I asked you to show me the love and you didn't disappoint. You LOVE hurt Sam and his sexy big brother which is hardly a shocker but it's so cool there are so many like minded freaks like us out there. The way I see it Dean is pretty much Sam's Dad which is why it isn't so weird for him to be so massively overprotective of Baby. When I watch season 4 and they're going through all their issues it's nice to revert back to this little world where the brothers are as I like them to be: like in Home, Croatoan or AHBL2
Anyway, this is a set up chap which jumps in time a bit in the middle as they move on and Dean takes control of the situation. One of the main things you commented on was Dyl's chat with Brooke...he gets even better here bless him as he tries to get used to Sam being a different type of Dad. No witty comments this time as I just feel quite in love with my boys.
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"Hey Dad, we've been trying to call for ages, is everything ok?"
Dean felt bad for worrying his kids but he hadn't taken a breath in hours. "Your Mom's fine, don't worry but things are a bit whacked at the moment."
"What is it?" Cole was on edge as he caught Dean's tone.
"Sam's been hurt, he'll be ok but…he'll be laid up for at least three months."
"Jesus, we can be there in a couple of days Dad."
"Don't change your plans we got things under control here."
"Bullshit, you need help so we're coming."
"I was hoping you'd say that." He sighed. "It's all good and your mom's hanging in there but Sam needs Brooke and I don't think she can cope with the kids too."
"No problem...Ya know you were right."
"About what?"
"It's just what I needed…"
"Johnny said you kicked ass out on the field." Dean said proudly. "Can't wait to see it."
"It was pretty cool…" He answered modestly.
"Don't bitch or anythin' but I kinda checked up on you a bit…I know the players jumped you, are you ok?"
"They're just insecure kids Dad, I'm not about to go killing them for giving me a beasting, it's a contact sport…what can you do?"
"Huh, so you're above taking revenge?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"I'm just asking cos I'm looking at the Dillon Gazette online and it says here half the team were admitted to hospital for..." Dean coughed and read from the page. "…severe and intimate trauma?"
"I put crazy glue in their jockstraps ok?! I know it was childish but hey…"
Dean laughed. "And you say you're not a Winchester, I love it."
"Speaking of online…who's number one on YouTube Hope?" Cole spoke to his sister as Dean groaned.
"Dad, you're a Badass!" Dean heard her shout in the background.
"I'm pleading temporary insanity."
"Temporary? Dad, you've always been insane." Cole's smile was detectable in his voice. "We miss you, give everyone our love."
"Roger that. Drive safely."
Cole hung up the phone and took a last wistful look at his father's childhood Lawrence home as he started up the truck. "Dad needs reinforcements. We have to get to Anchorage."
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Dean felt like a glorified hall monitor shuttling between rooms as he got Bonnie to eat and talked Sam through his post-operative grogginess simultaneously. Bringing up two kids of the same age made him into more of a multi-tasker than he had been before but it was still exhausting.
Han had flown home and Brooke was counting on Dean to help Sam out whilst she looked after the kids. It was a nightmare of phone calls and constant movement as the two of them and Rita tried to make sure the two patients stayed occupied.
That evening he sat down at Sam's bedside with a sigh, feeling bad already because his brother couldn't see him unless Dean stood directly above him. Sam had been put in a brace from chin to hip; Dr Beaufort had said he would be like that for a couple of days then he would have a less restrictive one.
"You ok?" Sam asked.
Dean felt like crap but he wasn't about to tell Sam that. "I'm peachy, you need anything?"
"A more interesting ceiling would be nice."
"I should stick a Farrah poster up there." Dean smirked as he glanced up.
"Farrah?"
"What? She's classic."
Sam smiled. "Thanks Dean."
"For what, putting you in hospital and almost crippling you for life?"
Sam huffed. "I didn't need to be psychic to see that one coming but I'm only saying this one time Dean so listen to me for once in your life: not everything is your fault, this certainly isn't and if it wasn't for you being here right now I'd probably choose death over this cos it fucking sucks."
Dean took a moment to let the words sink in letting them revive him. He got up to sit on the bed so they could look at one another properly. "You wouldn't take the easy road, you have to stay here and keep me company in purgatory."
"You know when we were in that wormhole?"
Dean knew where this was going but he wasn't about to stop it so he took Sam's hand in his and relaxed a little, "I remember."
"I feel like I'm reliving that all over again, only you're here with me this time and...."
"And what?"
"I'm scared if I close my eyes you'll evaporate and I'll be all alone; Brooke…the kids…all gone." His eyes filled with tears and his chest rose and fell rapidly.
Dean wiped his brother's eyes not knowing what to say or how scared he would feel in Sam's place. "Well, I don't know about parallel Universes but in this world, as long as there's a breath left in my body I'll be here for you."
Sam took a deep breath and Dean realized with a shock that his brother was truly scared. He couldn't allow him to feel that way and he knew he needed to reunite the family somehow. "Sam? Tomorrow I'm breaking you out of here, I'm gonna find some digs where you can relax with Brooke and the kids and everythin' will be ok."
"What about Bonnie?"
He shrugged like anything was possible. "I'll bring her too, Johnny, Rita…the whole gang…it'll be part convalescent home, part frat house."
Sam smiled. "Somehow I believe you."
"You better." He laughed. "You want me to stay with you 'til you fall asleep?"
"I'm ok Dean." He replied unconvincingly.
Dean raised his eyebrows. "Dude, I'll make shadow puppets with my fingers."
Sam smiled up at the ceiling. "Who'd want to miss that?"
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The following morning Dean, Brooke and Rita held crisis talks over coffee in the canteen. Dylan and Lily were in the crèche which Dylan hated but they needed to take some adult time and he had no choice.
"As far as family meetings go it's a little sad but there ya have it." He said sipping at the polystyrene nightmare that they called a cup.
"What are we going to do Dean?" Brooke asked. "I've already seen the administrator and he's basically said Insurance'll only cover another night for Sam."
"He's leavin' today." Dean said confidently.
"To go where?" Rita shrugged.
Dean held up his hands. "This is the situation…we need somewhere to live for at least three months, we need a lot of rooms and that takes dough. What I suggest is that we cover the deposit on somewhere and I'll make a few calls and take a job."
Brooke almost choked. "A job?"
"Yeah, like with money and stuff. Don't get all giddy on me, I'm talkin' private contracting, I'm not about to start workin' the checkout at Kmart."
"I knew you were a hit man." Rita said.
"I'm not a hit man Rita."
"Yeah right."
Dean rolled his eyes. "I don't wanna do it, I wanna be here but who else is gonna stump up the cash? I have no option."
Brooke sighed and stared at her cup as the table went silent.
"Bonnie."
"What?" Dean looked at Rita.
She looked at him for a minute. "You have money but I didn't want to talk about it."
"Rita I barely have the money to pay for these coffees."
His heavily made up mother in law stared at him. "But when Bonnie dies you'll be a millionaire."
"What?!"
"Her life insurance."
"Bonnie doesn't have life insurance."
She raised her eyebrows "Tony set it up when she was a kid, it pre-exists any of her illnesses so she's fully covered and as next of kin you get the lot. "
"Well, that's lovely but she's not dead so…"
"She doesn't have to be." Rita leaned towards him.
"Speak English."
Brooke put a hand on his arm. "If she's terminal you can cash it in for a fraction of the value and save the Insurance people a fortune. It's ready money for you Dean, for all of us."
"We're talkin' about my wife and profiting from her death."
Rita took a moment. "I give you crap all the time Dean but when all said and done, you make my girl happy. You're the sole beneficiary of this policy…use the money to make her last few weeks something to remember."
Dean thought about it for a second and nodded. "Ok. So how much are we talkin'?"
"The original policy would pay four million. Cash it in and maybe get half a mill."
"Half a million bucks?!" He almost shouted. "Jesus!"
Brooke was stunned. "With that amount we can rent a house big enough for everyone, take care of them both and actually have a life at the same time."
"And you're ok with this Rita?" Dean asked her.
"It's you who's losing three and a half million bucks Dean."
He smirked sadly. "I'm losing a lot more than that but if this money can make my wife and brother happy then let's do it."
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Brooke had purposely kept the kids away from Sam whilst he was in hospital. Even to her the contraption he was wearing looked torturous and he wasn't in the best of moods either. It had been tough but Dylan remained reluctant to see the Father he worshipped anyway.
Brooke had barely slept, Sam was living through his worst nightmare yet again and their son was witnessing it on high-definition stereo. If she put the two of them together she was scared that Dylan might freak out or Sam would become even more self-conscious as a result of his son's rebuttal.
It had been a long couple of days but Dean had come through for them once more. The Insurance payout had been a small fortune to them and meant that they could rent a large house at the edge of the city. The place was a massive nineteenth century building with a slightly dilapidated gothic feel to it. When Brooke had first seen it she suspected that Dean had chosen it because it may have a past and therefore a ghost. She didn't care though as she set to getting it ready with the help of Dylan and Rita. Johnny was flying up the following day and Dean's kids would arrive soon enough with Bobby gracing their presence whenever he saw fit.
The large salon on the ground floor had been turned into a bedroom for her and Sam and although Dr Vincent was less than impressed Dean had his own room upstairs for Bonnie. She would have to go into hospital each day as an out patient but he saw no reason for her to have to stay there away from the rest of the family.
All in all it was a bizarre set up but caused a mild wave of excitement that Brooke tried to channel through her son who hadn't yet seen his father.
"I think this looks good." She said to Dylan as she looked at the converted lounge. "What do you think?"
"There's no bathroom on the ground floor."
"Nope but we can get around that."
"How?"
"Sweetheart, do you ever normally worry about where your Dad pisses?"
Dylan giggled. "No."
"Well ok then."
Brooke had spoken to Sam about how to deal with this but it still wasn't totally clear to her; she didn't know if it was better to shield Dylan or to introduce him to the harsh realities of life via his father. She figured that it might be best to just address the issue and carry on with business as usual.
She sat down for a second and smiled because as bizarre and random as this was, the place actually felt like a home. "Come here." Dylan went to her and she pulled him on to her lap. "You ok?"
"I'm nervous."
"Ok, let's talk about this. Why are you nervous? Is it because you think your Dad's scared?"
"A little."
"Ok, I'll be honest with you, he is but it doesn't mean he won't get better."
He squirmed. "It's just…"
"Awkward? "
"Uh-huh."
"Your Dad's a big strong man and it's hard to see him like that but it's not the end of the world, you wouldn't want anyone to treat Lily any different just because she can't hear?"
"No."
"Right then, let's just welcome him home and be happy."
"Why don't you mind?" He asked suddenly. "Why don't you mind this happened to him?"
Brooke wanted to cry all of a sudden but controlled her expression. "I mind a lot…I don't want your Dad to be hurt but when you love someone stuff like that doesn't matter, like when I met him."
"And you still thought he was cool?"
Brooke disappeared into her memories for a moment and gasped. "Oh my God, he rocked my bones."
"Ewwww Mom!" He hopped off her lap and ran out into the hall like hell hounds were chasing him.
"Ahhh Sam." She sat for a moment and pushed the hair from her face as she heard a car in the drive.
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"You're kiddin' me?" Bobby looked up at the house in wonder. "Did Dean get this from the Addams family?"
Brooke kissed him on the cheek as Cole got their bags out of the truck. It was great to see them all again and she couldn't wait for them all to be together. She knew what the gathering was in aid of but at the same time it didn't feel sad to her.
"Is mom here?" Hope asked as Nitro ran from the back of the house and jumped up on her. "Woah!"
"Not yet, they're on their way so you guys get settled, I fixed up all the rooms and they all have a name on the door."
"It's like bein' back in the freakin' army." Bobby muttered as he made his way up the staircase.
Brooke had butterflies in her stomach like she was a real hostess for once and she loved it. It was another five minutes though before the Impala finally arrived followed by an ambulance.
Dylan appeared by her side and she smiled down at him as she stood at the door. "He's home." He could feel the joy coming off her in waves at the thought of seeing his father, she'd been at the hospital just that morning but even so he could read her thoughts and they were all for Sam. There was no fear in Brooke or awkwardness as she hopped off the porch and met the paramedics. Dylan figured it couldn't be that bad if she was so happy and ventured slowly outside.
Dean got out of the Impala and hugged his kids who had come rushing down to meet them. He loved seeing them again but he was in total control of the situation and serious at the same time. "Hope, go help your mom." He nodded at the car. "Cole…" He said as they walked to the ambulance shocking the paramedics as they grabbed the stretcher between them and carried Sam inside like he weighed nothing.
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It was over an hour later and everyone was in the kitchen when Sam heard the door open slowly and looked up to see Dylan walk in holding Lily. It was hard not to be affected by the fact that your own kid was scared of you but Sam was determined not to let it show.
"Hey."
"Hi Dad." Dylan watched him intently for a second and Sam let him stare. The brace he had on now was barely noticeable under his sweatshirt and he was just lying in bed as normal.
"Can I?" Sam held out his arms for his daughter and Dylan walked over to the bed and passed her over. Sam cradled her against him and sighed happily, kissing the top of her head. "She smells amazing."
"She just had a bath."
Sam's eyes stayed on her but he spoke to his son. "You don't have to be scared Dyl."
"I'm not." He said a little too quickly.
"I know it's not too cool but sometimes life throws you a curveball and you just have to go with it."
Dylan perched on the edge of the bed and looked at his legs.
"Go on, poke one if you want to." Sam chuckled to himself.
Dylan gave him a look and did as he said. "Can you feel it?"
"Nope."
"Can you move it?"
"No."
"How long do you have to stay in bed?"
"Three weeks maybe."
"That sucks."
"You're telling me."
Dylan reached over and tapped his chest, the brace made a hollow sound and he frowned. Sam shifted Lily in his arms and lifted up his sweatshirt so that his son could see the moulded breastplate.
"Kinda like Colossus." Dylan whispered in wonder.
Sam smiled at him. "Is there anything you want to ask me?"
Dylan shrugged. "Where's your wheelchair?"
"I'm not supposed to sit up so I don't have one. I'm hoping I won't need one but if I do I guess your Uncle Dean will get one for me."
"How will you pee?"
Sam tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help himself. "There's a tube down there."
"Does it hurt?"
He smiled. "No, it doesn't hurt."
"Is Mom still going to share a bed with you?"
"I certainly hope so."
"And the tube doesn't bother her?"
"You'd have to ask her that but your Mom's pretty laid back so I doubt it."
Dylan paused for a minute.
"Go on Dylan, don't be afraid."
"What if something attacks the house?"
Sam inhaled deeply. "You want to know if I can protect myself or you?"
Dylan shrugged and Sam reached under his pillow withdrawing a .44. "If this doesn't do the trick there's always a blunt instrument."
"Uncle Dean?" He smiled.
Sam laughed. "Come give me a hug."
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