Hate is a four-letter word

Disclaimer: Nope still nothing but my fevered imagination working overtime as per usual. So Eric Kripke has the honour of owning Supernatural and the characters we all love to hurt.

Disclaimer Number 2: Very important, this story is going to contain hate crime I just want to say that I do not advocate any kind of hate crime ever, in fact, it goes against all of my principles but it will be a very important part of the story. I am hoping that the ending will resolve issues brought up throughout the plotline. NOT A DEATH FIC!

Warning: Graphic violence and sexual assault if you are squeamish about these things then please go read one of my tamer stories.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Ethan took the sample and left the room without another word leaving the others feeling very confused and Sam trembling with pain and fear. He swallowed deeply and stared at his older brother, their gazes locked and for the briefest of moments, he felt safe and secure before the reality check hit again.

'De'n?' He mumbled and reached a shaky hand to his brother, desperately needing physical contact with Dean, 'need you.'

'Sammy?' Dean frowned and took a good look at his baby brother, 'ah geeze Sammy.' He looked over at Caleb, who looked like he had just lost his best friend. 'Cal can you ah?'

'Hmm?' Caleb blinked and tried to focus on Dean and not on the possible complication with Sam. 'Sorry Dean got distracted.'

'Can you ah help?' Dean ground out hating the thought that he had to get help to get out of bed, especially when the helper was not a buxom blond beauty, not by any stretch of the imagination.

Minutes later Dean settled in his wheelchair and took up his vigil next to Sam's bed, Bobby's soft snores filled the sudden lapse in conversation; Caleb scrubbed his face and glanced over at Clay. 'Hey dude you look bored, want to come for a walk and do a coffee run?'

'Huh?' Clay glared at Caleb but knew he had to keep the act going nodded and carefully stood up, his aching arm snug in the sling, 'yeah sounds like a plan.'

'Back soon guys.' Caleb said nodding at Dean.

Dean took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, he reached over to run his fingers through Sam's hair, brushing it from his face, 'so what's up Sammy?'

'So ... tired.' Sam admitted as he leant into Dean's gentle ministrations, 'Ethan ... found ... something.'

'Not sure so until we are sure we don't worry bout it okay?' Dean smiled, though tired and in pain, he wanted to make sure that Sammy was comfortable.

'De?'

'Yeah Sammy?'

'Let me go.' Dean stared at Sammy as he digested his words, after fighting for so long had his little brother finally reached that point of no return. 'Please De.'

'I – I can't Sammy, call me a selfish bastard, coz I probably am but I can't let you go.' Dean's voice cracked as he fought to keep his emotions in check. 'I need you Sammy.'

'Damaged goods De.' Sam cried openly, 'tired so tired.'

'You're getting better Sammy we're all getting better please don't give up on me.'

'I saw mom ... Dean I could see her so clearly. She tried to tell me something but her voice ...'

'See that's proof right there Sammy,' Dean seized on that small admission like a life-raft adrift in a sea of pain. 'If it was your time you would've heard her.'

'De I ...'

'Just – just hold on for me Sammy I promise I'll do whatever it takes to get you well again.'

Sam stared at his brother's face, his unwavering gaze; the determination set in his jaw and sighed with a sense of contentment, 'kay Dean I'll try.'

'That's all I ask.' Dean grinned, 'hey wanna know something freaky?'

'Yeah what?' Sam managed a small smile and blinked tiredly watching Dean's face; almost as though he was memorising each and every line, freckle and crease. From the colour of his eyes to the shape of his jaw. He committed it all to memory, to take with him when his time came due.

'I talked to little Sammy.' Dean explained feeling like an idiot for getting excited about a conversation he held in his mind with the toddler version of his brother.

'How?' Sam frowned he felt like something happened earlier with little Sammy's presence.

'Thoughts, not too sure how but it was cool.' Dean's grin grew even wider, 'he was the one who warned us about Clay.'

'Clay ... possessed?' Sam shook his head and immediately regretted it; gingerly he lowered his head back onto the pillow and tried to get comfortable. 'Hate this.'

'Little Sammy said that the black smoke was in Clay, hey Sammy dude let me help.' Dean tried to help his bedridden brother to get comfortable but only succeeded in knocking his own IV port in the process. 'Damn it to hell.' He cussed.

'You ... okay?' Sam huffed the words out breathlessly when he accidentally rolled onto his back; the immediacy of the pain took his breath away. 'Argh!'

'Sam!' Dean blinked and tried to block out his own pain in order to help Sam, his frustration growing with each moment he could only sit there and try to stay conscious.

Just then, Caleb came in carrying the coffee cups on a cardboard tray. 'Hey guys ... Damn what happened?'

'Check Sammy.' Dean croaked out.

'Sammy?' Caleb put the tray down and rushed to the bedside, he lowered the rail and as carefully and as tenderly as he could he helped Sam roll back onto his side. He felt the tremors running through the painfully thin frame and the thought hit him. If something didn't happen soon they were going to lose both brothers.

S—D

Two days later:

The late afternoon sun filtered through the Venetian blinds and cast soft golden slats across the mahogany desk. A discarded coffee sat to one side, the milk already congealing covering the caramel coloured fluid with a crinkled skin. Seated at the large desk, the young doctor stared at the file in front of him and wearily ran his fingers through his hair, he could feel the need for a good shampoo under his tips and a sigh escaped from his lips.

Once again, Ethan looked at Sam's test results, for the first time in seemingly ages he actually had good news for the brothers, for a few seconds he tried to gather his scattered thoughts and not for the first time that day decided he needed a good night's sleep: Instead of happiness he felt relief.

When Caleb spotted the black spot on Sam's back, and the blood tests confirmed gangrene in one of the welts on Sam's back, Ethan's heart sank.

Now the treatment as aggressive as the gangrene itself was starting to work, the painful cleaning and packing of the welt was worth it, the results reflected on the pages in front of him. with a deep breath, he stood and straightened his shoulders, 'suck it up and get on with it Ethan.' He berated himself; distractedly he picked up his pager, cell phone, cold coffee and the file before leaving his office. He deposited the cup in the staff room first, stopping long enough to find a clean cup and fresh coffee, and then he strode towards the shared room, slowing his pace only when he noticed two strangers hovering near the room's door. 'Can I help you?'

'Ah sorry think we're a bit lost.' One man said without turning to look at the young doctor, 'you see we're ah uncles of Sam Winchester.'

'Sorry but there's no patient with that name here, we're only a small clinic and I'm the only doctor on duty.'

'I see, sorry to have wasted your time.' The man turned to stare at Ethan a cold smile on his face, 'have a good day.'

Ethan watched the suspicious men step into the elevator, and then he crossed to the nurses' station, rang security and gave them the 'heads up' on the two men. Satisfied that there was no other threat, he asked nurse Lauren Casely to come with him and then went back to the small room shared by the hunters.

Ethan discharged Clay the day before, his leaving removed the constant air of tension from the room, and Caleb was getting ready to tackle the possessed agent himself when the discharge papers came through.

'Hey guys.' Ethan greeted the three remaining patients and their 'self-appointed guard dog' Caleb Reeves.

'Hey look it's junior doc, oh wait no it's kindergarten doc!' Dean grinned happily from the chair next to Sam's bed.

'And I see that you're out of bed again.' Ethan growled softly, 'what am I to do with you?'

'Hmmm a hot nurse, basin of water, nice soft sponge ...' Dean winked at his little brother, 'and...'

'Enough Dean I'm gonna go have to gouge my eyes out now I have that image in my mind.' Bobby groused good-naturedly and winked at Lauren who giggled along with the friendly banter. 'You had better run Missy afore he gets more mobile in that wheelchair.'

'Bite me old man.' Dean shot back happily, as he saw the ghost of a smile on his brother's face, 'no wait on second thoughts don't ...'

'Oh very freaking funny Dean, why don'tcha get outta that chair and come of here and call me old man.'

'Now I'm scared.'

'So what's the verdict Doc?' Caleb asked looking up from the guns and ammunition magazine, he coughed back the chuckles and tried to ignore Bobby and Dean. 'You look like the cat that got the cream.'

'I just got Sam's test results back.'

'And? Geeze doc way to withhold information.' Dean griped as he unconsciously tightened his grip on his brother's forearm.

'What do they say Ethan?' Sam asked nervously chewing his lip and shifted his arm to take his brother's hand in his suddenly needing that extra physical contact.

'Well it's good news,' Ethan started, 'the gangrene has responded to treatment better than I thought it would Sam, also the new antibiotic treatments seem to have the infections under control.'

'What exactly does that mean?' Dean asked not wanting to get his own hopes up but failed miserably when he saw the tiny glimmer of hope in Sam's eyes.

'It means that if things keep improving like this Sam we can start you on some light therapy and start getting you out of bed.'

'My back?' Sam lifted his gaze and gave the young medic the full force of his kicked puppy impersonation.

'Well I'm here to take you for a little walk down to the labs, we're going to remove the staples and stitches under sterile conditions also do another wash out of the gangrenous area. You should feel a lot better once that's done and then you can start to spend some time on your back afterwards too.'

'Where you taking Sam?' Dean asked suspiciously.

'Just down to a sterile lab Dean, Caleb can come with us if you like, he can't come in but he can watch through the viewing pane in the door.'

'Ya see things are starting to look up again Sammy.' Dean grinned and squeezed his brother's hand in encouragement, 'so what you doin' standin' there hoping to age a few more years?'

'You should have been a stand up comedian Dean.' Ethan shook his head, 'I'll be back in about half an hour to collect Sam.'

S—D

Sam licked his dry lips nervously and watched the young doctor as he prepared the sterile area around the gurney. 'So ah doc this gonna hurt?'

'Hopefully not too much.' Ethan said as he stood next to Sam's shoulder, 'ready?'

'What will ya do if I say no?' Sam quipped, flashing his dimples with his small grin.

'You certainly are Dean's brother.' Ethan laughed 'okay here we go.'

Ethan finished removing the bandages and placed them in an infectious refuse bag before continuing. With laborious precision, he popped the staples first and then changed his gloves for a cleaner pair before he started to remove the stitches. Every so often, he checked on Sam but so far, the injections of local anaesthetic were working. 'How you going there Sam?'

'Not too bad I guess.' Sam slurred a little as the tiredness started to thread through again, 'feel a little light-headed.'

'Hmm, okay how about I finish these next few and Lauren can go get you some juice let you rest a little.'

'Okay thanks Doc.' Sam smiled gratefully; he shifted his gaze to the door and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Caleb's face through the glass. 'Can't Caleb come in?'

'This is a sterile room Sam.'

'Yeah but if he gowns up and stuff?'

'Will you sit still for me for the rest of the removal and treatments?'

'Promise.' Sam grinned like a small child with a lollipop as a reward, 'thanks.'

'Dunno what it is about you Sam Winchester.' Ethan laughed, 'Lauren can you go and get Sam some orange juice please? It's just about time for his meds too.'

'Certainly Doctor, some ice in there as well Sam?'

'Yeah please.'

'Oh and tell Mister Reeves out there that he can scrub up, gown up and come in for a while.'

'Certainly Doctor.' Lauren winked at Sam and went out to tell Caleb the good news as she pulled off the gown and mask.

By the time, she returned with Sam's drink and medication, Caleb had scrubbed up and put on the gown, gloves, mask and cap. He smiled sweetly at the young nurse and held the tray for her while she donned new sterile wear and then led the way into the room.

Caleb supported Sam while he sipped the sweet juice and rested, he frowned and glanced at the doctor, Sam had lost so much weight, and muscle mass, 'Doc?' He mouthed with a small nod towards Sam, Ethan understood the hunter's concern immediately and nodded his head and tapped his clipboard.

'I know you two are talking about me.' Sam said feeling slightly better after the drink and fresh medication, 'yeah I know I've lost weight and stuff but nothing to get worked up about and nothing to worry Dean over.'

'Dude can you read minds now?' Caleb felt completely confused and stumped, how could Sam know?

'Relax I saw your reflections in the glass.' Sam laughed lightly but quickly lost his humour when he saw two men pushing their way into the sterile area. 'Who the ...?'

'Get out of here now, this is a sterile lab, you're contaminating everything by just being here.' Lauren stood in front of them her diminutive size seemingly growing into an impressive display of force.

'Step back Nursey and you won't get hurt.' One of the men pulled a gun and waved it at the nurse. Blanching Lauren moved to the side and closer to Caleb.

'What the fuck are you doing?' Caleb snarled as he physically blocked them from Sam and the others.

'Coming to get what's ours.' The gunman smirked, 'how's it hanging Sammy boy?'

'Look I'm afraid that you will have to leave now before I call ... you're the two men who were here earlier aren't you?' Ethan stared at them and then turned his attention to his patient, 'Sam are you alright?' Moving with innate care and complete disregard for the armed men Ethan eased Sam back down on the gurney and placed an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. 'Breath Sam, that's it nice and slow.'

'Get out of here now.' Caleb snarled wishing that he smuggled a gun or a knife anything, that would pass as a weapon. Preferably a lethal one.

'Sit down and shut up.' The first gunman aimed the gun directly at Caleb's chest, 'or there's gonna be blood and guts all over the pretty little nurse.'

'I'm gonna kill you.' Caleb threatened them as he reluctantly moved to the chair, 'slowly and then I'm gonna hand you over to Sam's brother Dean.'

'So what's he gonna do? Slap me? Honestly what is an obviously smart, straight guy doing protecting a slutty little homo?'

'That's it.' Caleb saw red and without another thought launched himself at their attackers. With a nano-second of surprise, he was able to down the first one with a blinding right cut but the second man had his gun already cocked and fired the bullet burning its way through the flesh of Caleb's abdomen. The stench of burnt skin, blood and gunpowder filled the small room making it even more claustrophobic and cloying.

'Anyone else want to play hero?' He yelled turning the gun on the nurse and then Ethan.

'Please let me help him?' Ethan asked his voice trembling, 'he's dying.'

'So? Just another gay lover.'

'Please.'

'Nursey can ... no fast movements though.' He waved his gun at Lauren, 'I don't want to do anything to hurt ya little girl.'

Fighting to stay conscious Sam fixed his focus on the man who had just shot Caleb, his chest heaved and he felt his heart skip a beat at the thought of his friend lying on the floor bleeding to death and essentially, it was Sam's fault. 'My fault.' He whispered. The two men seemed familiar but Sam's sight blurred and misted with hot tears scorching his eyes, blinking furiously he tried to clear his vision but all he did was cause his headache to spike again and disturb his damaged back.

'Easy Sam.' Ethan quickly checked Sam's vitals and swore under his breath, 'I need to give him his medication.'

'Why waste it on him?'

'He is my patient and is seriously ill.' Ethan snapped.

'Far as I can tell it's just my handiwork, want him to know why he deserved it and best way to do that is to let him rot, scar up and then he won't be such a pretty little prick chaser anymore.'

'Not gay.' Sam huffed behind the oxygen mask, 'you, you are.'

'You little punk.' The gunman sneered lifting the gun he brought the butt of it down on Sam's knee.

White hot pain flared through his lower body, Sam screamed and arched his back off the bed before he slumped unconsciously back onto the pillows, a soft 'oomph' slipping from his lips.

'Sam?' Ethan tried to listen for breath sounds, 'damn it Sam.'

S—D

'You got ants in yer pants or what boy?' Bobby groused as he watched Dean fidget in his bed, 'they aint be gone that long.'

'Too long Bobby, dunno just got this feeling in my gut.' Dean glared at the clock above the door, almost daring it to keep passing time. 'That's it.' He pressed the call button and kept his thumb on it willing one of the nurses to come running.

Loud voices and sounds of running startled both hunters and Dean started to thump the button, 'shit something's gone wrong Bobby.'

'Aint time to panic Dean.' Bobby tried to stay calm but when he heard the words, 'shooting,' 'two men' and 'sterile labs.' His heart stopped beating for a moment.

'They've got Sammy again.' Dean whispered, his suspicions confirmed when Karen came in followed by a police officer came into the room, the look on their faces said it all. 'Dean, Bobby this is Detective Josh Rollings.'

'What the hell is goin on?' Bobby asked his voice cracking with pent up emotion.

'It's Sammy?' Dean asked, 'Caleb? Who got shot?'

'Ah they're not sure who, but ...'

'Damn it spit it out Detective ... who got shot my brother or my friend?'

'Two men with guns ... they've taken hostages, so far we know that it is your brother Sam, Caleb Reeves, Doctor Ethan Strong and nurse Lauren Casely.'

'Who...are...they?' Dean pushed the words out between harsh breaths.

'From what we can ascertain, they are from the white supremacist group I believe you have already had trouble with.'

'Ya think.' Bobby glared at the police officer, 'so whatcha doing bout it all?'

'We have evacuated the hospital ... have the armed response team in position and a negotiator trying to get through to them as we speak.'

'Karen can you help me into my chair?' Dean turned his attention to the pale-faced and trembling young nurse, 'Karen? Please?'

'Where do you think that yer going?' Bobby turned his attention to Dean, 'ya can't do anything but git yourself killed.'

'It's Sammy ... Bobby they got Sammy again.'

TBC