Disclaimer: The previous disclaimers still apply.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update. Many crazy things happening at the moment. So please forgive me. Once again, all mistakes and errors are unintentional.

CHAPTER FOUR

Previously:

Interrupting the tense moment, a doctor finally entered the waiting room.

'Family of Sam Winchester?'


John and Dean were in front of the man in a flash staring intently at the doctor's face.

The surgeon smiled. 'He's not out of the woods yet. He's doing as well as can be expected. It's really up to Sam now. He's got a fighting chance.'

John grinned. 'Well there's one thing Winchesters are good for, and that's fighting' he said ruffling Dean's hair.


Three weeks after Thanksgiving

'Here's your coffee Dad. Any change? Dean asked as he re-entered Sam's hospital room in ICU.

'No son. The doctor's say he's improving but unless he wakes up soon his chances of a full recovery slowly diminish.'

'Don't worry Dad it's Sammy, the annoying little brother. You hear that Sammy! You're like a cockroach that won't die. I wouldn't be able to get rid of you even if I tried my best' Dean joked. He smirked his trademark smile, but as he gripped his unconscious brother's hand tightly, the grin stretched across his face but never reached his eyes.

Silence filled the room. Everything was still. Just John sitting on Sam's right with a hand resting on Sam's forehead and the other holding his coffee. Dean on his brother's right side hand clasping Sam's and listening to Sam's unsteady noisy breathing.

'So … ah, where did the Moore's go? I didn't see them in the waiting room on my way back from the cafeteria.'

'I told them to go home for the night. They aren't allowed in here as of the immediate family only policy. Hell, only one of us is meant to be here and we're past visiting hours.' John took his hand off Sam for a moment to rub his tired eyes before replacing it back in its position.

'I ain't leaving Sammy.'

'I never said that you had to or that I would.' John's eyes glazed over. 'I've already missed enough of my baby boy's life by leaving him or watching him leave.'

'Dad. Don't be like that. You and Sam both made choices. It's not you didn't love or respect each other, you're just … just … well, you make a boring Sunday afternoon or a car ride across twelve states more exciting with your tiffs.'

John let out a dry laugh. 'Trust you to see it that way Dean.'

Silence fell again.

'Well, when Sam wakes up, I'm going to make sure things are different. You and Sam are the only loves of my life now.'

'Dad! I really think you need to get out more!' Dean said horrified.

'Love you too Dean.'

'What exactly did you tell the Moore's about what we do?'

'I told the truth. Well, a brief overview of the truth, I thought it might be best to minus a little bit of the blood, guts, gore and horror for the sake of their sanity. I think they are a bit shocked by it all. They didn't say much after I told them.'

'They probably don't believe us Dad like most people, but I guess they know it's the only way to explain what happened with the shapeshifter.'

'Yes Dean. I'm sure it will come up in conversation one day, but Sam is our focus for the time being.'

And both men settled in for another long night ahead of them.


Christmas Eve

'Now, who wants to go get Sam?' asked Jill.

'I'll go. Gotta take a leak anyway' replied Dean standing up.

'No need Dean, here I am' mumbled a sleepy, slightly disorientated Sam. Dean was standing anyway and took the few steps to reach his brother grabbing his arm gently. He led Sam to the comfiest chair in the room, Allan's soft leather recliner and easier him tenderly into it.

'You ok Sammy?' asked John eyeing him carefully from the opposite couch. This was not unfortunately the worst John had ever seen Sam look; the poltergeist incident in Alabama was horrific for his boys, especially the youngest. Sam at present looked awful, but for a kid who had been in a coma for two and half weeks and only released from hospital yesterday he seemed to John to be fantastic.

'Yeah, thanks Dad' Sam replied.

The Winchesters were all staying at the Moore's house. Allan had denied all claims that John and Dean would be fine in a motel room, and had practically dragged them into the guest room.

Last night was Sam's first night out of hospital. Sam slept on the guest double bed with Dean lying next to him and John on the floor. This worked out well for each family member. John was able to protect his boys by sleeping next to window and door to prevent anything coming through. Dean was able to get his beauty sleep and keep an eye on his brother. Sam was able to clutch to Dean every time he awoke from a nightmare and his pain medication was easily in reach. It was oddly, the best night of sleep the three had had since Sam left for Stanford, without actually getting much sleep.

Jessica walked over to Sam and sat on the arm of the chair. 'I'm so glad you're doing okay Sam' she said running her fingers through his longish hair.

'I'm just glad that no one else was hurt. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you.'

'Don't worry Sam, nothing is ever going to get me, and even if something does try, I know that you'll always save me. Don't you remember how we met?' Jess said smiling.

Sam smiled back.

Dean piped up, 'What happened Sam? I'm out of the loop here.'

'The first time I met Sam, he saved me from this drunk jerk in a bar' Jess said looking at Sam to see if he wanted to continue the story. Sam face remained vacant so she carried on.

'This guy was giving me a real hard time as to why I wouldn't give him my number.' Actually, he had wanted Jess to give him something else, but her parent's were here so the story had to PG-13. 'And the guy grabbed me really hard by the arm and ripped the strap off my dress.'

'Jess! Why didn't you ever tell us!' Allan stated.

'Well Dad, I didn't because everything worked out all right, because of Sam. He came out of nowhere with reflexes that I couldn't even begin to describe. Three seconds later the guy was on the ground with a broken nose and my handsome rescuer was asking me if I was hurt.'

Sam finally decided to join the conversation. 'Actually I asked you if you were okay and if you knew the guy.'

'Well everything happened so fast that it's hard to remember every little detail that happened, Mr-I'm-so-smart-and-have-the-best-memory-in-the-world' Jessica joked.

'Oh you have no idea how annoying that is!' said Dean. 'Especially when Sam one time manages to prove you wrong and he never lets you forget it.'

'You were wrong Dean! I told you that the WWF wrestling are choreographed and that I had read somewhere that it was all fixed.'

'How on earth am I meant to know that?'

'Well, how are you meant to know that it wasn't scripted?'

'You always have to be right! Even when your wrong!'

'But I'm not wrong. Today it is a commonly known fact that the matches are rigged. You're just so stubborn Dean! Didn't you need to go to the toilet anyway?'

'Don't tell me what I need and don't need to do Sammy!'

'It's Sam!'

'Boys' John said in his quiet authoritative voice.

'Sorry, sir' they replied unanimously.

'Well anyway' Jessica said, 'Sam walked me home to make sure I was okay because I was a little shaken up. He gave me his number and told me that I could call him anytime if I was in trouble and that he only lived in the next building over. I called him the next day and we went out for coffee, and it just went from there.'

Dean said, 'Aw Sam! I never knew you were such a snag! It's touching really.'

'If I had all my strength back bro, I would come over there and kick your ass.'

'What's a snag?' asked John.

'Sensitive New Age Guy' answered Jessica.

An oven timer went off in the kitchen, and Jill got up and left the room.

'Chris, Al, Dean, John and Jess come and get your dinner!' called Jill from the kitchen. They all rose and began to leave the room. Sam made a feeble effort to get up, but Jess pushed him back into the chair. 'I will get your dinner Sam. Stay here and rest.'

Ten minutes later, the Winchester's and the Moore's were all seated around the fireplace in the TV room. What would be considered a fancy dinner for the Winchester's was a casual dinner for the Moore's.

'Let's all pause for grace before we begin.' All heads bowed. 'Dear God, thank-you for the company we share this evening. May your love guide everyone here in this room on their various paths through life and may we be truly thankful for those that we love that are in our life and those that have sadly already gone on ahead of us. Amen'

'Amen.'

All began digging into their delicious roast chicken and vegetables.

'So, John, I know this isn't the most appropriate time to ask this question, but I've been wondering, what do you do if a ghost is really mad and coming for you before you can vanquish it or whatever?'

John looked up from his dinner. He had been waiting for the questions to begin. 'Well, that's where rock salt comes in. Won't get rid of a ghost but it hurts the ghost real bad. Handy in desperate situations.'

'Oh, okay. Thanks.'

'You're welcome Chris.'

Silence fell upon the room.

'So, what do you do with werewolves if you run out of silver bullets?' Chris asked once again.

'Chris!' his mother shouted. 'Leave the poor man alone and let him enjoy his dinner. It is not proper dinner conversation.'

'No, Jill. It's okay. Well, that's why you have tough sons who are always there to back you up.' Sam kept his eyes down and fiddled with his food. There was so much tension still between the father and son and so much left unsaid.

The conversation went well into the night with John and Dean telling their rapt audience about different hunts and memories. Sam dozed in the chair until he felt a warm blanket cover his legs and a calloused hand rub his cheek. He knew his father's hands well. As he drifted back off to sleep, Sam couldn't help but think, 'Why can't Dad just love and accept me.'


This was going to be the last chapter, but as you may be able to tell, it's not. I don't even know how many chapters this story is going to go to at the moment.

Warning: Sam-angst ahead.

All reviews are greatly appreciated. :)