Chapter 9

This chapter is dedicated to Sylia91. Thanks again to Soar, Julia Aurelia and Sinead-Conlan

Disclaimer: Still Don't Own

Sam sat down heavily on the chair in the hallway just outside Dean's doorway. He hadn't planned to visit today because of what had happened the day before. He hadn't meant to start something with his father. It had just happened and it had been on his mind all day. He hated it when Dean was mad at him and he couldn't concentrate on anything. He had called his father and told him that he'd had a ride home, but he'd asked Mark's mom to drop him off at the hospital instead. He didn't care what his father had to say about it either. He was glad he had spoken to his father first, though, his dad had warned him social services was snooping around.

He'd gotten to Dean's room and was just about to go inside when he'd heard voices. He carefully peeked around the corner and saw a boy about Dean's age that he didn't recognize, sitting next to his brother's bed. Before he could speculate too much on who he was, Sam heard Dean's words about his dad and him forgetting about his award, and how big brothers were only good for driving little brothers around.

Did Dean really think that? That Sam didn't want him around. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was the only one Sam wanted around, his big brother was his whole world. He had forgotten about Dean's award, that was true, and Sam felt bad about it. He wanted to tell Dean that he was sorry, but his father had said that he'd taken care of it and not to bring it up. Suddenly, Sam's mood shifted from distraught to furious, not towards Dean, but towards his dad. His father hadn't mentioned that he was sorry, too. Well he was.

Calm down, Sam, he instructed himself. That's how the whole fight had started yesterday. He needed to set things straight and he needed to do it now. He stood up and prepared to march into Dean's room.

"Sam," he heard his name called. He looked up and saw Dean's doctor coming towards him. He felt fear start to work its way into his anger. Dean was okay, wasn't he?

"Hi, Dr. Curtis," he greeted. "Is Dean okay?"

"Yes, don't worry. No, what I need is for you to go with Ms. Anderson." The doctor pointed to the official looking woman standing next to the doctor. Sam guessed this was who his father had warned him about.

"Hi, Sam," she greeted in a friendly tone. She wasn't surprised when Sam didn't answer.

"You can use that room," Dr. Curtis pointed out an empty waiting room.

"Thanks. Come along, Sam." Ms. Anderson gestured for Sam to follow her.

"I want to see Dean," he protested.

"This will just take a few minutes," the social worker said, her tone still friendly, but firm.

"Fine," Sam huffed and followed the lady. He was trained in how to handle these situations.

"First of all, Sam, I'm not the enemy," Samantha said trying to sound non-threatening. "I just want to understand."

I'm not buying this, lady. "Can we please get this over with?"

Samantha led Sam through an interview that was very much like the one she'd had with Dean. Sam stated that his father didn't like him home alone, and that he got mad when he wasn't allowed to go to the movies. He said stuff he didn't mean, like Dean had done when he'd said that he didn't want to see his father or brother.

Samantha soon realized that she was getting nowhere with either boy. She had reviewed her files and found out that John Winchester had been investigated once before for neglect. A motel manager had become concerned when she hadn't seen the father of the two little boys come back for a week. The investigation had been dropped because it was discovered that the boys' uncle was supposed to show up, but had been in a car accident and couldn't get there. The whole thing sounded suspicious to her. Why hadn't the boys called their father when their uncle hadn't shown up? She had checked the police reports and there were no reported car accidents in the area, and why hadn't the uncle called the father? Someone had dropped the ball on that one, and she was determined to make sure that these boys weren't being mistreated in anyway.

-----

Sam was happy when he got out of there. He just hoped that their father could make this go away, like he had done that other time. He knew their story had been full of holes, but the investigation had been dropped. Dean had told him that Bobby had probably found some dirt on the social worker. Sam wouldn't have been surprised, Bobby could probably find dirt on anyone.

Sam found himself wishing for the elder hunter. He had a way of solving all their problems, and they'd had some good times at Bobby's house. He knew that the senior hunter would have been there, but he was working undercover, trying to bring down a cult of Satan worshippers, and was unreachable. Sam doubted he even knew about the accident.

He reached Dean's room and tentatively knocked on the door.

"Hey, Dean," he said hesitantly, unsure of how he'd be received.

"Hey, Sam," Dean greeted in the same tone.

Sam took that as a good sign and entered the room. "Where's your IV?" Sam asked just for something to say.

"They pulled it this morning. I didn't yank it again," Dean said defensively.

"I'm sorry," Sam instantly apologized. This wasn't starting well.

"You can ask Dr. Curtis or Nurse Ratched," Dean added.

"I said I believe you," Sam shot back. "Look, Dean, I don't want to fight, okay? I'm sorry about yesterday," he added sincerely.

"Apology accepted," Dean said in a forced tone. "What time is dad picking you up?"

That was when Sam knew that his brother was still mad. Not that Sam blamed him, he had said some pretty cruel things. "He doesn't know I'm here."

Dean stared at him in disbelief. "Why?"

"Why what?" Sam asked in confusion.

"Why do you always have to start something? Why do you have to do the exact opposite of everything he says? You don't think he's going to get mad when he finds out you disobeyed him again?"

"Dean, I..." Sam started. That wasn't that what this was about. "I just wanted to see you."

"I asked you not to come," Dean reminded him.

"I had to say I'm sorry. I felt bad about it all night. I didn't mean it."

"Saint Dean doesn't do anything wrong. I'm so sorry I can't be like him. I'm sorry I'm not some mindless robot that can't think for himself," Dean fired at him.

"I didn't mean it," Sam repeated. "I was just mad."

"You said it though, Samm... Sam," he corrected. Sam tried not to flinch. He hated when Dean called him Sammy, but right now, he would give anything to hear it. "And you were mad, at dad. I asked you not to bring me into it. You didn't listen to me. You never do. You or dad. So part of you must be mad at me too."

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because if I hadn't pulled my IV, dad wouldn't have ordered you to stay with me yesterday."

"You know that's not true. Dad wouldn't have let me go anyway. He never lets me do anyth..."

"You're doing it again," Dean interrupted him, clearly frustrated. "Dad's not even here."

This was not going the way Sam wanted it too at all. How had they gotten into an argument about their dad anyway? "Dean, I didn't mean to bring up dad. I just want to make it up to you."

"Why?" Dean snapped. "Sorry, my leg's broken, Sam. It's going to be a while before I can play chauffer for you and your little buddies, so there's no point in sucking up is there," he added bitterly.

"I don't just think of you as my chauffer, Dean."

"Yeah right," Dean said sarcastically. "That's why you tell your friend's I'll pick you up, without even asking me. I get why you do it. It's not like I ever have plans," he sneered

"I'm..."

"Sorry, yeah, I get it, Sam. I'm tired. Maybe you should just go."

"No," Sam said stubbornly.

"Sam," Dean replied, the warning in his tone clear.

"I need to say this, then I'll leave you alone. I'm sorry, Dean. Yeah, I know you're thinking they're just words," he added quickly when Dean looked like he was about to interrupt. "I got my math test back today and I got a 90. Do you know why?"

"Yeah, you're the smart one..."

"Stop it, Dean," Sam snapped back. That wasn't why he was bringing it up. "It was the test you helped me study for. My friends like it when you pick us up the best. They love driving in the Impala, and they think you're cool. Mark's brother pretty much has to be ordered by his parents before he agrees to have anything to do with us, and Tom's sister, well she doesn't want to be seen in public with us. They ask me to ask you, and I just tell them yes. Okay, maybe that's wrong, but I like being seen with my big brother. It's not just because you drive me everywhere, or help me with my homework. You're always there, Dean. I guess I just expect it. I heard what you said to that boy who was here earlier. I'm really sorry about your award, Dean. I don't have an excuse for forgetting. I just didn't think it was that big a deal."

"It was," Dean mumbled more to himself.

"You told me it was no big deal and you didn't even know if you wanted to go yourself."

"You still forgot," Dean accused.

"I know, Dean, but I'm not a mind reader. Why weren't you just honest with me and dad that day? Why did you pretend it wasn't a big deal when it meant a lot to you? If you had told me straight out you wanted me there, I would have gone."

"You can say that now," Dean shot back.

That's when Sam realized just how deep the hurt ran. "Tell me what to do to make it up to you, Dean, and I swear, I'll do it."

Dean thought about that. Sam did have a point. He had made it sound like he didn't care about his big night. Sam had shown up here, and Dean really hated fighting with his brother, and he was giving him an opportunity to cut down on the fighting between Sam and his dad. "I don't want you to fight with dad."

Sam wished Dean had asked him to achieve peace in the Middle East. That would be an easier task.

"I know it goes against everything ingrained in you, but I'm asking you to make an honest effort."

"I'll try, Dean," Sam said honestly.

"Thanks, Sammy."

Sam grinned for the first time in days. He knew that they had a long way to go, but at least they had made the first step.

------

John, meanwhile, had his own problems to deal with. He was waiting for social services to call, and it had come in that afternoon. Samantha wanted to schedule an appointment with him. The problem was trying to find a good time. He was working double shifts and on weekends. If they looked closely at his finances, he was screwed. The last time he'd been in this situation, Bobby had dug up a few things the other social worker would prefer people didn't know, and the investigation had been dropped.

He knew that she wouldn't be put off forever, and that she wanted to come to his home. The problem was that with Dean in the hospital, him working all day, and Sam at school and at the hospital with his brother, the place was a disaster area. He just wondered where he was going to find time. He didn't want to ask his boss for a day off, he was already on thin ice, but he knew she wasn't going to take no for an answer forever. He was going to have to make time somehow, because the most important thing of all was riding on this, his boys.

He wouldn't make it without his boys, and he wouldn't want to. The only solution he could come up with was to trust Sam. He'd have to let Sam stay home by himself, and clean the house. He didn't like that situation much either, because he didn't like it when Sam was home alone, but he didn't want to leave Dean by himself either. It was bothering him that Sam was on his own now. He knew that Dean wasn't going to tolerate it for very long.

This whole thing defined the phrase 'recipe for disaster'. John would give his right arm for Bobby to be available right now. Pastor Jim would help, but he was out of the country. He did missionary work overseas. He could ask Joshua for help in a different way, though. He could ask one of his hunter buddies to loan him some money, then some of the pressure would be off, but Winchesters didn't take charity.

That kind of thinking is going to land the boys in foster care, he reminded himself. It wouldn't solve all their problems, but it would help a lot. He resolved to call Joshua when he got home that night.

------

10:00pm had never looked so good to John Winchester. He closed the store and was able to head home. He got in and was relieved to find Sam in his room, reading a book.

Sam had called Mark's mother and asked for a ride from the hospital, and he was glad that his father wasn't there when he got home. He had promised Dean he would try to avoid fighting, and if that meant completely avoiding his father, then so be it.

"Sammy," John called to his youngest.

"What?" he called from his room.

"Can you come here?"

Taking a deep breath, Sam stepped out of his room and went to greet his father. "Yeah, dad?"

"We need to talk," he replied. "First, I want to say that I don't ever want a repeat of last night's events. If I give an order, it's for your own good. I'm also sorry for what I said."

Sam bit his tongue about the following orders instruction. He managed to restrain himself from pointing out that he wasn't a soldier. "Me too," he admitted grudgingly. He hoped he sounded sincere because he really wasn't.

"We have a situation. I'm going to trust you, Sam, you'll be here tomorrow by yourself. CPS is nosing around and they're going to want a home inspection, and right now this place is a disgrace. So tomorrow morning, you're going to start cleaning up. I'm only working until 5. Then we'll go get some take out from Taco Bell," he said naming Dean's favourite restaurant. "Then we'll go visit your brother."

"Okay," Sam agreed. It did sound like a good plan.

"Get some rest, kiddo. I want you up at 6:00am tomorrow. This place needs a ton of work."

Later that night, John swallowed his pride and called Joshua. He explained the situation and Joshua was more than happy to help, although he yelled at John for not calling earlier, reminding him that it's what friends did for one another.

------

The next day, John was in a much happier mood. He picked up the wire from Joshua, and deposited it in his account. There was enough there that if he was careful with what he was making, he would be able to make things up to Dean. He decided not to say anything just in case he couldn't pull it off.

He also caught another break. The CPS worker had to leave town, but because the boys were in no immediate danger, and she knew that there was no reason to remove them from their father, she had no choice but to schedule her visit with the Winchesters for next week. John was grateful for the extra time to get things in order.

------

The next week passed in relative peace for the Winchesters. John had apologized for the fight. Dean had said he was okay with it, but John wondered if he was just doing what he always did, saying it was alright just to keep the peace. They did need to have a talk, all three of them, but it was best that it took place outside the hospital, and away from people who might take what they say and call social services. John still hadn't forgiven Dean's nurse for that one.

Everyone was happy when Dean was taken for x-rays and they showed that his leg was healing nicely, and they decided to cast it.

He stayed in the hospital for a couple of extra days, so he could get used to the crutches. It was hard at first, because the cast was big and bulky. John had to laugh over the fact that Dean had seemed to master the task after Dr. Curtis told him, if it was too tough, he could use a wheelchair.

-----

This was it, the day was finally here. After 3 weeks and 3 days, Dean was finally getting his release papers. He was just waiting for his father to sign them and then he could leave.

"Where's dad?" he asked his brother.

"He'll be here soon, Dean," Sam said trying to keep his patience. Dean had asked that at least 6 times in the last 10 minutes. "Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" Sam teased.

"No," Dean said without hesitation. If he was honest with himself, his stay hadn't been all bad. It was nice to control the remote and pretty much do what he wanted during the day. He had read some good books he wouldn't have looked twice at. He had just started Return of the King. He had hoped that he could finish it before he left the hospital. He wanted to return it to Justin.

That had been the best part. Justin had shown up every day to visit, and Dean had found himself looking forward to his daily appearance. It gave Dean a chance to vent. He had even thought of a way to help Justin with his problem.

His homework was all caught up with, and he actually felt confident, for a change, that he would have no problem when he returned to school.

"Hey, buddy, ready to get out of here?"

"I was ready weeks ago," Dean said sitting up. He grabbed his crutches. The next 8 weeks were going to be a bitch. The cast ran from the top of his leg to his ankle. It was big, and bulky and highly uncomfortable, but at least it was better than traction. He almost died with happiness when he was allowed to use the bathroom.

After a brief argument about riding out in a wheelchair, which ended with a death glare from John, Dean soon found himself standing outside. He took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air.

"Sorry that I couldn't pick you up in the Impala," John apologized. "It's still being repaired, but don't worry, it will be as good as new."

"That's okay," Dean said. "I'm glad you're able to fix her up."

"Don't worry about that okay?"

"Sure, dad. Thanks for everything, Nurse Ratched," Dean said as he balanced himself on his crutches.

"Take care, Randle," she replied heading back in the hospital.

Dean opened the door to the passenger seat and stopped dead. How the hell was he going to get in the car? He couldn't bend his leg.

"You're going to have to get in the back," John said. Dean hated sitting in the back, but there was no other choice. John opened the door and helped Dean sit on the seat. Dean put his arms behind him and pulled himself back, so that he was stretched out sideways. Sam clambered into the passenger seat.

"Ready?" John asked as he got in the driver's side and put the key in the ignition.

Dean looked to his father and brother. They hadn't spent a lot of time together in his room, so he had no idea if Sam was keeping his promise or not. Right at this point, he really didn't care. He just wanted to get out of here.

"Ready," he said to his father with a big grin, as John pulled away from the curb and they headed home.

TBC

Please make my muse happy by reading and reviewing.