A/N: Thought I would post another chapter as a thank you for all who are reading the story. Hope you enjoy, please review. NC


Chapter 52

Sam turned on a small lamp by the bed as the day gave way to dusk and darkness crept in. He sat down beside Dean and placed a gentle hand on his forehead checking for a fever. Sam smiled when Dean opened his eyes a slit and looked toward him.

"Hey Dee." Sam said smiling down at him. "How ya feel?"

"Thirsty." he whispered trying to swallow.

"Ok, take small sips." Sam instructed picking up the bottled water and holding the straw to Dean's parted lips.

Dean greedily sucked the water into his mouth letting it moisten it before carefully working his throat muscles to swallow it, letting it wet his raw, sore throat. He relished the wetness and pulled more into his mouth to swallow.

"Easy, don't wanna get sick." Sam cautioned him pulling the bottle away for a moment. "Think maybe you can stomach a little broth?"

"Ok." Dean nodded his attention going to the door when someone stepped into the room. Dean bristled when he saw his father standing just inside the doorway holding at tray.

Sam looked over his shoulder to see what had gotten Dean's attention and saw his father standing there.

"I brought some broth and crackers for Dean." John said sitting the tray on the dresser by the door. "And a couple of rolls for you Sam. You didn't eat much earlier." he continued before backing out and heading back down the hall not waiting for either of them to say anything.

Sam sat there for a moment before moving. He helped Dean shift higher in the bed and adjusted the pillows before getting the tray and sitting it across his lap. The broth was in a cup with a straw in it and there were half a dozen crackers laying beside it and a couple of rolls on a napkin. He had also brought a partly filled glass of Sprite for Dean and bottle of water for Sam.

"If you keep this down, we should be able to remove the IV." Sam told Dean helping him grasp the cup. He saw Dean grunt as he tried to raise the cup to capture the straw. "Let me help." Sam said taking the cup and holding it for him. He saw Dean make a pouty face and said, "Get over it, I'm helping." he huffed giving him a bitch face. "Here try a bite of cracker." he offered breaking one in to and holding it for him to bite. Dean gave him one of his own bitch faces but took a bite of the offered cracker.

"What's he doin' here." Dean asked as he chewed and worked on swallowing it.

"He saved your life." Sam told him offering him the Sprite. "Time for some more pain meds." he said shaking two from the bottle and holding them to his lips. Dean pinched his lips together madly, hating being treated like an invalid. "Don't make me get Bobby." Sam warned him when he saw that stubborn look on his face. Dean looked at Sam and frowned, shooting daggers at him but opening his lips enough to let Sam push the pills into his mouth. He accepted the Sprite and washed the pills down before leaning back against the pillows and closing his eyes already wore out. "Think ya can eat a little more?"

Dean rolled his head and opened his eyes in slits to look at his brother's best puppy dog face begging him with his eyes. Not able to deny him when he looked like that, Dean motioned for the broth again and sipped a little more of it getting a warm smile from Sam that made it worth it. Sam picked up one of the rolls and tore off a bite savoring the taste of melted butter on it. It actually was pretty good and he was still a little hungry.

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"Ok, don't wanna push it, you did good." Sam decided sitting the almost empty cup back on the tray and moving it from Dean's lap. "You wanna lay back down or sit up for a bit?"

"You comin' back?" he asked his brother trying to act nonchalant about it not wanting Sam to see his uneasiness.

"Yeah, let me take this to the kitchen. You wanna use the bathroom again before settling down for the night?"

"Probably." Dean said moving his body a little and noting the aches and soreness throughout, noticing it was some better. He waited until Sam left the room to slide to the end of the bed and get his legs off sitting there for a moment as dizziness made the room spin. He took a couple of deep breaths before trying to slowly stand up, wanting to see if his legs would support him. He felt the stitches pull a little as he put weight on that leg. He swayed as the room tilted sideway and he heard his brother's voice yell at him from far away.

"Damnit Dean!" Sam growled at him as he caught him before he fell to the floor. "You wanna break something too? You know that would put ya in the hospital."

Dean felt his stomach churn and he fought to keep what little he ate down. He gurgled slightly when a soft burp popped out.

"Don't puke on me!" Sam warned him as he got him seated back on the bed. "Sit here a minute." Sam told him noticing his pale, sweaty face. "That was really stupid, you know that right?"

Dean drew in a few breaths as deep as he could without it being painful. He let his head hang down for a few minutes as the spinning started to subside. He could feel Sam rubbing his shoulders and neck trying to keep him anchored here and not drift away. Dean concentrated on pushing the lightheadedness away. He sucked at being injured or a patient and about the only one who could control him when he got in one of his bitchy moods was Sam.

"You are not to do that again, got me?" Sam fussed at him as he put a hand on his chest and checked his breathing.

"I'm fine." he got out just above a whisper.

Sam couldn't do anything but laugh at him and shake his head in disbelief.

"You are such a dumb ass Dean." he chuckled sighing. "Like I would believe that, you do know who you're talking to don't you?"

"Bite me." Dean muttered.

"Now, you wanna try this again?" Sam asked when he saw some color coming back into Dean's face. "Easy does it." he cautioned him as Dean stood up again leaning heavily on Sam. Sam took his brother's weight and let him set the pace as they moved slowly toward the bathroom, one step at a time. Sam got him to the commode and turned to give him privacy while he still supported him.

"Done." Dean said a few minutes later, sighing in relief.

"You still feeling ok?" Sam asked helping him pull his sweats up and shifting him to the counter to wash his hands. He wet a cloth and wiped Dean's face before steering him back toward the bedroom. Dean stumbled once and Sam caught him getting him to the bed and sitting down. "Do you want some heat or ice on your shoulders?" Sam asked him once he was settled.

"Think meds kickin' in." he said feeling a heaviness clouding his mind.

"Ok then, let's get you lying down so you can rest." Sam told him helping him lay back and swing his legs on the bed. "You'll feel better in the morning after a good night's rest." Sam commented pulling the covers up over his body. "Rest now." he whispered as Dean closed his eyes. "I'm glad you're back bro."

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"Yer brother resting?" Bobby asked when Sam came back into the kitchen.

"Yeah, he's getting better, staring to be a pain in the ass." Sam huffed pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Sounds 'bout right."

"Where's...John?" he asked looking around.

"Went outside for some fresh air."

"Bobby, what's your opinion of him? Is he being sincere?" Sam questioned.

"I can read people pretty good, so I'd have to say I think so. Hell, I was ready to put a bullet in him myself. He knows if he was to hurt you boys, I'd kill him without a second thought."

Sam thought about what he said rolling it around in his mind as he sipped his coffee. His brain was going over all he knew about his father and how he acted around him and Dean. He thought about how gentle and caring John had been after they rescued Dean.

"Can you listen for Dean?" Sam asked getting up.

"Ok, what you thinking of doing?" Bobby questioned.

"I'm going to go talk to him." Sam said determination in his voice. "Might as well start getting to know him. I have some questions he can answer."

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Bobby watched Sam go out the back door in search of his father. He hoped Sam would get the answers he needed and just maybe Dean would listen to him and release some of that build up anger he had in him. He was worried about him. Bobby pulled out his cell and called Hank wanting to see if he could shed some light on what Dean meant.

"Hello Bobby, any news?" Hank asked worry in his voice.

"We found him. He'll be ok with a little time."

"Oh thank God! That's so good to hear."

"Hank, Dean said something strange about his kidnapper, that you knew him?"

"Me? How would I know him?"

"Didn't you tell me you were attacked at the bar?"

"Yes, a guy attacked me and tried to rape Dean. Dean got the best of him and beat him up real good, almost killed him. Cops said he went to jail. Never heard anything else about him after that."

"Got a name for the guy?"

"Never asked, but it would be in the police report. You want me to check it out? I still got friends on the force who come by the bar."

"Thanks, but I'll check it out. Should be able to find it, if not I'll get back to you."

"Keep me posted on Dean's condition. Tell him when he's better, him and his brother need to stop by to see me. It's been a while."

"I will, you take care." Bobby said. He was getting a funny feeling that guy had something to do with Dean's kidnapping. He'd have Sam get into the police data base and find the report. He looked toward the bedroom and then toward the back door wondering how this night was going to turn out. He hoped maybe Sam would have an open mind with their Dad and Dean might meet them halfway.