Dean felt rough, but there was nothing short of a second surgery that was going to keep him from his brother's bedside as the younger boy came to. And when Sam's eyes finally opened, they found Dean and Bobby anxiously looking back.

Sam snorted, "Who died?" He grinned briefly, then winced.

"Well, you almost, you little bitch." Dean grinned back. "You are in so much trouble, kid."

Sam stared, "What happened to your eye? Is that from the surgery?"

Dean paused, then nodded.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Is Dad pissed?"

"Forget about Dad. You got me to worry about." Dean assured him. "And as soon as you're all better, I am so kickin' your ass, Sam."

"Yeah? Last I remember, you were too weak to do anything but hug a toilet." Sam kidded.

"Yeah? Well, I'm better now, thanks to you. And also thanks to you - I think I got gray hair now. A crab boat, Sam? Really?"

Sam was suddenly silent. He turned wide eyes on Dean. "The boat. The crew. Dean, what …?"

Dean shook his head, "Shhh, Sammy. It's fine. They're all fine. The boat and everyone on board made it."

"Hell, even the crabs made it to the docks alive." Bobby added.

But Sam looked unconvinced, "You're not just trying to make me feel better, right?"

"If I'm lying, I'm dying, Sammy. On my honor, everyone is fine."

Sam grinned at that. "You have no honor, Dean."

"On Bobby's honor …"

Sam laughed.

He actually laughed.

And Dean's heart near exploded. He was so sure he'd never hear that sound again. Suddenly, it was all he could do to just hold onto his brother's hand and not cry.

Sam noticed. He gave Dean's hand a little squeeze and turned to Bobby. "Thanks for coming, Bobby. I was so scared. I couldn't get Dad or Jonesy, and they couldn't wake Dean." He took a trembling breath. "That was the worst part - even worse than being in the water at the end - trying to get Dean the help he needed. That woman … she was horrible." He shivered.

"Yeah? Well, now she's unemployed." Bobby winked.

Sam's mouth dropped open. "They fired her?"

"Sure did."

"Why?"

"When they thought you … when they thought the boat had gone down … the story got out about why you signed on in the first place. People were outraged."

Sam thought about that. Normally, he'd feel bad that he was instrumental in having someone fired. But then he remembered her threatening to wake Dean and force him onto a plane in terrible pain. Then he didn't feel so bad anymore.

His eyes teared as he gazed up at Bobby. "She was gonna make them wake him up. The doctor said the pain would be terrible, and she didn't care. She didn't care that he could die either…" Sam was all high-pitched and whiny and couldn't seem to control it. His voice hitched, and a tear made its way down one cheek.

Dean chimed in, rubbing his hand, "Shhh. Sammy. It's okay."

But Sam was getting himself all worked up, remembering. "She said you … you wouldn't die right away, that you could still get on a plane and go back. I begged her, Dean! I did. I would have done anything, but she wouldn't give an inch! And I couldn't get Dad. I tried over and over …"

"Calm it down, Samantha, or you're gonna have security in here runnin' us out." Dean joked, trying to redirect his brother's train of thought.

Sam took a steadying breath and nodded. "Okay." he said shakily. "I … I just … I had to move fast, you know? And there was the help-wanted sign in the coffeehouse. I just … I didn't think. I just knew you needed help, and I was the only one who could get it." He turned puppy eyes on his brother. "Don't be mad, Dean, please?"

Damn those eyes. Dean had to look away. "I'm not mad, Sammy. I promise. I mean, how could I be? You saved my life and damn near lost your own in the process."

Sam smiled, too overcome to speak.

"So you up for more company?" Bobby asked him.

Sam looked surprised, "Who?"

Bobby winked and stepped outside the door. He gestured to someone standing in the hallway.

And when the crew came filtering in, all of them but JayJay, Sam's grin would have lit up a football field. But once everyone was inside and still no skipper, Sam's grin turned to a look of fear.

"JayJay?" He gazed up at Mike, suddenly scared, "Did he …?"

But Mike just ruffled Sam's hair. "Skip's fine, Sammy. He's just got a room of his own here. Took a metal pole through his ribs. But he's awake and dealing out platitudes just like always." The older man winked.

Sam grinned. "Sounds like him."

Mike had a little fun at JayJay's expense, imitating his calm voice. "The sea chose to put a pole through my body, but I feel it is for the best. Perhaps I needed impaling."

Sam couldn't help himself. He snorted, feeling bad for it afterward.

"That was awful."

Mike grinned, "I know. I'm going straight to hell."

Lars elbowed him. "Like you ain't already been there."

Rog chimed in, 'Ain't that the truth. I think we've all been there. This last time out … well."

"So, it's not always that intense?" Sam asked mischievously.

Whitey chuckled, "Well maybe not quite that intense, anyway."

"This was one for the record books, Sammy." Mike agreed, suddenly sobering. "We thought we'd lost you. Don't know how you washed up on that beach and survived. We all knew you were one tough cookie. We just didn't know you were immortal."

Sam just shook his head, lying, "I don't remember much after making the mayday call - just waking up, and Dean was jogging up the beach with me." He looked over at his big brother, and everyone in the room could see the stars shining in his eyes. He frowned suddenly. "How are you, by the way? You okay?"

"I'm right as rain, Sammy. You know me - I ain't dying anytime soon."

Sam smiled, "Good." Then he got serious again. "So … has Dad shown up yet? I mean, you think he's okay?"

The room went silent as everyone relived the memories of just a few hours ago. Finally, Dean spoke. "He stopped in to see how you were doing."

Sam's eyes went watery. "But he didn't stay?"

Dean shook his head, "Well, you know Dad, Sam."

"You think … he's mad, isn't he?" Sam raised a hand to his cheek absently, as though feeling a blow there. "I guess I'm in for it, hunh?" He sighed, his defenses too down to think about the other people in the room.

Mike's eyes went dark as he imagined that drunk bastard laying hands on the frail-looking kid in the bed. It took everything he had to remain silent.

"Don't you even worry about Dad, Sammy. Bobby had a talk with him. He won't be back for awhile. And you're not in for anything. I promise. He'll have to go through me first."

Sam looked unconvinced, but he pasted on a brave smile. "Thanks."

Dean winked. "Gotta look out for my little bro. Otherwise, who's gonna be there to save me from my next brain tumor?"

Sam's eyes widened and his face went pale. "You better not!"

Dean chuckled. "I'm kidding, Sam. They got it all out. No cancer. I'm good."

"Now you need to work on getting out of that bed, cause I've had my share of hospitals, kid." Bobby told Sam gruffly. "Between the two of you, I've aged at least 10 years this week."