-1Hey guys… I really appreciate the reviews, and I figured out my schedule for this fic. Depending on work, I will update every two to three days…

Hope you enjoy…

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A petite blond walked over to the Winchesters, and with a curt nod and a flash of a smile, she beckoned them to follow her. Both John and Dean followed the woman without question, not wanting to upset anyone that gave them a chance of seeing Sammy. The nurse led them through a maze of corridors that made both men wonder if they were ever going to be able to find their way out.

The blond finally stopped at an automatic door, and pressed the blue handicap button to open the door. After it was open wide enough for her to pass through, she continued on, not bothering to check that both men were still following her, knowing that neither man would leave without seeing their family member.

She walked down to the end of the hall, and opened a door for them, pointing to show that they should go in. "Thank you," Dean and John told her at the same time and she smiled confusedly. Using sign language, she pointed to her ears and her mouth, telling them that she was deaf anf couldn't talk. They nodded and John signed 'thank you,' to her, surprising Dean.

'Since when did he know sign language?'

Dean turned his attention back to the open door, and walked through it. His eyes immediately settled on the prone form of his younger brother. Sam was pale, dark circles lining his under eyes, and his veins stood prominent against his skin tone. But Dean's attention didn't linger on Sam's pallor for too long, changing to study his neck.

A long tube was inserted at the bottom of his neck, connecting to a ventilator, in an obvious tracheotomy. The skin above the tube was bandaged, probably from the surgery after removing the glass, and Dean sighed in understanding. Sammy hadn't been able to breathe on his own, and threading an endotracheal tube down his throat wasn't an option with his wounds, meaning that cutting a hole in his throat and inserting the tube that way would be the best way to help Sam.

Just because he understood it, didn't mean he liked it.

This was his baby brother. His Sammy. He hadn't been there when Sam needed him, and now Sam was in the hospital, probably thinking that his family still hated him, that no one would care either way if he was hurt. Well it wasn't true, and even without the note that Sammy had left, Dean had never, could never really hate Sam. It was a force of nature, big brothers loved their little brothers, and nothing would ever change that.

He just wished that Sam knew that was how he felt. That no matter what, Dean was still his big brother, and would do anything for him.

Dean let out a breath, and took Sam's limp hand in his own. Even if Sam was unconscious, and didn't know that Dean and his father were there, Dean was going to do everything possible to make sure that he comforted the kid. It worked both ways, comforting Sam, and Dean at the same time, both making sure that the other was really there.

There was a thud as something hit the glass of the window, and Dean and John both looked up, curious as to what would have made that sound. A small brunette stood outside, one hand raised to knock on the glass, and the other hanging in a sling. She smiled as she saw them, and Dean smiled back, while John just stared.

Dean gave Sam's lax hand a squeeze, and followed his father out into the hall, wondering what the woman wanted. The small woman gave both of the Winchesters a judging smile before holding out her hand to them. John watched the appendage warily as Dean reached out to take the soft hand in his own, giving his father a annoyed shake of his head.

"Erin King," she told them without preamble, looking at them in expectation.

"Dean Winchester, and this is my father, John Winchester." Dean said, and Erin's face darkened. Dean was curious about the abrupt change in her as their names were mentioned, but he let it go. "Um, no offense, but what do you want?"

"Oh, I just wanted to check on Sam. I've been up to see him everyday since we crashed, and I just wanted to see if he was getting any better." Erin told them, sincerity clear in her voice.

"Wait, you were the one driving when the accident happened?" John asked, incredulity and anger evident in his tone. "Why the hell would you show your face around here, after you were the one that hurt Sammy in the first place?" John asked, rage filling the words.

Erin looked taken back, and Dean could see her snap. "Excuse me?!" Erin asked, her words long and drawled in a New Jersey accent. "What do you mean after I hurt him? The accident was caused by a drunk driver, who blew threw a red light, and plowed into us! It was not my fault, and I won't have you blaming this on me!" Erin was shaking with her anger.

"I'm-" John started, trying to apologize for his harsh words and ghastly drawn conclusions.

"Don't," she cut him off. "You say that I was the one that hurt Sam. What about you?" She asked, trying to keep her voice down and not disturb the rest of the ICU patients. "Sam told me how you threw him out, after he dared to get grades good enough to get into Stanford on a full ride scholarship. Do you even know how much you hurt him?" She asked, really wanting to know.

"Now you look here," John started, raising a hand to point at her, as Dean stood by and watched impassively.

"Don't you cut me off!" Erin told him, raising her own finger to point at him. "I walk in here to find out how Sam is doing, happy to see that someone is finally here that loves him, and you, not even knowing me, accuse me of harming him! I don't take well to being blamed for something that I didn't do, and I especially don't like hypocritical people who think they know everything, and can take out there troubles on others."

Both Winchesters looked shocked, and Dean looked as if he didn't know whether to laugh or applaud. "Look-" John started for the third time.

"And lastly," Erin hissed, "Don't you ever, and I mean ever, talk to me like that again! Do you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am!" Both Winchesters agreed immediately.

"Good, cause next time I'll call my father and brother. They're in the service, and both are, real protective of their baby girl."

"That explains it," John mumbled to himself.

"Explains what?" Erin asked, glaring at the eldest Winchester.

"The attitude." He finished.

"Well daddy always said, 'if you're gonna do somethin', make sure you make an impact!'" She told them, and both men nodded. "Anyway," she continued, "how is Sam doin'?"

Both Dean and John sighed. "The same huh?" She asked, and both men nodded.

It was gonna be a long day.

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So I hope you liked… Please review and let me know…

Take care and review often,

OSS