The Way Home
Chapter 14
Disclaimer: see chapter 1

When Mac opened his eye's, they again fell upon the still form of his son, but overshadowing the knot of worry that had taken up residence in the pit of his stomach, the older man felt a sense of peace, of relief. He knew without a doubt that it had truly been his son that had visited him while he slept. The strong connection that they shared was as strong as it had ever been. He believed Caleb when the younger man had told him he was okay and that he would wake up soon, though he was still puzzled as to why the young psychic's abilities seemed to holding him in the suspended state. Straightening a little Mac glanced across the room and found Sammy flipping through a magazine that the Doctor had purchased for him on one of their trips to the cafeteria. Clearing his throat he watched as Sammy looked up, "How long was I asleep?"

Sammy laid his book down, standing, he crossed the room, "About four hours. Do you want some coffee?" Mac couldn't help but smile at the eleven-year old; the boy had tried so hard to be helpful.

"That sounds good, Sammy. Are you hungry? We could get something to eat if you'd like." The Scholar stood to stretch, then walked over to his son's side, again taking the younger man's hand in his, the echo of Caleb's voice repeating in his head that he was okay.

"I could eat." The young boy answered. Sammy studied Mac as he watched the Doctor. "Is everything okay Mac?"

Running his free hand over his son's dark hair, Mac gently squeezed Caleb's hand before releasing it, stepping toward Sammy. The shadow of a relieved smile crossed Mac's face as he spoke, "I believe it will be soon." Glancing back at Caleb as they reached the door, the Doctor repeated, "It will be soon." Quietly they left the room.

Ooxoxoxox

The hours had started to run together as Jim sat in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. He and Bobby had been taking turns going back with Dean when the time came for the ten minutes of visitation. To the dismay of both men the teen had remained silent. He would stand and go to the door at the appointed time, silently stand vigil at John's bedside for the time allotted, then quietly return to his chair near the window in the waiting room, resuming his closely held position, his face staring blankly at the world beyond the glass.

Mac had called several hours ago, letting Jim know about the dream he'd had. That somehow Caleb had connected to his father, letting him know it was his abilities that were keeping him in the unconscious state, but that he was okay. However positive the news had seemed, the longer the young man remained asleep, the more worried his family continued to be.

John's condition hadn't changed much, the fever was still causing the most concern as the pneumonia continued to keep a hold on the injured man. It had been eighteen hours since they had first been let back to see John, so when the doctor came out to the waiting room just before the next visiting time, Jim couldn't help but feel the dread in his stomach flair. "Pastor Murphy, can I speak with you a moment?"

The older man had caught movement out of the corner of his eye, Dean had stood, taking a few steps toward them, but the look on the doctor's face stopped the boy. "What's wrong?"

Bobby had come forward, standing near Dean as Jim responded, "Dean, just give us a minute…"

The teen took a step forward, fear clearly heard in his voice, "No, something's wrong, I can see it in his face." Bobby took a hold of the boys arm, "What is it?"

Dr. Williams ran his hand over his face; it was never easy delivering bad news, especially to a family who obviously cared a great deal about the patient in question. Blowing out a deep-breath the doctor tore his gaze away from the boy, returning it to the Pastor in front of him, "Mr. Winchester's temperature has started to increase again, we are doing everything that we can for him to try and lower it, we have switched antibiotic's in hopes that will help, but it is nearing a level that if it doesn't start going down soon could cause his vital organs to start shutting down."

Jim was stunned, there had been no indications on previous visits that John was doing anything, but slowly healing. Dean's scared, angry voice broke the silence as Bobby tightened his grip on the boys arm, "How did you miss that? You kept saying he was doing okay! How could you let him get worse?"

Jim stepped toward Dean as the teen fought the Mechanic's hold, "Dean, Son you can't lose hope, this happens sometimes, it doesn't mean…"

Pleading eye's met Jim's, "Doesn't mean what Jim? That my Dad won't die? Isn't that what he's come out here to tell us?" Tears of anger and fear filled Dean's eyes as he glared toward the doctor, "You need to fix this! You have to make him better!" Again Dean was fighting the hold that was keeping him from advancing on the man in the white coat, only now Jim had joined Bobby in their attempt to contain the boy. "He's all me and my brother have left, you can't let him…" The words got choked in the boy's throat as a sob escaped, Dean sagging in the grip of the two men he viewed as Uncles, "…He can't…"

Jim and Bobby got Dean to a chair; fear overtook the teen as he rested his elbows on his knees, his head held in his hands, his body trembling. Jim stood, running his hand through his hair as he turned, the doctor having taken a few steps closer to the group. "I'm sorry; we are doing everything we can."

The Pastor took a couple steps toward the doctor, moving him away from Dean, leaving Bobby to offer comfort for a moment. Glancing back at the slowly breaking form of the boy, Jim again faced Dr. Williams. "What are Jonathon's chances? Is there a chance the new medication will help?"

"There's always the chance, but once a person's temperature gets too high, there is also a chance of brain damage occurring. Unfortunately, once that starts things can go downhill very fast." The doctor looked toward Dean then back to the Pastor, "I never like to give up hope on my patients, but you need to understand that Mr. Winchester's son needs to be prepared for what could happen."

This was never a situation that Jim ever thought he'd find himself in, though he had always worried since the day John showed up on his door-step with two small children in tow. Hunting was a dangerous job, but John had always made sure he did everything as safe as he possibly could; he had trained his boys to protect themselves from very young ages. But now the Guardian was faced with the real possibility of not only the Brotherhood losing their Knight, but of Dean and Sammy losing their father. "Can we see him?"

"That's what I was wanting to tell you as well, I've had Mr. Winchester moved to a private room, he will continue to be monitored closely, as I said we will do everything we can to bring his temperature back down, but I was going to allow you all to come back and be with him." Dr. Williams watched the man in front of him as the older man pinched the bridge of his nose, before looking toward the boy seated a few steps away. The teen's head was still down, but the other man was meeting the Pastor's gaze, the two seemed to be silently communicating what was happening.

"Just give us a few minutes and we'll be back, I need to speak with Dean." Jim heard the doctor whisper an okay before the man turned to leave.

The question in Bobby's eyes was answered with a slight shake of Jim's head, telling the Mechanic that things were indeed going downhill with regards to the Knight's condition. Jim took a seat across from Dean, who had yet to raise his head to meet the older man's gaze. "Dean? Son I need you to look at me." The pain that met Jim was not unexpected, but took the Guardian's breath none the less. "I know things look bad at the moment, but we can't lose faith. Your father is a fighter and he will continue to fight this, you have to believe that. However you need to understand that sometimes things are beyond our control, there is only so much a body can take. They are doing everything that they can do for Jonathon, but you have to understand and prepare for what could happen." It tore a Jim's soul to have to get the boy before him to accept the fact his father could die.

"I can't…this can't be happening…" Dean whispered out, tears trailing down his face. Running his hand roughly over his face the teen moved to stand, "I need to see him, I have to tell him not to give up, to keep fighting, he'll listen to me, Sammy needs him…I…" again the words caught in the boy's throat.

Jim stood, followed by Bobby. "The doctor said we could go back and sit with Jonathon." Bobby and Jim's eye's met, the Mechanic knowing it was the doctor's way of say they weren't holding out much hope on John's recovery and were allowing his family to spend time with him. The grizzled hunter ran his own hand over his eyes, trying to rub away the stinging he was feeling. Adjusting his cap Bobby fell in behind Jim and Dean as the Pastor led the teen back to his father.