I'm sorry, this was supposed to be the final chapter, but it got away from me. Definitely only the epilogue left now though!.
Please review, it's been a tough week (my elderly dog was put to sleep) and I'm really curious as to how my Englishness was so obvious.
I have so enjoyed writing this and I'm grateful for the feedback. I have two more ideas, I'd love some honest feedback as to whether these would be welcome.
The previous day had taken its toll on all of the Winchesters and it was not until John heard the sounds of kitchen pans and smelt fresh brewed coffee that he was drawn back from his deep, but not restful, sleep.
Just as his mind began processing the morning, Pastor Jim's head popped around the door and whispered "It's 7 am John. Coffee's on and we'll need to leave in an hour to get Dean to the Doctor. He's a friend, he's seeing him before the clinic opens. Let's leave them sleep for another 20 minutes and then get them bundled up and in the car. With that concussion, I think Dean's earned himself a few days bed rest. Caleb's downstairs. Freshen up and I'll pour you some coffee. Dean can't eat much before the Doctor's, but I'll do them both some eggs."
John nodded and turned to look at his boys. Both were sleeping deeply with the innocence of youth etched on their small faces. "I'll be down directly. Let's leave them as long as we can".
Following Jim out the room, John went to the bathroom and freshened up, it can't be said that he ended up too fresh, but he really wouldn't relax until the boys were awake and had been seen by the Doctor. The terror of the previous day having receded, John was in "take stock" mode.
Taking the stairs quietly he went quickly to the kitchen where a cup of coffee was waiting on the table. Bobby and Caleb were both seated and chatting quietly. At John's entrance they both stopped talking and Caleb smiled grimly at John.
"Morning" said Caleb in a non-committal voice. "I took care of your package, as of last night he was filling in the local 5-0 with his history of befriending poor abandoned children. He'll make it more interesting for them, he tends to document his friendships from the start to the finish. I don't think he's kept anything back, well, except his latest obsession, I didn't leave anything of them around".
John looked at Caleb, conscious of the suppressed anger coming off the man as he spoke "He need a lot of persuading to talk?" asked John.
"Not really" said Caleb "after our initial chat, I told him I'd have a scope on him the whole time and if I didn't like what was going down, he'd never know I'd ended it".
"And he believed you?" John commented.
"Yup, I did have a scope on him the whole time" Caleb replied laconically.
"I bought you a souvenir" said Caleb, reaching into his pocket and taking out a handful of polaroid snaps. "Some pictures of your boys growing up…"
Throwing the photos on the table Caleb looked at John. "There you go John, pictures of them going into the room, pictures of Sammy playing on the porch, pictures of Dean taking Sammy to school. He had them marked for nearly two weeks. He thought that they'd been abandoned. He thought no-one would come looking for them. He said Dean looked terrified the whole last week. He scented them as easily as a wolf would scent a wounded rabbit. They were prey to him, and we left them unprotected…"
John felt sick looking at the photos, knowing how long his boys had been at risk, knowing he'd left them there and aware that for all of Dean's bravery, he was no match for a predator. Again, he thanked whichever deity was watching for the, relative, safety of his children.
"I know" John growled, his hackles rising as they always did when his parenting was criticised. "I fucking know, but for now I just want to get those boys to a Doctor and sorted"
Caleb looked directly at John and speaking low and slow said "This ain't over. If anything has happened to those boys more than I know, my scope will find you too.."
At this point Jim interceded "Gentlemen" he said "We're all a little overwrought, and we all should have thought of those boys before we high tailed it to John's rescue. For now I suggest we can the recriminations and concentrate on getting those boys sorted. John and the boys are going to be here for a while Dean heals, we can work out how to ensure this doesn't happen again later".
John starred hard at Caleb, his instinct to call the hunter on what he saw as insubordination, but conscious that this was Jim's home, and contrite that Caleb had a point. He merely grunted and, putting down his coffee said "I'll get them down here for some eggs and ice Dean's hand again. Can you get a sling ready for Dean?".
With that John swept out the room getting ready for a morning of more recriminations. He knew the Doctor, no matter how aware of the hunting lifestyle, would not like the delay to setting Dean's hand.
On entering the boy's room, Sammy started to wake up. Rubbing his eyes and trying to remember where he was ,he called out "Daddy!". "Shush" said John "It's okay Sammy. Remember, we're at Pastor Jim's and you had a REAL big day yesterday. Jim's got some eggs for you and we're gunna take Dean to see a doctor to fix his hand."
Removing a sweatshirt and joggers from Sammy's bag he quickly put them on the small boy along with his slip-on shoes saying "Now, you go to the bathroom like a big boy and straight down to Jim. We'll have pancakes when we get back, but I gotta get Dean up now".
Still compliant as the last vestiges of sleep left him, Sammy glanced at Dean and, as John distracted his inevitable questions with an "off you go", slipped off the bed to the bathroom and then downstairs.
With that John grabbed the comforter off Sammy's bed and crouched down next to Dean's bed. "Son" he said "Wake up for Dad. We gotta get that hand taken care of and then we'll settle you up and you can watch cartoons".
Dean stirred and half opened his eyes, the Vicodin was the previous night making his return to consciousness harder. "Daddy?" he said "Where's Sammy? You came back!"
John's gut tightened as he realised that Dean was still reliving the fear of the last days. "I'll always come back Dean. It's okay, it's all over now. We're at Pastor Jim's and we're going to get you sorted and then kick here for a while. Sammy's downstairs and we just need to see the Doctor now"
Dean tried to get up, unwittingly using his injured hand to prop himself up. "Aaarrrggghhhh" he cried, starting to cry for real and now very fully awake. John put an arm around his back and pulled him towards him. "Shush" he said again "we're gunna sort that hand right now".
Wrapping Dean quickly in the comforter he lifted Dean bridal fashion and, careful to not jostle his hand, he carried him quickly downstairs. "You need the john?" he asked as they passed the now empty bathroom. Dean shook his head. John noted he'd need to check for dehydration, something to be avoided with a concussion and the shock of a broken hand. Planting a small kiss on Dean's forehead (to his son's surprised glance) he winked at him and said "Let's get some breakfast before Sammy snaffles the lot".
As the entered the kitchen all eyes turned to Dean. Caleb winked at the boy and said "You do lead an exciting life Dean, I hear you got busted up some". Bobby snorted and smiled "exciting is right, that boy could cause a tornado stirring his coffee..". Comforted by the familiar faces and banter Dean grinned and said, "Much you know, I ain't allowed coffee!"
At this, Jim bustled over and quickly fitted a sling to Dean's arm, careful of moving his hand gently. Putting an icepack on top of the swollen hand he ruffled Dean's hair and said "Well, Bobby's always a little challenged, let's get some eggs and juice into you and off to the Doctors".
At this Dean woke up fully and said "I don't need a Doctor! I'm fine!". All the men were relieved to hear Dean so vocal, but Pastor Jim just smiled and said "Well, just humour me Dean, if you can play the piano with that hand you don't need to go". Dean looked at the Pastor in horror "But that ain't fair!" he complained "I couldn't play the piano before!".
Looking round to his Father and friends for support, he just got grinning faces, Caleb then piped up "You're playing against a loaded deck when you take on the Pastor Dean, he's got God on his side". Smiling he put some eggs on a plate and put them in front of the small boy.
Having concentrated on his eggs for some time Sammy, unused to not being the centre of attention, piped up loudly "I got hit too and I bashed the bad man, just like Dean teached me! I want two red lollies from the Doctor! I got two when I had a cold!".
Sammy sounding so "Sammy" and negotiating for his rewards lightened the mood and, with much laughter (and a proud smile from Dean) the mismatched group settled down for a quick breakfast.
Once breakfast was finished both boys were ushered back into the Impala, this time with John in the back and Pastor Jim at the wheel. The short drive to the local clinic taken, the men started getting out in the empty car park.
It has to be said Dean was really NOT a fan of Doctors. Not only did he view them as causing a lot of pain for someone who's job it was to make him better, they also figured closely with Child Protective Services in his brain as someone who could ask way too many questions and get way too curious if you let them in. He lived in terror of losing his Father and brother and, for his family to be risked just because of him being in pain was something he wouldn't willingly submit to.
"Dad" began Dean "It barely hurts at all now. I think it's getting better. It's fine. We don't need to come here. What if they call CPS? What if the insurance cards don't work? It's okay, really, you can fix it!"
As he went through his speech Dean became more and more insistent causing Pastor Jim to feel angry at the burdens put on the too young child.
"It's alright Dean" said the Pastor quickly "Matt is a good friend of mine and he helps hunters. You don't need to worry about the money or the CPS. It is, I promise you, all taken care of. Please trust me, I would never put you in harm's way"
John cringed slightly at this, hearing the hidden rebuke in Jim's words but Dean merely folded in on himself and said "okay" quietly, defeated by Jim's demand for trust (which Dean knew he had earned many times over) but still unhappy.
"Sammy gets seen first!" said Dean, starting to negotiate afresh "and I gotta be with him, he'll be scared if I'm not and if there are lollies, Sammy can have mine, I'm too old for that shit now!"
"Language" said Jim, trying to hold back a smile "how about we let the Doctor run his own clinic, but yes, I think for everyone's sake you should Sammy wrangle with the Doctor".
Sammy beamed, pleased that they recognised he needed wrangling. At that moment the door to the clinic was pushed open and a smiling, white coated man waved at them to come in.
"Don't stand out there in the cold" the Doctor admonished "it's my stated aim that patients leave here healthier than they came, not sicker.
The Doctor, a slim handsome man with greying hair on his temples ushered the untidy caravan through the waiting room and into a small treatment area where both boys were sat on the treatment table.
"Jim!" he said smiling "Always a pleasure to see you and do whatever I can to help, so can you fill me in on these boys' adventures?"
Jim turned to John and gesturing at him said "This is John Winchester and these two hooligans are his sons Sammy and Dean. Sammy is five and Dean's ten and they were both in the wars a little yesterday. Sammy seems fine but Dean has broken a bit of his wing I suspect and may have a concussion. We definitely thought we needed some extra support for Dean!"
Sammy interjected here and said loudly "I'm SIX not five!" at which the Doctor knelt down and said "Sorry about that Sammy. I can tell you are much older than five. How about a lolly to keep you busy while I look at your brother?"
Sammy nodded appreciatively, happy that the Doctor understood the currency required to be used at a Doctors visit. Dean, however, was not so happy. "You gotta look at Sammy first" he said slightly aggressively "He got hit and I need to know he's alright. You ain't looking at me until you've seen him, and I gotta be there or he'll raise hell. You may not think it, but he can raise a ruckus!".
Neither John nor Jim looked pleased at what could only be described as Dean being cheeky. Jim, however, was far more tuned in to the ordeal the boy had suffered and quickly stepped in saying "Dean, that is quite enough. I am sure the Doctor is quite capable of seeing both of you. Now do what you are told and let's get this over so the Doctor can get on with his day". Jim knew well when to cut off anxious children at the pass.
John looked at Dean and just growled "Dean" at which point the boy wilted and the Doctor stepped in and said "How about I give you a quick look over with Sammy here, then I'll look at Sammy and we'll see who needs what Band Aid's after that?". Dean smiled gratefully at the compromise and nodded.
"Okay" said the Doctor "let's have a good look at you". Quickly uncovering Dean from his blanket, he motioned to John and between them they removed Dean's sling and top. Night had bought out the bruises around his ribs, including a clear boot mark. He noted the boy seemed thinner than he should be. Looking up at the Pastor, the Doctor raised an eyebrow to which the Pastor replied quietly "It's a long story Matt, it's been taken care of. I promise the boys are no longer in any danger".
Turning back to his patient the Doctor started to probe Dean's back and ribs carefully, watching out for movement or signs of internal bleeding. He then checked the boy's neck and head, noted the fist-sized bruise on the small child's face. Using a pencil light he checked for concussion and found pupils slightly, though not too worryingly irregular, Turning to John the Doctor said "I'll like to check the rest of him now before I do the hand".
John nodded grimly and motioned to Dean to "scotch" down so he could get his shorts off him. Dean blushed furiously and said "DAD! No!" at which John leaned in and said "Yes, Dean and now please". Grimacing Dean allowed his shorts to be removed and sat looking determinedly at the floor whilst the Doctor check Dean's legs and lower back. Finding only bruising on the legs and bottom consistent with heavy falls he allowed Dean to cover up and turned to examining his hand.
It has to be said the Doctor wasn't happy when he saw closeup the condition of Dean's paw. Several fingers were broken and at irregular angles. The hand was itself swollen and heavily bruised, indicating a long time since injury and raising an issue with plastering it. He checked the range of movement and feeling, and was relieved to find it painful but manageable for the boy.
Looking up he smiled at John and said "Let's get Sammy sorted before we have a chat"
Sammy, more than happy to see a Doctor who understood the proper lollipop/treatment ratio, smiled at the Doctor and said "I got HIT".
Grunting "Yeah Sammy" John removed the boy's top. The Doctor beamed at Sammy's hundred watt smile and said, "We'll get you more candy in a moment, but let's just have a look at you". Relieved that he and the medic were clearly on the same page, Sammy smiled again broadly.
The Doctor noted scuff marks on Sammy's hands consistent with a fall and saw his bruised face and neck. There were a variety of bruises and small cuts on the boy, but the Doctor was most concerned with his neck and ensuring whoever had choked the small child hadn't damage his fragile throat.
Finding no real cause for concern he reached out for the candy jar (allowing Sammy to pick his favourite Cherry flavour) and then told John to get him dressed.
Pastor Jim watched this all patiently, wincing only at the extent of Dean's injuries and his overly thin frame, but having seen the Doctor finish, he asked quickly "Anything of concern Matt?".
The Doctor looked at Jim and John and said "Well, I'm concerned about how two small boys take an obvious beating and the police aren't here with them, if that's what you mean. I'm concerned that Dean looks like his hand injury is at least 24 hours old and he's had no professional treatment, if that's what you mean?"
Jim sighed "I know" he said "I can't ask you to understand but trust me, these boys are loved and protected. Something happened which I'll see won't happen again. Now about their injuries….?"
The Doctor took a breath and, looking at both men said "Well, Sammy's a little battered and bruised but there isn't a sign of concussion or damage to his throat. I'm going to give him a course of anti-inflammatory's and recommend some children's Tylenol, but other than that a few days of good food and staying indoors and I think he'll be back to normal. I can't see any reason to see him again"
John breathed a sigh of relief and ruffled Sammy's head as the boy beamed at him, aware in some unidentified adult way he'd done well in a test.
"what about Dean"? asked John.
The Doctor looked and Dean and said carefully. "He needs a little more care. I'm going to take him next door and x-ray that hand now. If we're lucky it's only the fingers that are broken, in which case I'll splint them. If any of the smaller bones in the hand are broken, he'll need an operation, it's too swollen to set now. As for the rest, he's got a concussion as you thought, I'm not particularly worried but he needs rest and quiet for at least 72 hours. I'll give him some painkillers which will knock him out a little. I'll x-ray his ribs, but I don't think they are broken, I suspect they are cracked though. Someone full grown kicked that boy and didn't hold back. I can feel deep tissue bruising and I suspect the kidneys are bruised. I'll need you to keep an eye on his output and drinking. Any issues, or any bloating I want him right back here. I can see bruising on his hip and legs but that's manageable. Bottom line is that boy has got to be in a world of pain and I've not heard a whimper. That's actually a worry to me. He also is carrying far too little weight for his age, and I'd like that addressed at home". With that the Doctor stared hard at John and then, on John meeting his glance said "Come on Dean, let's get this x-ray done".
At the Doctors insistence Dean went for his x-rays in a wheelchair. John, Jim and Sammy all waited in the examination room, Sammy bobbing up and down and glancing to the door continually.
"Is Dean alright?" he asked anxiously, for the first time in his short life aware something might be able to harm his Dean. "Why's Dean gotta have a hex-bay? Dean can have my lolly. When Dean's coming back?".
Taking his own eyes off the door, John turned to Sammy and, to Sammy's surprise, scooped him up "Dean'll be fine Sammy, it's just a photograph. The Doc will fix Dean's arm right up and then we'll go home. You boys deserve some spoiling". Hugging his youngster to him until he felt Sammy push against him with a "You're squishing me!" John smiled a genuine smile for what seemed like the first time in weeks.
At this point the Doctor wheeled Dean back in. "Good news" he said "the hand is very badly bruised, and it will need wrapping and no using it at least four weeks, but I couldn't see a break in the small bones. We've had a dance with those fingers, Dean was very brave and they are now straight. I'll split them and wrap the hand and he's good to go on that front. The ribs have a number of small fractures, but no breaks. I'll wrap them but I want this boy in bed or on a sofa for at least a week. Only bathroom breaks. My medical opinion is both these children could do with a lot of rest, a lot of spoiling and a lot of good food.
Jim smiled and said "John, if that's the Doctor's prescription there isn't anything more to be said".
The Doctor made short work of wrapping and splinting, having administered a light anaesthetic to help Dean cope. When it was all over Dean looked groggily at the Doctor and said, "Thank you Sir, can Sammy have my Lolly?".
Giving another Lolly to Sammy the Doctor opened a drawer and produced a large candy bar he gave to the boy. "All my bravest patients get the good stuff" he said with a wink. "Now, I want you home, I want you to take the pills I'll be giving your father for you and I want you quiet as a church mouse for the next, oh, forever. I'll see you back here in a week and I want to see a big improvement".
After ruffling Dean's hair again the Doctor put together a bundle of samples for John to take, shook both men's hand and having arranged another appointment ushered them out of the clinic.
The men quickly put both boys back in the car, wrapping them up well and began the journey home, conscious they needed to tell the others of the extent of the injuries and work out how to follow medical advice and spoil the two children.
TBC