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do," Bobby said sadly.
"There's nothing anybody can do! Sam's dying and nobody can stop it! What am I going to do? Bobby, what am I going to do without him?" Dean pled. "I can't do this Bobby! I can't sit and watch him die. I've gotta get out of here! I can't breathe in here!" Dean ran from the room before Bobby could speak. He contemplated going after him, but decided he needed a little space.
Bobby sat in the chair next to Sam's bed and took Sam's hand in his. He looked at his face. He looked so young and vulnerable. "Oh Sam," he whispered.
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Dean ran from the ICU, not really knowing where he was going. He just had to get out of that room. He couldn't bare to look at Sam like that anymore. He ran down hallways and stairs, and then more hallways. Finally he stopped, bending over to catch his breath. When he stood, he looked around. "No way!" he thought. He was staring at a door directly in front of him with a sign on it. The sign read 'Hospital Chapel'.
Dean shook his head and started to walk away, but something made him stop and turn around. He approached the door, opened it and walked inside. The chapel was small, only room for a few pews and an altar. He stepped up to the first pew and took a seat. The door at the front of the chapel opened and a priest entered the room.
Dean nodded to the priest and rose from the pew. "Is there something I can help you with son?" the priest asked.
"No Father, no, I'm fine" Dean replied.
"Are you? You certainly don't look fine. Why don't you sit back down and talk to me. Maybe I can help. That is my job you know," the priest said with a smile in his eyes.
Dean stood for a moment then sank back down into the pew. "It's my little brother. He's dying and there's nothing I can do. My whole life, it's been my job to protect Sammy, to keep him safe. I screwed up, and now he's dying," Dean said quietly.
"Why is it your job?" the priest asked.
"Ever since our mom died when Sam was six months old, it's just been what I've done. What I've wanted to do," Dean replied.
"So, now you feel you've failed him?"
"I did fail him," Dean stated.
"Have you asked the Lord for guidance?" the priest queried.
"I'm not really a believer Father."
"God listens to all his children, whether they think they believe or not."
"I wouldn't know what to say" Dean whispered.
"Just say what's in your heart. Have faith," the priest replied, slowly turning and walking away.
Dean waited for the priest to leave the chapel. For the second time that day, someone had told him to have faith. But faith in what? Dean was ready to walk out of the chapel but for some reason, he couldn't. He grasped the back of the pew in front of him and rested his head on his hands. And then he did something that he had never done. Dean Winchester began to pray.
"God, I've never done this before. Hell, I...uh, sorry, I don't even know quite how to. I've never really believed in you, but Sam believes. And if Sam believes, well then that's good enough for me. Please, I need Sam. The world needs him. Please don't let him die. Please bring him back to me. Please? He has been through so much. Too much! He is the strongest person I know. Stronger than me. God, please, I can't lose him. Please heal him. Please? I haven't even been able to say I'm sorry yet."
Dean broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. He fell sideways onto the pew and just lay there and cried. After several minutes, he rose and left the chapel. He had to get back to Sam.
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It had watched the chaos below in Sam's room, the confusion and panic heavy in the air. It had watched Dean press into the corner, watching in horror as the doctor worked on his brother. It had followed him down the hallways and stairwells, then finally into the chapel. It heard his heartwrenching prayer, and it had renewed hope. Dean had done what needed to be done. He had broken down the barrier that he had built, asked what needed to be asked. All for Sam. All for love. Now it was time to return to Sam where it belonged.
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Dean hurried to the ICU, to Sam. He stepped through the curtain to find Bobby seated in the chair, Sam's hand in his. Bobby was softly speaking to Sam. Dean couldn't hear what was being said, but he saw small tremors quake through the older hunter and he knew that Bobby was crying. Bobby seemed to sense Deans presence, as he stopped speaking and turned towards him, rising from the chair.
"Dean, I'm sorry. I wish I could have found something to help Sam," Bobby sadly said.
"It's okay Bobby. You tried," Dean said as he moved to Sam's side. He reached up and softly touched Sam's fevered cheek. He was reaching for Sam's hand when he heard Bobby gasp. He looked over to him and saw him looking up to the ceiling. Dean turned his gaze upward and slowly began to back away from the bed.
"What the hell?" he whispered in awe.
Above Sam's bed a blue white light shimmered and pulsated. It hung in the air for a few minutes, then slowly descended and enveloped Sam's body. For a few seconds Dean and Bobby could only see the light, Sam lost in it's glow. Then it slowly seemed to be absorbed into Sam's body, disappearing altogether.
Dean and Bobby looked at each other, shock not allowing them to speak. Dean carefully moved again to Sam's side, taking his hand.
"Sammy? Sam, can you hear me?" Dean pleaded. He smoothed Sam's hair and bent down closer to his ear. "Sammy, wake up. Come on little bro."
Dean turned to Bobby, tears in his eyes. He gently laid Sam's hand down and started to back away. Without warning, Sam's hand weakly grabbed Deans wrist. Dean jerked his head around toward Sam. "Sam?" he asked hesitantly.
Slowly, Sam's eyes began to open, blinking, confused. "D..ea..n?" he croaked, the tube in his throat allowing for only that much.
"Oh my God! Sammy!" Dean cried joyously, new tears spilling down his cheeks. He bent down and rested his head on Sam's chest wrapping his arms carefully over Sam's shoulders. He stayed this way for a moment, then released Sam and stood up.
Sam turned his head towards Dean, a small smile forming on his cracked lips. "Hey" he whispered. Dean turned to look at Bobby, who had a huge grin on his face. He moved next to Dean.
"Hey Sam. You gave us quite a scare!" Bobby gleefully announced.
Sam smiled weakly and closed his eyes once more.
"Bobby" Dean whispered so that Sam wouldn't hear "What just happened?"
"I don't know. His soul returned I guess. I don't know how, but it did," Bobby replied, shaking his head and rubbing his hand over his beard. "Did you do anything Dean?"
"No, I mean, I ended up in the hospital chapel and talked to the priest. Then I prayed," Dean replied.
"You...prayed?" Bobby asked incredulously.
"It seemed like the thing to do I guess," Dean remarked sheepishly. "Could that have been it? Is that all that needed to be done?" Dean questioned. "If I had known that, I would have been in that chapel yesterday!" Dean announced.
"It might not have worked then. Maybe you needed to be pushed to that point of desperation. I don't know Dean," Bobby replied.
"I guess it doesn't matter. Sam's awake. That's all that matters," Dean quipped, turning back to his brother, who had fallen into a wonderfully peaceful sleep.
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Well? Am I forgiven for nearly killing our Sammy off? Now that Sam is awake, the healing can begin. Please let me know how you liked (or didn't like) it.
Cindy.