A Father Lost, A Father Gained Ch. 21
Disclaimer: The Winchesters and everything recognizable in this story belongs to Kripke and the CW.
Author's Note: This story kind of took me in the direction it wanted to be taken. I hope you enjoy it.
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Previously: Seeing how jittery John was at having him near, Bobby backed up to give the man some breathing space. He was thinking about the best way to start a conversation with the man when he heard an excited voice call out, "Dad, you're back."
As he sat by Sammy's bedside watching him sleep, Dean wondered what Bobby so preoccupied for the past couple of hours before he left to get something to eat. He couldn't help but think about how Bobby was acting sort of like his daddy did when he was trying to keep something secret and it really peaked his interest. He wanted to climb off the bed and go find Bobby to question him about it, but there was no way he was going to leave Sammy all alone, especially while he was sleeping. Sammy was his responsibility while his dad was away and he took that responsibility seriously. Distracted from hi thoughts by hearing a noise, he looked towards the door hoping to see Bobby, but saw Jefferson instead and a look of disappointment crossed his face.
"Sorry to disappoint ya there Dean." Jefferson smirked as he walked over towards the bed and placed his palm on Sam's forehead to feel the heat still radiating there.
"S'okay, I just thought you might be Bobby. I really need to ask him something." Dean retorted with a sigh.
"Well then why don't you go ask him, I'll be with Sammy for the next half hour or so anyway." Jefferson informed Dean as he softly grasped Sammy's wrist with the fingers of his hand to take the little boy's pulse.
"That's okay, I'm supposed to watch out for him. Dad wouldn't be too happy with me leaving Sammy alone if he found out." Dean told Jefferson as he carded his fingers through Sammy's disheveled hair.
"Sorry Ace, but Sammy has to have a CT scan because of the convulsions he suffered last night and you can't go in there with him." Jefferson apprised Dean as he unlocked the brakes on the portable bed Sammy was lying on. Seeing the concerned look on Dean's face, he said, "Don't worry Sport, I won't let the kid out of my sight and I promise I'll take very good care of him."
"You promise you wont leave him for one second and that you will let me know if he needs me?" Dean inquired as he chewed on his bottom lip. He didn't want Sammy to wake up and be scared.
"I promise." Jefferson answered with a smile at the older brother's protectiveness. "But he'll most likely sleep through the scan because of the muscle relaxant he was given in the middle of the night to stop the convulsions."
"Okay" Dean voiced softly as he climbed off the bed. Reaching out to grasp Sam's small hand, he gave it a slight squeeze before turning to Jefferson once again. "Don't forget, you promised."
"I won't Ace, now stop worrying." Jefferson said as an orderly walked into the room to help him wheel Sammy down the hall to the X-ray lab where the CT scan would be done.
Watching as they wheeled Sammy away, Dean figured now would be as good a time as any to look for Bobby since Jefferson had said that the CT scan would take a little while to perform. Walking out into the hallway, he could have sworn he heard the distinctive rumble of the Impala approaching outside. "No, that can't be." He thought with a twinge of regret since his dad was still missing. His mind had to be playing tricks on him.
Unable to find Bobby at the vending machines or small cafeteria, Dean decided to check outside to see if Bobby's truck was there, maybe he had decided to go to the small diner down the street to get his coffee and something to eat. Opening the door, his mouth gaped open and his eyes could hardly believe what he saw. Quickly overcoming the shock, a smile lit up his entire face.
"Dad, you're back." He gasped excitedly as he rushed out the door and over to where his dad was standing and wrapped his arms around his waist. "I've missed you so much."
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As the small blond boy came hurtling towards him, it was if John's life flashed before his very eyes. He saw vivid pictures of the day the kid was born, of them playing ball out in the yard together, of Sammy being born, and also the heartbreaking of losing Mary to the demon. As he felt small arms tighten around his waist, he remembered meeting Missouri for the first time and learning the truth about what was really out there. He remembered his first meeting with Jim, Daniel Elkins and then Bobby and of learning to become a hunter. Hearing a sob, he was instantly drawn out of the memories.
"Oh my God, Dean." He gasped as he pried the boy's arms from around his leg and dropped to his knees, pulling him into a bear hug.
"Where were you Dad? You've been gone for so long. I was so scared cause I thought you had been killed." cried Dean as he allowed the tears to flow free. He didn't care if he looked weak, he was so happy to finally have his father back home.
"I'm sorry kiddo, I was hurt and I sort of lost my memory because of it, but I'm here now and I remember everything. You don't have to be scared anymore Ace." John soothed as he tugged his fingers through Dean's hair in comfort. Realizing that his youngest was missing, he asked, "Where's your brother?" As he scanned around looking for the youngster.
"He's really sick Dad, Jefferson is with him now. He said he needs to do some kind of scan on Sammy." Dean answered as he wiped his sleeve across his eyes and runny nose.
"Bobby, what's wrong with my youngest?" John queried as he raised anxious eyes towards his mentor with a desperate need to know just what was wrong with Sammy. Joshua had mentioned something to him about the possibility of rheumatic fever on the way in and he prayed that Jefferson had made a mistake in that regard.
Bobby however didn't hear his name being called as he watched the scene unwinding before him with tears glazing his eyes. He was so scared of what would happen with John meeting his boys and not recognizing them. He just knew he was going to have two devastated little boys on his hands, but instead was granted the miracle of John remembering.
"BOBBY?" John called out more forcefully as he saw the far away look in the man's eyes. He was on the verge of panic not knowing exactly what was wrong with his youngest and the only one who could answer him was Bobby.
"Sorry John, what did you say?" Bobby queried as he was brought out of his stupor.
"I asked you what was wrong with Sammy. Dean said he's really sick."
"Uh yeah he is. I'm sorry to hit you with this after jut getting your memory back, but Sammy has rheumatic fever." Bobby replied regretfully.
"Wha'at??" John questioned shakily as his face paled upon hearing the dreaded news.
"You heard me right John, Sammy has rheumatic fever. According to the doc, it was brought about by the strep throat he suffered about a month ago. Jefferson has started him on a round of antibiotics to combat the infection, but he's still running a high fever."
"What else, what aren't you telling me Bobby?" John questioned knowing there was more from the look on Bobby's face.
"Sammy suffered a form of convulsions associated with the fever last night and now, Jefferson is worried that he could also suffer some heart complications." Bobby answered with a sigh.
"Oh my God, No." John voiced barely above a whisper as he covered his mouth with his trembling hand. He had heard enough about rheumatic fever to know how devastating it could be on very young children. There was the very distinct possibility that he could lose his baby boy.
"Where is he Bobby? I need to see my baby." John stated as he wrapped an arm around Dean.
"He's in the clinic." Bobby answered as he started walking towards the front door with John and Dean following right behind him.
As he walked beside his dad. Dean felt the guilt of not doing his job well enough consume him once again. If he had been on top of things, Sammy wouldn't have gotten sick.
"Dad?" Dean questioned anxiously as he chewed on his bottom lip
"Yeah, what is it Ace?"
"I'm sorry I didn't protect Sammy well enough sir. It's my fault he got sick." Dean replied as he hung his head.
"Now hold it right there Dean." John said as he stopped walking and kneeled in front of his oldest to put a stop to his line of thinking right away. "Sammy getting sick was not your fault. There's nothing you could have done to prevent it." John told Dean as he pulled him into a firm hug once again.
"Maybe if I had…"
"No maybe's about it Dean. I know you did everything you could to take care of Sammy while I was missing. Besides, you heard what Bobby said, this illness came about because of Sammy having strep throat last month. I want you to stop blaming yourself son." John ordered as he clasped Dean by the shoulders and gave them a light squeeze.
"Kay Dad."
"Okay, now that that's settled, let's go see about your brother." John said as he stood up and started walking toward the door to where Bobby was waiting on them.
Walking into the clinic/hospital, John was instantly hit with a sense of deja vu of the time he spent recovering from the head wound he had received on the hunt. It disturbed him to know just how much time he had lost with his boys because of it, time that he could never get back. Striding down the hallway toward Sammy's room, he couldn't help but get a little nauseous from the disinfectant smell that he had been forced to endure for so long during his own recovery. The thought of all of it almost made him turn around and bolt out of there, but that was immediately negated as he walked into the room and saw his youngest laying there on the bed and looking so ill.
"Sammy" He whispered reverently as he approached the bed. It nearly destroyed to see the little boy laying there with so many wires attached to him and an oxygen mask upon his little face. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently picked the little boy up and cooed "Daddy's here now Tiger."
TBC I had planned on taking this chapter in the other direction with John not remembering, but I guess my muse had other thoughts in that regard.