"Papa, you came!"
John smiled; even though he had known that Sam probably wouldn't be thrilled with seeing him, Abby always was. It had been months since he'd last seen her. She'd barely come up to his knee at that point, but the feeling of watching her jump up with both arms in the air, begging him to pick her up, melted his heart during the many nights he spent alone.
"I sure did, princess."
"Is that for me?" Abby asked, pointing at the paper bag in John's hand.
"It sure is."
"Dad, it's eleven at night. This couldn't wait until morning?" Sam asked.
"Sam…"
"See, Daddy, I told you." Abby said, folding her arms across her chest. "It's all my fault everybody's so upset."
Sam closed his eyes and swallowed his bile at his dad for Abby's sake. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm not upset. I'm just tired."
"You sure?" Abby asked.
"I'm sure." Sam said. "Why don't you see what Papa got for you?"
It was a popup book, and Abby fell in love with it right away. She convinced John to read it to her, and by midnight, she was back to sleep. John asked to talk to Sam, and Sam reluctantly stepped into the hallway with him.
"Sam, I'm sorry…"
"Don't, Dad. Seriously. I'm not in the mood." Sam snapped.
"Sam, I need to tell you something."
"What?" Sam asked.
"I did it. I killed the demon, Sam. The one that killed your mother." John said with a smile.
"You…" Sam, shocked, chuckled humorlessly. "Dad, do you honestly think that I care about that right now?"
"Sam…"
"Dad, my kid's been in bed sick with something that kills healthy adults for two weeks. She's got a fever that's stayed between 101 and 103 that entire time. She's taking so much medication that she has trouble eating and has to be on not one, but two constant IVs. Now tell me, do you really think that I care about the damn demon right now?"
John was startled. He'd told Sam about killing the demon hoping it would cheer him up. He knew Abby was sick, and that if she didn't get better soon, things could still take a turn for the worst. He'd assumed that telling Sam his hunting days were over would help cheer him up. He could almost hear Dean shaking his head.
"Sam, I'm sorry." John said.
Sam took a deep breath. "No, Dad, I'm sorry. It's good about the demon. It really is. It just…I'm just really worried about Abby."
"I know. Come on, sit down." John said. They took a seat and John asked, "How is Abby doing?"
"Her fever doesn't want to go down. Her headache's gone, but that's mostly because of the medication. She just…she's getting better, but it's so slow it's almost imperceptible."
"How did she get it?" John asked.
Sam shrugged. "They don't know."
"How's Jess and Kelsey?"
"Jess has been here all week. She went home to stay with Kelsey tonight. They'll both be back tomorrow." Sam explained.
"Sam, I know I'm not exactly your favorite person right now. But I would like to help." John said. "Just tell me what you need me to do."
Sam, tired of the constant conflict between the two of them, decided to take him up on the offer. "Um, just come visit at some point tomorrow. Maybe entertain Kelsey a little so me and Jess can stay here with Abby?"
"Sure." John said. "I'm here for you, Sam."
"Are you, Dad? Really?"
"If you'll let me." John said.
Sam nodded. "Okay, Dad. Thank you."
"Sure, son." John turned, somewhat awkwardly, and noticed that it was nearly one in the morning. "Sam, I wanted to say I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For blowing up at you when you left hunting. The truth is, I was never angry at you for that."
"You weren't?" Sam asked.
John smiled. "No. I was jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Yeah. Jealous that you were doing a better job with your family than I was." John said. "I'm sorry, son."
Sam nodded. "Let's talk a little more about it when Abby's better."
"Deal. I'm gonna head out, find a room. I'll be back in the morning…"
"What about staying with Dean?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. It's awful late…"
"Dad, don't get a room. I guarantee you Dean's still up. He's been calling and texting me every hour on the hour to check on Abby." Sam said. "I would say go to my house, but it's the first night in a week that Jess hasn't slept at the hospital."
"That's okay. I understand." John said. "Do you need anything before I go?"
"No. Thanks, though." Sam said. John nodded and turned to leave, but Sam stopped him. "Dad? Thank you. For coming. You really cheered Abby up."
"My pleasure." John said. "I'll see you tomorrow, son."
"Bye, Dad."
Sam walked back into the hospital room, relieved that Abby was still sleeping. She held Squish in one arm and the book that John had given her in the other. Sam walked over to the bed and touched a hand to Abby's cheek, smiling.
"And you were worried you were making everyone sad." Sam pulled her blanket up a little closer to her chin, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. "Good night, baby. Daddy loves you."
