Next morning arrived soon enough, and when Sam cracked his eyes open, it was to find Dean sleeping peacefully in the bed next to his, and John sleeping on the room only armchair, with his shotgun resting on his lap. He sat down slowly, still noticing every one of the bruises that marked his body and rubbed his eyes. That John hadn't instantly got to his feet the moment Sam's bed cracked a little under him, indicated how tired his father was as well. Sam managed to get up without further noise, and went slowly to Dean's side. The IV bag was half full and a drop fell to the vial every few seconds. So his father had taken care of changing it during the night. Dean looked healthier than the day before. Sam smirked at his own thoughts. If a month ago somebody had shown a picture of Dean like that, and told him he looked healthier, he would have laughed. But he had to admit his brother's skin had lost some of that deathly pallor and if just was for that, he was glad. He gently placed his hand on Dean's forehead and let out a relieved sigh. No fever. That was good. The Doctors had told him Dean had some deep slashed across his chest, and he was afraid they could get infected.

"Dude, if you try to sponge bath me I'll have to kill you"

Sam couldn't help but laugh at hearing that. "Hey, how are you?"

Dean opened his eyes and looked at Sam. "I've been better… man, you look awful"

"Yeah well, you're not up to your usual standards neither, Dean" Sam gently maneuvered Dean's legs to give him some space to sit down on the bed. Dean was looking at their father now.

"He looks pretty worn out"

Sam looked at John again. "He probably is. I think he stayed most of the night awake"

"Yeah, that would be like him" Dean nodded his agreement and try to sit on the bed.

"Dean, I don't think that's such a good idea"

"Why?"

"Well, your chest may enter in a stitches competition against Frankenstein, for starters…"

Dean smirked but continued in his efforts until he finally, and with only three pained gasps he managed to sit, resting his back on the bed board. "You know, Frankenstein was such a pushover…"

Sam shook his head and gently checked that Dean's injures hadn't been aggravated by that action.

"I'm fine, Sam"

"Yeah well, humor me"

Dean laughed "Always so nice when you wake up"

Sam looked at Dean smiling "Well, you always bring out the best of me"

"Sure I do, little brother, sure I do" Dean looked at his surroundings, noticing the salt circles around the beds, on the window and the door, and even on his father's armchair. "So… what's the plan?"

Sam shrugged "I guess we'll have to lay low until you're better"

Dean raised his eyebrows "Lay low? You're joking? That Demon won't stop until he's got the Colt and he won't wait until I'm better, Sam!"

"Yeah, well, too bad, because sure as hell I'm not letting you go anywhere in your state!"

"I told you I'm fine"

"And I told you to humor me"

"And now I'm telling you both to shut up" Two pair of eyes looked at John, who stiffly got up and approached the bed "Sam, your brother is right, the Demon won't wait until we're all better"

Dean shot Sam a triumph glare that vanished as soon as their father continued talking "But Dean, no way you're in any condition to go anywhere right now"

Dean frowned. If his father agreed with Sam that he couldn't go anywhere, but also agreed with him that they couldn't just wait for the Demon to find them… oh. "No, dad"

John looked at Dean, surprised. "No what?"

"No, we won't let you go alone, so just forget it"

"Dean, it's the only way and you know it"

"No! Damnit dad! Not again! Last time you decided to go on your own, you ended up possessed by that son of a bitch. I'm not letting you do that again"

"Me neither" Sam added for good measure.

John rubbed his eyes tiredly. He really could have done without Dean's new defiant tone, but he couldn't blame the boy. "Look…"

"No dad. You look. We'll face it together this time. The Colt is safe, and we are safe" Dean pointed to the salt sealing all the entrances. "We're not…" a knock on the door made him shut up. John approach the door, shotgun ready.

"It's Erin, and it's damn freezing here outside, so how about you let me in?"

John opened the door cautiously. After all, she could be possessed. She seemed to read his mind as she sighed.

"Okay" she said, passing over the salt on the floor "Could a possessed being do that?" and just for good measure, she turned back on her heels and passed over the salt marking the doorframe twice again.

"I guess not" John said. Erin let the two paper bags she was carrying onto the table. "Breakfast. I imagine you could use that" she start producing three Styrofoam cups, some sandwiches and a covered bowl. She approached Dean with the bowl, who took it and uncovered it

"Oh come on, you must be joking. Oatmeal?"

Sam had to suppress a laugh at that. Erin just shrugged "You wouldn't be getting as much is you were still at the hospital, so."

Sam got up and took a sandwich "Thanks Erin."

"You're welcome. After all, the sooner you're recovered the sooner we can put the plan into action"

John, who had been drinking coffee from one of the cups looked up at this. "Plan? Which plan?"

Tbc

A/N: Ooookay, two updates in two consecutive days, I must be ill or something ;) Now seriously, this update is because I needed an impasse to get the plot back on track after these past two chapters, and well, I think this chapter has achieved it, right? As always, I hope you're enjoying this, and reviews are always very appreciated (and craved!) ;)