Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or the boys, just playing with them for my own twisted enjoyment. Enjoy!

Bobby had quickly abandoned his argument with Sam. The younger brother stood stock still, rooted to his spot at the foot of the bed, angry sneer gone from his face. They both watched Dean struggle to open hazy eyes, sounds of distress flooding the small room. The old hunter looked at Sam with his own blue eyes wide before turning to hit the red call button next to the bed.

He leaned back over Dean, partially to help draw him into consciousness and partially to block Sam from his line of sight. Panic seemed to settle into the young man in the bed, and Bobby frowned at the tension in previously relaxed muscles until he realized that Dean had become aware of the restraints. As he reached out to release them, Dr. Bourke appeared at his side and helped to free the young man's hands.

Cheri appeared on the other side of the bed, wiping at Dean's eyes to help remove the tackiness that was presently causing him trouble in opening his eyes any further than thin green slits. His eyes flew open, fear openly displayed. Bobby frowned. "Hey, Dean, calm down, son. Everything is gonna be okay," he murmured. He was still somewhat surprised when Dean began to struggle against the hands on him, hands that were only trying to help.

The boy began ripping at the ventilator tube in his throat, thrashing in an attempt to dislodge the other hands still touching him. Sam stepped back, watching with a strange feeling of accomplishment filling his chest. I made this happen. I caused all this delicious fear, blind panic, not a single drop of trust left. He covered up his smile with a hand, trying to hide his pleasure from the others in the small hospital room.

SPN * SPN * SPN

It had taken over an hour to calm Dean enough that the doctor and nurse no longer threatened him with restraints. They had been able to remove the ventilator, although Dr. Bourke was reluctant at first. She wanted to leave it in so that it could continue assisting with his breathing while his damaged throat healed. Dean, however, was having that tube out whether she agreed with him or not. She and Cheri finally gave in after having watched the poor soul struggle so much over the past two days.

The two medical professionals left after a quick check up and their patient seemed as settled as he could be. The doctor promised she would be back shortly to clean and rebandage his wounds, but Dean did not respond to her. He lay curled on his side, eyelids drooping, a frown pulling his lips tight. Bobby held both of his hands, murmuring soothing things as he petted his hair and caressed his face occasionally, still checking for fever.

Aside from sounds of distress, not a single word had passed through the boy's lips. "Dean," Bobby spoke softly. "Please, boy, say something. Tell me you're okay." Dean gave no response to the older man's pleading, not even a blink of his glazed eyes. "Please, Dean, Sam and I have been so worried about you," he tried again.

Still no response came from the young man in the bed. Sam moved to stand over Bobby's shoulder, a small smile on his lips. "Come on, Dean, say one little thing, it's not that hard," he added, his tone condescending. He sat on the edge of the mattress, one large hand resting on Dean's knee. When Dean remained stubbornly silent and still, Sam slid his hand up Dean's outer thigh to rest the offending appendage on his hip.

He squeezed the hipbone, a not-so-innocent smile spreading as he leaned towards his brother's face. Dean's eyes widened and Sam was thrilled by the fear flooding the green irises. Dean jerked his body away from the upsetting touch, falling from the small bed, much to Bobby's distress. Sam was around the bed in an instant, reaching for his fallen brother.

The younger brother wasn't sure what to expect, maybe a punch to the face, or to the groin his mind supplied; however, neither man was prepared for Dean's actual reaction. The wounded hunter scrambled into the corner as quickly as he could, ripping wires and IVs from his skin in the process. As Sam closed in on him and leaned down to grab an arm to pull him up, Dean opened his mouth and screamed as loud as he could, tears spilling down his pasty cheeks.

Cheri was in the room before Bobby could push the call button, anger blazing hotly in her dark eyes as she shoved Sam away from her frightened patient. "Get out!" she and Bobby snarled in unison. Cheri set to work trying to calm a hyperventilating Dean; she feared the panic attack was too far gone that the boy would hurt himself and her only choice would be to restrain and then sedate him again. She knew that route had not worked well the last time, but she was losing him.

"Let me help," Bobby's voice came from her left. She stepped back and watched him crowd into the corner and begin to draw the terrified young man to him. Dean struggled weakly against the older man, but he seemed to recognize that they weren't trying to hurt him. "It's okay now," the old man whispered to the distraught boy. "I gotcha, it's okay, you're safe. Please trust me, I won't let anyone else ever hurt you like this again, I promise, son. Take some deep breaths for me, just like that, Dean, keep going, you're doing great, slow breaths," he continued with a string of gentle words.

Cheri blinked wide eyes as Dean clung to Bobby, sobbing brokenly into the older man's chest. Bobby's smile was soft and she was able to see the pain hidden there at having to comfort his child in such a situation. She hated cases like this.

The sound of a throat clearing at the doorway drew both Bobby and Cheri's attention. Sam still stood there, with what Bobby had dubbed as his "Sammy face" firmly in place. His hazel eyes were wide and sad, a look of hurt twisting his mouth. "Dean? Why are you afraid of me? It's Sammy, I just want to help you," his voice was mournful, and had Bobby not seen and heard the evil dripping from every poor earlier, he would have believed the charade. He pulled Dean closer to him, feeling his body shake harder.

Cheri watched with shrewd eyes, taking in every detail. She had seen the hulking man staring at Dean in ways that screamed monster and spoke volumes of the torturous things he craved. She saw Bobby pulling Dean closer to him while backing the young man towards her as well, so that they made a shield between Sam and Dean.

The nurse was even more certain that she had made the right decision about calling for security as she saw Dean's trembling hands come up to cover his ears while Sam called to him. Two burly men in hospital security uniforms appeared behind Sam, each snatching an arm before he could respond. "You need this guy out, Cheri?" the taller of the two guards asked. She nodded curtly. "Yeah, thanks, Jake." She had more important things to deal with than worrying about Sam continuing to cause her patient any more distress.

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