IT'S ALL IN THE CARDS

DISCLAIMER: The usual, not mine to own but I love to play ... no money passes hands for this story or any other I write. I wish but nope not yet. No Laundromat washers or dryers were harmed or destroyed in the writing of this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the combination of three story ideas, and thanks and LovinJackson for the wonderful input and ideas for this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: Sam is 18 and Dean is 22 – 23 (set between new years day and Dean's birthday to begin with.) Before Sam goes to Stanford.

SPECIAL NOTE: Sorry seems to be a permanent word these days but I am sorry for taking so long in getting this chapter up. I did write it while I was holidaying on the Gold Coast, in Queensland but when I got home and went to post it I found that my main computer had two very annoying trojans hiding and it took nearly a week to clean, here's hoping that I have it all done now and I can fire ahead with this and my other stories.

S—D

Chapter Five

Then:

He never heard the car racing towards him; he never heard the shouts of warning or the blaring of car horns. All he felt was the connection of metal and iron against his flesh, a cold numbness flood through his body and then nothing.

Bonelessly Max's body hit the bonnet of the car and then somersaulted away from it sending him sprawling down the road. A woman's scream filled the shock-filled witnesses, John and Tess turning just as the car connected with Max.

A chill ran up John's spine and he suddenly had an urge to see both of his sons, gripping Tess' elbow a little tighter than he should have, he guided her towards the lifts and gave her a half-hearted apology.

He could barely swallow down on the bile rising up his throat or barely hear anything save for the pounding of his heartbeat and pulse. 'We have to get to the boys now.' Was all he said in defence of his actions.

Now:

Dean paced the width of Sam's private room while he waited for his father to return, the police guard had finally arrived and was set up just outside the door. Though he already knew that even though they thought that they were doing the right thing the police were not the protection that Sam really needed.

He paused and listened, 'yep that's dad.' Dean grinned at his sleeping brother when he heard the loud harsh tones of John Winchester testing the hapless police officers at the door. A woman's voice made Dean listen a little more, he arched an eyebrow and smiled, Tess was with his dad, interesting … 'the old man is certainly in the need for some female … ministrations hey Sammy?' He sat down next to his brother and leant close enough to stroke his cheek, 'feel like waking up for some ice cream kiddo?'

'mmm.' Sam instinctively moved closer to his brother's presence, 'De?'

'Hey there Sammy dad's back, and he's got Tess with him.'

'T-Tess?' Sam frowned as he tried to force his eyes open, they felt heavy and filled with glue, 'Who?'

'Tess helped us find you kiddo,' Dean said leaning on the railing he smiled at his brother and was suddenly taken back in time when Sammy was a tousle-haired toddler all of four years of age who woke with nightmares on a regular basis. 'She's ahh a psychic.'

'Hey boys.' John grinned at his sons as he led the way into the room, balancing the coffees while Tess carried the pie and ice cream. 'Good to see ya awake kiddo.'

'Hey Dad.' Sam croaked out and then glanced over at the woman standing next to his dad. 'Hi.' He blushed shyly.

'Hi Sam, I'm Tess it's great to finally meet you.'

'So dad? Coffee and pie? I think that's what was on the order of the day.' Dean stared at the food bag in Tess' hand.

'Down boy, you got your pie.' John shook his head at his eldest son's antics, deep down he knows that Dean was trying to make it easier for Sam but he was still a force of nature to be reckoned with. No scratch that he wasn't just a force of nature, when it came to protecting Sam he was a force greater than nature herself.

Sam squinted up at his brother and smiled softly as he watched him devour the pie and coffee in record time.

'Here's some ice cream son.' John sat on the edge of the bed and helped Sam into a more comfortable position before handing him the spoon, with an encouraging nod of his head John held the small pot of the creamy desert and let Sam try to manage eating it himself.

Sam sat for a couple of seconds staring at the spoon, then at his father and then back at the spoon before trying to scoop it up. The warmth of the room melting the ice cream enough for him to manage without too much fuss, after the first attempts proved to be a success Sam relaxed a little bit and finished his treat without too many mishaps. 'Thanks dad.'

'How you doing son? Really?' John asked looking at his son intently, he took in the pallor and large black patches under his eyes, shadowing them and enhancing the bruising giving him a grotesque unmovable mask.

'M'kay dad, 'specially now.' Sam jutted his chin at his PCA pump, 'the doc gave me some good stuff.'

'That's great Sammy,' John grinned, 'do you need anything?'

'Nah m'kay dad.' Sam yawned and tried to find a comfortable position to sleep, 'back feels funny.'

'Funny how Sammy?' Dean asked his inner-mother-hen surfacing in one swift move, 'want me to go and get Mark paged?'

'Nah, funny as in numb Dean,' Sam giggled realising what he said, 'numb Dean, dumb Dean, numb bum, dumb…' He smirked and blinked blearily up at his brother a sloppy grin fixed on his face.

'Oh very funny Sammy.' Dean shook his head and tried not to laugh at his little brother flying high on pain meds.

'Dad?' Sam rolled his head towards his father and waited until he saw only two of him instead of four, 'whoa dad, which one are ya?'

'I'm right here Sammy, so what's up?' John shook his head he forgot how loopy morphine made Sam, making him seem more childlike and less like a petulant teenager.

'Dad … they … they … don't want other dad … you're my dad … not that dude.'

'Sam you're not making too much sense here son.' John tried to remain calm while Sam rambled a little, the drugs making him more relaxed and uninhibited, 'of course you're my son, you're my baby boy.'

'Ah Dad!' Sam screwed his nose up, 'm'not baby no more,' he giggled softly and then sniffled as tears started to flow, 'don't want him to be my dad, not a demon's son, m'your son, m'a-Winchester.'

'Yes you are and there's no doubting that Sammy, the demon was just playing with your mind, trying to confuse you.' John glanced over at the stricken look on Dean's face and then over at Tess who sat quietly by the window before back at Sam. 'Try to rest Sam, your brother and me we're gonna make sure that no one will get anywhere near you.'

'Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'M'back feels funny…'

'Does it Sam?'

'Uhhuh … Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'How come my foot is hanging in that thingy?'

'Coz you have to have it in there to make it better.'

'Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'My hand looks weird.'

'It's because the doctors had to operate on your shoulder to fix it so your whole arm is swollen and bruised.'

'Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'How come there's two of ya?'

'How about you go to sleep for a while?'

'Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'M'tired.'

'Go to sleep Sam.'

'Dad?'

'Yes Sam?'

'Will you be here when I wake up?'

S—D

Tess listened to the Winchesters and tried not to giggle at Sam's rambling, she had to move away from him a little when she had first gotten there his emotional pain flared out and swamped her. All she wanted to do after that was cry, to sit down and sob for the young man in the bed. Aside from the physical agony from his horrendous injuries; the confusion and fear emanating from him was almost more than she could bear. Her gaze met John's from across the room and the bed and the spikes of confusion were there again. She was there to help Dean and Sam that was all she was not supposed to look at John like that or have any sort of feelings for him.

She blushed prettily and turned her attention to the window intent on watching the people milling around; blinking she gasped and tried to refocus on the entity staring up at the window.

'John?' She glanced over at the eldest Winchester and then back out the window.

'What's up Tess?' John patted Sam's good leg and then sauntered over towards the psychic not wanting to alarm his boys he made it look like he was stretching his legs.

'What's going on?'

'Tell me what do you see under that tree?' Tess pointed to a large tree in the middle of the common area.

'Who that guy? The one in the black coat and jeans,' John stared down in the direction Tess indicated.

'Yes, he was staring up at this window a minute ago and … and I could've sworn that his eyes were glowing red, and he was surrounded with a black and red aura.'

'Damn it.' John hissed.

'What's wrong dad?' Dean asked his keen hearing picking up on John and Tess' conversation, he glanced down at his sleeping brother wiped the drool from his mouth and then headed over to the others. 'Tess?'

'We're being watched,' John said succinctly and pointed out the man under the tree.

'Son of a bitch.' Dean snarled turning to run out of the door, 'he's dead.'

'Dean!' John grabbed his eldest's arm, 'calm down we have to do this the smart way.'

'Yeah by killing the bastards, why are you just standing here Dad?'

'Dean?' Sam cried out, 'no please don't leave me!' He started to thrash about in the bed, sweat plastered his hair to his face as his nightmare took hold of his frail mind and body.

'Sammy hey it's okay,' Dean immediately forgot about the man downstairs and rushed back to his brother's side, tenderly he stroked his fingertips down Sam's cheek and across his forehead, speaking softly he gently eased his brother back to wakefulness.

'He's wonderful with Sam isn't he?' Tess said glancing up at the big man next to her, 'he's so conflicted and yet when it comes to Sam he's …'

'He's a pit-bull on steroids.' John finished with a self-depreciating chuckle making Tess look at him in shock.

'John … some things are out of our control, you did the best you could at the time and look at your two boys … perhaps you could have done things differently but really look at them John they are a credit to you.'

'Nah they're a credit to their mom and Dean, I tried to keep them safe and to teach them to survive and … and look what happened, some great big protector I am.'

'John you're not to blame for what happened to Sam, neither is Dean … this happened as horrendous as it is … you are not to blame.' Tess said quietly but firmly, 'and neither is Dean.' She repeated, 'now want to come for a walk with me?'

John shook his head, confused with this woman standing in front of him, he knew so little about her but she knows so much about him and the boys and yet he had no qualms about trusting her.

'Sounds good to me,' John nodded before he went back to Sam's bedside, finding Sam awake but disorientated and clearly distressed, 'boys I'm just going to walk Tess downstairs and then I'll be right back.'

'Dad?' Sam whispered, 'please …'

'I won't be long I promise Sammy and Dean'll stay right here with you.'

'Dean?' Sam rolled his eyes towards his big brother, 'please?'

'I'm staying right here Sammy,' Dean reassured his distraught sibling, his worry etched across his handsome face, Sam wouldn't talk about the nightmare but it had obviously taken a toll on him.

'Won't be long.' John said, leaning over the rails he gathered his battered baby into his arms and gave him a firm but still gentle hug, 'promise I'll be right back.'

'Thanks dad.' Sam returned the hug as best as he could and then let his father go, 'my dad.'

S—D

'Where are you parked Tess?' John asked as they left the hospital main entrance and gave the appearance of a couple strolling along in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

'Just on the other side of the common,' Tess replied looping her arm around John's, 'he's still there,' she added in a whisper.

'So I see, can you tell where he's watching? Us or the boys?'

'The boys but …' Tess winced and squeezed her nose as she felt a pressure suddenly build up, 'argh bastard.'

'Tess? What is it?' John caught her just as she stumbled, 'Tess?'

'He's … picked up on me … argh!' Tess cried out in pain as she felt another wave of psychic energy hit her.

'Come on I'm gonna get you outta here.' John wrapped a strong arm around Tess' waist and held her tightly against him as he guided her to the car park, 'which is your car?'

'Blue bug, the one with …ah umm the one … argh over …' Tess squinted and pointed in the general direction of her car and then sagged against John's strong, muscular chest.

John stared in the direction and balked at the thought when he saw the powder blue coloured 'bug' with decals of rainbows and flowers on the rear wind-shield, 'sorry Tess but we'll come back for your car.' He muttered as he guided her towards the giant black truck gleaming in the sunlight, 'promise.'

S—D

'Sammy you gotta talk to me dude, please it's killing me seeing ya like this,' Dean pleaded with his brother, 'just tell me bout the nightmare that's all.'

'They came and took me away from you and dad,' Sam blurted out, 'they were in suits and said that dad was not my real father and that I had to go away from you guys or they were going to charge dad with kidnapping.'

'Ah Sammy,' Dean sighed unsure of what to say to ease his brother's fears. Just then the door swung open to reveal a group of medical students surrounding a tall and relaxed looking woman wearing a pair of jeans, blouse and a stethoscope around her neck, her auburn hair pulled back in a haphazard bun with curls breaking loose around her face. 'Can we help you?' Dean asked standing up he moved in front of Sam blocking him from the gaggle of students.

'I'm Prue Macintosh, I was the orthopaedic surgeon who operated on Sam here,' she introduced herself; 'sorry this is a teaching hospital I thought that Mark would have said something.'

'And I thought that Mark would have said something to you, that we have a police guard at the door for a reason.' Dean shot back, 'unless authorised no one can just waltz in here.'

'And exactly who are you?' Prue asked her smile fading quickly.

'I am Sam's older brother Dean and when our father is not here, I'm the one you deal with, now I don't give a rat's ass that this is a teaching hospital and that these are the brightest and best students in this damned city, they are not to be in here, no one authorised them, so they can all leave … Now!'

'Now listen here young man …' Prue started to argue with the young upstart, she wanted to show off her handiwork to the students, this patient was a particularly difficult case and she was very happy with how his surgery went.

'Out now.' Dean snapped but immediately lowered his voice when he heard the soft whimper come from Sam, 'this is upsetting my brother, and I suggest that you leave now lady.'

'What is all the yelling about?' Mark demanded hurrying into the room he came to a skidding stop when he took in the scene in front of him. Prue Macintosh stood surrounded by her ever-present students and Dean stood in full body-guard mode at Sam's side, and Sam, Sam was huddled as close as he possibly could by his brother, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. 'Doctor Macintosh I suggest that you and I take this outside, Sam is getting distressed and I will not allow that to happen.'

'Mark I…'

'I will explain everything Prue but not here, and Dean is right I'm afraid your students are not welcome in here and you should have followed protocol in asking the patient and his family for permission first before bringing them in there.'

Prue opened her mouth to argue but quickly closed it again; she knew that she had made a rookie mistake in her excitement and haste in allowing the students to follow her into the room without first obtaining permission from the patient and his family.

With a curt nod to Dean she swept out of the room with her gaggle of students following; she hadn't even acknowledged Sam the entire time she was in his room.

'Mark what the hell?' Dean demanded his anger still bubbling away without an outlet.

'I am so sorry Dean I forgot to speak to Prue before she came in, I'm not sure why but your police guard isn't outside either.'

'Oh that's just great,' Dean ran his fingers through his hair and turned to look at his brother, 'don't worry Sammy nothing's gonna happen I won't let it.'

'So tired Dean,' Sam whispered turning his face away from the sympathetic looks on his brother's and doctor's faces.

'Aw Sammy,' Dean's temper deflated as quickly as it started to rise, 'how bout you get some more sleep I'll be right here.'

'Doc? My back feels weird,' Sam admitted, he felt miserable, tired, scared and his back felt like it was on fire.

'Let's have a look then,' Mark said coming closer to the bed he moved with slow deliberate movements letting Sam see each and everything he did as he got closer. 'Dean would you like to brace him up again like before?'

'Yeah sure Mark,' Dean frowned slightly his worry spiking, no police guard, bullying doctors, demons watching their window and now Sam in pain and hot … Dean was sure that he was heading towards a nervous breakdown himself.

Carefully, Mark removed the bandaging and padding from the long welts on Sam's back and inspected the sutured sites closely, his frown deepening when he felt the heat emanating from them, 'okay I'll get ya all fixed up in no time Sam can you just hang in there for a moment?'

'What's wrong Doc?' Dean asked peering over his brother's shoulder, nausea rising when he got a clear look at Sam's back. 'Shit.'

'Dean?' Sam's voice vibrated against Dean's collar bone, 'what is it?'

'Cramp.' Dean fudged not wanting to upset Sam, 'right in my butt.'

'Dean?'

'Okay guys just try and stay still for me and I will be back in a flash,' Mark interrupted the beginnings of their brotherly banter-session.

Mark hurried out to look for Kaylee, they'll have to wash each welt again and add some antiseptic cream to the mix they are already using, as it seems that infection is taking a hold. He stopped and stared around at the empty hallway, Prue, her students, the police and even the nursing staff, no one was around.

'Boys I think that we might have a bit of a problem,' Mark announced as he re-entered the room without looking for the nurse or anyone. 'We're going to move Sam.'

'What's going on Doc?' Dean dropped his good-natured demeanour and was all predator and hunter now.

'We're going to take Sam to a treatment room where I'll get Kaylee to clean his back for me, I want to change his medication a little and add an antiseptic cream to the mix and then I want to move him to the ICU ward.'

'Doc you're starting to worry me here why's Sammy going to ICU again?'

'For his best chance at recovery, the staff can keep a close eye on the infection so we can get rid of it before it really takes hold.' Mark explained as he finished speaking and handed Dean a small card with a list of phone numbers on it. 'This has my cell number on it as well as my office and home numbers I have also included the direct line and extension to the ICU nurse's station. It is virtually locked-down up there, only family members placed on the list of approved visitors will be allowed on the floor let alone in the unit.'

'Thanks doc but why? What's going on?' Dean asked as he walked the man to the door, a quick glance at Sam found his brother lying quietly and watching them, a slightly glassy look to his eyes and the slackness of his face let both the doctor and brother know Sam had just got a shot of morphine from the PCA.

S—D

While Kaylee and Mark worked in the sterile treatment room on Sam's back even as he slept on oblivious to what they were doing, Dean snuck out to ring their father and to let him know the changes in place. There was still no sign of the police guards from Sam's old room, with a serious look on his face as the realisation of what was happening hit him. Retching he ran into the men's toilet and just made it as he threw up in a basin, trembling and crying he slammed his fist into the tiled wall needing to feel something other than pure wretchedness.

He splashed water on his face, rinsed his mouth out with water and pulled his cell out; he hurried to the lift and reception area where he could use it safely.

'Dad, where are ya?' He asked without preamble when his father answered.

'On my way back … what's wrong Dean?'

'Dad …'

'Dean? You're worrying me, what's wrong?'

'It's all so stuffed dad … Mark is moving Sam into the ICU lock up ward.'

'What? Why?'

'The police guard has gone, vanished … and um the orthopaedic surgeon is a real piece of work, she barged into Sam's room with a group of student doctors, Sam started to meltdown …'

'The guards were gone before or after she barged in?'

'Before I think, umm Sammy's got an infection in his back so he's getting it cleaned and redressed now then they're taking him to his new room. They're gonna have a pre-approved visitor list, so no one, including doctors after Doctor All-High-and-Mighty-freaking-Surgeon can come in when they like.'

'Dean are you alright?'

'Yeah I'm … how long you gonna be?'

'I'm only ten minutes away, a demon was watching the hospital, when we left he must have detected Tess and attacked her with this … psychic energy or something so I took her home and made sure that she was okay.'

'Why dad you old fox you.' Dean smirked.

'Nuff of the old Dean, you get back to your brother and I'll be there as soon as I can.'

'Thanks dad.' Dean hung up and after a quick scan of the reception area he hurried back to the ICU ward preferring to take the stairs than the lift.

S—D

Max opened his eyes and stared around in amazement, he was sure that he was dead when the car hit him, but here he was, lying in a hospital bed with tubes running out of him and bandages everywhere. He felt strange, it was nothing specific but it felt as though his body was not his own, 'just the drugs,' he muttered under his breath.

He shuddered and then sat upright; he pulled the IV cannula out from the back of his hand and then yanked on the catheter letting it all fall away.

After climbing out of bed without any apparent problems, he dressed quickly and then without flinching he walked stiffly out of the room. He could hear his voice screaming inside his head but his thoughts were too loud and he blocked them out. He wanted to revel in the silence. Only one voice wound its way through and it repeated itself constantly as he made his way to the lifts, leaving a thin trail of blood in his wake.

S—D

'Nice room Sammy,' Dean grinned as they settled into the new private ICU room, 'and I got a bed as well.'

'De?' Sam whispered and held out his good hand to his brother. 'Scared … they're coming.'

'Hey Sammy it's gonna be alright, dad'll be here in a few minutes, no one knows where you are and this is a lock down unit, they can't come in without express permission, it's gonna be alright.'

'Tired.'

'I know dude why don't ya get some shut eye until dad gets here.'

'Too late, dad's already here,' John said as he closed the door behind him, 'so you boys had a bit of fun while I was taking Tess home?'

'No more than usual was it Sammy?' Dean glanced down at Sam, 'suture boy here had to have his back redone I guess that was fun … well fun for me not so much for him.'

'Dad … how's Tess?' Sam whispered not wanting to explain how he felt Tess as soon as she walked in, that he felt her as keenly as himself and that made him sick to his stomach. 'All my fault …'

'Sammy, hey no going there kiddo…' Dean chastised Sam with a forced-grin fixed on his face, 'we worked all of that out before.'

'She is in danger coz of … if I didn't …'

'How about getting some sleep for a while Sam?' John suggested while he settled into a comfortable looking leather chair, 'at least the chairs are comfortable.'

'Don't wanna sleep just yet,' Sam yawned but stared at his father with a determined look, 'too many nightmares.'

'Want to watch some television?' Dean asked grabbing the remote control, 'might be a porn channel?'

'Dean … upstairs brain dude,' John shook his head at his eldest, 'I spoke to Mark on the way up here, we got an apology from that woman doctor, one of her registrars will be in first thing in the morning to check Sam … he told me what he had to do with your back Sam and why he suggested you guys move rooms.'

'He's a good guy Dad.'

'He sure is, so Dean you'll be glued to your brother like a Siamese twin…'

'Conjoined twins dad.' Sam whispered, 'and ew.'

TBC