A/N: Some more tidbits of the Winchesters at the hospital.

If You Dare Challenge - #20 (Night fever)

Are You Crazy Enough To Do It - #147 (yellow)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"You don't understand, Doctor. When he saw the handcuffs, he… He was so scared. He's just a boy, just a kid… Can't you convince them to take it off? Every time he wakes up it's like he's walked right into a nightmare."

"Mr. Novak—"

"Jimmy."

"Jimmy. I've spoken to the police about this—not very nicely, I might add—but they refuse to take them off. Apparently, your manager is pressing charges against him for damages against the store and for shooting you."

"But I didn't—"

"I know you didn't press charges, Jimmy, but Dean did procure a firearm and ammunition, bring it into a weapons-free zone, and cause dangerous bodily harm to you. That's a punishable offense."

"How can you—"

"I'm not saying it's right, Jimmy. I'm just telling you that's the way it is."

"Then talk to them. Explain the situation."

"I tried. This town isn't too lenient with the law, Jimmy. Especially not concerning strangers."

"He's just a kid!"

"I know—and I'll do everything in my power to help him."

"Then take the handcuffs off of him."

"I'll lose my medical license if I do that. I convinced them to let me put padding inside the cuffs, but that's as much leeway as they'd allow me."

"...I'm sorry. I know you're doing your best."

"It's okay. I want them off as much as you do, Jimmy, but—"

"Did you see that?"

"What?"

"He—he blinked."

"He did? Dean? Can you look at me?"

"Dean, hey, can you hear me?"

"Dean? Dean!"

"Dean!"

The elder Winchester scrambled into the motel, his little brother in tow. He scurried into the farthest corner of the room, where there was a small closet. He pushed Sammy into the back even as he protested, crying, "Daddy's mad, De, Daddy's real mad…"

"I know, kiddo," he replied, smoothing down Sam's hair. He tried not to make his absolute terror visible to his little brother. "But it'll be okay. Just stay right here and promise me you won't make any noise, okay?"

"Okay," Sam said, but he wrapped his arms around his brother's chest before Dean could leave. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Sammy," Dean said, and his voice shook as he hugged his brother back. He kissed the boy's forehead. "Stay here. Don't move. Keep quiet."

Sam nodded mutely, wiping away his tears.

Just as John entered the motel, shoving the door open and growling Dean's name, he shut the closet door, providing Sam with the one thing he didn't have: protection.

Dean coughed and sputtered, his throat raw. He unconsciously pulled his arm up against the handcuffs, but a kind voice with long, blonde hair told him to leave it alone. "We're going to take the tube out, Dean," she said. "You have to cough so we can get it out, alright?"

He coughed, obeying her, and when she leaned into his vision, he saw strands of long, blonde hair. After the tube was removed, he tried to lift his hands to reach her, but for some reason neither of them moved. The woman tried to put an oxygen mask over his face, but he turned his head slightly, his lips twitching in protest. "M'mmy…" he murmured. The woman pressed the contraption over his nose and mouth, relieving some of the pressure in his chest.

"Can you take a big breath for me, Dean?"

Dean took a ragged, shallow breath, mesmerized by the woman's yellow hair.

"Good. Very good." She pressed something cold against his chest. "Can you do it again?"

Yet again, Dean obeyed, but he wasn't sure why.

"Very nice. You're doing well, Dean. Don't try to talk just yet. I know everything probably hurts a lot, but that's okay. That's normal. Do you know where you are? Blink once for yes and twice for no." Dean's eyes were too busy trying to focus on the blonde woman before him to do what she told him. "Dean? Dean?"

Dean slipped out of reality, and this time, he didn't quite mind.

Dean coughed. "Mommy," he whined, shivering. "Mommy!"

His mother appeared in the doorway. "Feel like eating something, sweetie?"

He shook his head. "My tummy hurts."

"Some juice, then?"

He nodded.

"I'll get you some medicine, too," she said, resting her cool hand on his forehead.

Before she could leave again, Dean called out, "Mommy!" This time, his words were sharp and urgent.

"Yes, honey?"

"Am I gonna die?"

She laughed. "No, of course not, Dean." She sat down on the bed next to him and wiped the hair away from his eyes. "It's just the flu, that's all. A couple of days and your fever will be gone." She kissed his forehead. "Then you'll be back to normal."

"Are you sure?"

She smiled again, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, honey, I'm sure." She kissed the top of his head. "Now, I'll come back in a minute with your medicine, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay, Mommy."

"I love you," she told him, tapping his nose. "Get some rest."

"I love you, too, Mommy," Dean replied sleepily.

"The foster parents told us Sam hasn't been eating."

"Really?"

"Or sleeping, if he can help it. He keeps asking for Dean."

"They can't get him to eat anything?"

"A couple sandwiches here and there, but not enough to keep him healthy. Only enough to live."

"Why can't they just bring him here to see Dean?"

"They think it's a traumatizing environment for him."

"The only thing traumatizing about this situation is Sam not being able to see his brother. You've seen how they are together."

"I know; they can't stand to be without each other. But there's not much we can do. CPS has control over this one, not the hospital."

"I—I applied to be foster parents for the boys."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but they turned me down. I don't make enough money, I guess. It wasn't going to be permanent—I just wanted to keep an eye on them until we found some relative to take care of them, but it looks like…"

"They couldn't find anyone?"

"No. Grandparents on both sides are gone… Parents didn't have any siblings… They move around too much to have family friends…"

"And the father? Still MIA?"

"Yeah. Although, apparently he dropped by the motel to collect his stuff, because when CPS showed to get the boys' things, it was empty."

"I just wish I could get my hands on the bastard."

"...I know. Me, too. Who would ever let things get this bad for these boys?"

A/N: Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next chapter.