Author's note: I apologize for the delay in posting a new chapter. I had a hard time writing it and then an enormous pile of work mysteriously materialized on my desk.

Phew! All that aside, the slow chapters are not my favourite to write but I hope I did it justice. Let me know what you think!

Kaze-Chan

Chapter 8

"Get a line in here now." A young nurse quickly came around, inserting an IV into Dean's right arm while a doctor and another nurse examined the broken leg. The Emergency room was a flurry of action as everyone on the floor worked to stabilize the young man on the stretcher before them.

"Sir, can you here me?" With a penknife, another doctor checked on Dean's pupils and vitals. Receiving no response, he was quickly concerned. "We need to get him into MRI and X-Ray now. Where's his father?" A nurse checked the corridor for Bobby but only found empty chairs. Unwilling to wait and risk further complications, Dean was taken to the 4th floor for the necessary tests.

*****

John sunk deeper into the old waiting room chair just outside the ICU, waiting. Bobby had volunteered to wait with him, knowing it may be hours, but John was adamant about the other man staying with his youngest son. It had been 7 hours, 23 minutes and 49 seconds since Bobby had handed Dean over to the rush of medical personnel.

He knew he was tired but he couldn't bring himself to close his eyes. He didn't dare close his eyes, knowing his son's life could disappear just as fast. It was an irrational fear, he knew it, but he still couldn't help thinking about it. 9 hours, 8 minutes and 28 seconds.

By the time Bobby had managed to find John, Dean had already been whisked away to the surgical floor. Due to the severe damage to Dean's leg, the doctor's feared more permanent damage should they wait. It took 5 hours but they managed the repair the leg, grafting the bone back together with two metal pins. It would take some time before they could determine the full extent of the break and any lasting damage.

But that wasn't why Dean was in ICU. On the way to the hospital, Dean had fallen into a coma. At first, Bobby simply thought the young man had simply fallen unconscious but the ER doctors were quickly concerned. The Doctor's suspected brain damage caused by the concussion coupled with exposure and shock. They would know for sure after the MRI and once Dean woke up. For now, the tube through his nose ensured that Dean would keep breathing.

John leaned forwards in his chair, pressing his face into his hands. The ICU had limited visitation hours due to the severity of its patients. Thought the doctors had ensured him it was simply a precaution for a few days, John hated the thought of seeing Dean here. A young nurse with a sympathetic smile waved him into the quiet ward, her soled shoes gliding on the clean linoleum floor.

Without a word, John slumped into the bedside chair, unable to break contact with his son's face. The few times he had ever taken Dean to a hospital, his son had complained the entire time. But this was different; Dean wasn't moving. The bed was surrounded by beeping machines; small tubes connecting them to Dean. Slowly, John reached out and took his eldest son's hand.

Though unsurprising, he was slightly disappointed when Dean didn't even flinch. Letting out the deep breath he didn't know he was holding, John spared a glance at Dean's leg. The broken limb was encased in plaster and braces; the leg itself suspended in a metal frame. John's face pulled up in a grin. One good thing to come out of this, the doctor's had told him, was that Dean's leg would have a head start to heal while his body lay still in a coma. Personally, John would rather have Dean's complaining and moaning over this silence any day.

****

As the days passed, Sam quickly regained his strength. Each time he woke, however, it was Bobby he found sleeping in the chair next to him. It had been almost three days since he had seen his father or his brother. Though Bobby kept him updated each day, he would no doubt feel much better with Dean beside him; awake or not.

"Sam, stop eating yourself up about it." Sam's head snapped around to face the older hunter. "Your brother will be fine. You know Dean, he's as tough as they come." Bobby added a smiled for reassurance. Despite his best effort, Sam still looked like he wanted to charge up to the ICU to see his brother. "Hey, aren't you going to miss some school stuff or something?" Bobby asked, trying his best to distract Sam.

Sam eyes widened as something crossed his mind. "Ah shit, Jessica!" Bobby didn't have the chance to ask who that was before Sam was already dialling on his cell phone. Sam tapped his fingers nervously as he waited for the call to connect. "Jess, hey. I'm so sorry." Bobby figured this was a private call and so he took the opportunity to check up on John and Dean.

He easily found John slumped in the chairs in front of the ICU doors. Bobby silently took the chair next to his friend, mentally noting how pale the other man was. Dark circles had formed under his eyes and Bobby suspected the other man had hardly slept in the past few days. "By the look of ya, I take it there's been no change?" Bobby's low voice carried through the empty room.

John merely nodded. "The doctors say he's stabilized though. They're looking to put him in the same room with Sam." John was too tired to muster any enthusiasm in his voice.

"Well that's good news for once." Bobby couldn't wait to relay the news to Sam. Having both boys in one room, also meant he could keep an eye on all three Winchesters. After a few minutes, Bobby was allowed to go see Dean. As far as he could tell, there wasn't much change. Dean still looked the same to him as he did the day Bobby had carried him into the ER. As he stood by Dean's bedside, Bobby concluded he would rather have Dean's foul mouth comments than this unsettling silence.

As he made his way back to Sam's room, he did his best to concentrate on the positive; within the next few days, Sam would be able to see his older brother.

***

The next day, Dean was brought up to Sam's room. As expected, Sam fussed over his brother's well being, his face etched in constant worry. It was the first time Sam had seen his older brother since the Shifter had taken him. If he thought his brother looked thin and weak before, then this shell before him was simply that. Sam was cleared to be released by the end of the week, but both John and Bobby knew the younger man had no intentions of leaving just yet. John and Sam seemed to have fallen into a polite silence, where neither one would really speak directly to the other. The charade seemed to fool the hospital staff, but Bobby could see straight through it; it was only a matter of time before it all blew open. Unfortunately, Bobby knew all too well, it would likely be once Dean woke up.

Sam also received a surprise visit from Jessica. Thankfully, John and Bobby had gone out to finally bury the shifters. But for some reason, Sam couldn't help but feel like her presence here wasn't right. He had tried so hard to keep both worlds separate, but now all secrets were out on the table. He had never planned to tell his girlfriend about his past and so he hadn't prepared what exactly he would say.

Jessica, however, was more considerate and understanding than he could have ever thought possible. She left that night to return to Stanford. Though she desperately wanted to know what had happened since he suddenly left in the middle of the night, she was prepared to wait patiently. This was his life. So long as he was alright and safe, she would be able to wait till he got back home. She spared a glance at the two tired men she passed on her way to the elevators; one of them had the same eyes as Sam.

John and Bobby were asleep long before Sam was even tired that night. Many thoughts filtered through his mind but he was unable to sort them out. He wanted more than anything to just go back to Stanford with Jess but he also knew he wouldn't be able to leave Dean; not now. He let out a sigh, staring up at the ceiling.

"mmmmh…..jesus…chri……st…" At first Sam thought he had imagined hearing the low moan, but the shuffling on his left sounded too real to be imaginary. He sat up on his elbows to see over to his brother's bed, ignoring the slight pain in his abdomen.

"Dean?" Slowly, Dean's head turned towards his brother's voice. Sam watched in relief as his older brother's eyelids slowly slid opened, revealing unfocused but lucidly bright green eyes.

Dean cleared his throat, clenching his fists into the top blanket as the simple movement caused him pain. "….Smmy…." His voice was hoarse and barely a whisper. Though his mind was clouded with medication and his concussion, he was still aware of his surroundings.

Sam smiled and fought back tears of joy. "Yeah man, welcome back."