After Effect

By: chocolate rules

Chapter 8: In Times of Need

A/N: I've been doing a lot of things lately, cause it was my birthday on Sunday and peopel like to show me how much they care...they give me money:D I have to do my little cousin's birthday thing, something I wouldn't miss for the world, and then I'll get back to writing I promise!

A/N2: So, as I work on coming up with Elijah, I wrote about Sam. See, update:D No real progress to the story, but an update! LoL. Well, kind of a background catch up I guess. w/e. I promised to not over think and let the (evil) plot bunnies do their thing:-D

Sam was only with his thoughts for a good three minutes before the door opened again. He would have been relieved to see Dean back so soon, but that was not the case. Not that he was disappointed as three of his best friends came back into the room.

Becky walked on over and sat down in the chair that Dean had occupied. Zach went and stood behind her as Steve made his way to the other side of Sam's bed with another chair.

"Hey Sam, how are you holding up?" Steve asked as he took his seat. Becky reached over and took his hand locking eyes with him briefly.

"M'okay," Sam replied. Truth was, he'd be better if he didn't have to think about Dean going after the damn demon alone, thinking of his brother leaving him, or even thinking about the fact that his father was dead.

"I'm just so glad that you woke up, Sam." Rebecca said tightening her hold on his hand slightly. Sam looked over to her as she did so and tried to give her a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, when your brother called, man he was so vague about what had happened. Scared the crap out of us." Zach commented. He had a comforting hold on his sister's shoulder and was also staring at Sam.

Sam just couldn't bring himself to speak. He was glad to see his friends, that was true. He had actually thought that he'd never get the chance to see them again. But here they were. A great part of his past. A great part of Jessica. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to take this. He wished Dean would just come back and tell him what to do.

"Sam, you okay?" Becky asked softly. Again, Sam smiled at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Well, as fine as I can be. It's….it's a lot to take in." They all nodded their understanding to something they could never comprehend. Sam looked so lost to them, nothing like the young man they remembered. He was almost a complete stranger to them. They had all learned of his real past, but it had been in moments of desperation. Truth was, Sam wasn't even sure how they'd taken it yet.

As if right on cue, Zach spoke up.

"You know Sam, I never got the chance to tell you thank you. I don't know who else would have figured out that shapechanger thing."

"Shapeshifter," Sam said with a slightly lighter tone.

"Oh, yeah." Zach said. He really had no idea what the thing was, only that it had killed his girlfriend and attacked Sam and his sister. He was just glad that it was dead.

"It's no big deal. I mean, I can't really imagine you surviving in prison either." Sam said trying to make light of the situation. He really didn't want them to think about the possibility but he didn't want his mind to wonder back off to those unpleasant thoughts.

"Yeah, no big deal to you. You saved my hid, man. Thanks."

"Actually, I think that'd be Dean. He was the one that the thing changed to."

"Yeah, I told him thanks. He said it was all your doing since he wanted to leave from the get go." Zach replied in his usual cool manner.

There, now that's what Sam needed, normalcy. He couldn't stand it when Dean hovered over him, but that was expected from his overly protective big brother. His friends had never treated him with care. He had never needed sympathy and now that he had it he hated it. Like after Jessica's death. They were all affected, but they took to Sam like he needed the extra help. Sam was glad that Dean was there then and really hoped he'd come back now.

Taking Zach's cue, and realizing how much better Sam seemed to look and act afterwards, Becky and Steve started in their usual manner as well. Unfortunately for Sam, Becky was very much a care giver and having studying psychology wasn't halting here attempts to try to make Sam 'feel better'.

Review! plz!