A:N A little unsteady by DJ Toner was great inspiration for this chapter.
Seth leaned against the door frame of Colton's hospital room, Dean sat in the chair next to the bed while Renee slept on the couch at the back of the room. Holly had brought Colton down earlier in the morning and after slapping hugging and lecturing Seth, she had gone back to the hotel leaving Rhys with his dad. He was asleep against Seth's shoulder resting in his good arm.
"Think they'll freak out when they see each other?" Dean drawled he was running on less then 4 hours sleep and some decent pain medication. Seth shrugged as best he could with a bad arm and a reasonably heavy toddler making his way over to the other side of the bed, "I hope they're happy to see each other, I just hope Rhys doesn't scream or something." A soft knock on the door frame grabbed their attention as the doctor made her way into the room. "Still asleep? That's good poor guy needs it" After several tests, scans and at least 3 different doctors they had assessed Colton's injuries. Fractured nose, 3 cracked ribs, a bruised lung and many cuts and scrapes. "Will he heal okay?" Dean asked his gaze settled on the small boy in front of him. Amongst the blankets and large hospital bed Colton didn't look much bigger then Rhys, they had given him a bath and combed his hair making the blonde stand out even more. "Physically I have no doubt he will heal back to 100%" A sad smile on her face she sighed heavily "Mentally I can't say"
"He's strong, we'll get him through it" Renee murmured wrapping herself around Dean, his shoulders were tense as she rested against them. He didn't sleep much and he kept staring at Colton most of the night worried about him. She was sure that he didn't even feel his gun shot wound yet. "She's right, I've seen my share of abuse cases but Colton, he's strong he'll pull through. Especially with a family like this." Placing the chart back at the end of the bed, she made her way back out leaving them alone.
Whimpering Colton's eyes snapped open cringing back from the blur of faces he saw surrounding them. Everything hurt but a weird hazy kind of hurt. His eyes watered as he shifted to move around and his ribs ached. "S'okay Colton you're safe" Dean murmured softly watching as those bright green eyes fixed onto his face. "I'm still here" He mumbled his heart sinking, Mommy was gone so was Jay which meant he was foster home bound. "When do I go away with the social lady" Dean looked at Renee who slowly leaned over and brushed her fingers through his hair. Colton watched her waiting for a smack or slap him for being so bold as to question an adult. "You're not going with them baby, you're coming with us" Dean nodded watching as confusion flashed across his little face. Why would they want him? Avoiding the adults gaze at all cost he glanced around the room to get his bearings. He glanced at Seth looking away before his eyes snapped back. "Rhysee" He whispered his eyes fixed on his baby brother sleeping soundly against his chest. Dean watched as his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped open. Seth moved closer ducking down to sit on the bed and shift Rhys so Colton could get a better look. His hand gently moved towards the toddlers' face brushing the hair on his forehead. The movement was so tender, Seth felt his eyes water.
"He's really here" He whispered his eyes searching his little face, his body, everything. Like he was memorizing him again. They hadn't lied he was safe, not a single bruise on his chubby cheeks, he was bigger now and Colton knew he wasn't being left hungry anymore. "He's still pretty tired but he'll wake up soon" Seth barely got the words out before those little brown eyes snapped open. Yawning and stretching he muttered against Seth's neck making him grin down at him. Colton watched with a wide smile on his face making Renee and Dean grin. "Hi Rhysee" Colton said softly, Rhys snapped his head around eyes wide at the sight in front of him. A sound that was part squeal and part sob escaped his lips as his little arms reached out towards Colton.
Gently letting him onto the bed Seth watched as he crawled into his brothers' lap babbling happily as he tugged on his blonde locks. "Hiya Rhysee" Colton grinned wincing slightly as he pressed against his bad ribs "I missed ya to" He mumbled against the top of his head holding him tight. Renee wiped at her eyes, the boys were finally together again. Rhys whined softly leaning back to see Colton's face who looked down with concern. Shaking his head Colton pinch the toddlers' nose between his thumb and finger. "No Rhysee they're gone now we're safe. Jay's gone the police mans took him away."
"Yes, you are" Dean said watching as the two boys looked up at him, sat here together they looked more alike, they had Haley's subtle facial features but their eyes were their most striking feature. Rhys's big dark brown eyes and Colton's sharp green ones. Rhys giggled as Seth tickled his belly leaning over to grab at his daddy. Colton watched as Rhys curled into his arms, he wished he had his daddy here but maybe him and Dean could be like that. Renee watched as Colton's face fell and nudged Dean who ran his fingers through his hair ruffling it. "You okay? Ribs barkin?" Colton shook his head tugging the blanket up further. He still didn't understand, why they wanted him when they could have any little boy they wanted. He was a bad boy, mommy told him that often enough.
After filling out the proper paperwork and getting the medications Colton would need Dean waited as Renee helped dress him to go home. Dean was never happier about the money he made during wrestling then he was right now. He could afford every test, doctor and medication Colton needed no questions asked. He was grateful. Leaning against the wall Seth and Dean watched as Colton slowly made his way out of the room, you could tell he was in agony by the flashes of pain across his face as he stepped. "Want a lift?" Dean asked kneeling down to meet Colton's gaze, he chewed his lip obviously thinking it over. "I wont hurt you Colton" It wasn't that he didn't want to be touched, but he didn't want to be needy. No one liked a needy kid. Especially not mommy and Jay.
Seth and Dean shared a look before he gently put his hands underneath Colton's arm pits slowly lifting him into his arms. Colton hissed as his ribs shrieked in protest, "Sorry kid almost there" Laying him against his chest, they made their way out of the hospital and to Dean's truck. Seth buckled Rhys into his rental while Dean snapped Colton into the seat he had bought. Laying his head back against the seat Colton grit his teeth as the straps pressed against his ribs, "I'm sorry bud" Dean whispered running his hand across his forehead, tears slipped down Colton's cheeks from the pain but he never said anything. Renee watched from the front seat as Dean fixed the straps as best he could, she could see Colton's teeth sunk into his bottom lip to keep from screaming.
The drive to the apartment was awful every bump and turn made Colton's body shriek with pain. He never made a single sound, and for Dean that made it worse. He knew he was in agony but he was brought up to keep his mouth shut and to never complain. Dean could tell he was still terrified that he was going to get slapped around. Finally arriving Renee grabbed bags and meds while Dean carried Colton, Seth following behind with Rhys. Dressed in a loose hoody and basketball shorts Colton was laid across their living room couch, while Rhys whined softly at the bottom little fists holding onto the edge of the couch. He knew his big brother was in pain and he didn't like it, crawling to Seth's feet Rhys reached up when Seth lifted him into his arms. Whining against his neck looking at Colton who was pushing back sobs, daddy made him feel better maybe he could make Colton's owies go away "We'll make him feel better baby, Colton will be okay" He whispered kissing his forehead, Colton sucked in a breath nodding up at his baby brother forcing a smile. "S'okay Rhysee just an bruise"
Renee brought over a glass of water and a couple pills, sitting down on the edge of the couch. "These will take the edge off the pain" She said softly helping Colton sit up so he could sip the water and swallow the pills. Seth sat in the chair across from the couch Rhys curled into his lap, his fingers pulling at Seth's beard as he fought his eyelids watching his big brother. Dean kneeled by the couch studying Colton's face as Renee gently pulled the hoody over his head. "If you need anything you tell me okay? I don't care how whiny you think you sound I want to know" He tried to sound stern but god help him he melted at those big green eyes. Colton nodded he would agree to whatever Dean said, but he wasn't going to complain about the pain. He deserved the shots to the ribs, he was a bad boy. Renee went off to cook lunch leaving the boys alone in the living room, Dean sat on the couch gently laying Colton's head in his lap. Colton was uneasy with the amount of love he was being shown, he didn't deserve it but it was hard to argue against the feeling of Dean's fingers scratching his scalp. The mix of that and the pain medication was putting him to sleep fast.
Dean looked down from the football game to the soft snoring coming from his lap. "Guess he's tired to" He chuckled Seth nodding in agreement as Rhys snored in his arms sprawled out. "I think they're happy to be together, Rhys definitely doesn't like him being in pain though"
"They're brothers man, they look out for each other even Rhys for as little as he is." Dean shrugged, him Seth and Roman were the exact same way. Renee had thrown together sandwiches bringing them out to both Dean and Seth, "Poor guys" She said as both boys slept in their dad's laps. As they ate their lunch and watched the game Colton began to flinch and whimper in Dean's lap, "please no I'm sorry" he mumbled against his thigh cringing and then letting out a sob. "you promised it wouldn't hurt mommy" he croaked his whole-body trembling. Dean looked at Renee at a complete loss, Renee put her plate on the table crouching down to Colton's eye level and gently shaking him. "Colton baby you're safe you're having a dream open your eyes" Seth watched his stomach twisting remembering all the nights he had to remind Rhys that he was safe, that no one could hurt him anymore. He wished someone would take a few rounds out of Haley and Jay so they felt the fear these boys did.
Dean knew that tone, hell he knew this whole situation Renee had talked him out of more then one nightmare. Colton stiffened in his lap his eyes fighting to open as Renee whispered to him that it was okay, that he was safe and they couldn't hurt him anymore. Gasping Colton's eyes snapped open and he shoved himself back against the couch eyes frantically searching for his mom and Jay waiting for another blow. He found Renee's soft concern gaze her hands gently brushing his hair from his eyes. "It's okay" She murmured rubbing his cheek and brushing away the tears. "It hurts" He whimpered making Dean and Seth suck in a breath knowing he didn't mean his ribs this time. "I know baby" Renee said kissing his forehead "But it'll get better, I promise baby you're safe now"
Hold, hold on, hold onto me 'Cause I'm a little unsteady A little unsteady