"Mr. Winchester, we removed the mass in surgery successfully. We don't know how it will affect your wife. She is able to move all extremities but is very combative right now and we don't know why. She isn't responding to our questions. We thought you might be able to help us with what she's trying to communicate."

Sam looked at the doctor, "I can try."

He heard commotion in the hallway, and his heart dropped. He'd never heard his wife scream like that.

They opened the door and there were three people holding her down. "D-Da-D," was all she could get out as she fought the arms for all she was worth. She sounded terrified.

Sam walked up to her and touched her cheek, "Sam, honey. It's Sam."

Abby looked at him, making the same sounds, but she had stopped fighting.

Sam took her arms from the nurses and put her hands on his face. "Sam," he said.

Abby nodded. She calmed down but started to cry and made the same sounds.

Sam searched his memory for anyone or anything that could upset her that bad.

"Dad," Sam looked at her. "Dad?"

Abby nodded, shook and started to wring her hands.

"He's gone, honey. He's not here. You're safe."

Sam put her hands on his face again, "I'm Sam, remember? I'm your husband. You're safe."

Abby slowly calmed down.

"What was she trying to say?" the doctor asked.

"Her dad abused her when she was little. It was awful. She must have thought she was back there. Is this something that is going to keep happening?"

"I don't know. We'll give her enough morphine now so that she sleeps. Did you want to go home to get some rest and we'll call you when she wakes up?"

"No, I'll stay," Sam kept in contact with Abby. He held one of her hands.

Sam turned his attention back to Abby. Her eyes were huge. "They're going to give you something for the pain, Abby. I'll be right here. It's going to make you sleepy, but I'll be here when you wake up."

Abby closed her eyes and let the medication do its job. Sam followed as they pushed her into ICU and then sat by her bed in there. He asked the nurse to get Dean and Bobby so that he could tell them what was going on.

Sam sat there in silence and heard the door click shut after Dean and Bobby came in. They both stood by the door, unsure of what to do next.

"It's okay. She's asleep." Sam motioned them over.

"How is she doing?" Bobby asked.

"She's confused. When she came to, she thought she was back home and her dad was abusing her. She was agitated and there were three nurses holding her down. I think she remembered who I was, but she didn't say my name, she just nodded. I don't know if she can talk, but she understands. The doctors don't know if she'll be in the present time or in her memories again when she wakes up."

"How are you doing?" Dean asked as he moved to stand behind Sam.

Sam shrugged. "It all depends on how she's doing when she wakes up."

"We're here for you, Sam. Whatever you need," Bobby laid a hand on Sam's shoulder.

"I need someone to take care of Nate. She'll want to see him as soon as she wakes up."

"Missouri will be happy to spoil him while you're gone."

"Do you want me to stay?" Dean offered.

"That'd be nice," Sam smiled. "Time here gets long."

"I'll get back to the others. You can reach us at home. Call for anything, anything at all," Bobby gave Sam a hug and kissed Abby's cheek. "You get better soon, darlin'."

"How are you going to handle it if she wakes up in her memories again?" Dean asked.

"Just keep telling her that she's safe. Hopefully whatever is pulling her to those bad memories will go away."

"Think that could be the demon's Plan B?"

"What?" Sam was confused.

"If he couldn't kill her, he'd trap her in her worst memories. That sounds mighty cruel and like something he might do."

"I don't think it matters if the demon is the cause or not. We still have to deal with it the same."

"I remember when we got Tasha, Sam. It was ugly. She was so torn up on the inside and her spirit was broken. I don't know what you went through with Abby, but she could wake up and be in the same condition we found Tasha in."

"God, I hope not," Sam started to rub his temples. "I just wish she'd wake up so that we'd know."

Dean rubbed Sam's shoulders and neck. "This chair isn't going to do you a damn bit of good if you're planning on sleeping in it."

"I know. I'd sleep by Abby but I don't want her to wake up and think I'm her dad."

"Isn't she going to have to get used to sleeping by you eventually? Maybe your body next to hers will remind her about your happy time together. Maybe her body will recognize yours even if her mind doesn't, at least right away."

"We're grasping at straws, Dean. I wish we had a instructions for this like we do for rituals. I'm learning that hunting is easy. Real life is complicated."

"Tell me about it. I have Missouri giving me marriage advice."

"What?" Sam chuckled.

"Yeah. I was a little shocked myself. Guess women are more complicated than I ever could have dreamed."

"Did you take her advice?"

"No. I did modify my thinking a little bit, though."

Sam laughed. Dean took the advice and couldn't admit it. "Whatever, man. As long as it works."

"Yeah. I hope so."

They sat there in silence. Like Dean had always promised, Sam wasn't alone.

"You have visitors, but they can only stay for a few minutes. We can only allow two visitors at a time," the nurse told them before she opened the door to let Kylee and Tasha in.

"She's still sleeping," Sam told them.

"I'm right here, Abby," Tasha took Abby's hand in hers and Dean gave her his chair.

"When did you come back?" Dean asked Kylee.

"We never left. We've been in the waiting room. It took us this long to sweet talk the nurses into letting us back," Kylee hugged Dean, hoping he was doing okay.

"Sam? Will you be okay if I step out with Kylee to grab a bite to eat? I can get something for you, too. Abby needs you to be at your best," Dean said.

Sam nodded. "Tasha will keep me company."

"Anything special you want?"

"It's all cafeteria food, Dean. Doesn't it all taste the same?" Sam cracked a smile.

"Stupid question. Blame it on low blood sugar. We'll be back in, say, half an hour?"

"Sounds good," Sam waved as Kylee and Dean walked out.

"Bobby said she woke up and thought she was back in the past," Tasha's voice was quiet.

"Yeah, she was."

"Did she say much?"

"No. She just screamed. She was terrified. I think she remembers who I am. After I told her I was her husband and she was safe, she calmed down."

"Did Abby ever tell you the details of what happened?" Tasha looked at the floor.

"Not really. She told me about Angel. I never asked about the rest and she didn't bring it up. She'd been away from your dad for years when I met her."

Tasha bit her lip. "I don't think Bobby knows the particulars, either. I know when I have nightmares, bits and pieces comes out, but I've never actually told him. You might hear details of, um, encounters that you really don't want to hear."

"Nothing she could say would change how much I love her," Sam spoke slowly. "Just like if you told Bobby, he'd still love you."

"I think I'm okay," Tasha sniffled. "Well, most of the time I think I do. I just wanted to warn you about what you might hear."

"Is there anything I could say or do that would trigger those memories? Something harmless but would mean something to Abby?"

"Don't ever cover her eyes . . . smell like you've been smoking a pipe . . . or mention 'playing house'. That's all I can think of."

"Thanks, Tasha. I don't want to scare Abby if I can avoid it."

"I know you'd never hurt her on purpose," Tasha wiped away a couple tears. "Just be prepared to hear anything. She'll see your emotions before you can cover them."

Sam nodded as they both went back to watching Abby sleep.

"Why didn't you go home?" Dean asked Kylee in the hall.

"I thought you might need me. Besides, Tasha wasn't going anywhere. Bobby went home to make sure Nate got settled in for the night and then he'll be back. He didn't want to leave Tasha, but he knew I'd be here with her."

"I'm glad you stayed," Dean embraced her in the hallway. "I needed this little break with you."

"I knew you would." Kylee smiled. "Besides, I can't sleep when you're not there."

It was something so simple, so basic, not being able to sleep alone. Dean realized that Sam wasn't going to leave the hospital until Abby did.

"I could be up here with Sam for a few days."

"Then I'll be asleep in the chair next to yours. I don't need a bed to be able to sleep. I just need you."

"Oh, Kylee," Dean kissed her and could taste the rotten waiting room coffee. He didn't care. Kylee was there and understood that he needed to be there for Sam. She wasn't going to make him choose.

"Dean," Kylee struggled to say against Dean's lips. "We're in public here."

"I don't care. It's late at night. The lights are dimmed. I'm busy kissing my wife."