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The Collector

Chapter three

Dean pushed through the crowd till he finally spotted Sam.

"That's my brother." He told an officer who was trying to hold him back.

Sam was standing on the corner holding a cold compress to his bleeding forehead as a paramedic walked away from him.

Dean quickly looked over the area and couldn't see any sign of an accident. What was this all about he wondered? Had Sam been speeding? He quickly made his way to his brother.

"Sam what happened?" Dean asked putting his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I…I'm not sure." Sam leaned against a lamppost when a dizzy feeling came over him.. "I think I killed someone Dean."

"What?" Dean looked around but saw no body.

"Some man ran right out in front of me….I couldn't stop." Sam looked at Dean with tears in his eyes. "Dean I couldn't stop in time…..he jumped right out in front of me…. I…I think I killed him."

Dean walked over to an officer who was writing in his notebook.

"How's the man that was hit?" Dean asked as he looked at an ambulance parked nearby. Was the man already in the ambulance and if he was, why wasn't it on the way to the hospital? He swallowed hard as he wondered if the man had died and there was no reason for the ambulance to rush him to the hospital.

"There is no man."

"What?"

"Your friend jammed on his brakes and hit his head on the steering column, he didn't hit anyone. We think he's just confused because of the blow to his head."

"Why did he jam on his brakes?"

"Maybe a dog or something ran out in front of him." The officer shrugged his shoulders. "There's really no way of knowing."

Dean walked back over to his brother who he could tell was extremely upset thinking he had injured or killed someone.

"Sam you didn't hurt anyone….except yourself."

Sam looked at him confused.

"But…" Sam started to speak but then suddenly fell heavily against the lamppost as his legs started to give out.

"Sammy!" Dean caught him in his arms and lowered him to the ground. "I need help over here!" Dean shouted over to the ambulance crew who quickly ran over.

He turned his brother over to a paramedic then stepped back so they could work on him. Dean winced in sympathy when he saw the deep cut on his brother's forehead.

"Is he going to be okay?" He asked as he watched them examine Sam.

"He took a nasty blow to his head and probably has a slight concussion. We'll take him in and have him checked out."

"I'm going with you."

Dean knew he had had too much to drink and couldn't chance following the ambulance into the hospital without getting in trouble with the cops. So instead he parked his car and jumped in the back of the ambulance. When Sam was released they'd find a way back to the car.

The hospital

Sam was examined in the emergency room then moved up to a temporary room to rest before he could be released. Dean sat in a chair next to the bed.

"Dean….I don't care what they say I know I hit someone."

"But you couldn't have Sam, there's no damage to the car."

Sam shook his head confused.

"I saw him Dean….I saw him hit the fender then fly over the hood."

"Sam, they think maybe a dog or something ran in front of you and you slammed on your brakes and hit your head on the steering column. The doctor said you have a slight concussion and your mind is just playing tricks on you."

"But it seemed so real." Sam looked at Dean. "I can even remember what he was wearing."

"I don't know what to tell you Sam. I was there, and there was no sign of an accident except skid marks."

Sam pinched the bridge of his nose as a sharp pain shot through his head.

"You okay?" Dean asked as he stood up.

"Yeah, just a little headache." Sam looked over at Dean. "When can I get out of here?"

"You can leave whenever you want to. They just wanted you to rest a few hours then to take it easy for a week or two."

"Well I'm ready to leave now." Sam said as he climbed out of bed and grabbed his clothes.

"You sure you're okay?" Dean asked when he saw Sam wince.

"Yeah, I'm fine.."

"Well then let's get out of here."

Dean hated hospitals and was more then happy to leave. They headed toward the nurses station to sign Sam out but just as they got there Sam's eyes widened in fear. The nurse was holding a gun and pointing it at Dean.

"She's got a gun!" Sam said as he pushed his brother to the floor.

TBC