AN: Here's a bit longer chapter for you. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update tomorrow since the next chapter has been incorporated into this one and we have flooding in our area causing my internet to be a bit wonky. Hopefully you enjoy it anyway.

John sat and watched his youngest sleep. Although the doctor insisted Sammy would be fine, he couldn't help but worry at how his son didn't even stir when they transferred him to a different room. He knew that Dean would be there soon, right after taking Ellie to school, and he hoped his eldest could draw his brother out of whatever space he was currently in because with every moment his boy didn't wake, it was another moment that he grew concerned that something else was wrong.

A nurse walked in and shyly smiled on her way to her patient. She was just about to ask the man sitting in the chair if he needed anything when a pair of dark eyes caught her attention.

"Well, hello there. I was wondering if we'd meet before my shift ended," she said, smiling at the knowledge that the other nurses were going to be jealous. "I'll get Dr. Hunt, you just relax, ok Mr. Winchester?"

Puzzled, Sam looked around, not recognizing anything. Seeing someone approaching, he pulled back slightly and jumped when the man spoke, alarming him.

"Sammy, son… how are you?" John asked; concerned by the confusion he saw on Sam's face.

Running through names and scenarios, Johnny wasn't sure what to think. He couldn't remember ever using Winchester as an alias but he wasn't against it… it actually sounded pretty cool. And he was sure he'd never used 'Sammy,' but then again, right now he couldn't remember what the hell had happened or even where he was, so anything was possible.

"Uh…"

"Sam, it's good to see you awake, you're family has been extremely worried about you and I have to say I was starting to wonder if my diagnosis was wrong," Dr. Hunt said happily as he walked into the room. However, as finished his declaration, he began to notice the confusion from his patient and the near panic on the father. "Ok, I have a feeling I've jumped the gun a little. How about we start over, shall we?"

Seeing the distrust on his son's face, John began to feel something deep in the pit of his stomach and oh, how he hoped he was wrong. "Hey doc, I hate to ask, but do you think we could have a minute? He just woke up and it usually takes him a minute to make sense of everything."

Nodding, the embarrassed doctor agreed wholeheartedly, he'd made a rookie mistake and was more than willing to try and make it right.

After the door closed, John looked back at the young man on the bed and sighed. "You look like you don't recognize me." Seeing the guarded look on his boy's face, he nodded. "Ok. Well, let's see… what do you remember?"

It took a moment but finally, the youngest Winchester male sighed, "I know I should know you… and I think that I might, but I… I guess I'm having trouble putting what I know and what I… feel. Sorry, I guess I'm not making sense."

"Nah, you're making perfect sense. Look, you took a pretty hard hit to the head and the doctor said that you'll probably be confused, so I'm not too worried about that… as long as you promise that you're not planning on sneaking out of here before he says you're ready."

Studying the man before him, Johnny had the sense that he knew him… trusted him. A flash of two men, a woman and… "Ellie!"

Smiling, John held out his hand and gently pushed his son back against the bed. "Ellie's fine. She's at school right now, and Dean should be heading through the door any…"

"Well it's about time you woke up princess! I mean, any longer and I was going to have to explain why there's a line of princes waiting outside my little brother's door," Dean joked as he sat two coffees and a sack of donuts down on the small table, freezing when he heard the unexpected response.

"Brother?"

Mary sat and waited for her company to arrive. It had been a horrible moment when she finally remembered what she'd forgotten to do and even worse when she made the call and had the conversation that about broke her heart.

"Layla, it's Mary. I'm sorry to wake you, but it's Sammy… there's been an accident and…"

"What? Wait… wait… Mary? What happened? Is Sam alright?" Layla asked, still trying to pull herself out of the sleep induced fog she was in.

Taking a deep breath, Mary dove in and tried to get everything out before she lost her nerve. "There was a fire at our house. Sammy got me out but fell through the second story floor. He's in the hospital, but the doctors believe he'll be fine when he wakes up and…"

"Wakes up? When did this happen? Are you ok? Are they sure he'll be alright?"

"I'm so sorry Layla, it happened yesterday afternoon and I just didn't think to call until now."

"Yesterday? Mary, are you kidding me? Sam got hurt, he's in the hospital and you're just now letting me know? He could have been dead and I wouldn't have had a damn clue until what… I call the house later and find a message on the answering machine about funeral details? Is this how you feel about me… about us?"

"No Layla, that's not…"

"Nevermind. That was out of line, I'm tired and… and I'm tired. I need some time to process this. Thanks for letting me know."

It had taken several tries to get Layla to answer her phone again, and then several more minutes to convince the young woman to meet for coffee before they went to visit Sam together. Still unsure why she hadn't thought about letting Layla know immediately about what had happened, Mary could only hope that this wasn't a sign of things to come – she really liked the girl her youngest had become attached to.

Something was slowly kicking into his brain, and it was both a relief and a bit of a nauseating feeling that it was happening. The man next to him, who looked like he was about to climb the walls was… huh… his dad? And the guy in front of him looking like he was about to pass out was… "Dean?"

"Yeah, that's me. You ok Sammy?" Dean asked, hoping upon all hope that whatever scrambling his little brother's brain just experienced was over now.

Sighing, Johnny… no… Sam shrugged his shoulder. "I have no idea. I mean, I know who you are… kind of… but I don't remember why or how, you know?"

"Uh, no… can't really say that I do, man," Dean said sadly as he walked to his brother's bedside. "Seriously though, how bad are you hurting?"

Smiling slightly, Sam shook his head. He didn't remember much, but he had the feeling that this brother of his was the overprotective sort. "Not enough to worry about," he said softly, sensing what was about to happen.

Dean reached over and pushed the nurse's call button. "Which means, "more than I want to admit to," in Sammy speak."

It didn't take long for Dr. Hunt to walk through the door, feeling embarrassed by his earlier faux pax. "How's the patient doing?"

"He's in pain, not that he'd admit it, doc," Dean stated before anyone else had the chance. "And before he gives you some song and dance, he's going to be stubborn about taking something, but he needs it so how about just bypassing what he says and give him a shot, ok?"

"Dean," John quietly reprimanded. He knew exactly how Dean felt, but he didn't want Sammy to feel even more uncomfortable that what he was already. "I'm sure your brother would much rather talk to the doctor himself about how he's feeling and what needs to be done about it."

Rolling his eyes, Dean shrugged and took a step to the side. "Fine. But if I don't like what I hear, then I'm going to step in."

John laughed, knowing that it wasn't an idle threat but still finding the whole situation a little on the ridiculous side. "I have no doubt."

Smiling, Dr. Hunt began his examination before he finally asked, "So, Sam, I hear you're in a bit if pain. How about we figure out just how much before I decide if you need an increase in dosage? What's the last thing you remember?"

Looking at his dad and brother, Sam knew he needed to be honest, but didn't know how these people would react. "Uh… honestly? Driving down I-40 with Cade and Ellie."

Puzzled, Dr. Hunt looked at the other Winchesters and became more concerned at their horrified looks. "Who's Ellie and Cade?"

"Cade was Sammy's best friend and Ellie's our little princess," Dean choked out, completely disturbed by what was happening.

"Ok. Well, it's obvious there are some memory issues. How about you two step out in the hall while Sam and I get this figured out."

Not wanting to leave their Sammy alone, but knowing that the doctor had a job to do and they could actually be in the way, both John and Dean stepped out into the hall, not knowing what would happen the next time they saw the doctor.

Watching Dean pace back and forth in front of Sammy's room did nothing for John or the nurses last nerves, even if it was understandable. The young man hadn't taken a break except for the five minutes that Marley had stopped by to check on them after hearing from Admissions that Sam was back in the hospital. Apparently it hadn't taken long for the older nurse to make her way to where they were and was ready to fight her way into the room if necessary – thankfully no one attempted to block her way.

"What could be taking so damn long?" Dean demanded as he began another pass in front of his brother's doorway. He knew that Sammy would be fine, he just needed to remember why they were brothers, that's all. No problem. He'd just… what… take him back in time and show him how they found him on the side of the road and instantly knew it was him? Yeah, that wouldn't get them all locked up in the psych ward or anything.

John sighed and leaned back against the wall again. "Son, calm down. You know as well as I do that the doctor needs to ask him some questions to determine how bad it really is. Hopefully once he figures that out, then he can tell us what we can do to help." Sure, as if he really believed that they'd be able to help. He knew that if his son's mind was pulling memories from the past instead of the present, there could be some major problems – mainly that their Sammy could go right back into Johnny's old lifestyle, and wasn't that thought enough to scare the crap out of him.

Marlee walked out of the room shaking her head, "Oh my… that poor boy doesn't know if he's coming or going right now."

"Is he alright, do we need…" Dean asked, rushing to the older woman, determined to make sure that whatever she thought needed to be done, would get done one way or another.

Smiling, Marlee rolled her eyes, "Right now he needs quiet, rest and the comfort of his family even if he doesn't really remember them," seeing their concern, she patted Dean on the arm, "Don't look at me like that. Yes, he knows your name and what your supposed relation is to him, he just doesn't get how it came about - it's temporary. As soon as he's healed, it'll all fall into place. But, you all are going to have to be patient with him; you can't just expect him to take your word for things… he's not that type of person."

John and Dean looked at each other, their concern reflected on the other's face. Both men worried that their friend's kind warning was actually an omen for the future, neither knowing what to do if it was.