Pertussis

"Where's Sammy?"

Mary looked down at her son Dean as he stared back up at her clinging to the toy dog that he had not been able to part with. He was looking at her with scared hazel eyes and she could tell that he was worried about his baby brother. She put on a brave face and replied, "Sammy is fine. The doctors just need to look over at him and they need room so we're waiting here."

Dean frowned at that and said, "Sammy need me. Sammy scared. I needs to be with Sammy."

Mary looked at her oldest son. At four, Dean was protective of his baby brother. He had been ecstatic when he was born and wouldn't let anyone touch him once Mary showed him how to hold the baby. She figured that a bond developed right then and there because Sam had woken up and stared for the longest time at Dean while he stared back. It was as if silently they were making a vow to watch out for each other.

Sitting there in the waiting area was probably just as agonizing for Dean as it was for Mary and John was probably breaking traffic laws to get there. Mary tried to placate Dean, "Sammy needs to be looked at by the doctor. When the doctor says it's okay, then you can see Sammy."

Dean pouted but he accepted it. He sat on the floor and held his toy dog and stared at the direction Sammy had been taken. He started whispering, "Xander should be with Sammy. You pwotect Sammy. My sleeps says so."

Mary overheard him and prayed that everything would be all right with Sam for Dean's sake. The baby was only four months and very sick. He came down with a bad cough that had him sounding like an old man and there was a fever in his little peaked face. Sammy was having trouble breathing so she rushed him down to the hospital and they whisked him away for examination. Now they were sitting there, waiting to hear the doctor's prognosis.

At that time, John came running in. He had gotten the call at the garage that his youngest was taken to the emergency room and wasted no time in getting there. Dean spotted him first and ran up to him saying that Sammy was sick and the mean nurses wouldn't let him be with Sammy. John picked up his eldest and asked, "How's Sam?"

"The doctor hasn't come back yet. John he was having trouble breathing…" Mary broke off. She couldn't cry in front of Dean. That would only make him upset. She reached up and stroked her son's locks and gave a look at John that told him her worry.

"Family for Sam Winchester?"

Dean wriggled to be put down and marched up to the doctor and demanded, "I wants to see my Sammy."

The doctor gave a good natured smile and beckoned the nurse to show Dean to his brother. At least it would give him a chance to speak to the parents. Once Dean was gone, he told them that Sam had contracted whooping cough or pertussis. Unfortunately it wasn't looking good for the baby and that it looked like that he might take a turn for the worse and die.

John looked like he wanted to throttle the doctor into making his son well and Mary clung to her husband, afraid that if she let go, she might do something that she might regret later on. It wasn't possible! Sammy was going to die! It wasn't fair! First Dean and now Sam. Mary couldn't understand why this was happening at all. She couldn't believe it. She asked if the could see Sam and the doctor obliged.

Dean was already there chattering away to Sam, "Lookee Sammy, this is Xander. He's a superhero like Batman. Here Sammy. He'll protect you." Dean then placed the stuffed dog next to his baby brother. Gently he took his brother's hand and placed it on the dog where Sammy curled his fingers into a little fist. Dean smiled, "Now Xander will protect you Sammy. You'll get better."

Mary watched her son give up his prized possession to his baby brother and the childlike faith he had that Sammy would get better. She watched as John went over and picked Dean up in a hug and listened as Dean told him that Xander was on the case and going to watch over Sammy. Mary knew she didn't want to lose her son and she knew that there was one person who could help. She asked the nurse if there was a phone that she could use.

Mary hesitated as she rested her hand on the phone. She knew that by making this call, she was entering that world she wanted to leave behind. Yet, she reasoned, it came back to see her when Dean was sick with pneumonia and it left a calling card. Mary knew that her friend had meant what she said and she had proven it when she saw Dean sitting up that morning. With firm resolve, she picked up the phone and dialed the number and prayed that it was still active.

She didn't have long to wait. On the third ring, the line was picked up and Mary heard the voice she hadn't heard since the day that John proposed. She said, "It's me, Mary. I need your help. It's Sammy and…"

Mary didn't want to leave but she knew that it was better that way. She had a hard time dragging Dean away. John promised that they would be back first thing in the morning and Sammy had Xander. That placated Dean and he went willingly. Mary was the last to leave the room and was reassured by the nurse that Sammy would be okay. What Mary was hoping to see was her friend but she knew better. Her friend wouldn't show unless she wanted it that way so she followed John and Dean out to the car.

It was no surprise the next morning to see Sammy wriggling like a baby should as he was grabbing and chewing on Xander's ear. Dean was delighted and told Sammy that drooling was gross and not to do it on Xander. The doctor's report stated that he was amazed that Sammy had been able to do a complete turnaround. There was no scarring on the lungs, nothing to indicate that the baby had ever been sick with pertussis.

Mary merely smiled in relief and happiness. Her friend had come as she said she would. She looked at John to show her happiness. What made her even happier was seeing her two boys interacting like they always did. Though Sammy couldn't talk, he was giggling and laughing at his brother and Dean was chattering away.

As they were walking down the hall with Mary holding Sammy and John occasionally looking on with happiness, Dean bounced along behind, happy that his brother was okay. He was bouncing along when he bumped into a lady. He said he was sorry and the lady chuckled and said it was alright. She then said that it was a good thing he had his little protector and pointed at the toy dog. Dean merely smiled and said Xander was the bestest.

It was then that Mary called for Dean. Dean scampered off after saying bye to the lady. Mary did a double take and thought she saw her friend. It wasn't until later that Mary found a scrap of paper with some familiar writing on it with the words to a song. She knew that her friend was letting her know that she was still her friend and she was always watching… silently.