Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Supernatural. They are all Kripke's creation.

Thanks to my beta, Shannon! A special thanks to blue peanut m and m for helping me to flesh my story out more and for all your suggestions!

Chapter 5

Someone's hand grasps my shoulder and gently shakes me. I open one eye t­­hen the other. "Hey, Bobby." I had forgotten I had even called him.

"How's Sam?"

I briefly look at him before my gaze drops to the black and white tiled floor. Bobby sits in a chair at the end of Sam's bed. "Not good. His doctor says that he's in a coma and he doesn't know…" I couldn't bring myself to say those words.

"If he'll ever wake up." Bobby finishes my statement.

"Yeah."

"Have you eaten anything?"

"Not since last night."

"Why don't you go grab something? I'll stay with Sam."

"I'm not hungry."

"Dean, I know you're upset about Sam but you have to take care of yourself. Sam would want you to."

I run my fingers through my spiked sandy hair. "You're right, Bobby. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Make it thirty."

"Okay, thirty." He can really be a hard ass at times but sometimes that's just what I need.


I stare at the scrambled eggs and sausage. I know I should eat but I just can't. Maybe if I play with my food for a while my appetite will return but I seriously doubt that.

"Is there something wrong with your food?" The woman's smile crinkles the crow's feet around her blue eyes. She is dressed in pink scrubs and munching on an apple cinnamon muffin. She sits down across from me.

I try to plaster a smile on my face but I don't think I am that successful. "No, my brother, Sam's upstairs and I just got some terrible news about him."

The young woman suddenly becomes serious. "I'm sorry to hear that." She sweeps her long blond hair into a ponytail. "One thing I've learned from working in this place is that there's always hope no matter what the doctor says. I've seen patients that they said were goners recover. I'm sure your brother will fall into that category. I'm Charlize by the way." She grabs a napkin and wipes off her hand before extending it.

We shake hands. "Dean."

"Nice to meet you." She pushes her chair back and stands. "I am sorry to have to run off but I just came off a sixteen hour shift and my body is screaming for sleep. Maybe I'll see you in the cafeteria again some time."

"Anything's possible."

"Take care, Dean."

"You, too."

The nurse disappears into the hallway.

I continue looking at my food. Bobby is right. Sam would want me to take care of myself. I load my fork with fluffy yellow eggs, shovel them into my mouth and force myself to chew and swallow. I repeat that action until my plate is empty. I didn't even savor what I had just eaten but at least I had gotten it down. I chase my breakfast with a cup of black coffee before heading back to Sam's room.

I take my time walking to my brother's hospital room. I hate seeing him lying in that bed. I hate that there's nothing I can do for him. Maybe Charlize is right. Maybe Sam will recover in time. I have to hold onto that hope. I inhale deeply before stepping inside his room.

"Any change?"

Bobby is sitting by Sam. "I'm afraid not. Dr. Hastings came while you were gone. He said that if Sam doesn't improve after a month, we may want to consider putting him into a long term care facility."

I take a seat next him. "A lot can happen in a month. If it comes to that, I'll take care of Sammy. I'm not putting him in some facility. I won't."

"I'll do whatever I can to help if it comes to that."

"Thanks, Bobby."