I really struggled with this one, I don't know if it was just that each day of work was a killer and my brain was moosh by the time I got home or I didn't realize how hard this writing gig is?
Please forgive all mistakes they're mine alone.
A/N: Thanks to all the wonderful people who left a review, favorited, followed or read my little story. Each day I get inspired by the other authors on her and hope that someone gets excited each time they get a new chapter alert for this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of the wonderful characters that I am taking on this journey.
Chapter 6 - Famous Last Words
Dean continued to massage his brother's legs, until the tightness in his muscles had eased off. He felt that it was the least he could do as he had missed so much of his brother's recovery and therapy that he could get past his mucho phobia of having chick flick moments.
Sam had passed out from exhaustion again, so Dean and Bobby had left him on the couch and decided to clean up the mess the demons had left behind. Bobby placed a now content Hope in her bouncy chair, so she could keep an eye on them all, while they worked.
Bobby quickly moved the two deceased, empty vessels out of the house, for disposal later. He was mulling a few ideas around in his head to make his house, as well as his friends and family, more safe, secure and impervious to demon and all supernatural attacks.
Dean inspected the damage made to the front door and knew that Bobby had a spare door in his garage from a previous repair job, so he went to retrieve the door. An idea popped into his head and before he replaced the door, he searched Bobby's workshop for the tools he required to do the job. Sure that Bobby would approve he decided to try his idea and see what he said.
An hour or so later saw Dean finishing off his repair job in the dark and Bobby showering from his double grave digging duty. Sam had woken up and had soothed Hope from her funk at not having anyone's attention and decided to start making dinner. He moved into the kitchen and even though, due to his height difference to the counter, he was able to see what he was doing, he still had to do things a little differently to able bodied people. While he made a casserole for everyone he remembered his first ever attempt to cook anything was for Jess and how they both ended up having to order in when it was burnt to a crisp, making himself chuckle at the memory. After that, Jess taught him how to cook everything her mother had taught her so now he was quite skilled at cooking meals for his family.
Dean finished up and started packing away his tools and could smell the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen which we're making his stomach growl with hunger and was again surprised at Sam's accomplishments and wished that their Dad could see the man he had become. Dean had tried to call his Dad a number of times since he had arrived at Bobby's but his calls had gone unanswered. Not that he was all that surprised, when his Dad started a new hunt, it was hard for him to change his focus. He just hoped that when the hunt was finished that he would make his way to South Dakota.
Once Bobby had come back into the living room, clean and smelling of old spice and Deep Heat, the table was set and dinner was ready to be dished out. Bobby went into the kitchen to help Sam carry the casserole dish to the dining table and they all sat down to eat "So what did you guys get up too while I was napping and cooking?" Sam asked genuinely interested, he heard all the noises and curses and wondered what was happening.
"I disposed of the unfortunate souls who had been mixed up with those demons, I have the blisters to prove it" Bobby said showing his blistered hands and marvelling not one person at the table battered, an eyelid at the conversation topic.
"I would have helped you if I could" Sam said sadly, glancing down at his useless legs and back up to Bobby's face.
"Don't you worry none, This old body can still dig a grave, you being in that chair has nothing to do with that." Bobby looked into Sam's eyes earnestly, making sure that the young man could see the honesty in his own.
"I didn't even notice where you had gone off too, let alone that you were digging up two graves on your own, sorry Bobby" Dean looks to Bobby, suddenly guilty that he hadn't helped the older hunter out.
"Oh come on now ya idjit, I was fine to dig a couple graves, don't go feeling bad that you couldn't help me, I ain't dead yet" Bobby grumbled.
"Alright, alright, don't get all bent out outta shape" Dean said smirking, 'keep your dentures in', Dean thinks while also trying not to laugh. "Now, the most important part of my statement, was the fact that I fixed the front door and I came up with a couple ideas to monster proof this place"
"Oh good, I knew I kept you around for some reason, other than to eat me out a house and home" Bobby says back to the teasing from the young upstart in front of him "I've come up with a few ideas of my own, cause I don't think that was last we've seen of those demons." Bobby stated, while he had been digging, he thought out all the logistics for these new security measures, they weren't quick fixes but he and Dean could get them done in a few days.
"I'd love to see these ideas myself, when we're done here, you can show us all" Sam says to Dean and Bobby, while he feeds Hope her mashed pumpkin and rice and her favourite, chocolate pudding for desert. By the time she was done, she had food all over her face, the front of her pink bib and her high chair but was very happy with herself.
When they had taken their plates to the kitchen for washing up, they all went to the front door, to see Dean's handy work. Sam was very impressed at his brothers handyman abilities but not all that surprised, as he was always good at anything he tried, which had been something his father had reminded him of when he wasn't quite able to meet the same level of expertise.
"Ok, so, when I replaced the front door, I came up with a couple ways to help repel demons and any supernatural monster who wanted to darken out doorstep, so, I combined a few of our tricks of the trade, all in one place" Dean made the Ta Da! hand gesture towards the front door "I painted a devils trap with the government issue only, invisible paint that I found in your workshop" grinning at Bobby, Dean says "I'd really like to know how you got that by the way"
"Let's just say I acquired it, and leave it at that" Bobby winks conspiringly
Anyway, I mixed it with a little holy water and painted it under the welcome mat and the back of the door and then I sprinkled salt all over it while it was wet, so when it dissolved it was also invisible" Dean turned off the lights and shone a blue light torch over the back of the door and suddenly a large symbol was illuminated on the back of the door, then he opened the door, and shone the torch where the welcome mat usually lay, the symbol was brightly illuminated right outside the door. "I also carved a devils trap on the door knob so no demon could open this door." Dean said quite proud of himself and his idea. "Any Ghost, Rawhead or Demon won't have a chance in hell of getting in here to try and take my niece or anyone from this place again."
"That's bloomin brilliant!" Bobby said wondering why he hadn't thought of that himself.
"Yeah Dean, I am very impressed, really... thank you" Sam said sincerely, he looked down at Hope was sitting in his lap she started clapping and giggling, showing her pleasure at seeing the pretty lights "I think Hope likes it too, say thank you to your uncle baby girl" Sam spoke to his daughter who put her arms out towards Dean, asking for him to pick her up. Dean hesitated but then took his brother up on the offer immediately, as he could see the honest gratitude in his eyes, that Dean had thought to make the house more secure for his daughters safety.
Dean knew that this gesture was a big one on his brothers part, it meant that he was starting to trust him. He thought to himself that he would keep doing anything to get his brother to trust him. The little girl in his arms and his brother who had needed him, so many times over the last few years and he hadn't been there for him, so if Sam wanted him to built a house, steel a car, kill an angel or even work a few miracles, then he would, because they were both worth it. "I can do the same thing to the back door and I can paint the traps on all the windows too."
Nodding his, head in agreement, Bobby clapped Dean on his shoulder and said "Great job son, really, I don't know why I didn't think of it myself, ingenious in it simplicity but freakin clever!" Smiling at Dean and sparing a glance at Sam, seeing the smile on his face, but not reaching his pain filled eyes. "I have a few ideas myself, but I need your thoughts on the logistics of gettin them done"
They all moved towards the living room, taking a seat on the couch. Sam went to grab his meds as his legs were making themselves known again, then pushed himself into the room, so he was facing them. "Firstly, I have an idea to bury some iron piping all around the property so we have a huge devils trap surrounding this place, any SOB monster couldn't even get through those gates, let alone into this house. Secondly, I want to install a sprinkler system that comes directly from my holy water tank"
"Um that's going to take some work Pa, are you sure you guys can do it?" Sam asks, again thinking how useless he was, but knowing that he can help in other ways "Maybe you can call in some help, Caleb maybe?"
"Or Dad?, if he calls me back?" Dean asks, saying the last bit in a bitterness that was starting to set in, not thinking about the reaction that the mention of his Dad would cause his little brother.
"I don't think Dads such a good idea Dean, he hasn't been here, for any of this, he hasn't returned any of our calls, I just... I just don't think he would want to help... with this" The help me with this, wasn't said but Dean heard it in his brothers voice, he knew that the way things had ended between Sam and their Dad, was a sore subject with his little brother but he knew that if their Dad knew what had happened to his little brother, that he had a granddaughter, he would be there to help in a heart beat. Dean vowed to keep trying to call their Dad, they needed him there with them, and maybe even fix the broken father/son relationship.
"Alright Sammy, we'll call Caleb to help us" smiling cheekily to Sam remembering all the hijinks the older man and himself used to get up to growing up, "The more the merrier" Dean chuckled to himself.
"Ok, so I'll source the iron piping and a sprinkler system and you can call Caleb, we should try to get all this done, sooner rather than later, we don't know when these Demons won't try again" Bobby suggests "Sam kiddo, do you need to take a bath in some Epsom salts to help with your cramps?, I can tell your in pain, maybe I should call your doctor to make a house call, I'm not sure it's safe yet to drive all they way out to the hospital" Bobby asks clearly concerned
"A bath sounds good, I'm really worried something is wrong, they never hurt this bad before" Sam grits out.
"Right, I'm calling your doc first, go start the bath, I'll help you get in when I'm done" Bobby rushes to the phone to make to call.
"Sam, do you want me to help?, I'm worried about you man" Dean carries a content Hope in his arms, she was playing with the amulet around his neck, keeping quiet, listing to the brothers talk and watching his father move towards their room to grab his sweats.
"Ah, well, it's a little... Um, it's embarrassing.. I can't get into the bath myself, so... Ah, I... Gotta be naked when you put me in the bath" The last part is mumbled and quiet but Dean hears it and tells himself this is the stuff he missed, he needs to be here for his brother and to not make him feel bad about it, to just do it and not make a fuss.
"Hey, man, it's not like you have something I don't have. Seriously, I used to bath you as a kid, so... It's fine really, let me help, please?" Dean says that last part earnestly, and with as much honesty he can fathom.
"Ok man, but this is part of the whole paralyzed gig man, if you can't handle it, I don't need you laughing or anything" Sam says as a red flush creeps up his neck to his face.
"It's fine Sammy, really, no teasing, I swear, cross my heart? Dean tells his brother, hoping to dispel any fears his brother might have.
"Ok let's get this done, I'll just put Hope in her bouncy chair and I'll come and help you in" Dean goes back out to the main room and grabs Hopes bouncy chair and moves it so she would be facing the bathroom, then places her in it and moves into the bathroom and partially closes the door, so Sam has some privacy while he strips off. Dean can see all the scars that Sam now has all over his back and chest and feels sympathy for his brother for what he's lost, and just as quickly pushes it down and gets his head in the game.
"Alrighty, are you ready Sammy?" Dean moves towards him and gently lifts him out of the chair, without looking at his brothers face, so as not to make him more embarrassed, noting that even though he was skinny, his little brother was all muscle and made his arms strain a little with the weight, he moved over towards the steaming tub, which is half filled with warm water and smells like Epsom salts and menthol, he places his brother into the tub just as gently and then gets up and places a soft towel behind his brothers back and the tub so he is more comfortable, then goes to leave the room, giving his brother his privacy. "Thanks Dean" he hears softly as he closes the door.
He lets out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. "That wasn't awkward, at all" he whispers to himself just as Bobby comes back into the room, placing the phone back on the counter.
"Did Sam get in the tub already?" Bobby asks, looking toward the closed bathroom door, knowing that the brothers would have come to an understanding.
"Yeah, yeah, I helped him out" Dean says scratching the back of his neck, shrugging one shoulder and looking at anything but Bobby's face.
"About time, ya idjit" Bobby chastises with a soft smile on his face "He really wanted you here for all of this stuff, but we had to get over all the embarrassment right quick after his accident, there wasn't time for it. Now you're here, I think he's happier, knowing that you're willing to do that for him, it's good"
"Well, I want to be here for him and Hope. I missed a lot huh?" Dean looks toward Bobby, who had been a dad to Sam when their Dad didn't, couldn't, wouldn't, what ever.
"Yeah, you missed a lot, and I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you what he went through, he won't either. It was hard at the time and it's hard to think about, let alone repeat to someone. Give him time, maybe one day, he'll tell you everything"
Dean nods and looks toward his niece who is jumping up and down in her baby fun park chair and talking to herself in baby language and it reminds him of when he was four or so and was looking after his baby brother when his Dad was either too depressed or drunk to really be a parent, especially at the beginning, before hunting, before he turned into something other than their father. Sam would understand that grief now, even if he had chosen a different direction, maybe now they would have something in common.
Fifteen minutes or so later, Sam was on the couch watching Dean play with Hope, making her laugh, which made him get a little sentimental, thinking how he had once thought he would never get this time with his brother again, then chastised himself, he wanted to still be mad at his brother, but when he was like this, like the brother he remembered from his childhood, it was a little hard to remember what he was so mad about. Then there was a knock at the door, Bobby walked to the door, letting the doctor in, having a quiet conversation with him before showing him into the lounge room.
Dr Gottfredson walked toward the couch, seeing Sam sprawled across it's length, which surprisingly fit his tall frame comfortably. His daughter with a strange man, who he assumes is Sam's brother, who he spoke about ad nauseum during each of his visits that he practically knew the man. "Hey Sam, what have you gone and done to yourself now, young man?" He asked, in a half jokingly, half serious way. He had been worried about his patient on the drive over, after Bobby had mentioned the symptoms to him in his call for a home visit. He had hoped that Sam would be showing signs that he was regaining some movement or feeling in his legs by now, but so far had been left to think that his current state would be a permanent one.
"Hi Dr" Sam says to the middle aged man in front of him, offering his hand for a handshake, "I'm not sure what's going on, I'm hoping you can tell me it's all in my imagination" Sam says, fear obvious in his voice, even though he tried to hide it in front of his brother. 'Winchesters didn't show fear, that's what his father used to say to him every time he let his fear get the better of him, making him feel small, and not quite measuring up to his fathers ideals.
Putting his medical bag down on the coffee table he motions towards Dean and Hope and says, "Do you want an audience for this or can you guys leave us alone for a bit?" Dr Bill Gottfredson asked, not really caring either way but wanting his patient to be comfortable.
"It's fine, Doctor, Dean can stay" Sam says in his quiet voice, which meant that he was trying to include his long lost brother in his new life and hoping the doctor would adhere to his wishes.
"Alrighty, can you take off your shirt and can you move him down so he can roll onto his stomach for me?" He says to Sam then Bobby, moving towards the couch once Sam is situated, he feels along Sam's spine, concentrating where the bruising was most pronounced at the time of his injury, to feel for any changes or for any pain on Sam's part. He then moves towards his legs, feeling the muscles "Were the cramps along the whole leg or just part of it?"
"It was the whole leg, down to me toes, it was like redhot pokers were jabbing me in the legs" Sam answers, partly muffled with his face in the pillows on the couch.
"Hhmm" Bill makes a noncommittal noise, while thinking on this piece of information " What about your back, any pain there?"
"My back has been aching a little but no where near as bad as right after the accident." Sam says to the doctor while he finished checking his other leg.
"Ok, I think we might have some good news for you" the doctor told Sam, making him grin hesitatingly, "I think you may be getting some feeling back finally in your legs, the spinal swelling is down, so the pain that your experiencing is just the nerves firing and miss firing while they are healing from being crushed." Dean raises his eyebrows at the word crushed, hearing it from his brothers doctor really brought it all home for the once buried big brother, just how bad the accident was, and how lucky his brother was to not be paralyzed permanently.
"So, I can finally get out of this chair? Is that what your trying to tell be doctor?" Sam asks with hope clearly etched on his face.
"Yes Sam, that's exactly what I'm saying, you, are on your way to being able to walk again. You still have a lot of therapy to go, but I am optimistic that you will be out of that chair very soon."
"Oh boy, look out, there'll be no stopping him now" Bobby says, amused and happy for his young charge who had fought against depression and grief, loneliness and despair and come out the other side with slow building confidence and pride in his own accomplishments.
"Did you hear that honey, your Daddy is going to walk again, you'll get to see what a Sasquatch he really is" Dean says to Hope with a smirk, making her giggle and the other men in the room, chuckle knowing that the tenacity and bullheadedness that his little brother had inherited from their father was going to make sure that he would be up and walking around in half the time, now that he had something for him to strive towards, making his family proud and then going after the demon that had tried to destroy his family and his spirit.