Dean stood there in shock, not moving even a twitch, just in case his brother and their friend had an itchy trigger finger. Finally after a very intense moment, he saw both guns being lowered giving him a moment of relief before he was assaulted again.
"Dean, what the hell?" Sam began, staring at his brother in disbelief. "We could have killed you!"
Caleb knew that it had been close, but he also knew that neither one of them would have fired a shot without knowing for certain if he was a threat. He was just about to say something to that effect when he saw the horrified look on the other man's face.
"Sam?" Dean asked as he rushed forward to catch his little brother. "Dude, you kidding me with this?" he asked as he tried to maneuver Sam back to the couch. He suddenly realized two things; the first was Ellie had suddenly stopped screaming, the second being that Caleb was right there helping him keep his little brother from hitting the floor.
After getting Sammy settled on the couch, Dean looked over and saw Ellie was sitting in front of the bookcase just starting at it. Seeing that she wasn't in any danger or distress, he turned his attention back to the situation in front of him. "Hang on Sammy, I'll call the guys and we'll get you back to the hospital in no time."
Confused, Sam looked at Caleb then back to Dean. "What? No Dean… I'm fine!" he exclaimed as he grabbed the phone out of Dean's hand, leaving the older brother to look shocked.
"Sammy, you could have blown a clot, we need to get you…"
"A clot… God, you've been talking to that quack haven't you? Dean, I'm tired, I haven't blown anything,… yet. Aren't you supposed to be at work?" he demanded, and then groaned when the sounds of sirens reached his ears. "Dean… get rid of them!"
Dean was as shocked at Caleb looked; he wasn't expecting the whole freakin' firehouse to show up on their lawn. Suddenly both he and Sam looked at each other in horror and shouted "MOM!"
No sooner had they remembered that she had no idea what was going on, than the kitchen door banged open and their mother's shouts could be heard throughout the house, as the front door started to fill up with firefighters and medics.
"Look at this way little brother; at least you know you're loved."
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John had been under an old Plymouth for the last hour and a half trying hard to coax the exhaust system loose, but it was being more stubborn than any forty year car had the right to be. He didn't care though, it was keeping his mind away from the fact he had left his ill son at home with a mentally challenged little girl and a hunter who could very well have his own agenda. The more he thought about it, the more he really wanted to guard the kid with a loaded shotgun and an armada of Marines.
"John, Mary called… something's going on at the boys' house." Mike yelled from the office, not surprised when John tossed his tools into the tool chest and raced towards the Impala.
By the time he pulled to a stop in his driveway, Dean was talking to the medics and gesturing to the house, making John feel more than a little bit of dread. He knew letting Sammy leave the hospital AMA was going to bit him in the ass, but it was a judgment call and now he was second guessing it.
Rushing towards his eldest he could hear the ongoing argument and had to wonder exactly what it was he was hearing.
"Damn it, you have to do something… he's not well, I'm telling you he about passed out on the floor!" Dean practically screamed at one of the medics.
The other man held his ground and shook his head. "Dean man, I know he's your little brother, but he's technically an adult… my hands are tied. As long as he's conscious and refusing treatment…"
"Conscious… right… I can take care of that – hold on just a sec…"
"DEAN!" John yelled as he suddenly understood what his oldest was planning on doing it his youngest. "Dean, you really don't want to do that." Dean whirled around with such anger that John unknowingly stepped back.
"The hell I don't Dad, someone has to look after him 'cause it sure as hell's not you! You knew didn't you… the risks of him leaving so soon. Damn it Dad, what are you trying to do, kill him?" Dean was yelling loud enough for the neighbors to get more curious about what was going on, and it was making the medic feel more than a little out of place. "He could get a clot; did the doctor tell you that? How about how Sammy shouldn't have gotten out of the hospital without them knowing how he'd deal with the physical therapy. Let me guess, you thought it was just a joke… well here's some news for you… you're son almost passed out earlier! How's that for a joke?"
John knew Dean was mad, but there was no way he was going to allow him to blow everything out of proportion. "Dean, calm down! I spoke to Sammy about this before he signed the papers, it's not as if he got a whim and snuck out. You need to trust him enough to…"
"To what? Get himself killed? Dad, he's still only seventeen… we wasted too many years and now…"
The sound of his coworkers and friends coming outside distracted him from his thoughts and he wondered how his first day back got so screwed up to begin with. Ignoring everything and everyone else, he rushed back inside and looked at the scene before him. Ellie was on the couch sitting next to his little brother as they looked at their family photo album they had started that first trip to the park. Sammy looked tired, but not any worse for wear that had worried him so much; and he wondered not the first time if he'd just overreacted. Pausing a moment, he looked around the house and saw their Mom walking back into the living room with a couple glasses of juice.
"Here you go sweetie, take these and I'll see if Dean's calmed down any." Mary said quietly, enjoying the peaceful scene in front of her. Smiling, she ran her fingers through her baby boy's hair and paused only a moment when she realized that he hadn't tensed up as much as he normally would. 'Progress I guess.' She thought to herself as she turned to Dean. "So, what got you in such a panic that you had to bring the whole station with you? I thought something horrible happened the way you tore into the driveway then the fire truck pulling in not even five minutes behind you."
Dean stood dumbstruck, sure that he misunderstood; after all, this was Sammy they were talking about, anything could happen to him. His gaze shifted to the couch and he saw his brother watching him with quiet understanding with an undercurrent of amusement. 'Laugh it up kiddo,' he thought 'payback's a bitch.' Taking a deep breath Dean was just about to start his explanation when he heard one of the radio's crackle and he knew he had to go. "I'll explain later Mom… sorry Sammy!" he said turning towards the door as he met Justin at the door.
"Sorry man, we got to go… a warehouse caught fire and every station in town is being called in."
As the remaining Winchester's watched, Dean ran out of the house passing his father and Caleb on the way; as they listened, they knew Dean was in the Engine heading towards yet another fire, and they silently prayed that he and his friends would be safe.
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Mary had just returned from visiting her friend Allison and getting caught up with the going's on of their children when Bobby had received a phone call from another hunter who had heard about Jason's quest to kill Johnny and rushed out to check on the new lead, extracting a promise that she not open the door for anyone under any circumstances. She had grudgingly agreed only because she knew that her son needed Jason caught before he could actually get another chance at hurting her boy.
Sitting back, sipping her tea she was starting to go through her latest Redbook magazine when she heard the distinct rumble of the Impala. As she looked at the clock, she knew that something was wrong; Dean had only been gone most of one day, not four. Not hesitating, she called the garage to let her husband know something was going on, and then hung up before she had a chance to explain further. She had made it out the door and almost to the back door of the other house when she heard something that sent her heart dropping to her feet; sirens.
'Oh dear God no… please, please, please let him be ok.' she prayed as she rushed inside, hearing the argument coming from the other room. 'Thank you!' she prayed silently, knowing that if Sammy was arguing with Dean, then he was alright.
Now though, she had to wonder what had possessed any of them to overreact that way. Caleb was there in case something happened, and Sam knew their phone number so it wasn't as if he was helpless; now though she had to consider that it was possible that they still didn't see him as a grown man who had already seen too much, instead they saw him as a young boy who they never got to know and don't understand how he will react to anything. That didn't sit well with her, especially the way he was watching her at the moment as he and Ellie continued to look over the photo album in his lap.
"Sam… I want to say that I'm sorry for…"
"Don't." he said simply, then going back to discussing a picture that had Ellie particularly enthralled.
Surprised, Mary wasn't sure what he meant. Did he mean don't be sorry, or don't talk, or… She really didn't know and as she looked over at John, she could tell that he wasn't sure either. It wasn't until she heard him sigh and ask Ellie to go upstairs and find her bear that she knew they were about to find out what was actually going on her son's head.
They waited until Ellie was upstairs and listened for the sound of her opening the bedroom door before the silence was broken again, and what the two oldest Winchester's heard tore at their hearts.
"I know you're worried, I get that… but with you trying to hover I feel like you're trying to take Ellie away and I can't have that." Sam admitted quietly, looking at both his parents and waited for the outbursts he knew would come; either he was right and he needed to find a way to get Ellie out of there, or he was paranoid and needed to get his head back on straight. Either way, it was going to be a long night.
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Dean had been ordered out of the building and he was more than a little thankful for it. They had arrived on the scene and had quickly been informed that it was a serious case of arson caused by a chemical accelerant that wasn't responding to the usual protocols; whoever did this wanted to make a statement, and it was working. Everyone had been rotated routinely, mainly in the attempt to keep people as fresh as possibly as they tried to keep the fire contained to the one building.
They all were hot, tired and running on adrenaline; not a good combination for when they were pulled out and forced to re-hydrate themselves, since any sudden drop in adrenaline levels could actually trigger a heart attack. Everyone watched out for each other, and even kept a close eye on any guy who had to man the truck after being out on the line. The only thing that Dean could think of as a benefit to this whole event was he didn't have time to worry or even think about his little brother and what could have happened today. As he took a final gulp of the drink in his hand, not able to tell if it was just water or a sports drink, he looked around and saw his Captain in a heated argument with a police officer who seemed to think they weren't doing enough to keep as much evidence intact.
Shaking his head, Dean couldn't understand some people. If they concentrated on keeping 'evidence' intact, then most of the block would be engulfed by now and the same cop would be chewing them out for not doing anything about it. Hearing a yell off to the right he knew it was time to get back in the game, the flames were trying to jump again which meant another building was at risk and none of them really wanted to wage a full fledge war on more than the one warehouse. Tossing his cup to the side, he rushed forward to help get more hose in position; maybe they could head it off and give the decision makers some time to come up with a really great plan… maybe. It was going to be a long night.
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John heard his son's statement and he hesitated, what do you say to someone who is wondering if you're going to take everything that matters to him away? He saw his wife look stunned and he knew that she felt the same way. Watching his son he then thought that he was closer to understanding why he left the hospital so early.
"Sammy, do you really think that? That we'd take Ellie from you?" John asked as he watched his son closely.
Sam looked over and didn't answer, how could he? The only people he'd really ever known had their own agenda for being helpful, everyone except Cade. He'd pulled him out his own personal hell more than once and he'd never got the chance to repay him. The only thing he felt that he could do now was to watch over Ellie as he'd promised, not that he needed a reason; Ellie was as much his as Cade's if not in body then in heart and soul. He'd give up everything for Ellie, even a family who seemed determined to make him accept them when more times than not they made him nervous.
Mary watched and saw the truth in her son's face and she wanted to cry. They had known that he was suspicious of their actions, but they thought they were heading in the right direction when Sam had agreed to stay close by. Now she realized that they had been pushing, and if all he'd ever known was deceit from people who were supposed to care about him, then it was no wonder he was nervous. She looked at her husband and suspected that he thought the same thing. Nodding, she smiled a little and reached over to grasp her boy's hand lightly.
"Sam, we only want to help. We don't think that you're unable to care for Ellie; in fact we know that you're the only one who can most days. I guess we got so carried away in the fact that you're back with us that we forget that you need some air to breathe." She said, trying to convey that she spoke honestly and from her heart.
Puzzled, Sam looked between both his parents and was amazed by the understanding he saw there, it actually confused him. He had been so concerned about their ulterior motives that he had completely forgot that they might actually be truly concerned with him and Ellie just because he was their son and she was a part of him. Putting that in perspective he actually felt bad for doubting them, but then that portion of him that remembered being fooled before started to surface again and he started feeling torn between allowing them the benefit of the doubt and self preservation. He was about to voice his opinion when he noticed his father look up towards the stairs signaling that they were about to have company. Nodding, he could tell that they were willing to put the rest of the conversation on hold, and he couldn't help but feel thankful for that; Ellie didn't need to be caught in the middle.
The watched as the little girl made her way downstairs holding the bear tightly in her arms and then climb up onto the couch next to Sam. They weren't sure what to make of her when she paused only for a moment before leaning up against him and closed her eyes. A collective sigh sounded in the room as the tense moment from before faded to a more calm and gentle one, leaving its occupants feeling content in more ways than one.