Hi all, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! I'm sorry for the late update, the silly season was extremely busy and silly! Anyway, Enjoy!

Please forgive all mistakes they're mine alone.

A/N: Thank you again for everyone who followed, favourited and reviewed. I really appreciate it and feel honored when ever I get one! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of the wonderful characters that I am taking on this journey.

Chapter 13 - Unlucky number

"Did you I know that yellow eyes would come after us, after Hope?" Sam asked his father who always seemed to know things but held his cards very close to his chest, even to his kids and especially to Sam.

"I hoped he wouldn't, that I was wrong, I was getting mixed messages from each demon I interrogated. If I had known definitively I would have warned you, found you and gotten him off your tail but each lead I got, took me in a different direction. I'm sorry Sam, this is not what I wanted to happen, I thought you would be okay" John was worried that the revelation would set his volatile youngest son off on one of his epic rants but he watched as the resigned young father, nodded his head and said nothing.

"Dad, why didn't you call me, tell me what you were doing, I would have helped, I'm mean I didn't even know I was an uncle" Dean was peeved that their father yet again had kept him on a need to know basis, which at his age, was not fair or warranted as he had more than proved himself as a hunter.

John was taken aback by his son's attitude change, not that it wasn't warranted "I know son, I'm sorry, I made a bad call, I should have called, especially knowing now what's happened to Sam" John looked from one son to the other, seeing their eyes widen when they realized he was apologising which in their experience was not something he did often. "Sam, I'm so sorry about what happened to you, I wish that you hadn't gone through it, god knows I haven't handled it all that well but you... I never wanted this for you" John was genuinely upset that his son had suffered what he had, on top of that grief was the fact that now he couldn't walk. It was too much to bare, he would not have dealt with it as well.

Sam looked down at Hope who had fallen asleep again, snuggled in his arms. "Sorry, my little girl needs to go back to bed, just give me a minute" Sam pushed backwards and rolled towards his room, talking softly to his daughter, John rose and walked towards the room, the closer he got he could hear his son singing a song softly to her, a song that John recognized as one that his Mary would sing to the boys as a baby. Touched and saddened that his eldest son had carried on the tradition and now his youngest was doing the same to his daughter, it was humbling to know that such a small part of their past was being honored in such a way. John walked into the room and watched his son care for his daughter with such gentleness and reverence. "You're a natural Sammy, your very good with her" the eldest Winchester smiled at Sam, it was a blessing that three generations of the Winchester family were in a room together.

"I had to learn on the job, Jess was such a great mum, then I lost her and I had no idea what do, but I knew that Hope needed me" Sam looked up at his father after placing Hope into her bed and John sees for the first time all the stress, worry, heartache and grief on his sons face. Guilt that he hadn't been there for his youngest son.

"It's a tough job... even tougher when your dealing with injuries as well, I'm proud of the way you handled it all. But... I should have got my head outta my ass and come to see you, help you, been a father to you... I'm so sorry, that I wasn't" John had wanted to have a moment with his youngest son since he got to South Dakota.

"You would have liked her Dad, she was strong, funny and she understood me... She didn't care about my humble beginnings, but she was upset that you and Dean had missed out on everything" Sam looked down at his daughter, sleeping soundly and safely, "I struggled quite a bit at first... Bobby pulled me back from the edge a number of times, if it weren't for him... I wouldn't be here" Sam was shocked at his own honesty, but he wanted his father to know his mind set at the time, and how far he had come, even if he teetered on the edge seventy percent of the time, which was a lot better than the 99 percent that he had been on for the first six months after the night that changed his life forever.

"I'm sure I would have loved her son and I'm sure going to love her daughter. It'll be nice having a little lady around" John smiled at his son putting a hand on his shoulder, watching his granddaughter sleep. "Your mother... Mary would have been proud of you Sam" John heard a small sound come from his son, not wanting to hesitate, he knelt down in front of his son and wrapped his arms around him. Sam grabbed him and held on tight, crying into his shoulder, not caring one bit that he was showing such a display of weakness, crying into his father shirt. His father had said something that his stapled together heart had been craving all this time, recognition and comfort from his father.

Dean watched the scene from the doorway, not for one minute trusting that their father would say the right thing but being pleasantly surprised that he had for once, acted like the father Sam had needed as a child and now as an adult. Sam would never again have total trust in his father or be as frightened or as starved for his fathers attention, as he had someone like Bobby who had stepped up to the plate, accepted him for what he was, injuries, baggage and all. But standing their watching his little brother receive comfort from the gruff, hardened hunter, who had once made Sam run laps in the freezing winter, because he dared to question his orders, was a balm to the big brother in his heart.

Bobby came up behind him, saw the scene in the guest bedroom and shuffled his feet, clearly uncomfortable with Sam having that sort of comfort with the man who had all but abandoned him all those months ago. Dean turned his head to see his face as he watched them, "I don't want him to get hurt again... You have NO idea how shattered he was when he had no reply from him after leaving hundreds of messages... Devastated doesn't even cover it... Hollow maybe, that's pretty close"

Dean turned his body to look Bobby in the face as he said "Bobby, you keep saying that Sam was depressed by it all, did he... I mean, did you ever have to... did he ever try to... end it?" Dean didn't really want to hear the answer but was curious about his little brother's life none the less.

"Well I did find him with a loaded gun once... A bottle of pills another time and I practically had to force feed him when he'd stopped eating altogether, but he pulled himself out of that pit, for Hope... And for the small spark that maybe, you and your daddy would come back" Bobby, clearly wasn't happy remembering that time but extremely proud of Sam ability to find the good in all the crap he had to sift through.

"I really wanted to call him, numerous times, I had my finger over the button, but I thought he didn't want to speak to me, with the way we left things... I thought it was better not to contact him... I realize now, that was the cowards way out, if I was half as brave as my little brother, I would have called him. I don't blame him for not calling me, I stood by and watched our father disown him and did nothing, as far as he was concerned, we both did"

John was at the door a moment later, Dean and Bobby had moved away as they talked, Sam stayed in his room a few moments more, then slowly came back out, looking tired himself, after John had disturbed his nap earlier, Sam was ready for bed. "Night guys, sorry but I'm hitting the hay as well. See you in the morning" Dean smiled at his brother and Bobby tipped his ball cap.

Caleb watched Sam has he turned his wheelchair around wearily and moved towards his room and wondered if the days events had taken more of a toll on the young man than any of them first thought. "Are you OK Sammy?" Dean asked, obviously noticing the same thing Caleb had, John and Bobby both looked up at Sam and after seeing the state that Sam was in, Bobby got up and moved towards him, hand moving to his forehead, shaking his head at the heat he felt there.

"He has a slight fever, did you take your meds Sam, did you clean out all your cuts? Did you get injured any ware your not telling us?" Bobby was in full on mother hen mode, which was saying something because when his older brother was in said mode, he could give all mother hens a run for their money.

"I'm fine, I just feel really tired, like I could sleep for days" Sam answered honestly. He could see all four men, worrying on what could be wrong. "I'm sure a good nights sleep will do me the world of good... I took all my meds earlier so it's not that Pa, I swear I'm not hurt anywhere else, now can I please go to bed?" Sam said good-naturedly.

"Yeah Sammy, go on, I'll come in and check on your fever later" Dean said already volunteering for duty with both Sam and Hope as he did last night.

Sam moved on to his bedroom and he closed the door half way as he knew there was no way he could stop any of them to not check on him while he slept. He transferred himself to his bed and made himself comfortable, moving his legs with his hands into a comfortable position, laying down and covering himself with the sheets as he went. He hoped one day, he would be able to ditch his wheelchair for good. Stretching his arms out to get the kinks out he rolled to face toward Hopes bed and closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Hours later Dean was woken by his niece screaming for attention, after blinking awake, he realised that this cry was not the change my nappy, give me a bottle cry, this was a 'something's wrong' cry, so he shot out of bed and practically ran to the guest room, seeing Hope crying, he picked her up soothing her on her back, then he looked over at Sam, expecting to see him, awake and trying to get to Hope, but Sam was thrashing on the bed, holding his head, mouth ope in a silent scream. "Sammy?, Sam are you alright, what's wrong?" Dean said trying to calm his niece and find out what was happening to his little brother. Bobby came rushing in, worry all over his face, Dean wasn't all that surprised, his brother had someone looking after him, with years of pent up fatherly love.

"What's going on, Sam" Bobby asked watching Sam, struggle on the bed, his head in his hands. "What happened" he looked straight at Dean and asked "is he alright?"

"I don't know, Sammy, buddy... Sam, what's happening, what the hell is wrong?" Deans worry have ratcheted up a notch when a moan came for the bed and Sam started digging his head int the pillow trying to make the pain go away.

"Aahh, I don't... I don't know what's... Oh god" Sam was in such pain he couldn't make a full sentence or think clearly.

Hope was still crying, feeling the distress of the men in the room with her and from the pain her daddy was in. Suddenly the pain stopped and Sam was left gasping for breath in relief. The two men in the room breathed in as if they had been holding their breath, Dean sat on the bed next to Sam, rubbing soothing circles on his back as Hope calmed down, being closer to her daddy and feeling the anxious emotions in the room calm down. "Sammy, are you alright?... Talk to me Sammy"

Sam took a deep breath and opened his eyes to mere slits, then squeezed them shut. "Ah, turn off the light, it hurts..." Sam asked as his eyes watered and the salty tears slid out the corners of his eyes.

"Sorry Sammy" Dean leapt up and shut the lights off as Bobby pulled the curtains shut pinning them together with a clip.

Once he knew the light had been turned off and all light coming into the room had been blocked out, Sam tried opening his eyes again.

Weary, tired hazel eyes opened and blinked to clear the blurriness, the figures of Dean and Bobby came into view. "Oh man, that hurt..." Sam was still blinking rapidly, trying to focus on his surroundings.

"What was that Sam... It was like you were being electrocuted... in your head" Dean was truly worried and anxious. What Sam just went through was shocking and had all the older brothers hackles up and on high alert.

"I don't... I don't know what that was, but I think I saw something... It was... It was like a vision... Or something" Sam looked down at his lap, he wasn't sure why he just said that, he hadn't told his older brother about his visions, the ones he had before Jess had died still haunted him to this day. He already felt he was the family freak, he didn't want to stoke the fires anymore than they were. Bobby was the only person he had ever told, he had sworn him to secrecy, which he knew would go to the grave with anything he had told him about his family, his grief, his sadness.

"Vision? Why would you be having visions Sammy?" Dean said with a laugh of implausibility, when he looked up and saw his brother with a look on his face that said it was the truth, that maybe he had experienced other ones before. "Sammy? What... Why would you be having visions?" Dean was really worried now; Sam didn't deserve visions now on top of everything else.

"Sam?" John was at the door now, like a gruff, bull in a china shop. "Did Dean just say you're having visions?" With an accusing tone in his voice..

Dean went to block their father's view of Sam who looked like deer caught in the headlights, his brother didn't need his father in his face, blaming him, accusing him of something that wasn't his fault. "Dad, back off OK" Dean was standing tall in front of his father, who tried to see past him to see his brother.

"Dean... I'm... I'm OK, it's OK. I have something to tell you... Something your probably not going to like" Sam was once again nervous, he looked down at his bed spread, picking at a pulled thread. Bobby moved towards the bed, closer to Sam, he put his hand of his shoulder, knowing that what he was about to say would be difficult, also he wanted to give the man some comfort.

Sam looked up to see Bobby's face, what he saw boosted his confidence, Bobby was nothing but supportive and encouraging. He knew he wouldn't have come through what he did without the odder hunter. "It'll be alright son, I'm here" Bobby said softly just so Sam could hear.

Sam looked up to see Dean and John looking at his expectedly. Taking a deep breath, Sam steadied himself, when his heart had slowed down, he said "I've always had nightmares, weird dreams, even when I was little, but in the last two years, I've been having these... incredibly vivid dreams, ones that would leave me with a migraine that lasted days, but it wasn't until I started finding out that some of my dreams came true that I really started to worry... But I didn't know what it meant, I mean I thought I was crazy, or that there was something wrong with me, Jess would always try to make me feel better but it wasn't what I needed. So I called Bobby and told him everything, we decided to wait until the next one I had, then I was supposed to call him so we could figured it out, but the next one was... it was about Jess and... I just didn't want to believe it... I tried to convince myself that it was my imagination playing tricks on me... I mean, how could I believe that she would die...the same way mum did... It had to be my imagination... and then... then... It came true..." Sam sniffed and wiped his nose with his pyjama sleeve. "But in my dream, I lost Hope as well. So when I saved her and jumped out of that building, and got hurt, I changed everything." Sam was talking so softly by the end that everyone in the room had moved closer to him, surrounding him, he hadn't noticed that until he was done, that they had made contact with him throughout his story. He felt so protected and was encouraged to continue. "This time, it felt different... It was like it was being forced on me... I don't think it was the same thing"

"What did you see this time Sam?" Bobby asked, knowing that the other members of this crazy quilt family were too busy thinking about the reasons why and the consequences of these visions to think clearly.

"I saw... I saw me... I was possessed or something and you guys were pinned to the wall of an old cabin and I was... I was torturing you, you were dying, I was killing you" Sam was on the verge of tears, of another breakdown that always seemed to be just under the surface.

Dean was upset, angry and shocked that his brother had been living with these visions for as long as he had, and now was seeing himself hurting his own family. "That'll never happen Sammy, I promise you" Dean shook his head "You're too good, you would never do that, I know you Sammy" Dean was adamant that his brother knew that he believed that he wasn't evil, that he was one of the good guys.

"How many of these... visions... have you had?" Dean wanted to know but then he didn't, he didn't want to know just how long he had been a terrible brother.

"What does it matter how many he's had boy? One is enough isn't it?" Bobby's protective papa bear was in full swing.

"This one, will make unlucky number thirteen" Sam answered, suddenly aware of the number, he had never before been superstitious but considering his luck, he was a little weary of any coincidences, as he believed there was no such thing.

John looked at his youngest son, the look of shame that had crossed his face, when he revealed what had happened was heartbreaking, his son believed that all that had happened was his fault. He may have been a terrible father in the past but he had vowed to be better, to be there for his sons when they needed him and right now, his youngest son, needed him.

"Sam, son... This is not your fault, NONE of this is your fault, what happened to your wife, to you and your daughter isn't your fault. That yellow eyed monster, did this to you and it's dead now, and I suspect that this latest vision is someone sending a message" John was still thinking about this theory, figuring out the logistics but he was sure that if he researched enough he would find out what direction to go, who it could be singling out the youngest member of their little family and making his life a living hell, as if he didn't have enough to worry about.

Bobby watched the the interaction with a mixture of emotions, his protectiveness of Sam, of his feelings, emotions and his new found fragile confidence, his own paternal instincts that had been awakened when Sam first set foot in his house and his need for Sam to be happy and having his family in his life, seemed to make him happy.

Dean was much the same his big brother instincts that had been dormant for so long, were tingling non stop, worry, anxiety and concern warred it out in his stomach along with the butterflies and the guilt. Dean hadn't felt all these things in a long, long time and he was relishing in the feelings, getting comfortable with the need to protect and nurture his little brother.

John was trying to be the father he should have been for all these years, it was like relearning your sons all over again, even Dean had changed. He knew he had a lot to make up for, so he planned on being here for both of then, for however long it took.

"I just don't understand why I would do those things. I don't want too, but it was so vivid and it was me, doing those horrible things, I could feel the anger, the hatred that I felt for you... I... I could never feel like that. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry" Sam speaks so overcome with guilt for something he hadn't done, for something that had yet to transpire that it confused him. Made him question his own sanity. It was making him nauseous, giving him a headache and making the room spin all at the same time.

"Sammy, I know you would never do anything to hurt us, it has to be a mistake, it has to be your imagination or something... Right Bobby?" Dean had gripped Sam's wrist and was rubbing the soft skin slowing, trying to sooth and to bring comfort for his distraught and agonised younger brother.

"Of course Sam, we'll find out what this is all about, don't you worry" Bobby was starting to feel like maybe his young charge would buckle under to weight of all this crap that kept happening to him, he had come so close in the past of loosing the single father that he wanted to hold on to him and never let go.

"Sorry guys, but can you two go out there and do your freaky mind tricks and try and find out what the hell is trying to kill my little brother, for the... millionth time" Dean looked to Bobby and John with a pleading look, Sam was so overwhelmed that having so many people look at him for answers, that he wasn't able to give was stifling.

"Ah yeah, sure, come on Johnny, maybe you can tell me something I don't already know" Bobby grabbed Johns shoulder and pushed him towards the door, making surer he turned away from his sons and walked out of the room to leave them to their privacy.

"Hey, where... Oh yeah, Ok, I might have a spell of something that you hadn't seen before" John realises the charade and keeps it up until they are in the next room. Then they separated like they had burnt each other. "What was all that, pushing me out of the room?"

"This isn't something we can help Sam with ya idjit!" Bobby wanted to hit John in the head to knock some sense into him. "Not the emotional side of this anyway... that boy has been through enough already..." Bobby didn't know how many times he could say it to the man.

"I know that... but I'm trying to... be a better father... and I can't do that out here!" John was frustrated and unhappy with being pushed aside.

"Hey, you haven't been here for ANY of Sam's ups and downs. So don't start getting all high and mighty with me... You should be thanking me... If it weren't for me, that boy in there would be dead, or in an asylum... and that baby girl would be in an orphanage" Bobby was really starting to rethink the whole not punching John in the face again thing. "When he had no family who gave two hoots, he had me... So back off!"

Dean made sure that he had Sam's full attention. "Sammy, why didn't you tell me about these visions... I could have helped you"

"I didn't want you to think I was... more of a freak than I already am... I mean, the wheelchair is one thing but... Yellow eyes and now this different demon after me... Now these freaky visions... It's like, how freaky can one person be?" Sam could feel the black cloud of depression lingering over his head... Just thinking about all these crappy things happening to him, there had to be something wrong with him, or something he had done to deserve it all.

"Sammy... I don't think your a freak... And I don't think it's anything you did or didn't do to cause it... I think maybe... You are a victim, and I want to help you...to not be a victim anymore. I mean you're learning to walk again! You've been a fantastic dad to Hope and you were even able to save not one but two experienced hunters with your huge brain! I'm proud of you Sam and this new set back is just that... A set back. I know you can get through this and with me and Bobby and hopefully Dad as well, you don't have to be alone"

Sam was in that place where he couldn't get past his own lack of self confidence to see the truth in what his brother was saying. It was so hard to get out from beneath the dark cloud, but the fact his brother had said similar things repeatedly since he had come back into his life he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. "Thank you... Dean... I just... I don't know if I can take much more... If you help me... If you can keep me from the edge, I'll keep fighting. I want to keep fighting, but sometimes it just seems... so helpless"

Dean looked at his brother, he was really proud and grateful that his brother was finally coming around. "Listen Sammy, I'm not going anywhere, I can promise you that"

Sam's eyes were drooping. The energy that he had expelled from his nightmare as well as coming down from it and the explanation of his vision. "Ok Dean, I'll try" his eyes shut and Dean watched as his breathing evened out into sleep. Dean put his now asleep niece into her crib and walked out of the room back into the lions den.

After walking out of the guest room, he could hear the two older hunters arguing and getting louder by the minute. "Hey, would you two knock it off? Come and tell me what the next step is going to be... Sam needs to know that this thing, isn't going to come after him again"

"Hey guys?... What's with all the racket? A guys tryin to sleep?" Caleb had staggered out of his room from upstairs, having slept through everything. "What?, what's wrong? What'd I miss?"

The other three men, just turned to each other and shook their heads. "You've missed a lot ya idjit... while you were gettin your beauty sleep... Some of us have been workin... So you can be on kitchen detail, coffees all round?" Bobby looked to each of them and they all nodded their heads, Dean smirked at Caleb as his shocked face turned to irritation when he realised that Bobby wasn't joking.

"Oh man... Bobby? What the hell?" Caleb was still in the dark about what had actually happened. Maybe they would tell him later, but in the mean time, it'll be fun stringing him along.

Hours later the men hadn't came to any conclusions of who exactly would be targeting the young father now that yellow eyes was out of the picture but they did decide to continue with his routine and watch his back, hoping to catch sight of someone and capture them for interrogation.

So once Sam and Hope had woken up and showered and were ready they all moved out in two separate cars, so one team could keep an eye on Sam while he had his physical therapy. Sam, Bobby and Hope in one car and John, Dean and Caleb in the following car.

They all arrived at the therapy centre without incident but kept away from each other so as not to alert anyone watching Sam as he entered the centre.

John, Caleb and Dean were sitting in the car second car, watching the gym through binoculars, much like Bobby and Dean had done for his previous appointment.

It was quiet in the car as they watched, then as Sam started out on the mats. "Ah Dean? How's Sam really doin... With his walking I mean?" John asked quietly, wanting to ask this question for a while.

"He's doing good, he's been getting cramps and the doc told him it could be his nerves firing which could mean he might be able to start walking soon, once the nerves heal more. He was so happy about that but it's taking too long for him... He thinks he's a liability, the way he is... But he saved our butts when the demons attacked us at Bobby's. He might be have been out of the game for a while but he still remembered all the training, the Latin" Dean was extremely proud of his little brother and what he had accomplished even with the disability which in the older brothers mind was not a liability but a different means of getting the job done.

John nodded his head, "That's good but I'm not sure if... when we get this thing, if Sam should be involved. I think he should stay behind, not just because of the wheelchair but that vision... He said he was the one doing it... I think he should stay behind with Hope, it's safer for everyone" John was adamant that Sam should not be part of the attack team, he knew he would get some disagreements from his youngest son and possibly Bobby.

"Dad? What the hell...?" Dean could not believe his ears. He was about to argue further when Caleb cleared his throat.

"Ah ladies, can we focus on the job at hand and bitch to each other later" Caleb couldn't believe what John was saying, he just wanted him to shut up and for Dean to not kill him before Bobby got his hands on him. He would pay good money to see that.

Fifteen minutes of silence as they watched the centre and Sam doing his therapy, he was now on the walking frame, red faced and moving slowly down the bars trying to move his legs.

Suddenly the cars front doors where opened and arms came into the car and yanked all three of them out of the car and onto the ground. Kicks, punches and hits with a baseball bat where showered on them until they complied.

"The infamous Winchesters... and friends... are a little too easy to capture... Your reputation is no where near accurate. I'm a little underwhelmed" says a woman with short blonde hair sarcastically. She is standing in front of them and the three hunters are lined up, leaning along the side of the car with bruises and bloodied lips. Three men are standing along side her and as the hunters watch, their eyes turn black to reveal they are all demons.

"Who are you anyway?" Dean asks, peeved that he had allowed himself to be captured by a girl and her three play mates.

"My name is Meg and you killed my father. And as a consequence I'm going to make your youngest kill all of you" She was smiling by the end and Dean felt the ominous pit in his stomach that Sam's vision would come true.