Author's note: Here it is! The last chapter of this story.

I've already started working on my next fic 'Don't You Hide No More' and I can't wait to share it with y'all! I"ll probably publish the first chapter in a while today, so stay on the lookout for that!

Without further ado, here's the chapter you've been waiting for.

Spn

The next 3 days passed by very slowly. Though Sam was getting better, except for the one time his fever spiked, he was still very cranky from the illness.

Which was why his father, brothers and uncles often carried him for a walk around the pediatric ward, which had a great view of the park in front of the hospital, with promises to take him and Dean there once he recovers.

His brother, however, kept him occupied when he needed to stay in bed. Playing puzzles, blocks and even with the new drum set Joshua had gotten the toddler, kept Sammy happy and satisfied. Especially that he now had a new stuffed bear which he named Winnie, a new stuffed dog which he named Boo, and a new stuffed tiger which he named tiger, much to his brother's chagrin 'You can't name a tiger 'tiger''.

Which is why Caleb was now walking in the halls, holding Sam in one arm while the other dragged the youngster's IV pole, while telling him an innocent version of one of his hunts, the version that was suitable for babies of course.

"I wuv oo Caweb." Sam said as he pressed a slobbery kiss to Caleb's cheek once he was done with the story.

Caleb laughed as his heart swelled "I love you too tiger."

Sam beamed "Me's tigew, wike tigew!" he said as he held the stuffed tiger Caleb himself had gotten him.

"Yeah but you're a better tiger." Caleb told him.

Sam nodded his head dramatically "Uh huh, But tigew awso bettew."

Caleb let go of the IV pole and ruffled the little boy's hair, grinning "You're a cheeky one Sammy Winchester." He told the toddler who laughed, despite not understanding what his surrogate big brother had just said, but that it must have been something funny as Caleb was laughing.

Caleb was just happy that Sam was slowly getting his energy back, after being pumped with fluids and lots of bed rest and TLC from his family. They didn't know exactly where he had gotten the salmonella from but they suspected it was from picking up a lizard in Jim's yard a few days prior to his sickness.

As the two rounded up next to Sammy's room, John came walking down the hallway after going back to the motel for a shower and a shave.

The poor father had not left his child's bedside despite his friend's insistence, until the doctor had told them that Sam's latest test results had shown that the Salmonella was nearly gone and that he would be discharged this afternoon.

"Daddy!" Sammy squealed and threw himself forward into his father's awaiting arms. Caleb chuckled at the sounds of cooing coming from the nursing station at the adorable sight.

Sam, in a true Sammy Winchester way, had charmed the entire nursing staff into doing his will with just a glance with his puppy dog eyes. If a bunch of hard assed hunters couldn't resist it, then the nurses and doctors were no match.

He immediately became well known between the staff either as Sam or as 'the cute kid with the puppy dog eyes in room 641'.

"Hey buddy boy, d'you miss daddy?" John asked as he took his baby boy from Caleb and kissed his cheek.

"Uh huh daddy. You nots scwatchy now." Sam said as he pressed his mouth across his father's freshly shaved cheek.

John laughed "Yeah I bet you like that better now." He said, hearing Caleb snigger as Sam nodded his head vigorously.

"Let's get back to your room. Speaking of which, where is Dean?" John asked, confused.

Throughout his little brother's hospitalization, Dean almost never left his side except to use the bathroom and eat since Sam wasn't allowed to eat normal food for now, and Dean didn't want to get Sam upset at not being able to eat some of his favorite foods like chicken fingers.

"Kid's crashed in Sam's hospital bed." Caleb told him and John nodded, knowing that Dean hadn't been sleeping very well during the nights that Sam had been so sick.

Entering the room, Caleb and John saw Dean and Bobby asleep, on the bed and recliner respectively, with Joshua standing over Bobby's sleeping form, drawing glasses around his eyes with a black permanent marker.

The hunters' eyes widened while Sam giggled softly at the silly sight of his uncle.

"Josh, you're digging your own grave man." John said as he plopped Sam on the bed next to Dean and watched amusedly as Dean rolled towards his little brother without waking and draping an arm over him. He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels until he found the cartoons' channel that would keep Sam occupied until his brother woke.

Joshua smirked "Nah. He may be rough on the outside, but we all know he's a big softie."

"Who you are calling a big softie Joshua." Bobby grunted as he woke up.

"Nobody old man." Joshua replied.

"Joshie said dat Unca Bobby is a big softie." Sam said then giggled.

Bobby turned to glare at Joshua while the latter turned to Sam in a mock betrayed expression.

"Sammy! You're supposed to be on my side." Joshua said exaggeratedly to which the toddler laughed harder.

"Sammy?" Dean mumbled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Deanie! You's awake." Sam said as he threw his arms around his brother.

Just then Jim entered the room.

"I've got Sammy's discharge pape…Bobby what's that on your face?!" Jim asked, trying not to bust out laughing at the ridiculous sight of Bobby.

"My face?" Bobby said then bounded to the bathroom.

"JOSHUA!"

Joshua paled and smiled nervously "I'll meet you back at Jim's. Dean, Sammy, calm him down please."

"What happened to 'big softie'" John yelled after Joshua's retreating form while Caleb chortled.

"Shut up John." Joshua yelled over his shoulder and hastily exited the hospital room.

John signed the papers then pressed the call button for the nurse to come and unhook Sam from his IVs when the bags were almost empty.

Dean managed to distract Sam as the nurse removed the IV and placed gauze and medical tape over the puncture site on the back of Sam's hand. Bobby and Jim went to warm the car while Caleb stayed with the Winchester, while John went to talk to the doctor for any after discharge instructions and dressing him up in tiny jeans and a tiger shirt, which Sam insisted on wearing, then scooped him up in his arms and headed out the hospital room with Dean holding his other hand.

A week later, the family was back on the porch, smoking brisket in the barbeque pit Jim dug out while Sam and Dean played on the tire swing in the yard with Bobby pushing them.

As John watched his kids, he couldn't help but feel grateful that despite their unstable life, he and his kids had a solid and strong foundation that they could always rely on at any time. They would part ways at the end of the weekend, but it would only be a matter of weeks before they regrouped at either Joshua's or Bobby's.

After all, they were one close knit, even if not by blood.

Spn

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