Author's note: Thanks for the reviews!
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"Please Sammy, just one more bite." Caleb pleaded as he waved the spoon in front of Sam's face.
True to his word, Mac had gotten Sam a small cup of cherry flavored jello. Getting Sam to eat it however, was the hard part.
Caleb and Joshua had to plead, coax, bribe and downright beg Sam to take a few bites. He had eaten three spoonfuls then turned his face away, refusing to take another bite.
"Sammy, please, for me." Caleb begged.
Sam relented and allowed Caleb to spoon feed him one more bite of jello.
"That's it buddy, you did great. We'll try some more later huh." Caleb praised.
Sam just said nothing, a tear slipping down his cheek.
"Sammy? What's wrong kiddo?" Joshua asked as he wiped the tear away gently.
"I feel so weak." Sam whispered.
"Sammy, what are you talking about tiger? You? Weak? That's a load of bull." Caleb told him, squeezing the kid's hand.
"Seriously Sammy, where'd you get that idea?" Joshua prompted.
"I can't move, can't go to the bathroom alone. I can't even feed myself." Sam said tearfully.
"Buddy, what you went through, it's impossible for an adult to even be conscious as long as you're being, yet alone move. You, at 10 years old, are doing what a lot of adults can't do. Your body's energy is depleted and it's going to take some time to build it back up."
Caleb nodded in agreement with Joshua "And we'll be with you every step of the way. You know what Jim said when you were sleeping? He said, and I quote 'This kid right here, is the strongest, most resilient kid I've ever seen.' And he ain't lying Sammy. Besides, you and Dean are our brothers, and when have we ever passed on a chance of smothering you guys with all the sappy crappy love?"
Sam giggled "Chick flick lover." He said, wiping his tears away.
Caleb ruffled his hair "Smart alec. Now go to sleep."
Sam's eyes shut but snapped back open seconds later. "When's daddy coming?" he asked.
Joshua stroked the boy's hair "Next time you wake up. He's been fighting with Mac and Jim to come see you. Even threatened to sign out AMA. Mac was not pleased."
Sam smiled "And Dee?"
"Still on the hunt with Bobby. Don't worry if they were hurt, Bobby would have turned on his phone and sent out an SOS. I think he'll be here in a few days." Caleb said.
Sam sniffled "I miss Dean."
Caleb grimaced, knowing how close the Winchester brothers were, and Sam wouldn't be able to fully rest until he had Dean by his side.
"I know buddy, he'll be here soon. I'll go get him myself if that's the case."
Sam nodded "I have you two now though." He said then his eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep.
Caleb and Joshua blinked back tears, touched by the last sentence Sam had said. They loved the kid to death, to know that he felt the same touched their hearts deeply.
"This kid…"
The next time Sam opened his eyes, it was to the worried face of John Winchester holding his hand.
Sam smiled tiredly "Hi daddy."
John's face broke into a smile as he cupped the side of Sam's face with the tenderness of a father.
"Hey baby, how're you feeling."
Sam leaned into his father's touch "Dad-dy, I'm not a baby." He protested.
John laughed "No, but you're my baby. Now don't hide from the question."
Sam gave him a lopsided smile "I'm okay, just really weak and tired. And I want this scratchy tube out of my nose." He said as he lifted a hand to scratch at the NG tube.
John smiled and caught his son's wrist gently before he could touch the feeding tube "Leave it for now. You need it to get nutrients until you can tolerate food again."
Sam pouted but relented as his father carded a hand through his hair.
"Daddy?"
"Yes tiger?"
"Can you lay with me?"
John felt his heart break at how small and desperate Sam sounded. "Of course, Sammy." He said as he carefully climbed on the bed next to his youngest, avoiding the IV line and wires connected to Sam.
Wrapping an arm around Sammy, John stroked his baby boy's forehead.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah bud?"
"Don't leave me again. I was all alone."
John nearly cried "Never again Sammy. I can't begin to say how sorry I am. It's my fault you're in this hospital bed. I should have made sure of how much money I gave you…" John started but Sam cut him off.
"Daddy, it's okay. I know you didn't do it on purpose. Everyone makes mistakes."
John was touched by his youngest's amazing ability to forgive so easily. "Your uncles and I had a discussion. How would you like it if I left you and Dean with one of them, or Caleb and Josh, every time I have to leave on a hunt? I'm sure your Uncle Bobby would also want you staying with him, the old coot had a soft heart underneath all that gruff."
Sam lifted his head from where it lay on his dad's chest to look at him "Really?" he said excitedly.
John smiled and stroked his child's forehead "Really."
Sam gave him a dimpled smile and lay his back down on John.
"Daddy, I miss Dean. When's he coming back?"
John rubbed Sam's back "Hopefully in a few days tiger. In the meantime, focus on getting better so you can have fun with your brother when he comes."
"Where are Cal and Josh?"
"They stepped out to eat lunch and give me some time with you, they'll be back don't worry."
Sam nodded "I love you daddy." He whispered, already drifting off to sleep.
John felt a tear slip out of his eye "I love you too, tiger." He said, holding his son closer.
O
"Sammy, buddy, you need to eat." Mac pleaded, much like Caleb and Joshua were in the morning.
Sam shook his head "I can't. I feel sick." He told his uncle.
Mac sighed "Alright buddy, how about I give you something for the nausea and you try eating a couple of bites?" he suggested, gently brushing Sam's bangs back
Sam hesitated, so Mac sat at the edge of the bed.
"Sammy, if you want me to take out the feeding tube you have to start eating."
Sam nodded "Alright." He agreed.
Mac smiled, then drew up some anti-nausea medicine into a syringe and injected it into Sam's IV.
Giving it some time to work, he grabbed the jello cup and brought the spoon to Sam's lips where the boy took a small bite.
"Good job tiger." Mac encouraged.
Sam smiled tiredly and allowed his uncle to feed him the jello, then help him drink some broth.
After half of it was done though, Sam turned his head away, indicating the end of his stomach's endurance.
Mac cupped his cheek "You did good Sammy, better than I expected." He praised.
"Thanks Uncle Mac." He said, then went back to sleep.
Just then, the door to Sam's hospital room opened and in stepped John, Caleb and Joshua.
"Did he eat?" John whispered to avoid waking his son.
Mac nodded "More than I expected."
"Dad, should he still be sleeping this much?" Caleb asked, a slight note of worry in his voice
"Yes, it's completely expected. His body's energy and energy sources are depleted, which is why he's extra lethargic and sleeping more than usual. With the proper nutrition, his body will begin storing energy again and everything will go back to normal. He just needs time, and since he's just a child, he needs to be monitored constantly." Mac simplified.
"And how long does he have to stay in the hospital?"
"At least two weeks…" Mac started and was cut off by three identical "WHAT"s.
"Shh, keep your voices down!" Mac scolded, the three other men looking at him sheepishly, but thankfully Sam kept on dozing.
"As I was saying, it's best to wait for at least two weeks because I want him to be off the feeding tube and eating like before when he goes home."
"And it'll take him two weeks to get rid of the tube?" Joshua asked.
"No. Hopefully I'll take it out by the end of this week. But I'd like to keep him in the hospital for a little way longer just in case things go sideways. His immune system is extremely compromised at the moment. Once we make sure he's getting enough nutrition without the feeding tube, he'll be good to go." Mac explained.
Caleb, Joshua, and John nodded and turned to stare fondly at the child on the bed.
"I just hope Dean gets here soon. I have a feeling he'll be a major help in Sammy's recovery." John said.
"Sure, but you better protect yourself Johnny, he's going to be mad. But mad is an understatement..." Joshua said as Caleb and Mac smirked at the expression at John's face.
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Next chapter: Dean to the rescue!
