Pastor Jim had booked Sam on a flight that was leaving that night at 10:00. Sam made it to airport 10 minutes before the plane started boarding.
Sam's flight only took a couple of hours. He arrived at the airport just outside of Blue Earth at about 12:30 AM. He asked at information for a list of motels near the hospital. It turns out that there was one directly across the street from the hospital so Sam took a cab there.
He had thought about going directly to the hospital to see his dad, but he knew that visiting hours would be over and they probably wouldn't let him see John. Sam also knew that Dean would be there and he wasn't ready to see him just yet.
Sam checked into the motel and as soon as he was in the room he collapsed on the bed for a few hours of restless sleep. He had a horrible nightmare that he went to see his dad and Dean told him he wasn't wanted there. He woke up in a cold sweat around 7:00 AM. He decided to get a quick shower and eat breakfast before heading over to the hospital.
oooooOOOOooooo
Meanwhile, at the hospital Pastor Jim was trying to convince Dean that he should leave and get some rest.
"Dean, you've barely slept or eaten in two days. Why don't you come home with me and get some sleep? I'll fix you up some breakfast. You can also take a shower," said a concerned Pastor Jim.
"I need to be here in case he wakes up," said Dean firmly.
"The doctor said that he'll still be out for at least a few more hours," Jim reminded him.
Just then Dean stomach began growling loudly letting anyone with in earshot know that it needed food.
"Okay, I'll eat and shower, but I'm not going to sleep. I'm coming right back," said Dean firmly.
"Okay," said Pastor Jim conceding defeat on the sleep issue.
Dean went to go inform the nurse that he was leaving and to call him if anything happens with his dad.
oooooOOOOooooo
Dean and Pastor Jim left the hospital just five minutes before Sam got there. Sam asked at the info desk for his dad's room. John was in the ICU in room 202. Sam headed straight there. John's doctor was exiting the room when Sam got there.
"How is he Doctor?" asked a worried Sam.
"Who are you?" asked the doctor.
"I'm his son, Sam. I was at school when the accident happened. How is he? I know there was internal bleeding," replied Sam.
"I'm Dr. Smythe. Your dad's doing much better. We were able to stop the internal bleeding. We had to remove your dad's spleen. We were able to repair the damage to his lung. As for your dad's nose, he will have to have it checked regularly for a deviated septum with can cause breathing problems in the future, but I expect your dad to make a full recovery," said Dr. Smythe
Hearing the doctor's word, Sam felt relief wash over him.
"Thank you, Doctor. Can I see him now?" said Sam
"Sure. He hasn't woken up yet, but you can go in sit with him if you want," said the doctor before he walked away.
Sam walked into the room not totally prepared for the sight for the sight that greeted him. John lay in the hospital bed hooked up to several machines. He had an IV in his left arm. His nose was badly swollen. God, he looks so pale Sam thought sitting down in the chair next to the bed.
Sam wondered where Dean was. He was half-glad that Dean wasn't there because he wasn't in the mood to get into an argument with him. Sam had half-hoped Dean would be there because he missed him.
"Hey, Dad, its me Sam," said Sam announcing his presence
Sam sat there staring at his father for awhile listening to listening to the steady, reassuring beep of the heart monitor. It felt weird to him to see his dad like this. Growing up he believed that his dad and Dean were invincible. The poltergeist that pushed Dean down a flight of stairs when he was fifteen, breaking his arm in two places, killed that belief about Dean for Sam. However, he had still thought of his dad as invincible, until now. Until that bastard decided to drive drunk.
Sam picked up John's hand and held it in his. It was no longer so much bigger than Sam's. He remembered a time when it was.
Flashback
A seven-year-old Sam woke up in the hospital after having emergency surgery to remove a ruptured appendix. John was at his bedside holding his hand. Sam had been so scared when was he was being wheeled in for surgery. John told him that it would all be okay.
"I'll be right here when you wake up, Sammy," John promised.
When Sam had woken up his dad was there as promised.
"Don't ever leave me, Daddy," cried Sam.
End Flashback
Sam sat there with John for a long while just being grateful that he was going to live. Sam knew that it was going to be harder to leave this time then the last. He didn't want to leave, but he knew that he had to get back to school.
"I love you, Dad," said Sam squeezing John's hand.
Sam walked out the room and down the hall. As he rounded the corner Sam came upon a young nurse struggling with a very combative patient, with a broken leg, sitting in a wheelchair. Sam headed over to offer his assistance to the harried looking nurse.
"Please Mr. Stokey, you need to settle down," pleaded the frustrated nurse.
Stokey? Is this the drunken bastard who hit Dad? Sam wondered.
"Excuse me, is this Bob Stokey?" asked Sam.
"Yes," said the exasperated nurse.
Without even thinking, Sam pulled back his arm and punched Bob in the nose as hard as he could. There was a loud crack followed by blood pouring out of Bob's now broken nose. He was swearing up a storm, but he had stopped struggling with the nurse.
"A nose for a nose," muttered Sam before walking away.
The nurse stood there stunned for a moment. She couldn't believe what had just happened. However, she felt absolutely no pity for her patient.
Dean and Pastor Jim arrived at the hospital just as Sam's cab was pulling away. For a split second Dean thought the guy in the backseat of the cab was Sam. It's just my mind playing tricks on me, he thought. Sam's not here.
Dean headed straight for John's room and resumed his usual position in the chair next to his bed. Dean had only been sitting there a few seconds when his dad started to come around.
"Sammy," said John softly.
Dean's heart sank as he heard this. Dad's asking for Sam. How do I tell him Sam's not here thought Dean sadly?
"Sammy," repeated John.
"Dad, its Dean. Sam's not here. Remember he's at school," said Dean.
"Sam was here," said John adamantly.
Dean was starting to worry. The doctor had said that there was no head trauma, but maybe he was wrong. Dean decided he should go tell a nurse to have the doctor come. After telling his dad that he'd be right back, Dean headed out to the nurses station. Two nurses were there talking.
"You should have seen it. He punched Mr. Stokey right in the face, broke his nose. Then he just walked away muttering something about a nose for a nose," said one nurse.
"I wish I had been there to see that. That bastard deserves a lot more than that for what he did to poor Mr. Winchester," said the other nurse.
Dean was suddenly very interested in their conversation.
"Excuse me this guy who hit Stokey, what did he look like?" asked Dean curiously.
"He was tall about 6'3 or 6'4," she said.
"Did he look like he needed a haircut?" asked Dean.
"Yes, he did," said the nurse.
Sam really was there Dean thought. Dad's not just imagining things. He really was here thought Dean. That must have been Sam he saw in that cab. Dean asked the nurse to inform Dr. Smythe that his dad was awake before heading back to John's room. He couldn't keep the smile off his face.
oooooOOOOooooo
Sam was already back in his dorm room working on a paper that night when his phone rang. The caller ID said it was Dean. Hoping that there was nothing wrong with his dad, Sam answered.
"Hey, Dean," said Sam.
"Hey, Sam," replied Dean.
"Is everything alright with dad?" asked Sam.
"Dad's going to be okay. You know it's the strangest thing, somebody broke Bob Stokey's nose," said Dean
"Really, broke his nose did they?" said Sam with a chuckle.
"Yeah. Hey, Sam, thanks," said Dean softly.
"For what?" asked Sam.
"You know what for. It was the highlight of Dad's day," replied Dean.
Sam and Dean talked for a couple of minutes more about how glad they were that their Dad was going to be okay. Dean said he to go because he wanted to see John before he fell asleep.
"I'd better go too. I have to finish this paper on polycentric cultural norms," said Sam.
"Poly what?" asked a confused Dean.
That night as Sam lay in his bed his thoughts turned to his dad. Sam was so glad that his dad was going to be okay. They might not be on speaking terms, but there's plenty of time for them to fix that in the future thought Sam.
"Thanks for not leaving me Dad," he whispered.
The End
A/N: I must send out a big thanks to everyone who took the time to read my story! An even bigger thanks goes out to everyone who took the time to write a review! You guys are awesome!