Hi everyone

There is one more chapter after this to wrap everything up. I"ll post it tomorrow. I took some liberties with the story here to make more sense (at least in my head) I hope you don't mind. It's been a fun trip.

Also, I wanted to say thank you to all those that have added reviews. I confess, I don't know proper etiquette for thanking everyone. I noticed on some of your own stories you thank everyone individually. If that is the case, I sincerely apologize. Please let me know privately for the future and I'll make sure to do that! I have been reading your stories, trying to send reviews for encouragement. I also look at your favorites, I mean, you obviously have good taste right:D hee hee. There is some really cool stuff out there. I am really impressed!

Ok, here we go. The beginning of the end. Phew!

:D

Caroline

Chapter 26

Johnny stood over Sam and touched his face. "This is all my fault Sam. I never meant to hurt anyone. I didn't know…" He wanted to hug him to let him know how sorry he was but was afraid of the charm on his chest. He had an idea.

Johnny went to his backpack and grabbed the spoon. He set himself up with the picture of Sam, Dean and their father and the candle. He concentrated and soon was in Sam's head. "Sam? Are you here," the boy called. He showed Sam the picture. "Everything is ok now Sam. Everyone is safe. Your father is here. He saved you." He kept going, hoping that he was getting through. "We need you to wake up.," he said with a little quiver in his voice. "This is only a drug that is making you sleepy. You can get it out of you if you push it away. You need to do that so you can wake up, ok?" Johnny thought of anything else that he needed to tell him, but nothing came to mind.

The boy opened his eyes and blew out the candle. He ran to the backpack and put everything away. Johnny walked back to Sam and stood over Sam. He looked at him trying to decide what to do next. He grabbed his hand and leaned into his ear. "Sam?" He felt him lightly squeeze back. "SAM!"

Sam was disoriented and tried to open his eyes to the confusion. So much was swimming in his head that he was trying to sort out. What he knew was that Johnny was beside him, pushing him awake. He also knew that he was just in his dreams. Sam tried to focus on the boy and had a hard time. The drug was powerful and he had to work to fight against it. Johnny pressed harder to drive him awake. Sam willed himself to wake up. He saw more of the sun coming through the window, but it was all still cobwebs. He reached his hand and tried to brush away the sleep. Johnny could see he needed a little more assistance. "Sam," he began still squeezing his hand, "your father is outside waiting to see you. That wasn't a lie to get you awake." The words rung in his ears and he snapped further awake.

Missouri entered with Dean and rolled him to the bed. "I thought I heard you young man," she said to Johnny. "How on earth did you come awake so quickly," she said to Sam. Her focus turned to Johnny who was smiling up at her. "I should have known!" She reached and tousled his hair. She leaned and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You are a wonder."

Dean's eyes were big with excitement, but still a touch of uneasiness. "Sammy, how are you feeling?"

He was still struggling with the moment, but leave it to Dean to push his final button. He couldn't take it any longer. "Look, I've tolerated it this whole trip," Sam began at Dean who looked confused. "For the last time, it's SAM, ok?" He looked at Dean and mustered a smile to let him know he was doing better. Dean grabbed Sam's hand with both of his. The connection was there. Sam looked to Dean and said, "did Johnny say dad was here?" Dean's face dropped.

John Winchester entered the room and looked at his two boys. He was swelling with pride, even though he continued to get a tongue lashing from Dean in the hall. He went to the other side of Sam's bed. He took the charm from his son's chest. The burn was much improved and even some of the black and blue marks on his face seemed to heal as well. John held his face in his hands. "Sam, I'm sorry…"

He looked at his father, still fighting the grogginess. "Why does everyone keep saying that to me? What happened?" He stopped himself and focused his energy to John. "Wait, why are you here?" Sam looked to Dean for any indication.

Dean couldn't help himself. He was still angry from the conversation that had continued in the hallway. "Oh, daddy dearest has some family secrets he needs to fess up," he said crossing his arms in the chair. "The first and most important one was that he knew this was going to happen to you and he let it."

Sam looked at him imploringly, hoping that Dean was making a joke. "Dad?" John sat on the bed. Tears rolled down his face realizing the mistakes he had made and what it had cost him, unless his children forgave him.

John explained that through the years, he learned that there were prophecies of two brothers vanquishing evil in several cultures. The younger of the two, in his 22nd cycle would develop gifts to assist them on their journey. The older would be the warrior, the younger, the philosopher. As he studied these stories he realized there could be no outside interference for this link between the brothers to truly develop. He began to believe that Sam and Dean were the chosen two, thus he fled to let them rekindle the fire of brotherhood. He knew there were many fences to mend after the way Sam left. Their quest to find him was their bonding experience. John had no idea what would really happen, but Missouri had confirmed the dreams that Sam was having which seemed the first steps to the prophecy.

More evidence compounded that Sam would develop other powers as well, but would have to go through a transformation to do it. Things fell into place with the mystery of Julie Davis. Peculiar had the right formula to launch the next phase for Sam. John knew they were close to Lawrence, their sacred ground. But he didn't know about Johnny. He had no idea that Sam had just dreamt of Peculiar when he sent the coordinates to them. The demon was aware of the prophecy as well and had its own plans. It had, after all, called Sam the 'chosen one.' That comment made Dean shiver. It was making its way back to the Midwest planting its own seeds and John was hot on its trail. John confessed that he didn't think the whole thing through, which was why he had been hovering around the room, just staying out of Missouri's reach and getting updates of what was going on. He knew that it would be dangerous for Sam and Dean and he slowly became aware of the demons' intentions with Sam. If he made his move too soon, his cover would be blown, and it would all be for naught.

"I know that I have made some terrible choices, but everything from the day your mother was killed has led to this moment," continued John. He looked at both of his children with nothing but love in his eyes. "I have been a terrible father, I know that. My overwhelming need to destroy this thing has put you right in the middle." John got up from the bed and went to the window. He looked out at the sunset. "You were chosen, 22 years ago. It's your destiny to fulfill this prophecy. To annihilate the evil." He turned back to look at them. "The two of you, together. Not me. But you must decide that this is the path you will take." Everyone stared at John and the words he spoke.

Sam and Dean didn't know what to say. They had been raised practically from birth to do only this, and they were good at it. When Sam was in College, this work always called to him, even though he fought to be normal. Strange things would find him, and he would resolve them in his own way. Sam stirred uneasily in the bed and tried to raise himself. His chest still burned, but it wasn't the pain that he had an hour ago. He looked to his father. "Dad," he began, "I honestly think you thought you were doing the right things," he began as his father turned back to look at him. "We have been doing this a long time, and you should have been able to trust us, or at least Dean, with this information." Dean snapped his head to Sam and narrowed his eyes at the comment. "This whole thing could have gone terribly wrong. I don't think you understand what I went through when I was in the coma," his thoughts drifted to the torture he endured. "If you could have warned me, I could have prepared for it. I had no idea what was going on. If it wouldn't have been for Dean's quick thinking…." He choked on his words as the memories flooded back to him. He looked to his brother. "And Dean. What about what Dean went through waiting to have some sort of sign from me? I could have come out a completely different person. Dean was the one who found the way out for me. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the people that surround me, and care for me." He grabbed Dean's hand and squeezed with all his might. "And for that, I'm grateful."

"Dude, that hurts, knock it off." He ripped his hand away from Sam. John chuckled despite himself.

"My point is that we need you, every day. That's why we were looking for you. It wasn't just for answers, it was for support." Sam touched his chest to find that it was much less painful than before and some of the bruises from the fall had healed further. "We didn't know about this herb. There is so much we don't know. And yes, you have been a terrible father, especially to Dean." Sam looked over to him. "He loves you dad and will do anything for you, with an unwavering faith," Sam stated. "He never questioned you, and you shut him out." John lowered his head and listened to his children. Dean stared at Sam.

The flood gates were open. The conversation continued in a civil manner for several hours. Jana and Johnny sat and listened to the amazing stories that echoed each other. There was more yelling, and more sorrow, but overall the Winchesters were healing. The parallels of their jobs were uncanny in some cases. Sam and Dean learned of how John found the trail to the demon and they volleyed by telling him their accounts of the supernatural. It was a reunion of the weird and wonderful. Missouri felt good about the progress and felt that things were moving in the right direction.

Johnny yawned, even though he was interested in what they were saying. Dean noticed it first and piped up. Hours had gone by in a breeze. "You know Jana, it's certainly safe for you to go home. We aren't in any danger any more, other than from our hospital bill." They laughed at the thoughts how they were going to pay this off, but decided it wasn't worth discussing this evening. "You should get a good night's sleep." Jana agreed and they packed up their things and said good night.

John had a room down the street at the hotel and headed back that way, while Missouri contented herself in her favorite chair. She wasn't driving at night, and she just wanted to make sure that everything was ok. They were all settling down and saying goodnight when Susan entered the room with a precarious look on her face. Sam cocked his head and asked if everything was alright. "You haven't seen Dr. Stonewell have you? She's been missing for hours."

The boys looked at each other, then to Missouri and shook their heads. The nurse shrugged and left the room.