Disclaimer: I don't own the Winchester boys, the Impala, and their Uncle Bobby. Maybe someday…nah! Don't think so.

Chapter 8

"Bobby?"

Bobby was on the road and was on his way to check on the boys in Ohio when his phone rang. There was still 10 hours journey ahead of him on the sunken and forgotten road and the silence had almost gets on his nerve. Driving alone had never been scarier than this; not when he hadn't got any call from his boys regarding their latest gig which he had appointed them to take care of.

Sam had rang him two days ago asking if he could find them a case because Dean started to get mad living in the motel doing nothing for almost a week. The urgency in Sam's voice was hilarious at first. It seemed like he had had enough of his brother reaching the verge of insanity. Bobby understood the youngest Winchester's feeling so truly he felt sorry for him. But the hesitance embedded in Sam's speech caused him worries. The same time he said they badly need a hunt Sam was reluctant to go for it. Bobby knew right away something was wrong and his instinct was proven true when Sam revealed Dean had come down with a high fever and was yet to recover.

Knowing the oldest Winchester like the back of his hand, Bobby could imagine the torture Sam had to endure while taking care of his older brother. Something must have happened to make the younger brother snapped. If it was Bobby, he wouldn't be able to manage a sick Dean for one day. Even their old man had tough times dealing with sick Dean, though when he was merely a child. Sometime he and John sat down together and wondered how Dean got so much energy when he was sick with something. They almost contemplated on knocking him out senseless. It was easier to take care of Dean when he was out cold rather than when he was conscious, albeit deliriously. So when Sam said Dean was sick for two days, Bobby was in awe of him. If anyone could deal with a sick Dean for two days without snapping and getting crazy himself, it was Sam.

But damn! Bobby was worried. When Sam called him, he was researching on his own hunt and didn't actually provide the boys with details they might need to hunt the Pukwudgies. He hoped Sam would continue on researching before they actually went out hunting the damn thing. After he was done with the Banshee, Bobby took the time to research on the Pukwudgies and my! He was so screwed. He had left out the poison and the cure part. But he put the worries aside, praying hardly Sam wouldn't leave the part unattended. Sam had always been his apprentice in researching, thus he hoped highly Sam wouldn't be as reckless as he had been.

Less that he knew his hope would go into the drain in matter of seconds.

When his phone rang for the first time in 2 days after the boys last contacted him, Bobby was way beyond relieved. He didn't even bother looking at the caller's number because he was so damn sure it would be one of the boys calling to inform him that their job was a job well done. Again he was wrong for it was not the boys' voice at the other end of the line.

"Bobby?"

"Yeah?" Bobby's voice was raw from disappointment.

"Bobby, this is Jack"

"Jack?!" Bobby's heart skipped a beat and he felt violent blood rush rushing to his head. "Jack Callahan?"

"Bull's eye! How are you doing old pal?"

"Good, never better" as much as he was disappointed, Bobby was enthralled knowing Jack was on the line. It had been 24 years since he last heard from the guy. 24 years since that 'thing' happened between him and John. Bobby was not sure whether Jack had been in contact with John since then and whether Jack was aware of what had happened to John. "What's up Jack?"

"You're so mad at me you don't even want to know how I was doing, eh Bobby?"

Bobby sighed. "No…it's not that, I've no right to be mad at you after what happened" he truly meant what he said. Nobody had the right to be mad at Jack for keeping his whereabouts from everyone after what happened to him 24 years ago. "It's just…it's been so long Jack, 24 years" Bobby explained.

"Yeah…so long"

"I thought you've forgotten everyone…hating us for what had happened to Jenny" Bobby let out a deep breath when he thought of Jenny. Jenny was as sweet as Mary; they grew up together, just like Jack and John, and it was really devastating to think of what had happened to both of them.

"No Bobby, I could never hate everyone, including John…he was the closest thing I have to a brother" there was regret etched in Jack's voice. "And the thing happened to John…I'd do anything to save him"

"Be careful what you wish for Jack" Bobby couldn't bear thinking of the possibilities provided things he had seen the Winchesters did for each other. He knew Jack would have done the same for John taking into account they were so much like brothers; much like Dean and Sam.

"Yeah, I heard about the thing he did…it was expected of John"

So Jack hadn't really abandoned them. He had kept himself updated with everything in his own way. Even Bobby was amazed at how much Jack knew about John and the things happened to him. As much as Sam being an expert in Deanology, Jack was an expertise in the field of John Winchester. No one knew John better than Jack Callahan and Bobby Singer – people would say.

"Well…what done is done cannot be undone" Bobby said, hoping silently everything that had happened in their life could be undone. He would give anything to make it happen.

"Hey Bobby! How far are you from Shawnee State Forest?"

"Shawnee? I'm on my way there" Bobby got anxious all of a sudden. Something told him he was not going to like whatever Jack was going to say later. The boys' latest hunt was in Shawnee to begin with, and then a long lost friend called him after 24 years of exclusion and now asking him whether he's anywhere near Shawnee. 'What the heck is going on?'. "Why?" Bobby was almost afraid to ask.

"I got with me here John's boys…both are sick and hurt, one of them is in a very bad condition" there was fear lacing Jack's voice. "Need your help Bobby"

Bobby thought he had begun to have a heart attack at the mentioning of John's boys; his boys even before John had made the deal. He's getting too old to be shaken by this kind of news. Bobby had really had too much sickening news these few years. First John, then Sam, then Dean…Sam, Dean again, Dean and Sam…and now, he had no idea whom he should be worried about. "Which one of them is bad?"

"Deannie"

The name matched the name crossing Bobby's mind. He had anticipate it considering Sam's earlier newsbreak on Dean having a high fever and the possibility of him persuading Dean to bunk in for several more days before going out for a hunt was minute. Guess Sam had only managed to make a one-day pact with Dean, no more. Knowing how reluctant a recovery could be when it came to Winchesters and how the boys were born stubborn Bobby was confirmed Dean's fever hadn't even broke when the brothers went out into the woods. 'Damn it Dean!'

"Spit out your location!" Bobby turned alarmed and he had unconsciously stepped on the gas pedal; speeding through the narrow county lane. And while he listened for the coordinates, Bobby prayed silently for the boys to be safe. He hoped he would reach them before it was too late.

'God! Help them please!'

………………………………………….

Taking a deep breath to ease the strain in his lungs, Jack flipped off his cell phone and shoved it into his jeans pocket. Everything happened too suddenly today - meeting John's boys, talking to Bobby – Jack thought they were unbelievable. Things he'd been ignoring and people he'd been avoiding for more than two decades suddenly were all coming back to him. Jack sighed wearily as he rubbed his stiff neck. It had been a long tiring day.

"Dad?" a concerned son brought him back to the present. "Are you okay?"

Jack turned to Kyle and tugged his lips into a tight smile. "Yeah, never better" his croaky voice betrayed the anxiety building up in his mind.

Kyle raised his brows, unbelieving, for he knew his father more than anyone else – or so, he thought. And he knew better not to push farther than where he'd already been. Pushing won't take him anywhere. He gave his old man a once over and laid his gaze on the Winchesters. His gaze remained on the brothers for a while as his mind digested something. When his brain ticked, Kyle shot Jack a demanding look.

"Dad, you knew the Winchesters?" he asked and waited anxiously for the answer.

Jack's eyes remained on his eldest's face for a second or two before it fell to the floor along with an exasperated sigh. He knew the question would come sooner or later. There were so much secret and so much things to explain at the most inappropriate moments. He just didn't feel like talking about it for the time being.

"I know the Winchesters" he corrected his son, not answering right away.

Giving his father an interrogative stare, Kyle found hesitance and guilt struggling inside Jack. There were so many questions that he would like Jack to clarify, but he didn't want to be forceful; not now when they got two sick men which required them to be calm and composed. Just to confirm his instinct, Kyle shot Jack another question.

"Who's this Bobby guy anyway?"

"An old friend"

Jack's lacking of information in that three words answer confirmed Kyle's thought immediately. His father had let down the wall and he couldn't do anything to penetrate it. Hunching his shoulders in defeat, Kyle shook his head to chase the frustration away.

"You should get some rest dad" Kyle suggested. As much as Jack tried his hardest to look fresh and alert, Kyle was aware the old man was beat. Fatigue lined his darkened face and it was betrayed by the dark circles around his tired eyes. The look in his eyes was laced with fear and Kyle took that as fear for the lives of the brothers Jack had acknowledged as John's boys to the man he was on the phone with. "I'll look after them"

Rest assured by his son's guarantee, Jack let out a deep breath and slumped down to the chair. He would like a nap very much but something in him refused to give in to his desire. He was a father to his two sons but he used to be a nurturer, albeit temporary, to Dean and Sam; though he doubted the boys remembered him or maybe ever even heard of his name before. It was not their fault anyway. Sometimes the older generations made stupid mistakes that the younger ones would continue to suffer from years after.

Shaking his head in resignation, Jack rejected Kyle's offer "I'll keep watch for an hour more, then you take over"

If Kyle didn't know better, he would have think Jack was being childish; being stubborn and all. To see the attachment Jack had on the brothers, Kyle felt a pang jealousy building within him. He wished he had witnessed more of this other side of Jack before. It was difficult to see Jack Callahan acting fatherly in normal days; even the sons didn't have the privilege.

"I'll get us coffee" Kyle retired with a huff. He strode lazily to the door when his father stopped him halfway. Giving Jack a look over his shoulder, Kyle waited for the next order.

"Check on Matt"

Kyle raised his brows and nodded. He had been thinking on doing that anyway; Jack didn't even have to tell him in the first place. Since Matt darted out of the room, he already decided to go after him.

"Yeah.." Kyle gave his father a nonchalant wave before he left the room and headed to the kitchen.

…………………………………………

"Damn!"

Matt splashed his face with the icy cold water, hoping it would cool the pulsating heat on his skin. Giving the back of his neck a good rub to release the tensed muscle, Matt looked at his reflection in the window's glass. His eyes were red brimmed and puffy. He sighed deeply and grabbed a washcloth to dry his soaked face.

"You're cool?"

The voice made him jumped a little. He turned to his back reflexively and found Kyle leaning against the kitchen wall; his arms crossed across his broad chest and his face was stoic. Matt cleared his throat and tossed the washcloth away before he leant against the kitchen counter.

"What are you doing here?"

Matt avoided giving straight answer. He was not good in lying, especially not to his big brother. Kyle seemed to be having this eerie sixth sense of knowing Matt's true feeling; more than Matt ever knew by himself.

"Gonna' make us some coffee"

Kyle pushed himself away from the wall, strode to the counter and stood by Matt's side. Mixing the coffee with hot water in the coffee maker, Kyle waited for his brother to make the first move. Knowing his kid brother like the back of his hand, Kyle was aware he didn't have to wait too long.

"It could have been us, ya' know?"

Kyle looked at Matt from the corner of his eyes and returned his gaze to the boiling black liquid in the coffee maker. He wondered how much coffee powder was needed to create the same concentration of blood. If only blood loss could easily be replaced by mixing a little portion of blood with water, then they don't have to worry about Dean being anemic from puking and coughing out blood. Gulping nervously, Kyle shook his head and cussed himself for thinking about something so gruesome.

"What do you mean?" he pretended being ignorant, a mechanism to avoid talking about things he didn't like to think of.

"It should have been us…we're the one who supposed to hunt those bastards"

Kyle sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. Either it was in his nature or he had developed it from listening to the emo stuff he was so much in love with, Matt really was an expressionist; one who didn't know how to contain his feelings during much inappropriate time. Given any chances, Matt would take the liberties of speaking his mind to anyone he could get a hold of; all the time that anyone would be Kyle.

"Sometime things just didn't happen as planned" that was the best reason he could give. Then again, Kyle knew it was not enough. It would never satisfy the ever hungry-for-pansy-talk Matt. His sissy little brother would always found other things to say and would stop only when he wanted to.

"If we were there half an hour earlier…this wouldn't have happened" Matt hunched his shoulders and shook his head wearily.

Kyle had expected that to come out sooner or later and he was anticipating for the next blame-it-all-on-me statement waiting to come out from Matt's mouth.

"It's my fault…if I weren't holding us back… innocent's life wouldn't be at stake"

Bull's eye! Kyle inhaled a deep breath and let it out in an irritated huff. "I doubt Sam and Dean were innocent…in fact I think they are much better hunters than both of us together" he was damn sure of that. He heard a lot about the Winchesters trio, but he never thought the Samuel Winchester he knew from Stanford was one of them. It was just too absurd. Sam was too much of a geek. However, that was then, now, he was not so sure anymore.

"It's my fault they are going to die Kyle…" Matt slumped himself onto the chair and sunk his face into his hands. "If only we're half an hour early"

Kyle grunted. He was tired, he was worried, he was sleepy and he was everything but good. A brooding little brother just happened to add to that everything he was. Honestly, he had no mood or time to get involve in sissy talk like this, but then Matt just wouldn't leave everything alone. Man! He hated Matt getting moody or broody just as much as he hated sissy talk.

"As much as I remembered there's no one dead yet…but then there'll be one soon if we don't stop this pansy talk" Kyle poured the coffee into the three mugs. He took one and put another steaming mug of coffee on top of the table, right in front of Matt.

Matt gazed up to Kyle. His face etched with confusion. "What?"

"You know I can survive everything but heart-to-heart talks" Kyle grinned stupidly as he took a sip from his mug. "They'll freeze my blood and I'll die of hypothermia"

"You're such a jerk Kyle" Matt hissed with disgust. Give the honor to his brother to spoil the mood. "No one gets hypothermia from spilling out his guts" the youngest Callahan rolled his eyes, realizing it made no point from the beginning to have this conversation with his big brother.

"I know I would"

Kyle wiggled his brows as he flashed his goofy grin –Matt detested it the most. He laughed triumphantly when Matt shot him the death glare that he never really was afraid of. Giving his brother an assuring pat on the shoulder, Kyle said "And don't think highly of yourself bro…people don't die from mistakes you made during a hunt, they died from the fancy talks that you're really best at" before he darted out of the kitchen with Jack's coffee; just in time before a flying rag could hit him right on the face. Aiming was another thing his little brother was not good at.

……………………………

Jack watched as Kyle left the room giving him a tired indignant wave. When his eldest was gone, Jack hunched his shoulders forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He inhaled a deep breath and released it too slowly; clearing away his mind and body from fatigue, worries, and whatever bad elements that had been invading him since he got that distress call from Kyle.

Glancing at the Winchester boys, Jack contemplated on the possibilities of their current positions being replaced by his own boys. Would he be able to take it considering the fact he almost reached his boundaries taking care of another's? But Dean and Sam were close to his owns to begin with. They used to live with him, to eat from his hand, hell! Sam used to be breastfed by Jenny. Jack even got his early training to be a cool father from taking care of Dean; playing pitch, wrestling, and fighting for the remote. How could he not reach his limit seeing the boys so sick and so handicapped?

The stirrings on the lanky boy's bed distracted Jack from his self-reflection. He looked at Sam who tossed and turned on the bed, restless and agitated. When the brown eyes finally snapped open, Jack went to his side and offered a comforting hand on the boy's chest, stopping him from further attempt of jerking up in a bolt. The boy was sweating profusely, a good sign of his fever breaking.

However, Sam was desperate to rouse. Jack could feel the resistance to keep lying on the bed emitting from the boy's body under his restraining palm. Knowing well he could do nothing to keep the youngest Winchester on the bed, Jack helped Sam leant against the headboard. Sam's movement was slow but strong and certain.

Once he was sat up, Sam turned his head to Dean's bed and studied his brother's limp figure. Dean looked so fragile and vulnerable lying unconscious like that. Sam cringed. Dean didn't do fragile and vulnerable. Well, maybe he was a little bit expressive lately, but not like this. Sam found himself missing the stoic and heroic Dean; who would laugh at the face of death and would come in between his little brother and the incoming dangers. He missed that Dean so much.

"Dean?" was the first word coming out from Sam's chapped lips. Amidst other things, like his own pain and discomfort, Sam asked for his brother. Always putting the need of his other significant half's before him was the trademark of a Winchester that Jack used to be so familiar with. Jack smiled tightly. The boys had grown into being each others' lifeline and the cause for each other to live for. He couldn't help wondering whether Kyle and Matt had the same bond like the Winchesters'.

Jack looked over his shoulder to Dean and turned his gaze at Sam, giving him an assuring smile. "He's fine...for now" he wished he could stop after the first two words. The boy in front of him frowned in return.

"It's really my fault…I shouldn't gave in to him in the first place, shoulda' stayed at the motel" Sam mumbled as he brought one hand to his face. He sniffed once and held back the sobs reigning in his chest. "And I didn't research well…didn't know the arrows were poisonous" there were all coming back to him. He was so busy keeping Dean in the motel bed he didn't focus on the research.

"No one learnt about the poison without getting one" Jack assured Sam though he knew it was far useless to stop the boys from blaming himself for what happened to his big brother. Sam was so like Matt. Always blaming themselves for something they didn't do.

Sam cleared his throat and looked at Jack from under his too long bangs and exhaled slowly. "Sorry for the trouble we caused you sir" he muttered softly and almost hesitantly.

"Nah…don't mention that" Jack flashed Sam a comforting smile. "Hunters stick together"

An amused snort was all he got for a reply. Jack looked at Sam with a confused stare and found the answer without even the need to ask. He forgot about the things the boys had gone through, about what they did which caused anger in the hunting community. Being helped by other hunters could have been the last thing the Winchesters would experience. Jack hunched his shoulders in defeat. Thinking about it, Jack himself would have killed the boys if they weren't Winchesters. But honestly, there was no use of taking other people's life when they were actually trying to save lives. There was no good for revenge; what a dead soul could do to restore hundreds of other soul which were lost while hunting for that only one.

Suddenly both of the grieving men were shocked with a painful moan from the other bed. 'It couldn't be! It's too early for the poison to start doing its job again'. Dean had just had one less than hour ago. Jack looked at Sam. As he had expected, the youngest Winchester tried desperately to get out of the bed to be by his brother's side. Jack contemplated on straining him and go take a look on Dean himself but later decided to let Sam had it his own way. Giving way for the boy to rouse, he curled an arm across Sam's back and assisted him to Dean's bed. Jack seated Sam on the chair by Dean's bedside and grabbed Sam's blanket, pulling it over the boy's hunched frame.

"Hey Dean?" Sam called out softly as he reached a hand to touch Dean's face. He flinched at the searing heat on Dean's skin when his hand made contact with his brother. He rubbed a thumb of Dean's sunken cheek and carded his fingers through Dean's damp hair. Sam other hand reached for Dean's, careful not to touch the IV canula on it. Grappling his brother's hand gently, Sam hoped Dean could hear and feel him.

The green eyes opened in droopy and tired slits. They were glassy and disoriented; much to Sam's dismay. When Dean was awake, Sam was drowned in his own pain and too unfocused to notice how familiar an older brother Dean had been; protective, stoic, and composed. Now, when he was fully awake, Dean was delirious and fragile and vulnerable and not the big brother he had known for so long.

"Sam..my?" when he woke, Dean started shaking furiously; Sam really wished he would just keep sleeping and never wake up at all. Dean's lips trembled as he called out Sam's name again "Sa..Sammee?"

"Yeah Dean, it's Sammy" Sam flinched at the nick he'd used for himself. Praying his thanks Dean was too doped to remember it later, Sam gave his brother a honest-to-God smile. "Hey! Rise and shine dude" he cupped Dean's scalp in his palm and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Hurt…" Dean groaned and Sam cringed. That was not Dean talking. It was someone else; someone who was in too much pain and agony and someone who was lost to the world. "It hurts Sammy" Dean's hand grasped Sam's tightly.

"I know Dean". No! He didn't know. Sam didn't know how much Dean was hurting. If there was anything he could do to channel Dean's pain to himself, he would sacrifice everything to make it happen.

"I'm sorry Sammy…" Dean's next utterance caused Sam a jolt in the heart.

"Sorry for what Dean?"

"Sorry for holding you back"

Sam's heart wrenched so greatly when Dean was finished with his words. He studied Dean's face to make sure it was Dean's delirium doing the talking, not a conscious and alert Dean. If it was the latter Sam would ran away and jump off a cliff. Luckily, the look on his big brother's face was sheer emptiness. But then his brother must have been keeping it for so long to let it out in his pain-driven oblivion; though without any intention to intimidate Sam at all. Sam gulped.

"I'm sorry for being a bad brother…a disappointment" Dean seemed to couldn't stop talking and Sam wondered how he got the strength to do that. He looked deep into Dean's eyes and found nothing but dazed green orbs looking back at him. "I'm sorry Sammy" Dean whimpered wretchedly. What Dean did after that Sam could never have expected. Dean cried silently; tears rolled down his cheek like a raindrop on the glass window.

"Deann…" Sammy grunted sadly. Dean definitely didn't do crying, but then how could he know if Dean was doing it behind his back; while he was out with Ruby, or while Dean was alone in the bathroom having a noisy shower or even when Dean was alone in the Impala waiting for him to come back from shopping. "Stop it man…" he pled.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

The ask for forgiveness was a steady chant on Dean's lips and Sam had to hold the urge to muffle Dean's mouth with his hand and stop his brother's chanting for good. But he chose to do it the gentler way. Sam stooped over his brother's face and put his forehead on top of Dean's. Closing his eyes as if to channel his thought to Dean, Sam whispered "Shut up Dean…just shut up".

Dean jolted slightly at the contact and after a second or two he relaxed; recognizing the familiar touch and gesture as none other than his Sammy. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to be lulled by Sam's whispers. It didn't take him long to fall back into sleep.

Though aware Dean had fallen back to sleep, Sam didn't lift his head. He kept it that way for a little longer, all the while hushing Dean with soft coos and soothing whispers. When he felt a wave of vertigo took over and punishing him with a slight headache, only then Sam moved his forehead away from Dean's, slightly brushing his lips on top of Dean's head; planting a ghostly kiss to let Dean know he was not going anywhere and there was nothing to be sorry for.

Sam gave Dean's hair another stroke before he turned around, finding Jack and Kyle hovering over him like mother hens. Both of the Callahans were stupefied for the reason Sam wouldn't dare think about. He was not himself by being too expressive and too emotional – though he doubted Dean would say the otherwise – and he was caught in the act by two grown men. Sam couldn't help but blushed.

"I smell coffee" Sam grinned half heartedly and looked back at Dean. 'I'm sorry Dean…'

TBC

a/n: Okay, I know there is a little bit of fluff in the end, but I couldn't help it, he. Updating had taken so much longer. Sorry for the late update, my head decided it was time for a writer's block all out of the blue. I tried my best in this chapter, hope it'd be satisfying. More of the sick boys are coming in the next chapter. Please review if you have the time, thanks for reading.