ULTIMATE DISCLAIMER: Every content, character, plot etc. that anyone is able to recognize as other's property is NOT mine. I have no intention to get into any trouble involving law and money.
Hey, guys!
Next one:
Prompt: "Sam and Dean are in a car accident while having an argument, Dean is driving. Set after season 3, maybe?" by ItzAGoodThing. I once wrote a car accident with the boys, just for myself, but I have to say: I like how this one turned out much, MUCH better. :D So thank you for this awesome prompt! ^.^
Set: After Season 6 Episode 12. I rewatched the episode just to remember (best time-waster EVER! :D).
Warnings: Hurt!Sam, Guilty!Mothering!Dean, the AwesomestOfAwesome!Bobby. Doctor speech and injuries are the spawn of my common sense only. I'm not a doctor, so if I made grave errors: I'm sowwy... *pouts* And just in case: OOC. I'm trying, guys, I swear, but I'm never sure about it. *hides* I know, I suck...
Oh, and I couldn't resist the tiny bit at the ending. ^.^ As the kids say nowadays: #NotSorry
Anyways, enjoy the story, guys! :D
Rise From Wreckage
A pained moan slipped under the cacophony of crickets' chirps. Dazed green eyes opened to slits, trying to focus on the surroundings. Trees... Darkness... Crickets... Cold... Pain...
Dean Winchester shut his eyes tightly as he tried to overcome the numbing agony engulfing his whole body. He felt the hard press of something round against his cheek and chest, and cool plastic pressed against the underside of his left arm, while white hot pain kept a tight hold on his left leg. He shifted his head, his cheek sliding along the smooth, round object. He lifted his hands slowly, wincing from the screaming of his muscles as he moved. He grabbed the round object that, it turned out, had holes in it.
He looked up again and forced himself to lift up a little, his arms shaking from the effort. His eyes slid downward and he found a steering wheel as his pillow. He frowned in confusion as his mind tried to register everything. It was the Impala's steering wheel...
Something warm and thick trailed over his forehead and down his nose, but he ignored it in favor of straightening up in his seat. He was in the Impala, engine cut off and in pain, and as the elevation of his suddenly throbbing head changed, he had to close his eyes to prevent passing out.
"Sammy?" he rasped out, swallowing against the dryness of his throat. He waited for the answering moan next to him or a sharp intake of breath as a reply, but nothing. Not even regular breathing...
He turned his head with a yelp of pain. He will be covered with bruises tomorrow, he could feel it. His neck protested any movement, but he needed to check on Sam...
He opened his eyes again.
And froze.
The passenger seat was empty. Dean blinked a couple times, trying to dispel the illusion, but the sight remained reality. Sam was gone. Who could've taken him? Maybe some bastard found them and beat Dean up before whisking away the younger man. He had to go after them before it's too late-
His terrified gaze roaming over his surroundings, more alert than ever, pinned onto something he didn't ever want to see in his life:
A large hole in the windshield, right in front of the passenger seat.
Broken outwards.
Dean's heart began beating rapidly, arousing his sluggish mind instantly. Something must have gotten in and took Sam through the windshield in its hurry-
Everything in him turned to ice.
The front of the car looked like a squished harmonica - wedged against a tree trunk.
'No' he thought, panic strangling his dry throat. 'Please, no...'
Dismissing many of his aches and pains, he grabbed the door handle and yanked on it. The latch clicked open, but the door itself didn't want to budge. Dean leaned against it, grunting with effort as he pushed. As he managed to put most of his upper-body weight into it, the door screeched open. Dean felt the harsh tug on his left leg, twisting it into the wrong angle, so he quickly grabbed onto the steering wheel to keep his balance. He reached down with one hand and experimentally pulled on his leg. With some careful shifting and fiddling, the trapped limb was freed, so with a weak shove he tumbled out of the car.
He cried out in pain as his torso throbbed, indicating some possibly broken ribs. His leg, however, ceased to exist in the fire of agony for a couple seconds. Dean took deep breaths to calm himself down, closing his eyes to focus on gathering himself together.
"DEAN!"
Screeching tires...
Humongous crash...
Pain... Then darkness...
Dean gasped for air as he forced himself back to reality. He was panting like he had just run the marathon, and his ears were ringing after the jumbled sounds of his memories. No, it couldn't be... He never...
Shaking his head to clear it, Dean pushed against the cold, hard ground. He bit his lower lip hard enough to taste blood as he forced himself into sitting. Once he succeeded to relax his muscles, he turned his attention to his left leg. It seemed stiff and his jeans were a little torn. His ankle looked swollen, as well, probably a sprain. He could live with it for now. He had to get up right now!
He had to find Sam!
Using the nearby handle of the car door, Dean wrestled himself onto his feet, with pained groans and yelps. The top edge of the window almost sliced his fingers off when he rested his weight on it until he straightened up fully. He took a breather, gathering strength for more movements. As soon as his chest stopped heaving and he managed to inhale an entire lungful of air, he pushed away from his support.
"Sammy!" he shouted out hoarsely. He could barely put any weight on his left ankle, and his leg was shaking so hard, he was swaying dangerously. He had to grab onto the wreck of the Impala and the tree trunk to keep himself upright. He rounded them, ready to take a long trek to find his brother and the monster that took him.
He didn't have to go very far.
A long, dark figure lay motionless on the ground, wearing dark jeans and a dark brown jacket. It had heavy army boots on and ended with a disheveled mop of chestnut-brown hair. Dean would recognize him with eyes closed.
"Sam" he called out, but when no response greeted him, he hurriedly stumbled closer, hugging his torso with one arm and limping heavily. He made a lot of noise, unable to keep quiet, but he had to hurry if he wanted to get out with his brother before the wildlife decided to start in on the free snack.
When he reached Sam's side, he grimaced with a moan of pain as he let himself collapse on the ground. He lay his hand onto Sam's back, but his heart stopped for a beat when he realized how cold his brother was. Dean pulled himself closer, sliding his hand upwards in an attempt of a comforting stroke. He leaned down to check on the younger man's features.
Sam was whiter than ever, his eyes having dark bags under them and closed, without a flutter of life. The bottom half of Sam's face was obscured by the collar of the jacket, but something else caught the older Winchester's attention.
A dark puddle of liquid right under Sam's head.
Blood!
Dean shook his head again, this time in denial. 'No, it can't be...'
"Sammy?" he asked, cursing inwardly how his voice choked up. "Let's go... Stop fooling around and let's go!" He wanted to shake his stubborn brother, but his instincts wouldn't let him. He just carded his free fingers through the dampening tresses, but he froze once more as something sticky brushed at his skin. He pulled his hand back...
And gagged in horror: his hand was coated completely in red.
Dean glanced back at the wreck and the tears drowning him emerged into his eyes before rolling down his cheeks. The hole... The angle of Sam's body... The glass exploded outwards...
"DEAN!" CRASH!
Dean gulped as he fought for control over his now fully-panicking mind. Sobs exploded out of his chest as soon as his lungs let in some oxygen and Dean leaned down, pressing his face into his little brother's hair. His chest was aching from the angle, but it was being torn to shreds for a different reason.
No time for that now, though.
"It's okay, Sammy" Dean choked out, pressing a kiss onto the cold temple he could reach. "I'm getting help for you. Hold on, bud."
With that, he pushed himself up and onto his feet with a cry of pain. Taking as little time as he could, he hobbled towards the edge of the woods, plenty visible from where they were. He avoided the wreck with his gaze and didn't let anything distract him until he got to the road.
He looked up and down, but when no sign of life jumped out at him, he let loose a couple sobs. He quickly shoved one hand into his jacket pocket, but his heart constricted even more painfully when he took in the crack on the screen. He pressed a button, but the blackness never receded.
His phone was broken.
Dean suddenly felt himself being torn to pieces inside. He had to get his brother immediate help: the kid was unconscious and losing blood by the minute. But trudging back to the car and digging up Sam's phone would take too much extra time and Sam might be worse off by the time help arrived.
He looked up and down the road once again, hoping, and maybe even praying, for a miracle to unbalance the Winchester luck at least once in their goddamn life!
Almost instantly, his plea was answered: a pair of headlights was growing bigger as it got closer to Dean. Once he could just make out the shape of a car, he stumbled onto the road, waving with his free hand as frantically as his aching torso let him.
"Hey!" He cried out, not even caring if they didn't hear him over their own engine. However, the car slowed down to a stop right in front of Dean and the driver's side door opened up. A man in his thirties jumped out and closed in on him, his dark eyes filled with concern and confusion.
"Jesus, are you okay, man?" he asked, but Dean, overwhelmingly relieved for the help he received, stumbled to him, grabbing the man's jacket tightly as he sobbed.
"Plea-ease!" he keened, big, rounded green eyes piercing the man through as hands grabbed the swaying, injured body gently. "Help him!"
"It's okay, pal" the man replied, his grip tightening around the unsteady Winchester. "Just tell me what happened, okay?"
"Car..." Dean tried to focus but Sam's life was slipping away! They couldn't waste time! "My little brother... Help him!"
"Finn" a woman standing next to the passenger side's door called out. "I'm already calling an ambulance. Go ahead!" The man, apparently Finn, nodded.
"Alright" he spoke firmly, wrapping Dean's arm around his shoulders. "Show the way."
Finn Wesker, an ordinary construction worker, had never imagined that returning home from a vacation with his wife Geena would end in such a heartbreaking way. He always hated driving in the middle of the night, too scared of killer hitchhikers and other urban legends coming true. Geena always shook her head indulgently whenever that topic came up. But they were in the homestretch, just outside their town.
And seeing the bloody, limping mess of this man and feeling his tremors against his side, he knew this was serious - and real.
"Sammy..." the man choked out next to him, and as Finn looked around, he understood his fears. The car, a beautiful Impala, had impacted a tree head on, crumbling up the front almost up to the windshield, which was broken out. He thought steam would come out of the wreck, but the air was clear. How long had this been sitting here?
"Sammy", as the injured man called him, was lying face first on the ground. To innocent eyes, he looked like he was just sleeping. But as he helped the man closer to his brother, he could discern slight details that didn't fit that image: the twisted angle of an arm, the bloody leg of the jeans, the pooling dark puddle around his head...
The man in his grip pulled away and collapsed next to his brother. Finn watched as more tears escaped his eyes, and ignoring his obvious pains, he leaned down to the slack, white face and whispered into his ear:
"You're gonna be fine, Sammy. This nice man is here to help, okay?"
The broken, almost child-like tone could've obliterated Finn, but he instead concentrated on getting these two the help they needed. He knelt down and rested a hand on the unconscious man's back.
"Don't..." the other mumbled, his wide green eyes pleading with Finn desperately.
"It's okay" Finn soothed him, feeling a surge of protectiveness wash over him. "I won't move him... Just checking."
As soon as he received a nod, he slid his finger gently under the collar of the brown jacket, searching with a frown. The worry was increasing second by second as the silence and lack of anything stretched on.
Then... a weak thump against the tip of his index finger.
Finn shifted his hand to have better access and soon he could make out the flutter of a pulse under ice-cold skin. He had to suppress his own shivers at the touch.
"He's alive" he determined. The sobs erupting out of the man, accompanied by the relieved slouch of tense shoulders, made Finn probably the proudest he had ever been in his life to deliver such wonderful news. He turned towards the road as the man whispered softly into his brother's ear.
"GEENA!"
"They're coming!" she shouted back, waiting for the ambulance. "Just a couple minutes!"
A couple minutes seemed like an eternity and the brother was already freezing and growing weaker. With a sudden idea, he ripped his own jacket off and gently covered Sam's back, hoping at least this much could keep him warm until help arrived.
"What's your name?" he asked the man, who was now caressing the brown mop of hair lovingly. Wide, still panicked green eyes pinned onto him once again. Finn hoped he wouldn't go into shock, because he didn't know what to do with that.
"D-Dean" the man stuttered out, tears constantly streaming down his cheeks, mixing now with the blood dripping down his nose from a cut on his forehead.
"Can we call anyone?" Finn offered. "A relative or-?"
"Bobby" Dean answered, cutting in with a pained grimace. Finn wasn't sure if it was physical. "Bobby Singer. His number-"
"I know it" Finn interrupted. "We're from Sioux Falls. He fixed my car up a couple years ago. I'll call him as soon as you guys are okay."
"Th-Thank you" Dean nodded gratefully then leaned back down to his brother, continuing his ministrations.
Just then, sirens cut through the eerie silence of the forest, and before they knew it, the area was lit up with blue, flashing lights.
Finn watched as his wife calmly directed the EMT workers to the crash site. At times like this he could only admire her professionalism. She's not a nurse for nothing, after all.
The team instantly descended on the brothers, barking out questions and examining both of them. Two men helped Dean to his feet and led him, against his will, to the ambulance so he could be treated as soon as possible. Three others stayed with Sam and Finn didn't move, knowing Dean wanted someone to keep an eye on the unconscious young man. In a minute, a neck brace was strapped around Sam and they transferred him onto a gurney, covering him up tightly and tying him down securely.
Horror filled Finn's insides as he caught a glimpse of the younger man's face: coated in blood, cuts littering the right side, a crooked nose, a streak of blood trickling down his chin... Pale white features practically glowing in the dark... The medical team was quick to get him to the ambulance and Finn couldn't blame them. The guy's life was on the line right now, they couldn't waste time.
When everyone emerged from the trees, Finn saw his wife talking to a police officer, while Dean, sitting in the back door of one ambulance was fidgeting around searching for his brother desperately. One EMT worker was just bandaging up his forehead, while the other tried to get him to stay still. The other team was letting many instructions fly as they hurried to the other ambulance, but Finn couldn't understand them. He had watched Grey's Anatomy a lot, but he still couldn't recognize any of the procedures by names and instructions.
"Sammy!" Dean cried out, trying to stand up. "Let me see him! Don't let him die, please!"
Finn ran over to the panicking man and wormed his way as unintrusively as possible around the EMT workers.
"Dean, it's alright" he spoke softly, trying to calm the agitated man and avoid a ruckus. "They're taking care of him. He's fine." Those wide green eyes will kill him tonight, breaking his heart over and over without giving it a chance to heal. They showed so much trust that he could only see in his own four-year-old son's eyes.
"He's awake" came the bark of information from the other team. The two men snapped their heads to that direction and Finn managed to catch a glimpse of unfocused dark eyes moving around under half-open eyelids.
"Hear that?" he tried to sound as reassuring as the situation allowed. "He's okay. Let them take care of you, okay?"
Dean, fresh tears streaking down his face, let himself be guided into the back of the ambulance and laid onto a gurney. When Finn turned around, he could see the doors of the other ambulance slamming shut then the vehicle started rolling onto the road.
"Where are you taking them?" he quickly asked before the EMT slammed the door into his face.
"Sioux Falls General" came the immediate answer. As the second ambulance pulled away, Finn yanked his phone out, blessing his good memory as he dialed. Geena walked up to him as a police car pulled out, as well, leaving the couple alone.
"Hello?"
The gruff voice was so familiar and such a blessing in this situation that Finn let out a loud sigh of relief.
"Mr. Singer, it's Finn Wesker."
"Yeah, Finn" the older man's voice was filled with recognition. "I remember you. Honda Ascot, 1990. Car givin' you trouble again?"
"No, sir" Finn gulped nervously then decided to just take the leap. "Do you know two brothers called Sam and Dean?"
The silence on the other end of the line could've convinced Finn that he had gone deaf if not for the crickets resuming their chirping around them. He felt Geena rubbing at his tensing back.
"What happened?" came the demand so suddenly it made Finn jump.
"There was an accident" he explained. "Just outside of town. Sam was worse off than Dean. They're being taken to Sioux Falls General as we speak."
"And the car?" Bobby Singer asked as Finn listened to rustling and... was that a door closing?
"It's still in the woods" Finn felt like a student reporting to a stern teacher to avoid failing the class. "It's not a pretty sight."
"Okay, Finn" Bobby spoke firmly as another door, probably a car's, slammed shut in the background, turning the gruff voice a little echoed. "Can you do something for me?"
"Yes?"
"Wait for me at the car. Then you can go home, I promise. And... thanks, kid."
"No problem" Finn replied, a little taken aback by the emotions in the voice. He did as he was told, guiding the older man to the crash site through the phone.
Dean began instantly fidgeting as soon as the doctor let out a sigh that indicated he was finishing up.
"I don't know what higher power protected you" the young man spoke grimly "but you're lucky you got away with bruises and a sprained ankle. Even your ribs are intact."
"Can I see my brother?" he asked, trying to ignore the man's words. Lucky? Yeah, his brother was dying a few feet away from him because of his stupidity. Real lucky.
"He's still being taken care of" the doctor replied, pulling his rubber gloves off with a snap.
"I don't care" Dean felt his panic melting into frustration. "Isn't there a waiting room somewhere where I can go?"
"Yes, but there's also a room for you" the doctor snapped back firmly. He didn't seem annoyed, though. "With a bed just for your needs. And practically with your name on it."
"I'm going to my brother" Dean spat out, now getting angry at this stuck-up brat. He scooted to the edge of the bed but a hand slammed him back against the pillows, not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to still him - and pin him.
"Down!" the doctor ordered a little louder. "You're gonna stay here till someone gets you, you hear me?"
Dean stared bewildered at the smooth, young features of the doctor. Blonde, good-looking, typical rich kid with a silver spoon up his ass since birth - at least by his looks. His demeanor wasn't mean, because at the start of Dean's examination, he was soft-spoken and had a reassuring smile as he told his patient what he was doing. And Dean went with it, trying to get through this as soon as possible, so he could get to Sam, but he couldn't wait any longer.
"I wanna see-"
"I know you want to see Sam" the doctor spoke over his protests with a stern, hardened tone. It reminded Dean of John Winchester and Bobby on occasion. "But right now, everyone with him is busy saving his life. You would only be a distraction if you interfered. In the meantime, you have a nice, comfy bed where you can rest and get some strength back, so when a nurse comes for you to take you to Sam, you can hobble over there even faster than if you exhaust yourself right now and spend even more time in a hard, uncomfortable chair. So you're staying here, understand?"
Dean watched the stern doctor with wide eyes. No one had ever talked to him like this in a hospital before and it was... a welcome change. Finally, a doctor keeping it real and logical instead of trying to sedate him against his will.
"O-Okay" Dean stuttered out as he settled against his pillow. This guy was young and baby-faced, but inside him was a stern, methodical man, one Dean could maybe even respect.
"Don't move until they come for you" the doctor ordered one last time with a reprimanding glare. Dean nodded and watched him leave the room to visit other patients. Yeah, he could do that... And although he didn't want to admit it, the guy was right.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, just to rest them for a few minutes.
The entrance door to the hospital slid open, letting through the world-weary form of Bobby Singer. As soon as his eyes landed on the receptionist, he hurried to her.
"My name is Robert Singer" he started immediately, impatient to get to his boys. "I'm here for Sam and Dean Hendricks. H-E-N-D-R-I-C-K-S."
"One moment, sir" the girl, not giving away if she was annoyed by his behavior or not, tapped at the keyboard. "Are you a relative?"
"Uncle" Bobby replied with a nod, his fingers clenching into fists then relaxing multiple times. He resisted the urge to tap his foot.
"Mr. Singer!"
Bobby looked up and found Carl Peters walking towards him with a smile.
"Hey, kid" he flashed a polite smile to the young man. "Your Daddy doin' okay?"
"Yes, sir" the blond nodded with a wide smile. "And how are you?"
"I'm fine" Bobby kept shooting glances at the receptionist, who was still browsing the records on her computer. "I'm just here for the boys."
"Boys?"
Bobby nodded when he caught a confused look in the blue eyes.
"They got into an accident-"
"Car accident?" Carl asked worriedly. "Are you by any chance looking for Dean and Sam?"
Bobby froze as he turned his widened, surprised gaze to the doctor.
"How...?"
"I just came from checking up on Dean" Carl replied, worried now. "He's doing alright physically, just a lot of bruises, a cut on his forehead and a sprained ankle."
"Just that?" Bobby mumbled stunned, scratching at his head. Judging by the state of the car, he was expecting two mangled, barely breathing corpses. Then he frowned. "Wait, what do you mean 'physically'?"
"Dean is very... anxious" Carl explained. "He's restless, wanting nothing but to see his brother. He has every right, though."
"What, why?"
"Dean got out of this fairly unharmed. If he was a cat he would've lost only one life" Carl smirked fleetingly, before turning serious again. "But his brother, Sam, wasn't as lucky."
"Is he...?" Bobby gulped, unable to say the word. No matter how wary he was of the boy, he never wanted to see him hurt... or worse...
"No, he's being treated right now" Carl laid a comforting hand on the older man's shoulder, gripping it hard enough to keep him focused. Bobby was reminded now why he trusted this kid. "But according to the EMT, Sam had crashed through the windshield and landed several feet away from the car. He has many cuts from the glass and a broken nose from the fall. He even broke his right arm, which possibly means he fell on his right side. Luckily, his ribs are fine, but we're worried more about his spine and neck, and of course his skull. He lost a lot of blood from the head-wounds so he needed a transfusion."
Bobby felt himself hunch over more and more as he listened to the explanation. By the end of it, he felt like someone was clinging onto his back, weighing him down.
"However" Carl emphasized that word, giving the older man's shoulder a firm shake, making him look at him once more, "the EMT also said he had woken up as they were getting ready to put him in the ambulance. He was responsive, despite the slowed reflexes."
Bobby, this time, didn't bother to hide his relief. He wiped at his face, rubbing the tears out of his eyes.
"Can I see them?" he sighed out, feeling his heart pounding with less and less force.
"You would do me a favor" Carl replied with another grin. "Dean is in room 5, just down the hallway. Sam is being taken for an MRI. If you could keep Dean in his room until we can get you two, that would be much appreciated." Bobby nodded, letting a knowing smirk emerge onto his face. Shaking Carl's hand gratefully he took off down the hallway and towards one of his boys.
He just hoped the other will be alright, as well.
Dean shut his eyes tightly as he fought the sob repeatedly trying to get out of his tight throat. He had his arms crossed and he was biting his nails nervously, blinking against the regathering tears in his eyes. His sprained ankle was resting on a mountain of pillows and the pain had finally ebbed away. But the tightness in his chest and the aching in his mind never ceased to exist.
"Just shut up, Sam! It was a shitty thing to do and you know it!"
"I have every right to know about this! How am I supposed to-?"
"Why can't you just let this go?! Don't you get it?! You will DIE! Or even worse!
"Dammit, Dean-"
"No, Sam, I've had enough! I'm not gonna let you kill yourself just because you get a kick out of guilt-tripping all the time! This ends now and I'm not gonna let you-"
"DEAN!"
Dean flinched with a gasp as the mess of breaking glass and metal once again exploded in his mind. He tightened his hold around himself, feeling broken and vulnerable. He wanted to jump out the window, hoping it was high enough...
Footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned towards the door, lowering his hand from his mouth. He tensed as he waited for a nurse to appear, telling him he can go to his brother now.
The person appearing brought relief and disappointment all at the same time.
Bobby's wide, worried blue eyes pinned onto Dean's form, just standing in the door and taking in his sight. Dean felt his lips tremble as a familiar face finally gave him some actual comfort just by existing.
"Bobby..." he choked out, finally giving up the battle against the tears. As they rolled down his cheeks, Bobby rushed forward, grabbed his shoulders and pulled. Dean expected a punch or verbal assault...
He got a tight hug, instead.
Jerking from the erupting sobs, Dean grasped the worn vest tightly on Bobby's back, just clinging to him desperately as the man rubbed his shoulders, almost strangling him with his hug. The younger hunter thought he could hear Bobby whispering nonsense into his ear, comforting him with a steady, soft tone. Dean let loose a couple more sobs, wishing for some relief right now in his chest.
After a minute, Bobby pushed him back, leaning him against the pillows, then took a seat on the edge of the bed. Dean wiped at his face, sniffing to calm down and force himself to take a deep breath.
"I'm sorry" he muttered, lifting sorrow-filled green eyes onto the older hunter. Bobby frowned in confusion. "It's my fault... I shouldn't've-"
"It's okay, kid" Bobby interrupted, seeing Dean working himself up again. "We'll talk about this later. And you can rest easier now. Carl said Sam was... well, not fine but hangin' on just fine."
"Carl?" Dean repeated confused.
"A kid I know in here" Bobby smiled. "He allowed me in here to keep you in line."
"Blond doctor with an attitude?" Dean huffed and shook his head as he described the guy man-handling him before.
"With a good attitude" Bobby pointed out. "He doesn't take any nonsense from anybody. And I mean, anybody."
Dean smirked in disbelief, but he knew Bobby was right. If he hadn't met him, he would think the kid would be a rich snob mama's boy.
"So what'd he say about Sam?" Dean asked quickly, too anxious for more niceties. Bobby sighed wearily.
"It's not good, Dean" he said, shaking his head. "If what Carl and the EMT described is true, your brother has quite a path to go. We can only hope he's relatively unscathed, like you."
"Why?" Dean felt his heartbeat kick up once more. "What's wrong with him? I blacked out on impact, but-"
A knock on the door cut through their conversation. A nurse, a brunette woman in her thirties was gazing in on them, lowering her hand once she had their attention. Dean frowned as she stepped closer.
"I remember you" he finally said just as she stopped by his side. She looked taken aback. "You're... Geena, right?"
"Um... yes" she flushed shyly but smiled. "I'm surprised you remember. You had more important things to worry about."
"Thanks, Geena" Bobby nodded with a grateful smile. "How's Finn?"
"He was still reeling from everything, last time I checked" Geena answered, brown eyes growing sadder. "He's not used to things like this."
"Most of us aren't" Bobby agreed knowingly. Geena nodded then turned to Dean.
"I just came to tell you Sam will be set up in a room in five minutes" she told him, bringing a relieved sigh out of the man. "By the time you get up to 305, he'll be ready for your visit."
"How is he?" Bobby asked.
"He's doing alright" she explained. "The doctors are waiting for the results of the MRI. But his outside wounds are taken care of and his arm was put in a cast. He had a couple cracked ribs, but with some time and bedrest they will heal properly. He had a slight difficulty with his oxygen intake, but some time with an oxygen mask should fix it."
Dean heard enough. He began pushing himself up and grabbed onto Bobby's helping hand, glad they were on the same page. When he got to his feet, he swayed but Geena pushed a pair of crutches towards him. Dean nodded once he was set and the three of them marched out of the room swiftly. Geena led the two men, Bobby had a hand resting on Dean's back.
Once they reached room 305, the elevators fast and mostly empty at this hour - although it still surprised him - Dean froze in his gait. The crash of metal and glass was still ringing in his head and now he was too afraid to face the consequences of his stupidity.
"It's okay" Geena whispered to comfort him. "He's okay."
"Come on, son" Bobby urged him gently, as well. "I know you wanna see him, too."
The two coaxed him through the door and to the bed. They barely got him in sight when Dean almost collapsed again, his face crumbling with regret and grief. Only Bobby's steady hands kept him upright.
Sam was lying on the hospital bed, unconscious and immobile. His right arm was in a cast and resting in his lap as he reclined slightly The right side of his face was full of dark scratches and cuts but only one square of gauze was taped onto his temple. His mouth and nose was covered with a plastic mask and what Dean could see it was hiding what seemed like a swollen nose.
What had him broken, though, was the brace still wrapped around Sam's neck, keeping his head trapped.
"What's wrong with him?" he choked out, gasping against the knot in his throat. Geena glanced over her shoulder and when she turned back, her eyes were filled with sorrow.
"I know it looks scary" she spoke softly, unable to stop herself brushing at Dean's hair. "But the doctors are still looking through his X-rays. They don't want to miss any little fracture in his spine. Until they are certain, they want to keep your brother as immobile as possible, okay?"
Dean glanced at her with wide, tearful green eyes and she nodded encouragingly. Bobby watched his boy closely and when he saw him gathering his feet back under him, he eased his grip. Dean slowly leaned onto the crutches and limped to the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving his little brother's still form. He reached out and let his trembling hand tentatively touch Sam's damp, freshly-washed hair before resting his palm on it. The other two watched the silent moment of acceptance and when Dean caressed Sam's hair gently, they relaxed.
"Dr. Peters will check in on you as soon as possible" Geena added then with a nod of farewell to Bobby she left.
"Dr. Peters?" Dean asked uncertainly. Bobby gulped at the tightness in his own throat as he took in the child-like vulnerability displayed by the older Winchester brother, who would rather die than show weakness.
"Carl" he finally answered as he grabbed a nearby chair and pushed it behind Dean. The older brother turned his eyes back to Sam and brushed some of the hairs out of the younger man's pale forehead. Only then did he sit down. "I'm glad he's takin' care of you two" he noted, taking his own seat on another chair on the other side of the bed. "He's a good kid."
Dean leaned his crutches against the wall then lifted Sam's free hand, grasping it with both of his and leaning his cheek onto the limp fingers. After a few seconds, the hand on top slid down onto Sam's wrist and Dean pressed his lips onto the back of the hand in a comforting kiss. Bobby smiled at the tenderness he was barely privy to, but after what happened this few years, it was refreshing to see the old bond flaring up between the brothers.
And as Dean leaned his cheek back against Sam's hand, Bobby felt everything fall into place and he knew they will be alright.
Unfocused hazel-green slipped open with effort, lids fluttering as they struggled to obey. The hazy irises moved around taking in the blurry whiteness before pain slowly throbbed its way into their owner's mind. A soft moan slipped out of his mouth and he blinked slowly, trying to wake himself up.
"Sam?"
A voice, a woman he didn't know, spoke above him and he tried to turn his head towards her, to see who the intruder was and to find out where he was being held-
His head didn't wanna move.
Sam gasped in fear as something wedged into his jaw and he yanked his hands up to his neck. Something was holding him down, trying to strangle him-
"Sam, stop!" the woman ordered firmly, grabbing onto his wrists. No... wrist. He couldn't feel the other one.
"No" he moaned out, wriggling around, trying to free himself from his bonds. Cold air brushed at his legs suddenly, making him shiver. "No... De'..."
"Ssh, Sam, calm down" the woman pushed at his chest gently. "You're in the hospital. You're safe now."
Sam's eyes roamed around frantically and now he recognized the white walls and the machines next to his bed. His body stilled as he tried to make sense of what was going on, but the thing around his neck was pressing hard into his jaw. The woman, a brunette, used his moment of distraction and covered his bare legs back up.
"Where 'm I...?" he slurred out, his chest rising up and down frantically as he fought the tight band around his lungs.
"Ssh, you're in Sioux Falls General" she answered, carding her fingers carefully through his hair. Sam winced as her fingers prodded at painful pinpricks on his head. "Do you remember what happened?"
Sam frowned, gazing at her confused.
"DEAN!"
Screeching... Crash...
A dull thud echoing in his skull...
Darkness...
"Dean!" he cried out suddenly, his eyes widening in terror. He tried to scramble out of bed, but the nurse wouldn't let him. "No, my brother... He's hurt! Where...?"
"Calm down, Sam" she ordered him urgently. "Your brother is alright. Just calm down!"
"No, where is he?" he repeated, wanting to shake his head, but it was still tied down. "Let me go... Where is he...?"
"Take deep breaths, Sam-"
"Dean!" he cried out, sobs exploding out of his lungs as he felt tears roll down his cheeks, some of them stinging the right side of his face. "De-ean!"
Bobby almost slid into the doorway as he rushed after Sam's scream of terror. He had just gone out to get a coffee, but apparently the infamous Winchester timing took place in the two minutes he was gone.
And of course, Dean had to go to the bathroom right then, as well.
Before he could run in and calm Sam down, he caught Dean out of the corner of his eyes, limping hurriedly down the hallway. He must have heard his brother all the way in the other end of the corridor. Bobby hurried up to him, let Dean wrap his arm around his shoulders and pulled the older Winchester along to get him to his brother faster.
Dean's wide eyes pinned onto his brother worriedly and he instantly shoved himself away from Bobby, stumbling to the side of the bed. He threw his crutch down and grasped Sam's flailing, uninjured arm while his other hand slid under the mop of hair, grasping it gently.
"Sammy, stop!" he barked out, leaning over his brother to get into his line of sight. Geena had jumped back the moment they appeared and was now watching the two and the monitors with concern.
Sam gasped for air a couple more times before slouching back against the pillows. His eyes finally found Dean and glistened with more tears.
"De'..." Sam choked out, trying to move closer to his brother, but he already looked exhausted. "Can't move..."
"Move what, kiddo?" Dean asked, worry ratcheting up tenfold.
"M' head... Get it off..."
"Ssh, it's okay" Dean immediately soothed his brother, his hand slowly wading through Sam's long hair. Bobby knew the man was afraid his brother would turn out to be paralyzed. Although, judging by the panicked thrashing around, Bobby never would've counted paralysis as a risk factor... thank God. "The doctors are worried about your neck. So it's in a brace until they give you the A-OK. So you need to stay still, alright?"
"Hurts..." Sam whined out, his body gradually unwinding now.
"I know, kiddo" Dean replied, tears already gathering in his eyes. Sam pulled on his hand, trying to reach the brace.
"Off..."
"Nonono, kiddo" Dean yanked his hand away before damage could be done. "I know it's uncomfortable, but you gotta hold on, okay? Just for a little while."
"De'..." Sam looked mournfully up at his brother. Bobby could see Dean's body tense up and he had a good guess what the younger Winchester wanted to say.
"'M sorry..."
Dean's breath hitched slightly as he gazed into Sam's eyes. So many emotions, so many words passed between the two gazes, Bobby couldn't name most of them. But Dean, instead of brushing it all off like usual, let the weight of the night's events crash him to the ground: he grabbed the back of Sam's head and leaned his forehead against the younger brother's unmarred temple, muffling his sobs into the brown tresses. Sam lifted his arms and gripped Dean's shirt, even the fingers poking out of the cast managed to curl around the fabric.
"I'm so sorry, Sammy" Dean sobbed out, his voice wrecked and weak. "I'm so sorry..."
"So what happened?"
Bobby was now back to sitting by Sam's side, the kid asleep but his free hand holding his brother's tightly. Dean, who was monotonously stroking Sam's hair, froze up and glanced sadly at the older man. Bobby could see he wasn't keen on answering, which was proven by what he said next:
"What's taking them so long? This thing looks uncomfortable."
Bobby only spared a glance towards the neck-brace still around Sam's neck. Never mind that it was just thirty minutes since Sam woke up and ten minutes since he fell back asleep.
"So" he hazarded, trying for blunt to shove him out of his reluctance, "you were drunk I guess. You totaled your precious baby because you were a careless stupid idiot."
He knew this wasn't true, but at least Dean's green eyes flared with the fire of anger instead dimming with murky lethargy.
"I would never do that" Dean growled out, his voice hiding the hurt Bobby knew he caused. "I would never risk Sam like that."
The two glared at each other, waiting for one to relent. Thankfully, it was Dean.
"What do you want me to say? That I fucked up? There: I fucked up. Happy?"
"Ecstatic" Bobby snarled sarcastically, making the boy flinch. "I want to know what happened that would make you crash a car you were driving and taking care of since you were twelve."
For a minute it seemed Dean still wouldn't answer, but then he broke:
"We were arguing."
Bobby sighed. These boys will be the death of him.
"About what?" he held his voice back from being harsh with concerned anger. Usually these two managed to quell their shouting matches in the car before they got dangerous. He wanted to know what was the difference now.
"Sam tricked Cas into revealing everything" Dean replied, morose as he remembered back. Bobby blinked in surprise.
"I already know that."
"Yeah..."
Bobby frowned then finally got it. He shook his head in disbelief.
"Didn't you already have it out with him?"
"Yeah..."
Dean's voice was smaller now, replacing fury with guilt and shame.
"Then why the hell did you bring it up?"
"I don't know" Dean shrugged, avoiding Bobby's gaze. "It didn't even start out like that. I... I don't even remember what we were trying to talk about. And that wasn't the point, anyway..."
"Sammy, I told you to leave it alone. It's dangerous, don't you get it?"
"And I told you that I can't let it go, Dean! The things I've done are worse, far worse than the demon blood! I'm already tainted and now I have this on my hands! And I'm just supposed to sit by and pretend nothing happened?"
"YES!"
"Well, I can't!"
"Too bad, Sam, because I'm not risking you again!"
"Why did you even do it? Even Cas said-"
"Don't you dare bring him up! You risked your own life, your sanity to atone for something you didn't do! You used him to your own selfish idiocy!"
"At least he didn't want to keep it a secret! He was honest with me!"
"Just shut up, Sam! It was a shitty thing to do and you know it!"
"I have every right to know about this! How am I supposed to-?"
"Why can't you just let this go?! Don't you get it?! You will DIE! Or even worse!
"Dammit, Dean-"
"No, Sam, I've had enough! I'm not gonna let you kill yourself just because you get a kick out of guilt-tripping all the time! This ends now and I'm not gonna let you-"
"DEAN!"
"I don't know what happened" Dean choked out, not even bothering to fight his tears. "He just jumped at me, yanked on the wheel... Next thing I know I wake up in the car, my leg stuck and everything hurts..."
"Dean-"
"I didn't watch the road because I was busy tearing him a new one" Dean continued relentlessly. "I just want him safe... And I almost killed him..."
"Deer..."
Sam's slurred voice cut in so out of the blue, the two hunters almost fell out of their seats. Dean quickly leaned close and shushed his little brother, resuming the strokes on his head. Under half-open, paper-thin lids, dazed hazel-green eyes slid onto his brother. His grip tightened tremulously around Dean's hand.
"Drifted over..." Sam mumbled breathlessly. "Almost hit... a deer..."
"Ssh, Sammy, it's okay" Dean soothed him in a broken voice as he realized the impact of what Sam was saying. "'M sorry, I should've been careful."
"Me, too..." Sam winced as he swallowed. His throat must be dry as hell by now, but he soldiered on. "Should've waited... In the motel... we could've wrestled... it out..."
"Of course" Bobby chimed in half-irritated, half-joking. "Cause why use that goddamn hole under your noses? It's not like they always flap about letting out whining and constant bitching."
Dean glared at the older man, but the corners of his mouth twitched, fighting a smirk. Sam, however, just grinned tiredly.
A knock on the door broke up their conversation. Dr. Peters was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything" he offered politely as he stepped in.
"You? Never" Dean replied with the first genuine smile that night. "Unless it's bad news."
"Then good thing I don't have those" the doctor responded brightly. "I'm here to take that brace off. I don't know how, but you two are probably the luckiest people in this hospital tonight. Sam only has a concussion, cuts and bruises, two cracked ribs and a broken arm and nose. Although, I would like to keep you under observation for the head wounds, but there's no reason not to let you go home after 24 hours. We will do another scan of your head, and if all is fine, you're good to go."
Sam relaxed fully into the mattress, squeezing his brother's hand reassuringly.
"Thank you, Carl" Bobby said gratefully, which was reflected in Dean's eyes.
"Yeah, thanks" Dean added, nodding enthusiastically. "We owe you one."
"I'm just doing my job" Dr. Peters lifted a hand to dismiss Dean's claim.
"If you ever need anything" Bobby offered, "you know my number." Carl just nodded then stepped to Sam's side and did quick work of removing the brace. Sam tilted his head to the sides, enjoying the long-awaited freedom.
"Take care, guys" the doctor said in parting and carried the brace out of the room. Sam slouched down and turned onto his side, facing Dean. He pulled his brother's hand in front of his face and slid his injured one over it, keeping it captured in his hold. Dean reached up and stroked Sam's hair gently, careful about the bumps under the tresses he could still feel. Soon, his brother's face slackened in sleep, lips parting to help his breathing, since his nose was broken.
Bobby leaned back in his chair and lifted his feet onto the bed. He pulled his hat into his eyes, deciding to take a nap. He knew Dean would be awake and alert taking care of his brother until Bobby ordered him to get some rest.
Dean slid his arm onto Sam's pillow, keeping it around his little brother's head. His fingers tentatively brushed at the scratches on Sam's face then they slid down his cheek and his index finger rubbed at the red marks left behind by the brace. Sam took a deep breath without waking, nuzzling Dean's trapped hand slightly as he shifted.
Dean watched his brother sleep, immensely relieved they got away with practically just minor scratches. Compared to what they had gone through, not just topside but downstairs, as well, this was a simple cough in a doctor's office. Dean traced the back of his finger down the slope of Sam's neck, paler then his jawline or shoulder, where the red lines gave the border of the brace. He sent a prayer of thanks up to any deity that was listening for protecting his brother. He just couldn't fathom how they got away with this! It was like a Get Out Of Jail Free card...
He shivered as he remembered the Impala's current condition. It's gonna be a bitch to repair it, but he hoped Bobby could help him with that. It confused him how everything ended so smoothly, yet the car was totaled. They should be dead by now, Sam with a broke neck... It felt strange how the car had more damage than them... As if...
Dean shook his head dismissively. He loved his baby, but that would be even weirder for them. Although, he would make sure she got the best treatment possible, no matter how long it'll take.
Until then, Sam can rest up, maybe even get this ridiculous guilt trip out of his head... 'Yeah, fat chance' he huffed in defeat. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try to talk some sense into his brother.
Letting out a yawn, he squeezed his eyes shut. He intended to stay up and look out for his brother throughout the night. It was still his job, after all, and he wouldn't trade it for anything, even if it gets a little demanding and arduous at times. Because there was no better feeling in the world for him than knowing Sam was alright and alive and happy - as happy as anyone can be in their situation.
He will deny later to Bobby that he fell asleep, but the older man would always remember waking up in the morning and finding the older Winchester, with his cheek resting on Sam's head, his free hand lying protectively on the younger man's neck.
Only his phone remained witness to the pull between the brothers manifesting.
The End
And as soon as Sammy is healed, they roll right into Episode 13. :D
So, how was it? I hope you liked it. I'm quite proud of myself.
I never watched doctor shows in my life, but my Dad used to watch ER. However, I thought putting that in was a little on the nose... since Jared plays Sam... I dunno... So I chose Grey's Anatomy, instead.
Anyway, see you at the next one tomorrow (because it's already written, but *Ssh* :D)!
