A/N: Here's that second chapter for today. Enjoy! It's a nice, long, loopy roller coaster ride. Just the hand Fate and a twisted writer like myself loves to deal our favorite guys!

Chapter 8

"What?"

"I won't lie to you. Sam has been through a very serious trauma. We went in and fixed the damage to his shoulder. Although it will need to be immobilized for quite some time it should heal nicely and, with physical therapy, he should get the majority of mobility back with little lasting pain. The tendons and ligaments that tore were clean enough to repair with little trouble. Because of the necessary immobility we had to use a porous cement often used in joint replacement on Sam's broken ribs to fix them until they heal because of the position of the breaks. The weight of his arm would have collapsed the broken ribs. We also removed bits of rust and metal from his wrists. We've given him a broad spectrum antibiotic to fight any germs that may have gotten in along with a shot to prevent tetanus."

She looked at Dean and her heart broke. "Sam slipped into a coma on the table. It appears like he's suffered a stroke. There was blood coming from his eyes and nose, classic signs of stroke. We won't know the degree until he wakes up. He's on a ventilator to keep his oxygen levels up, try to minimize damage caused to the brain tissues by the stroke. He's triggering it on his own though, so when he wakes I don't see why he can't come off it right away barring complications."

Dean took all this in with only one reaction. He blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from his green eyes. "When can we see Sammy?"

"He's going to be settled in a private room within the hour in ICU. You'll be able to see him for a short time then."

"Doc, I'm not leaving my brother. Once I go into his room I'm there until he's released."

"I can't allow that."

"I'm. Not. Leaving. Please Doc, he's all I got. We're never apart." Dean couldn't stop the single tear from flowing from the corner of his eye.

"Okay, I'll make arrangements for a cot. Only you. Your uncle will be allowed in for 30 minute intervals only. If Sam needs tests or further treatment you'll both have to leave the room. I can't allow anyone, even brothers, to disrupt the treatment of one of my patients."

"Thanks." A knock sounded on the door and the doc looked up.

"Yes."

The small woman from before came in. "I though you'd want to know they've got him settled in his room now. He's stable. Room 220."

"Thanks, Katie. Shall we go see Sam?"

"Please." Dean said, following the doctor from the room. She led the way down the corridor to the elevator. They went down to the second floor. She led the way into the room to find another nurse taking Sam's vitals. The nurse wrote something on the chart and handed it to the doctor. She looked at it and signed off.

"Thank you." Jenny said. She turned to Dean and Bobby. "He's stable but still unresponsive. I'll stop back by in a couple hours." She patted Dean on the arm and left. Dean was too stunned by Sam's appearance to respond.

Sam lay flat on his back on a bed surround by machinery. His face was pale and covered in spots with bandages. His head was wrapped in gauze covering the wound at the back. His eyes were surrounded by nearly black, bruised, swollen flesh and his nose was bruised. A vent tube stuck out of his mouth and was taped in place. The soft whoosh click closely followed the start of an inhale as Sam triggered the ventilator's operation. His left arm was encased in a blue and white padded sling with a wide strap that circled his back and held the arm bent at the elbow across his chest. Dean could see white bandages on Sam's torso, cushioning and supporting the broken ribs that had been operated on. The sling left an open area at Sam's shoulder where more gauze showed stark white against his skin. There was a small spot of red in the center of the gauze. He also had bandages around both wrists, both stained with a small amount of red.

"Sammy." Dean whispered as he moved to the bed. He leaned over his brother and laid a gentle hand on part of his forehead not covered by bandages. His thumb moved in soothing circles over Sam's skin. He reached for Sam's right hand and took it in a strong grip, hooking a foot in the chair that sat near the bed. He pulled it close so he wouldn't have to let go of Sam and sat. "God, Sammy. Doc says you've been through hell. I know you though; you're nothing if not a fighter." Dean raised Sam's hand to his face and held it against his cheek. "Sammy, she said you had a stroke. She said she doesn't know how bad, won't until you wake up. You gotta wake up. Please Sammy."

Bobby stepped up behind Dean and clasped his shoulder. "I'm gonna go see if I can find Josh. If he's awake, he's gonna wanna know about Sam."

"Okay." Dean said, never taking his eyes off Sam. Bobby moved across the room and reached for the door. "Hey Bobby?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"Tell Josh that this wasn't his fault. I don't blame him."

Bobby headed down the hall and stopped at a Nurses' station. He started to ask about his friend when a commotion coming from just down the hall caught his attention. Joshua. That stubborn bastard. Bobby walked past the startled nurse that fled the room to find Joshua struggling into his jeans with one arm in a sling.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doin?"

"Bobby?" Joshua looked at the man belonging to the voice. "Oh god. How's Sammy?" Bobby rushed forward when he saw the color drain from Joshua's face as everything came back to him. He helped Joshua sit down on the bed.

"Not too good, Josh. Dean's with 'im now."

"Bobby, that thing inside me…."

"It's gone. 's why you're here. Dean shot you in the shoulder with the Colt when ya changed. Was enough to kill the demon and not you."

"It made me hurt that boy. I hurt him. It made me watch Bobby. I broke his ribs, his nose. I helped that black-eyed sonofabitch strap him to that table and do god knows what to that kid. I watched that mother… I watched him laugh as Sam screamed, as he seized. I watched that bastard take Sam's life, his control from him. Sam screamed and stuff started floatin' around the room. Sam started bleeding…. his eyes, his nose…." Joshua put his good hand to his head and sagged on the bed. "Damnit Bobby I can still hear his screams, his cries. He begged me to help him, begged me to fight that thing inside me. I let him down. I let that damn demon hurt a boy that I love like a son. I didn't stop it."

"Damnit, Josh. Will you shut the hell up and let me get a word in edgewise? You listen to me. You couldn't have stopped that freakin' demon from doin what it did. Ruby wasn't even sure she could stop it till she did. Dean doesn't blame you. He told me to tell you that. Sam won't blame you either. He knows what it was like. The loss of control. Hell, even if he didn't he wouldn't blame you. None of us do Josh. Now, do you wanna go see those boys?"

"No Bobby. I can't. Not yet."

"Okay. How 'bout we give Dean some time with Sam then and get you released. We'll go get some coffee."

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Dean stopped talking to Sam as an orderly came in with a folding cot and placed it in the corner of the room. Dean just looked at the man as he gave that trained, fake, sympathetic smile before backing out of the room. Dean just watched him go silently and turned his attention back to his still brother on the bed.

"Hey, you remember that hunt in Alabama? The poltergeist that decided to use me for a battering ram? It threw me through that door and into the basement of the house it was haunting. Hurt like a bitch. You came down the stairs, practically tripping over feet that were too big, and you shot that mother right between the eyes. You saved me Sammy. We found out what the hell made that thing haunt that house and we stopped it. No help from dad or anyone else. Just the two of us. That's all we have. Just us. You gotta come back to me Sammy." Dean choked on a sob. "Yes I'm being selfish, damnit. I know I am. But I know it can never be just me. I can't let it be just me, little brother. I'm nothing if it's just me. Please Sammy." Dean laid Sam's hand back on the thin coverlet and put his own back over top. He laid his head down on Sam's good arm above the bandage circling his wrist and let the tears flow. "Please, Sammy." He whispered amidst a sob before his eyes closed against his brother's arm.

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Sunlight was streaming through the window and making the room unbearably white when Dean felt a hand on his shoulder .He startled and sat up before his eyes shifted to his brother and memories and nightmares rushed to the surface. The small woman, the nurse from before was touching Dean's shoulder comfortingly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay. Katie, right?"

"Yes. I'm here to change Sam's dressings, and give him a quick exam. He has tests after that so you may want to go home and get some rest. He'll be most of the morning for the tests. Your friend was released last night. Your uncle said he was going to take him to a motel and come back to see how Sam was."

"Thanks. You know where I can get some coffee and wait on Sam to come back from the tests?"

"There's a coffee machine on this floor near the exit but if you ask me you really can't call it coffee. Go into the lounge on the first floor. It's much better and you can relax there. I'll find your uncle when he comes back and let him know where you are."

"Will someone let me know when Sammy's back?"

"I'll find you."

"Thanks. Hey, Katie?" She stopped with her hands poised over the tray of bandages and supplies that she would use on Sam. "Why are you being so nice to us? Me and Sam?"

"I'm sorry. I heard what you said to him last night. About it just being the two of you. I know what that's like. All I have is my little sister. She's Sam's age. She's my life too."

"Yeah." Dean smiled slightly and walked out of the room. In the lounge he found coffee that was actually good and a TV mounted to the wall. He found the remote and turned it on. He stretched out in a chair and propped his feet up on an ottoman that was upholstered to match. He put his fist to his chin and cracked his neck to work the kinks out from the position he'd slept in. He held the remote up and started flicking through channels. He made two rounds through, not seeing anything of interest when he stopped on a channel. A local news broadcast was just starting. "Small town news." Dean muttered as he chuckled briefly, sipping his coffee. The camera jumped before settling on a face that had Dean sputtering and spitting the hot coffee back into his cup.

Agent Henricksen was talking to the camera.

"We have gotten word that two highly dangerous criminals are in this area and we plan on taking them into custody. This is a warning; they are to be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Do not approach these individuals under any circumstances. That's all." The reporter came back in front of the camera.

The door to the lounge opened Katie stepped in. She was smiling at Dean until something coming from the TV caught her attention. Her eyes drifted to the monitor and the smile died on her face. She began backing slowly towards the door. Dean bolted from the chair and caught her about her small waist, pinning her arms to her sides, and clamped a hand over her mouth. "Katie, please. I don't wanna hurt you, but I will. Listen to me." Katie struggled with Dean and he turned his head to speak directly into her ear over her muffled cries. "Katie please? Sam and I. We're not the dangerous people that ass makes us out to be. Please… you saw me with Sam, with Bobby. How can I be the monster that he says I am? He's wrong. Sam and I, we're hunters. We help people. You gotta believe me. I need your help. Katie, please." Dean begged her. "I'm gonna let go of your mouth now. If you scream and security busts me then Sam and I are gonna be separated forever. I can't lose my brother. You of all people know how I feel; you told me yourself you do. Now it's your choice, you can scream. Or you can help me get my brother outta here and somewhere safe."

Dean let go of her mouth slowly, but kept his arm around her. He fully expected her to scream bloody murder and bring the Feds down on him and Sam in thirty seconds. She never made a sound. "Dean Winchester." She turned to face him. "You know I know your dad? That little sister I mentioned? Your dad saved her life. I owe you. Sam's back from his tests. Let's get him out of here before the Feds find him here."

Dean smiled at her and pulled his phone from his pocket. He dialed quickly.

"Dean, thank god. We've got a problem."

"I know. I have help on this end. Bring your truck to the hospital. We have to get Sam out."

Katie turned from the lounge and peeked out the door. She was half looking for security to storm the lounge and arrest Dean. The hall was clear. "Come on. It's not going to be easy but Sam is well enough to move if we have to."

"Trust me, we have to."

They went back into Sam's room to find him off the ventilator and his face covered with an oxygen mask. Dean looked him over and was glad to see his color was better. "That's what I was coming to tell you. The stroke left no permanent damage. He's breathing fine and even woke for a moment in the exam room. Doc Weston was slightly worried about something though but I didn't hear what it was. She didn't seem concerned so I peeked at his chart. There was nothing listed to pay particular attention to."

"He'll be okay to move though?"

"If we do it right yes."

"We have to hurry."

Dean gave Katie some room to work. She laid Sam's bed flat and turned off the monitors before disconnecting them from Sam. She then reached for a portable oxygen tank and removed the tube connecting Sam's mask to the larger built-in tank in the room. She connected him to the small tank and placed it on the bed beside him. She reached for a sheet and draped it over Sam's still form. Dean's heart jumped at the appearance of Sam covered with a sheet. It brought back unpleasant memories and had bile rushing up his throat. Katie released the brake on Sam's bed and reached again for something. She handed Dean a set of scrubs and a lab coat. "Here, go put these on in the bathroom quick. We'll be taking Sam to the morgue, Doctor."

Dean quickly changed and tucked his clothes under the sheets with Sam. He touched Sam's forehead. "You be okay." He said before covering him back up and pulling a mask up over his face. He went to the door and looked out. The nurses were away from the station and no foot traffic was visible in the halls. "All clear." Katie and Dean wheeled Sam's bed out into the hall and quickly down the corridor to the service elevator at the end. Dean pushed the button several times and waited for it to come to the floor impatiently. The elevator gave a "ding" and the doors slid open. It was empty. The quickly wheeled Sam into it and closed the doors. Katie hit the down button and they went to the basement.

Dean's cell phone rang; the classic rock tone loud in the elevator. Dean's pounding heart was louder. "Bobby?"

"I'm out front. Where the hell are you? Who's the help?"

"Katie. We're gonna meet you at the exterior door to the morgue. Pull the truck around."

"The morgue?! What the hell Dean? What guilt trip did you lay on the girl to force her to help?"

"Just pull the damn truck around Bobby. Two minutes."

Dean and Katie wheeled Sam through the corridor and to the door. Katie opened one and saw a rusty blue Ford pull around. She smiled and looked at Dean. "This is gonna work. That is exactly the kind of truck Mark has."

"Mark?"

"The Janitor. No one will look twice." They wheeled Sam outside and Bobby stayed behind the wheel, keeping the truck running. Dean reached for Sam and gently as possible lifted him from the hospital bed. Katie pulled the mattress quickly and laid it in the back of the truck. "I'm just glad it's not cold outside."

Dean put Sam down on the mattress and crawled up into the bed of the truck with him. He never stirred. "C'mon Sammy. Need you to wake up now little brother."

"Here, Dean." Bobby said as he handed Dean a blanket from the cab of the truck. Dean covered Sam up to his chin with the soft blanket.

"Thanks Bobby."

"Here girl. Put this over them and get in the cab. Your career as a nurse is officially over." He handed her a blue plastic tarp and without hesitation she covered Sam and Dean with the tarp. She climbed into the cab and ducked so no one could see her. Bobby pulled his cap low and pulled slowly out of the parking lot with the tarp covered load of 'trash'. Bobby pulled his phone and called Dean in the back of the truck. "I hid your car good. Freakin' Fed'll never find it. Where are we goin?" Bobby asked Dean over the phone, only to have the girl answer instead.

"My place." Katie said. "I have everything there to take care of Sam. We have to get it and go somewhere else. I own the safe house John took me and my sister to when he saved us from our possessed father. It is a little run down, but still empty. No one besides Tamera and I know where it is."

A/N: There's that one. Hope you enjoyed the twist and remember, Reviews make me give away cookies!