Chapter 53
Even before any of the other hunters in the room could react Dean already bolted to Sam's room. Entering the room with his weapon drawn he quickly checked for any danger before turning his attention to Sam.
"Hey Sammy, you're awake. How you're feeling?" Dean walked to Sam's side taking his brother's head in his hands, turning his head up to look into his eyes.
"Dean?" Sam sounded confused.
"Yeah Sammy." Dean brushed Sam's hair out of his eyes.
"Are you okay; you are angry and sad and upset all in one. I don't understand why, did I do something wrong?" Sam was still trying to make sense of all the emotions he still felt within in himself.
"Sammy, slow down brother. What are you talking about?" Dean was confused but kept his voice calm; he didn't want to upset Sam.
"Dean, I could feel it." Sam indicated to his heart as well as his head. "You are upset and I don't know why. Did I do something wrong, please Dean, tell me."
Dean could see the confusion in his brother's eye but he could also see that Sam was starting to work himself up again. "Take it easy Sam. Everything is alright. Dad just told me something that I have difficulties with, but it's alright Sam, nothing else is wrong, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Dean…" Sam continued, looking around the room. "They're nearby." Sam whispered. He was not sure if they could hear him or not.
Dean looked at David and Shane who was standing on the other side of Sam's bed wanting to look him over. "Sammy, who are you talking about?"
"Tweedledum and Tweedledee." Sam kept on whispering, his eyes darting around in the room looking to see if he could spot them.
Dean didn't answer but looked alarmed at the twins. Shane could see Dean was at a loss for words. "Sammy," Shane touched Sam's arm to get his attention. When Sam turned towards him Shane addressed him again. "We are not sure who you are referring to. Can you tell us who they are?"
Sam looked at the twins before turning his attention back to Dean. "They hurt me Dean. They won't leave me alone. They're here Deanie, they're here." Sam clutched onto Dean's shirt, whimpering slightly and clutching his head as to indicate where they were.
Dean closed his arms around Sam, hugging him tight when he sees how emotional Sam was. "It's okay Sammy. There's no one here. They can't get to you, not with your big brother here."
Sam pressed himself into Dean's chest. "I'm scared Dean." He did not mind confessing his fears to Dean. Dean has always been there for him and he knew Dean would understand.
John Winchester spoke up for the first time. "Sammy, don't be scared son. We will not let anything get to you okay. All that we want you to do is to get better so that we could take you home." He stepped up to Sam's bed placing his hand on Sam's uninjured shoulder, smiling softly at his youngest.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I do not mean to be scared. I'll suck it up." Sam could not comprehend that his father was so tender with him. It was a strange experience for him since the two of them have not been seeing eye to eye over the last couple of years.
"No Sam. Don't do this to yourself. You have been through a hell of a lot this past couple of weeks. You don't have to be tough my boy." John tried reasoning with his youngest. He is starting to realize just how bad he handled Sam in the past.
Sam nodded his head to his father. He didn't want to argue with him. Once again he turned his attention to the one person in the room he knows he can trust with his whole life. "Dean, I could not find you. I looked for you everywhere but you were not there. Where did you go to Dean?"
Dean rested his head on top of his brother's head before answering him. "I didn't go anywhere Sammy. You just had a bad dream; you know I would never leave you."
"I know Deanie, I was just so confused. It was so dark and I could not find you, but then I felt you and you where angry and I thought I did something wrong." Sam needed to explain, he had a feeling that his brother didn't understand what he meant.
"No Sam, I promise you, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry you could not find me, okay." Dean wanted his brother to keep calm he already saw the look of worry passing between his two brothers.
"Sam, you still didn't answer Dean's question. Are you okay baby brother, do you have any pain?" Shane spoke up. He saw Sam clutching his head. He wanted so badly to check Sam out but was scared in spooking the kid.
Sam shook his head but didn't answer his brother. He was feeling tired again, but didn't want to tell them because then they would want him to get some sleep and then he would see those images in his head again and he may even lose Dean again.
Dean shook his head at his brother's response. He could see clearly that Sam was fighting a battle in keeping his eyes open. Dean did the only thing he knew that would make Sam sleep. "Move over, I'll sleep with you."
Sam did not even think about it twice. It was not strange for him to let Dean share his bed. When he was younger he would almost sleep permanently in Dean's bed, but that's been a while ago as well. The last time he slept with Dean was more than five years back, but he knew Dean sleeping beside him would keep him safe.
Dean smiled when he saw his kid brother moving over. Dean removed his shoes before getting into Sam's bed. He is not surprised to see that Sam snuggle up to him within seconds and is glad to see his brother drifting off to sleep within a minute of him getting into bed.
Making sure that Sam was indeed fast asleep Dean addressed his dad who made himself comfortable in the chair that Dean normally occupied. "Dad, Tweedledum and Tweedledee?"
"I've been thinking of the same thing Dean. I have no idea to what Sam is referring to. The only reference to those names I know of is a nursery rhyme that contains those characters."
"Dad, a nursery rhyme, old man, what do you know of that?" Dean was astounded; never in his life did he think his father would know anything of nursery rhymes.
John laughed out loud and even before Dean could blink he recited the rhyme.
Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee
Resolved to have a battle,
For Tweedle-dum said Tweedle-dee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew by a monstrous crow,
As big as a tar barrel,
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
Dean didn't know what to make of this. He shook his head. "Dad, that was just plain scary. Please, don't do that to me again. Seriously man, why do you know this?"
"Dean, your mother loved reciting nursery rhymes to you. So after hearing it so many times it actually got stuck. I must say I'm surprised at myself, I never thought that I would still remember it." John Winchester smiled, thinking back on how his Mary loved reading stories and rhymes to his sons at night before bedtime.
"I remember that dad." Dean looked over at his father. He can't believe that he actually forgot that his mother used to recite the rhymes to them. He looked at Sam, and his smile faltered. He knew that Sam would never remember those nights, he was just too small. For a short period of time, Dean felt content. He remembered the good times with his mother and his baby brother was safe in his arms. He himself drifted into sleep, holding a tight grip onto his brother.
00-O-00
With Dean next to him in bed Sam slept peacefully. When he opened his eyes the following morning he couldn't help but to smile when he looked at Dean sleeping next to him on the bed. Dean was drooling and Sam knew he could tease Dean with that for a long time to come. He actually wished he had his cell phone to take a picture. When he started to laugh Dean woke up immediately looking at his younger brother next to him.
"Morning Sammy, what's so funny?" Dean tried to sit up but found that some kinks worked themselves in his back from lying in one position for too long.
"Dean, dude you drool." Sam can't help but to smile while teasing his older brother.
"In your dreams Sammy boy, I don't drool." Making sure that Sam can't see Dean wiped his mouth to make sure it is dry.
"You're looking better this morning, baby brother. How're you feeling?" Dean stretched, groaning in pleasure when he felt the kinks leaving his body as he stretched it out. He pressed the call button but made sure that Sam didn't see him do it. He wanted one of the twins checking Sam out.
"I feel much better Dean. My shoulder is a bit sore and my back tingles but I can actually keep my eyes open today." Sam answered honestly, he knew Dean would catch him out immediately should he try to tell a lie.
"Good Sammy. Listen, baby brother, can you remember what you told us the last time you were awake?" Dean needed to speak to Sam about that urgently, he needed to find out what Sam was talking about to see what he could do.
Sam cocked his head from one side to the other. He was drawing a blank on what Dean was talking about. "Dean, I didn't tell you anything."
Dean realized that Sam had no recollection of the fact that he made certain allegations towards them. Dean decides to not to tell Sam what transpired, not until he knew his brother was going to be alright.
Sam turned his head when the door to his room opened up. He smiled when he sees the twins entering the room. "Morning twins." Sam greeted them turning so that he lay on his back.
"Hey Sam. How you feeling?" David is impressed to see that Sam is awake and actually had some color in his face.
"Better than I did before." Sam answered truthfully.
"Sam, would you mind if we checked you out, just to make sure you are doing okay kiddo?" Shane knew he had to ask, he didn't want to upset Sam in any way.
"Sure Shane." Sam was totally relaxed. His brother Dean was with him and he had nothing to fear.
David and Shane quickly checked Sam out. He seemed to be doing alright. "Sam, what do you say we remove the catheter? I think it is time for you to see if you can put some weight on that leg of yours." David asked while getting ready to remove the catheter.
When Sam heard what his older brother wanted to do, he feels himself going all red in the face. 'O hell, can't I just be knocked over the head, just about now.' He felt totally embarrassed. Sam was not aware of the fact that he groaned out loud until he heard Shane speaking to him.
"Sam, are you feeling okay?" Shane was bothered. Sam was flushed in the face and he found that strange since the kid didn't have a fever two minutes ago.
Dean heard Shane addressing Sam and could not help snickering when he saw how red his brother was in the face. "Dude, Sam is embarrassed." Dean whispered to David who was still busy at the medicine cabinet.
David frowned at his brother before reality set in. "Oh, I didn't think of that. Well, unless he wanted one of the nurses removing the thing he only has one of two options left." David turned around seeing for himself how Sam was flushed and Shane looking confused.
"Listen, what if I distracted him and you then removed it?" Dean was in no way going to let his brother be humiliated in any way, even if it was unintentionally by an older brother.
"Dean, I was planning in asking you to stay in any way. So just let's get this done with." David took the items he needed and walked over to Sam's bed.
Only when David placed the items on the trolley next to Sam's bed did it dawn on Shane why his baby brother was so red in the face. He grinned before saying. "Sam, could you turn redder than what you are now? There is nothing to be ashamed of Sam, who do you think inserted the catheter in the first place?"
Sam groaned again. He was going to die of embarrassment. "Shane, you're not helping here man." Dean lightly punched his brother in the arm. "Dean, Sam has nothing to be embarrassed about, myself and David has removed dozens of these before."
"Yes, Shane from other people, not from your baby brother, dork." Dean could not believe that Shane could be so insensitive.
It only dawned on Shane at that point what his brother was referring to. He smiled and turned to Sam who was covering his reddened face with his hands. "Sorry little brother, I didn't mean to embarrass you like this."
Sam didn't take his hands from his face but he did acknowledge his brother's apology with a nod of the head. David didn't hesitate any further; he quietly assessed the situation and indicated with his head for Dean to talk to Sam. So, while Dean kept Sam entertained without Sam removing his hands from his face, David removed the catheter and also noted that there was no sign of any infection.
"All done Sam, sorry about that Kiddo." David pulled the blanket in place and stepped away from the bed. He was walking towards the door with his twin when they heard Sam's voice piping up. "Thanks guys."
Shane and David turned around and grinned at Sam before leaving their two younger brothers alone.
"So bitch, what do you say, you want to get out of this bed for a few minutes or what?" Dean wanted Sam to forget about the procedure as soon as possible.
"That would be great, jerk." Sam smiled when he heard Dean calling him on that moniker.
"Okay, that's good Sammy. Now, I want you to take it easy okay, let me do all the work before you decide to place all of your weight on that leg." Dean helped his brother sitting up straight in the bed and turned his legs so that it dangled from the side. He gently placed his hands on Sam's side and let Sam place his arms around Dean's waist since he could not lift his arms, due to his busted shoulder to place it on Dean's shoulders. "So on three you lean into me and we'll get you up okay, just remember to take it easy, Sammy."
Sam nodded his head. He was feeling lightheaded for just sitting up straight, but didn't want to let Dean know about that. "Dean, can I just sit here for a moment like this please."
Dean noticed how pale Sam became. "Sammy, are you okay, little brother?"
"Yes Dean, I just want to take it easy." Sam looked up at Dean standing in front of him.
"Okay dude, just say when, when you're ready." Dean didn't move away from his brother but stayed in the position he was, still with his hands resting on Sam's waist.
"When." Sam said.
"When what Sammy?" Dean looked puzzled; he had no idea what Sam was talking about.
"Deannn," Sam whined. "You said I must say when, when I'm ready to get up, so I'm ready now."
Dean chuckled before tightening his grip on Sam. "Sorry man, you took so long I forgot about that. So on three. One, two, three."
Sam gently eased his weight on to his feet, he grimaced in pain when his back started to complain from the movement and he bit on his teeth so that Dean didn't hear it. He however was unsuccessful with keeping Dean from hearing the gasp that escaped his lips when he actually placed weight on his injured leg.
"Sammy!" Dean wanted to place Sam back on the bed again when he heard Sam gasping.
"Dean, it's okay. It's just a little bit more intense than I expected. Please don't stop now. I really need to go to the head man." Sam squeezed his brother's waist when he felt that Dean wanted to move them backwards to the bed.
"Are you sure about it Sam?" Dean didn't sound convinced.
"Deannn." Sam whined again. "Please man, help me over otherwise you and I are going to swim here man."
"Gross Sam!" Dean laughed and looked at his brother's face, just mere inches away from his. "Okay, I'm going to take a step backwards and when you ready Sam, take a step forward. Just take it easy okay."
Sam nodded, he knew this was going to be hard but he just had to do it. He winced when he took the first step but he just nodded to Dean to indicate that they must continue.
It was a grueling few minutes but Sam, with the help of Dean made it to the bathroom. Before Dean could ask, Sam spoke up. "Yes Dean, please I need assistance, you can tease me about this later, but now I really just need to pee."
Making sure that he didn't embarrass his brother in any way Dean helped his brother. When Sam was finished and after washing his hands, Dean spoke up again. "I would never tease you about this Sam."
"Thanks Dean." Sam was glad to hear that, he knew that Dean could have used this moment for blackmail for a very long time.
They used the same shuffle, step movement to get Sam back to his bed. They were just a few steps from the bed when the door opened and their father entered the room.
"Sammy, your awake and out of bed." John sounded surprised. He just spoke to the twins outside and they didn't mention any of this.
"Stop Dean." Sam spoke up before turning his head towards his father. He was grinning from ear to ear with both of his dimples showing clearly. "Hey dad. Dean, is teaching me how to waltz."
Dean nearly let go of his brother when he heard Sam saying that. "Dude, what the hell?"
Sam snickered looking at his father and brother's face, the expression on both was priceless.
"Sorry Dean, I just had to. Now, please help me back on the bed brother, I'm feeling a bit dizzy."
Even before Sam could say anything else his father was standing at his side and together with Dean they helped him back on his bed. He smiled tiredly and said "thanks dad, Dean" before closing his eyes tiredly and drifting off to sleep.
AN: Another week just flew past! Hope this coming one will be a good one. Next chapter will be up next Sunday. Thank you for reading and thank you for the wonderful reviews and putting this story on your alerts! :-)
