Okay, just finished this up right when Supernatural was beginning. Its now a commercial so I figured I better get it posted. Angst fest warning. Yep, worse than the last chapter.

Cindy

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The Next Day

Caleb, Joshua and Bobby strolled down the hall toward Sam's ICU room, the three hunters already having stopped by Dean's room only to find it had been vacated. It didn't surprise the men too much, but they did feel a measure of concern that John had allowed his eldest son to be released so soon after surgery. Of course, once Dean set his mind to something, especially when it concerned the youngest Winchester, there was no talking him out of it. The men made a right at the next hall and saw John and Dean halfway down, standing outside of Sam's room, both men looking more than a little agitated. The three hunters picked up their pace as the thought that something had happened to Sam invaded their minds. John turned his head in their direction and the men could plainly see the stress that darkened the hunter's eyes.

"Johnny, what's going on?" Bobby queried as the hunters met up.

"Agent Gallagher is in interviewing Sammy," John said as he turned back to the window that separated him from his youngest son.

The three hunters moved around so that they could see into the room, their protective natures taking over as they saw that Sam was clearly upset as the CPS agent talked to him. They bristled as the man reached out and brushed his hand down Sam's forearm apparently trying to comfort the boy, but Sam would have nothing of it by the looks of things. The boy jerked his arm away from the man's touch and the agent pulled back his hand, the men reading the apology on the man's lips.

"Why the hell is that dick touching my brother?" Dean hissed, the young man's eyes glued to the boy in the bed just past the window.

"He's trying to calm Sam down by the looks of things," Joshua said in reply.

"Yeah…well, Sam wouldn't need calming down if the jerk wasn't in there interrogating him," Dean snapped back, his green eyes flashing dangerously as he gazed over at his friend.

"Mr. Gallagher is just doing his job, Dean," Pastor Jim's voice sounded, his sudden appearance making the other hunters turn in his direction.

"I'm sure there are other kids out there for him to harass…he should just leave my brother alone," Dean said as he turned back toward the window.

"I understand your feelings…all of yours, but in my conversations with the agent, I found him to be very caring and truly concerned for Sam. He's not trying to ruin anybody's lives here, he's just trying to make sure that Sam is safe," Pastor Jim explained as he peered at the men.

"Yeah…safe from us. He thinks we're hurting Sam and he could have him taken from us," John said.

"He's not trying to pin Sam's injuries on you or Dean, or any of us. He's trying to understand the situation," Pastor Jim said.

"Yeah, I guess, but why does he have to interrogate the kid when Sam just woke up and is hurting and scared?" Caleb said, the hunter in full on protective mode, just like Dean was.

"He has time restraints…he has a boss he has to report to and this is a…unique case? I'm sure he's being pushed to get to the bottom of things," the pastor said in reply.

"Sam doesn't need this stress…he needs to rest," Dean hissed as he turned toward the pastor. "He needs his family with him."

"You'll be with him soon, Dean. Let's all just calm down and wait for the interview to be over, okay?" John said softly.

"How long has the agent been in there?" Bobby asked gruffly.

"About a half hour," John answered.

Just as Dean was about to comment, the agent rose from his seat next to Sam's bed and headed toward the door. All eyes except Dean's watched the agent as he made his way out of the room. Dean however could not look away from Sam. It broke the elder brother's heart to see the lost look on his baby brother's face and he swore that he would find a way to erase that look, no matter what it took. He didn't look over as Agent Gallagher stepped through the doorway, but he heard as the door was shut softly behind the man.

"Uh…Mr. Tilton, can we find someplace private to talk?" Agent Gallagher inquired as he stepped up to the group of hunters.

"Anything you have to say you can say right here," John said.

"Okay, if that's what you want," the agent said.

"Can I go sit with Sammy?" Dean queried as he finally pulled his attention away from the boy in the bed to gaze at the men. "He shouldn't be alone."

Agent Gallagher thought for a moment then smiled slightly. "Yes, of course you can sit with your brother. I agree that he shouldn't be alone," the agent answered.

Dean wasted no time in making his way to the door and stepping into the room. The others watched through the window as the young man took the seat vacated by the CPS agent before taking Sam's hand in his. He smiled warmly at his brother and his lips began to move as he no doubt began to speak words of comfort to the boy. John watched his boys for a moment longer before turning back to the CPS agent.

"Okay, Agent Gallagher, what is it you want to tell me?"

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The Interview

Sam lay in his bed, the teen swallowing as he watched his father and brother ease past the CPS agent who stood near the door. Dean glanced over his shoulder at his brother and smiled before he followed his father out of the room. Sam turned his attention on the man who gazed down at him and narrowed his eyes. The man smiled then made his way around the bed and took the chair that Dean had been sitting in.

"Sam, I'm Agent Gallagher," the man said softly. "I'm with Child Protective Services."

"I know who you work for. You want to take me away from my family," Sam said shortly, his hazel eyes locked on the agent.

"No, I want to make sure that you're safe, Sam. If you're safe with your family then I want you to stay with them," the agent said in reply.

"Yeah…right," Sam scoffed as he turned his eyes away. He glanced out the observation window and saw that his father and brother stood just outside, both men watching the scene intently.

"Sam, I don't know what you've heard of CPS, but I assure you I'm not here to take you away from anyone…as long as I'm sure that you aren't being hurt by those that are supposed to be taking care of you."

Sam turned his gaze back on the agent and frowned. He watched the man for a moment then turned his gaze away. He avoided the anxious eyes that watched him through the window, choosing instead to stare at the wall just beside the window. He ignored the agent as the man asked questions of him, the boy purposely closing his eyes as if he had fallen asleep. Agent Gallagher leaned forward and gazed down at the quiet teen.

"Sam, I know you aren't sleeping. We can get this over with a lot quicker if you cooperate," Agent Gallagher said, the man keeping his voice low and even as he spoke.

Sam opened his eyes and turned his head toward the agent. "What does it matter what I say? You've already made up your mind about all of this," Sam said.

"No, I haven't. I'm confused by your injuries though and I'm quite concerned. If your family is hurting you, you need to tell me, Sam."

Sam shook his head and continued to stare at the man, but he said nothing. Agent Gallagher sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Look, I have all day. I understand that this is all very stressful, but I want to get it over with just as much as you do. The sooner you answer my questions, the sooner we can get this whole mess straightened out."

Sam glared at the man and pursed his lips. "You don't want the truth. You want to take me away from my father and brother and put me into some foster home. Why should I waste my breath when you won't listen to me?"

"You don't know me, Sam. I don't just take kids away from their families without good reason. You have some very serious injuries that are suspicious and it's my job to find out just what happened to put you in this condition."

Sam took a deep breath and glanced up at the agent. "What do you want to know?" he asked, resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get rid of the man until he answered his questions.

"Well, I guess we can get right to it. Has your father or brother ever hit you? Have they caused any of your injuries…old or new?"

"No. My father and brother would never hurt me. They have never laid a hand on me," Sam answered evenly.

"Did they tell you to tell me that? Did they threaten you in any way if you told me that they were hurting you?"

Sam bristled at the man's question. He glared at the agent, his jaw working as he ground his teeth together. "Are you saying that I'm lying?" he asked crossly.

"No, Sam. I'm just trying to figure out the truth here."

"I'm telling you the truth. I may be annoying and a pain in the ass and I may be a piss poor son, but one thing I'm not is a liar. I've been lied to and I know how it feels," Sam said, his voice barely over a whisper.

"Why do you say you're a poor son? Has your father told you that?"

Sam sighed and looked down toward his feet. "No, he hasn't. I ran away. I scared my family and look what happened. I'd call that being a poor son. I don't deserve their concern. I should have just…I…"

The agent watched Sam with concern as the boy seemed overcome with emotion. "What, Sam? You should have what?"

Sam gazed up at the man and bit his lower lip. "Nothing…it's nothing."

"Sam, why did you run away?" the agent asked, his concern ratcheting up a notch at the Sam's growing agitation.

"Dad and I haven't been getting along that well lately. When Dean got hurt in Oregon, Dad thought it was because I messed up and maybe it was. We'd been arguing and…well, Dean got hurt…"

"You got hurt too, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did, but that's not important. I was being selfish, thinking about myself and some stupid test. If Dean hadn't been mad at me for fighting with Dad, he wouldn't have gotten hurt. If I had been the son Dad needs me to be, we would have been fine."

"Sam, you can't be someone you aren't. You can't change yourself to please others."

"Yes, you can and I've tried. Just not hard enough, I guess."

Agent Gallagher shook his head as he gazed at the miserable teen. "Is that why you ran away? You couldn't be who you thought you had to be?"

"I ran away because I'm selfish and I'm stupid. My dad and brother trusted me to go to my uncles like I'd said I was, but I didn't. The blame is on me, not them."

"From my talk with Pastor Murphy, you are anything but selfish and stupid, Sam. According to the Pastor, you put everyone else ahead of yourself, and he says you're a genius. Why are you so hard on yourself?"

Sam looked up at the agent and frowned. "Pastor Jim doesn't know the real me I guess. Dad and Dean do though. They'd be better off without me, that's for sure. And now that I can't walk, I'm even more useless to them," Sam said sadly.

Agent Gallagher leaned forward and placed his hand on Sam's forearm in a show of comfort, but the boy jerked his arm away from the man's touch. "Sam, I'm sorry…"

"For what? You didn't do anything. Maybe it would be better if you took me from them. You could put me in a home for useless teenagers or something then they wouldn't be stuck with a cripple like me," Sam said softly, a lone tear making it's way down his flushed cheek.

"Sam, I'm pretty sure your family doesn't see you as useless and as for not walking, the doctor said there is a chance that you will walk again," Agent Gallagher said.

"Doesn't matter, I was useless before and I'm useless now," Sam whispered as he rolled his head to look at the wall behind the agent.

"Sam…"

"Are we done now, because I'm tired," Sam said, his head rolling back to gaze pleadingly at the agent.

Agent Gallagher sighed as he watched the boy. Finally, he nodded and stood. "Okay, you sleep and I'll go talk to your father," he said before making his way to the door.

Sam watched the agent leave and as soon as the door shut behind him, he let the tears fall. He didn't want to leave his family, but he couldn't stay with them, not like this. Who ever heard of a hunter in a wheelchair? He wasn't much of a hunter before he lost the use of his legs, but now? They may as well take him out and shoot him, his life was pretty much over anyway. Sam brushed at the tears on his face when he heard the door open. He looked up and sighed inwardly when Dean stepped into the room. He gazed up at his brother as the young man reached the bed and dropped down into the chair. Sam allowed Dean to take his hand, the boy needing the comfort his brother's touch brought.

"Hey, kiddo…you okay?" Dean said softly as he gazed down at his little brother.

"Yeah…I'm fine," Sam whispered in reply.

"You don't look fine, Sammy. Did that dick upset you? You want me to kick his ass?" Dean queried, is anger rising at the look of misery on his baby brother's face.

"No…he was okay, Dean. I'm just tired," Sam said.

"You sure? I really want to kick someone's ass…I'm having withdrawals here," Dean said, hoping to cheer his brother up, if only a little bit.

Sam looked sadly up at his brother and shook his head. "I'm sure…just tired. I think I'm gonna sleep for awhile, if its okay with you?"

Dean looked down at the hand he held in his own and nodded. "Yeah, sure, kiddo…sleep," he said, his thumb rubbing circles over the back of the smaller hand.

Sam rolled his head away and closed his eyes, leaving Dean to watch him with concern filled eyes. Dean finally laid Sam's hand down on the bed and leaned back in his chair. He watched as Sam's breathing evened out and the boy fell asleep. When he was sure Sam was truly sleeping, he leaned forward and brushed the hair from his forehead, his fingers lingering in his hair as he fought with his emotions. Sam couldn't stay like this, he just couldn't. His little brother would walk again and he'd be happy again, Dean would make sure of it. Anything less was unacceptable.

"I'm gonna make this right, Sammy…I promise you that. You're going to walk again," Dean said as he gazed down at Sam's peaceful face.

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John waited until Dean had settled next to Sam before he turned from the window and faced Agent Gallagher. "Okay, Agent Gallagher, what is it you want to tell me?" he asked with his heart in his throat.

Agent Gallagher glanced at the expectant eyes of the men who surrounded him then turned his attention back to John. "Sam and I had an interesting talk, Mr. Tilton…"

"What did Sam say?" John queried impatiently.

"Well, he said that you nor your son have ever hurt him. He was adamant that I understand that," the agent replied.

"I told you I would never hurt my boys…never," John said, the man relaxing just a little bit at the man's words.

"Yes, you did. My concern now lies with Sam's emotional and mental well being. He...he doesn't put much value on himself. Why would he think so little of himself?" the agent asked, his eyes boring into the man before him.

John gazed through the window at his sons, his heart breaking as he contemplated what he'd just been told. He returned his gaze to the agent and dropped his eyes. "I guess that would be my fault. I've been really hard on the kid. I don't give out compliments easily and I give them out even less with Sam. I expect a lot from my boys…I guess that's the Marine in me. Dean…he thrives on all of it, but Sammy? He's so much like his mother, so sensitive," John said softly.

"Yes, well…you have a real problem on your hands. That boy, he thinks he's useless. He feels no self worth. He thinks he should be put in a home…that you and his brother would be better off without him with you," the agent said.

"You're not taking him away from us, are you?" Caleb asked fearfully as he gazed at the two Winchester brothers.

"My head says that I need to get that boy some help…" the man started.

"What!? You can't do that…he needs his family!" Joshua cried, his anger filled eyes flashing dangerously.

"Joshua, let the man speak," Pastor Jim said, his own eyes filled with worry as he glanced first at the CPS agent, then at John.

"Thank you, pastor. As I was saying, my head says to get that boy someplace where he can receive counseling, but my heart says that to take him away from his family would be more detrimental to his well being. The thing I am struggling with is will you get him the help he needs? Once I'm out of the picture, will things go back to the way they've been? I need to be very frank with you, Mr. Tilton. If you don't figure things out with Sam, I'm afraid you will lose him. I'm not going to say he's suicidal, but I think he could easily become that way. He's very depressed right now…about his legs, about how you see him and his place in your family. He needs you to let him know that he has worth in your eyes. He seriously needs counseling. Can you promise me that Sam is going to get all of the things he needs?"

John stood, unable to speak for a moment. He stared at the man before him then turned to look through the window. Sam appeared to be sleeping and Dean was…well, Dean was in total big brother mode, fingers brushing lightly through messy chocolate hair, lips turned up into a warm smile as he gazed down at his baby brother. John choked back a sob then turned back to the agent.

"Sammy will get everything that he needs. Jim is a licensed counselor and really has a way with him. We'll take Sam to Blue Earth as soon as he can travel and we'll stay there until he is back to being himself," John said, his gaze moving to Jim who nodded his approval. "Look, I know I've really dropped the ball with my baby, but I'm going to do everything I can to make up for it."

Agent Gallagher looked down at his notebook and contemplated John's words. They seemed sincere and the agent knew from what he had seen with Sam that despite the kids words, he would not make it without his family. Finally, the agent looked up and nodded.

"I will release him to your care…as long as I have your promise that you will do as you've just said," the agent said.

"Oh god, thank you," John breathed out, his hand immediately coming out to take the smaller man's hand. "I promise, Sam will get everything that he needs."

"I expect to be kept apprised of his progress. As long as you follow the instructions I leave with you, I will not contact CPS in Minnesota, but if I even suspect that Sam is not being cared for in the manner he should be, I will waste no time in contacting them."

John nodded and glanced at his friends, smiling at the relieved looks on their faces. "Sam will be taken care of. He will be hovered over and mother henned like no other kid has ever been mother henned. He will become sick of us…he'll roll his eyes and huff and puff and he'll probably quit talking to us, but we won't leave him alone and we won't let him give up," he said, his voice taking on the energy that had been missing since this whole nightmare had begun.

The agent nodded as he listened to John speak. "I'll get the papers drawn up and the instructions for what is expected of you. I just want to make sure that in the middle of all of the mother henning and hovering that you let Sam see that you love him. I think that's what he needs most of all. He needs to know that he has value, that he is loved…that he's not useless."

"Sam is loved, Agent Gallagher. He will know that he is loved. He won't be denied anything that he needs. Not a damned thing."

"That's good to hear, Mr. Tilton. That's really good to hear. I wish you luck…all of you. Take care of that boy. Take care of both of them. They really are special."

"I know, Agent Gallagher. I know."

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So, that's it for now. Please let me know what you think.

Cindy