Chapter 9

The white walls of the hospital were unsettling and Dean wasn't afraid to show his extreme distaste for the place, although he did find it helpful to eye a few of the impressive female nurses and doctors. He slumped further down into his seat and leaned his weary head against the cold wall behind him. He was worried for Sam, despite the fact that he had seemed all right upon bringing him in.

Dean closed his eyes and lost himself in his thoughts and feelings. Back at John's house things had gone from looking up to a sharp, downward spiral with the introduction of Kacey. Dean could still hear the coffee cup shatter against the floor as it fell from Sam's trembling hand. He could see Kacey's eyes shift to that horrible pale tone, dotted with green and he could hear the man's voice chiming clearly in his head. "North Serenity Nature Park."

Sam had fallen limp in Dean's grasp and for a split second, the older brother's world come crashing down on him. He had felt his heart shatter and his thoughts blended wildly in his mind. His stomach had jumped into his throat and twisted in a way that could only be described as nauseating while he held his still brother. The man who had identified himself as a doctor had checked Sam's pulse and reported that it was strong, albeit a bit quick.

That's when the sirens screamed around the corner of Jackson's crossing and made their way toward the Dayton house. Sam's eyes had fluttered open and he'd looked curiously around at the people gathered above him. He hadn't spoken, but he'd locked eyes with Dean and the older brother had seen the reflection of gratefulness at his presence. Dean had only smiled and pulled Sam closer. The younger man hadn't objected.

"What h..." Sam had started, but then the realization dawned on him and his eyes widened. He shot to sit, but was forced back down by the man claiming to be a doctor.

"Take it easy, Michael. You had a seizure, the ambulance just arrived." The man had replied and sure enough the front door of the house had been opened and Kathleen's voice could be heard directing the paramedics to where Sam was.

Two women and a man had come through the kitchen door, shoved through the gathered crowd and dropped next to Sam to begin checking him over. Dean had been gently pushed out of the way, but Sam had kept a firm hold on Dean's hand to be sure that he was there. Dean sat in stunned silence, holding Sam's hand and waiting for the verdict from the paramedics. They had decided that it'd be best to take Sam to the hospital for an in depth examination, which included x-rays and CAT scans. Sam had resisted, but the paramedics had won in the end and Dean had followed the ambulance to the hospital in his Impala.

"Jacob?" A woman's voice, soft and caring pulled him from his half-awake state and he was staring into the eyes of Kathleen.

"Mrs. Dayton." Dean replied curtly. The woman smiled.

"How is he?" She asked. Her words were concerned. Dean smiled, thankful for the support.

"As far as they can tell, he's fine. They're going over the results of his CAT scan now, just to finalize that there's nothing funky going on in there." Dean waved his hands near his head for emphasis and Kathleen nodded in understanding.

The doors to the room in which Sam was being kept banged open and Dean quickly sat up straight as a young, dark-haired doctor came toward him. She was flipping through a chart, presumably Sam's and her eyes looked a bit confused.

"Doctor?" Dean questioned, standing up. Kathleen watched the woman expectantly.

"Jacob Lent?" The woman asked.

Dean nodded and the doctor smiled tightly.

"There's nothing wrong with him. He's in perfect health." The woman replied. She turned to Kathleen.

"Are you his mother?" She questioned. Kathleen's face flushed and she shook her head, fighting back the fresh tears that washed through her eyes from the recent death of her son.

"No, a friend." Kathleen replied with a slightly shaking voice.

"Oh, okay. Well, as far as I can tell, he's perfectly fine."

"Well then, what caused his seizure?" Kathleen questioned.

The doctor shrugged. "I'm not sure. There's nothing that could have caused it showing up on the slides."

Sam ambled out of the room then, fully dressed and looking as perky as ever. He smiled at the doctor, who returned the expression.

"Can I go?" Sam questioned.

"I'd like to keep you here for observation, just incase." The doctor replied.

"I feel perfectly fine." Sam said simply.

"You may feel fine, but something clearly isn't quite up to par." The doctor replied.

Sam shifted in place. "Please, let me out of here. I'm okay. If it happens again, I'll be back, but I don't see the purpose of me staying here."

Sam turned on his wordless charm and silently pleaded with the doctor, who seemed unable to resist. She sighed and nodded. "Fine. You can leave."

"Thank you." The young Winchester replied and went over to join his brother.

"Do you really feel fine, Michael?" Kathleen asked, concern in her eyes.

"Yes ma'am, I do." Sam smiled.

"Ready?" Dean asked, knowing that he had to talk to Sam about what had happened. His eyes told his younger brother that and Sam nodded.

"Yeah."

"Then let's get going." Dean replied. He turned to Kathleen. "Thanks for coming Mrs. Dayton." Dean said with a smile.

"Of course, thank you for showing up to give your respects. It's appreciated." Mrs. Dayton replied.

"It's the least we could do. Sorry for your loss." Sam replied.

Kathleen nodded and pulled Sam into a hug, then she did the same to Dean, who's face screwed into one of surprise that this woman, whom he hardly knew, would hug him twice in the same day. He quickly wiped the shock from his face when the woman released him.

"The funeral is tomorrow at two, if you're coming. He's being cremated and his ashes are going to be put in the base of his stone in the South Serenity Cemetery." Kathleen replied.

"We'll keep that in mind, but I don't know if we'll make it. We'll try to." Sam replied.

Kathleen nodded and touched each man's shoulder before passing him by and leaving the hospital. The doctor cast Sam a stern look.

"If you feel even the slightest bit off, you come back here, got that?" The woman asked.

"Of course." Sam smiled softly.

The doctor nodded and turned away. Her heels clicked against the floor as she made her way down the hall and into the next room.

Sam turned to face Dean, and an alarmed expression sat on his face.

"I have to talk to you." Sam replied quickly.

"Likewise, but let's get out of the public eye before pouring out our deep dark feelings for each other, m'kay?" Dean asked with a teasing smile.

Sam glared, but followed his older brother into the parking lot, where the sun struck them in the face.

"I'm next." Sam replied when they were safely behind the closed doors of the Impala.

"What do you mean you're next?" Dean questioned; his voice was thick with worry.

"The demon is coming for me next, and he'll kill you too, just because you're in the way." Sam said.

"What? Why would he come for you?"

"I know his identity, and now, so do you. We're a potential danger to him, he wants us out of the picture."

"Sammy, we can't leave this alone. He'll keep killing and you know that. He's the one who has to be cut from the picture." Dean replied.

"I know that, Dean, but I thought it important for you to know that, whether we like it or not, we don't have a choice. We have targets on our backs and he won't stop until he hits a bulls-eye."

Dean was silent.

"North Serenity Nature Park." Dean said.

Sam nodded. "That's where he's waiting for us, but Dean, he can't be killed. He pre-dates modern hunting, the new ways aren't going to work."

"I know that." Dean replied stormily. He put the Impala into gear.