Thank you again to everyone who has been reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it :)

***

Caleb woke up in the middle of the night in the hated plastic chair to moaning. Caleb instantly sat up straight and looked over at Sam. He did not like what he saw. Sam was moaning and his forehead was creased with lines of pain.

Oh, no Caleb thought to himself. This is not happening again. Not another damn infection.

Caleb brushed the bangs off Sam's forehead. "What's wrong Sammy?" Caleb asked urgently.

Sam's eyes were squeezed shut. Tears were leaking out of his closed eyelids. "Hurts…hurts lot."

Caleb immediately pressed the call button and then grabbed Sam's hand. "It's going to be okay Sammy, you're going to be fine."

A nurse came into Sam's room moments later. "What's the problem?"

"He's in pain. Do something for him please."

The nurse took Sam's temperature and then looked at his chart quickly. "Oh the poor dear is overdue for his pain medication." The nurse quickly injected something into Sam's IV, and within a few minutes Sam relaxed, the lines in his face eased, and Sam fell back asleep.

The nurse turned to Caleb. "His temperature is normal and his surgical sights are looking fine, so no need to worry about another infection. I do not know why he was not given his pain medication. I am so sorry. I will make sure this does not happen again."

Caleb thanked the nurse before sitting back down in the evil plastic chair knowing he was not going to fall asleep the rest of the night. He needed to watch over Sam the rest of the night. John and Dean would literally kill him if anything happened to Sam now.

***

The next morning John and Dean arrived back at the hospital showered and fairly well rested. Caleb explained to them what happened in the middle of the night. The two older Winchesters were furious to hear Sam was not given his pain medication on time, but Caleb informed them that the nurse had assured that a repeat incident would not occur. The three then relaxed and ate breakfast while they waited for Sam to wake up.

***

Sam woke up around eight in the morning on Saturday, informed the three men that he did not want any additional visitors today, and then resumed staring at the wall. The three tried to get Sam to talk but he did not even make a noise in response.

***

Later on that morning, Dr. Drake came in to check on Sam. He declared that Sam was definitely on the road to a full recover now. In the hallway, though he privately asked John what was going on with Sam. "What happened? He seemed fine when I checked on him before the end of my shift yesterday."

John sighed. "We don't know. His friends visited yesterday and then after they left, he was like this. We're working on figuring out what's wrong."

"Ok, but John this is not good. Sam being in a depressed state will only harm his recovery, which is the last thing Sam needs."

John nodded his had and sighed, "I know Doc, I know."

***

Dean was returning from the bathroom in the late morning, when he saw Jack and Anna coming down the hall. Dean walked up to the two.

"Hey guys I'm really sorry, but Sam said he does not want to see anyone today."

"Wait what?" Anna and Jack asked in unison.

"Yeah. Guys he has been in a depressed state since you two left yesterday. Did something happen?"

"No, but he did get quieter the longer we were there," responded Anna.

"Well what did you all talk about? Maybe a subject upset him."

"Uh, we told him what had been happening in school and then we talked about cross-country and the big race," Jack told Dean.

At that moment, it was as if a light bulb went of in Dean's head. Of course. Sam realized he would not be running in the race anymore. This race meant the world to Sam, him being the number one runner. "Oh crap. He's upset about cross-country."

Anna and Jack instantly felt awful. They had upset their best friend.

"Oh no we should've known not to talk about it. I feel horrible." Anna said.

"You two had no idea he would react like that. It is not your fault. When Sam comes out of his funk I'll let you two know and you can come visit him then."

"Thanks Dean."

Dean watched the two leave before heading back to Sam's room. He motioned for Caleb and John to join him in the hallway. Once there he explained to the two what was upsetting Sam.

"Oh of course. I had never seen the kid so excited about something before than that race," said Caleb. "Aw that poor kid. He couldn't have just one thing work out for him could he."

"Can you two let me talk to him alone. I think I can get through to him," requested Dean.

"Yeah Dean. Good luck," said John. Then, John and Caleb headed out to get some lunch.

***

Dean walked into Sam's room and sat on Sam's bed.

Sam did not budge. "Sammy, man you have to talk to us."

Nothing.

Dean sighed. "Sammy I know what's bothering you and I know how you feel."

Sam made a sound that resembled a forced sarcastic laugh. He turned his head and looked at Dean. Dean felt his heart break at the unshed tears glistening in Sam's eyes. "You know how I feel. YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL." Sam blinked and a tear rolled down his cheek. "You have no idea how I feel."

Dean was in complete big brother mode now. "Then tell me Sammy. Talk to me. Sam you can't keep it all bottled up inside."

"Yes I can."

Dean was getting frustrated. "No you can't Sam. Sammy, you are depressed. The doctor told dad that you being depressed will hurt you're recovery and Sam I can't deal with you having anymore setbacks."

"I don't care," Sam mumbled.

"What did you say?" Dean was praying he had heard Sam incorrectly.

"You heard what I said. I…DON'T…CARE."

Dean felt sick. "Why not Sam?"

Sam felt the tears spill over and roll down his cheeks. "Dean, I have been working my ass off for months for the race next weekend. It was my one chance and I can't run anymore."

Dean felt his heart breaking looking at how devastated his little brother was. "One chance for what Sam?"

Sam looked down at his blanket. Dean gently lifted Sam's chin up and looked him in the eye. "One chance for what Sam?"

Sam took a deep breath. "It was my one chance to be great at something. It was my one chance to show dad and you that I am good at something."

"Sam you're good at plenty of stuff."

"No, I needed Dad to see me do this. I needed him to be proud of me for once. Dean, you are good at everything. I am just always not as good as you are. I am always number two. I mean I deserve to be number two. You are better than I am at everything. It's just this was my chance to make dad proud. Caleb even said he was going to come to my race. My team was counting on me. Coach Pete was counting on me. It was my chance Dean. It was my chance."

Sam broke down into sobs. Dean felt tears coming to his eyes. He once again screwed his chick flick moment rule and laid down next to Sam. Dean wrapped his arm around Sam. At first, Sam resisted the contact, but eventually he melted into Dean's embrace and allowed his brother to comfort him as he released his pent up emotions.

"Sammy, I know how much that race meant to you, but little brother I have been proud of you countless times and so has dad. You say I am always better than you are, but that is not true. Sam, you're better in school."

"But dad doesn't care about academics."

"Sammy, that's not true. He carries all of your report cards around with him."

Dean knew his dad would kill him if he knew that Dean knew his secret. Dean had found this box at the bottom of his dad's duffle one night when he had been looking for a clean shirt for his dad after his dad had returned from a hunt in bad shape. Inside the box, were pictures from before the fire, paintings Dean had completed in preschool, and Sam's report cards.

Sam stared open mouthed at Dean, shocked by what he had said. "He what?"

"Sammy you can't ever tell him you know because he doesn't know I know, but yeah. He keeps them in this box in his duffle. See Sammy he is proud of you. In addition, Sammy you are better at research than I am. I mean you were finding connections between victims when you were nine years old. Connections dad could not even find. You do not think dad was proud of you then. Sammy dad and I, we love you and we will both always be proud of you. You never had to win a cross-country race to win dad's love and respect. Do you understand me?"

Dean wiped the tears away from Sam's cheeks. "You've always had his love and respect Sammy and nothing you could do would lose that. You are his son Sam and he treasures you. Sammy you are the last gift he has from mom and he will always treasure that."

"Sam, both dad and I are so proud of you for what you did in the woods. You saved your friends' lives. You were selfless and brave. You were a hero and I know dad is undeniably proud of you just like I am."

"Sammy we thought you were dying the past few days, but again you fought and you survived. Sammy dad has been beside himself the past few days. He loves you more than anything and the thought of losing you changed him into a broken man. However, you are on the mend now Sammy and Dad could never be happier. Never doubt Dad's love and respect for you Sammy."

"Now I know this race is very important to you. I understand you are upset. I mean what happened to you is not fair, but Sam it happened. You just need to remember that you have family and friends who love you so much. We are all rooting for you Sammy. Just let us in. Let us help you. We almost lost you Sammy. We all cannot watch you sink into depression. I cannot watch you slip away again. Please don't make me Sammy."

Sam watched a glistening tear roll down Dean's cheek. Sam grabbed Dean's hand. "I won't Dean, I won't."

Dean wiped at the tear track on his face. "I'm here for you Sammy. I always will be here for you."

"I know you are Dean and I love you for that."

"I love you too…bitch." Dean smirked.

"You just ruined you're greatest chick flick moment ever with that, jerk." Sam laughed.

"Yeah I feel like I need to go eat a steak or something, get my manliness back."

"Why don't we just put a game on?"

"Sounds good Sammy." Dean flicked the TV on.

Five minutes later Sam spoke again. "Hey Dean you know you are still laying in bed with your arm around me right."

Dean blushed before regaining his composure. "Yeah well I thought you might break down again if I didn't bitch."

Sam laughed. "Whatever gets you through the night jerk."

"Bite me princess," Dean mumbled.

***

John and Caleb returned to Sam's room to the sound of Sam's laugh permeating through the walls of his room. The two just smiled as they realized everything would be ok. It may take awhile for everything to go back to normal, but right now things were looking up.

***

Probably one or two more chapters to go. Please review:)