After one phone call, the waiting room was full. Everyone from the scrap yard came, deciding they'd rather wait at the hospital for word on how Abby was than to wait by the phone.
"Look at who we brought," Dean and Kylee came in to Abby's room and Nate got all animated when he saw his mom. "Think you can handle this bundle of energy?"
"I'm gonna try," Abby stretched her arms out. "Come here, baby. Mommy's missed you."
Kylee stood by the bed with Tasha and Abby. Dean, Sam and Bobby left the girls with Nate and went back to the waiting room.
"What did the doctors say?" Dean asked Sam.
"We do surgery this afternoon," Sam replied and shoved his hands in his pockets. His eyes filled with tears. "I don't know what to say . . . to tell her . . . to make her feel better."
"You're doing fine, son," Bobby put a hand on his shoulder.
"And the doctors have no idea how it got there?" Dean had a hard time believing that the demon could affect someone when he couldn't possess them.
Sam shook his head and wiped his eyes.
"What kind of place is the mass in? Do they know how Abby will be when she's done with surgery?" Dean's eyes were as wet as Sam's, watching his little brother go through hell was like going there himself.
"I'll go tell the rest of them," Bobby excused himself from the conversation. "You boys know where I'll be."
"They hope that she'll make a full recovery but there are always risks with surgery. I don't want her to have surgery but they can't leave it in there because it is irritating the tissue around it." Sam gave up on relaying information and just sobbed. "I don't know what to do. I can't picture life without her."
Dean wrapped his arms around Sam. He wished he had the words to make it all go away. All he could do was rub Sam's back and murmur what he'd always told Sam whenever he was scared. Dean didn't even realize what the words were anymore, they were just on a loop that came out of his mouth over and over. Sam didn't need to hear the words. Just Dean's tone of voice of comforting.
"Oh, Sammy," Dean said when he had recovered enough to use actual words. "I'll be here. You have a waiting room full of people who are here for you and Abby. We can't do much else, but we're here."
"I know, and I'm grateful for that," Sam stood on his own and tried to smile.
"Are you ready to face the rest of them?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Sam and Dean went to the waiting room to visit for a few minutes.
"Sammy, honey. I'm so sorry," Missouri engulfed Sam in a hug. "Is there anything you need?"
"Just you guys," Sam replied.
Sam, Abby and Nate had some time alone before the nurse came to take Abby to pre-op.
"I still have no regrets, Sam. Nate escaped last night unharmed. If the cost of that is brain surgery and whatever the outcome is, I'm okay with that."
"I'm not," Sam admitted. "Guess I'm selfish. I want Nate unharmed and you not to have surgery."
"I'll be alright," Abby put a hand on his cheek as he played with Nate. "I know we're going to be okay."
The nurse walked in. "Are you ready to go, Mrs. Winchester?"
"Just a minute," Abby replied. She gave Nate a big hug. "You be good for daddy now. I'll see you soon."
Sam took Nate back and gave Abby a hug. "I love you, Abby. I'll be right here when you get back."
"I love you, too, Sam. Try not to give Bobby too much trouble while I'm gone. No regrets, honey. Remember that."
Sam kissed her quickly before the nurse wheeled her down the hall. He stood there, legs shaking, holding Nate too tight, tears sliding down his face.
"We've got ya," Dean pried Nate loose and handed him to Bobby. Then, he put an arm around Sam. "How about you and I sit down right here for awhile? Then, we can go grab some of that awful coffee they have in the waiting room."
Sam was in his head, worried about Abby and scared. He didn't hear anything Dean said. He just followed where he led.
Nate played on his daddy's lap. He giggled and gave him his biggest toothless grin that produced the most drool. Daddy didn't seem to notice. Bobby saw how Nate was trying to get Sam's attention and scooped Nate up.
"Are you looking for attention?" Bobby put his trucker hat on Nate. "Is that a little big for you right now? Oh well, you'll grow into 'em. I did."
Nate explored his new toy, chewing on Bobby's brim.
"That can't taste good," Bobby said as he tried to wipe the slobber off and give Nate a teething ring to chew on. Nate fussed and reached for Bobby's hat. Always a sucker for babies, he surrendered his hat over to Nate, knowing he wouldn't get it back.
Sam didn't say much. He held the same cup of coffee Dean had handed him when he'd sat down. He looked at the clock and he looked at the floor. Every so often he went to the nurses' station to check for an update. One hour stretched into two, three, almost four.
A doctor came through the doors at the end of the hall and called, "Mr. Winchester."
Sam stood.
"You can see your wife now," he led Sam back through the double doors.
Everyone else went back to waiting for any word.