Author's note: This is it! The last chapter.
A huge thank you to everyone who reviews, followed and favorited this story. You really kept me going:)
Also, a special shout out to Meilean who helped me with this story.
I should start working on my next story pretty soon, so stay tuned for that:)
Spn
"So, Sammy. Ready to get that tube out?" Mac asked as he sat next to Sam's bed.
Sam nodded vigorously, sitting up with mounds of pillows behind him "Yes please, Uncle Mac!"
Two weeks had passed since Sam had woken up from the coma, and ten days since he was off the ventilator and Mac had seen it fit for Sam to be moved to Jim's where he could continue recovering.
The child's body and lungs were still recovering from his ordeal, so Mac kept him on a nasal cannula. But he had gained a couple of pounds what prompted the doctor to remove the feeding tube.
Dean sat next to Sam on the bed and held his hand, while Mac placed a towel and a bowl on Sam's lap and slowly removed the medical tape that was securing the tube to Sam's cheek.
"Okay buddy, I need you to take a deep breath, then hold your breath so I can take out the tube. Alright?"
Sam nodded and his grip on Dean's hand tightened as he did what was told of him.
When Sam held his breath, Mac grabbed the tube and pulled it out in one swift motion. He tried to take it out as quickly as he possibly could to prevent Sam from gagging but the child still did and brought up a small amount of vomit.
Discarding the tube and his gloves in a biohazard bin, Mac sanitized his hands then moved to help Dean with Sam. Said big brother was rubbing Sam's back while shooting Mac nervous looks.
Mac smiled as he took a wet washcloth and wiped Sam's face gently with it.
"Don't worry Dean, it's completely normal," he assured the teen, to which Dean nodded but his eyes still held a hint of worry. They had a hard time convincing Sam to eat back at the hospital, as he feared that he would bring everything back up again. After days of IV anti-nausea meds and bribery, Sam managed to eat his first full meal with a bit of solids and keep it down. Getting the boy to eat after that was less of a challenge, and he no longer threw up after every meal.
Mac knew that it would take more than just words to put Dean's worry to ease, and he knew just what to do.
Getting rid of the bowl of sick and towel, and washing his hands, he returned to the room with a glass of water and a saltine cracker.
"Sammy, are you up to eating something?" Mac asked gently.
"Yeah."
Mac brought the glass of water to his lips and held it as Sam took a couple of gulps, then handed him the saltine cracker.
Once Dean saw that Sam's stomach had accepted the cracker and water, the worry dissipated from his eyes and they sparkled once again.
"Thanks, Uncle Mac," Sam told him, the child beaming with the removal of the NG tube, something he had wanted since he found out it was in his nose.
"You're welcome, buddy. You know, I wanted to keep this a surprise but I'll just go ahead and say it now. How would you like it if you two came back with me to New York after Sammy recovers?" Mac asked, laughing as the two brothers lit up like a bunch of lightbulbs as their eyes widened.
'It's always the eyes with those two,' Mac thought. He was amused as he saw the cacophony of the different emotions of excitement, disbelief, and mischief in their eyes. He almost gulped in anticipation of the last emotion.
"Yes!" they both cried simultaneously as Sam launched his upper body into his uncle's arms.
"Will Caleb and Joshie come too?" Sam asked, looking up from his position in Mac's arms.
The doctor laughed and tousled the boy's hair as he placed him back on the bed. "Oh yes, as soon as they heard that you two might come with me, they immediately invited themselves. Then I heard them whispering about the four of you executing your 'supreme plan'. Do I even want to know what that is?"
Dean and Sam both shook their heads "No!"
Mac smiled "Alright then, all we need is for the tiger here to get better. Then we'll board a plane and be off."
Dean paled, "Can't we just go by car?" he said tensely.
Mac, who knew about Dean's fear of flying, moved to reassure the boy. "Don't worry Ace, it's a private plane, you enjoyed yourself the last time you traveled with me, remember? And if you still don't want to, we'll go by car."
Dean thought back to the time he boarded a plane with Mac and remembered that it was a pretty smooth flight, not scary like flying in a regular plane. He also remembered how there was a wide range of food choices on the flight.
Dean smiled, "Alright, I'm in."
Just then, Caleb and Joshua burst into the room.
"So? Are we all going to New York?" Joshua asked.
The younger of the four beamed "Yeah, and when we do we can…" Sam started only for Caleb to cut him off.
"Uh uh uh Sammy boy, party pooper ears are still in the room," he said.
Mac rolled his eyes "I'm going to pretend you aren't talking about me and spare you a grounding," he muttered as he gathered his medical supplies and exited the room.
He smiled as he heard the boys launch into a conversation about what they were planning to do when they got to Mac's condo. Things were going to get pretty interesting in New York and Mac just prayed he wouldn't be at the receiving end of the pranks.
SPN
He had never been more wrong in his life.
It had been a week since Mac packed up Sam, Dean, Caleb, and Joshua and put them and himself on a flight to New York. In that week, he had been pranked more than he had ever been. Ever.
It seemed like the four had taken pranking to a new level. Replacing the salt with sugar, eggs in Mac's shoes, and rearranging all the utensils and plates in the kitchen were examples. But Mac's favorite had been papering Mac's bedroom with pictures of his face from top to bottom, on all the walls and ceiling, with pictures of his own face.
He had leveled them with a glare and sat them down on the couch to give them a lengthy lecture about taking the prank too far. But they all knew it was only half-hearted and that he was so close to laughter. That thought was cemented when Caleb, Joshua, Sam, and Dean snuck out of their room and heard the muffled sounds of laughter coming from the doctor's room.
As they continued their way downstairs for a midnight snack, and sat on the kitchen island, the older of the group of four couldn't help but steal glances at their youngest member and feel grateful that Sam had gotten out of his ordeal safe and sound.
It had been a month since Mac had found Sam half starved and craving any form of touch and comfort. Since then, the youngest Winchester had taken great leaps in recovering from the malnutrition and staph infection. He was a bit clingier than usual but his older brothers didn't mind as they also drew comfort from the feel of Sam close to them.
Seeing Sam sitting there with them, eating leftover microwaved pizza and laughing, well that was the greatest gift of all.
Spn
Hope you enjoyed this story!
