Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural... 'cause if I did... Castiel would've been introduced WAAYYY sooner and John wouldn't have been in only three episodes...

A super special awesome thank you and huggles for Rosetta Brunestud; storyaddict69; Halit; LeighAnnWallace and PsychoPicasso! MAN! I can't believe the feedback on this story so far *dreamy eyes*. Also, to all my alert-ees... *HUGS!*

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Sam's not a Worrier... really

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'They should've been done by now… ' John's the one pacing this time. He doesn't look stressed, but Sam knows that hands-in –the-pocket and head-down John usually equals a very worried Pops. 'They should've been out and done…. Did Dean's appendix burst… did he get an infection from it?' John's got a thousand worst-case scenarios running through his mind by now.

"Um…. Maybe you should sit down," it's probably the nicest thing Sam's said to his dad since the guy arrived.

"Excuse me, miss, I just want to know about Dean Winchester's condition," John says, trying his best not to sound too demanding as he towers over the Receptionist desk. He hates the fact they used their real names on this little medical outing; he hates the fact his clothes still has the sulphur smell to it after his little outing in Wakita; he hates the fact his eye's going to be purple for the next week, but he hates not knowing what's happening to Dean more.

"Let me check," the elderly nurse says, clicking away on the mouse and checking the monitor, "He's still in the theatre…. Three hours?" she checks the stats again and frowns, "I'll be right back."

When a nurse says that it usually means trouble.

John's not pacing. He's just walking, you know, warm-ups and all that stuff. Yeah. 'cause pacing's for Sam, the worrier. And John doesn't do fretting… threatening, yes… but not fretting. He doesn't worry because Dean's the eldest son –that John personally trained- and that's why Dean can pull through anything.

… right?

"Sir, he's still in the theatre, but maybe you should take a look," the nurse calls from down the hall, slowly approaching him.

John swallows hard, feeling the blood drain from his face, "Yes, Sam!" he barks at the youngest.

Sam, who had been sitting with his phone practically glued to his eyes -searching on the web for some kind of reason why this operation was taking this long, stood up. "Is he okay?" Sam strides forwards and sends a nervous look the nurse's way.

Looks like all the pent-up aggression the boy had faded out in the wait.

"Sir, only the parent can-"

John shoots the woman a glare, "Where I go, Sam goes.". Although that statement wasn't true just a year ago.

"Then you'll both have to-" the nurse starts, but Sam's upgraded his acting.

The youngest started tearing up, his face starting to twist into a pained expression, "Please, I have to see my brother! He's always looked after me and - " he swallows hard and purses his lips together.

Sam closes the coming argument with the same puppy eyes that Mary used to use on John and that made John wince inside... it always worked on him.

Five minutes later…

"Wow, good job, son," John grins –despite the fact that they were halfway towards the ward now.

"What?" Sam snaps and looks over, his eyes still brimming with tears.

'Fuck' is all John can think, trying desperately to come up with a plausible, 'I totally knew you weren't faking'- consoling thing to say… but John, like Dean, is not too good with words… or excuses… so he just stays silent and keeps walking.

"In here," the nurse says and points to one of the doors, "You can't go inside the theatre room without scrubbing in, but the observation window is okay, I'll get one of the nurses in the room to come and speak to you."

It's John who opens the door and walks in, heading to the window without hesitation. And then, he just stands there, gaping.

Sam quickly heads over and looks through the window, trying to see what was going on –why John was freaking out. And soon enough, Sam stood there, in a perfect mirror image of his dad.

Inside the room was Dean, on a table. It looks like the operation was over, but the nurses and doctor still hovered around him, connecting and disconnecting tubes; activating the breathing machine; adjusting the drip on the IV.

Dean looks exhausted with slow and laborious chest movements coming in, his skin was pale and it looked like he was running a fever. He still looked as sick as he did three hours ago….

"You're his brother, right?" a nurse from right behind them says, causing both Winchesters to jump.

"Yes," Sam answers, finally turning around, "What's going on?"

"Well, the operation went fine, we got the appendix out in time," she starts.

"That's good, I was worried that-"

"But, we can't stabilize him," the nurse interrupts and tosses her gloves in the biochemical disposal can, "At first we thought we might've nicked an artery or something, but nothing else was damaged or anything. We did a couple of x-rays and CAT-scans just to be sure… he does have three fractures on his lower ribs – did either of you know that?"

Sam knows Dean probably got those fractures when the three-hundred pound werewolf literally jumped him, but decides to leave out those little details, "No…?"

"Well, those areas don't show any internal bleeding, so it's not the fractured ribs that're causing this condition…" the nurse says.

"Wait, then what is causing it?" it's John this time, he looks even paler than Dean is.

"We don't know," the nurse says earnestly and nods towards the room, "We're taking blood samples now, to check if it's a virus or something else…. I'll call you as soon as we get the results in."

She pauses at the door and smiles, "Don't worry, Mr. Winchester, we'll take care of him," she holds out her nametag and nods, "I'm Alicia de Sousa, I'll come by the waiting room as soon as anything changes."

"You stupidity won't change," John growls impatiently and glares daggers at the woman's head as she exits the prep room.

"Dad?"

"You didn't bring my journal with you, did you?" John says and turns expectantly to Sam.

"I'm sorry, the fact that my brother was dying a few hours ago might have distracted me," Sam snaps and crosses his arms.

"Watch the sass," John retorts and runs a hand over his face, "Allright.. well… Strigoi… was it silver or bronze…" and with that, John starts pacing. Again.

Up down, up down.

"…dad?"

"Tell me you noticed Dean's condition is linked to hunting?"

"The family business?"

"Only Dean calls it that."

Thanks for reading!

Next Chapter: Who's up for hunting in a hospital? awesome dad!John hurt!Sam loopy!hunter!Dean