Title: Saving Me

Summary: Post Devil's Trap. The accident with the semi leaves Dean in a coma and with serious injuries. Sam struggles to deal with his brother's condition and state of mind, while a visit from a friend temporarily helps. However, the boys soon realise that they need their father more than they care to admit. Possible spoilers-season one.

Disclaimer: Own Supernatural...I wish. I'm only borrowing Dean, Sam, John, any other characters associated with the show that I haven't already mentioned...oh yeah and the car. I promise I will return them safe and sound once I'm done with them...if only i could keep Dean (sighs). Oh well, I only own what you don't recognise.

Note: I can't wait for the second season to come out, it doesn't air until next year for us Aussies. I'm going absolutely crazy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previously…

"You did the right thing boy."

A surprised Sam spun around to see a familiar African-American woman standing in front of him.

"Missouri?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well don't just stand there staring boy, didn't your daddy ever teach you any manners. Come and give me a hug hello."

Sam did what he was told, functioning on automatic because he was utterly confused.

"What are you doing here Missouri?" Sam finally asked.

"I need a reason to visit my two favourite boys now do I?" she smiled warmly at the younger man, and then her expression turned serious.

"I thought you would need some extra support, what with Dean in a coma and your daddy not being here and all."

Sam was slightly taken aback at the woman's kind gesture and the fact that she knew what had happened. It was then that he remembered she was actually a psychic.

"Thanks." Sam managed to choke out, the emotion obvious in his voice.

"Okay lead the way boy; let's go visit your brother.

Missouri glanced around the cramped cubicle, which was Dean's room, in the Intensive Care Unit. Large machines surrounded the bed and Missouri tried not to pay too much attention to the various tubes invading Dean's body. Poor boy she thought to herself. As peaceful as he looked, Missouri could sense the negative thoughts and emotions radiating off Dean.

Was it worth saving me? A voice whispered.

Missouri knew it was Dean's voice, but when she looked across at Sam she saw no change of expression in his face. Dean had not spoken; it was as though one of his thoughts had been echoed in her mind.

"The night we were brought in he had surgery. They had to repair a nicked artery in his chest and his lung collapsed so that's why he is on the ventilator." Sam said pointing to a large machine positioned beside Dean's bed. Missouri knew exactly what was wrong with Dean however, she allowed Sam to continue in the hope that it would help him deal with the situation a bit better.

"Also the doctors ran an MRI and there's swelling on his brain but we won't know if there is any brain damage until he wakes up. They said there's a strong possibility that he could have memory loss." The emotion was evident in Sam's face. Missouri frowned, concerned. Dark rings had formed underneath the young man's eyes, and his face was several shades paler than when she had seen him last. It held a sadness that had not been there since the months following Jessica's death; it pained Missouri to see Sam like this. He looked like a lost little boy without his brother. Lost and alone. Damn it John, she thought to herself, where are you?

"You should have seen him in the cabin." Sam's voice interrupted Missouri's thoughts and she looked across at the young man. His eyes had visibly darkened and listlessly they gazed at the bed.

"Dad…the Demon, it ripped into Dean's chest. Blood was all down the front of him. He was begging Dad to stop, literally begging him. And it…let us go and I ran over to Dean. There was blood all over him and he was coughing it up and everything. I thought he was going to die. I was so scared Missouri."

Sam eyes met hers, and Missouri saw the tears welling in them. One tear escaped, then the rest followed suit, his body racked with the heavy unreleased emotion and stress that had built up over the last couple of days. Missouri moved around to the other side of the bed and stood by Sam.

"Oh Sam, honey." She said hugging him close to her and allowing him to shed the weight of his emotions with some support.

"It's okay, Dean is strong he will pull through. You know how I know…because he loves you very much."

After awhile his breathing settled, and he pulled away from the woman.

"Thanks, Missouri."

"Like I said before, I'm here for support. You can't deal with this on your own and you certainly can't keep it bottled up, boy. How about you run along and grab two coffees now, that plane flight was terrible, and you look like you could do with one" She said; her voice gentle. Sam rubbed his eyes, managed a quick smile and left the room.

Missouri moved closer to Dean and brushed a hand through his hair.

"Come on honey, it's time to wake up. Your brother needs you to wake up."

Nobody needs me.

"Yes they do Dean. I'm not completely sure what that Demon said or did to you but honey, you need to push it away and you need to wake up. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for Sam. If he loses you, it will absolutely tear him apart. I know it hurts, but you need to be strong. I believe in you honey."

A single, fat tear slid its way down Dean's face and landed on the chest of his hospital gown, leaving a glistening trail behind.

"A miracle, Dean Winchester actually sheds tears." Missouri whispered under her breath.

I heard that Missouri.

The woman just smiled and gently smoothed Dean's bed covers over, and then planted a kiss on his bandaged forehead.

-------------------------

Back at the motel, Missouri had managed to book herself into a room next to Sam's; she knocked on the door and waltzed in.

"Come on Sam, put something nice on. We are going out for tea."

"Missouri-", Sam began to protest but the older woman cut him off.

"Don't argue with me boy. When you're not at the hospital eating that rubbish they call food, you are here eating take away. It does nothing to improve your health.

I have only been discharged for a day Sam thought to himself.

"I don't care how long you have been discharged for, you and your brother; you never eat healthy, especially on the road. So I'm treating us to a proper dinner at a proper restaurant. Now go get changed please."

Sam just grinned at how Missouri was acting all motherly. He grabbed his bag which was sitting on the table and took it into the bathroom with him.

-------------------------

Fifteen minutes later, Missouri and Sam were sitting in Madison's Cafe. Sam stole a glance around the restaurant. It was large and obviously popular because practically all the tables were filled. There was the odd elderly couple, but mostly the restaurant was filled with families with young children. He was savouring every bit of this normalcy from the children laughing to the incessant chattering. Like when he was with Jess, he found that being in this setting, he was able to put the hunting and all its problems out of his mind, if only for a little while. Another bonus - he was eating proper food. He turned back to the woman sitting opposite him and smiled.

"Thanks for everything Missouri."

"That's okay honey. Eat your dinner up before it gets cold."

"Oh man. Dean is going to be so pissed off when he wakes up."

"It's just a car Sam, he will get over it."

"Not to Dean. The Impala is his pride and joy. Dad gave it to him and he absolutely treasures it." Sam paused smiling at memories of Dean getting angry at him for doing something to 'hurt' his car. Yeah, a french fry is gonna do alot of damage, Dean.

"It's his baby and I guess it's sort of his home too, it's the only consistent thing in his life right now. Man, he is gonna kill me."

"It was hardly your fault Sam, the semi came out of nowhere. There was nothing you could of done."

"I know, I know but he will still be pissed."

"Can't you take it somewhere to get fixed?"

"Dean does not trust automechanics. If I took the car to one he most definitely would kill me, and besides, with the damage done it's gonna take a hell of a lot of money to fix it."

"Well it's not like you'll be paying for it. The person on your fake credit card will!" Missouri smiled mischievously.

"True." Sam's mouth twitched. Suddenly his eyes turned wide,

"I know who I can take it to."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: You like..you hate? Time to press the little button below and submit your thoughts and criticisms. I will gladly accept ALL constructive feedback as long as it makes me better at this! This is my first ever fanfic (4th chapter) so be kind and don't blast me if you think this is rubbish. Thanks, and all reviews are greatly appreciated.