Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or the boys, I just play with them for a bit.

Author Note: Sorry this chap is so short. Thanks to all who reviewed, faved, or followed.

The room was quiet, only the sounds of Bobby's sighs and Dean's wheezing breaths could be heard. Cheri had continued to peek into the room, glad that her patient remained asleep and that Bobby still sat by his side. She listened to the soft song the older man was murmuring as he stroked one hand along Dean's bruised cheekbone. The coffee cup clutched in his other hand was nearing empty and the nurse decided he needed another cup of good brew and something to eat.

It had taken her and the older man almost two hours to calm the panic the blonde was experiencing. Sam being removed from the room had made things easier on them, one less thing to worry about, but the young man had practically blacked out without realizing the source of his fear was gone. After they had gotten Dean back into the bed and IVs reinserted, Bobby has busied himself with cleaning the boy up while Cheri checked for damage done to his stitches.

She returned to the room with a steaming cup of coffee and a plate piled high with sandwiches, fruit, and chips for the sweet man. Bobby looked up at her entrance, his face relaxing into a relieved smile when he saw that no danger was coming. "Thought you could use some good coffee and some food," she offered. His smiled brightened and he quickly accepted her offerings.

Cheri came further into the room and began a check on her patient while Bobby began to eat. "That's some good joe," he moaned into the mug. She gave a laugh as she finished her check. "You deserve something better than the crap the machine spews," she chuckled. "How's he doing?" he motioned to Dean with his chin, chewing on a sandwich. "He's doing okay, no bleeds, fever is about the same, seems to be resting okay."

Bobby released a breath. "Thank God, I don't think I could take any more bad news." Cheri nodded in sympathy. "I called the cops about Sam, so if he comes around here again, I'll have him arrested. Just wanted you to know," she spoke softly, watching Bobby intently. He nodded in understanding. She decided to chance one more question. "Did Sam do this to Dean?" Bobby's blue eyes rested on the pale face of Dean, slid over the bruises and the bandages. He shook his head sadly; it would have to be Dean's decision to severe ties with his brother or to press charges. "I don't know," he murmured.

SPN * SPN * SPN

It had been four days since Dean had woke up in the hospital. He hated that he'd had multiple panic attacks and that he'd allowed others to see his weakness. He was ashamed of his behavior. Bobby sat nearby, head resting on his chest and trucker cap tipped over his eyes. He hadn't left Dean's side often, and on the few occasions that he had, Cheri had been present.

He'd grown used to the nurse's presence; she was gentle but didn't fall for his charm and he knew she could see right through his mask. She didn't take any bullshit from him or from Bobby. Dean realized that he hadn't seen Sam once since the first day, since he'd humiliated himself by falling out of bed and screaming like a girl when his brother touched him.

If he was honest with himself, he was damn terrified of this darker persona his little brother had taken on. He had no idea what had possessed his brother to attack him and he wanted to deny anything else that had happened. Cheri had been blunt and asked who had raped him and then asked if it had been Sam; he'd withdrawn further.

Bobby had given him many spiels about it being okay to admit what happened and that it didn't make him less of a man. He had tuned them both out. A soft sigh from Bobby drew his attention, not that he allowed it to show. He had remained silent since Sam's "visit" and after Cheri's constant probing he stopped making eye contact.

He knew the differences in Bobby's sighs, and the one he'd just released was more on the sad side. He heard the gruff hunter shuffle in his seat and take a sip of his cold coffee. The older man leaned towards to bed, touching Dean's hand, which was ignored. On the inside, Dean wanted to shriek and pull away, scream at the man he thought of as a father not to ever touch him again. But that isn't how a man handles this. There's no such thing as "trauma" in this life.

He heard another sigh, this one of frustration. "Dean, son, you need to stop hiding from this. Not talking and not looking at us is not going to make this go away. You need to deal with this. And you need to decide what you want to do about Sam," he murmured to the young man that appeared to be comatose. What's there to decide about Sam? I should just get over it, right? He was too afraid to voice the thoughts out loud.

"You don't have to make a definite decision right now, but you need to decide if you want to see him here. I know you've heard Cheri talking about how she'll have him arrested if he comes here and you don't let us know if you want to see him."

Dean gave no reaction, but Bobby could see his muscles tense and tears welling in green eyes. "You don't have to see him if you don't want to, Dean. No one is going to force you to do anything you don't want to, but you need to at least talk to us. Let us help you, son". Dean allowed his eyes to close, too many thoughts clashing together in his mind. Tears slipped down his cheeks and Bobby brushed them away, releasing another dejected sigh.

TBC... Please review