Legalities, as always Sam and Dean and all things Supernatural do not belong to me. They are the property of the CW and Kripke Enterprises. I wish they would share, but I don't think that is going to happen so I guess I will simply play in their sandbox for a bit.

Rating MA: For language and injured Dean and Sam throughout the storyline, they will also be M/M pairing although they are not brothers in this story. Pairings won't happen till later chapters, so be sure to review the warnings before reading.

If you don't like this type of thing, then don't read this story I am sure there are ones that would be more pleasing to you.

Author's Note: This story will follow Sam and Dean they continue their lives and try to deal with the challenges of their own pasts and tragic past of a child named Adam Milligan. This ride will get bumpy before it gets smooth, so be prepared.

This Chapter is chalked full of ANGST and hurt Dean and worried/ANGSTY Sam

Please keep in mind that I do not have a Beta, so if there are errors, I apologize ahead of time.

Chapter 10

Important Days

Two weeks…it had been two weeks since the bombing at the hospital. The FBI and Homeland Security were still trying to piece together what had happened. Sam was still trying to piece Dean back together as a result of that one rotten morning. It had been one hell of a couple of weeks, Dean had crashed twice due to the hole in his heart. They doctors were finally thinking that maybe they had Dean out of the woods…but they wouldn't tell Sam that for sure. Sam had missed so much work that his partners were starting to talk about reassigning his cases to other junior partners in the firm. Sam felt haggard to say the least…he had been sleeping in the uncomfortable little chair next to Dean's bed almost every night. Mostly because as uncomfortable as it was…it was the only place that he could actually sleep. When he was at home all he could focus on was the fact that Dean's smell had dissipated from their sheets. He found that his eyes were puffy and there were dark circles shining beneath them whenever he looked in the mirror. He'd also lost weight…he wasn't eating much and he'd had found out the hard way that one could simply not exist on coffee alone. So every now and then he would force a protein shake or maybe an omelet from the cafeteria down…only to throw it up when Dean would have another attack.

Their lives were crap right now…he was extremely grateful that Dean was alive…beyond grateful…but he wasn't handling the recovery process as easily as he should be. Sam was scared to death that he was going to lose Dean over this…the injuries were severe in nature and as much as the doctors assured him that Dean's chances were increasing every day…Sam still found that he was terrified of losing Dean…deep inside.

He watched as Dean made nasty faces at the lumpy oatmeal that the nurse had brought in for breakfast that morning. Sam tried to smile slightly as he saw the evident disgust on his partner's face increase the longer he stared at the sticky liquid, almost like he thought secretly that it was trying to kill him or something. "Sam, I need to eat real food if I'm going to heal properly." He ground out with irritation as he picked at the grey stuff with his good arm. The other shoulder immobilized slightly above his head in a traction sling in order for it to heal right.

Sam shook his head and sat on the corner of Dean's hospital bed, placing his hand near Dean's hip. "I want you home just as much as you want to be there…trust me…but Dean, your heart isn't healed up enough yet…you know that. You're a doctor for christ's sake…would you let someone with your level of injuries out yet?"

Dean narrowed his eyes at Sam and looked down to avoid the censuring gaze of his partner. "No, but…Sam…" he exhaled long and slow before continuing. "It's just if I don't get out of here soon…I'm gonna lose it. I love being at the hospital…but not at this end of the deal. I want be at the hospital, not in the hospital." Sam nodded his understanding and gently reached up to run his fingers through Dean's soft blonde hair…it was getting long and he knew that it had to be driving Dean crazy as it touched the tips of his ears.

"I know baby…but I won't risk losing you…so until your assigned doctor says it's safe for you to leave…you stay." He punctuated his statement with a kiss as he leaned into Dean's body, careful of the wires and bandages still wrapping themselves around Dean's chest. He felt Dean's lips respond instantly to his own, and in a needy little whine that escaped Dean's throat as he kissed Sam back. He reached up with his good hand and carded his fingers through Sam's brown hair. When he looked up into Sam's face he was surprised to the see the tears forming in the corners of Sam's eyes as he closed them and leaned his forehead against Dean. He just needed to feel Dean…just for a moment.

"I hope I'm not interrupting?" Anna's voice said softly as she stepped into Dean's private room…being a doctor had its privileges after all. Sam sat back quickly and spun to look at the small woman standing in the doorway. She was smiling as she watched them interact…she loved that her brother had found someone as wonderful as Sam to share his life with…god knows he deserves it.

She walked in and sat in the chair that Sam had just vacated in favor of sitting on the bed next to Dean, his fingers rubbing up and down Dean's good arm absently. Sam smiled, his cheeks reddening a little at being caught kissing Dean… She chuckled at the expected response. Sam really hadn't changed all that much over the years…from that tall gangly guy that she had met in the library the night that Dean had been introduced to the man that would shape the rest of his life. Sam was still easily embarrassed and quick to forgive. "You are never an interruption." Dean answered as he smiled at his little sister. She looked happy and healthy and that was all that Dean could ever hope for where she was concerned.

"Where's Castiel?" he asked as she shifted in the chair, pulling an envelope out of her purse.

"He had to work today…and the baby is with his parents." Anna handed the little card out to Sam who in turn handed it to Dean.

"What's this?" Dean questioned as he ripped into the small gift…Happy Birthday big brother…was written in big letters inside the funny little card.

Sam's eyes flew up to Dean's as he realized his mistake…that with everything that had happened in the last few weeks, he had completely forgotten that Dean's birthday was coming up.

Anna saw the realization dawn on Sam as he grasped what today was. "Sam…I knew that you had a lot on your plate, so Castiel and I decided that we would grab a simple card and when my brother gets out of the hospital…and is a bit stronger that we can have a big birthday bash then."

Sam's eyes were suddenly glassy as he simply nodded at the thoughtful little gesture.

"Thanks Anna…" Dean said quietly, his own emotions rushing to the surface. All his life no one with the exception of Anna had really cared whether or not his birthday was acknowledged. He knew that things were different now with Sam…he never let Dean's 'special day' go by without some sort of gift or even just breakfast in bed…which always led to birthday sex. Damn-it…no birthday sex this year. He thought in irritation. He shifted in the bed as he felt his body respond to the mental image of Sam naked last year with a tray and a ridiculous little kid's birthday hat sitting off center on his head… The sudden feeling of the stitches pulling painfully across his chest and the instant flare of pain slashed through him, causing him to twist his face in discomfort. Dean hissed and pulled in a sharp breath as he waited for the pain to dissipate, closing his eyes to avoid the worried stares of his family.

"I'm fine…" he said through clenched teeth and without opening his green eyes, he didn't want to see either of their worried expressions.

"Sure you are…" Sam said quickly as he stood up and looked into the hallway for a nurse that could administer some pain medication.

"Sam…no. I can't be drugged up all the time. I'll be okay, just give me a minute to adjust." Dean shot back as he inhaled slowly, he knew that his tone was harsh…but it was had enough just to concentrate on breathing without having to worry about what his voice sounded like.

Anna watched the two and then she felt her heart clench in sympathy for her brother and for Sam…this was something that they had already dealt with far too often. Their relationship was strong but the added stress of Dean's accident and the damage that had been done not only to his body but the still healing damage to his heart was weighing heavily on both men. She stood to leave, knowing that they would need to talk this out…much as her big brother was going to hate the 'chick-flick' moment that Sam was undoubtedly going to unleash as soon as she left the room. "Dean…happy birthday. Get better soon. I've gotta go pick meet Cas's parents to pick up the baby." She leaned in kissed Dean's forehead and then reached over and pulled Sam into a hug before slipping quietly out the door.

Sam's eyes shifted immediately to Dean's pinched face…he could see the pain radiating off the other man and it was making him crazy that he couldn't help. That Dean wouldn't allow him to help. "Please don't start shutting me out again Dean…" he said softly as he walked over to stare out the window into the morning sun. It was colder today than usual, well as cold as it every really got in California…and the world was a sorta grey color as the fog from the ocean burned off of the LA city skyline.

"What do you mean…I'm not shutting you out Sam?" Dean shot back, the irritation at being so easily read by Sam jumping to the surface. It probably didn't help that he was in pain and that his defenses were already down due to the situation. He watched as Sam continued to stare out the window, his shoulders sagging with weariness before he turned back to Dean…his eyes were guarded, which wasn't normal for Sam…not at all.

It set off warning bells in Dean's head as he looked at the other man, trying to discern what he was seeing reflected in those guarded blue-green eyes. "I think you need some time to simply heal up Dean…I'm going to head into the office today. I haven't been in since this happened and I have some cases that need my attention." Sam wouldn't look him in the eyes as he gathered up his stuff and walked over to place a chaste kiss on Dean's forehead, similar to what Anna had just done. "I'll be back later." He finished and turned to walk out into the hallway.

Dean was speechless…the quick shift in Sam's attention had knocked all his snarky responses right out of his head as he watched Sam walk out. What the hell just happened? He wondered as Sam disappeared around the corner. Dean went introspective as he replayed the conversation that they had just had…he had no clue what had driven Sam away. He closed his eyes and shook his head as he tried again to ignore the pain that washed through his chest…but this time it had nothing at all to do with his injury.

TBC…

Author's Note: Really short I know…but I almost have the next chapter finished, so that will go up quicker than this one. Sorry for the delay, I had to decide exactly where I was taking this sequel…now I know.

Please Review: I would like to know what you guys think…