Disclaimers and warnings: See chapter 1.
Chapter 51 Bobby
Dean turned and grinned at Sam
"It looks great, hey? Good job Sammy."
"I just had them enlarged and framed Dean. You took the photo."
"You scrub up okay in this. I'm glad we went but do you think you can put up with that on the wall for six months?" Dean asked pointing to the picture of them on the hood of the car.
"Like I said Dean, they brighten the place up nicely. You should be proud of them."
Dean pulled back slightly and Sam grabbed his hand.
"There is another out here."
Sam was hyperaware he was holding his brother's hand and Dean wasn't pulling away. Sam showed Dean the photo in the front hallway then the one between their rooms. The one between their rooms was of the both of them in the helicopter that Dean had taken. They were both smiling and looked like they were having a great time.
"Are there anymore? I think we are running out of walls."
Sam looked at Dean shyly and led him to his bedroom. Dean balked slightly at the threshold but Sam pulled him in and showed him the one on his wall.
"Sorry Dean, I just really liked this one."
"No problems Sammy. If it makes you happy I want you to have anything you want." Dean squeezed Sam's hand and went back out to the kitchen.
Sam stood looking at the photo with his hand up to his chest feeling the warmth of where Dean had squeezed it. By the time Sam got himself moving and back to the kitchen Dean had put the dishes in the dishwasher and had rinsed the cups out for more coffee. While the water boiled Dean went to his room and grabbed one of his hoodies out and threw it on. Sam had finished the coffees when he came out and he threw one of his hoodies to him.
"Coming out to the deck?"
Dean picked up his coffee and walked out through the door. Sam shrugged then put the garment on before following Dean out to the deck. Dean sat with his feet up drinking his coffee and Sam pushed his chair close to Dean's. Dean raised his eyebrows at Sam's closeness then looked over in question as Sam's arm brushed his.
Sam just shoved his hands deep in the pockets of Dean's hoodie and shrugged.
"Careful with my threads there, Sammy."
Sam smiled and tapped his arm against Dean's.
"What's up with you? You on drugs or somethin'?"
Sam barked a laugh, trust Dean. "No just feeling happy that you liked the photos. Is there any you want done?"
Dean thought for a minute. "Can I look through them again first?"
Sam got up and bought the photos out and handed them to Dean.
Dean finished his coffee and went through the photos slowly putting a couple to the side. One was of both of them leaning against the front of the Hummer and the other was of them sitting on a rock next to the river. Dean put the one of them at the river back on the pile slowly and gave the other to Sam.
"Cool, you want it the same size as the others?"
"Yeah sounds good thanks Sammy."
"Hey that lasagna? Is it hard?"
"No, why?"
"I thought I could make it today and throw it in the oven when Bobby gets here and by the time we are done catching up it will be ready."
Dean looked at Sam with his eyebrows raised.
"Yeah well, maybe my brother could help me cook it so it's edible." Sam laughed.
"No I was actually thinking it was a top idea. Let's go have a look if we have everything."
"Are you sure, Dean? You still look tired."
"It won't take long and I have to shower before my appointment."
"Okay, put me to work."
Dean showed Sam what to do and in quick time they had the tray full of lasagna ready to put in the oven. Sam covered it with foil and put it in the fridge while Dean had a shower and changed. Sam was still concerned about Dean, keeping an ear out while he tidied the kitchen. Even though he had shown his usual efficiency in the kitchen Sam could see the tiredness emitting from him. They went to Dean's appointment without any problems then went straight back to the apartment.
As soon as they walked in Dean sat on the couch and pulled his boots off. Sam saw him stretch the bottom of his foot.
"You okay?"
"Got a cramp of all friggin things." He sounded a little pissed off.
Sam sat and pulled Dean's foot to his lap turning Dean around in his seat.
"Lie down and relax. I've got this."
Dean was tense at first but then relaxed down into the armrest of the sofa feeling way too tired to put up much of a fight. To his surprise Dean felt himself enjoying Sam's big hands on his foot and soon the cramp was gone and he was enjoying getting a foot rub. Dean closed his eyes as he started to drift off to sleep and felt Sam pick his other foot up and rub it as he fell deeper into sleep with his chin in his chest.
Sam was amazed Dean fell to sleep so quickly and he kept up the gentle rubbing until Dean was breathing evenly in deep sleep. He threw the rug from the back of the couch over his brother then washed his hands. He made himself a coffee then ordered both the photos Dean had liked as enlargements. He grabbed up a cloth and gave the apartment a dusting and both bathrooms a quick clean. Since they were both fairly clean and Dean had done it two days previously he didn't need to do much more than that so he surfed the net on his laptop and used his iTunes card until he got a text from Bobby. He was an hour out so Sam sent him the address with some rough directions. He went back to his surfing while he waited and the hour flew by.
When Sam heard the knock at the door he ran to it on tiptoe as not to wake Dean. He opened the door to find Bobby standing waiting. Sam opened the door widely with a smile.
"Thanks for coming Bobby."
"Try to keep me away Sam." Bobby stepped into the house and pulled Sam into a rough hug.
"Have a good trip?"
"Yeah fine. Hey nice photo. Where is it the canyon?" Bobby had noticed the photo in the frame on the wall.
"Yeah it's great hey? Dean took it."
"Dean?"
"Yeah I bought him a camera and he's a natural."
"It's really nice. Anyway where is he?"
"Just through here."
Sam led the way into the living room, where Dean was lying on the couch rolled on his side facing the back. The rug was pooled on the floor. Sam woke Dean up and he got up slowly before Bobby grabbed him up in a big bear hug. Sam used the moment to put the lasagna in the oven and was surprised to find Bobby still hugging Dean when he came back into the room. Bobby was patting Dean on the back and muttering something in his ear. Sam hadn't seen Dean accept a hug this personal and long for a very long time, not including his own of course.
When Bobby pulled Dean into a hug he could feel how much weight the young hunter had lost already. He considered both Winchesters as sons and he wanted to be there for Dean during his treatment.
"You make sure you let me know if you or Sam need anything, you understand?" Bobby said in a soft voice.
"Thanks Bobby. And thanks for coming."
"Like I said to Sam, try to keep me away. Expect to see me around a bit. I sense lots of excuses to drop in comin up."
"You don't need to have an excuse to drop in, right Dean?" Sam put in.
"No drop in any time Bobby. Hey Sam, show Bobby around. Sam did a great job setting us up."
Sam flushed at the compliment and took Bobby for a tour with Dean tagging along popping in compliments every now and again making Sam smile. Bobby agreed with Dean that Sam had done a great job finding and setting the place up. Bobby commented on all the photos, praising Dean's artistic ability even though he tried to divert the attention by saying Sam had them blown up and framed. When they got to the dining room Sam showed Bobby the leaflet for the photographic competition.
Bobby and Sam both thought Dean should enter but Dean flatly refused.
"I'm never going to enter Sam, so give it up."
"I noticed you said you were not going to enter."
Sam grinned at Bobby's implication.
"Don't encourage him Bobby." Dean growled and they both laughed.
Sam grabbed three beers from the fridge with his eyebrows raised. Dean nodded and they took them out to the back deck where Sam dropped the envelope of photos into Bobby's lap as his sat in one of the plastic chairs. Dean sat on the top step and chatted to them as Bobby and Sam looked at the photos. Bobby noticed how slowly Dean drank his beer and slowed down to match so he wouldn't feel like he had to rush for them. After some time Sam went inside and put the lasagna on a cutting board to allow it to rest and went back outside and chatted to Bobby until it was time to dish up. Dean helped Sam make the salad despite Sam telling him to relax and take it easy.
They sat in the dinning room and ate together with both Bobby and Sam making noises over the food.
"Sam you had this last night. Why are you freaking out all over again?"
"Cause it's great." Sam said around a mouthful of food.
"It's great Dean." Bobby agreed nodding.
"Sam made it." Dean grizzled.
Bobby looked at Sam with surprise.
"Dean's recipe and Dean helped."
Bobby nodded in understanding.
"Don't let him fool you Bobby, Sam cooked this. He is getting pretty good." Dean refused the compliment like he always did.
"What a couple of omelets and I'm Jamie Oliver?"
"Not yet Sammy, but you are getting there."
Bobby smiled at the brotherly banter, happy they were keeping their spirits up.
"If Dean is teaching you, you will be an 'Iron chef' in no time." Bobby teased.
Bobby insisted on helping put the dishes in the dishwasher after he and Sam had three helpings. Dean had stopped at one not feeling the best and not wanting to throw up with Bobby there. Sam was in a great mood and wanted dessert so he pulled out a frozen cheesecake from the freezer and cut it up. Dean held up a hand when Sam offered him some and Sam frowned and handed him his anti-nausea tablets without a word. Bobby noticed the exchange and moved to the kitchen to help Sam make them coffee.
TBC
