Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold Ch. 18
Disclaimer: Everything recognizable in this story belongs to the CW and Kripke. I'm just playing in their sandbox for a little while.
Author's Note: Not my best chapter but I am feeling melancholy after spending half of the evening at the funeral home with a very good friend who's father passed away.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Previously: "I'm sorry you had to go through that tiger, but everything's going to be okay, you're going to be okay." Dean said as he sat on Sam's bed once again and slid in behind his baby brother, wrapping his arms around him in support. "Just sleep kiddo, I'll be here to keep away the nightmares."
Returning approximately an hour later with a cup of strong coffee in hand for Dean, John and the others opened the door to find Dean leaning against the headboard of the hospital bed, Sam held firmly to his chest, both boys in peaceful slumber. "Now isn't that a sight for sore eyes." Whispered Bobby as he watched John brush a hand across his eyes as he felt his own eyes misting up too. They had been through so much pain and heartache over the past week with Sammy missing that they couldn't help but get sentimental at the sight before them.
"Yeah it is." John replied with a trembling voice as he walked over towards the bed. He knew he would never have a better time than now to be near his youngest. Snagging a chair with his left foot, he pulled it towards the bed and sat down. He reached out to brush a hand through Sammy's wayward bangs before palming his cheek. "I love you so much kiddo. I never realized just how much until you were kidnapped and taken away from me. I know we fight a lot lately son and it might not seem like it, but I love you with all my heart tiger." John whispered staring intently at his youngest child's sleeping face.
"He knows that dad, and he loves you too even when he claims to hate you during those fights." Dean softly stated in a hushed tone to keep from waking his little brother.
"Dean, why didn't you tell me you were awake?" John questioned with surprise at hearing Dean's words. He'd thought his oldest was deep in slumber. If he had known Dean was awake, he would have waited until later to bare his soul.
"Because if I had, I would have missed your rare little chick flick moment there dad. You know as well as I do that those things are few and far between when it comes to us Winchesters." Dean answered honestly before closing his eyes and fading off to sleep once again knowing that his dad was there to watch over Sammy and he could stand down for a little while.
Knowing that the boys were most likely going to sleep for the rest of the night, Bobby, along with Caleb and Joshua decided to get a room for the night at the mall motel down the road. It would give the Winchester family some private time to themselves, even if it was to do nothing but sleep. Saying their goodbyes, the hunters eased quietly out of the room promising to return later in the morning.
Finally alone with his boys, John allowed himself the time to release all the anger and frustration that had been building up inside of him over the past week and let out gut wrenching sobs that caused him to fold in two as he wrapped his arms around his stomach in support. Laying his head down on the side of Sam's bed, he grasped his youngest child's hand being careful of the IV and watched his youngest sleeping as he cried his own self to sleep.
As Dean lay in the bed pretending to sleep after having been awakened by his father's mournful sobs, he wanted to reach out and comfort him, tell him that everything would be alright. He could feel a huge lump building in his throat at the sound of his father's heart wrenching wails, but he knew his dad would shut down and hide his feelings if he knew Dean had been privy to them. Choosing to continue feigning sleep, Dean was thankful that at least Sammy was blissfully unaware of the emotions that were flowing through their dad right now.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Sam awoke early the next morning to the feeling of familiar arms wrapped around him and holding him tight. He sighed in comfort knowing that Dean would always be there watching over him no matter what. Even though he felt a little embarrassed at having slept in his brother's arms, he was grateful to Dean for keeping the nightmares away and helping him get a good night of sleep. He knew sooner or later that the images of what happened would assault his mind and he would deal with them then, but at least for now, they were held at bay by an ever vigilant big brother.
Feeling the weight of someone's hand resting in his, he looked over to see that his dad sitting uncomfortably close and was holding his hand. He began to unconsciously tremble at the thought of his dad being so close and gasped as his body tensed at the thought of being hurt again causing him to automatically jerk away.
"Sammy?" Dean questioned as he was immediately brought alert by the fear and tension he could feel coursing through his brother's body. He quickly assessed the situation to find that there was no real threat, that his baby brother's fear was brought on by the fact that their dad had fallen asleep sitting right beside them. "Sammy, S'okay tiger, it's just dad and he would never hurt you, I promise." Dean voiced soothingly as he wrapped his arms around his baby brother just a little tighter and began to rub circles on his arms with his thumbs.
Startled awake by Sam's hand being jerked out of his, John opened bloodshot eyes to see his youngest taut with fear. "Oh shit, I hope I haven't just made things worse between us." He thought upon realizing that he had unintentionally fallen asleep in the chair right beside his boys. Praying to a God he wasn't sure he believed in that what he was about to do was the right thing, John said, "Sammy, please son, I just want to help you. You're my baby, my last precious gift from Mary and it is killing me not to be there for you. I know what you went through was atrocious and you have every right to be afraid now, but please, I'm begging you kiddo, don't be afraid of me."
Chewing his bottom lip as he listened to his dad's words, Sam glanced up at him to see the utter anguish in his eyes. It was obvious from the dried tear tracks on his cheeks, that his father had been crying at one point and it pained him to know that he was the reason his father was so upset. Taking a deep breath to try and hold the fear at bay, he hesitantly reached out his hand towards his dad's and clasped his fingers lightly around it.
John's heart soared as he watched his youngest child reach out and grasp him by the hand. He had no doubts whatsoever that Sammy was still scared, but at least he was trying and he couldn't ask for anything more than that. Returning the squeeze with a big smile, he said, "You're not alone in your fight to recover kiddo. We're going to get through this together as a family and come out stronger for it."
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Later that morning, the Winchesters watched to door open to see Jurgen entering the room. "Good morning, how did our young patient sleep last night?" Jurgen questioned with a smile as he kept his distance to begin with.
"Like a log." Dean replied as he ruffled Sammy's hair affectionately with his hand.
"No doubt I'm sure to having the two of you close by along with some pretty good pain medications." Jurgen stated knowing how important a supportive family was to a patient's recovery. "Sam, if it's okay with you, I need to check your hand to make sure the circulation is still good."
"Kay" Sam replied knowing his family would be right there beside him. He couldn't help but tense up a little as Jurgen approached, but the gentle squeeze on his shoulder from Dean helped him to calm himself and relax a little.
Checking Sam's fingernails for blueness and swelling, Jurgen was happy to note that neither was present in Sam's fingers. He then applied a little pressure to two of Sam's fingernails to see the pink color return rather quickly. "Things are looking pretty good." Jurgen said as he glanced at John and Dean to notice them watching him anxiously.
"So how long will Sammy have to wear that splint?" Dean questioned as he watched Sammy cradle his injured limb to his chest once the doc had finished with it. He knew how aggravating the things could be after having sprained his wrist extremely bad a few years earlier.
"I'd say at three weeks to a month at least if not longer. Then once it comes off, we can start some physical therapy on the hand and with time, Sam should get back full use of his hand." Jurgen replied in answer to Dean's question.
"That's fantastic news! Did you hear that Sammy? The doc says you're hand is going to be just fine dude." Dean stated with obvious joy in his voice. "If you're lucky, I'll even teach you how to play the piano once you get that thing off."
"Dean, you don't even know how to play the piano." Sam replied as he rolled his eyes at his big brother's wprds.
"A minor setback, nothing I can't handle." Dean replied with a smirk taking satisfaction in the small grin that crossed his baby brother's face. At least he had accomplished one mission today, getting his little brother to smile.
As Jurgen watched the brothers interact, he knew he had done the right thing in allowing Dean to stay with him at all times, and more so, in allowing him to take care of Sam's more personal injuries. It was more than obvious that the two of them were as close as brothers could be. He had no doubts that Dean would play an instrumental part in Sam's recovery over the next few weeks. "Boys, I hate to interrupt, but I thought you all would like to know that if Sam continues to progress the way he is doing now, he should be able to be released in the next twenty four to forty eight hours as long as you have somebody lined up to do his physical therapy." Jurgen said interrupting the brotherly banter that the boys had started.
"I'll get right on that doc." Bobby said as he walked through the door with Joshua and Caleb following right behind him. He knew right away that he would call on Jefferson to ask for his help with taking care of Sammy's medical needs as well as his PT. He had planned on calling him from the moment John had agreed to spending time at his place for Sammy to heal. Jefferson knew all about hunting and wouldn't ask any awkward questions. Walking over to the other side of the room, Bobbly placed the call to get the ball in motion.
As Joshua and Caleb stood in the doorway watching the Winchesters, they were happy to see that John had finally been able to get close to his youngest child since it meant that Sammy was finally starting on that road to recovery. Smiling in relief, they kept their distance not wanting to put too much on the kid too soon. They could wait until Sam was ready once again to accept them into his world.
TBC The family will finally be going to Bobby's place in the next chapter, but will it be smooth sailing?