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 out my story more and for all your suggestions!

Chapter 9

ONE MONTH LATER

Sam blinks his eyes. I notice a light in his eyes that wasn't there before. I think Sammy's finally coming back to me.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Sam is communicating with his eyes. One blink for yes and two for no.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Sam said his first words today. "Wh-at hap-pen-ed, De-an?" No three words ever sounded sweeter.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

Sammy has been diagnosed with aphasia. Evidently, it's common in people that have suffered a traumatic brain injury. The doc says aphasia interferes with a person's ability to process language but their intelligence remains the same. Some people with this condition have a difficult time reading and/or writing. Sam is having problems with both. I hate to see my little brother struggling with things he did so easily before the accident. Damn that drunken college kid! My brother has been through enough in his young life already. He doesn't deserve this.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"I thought we would try something different today, Sam."

"Like what?" It's not hard to miss Sam's lack of enthusiasm.

Steve, Sam's physical therapist, steps aside revealing a German Shepherd lying on the mat behind him. "I'd like you to meet, Buddy."

"Buddy, this is Sam."

The dog walks to Sam's wheelchair and licks his hand.

"I knew you two would hit it off," Steve says.

With that one simple action, Buddy manages to bring a smile to Sammy's face. That is a sight I thought I wouldn't see for a while.

Sam pats the dog's head and runs his fingers down his torso. I don't think Sam even realizes that his hand and arm aren't shaking. I have to give Steve credit. He's a clever one.

"How is Buddy going to fit into my physical therapy?"

"Think of Buddy as your physical therapy aide. Today he'll help you work on strengthening your hands and arms. He's off to a good start already."

Sam looks confused for a moment before it dawns on him what his physical therapist is talking about.

"Come here, boy." Steve pats a nearby mat table.

Buddy jumps onto the table and I push Sam next to it.

"Thanks, Dean."

"No problem. Just think of me as Sam's other PT aide."

"Sam, I want you to touch Buddy's head and then lower your arm back to the armrest of your wheelchair. We'll try five minutes with your right arm and then change to your opposite arm."

Steve takes a stopwatch from his jeans and sets the timer. "Are you ready, Sam?"

Sam nods. "As ready as I'm going to be."

His therapist presses the start button. "Sam, I have to check on some other patients. I'll be right back."

"Okay."

"Don't worry, Steve. I'll be like a drill sergeant."

Sammy gives me a dirty look but I pretend not to see it.

His long arm trembles as he slowly raises his hand to touch Buddy's head. His fingertips finally reach the dog's head.

"Alright, Sammy. I knew you could do it."

"I'm glad you did. I wasn't so sure." He lets his hand rest on the German Shepherd's head for a moment before he attempts to lower his arm back to his wheelchair. His arm is shaking even more now.

"Come on, Sammy. You're almost there."

He places his arm back on the armrest. I can tell that exercise took a lot out of him but I decide not to say anything about it.

"That wasn't so bad was it?"

Sam throws me a "yeah, right" look. "Speak for yourself."

SIX MONTHS LATER

Sam slides his right foot forward then his left. He takes one more step before his legs give out. Thankfully, he's in a harness. Steve comes over to help him.

"No, I can do it!" Sammy's arms tremble as he tries to raise himself with the parallel bars. He makes it halfway and then falls back into the harness. He slams his fists against the bars.

"It's okay, Sammy. You did good. You'll do even better next time." I hold his wheelchair while Steve helps him inside.

My brother is quiet as Steve pushes him back to his room and helps him into his bed. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sam."

Sam nods his head but continues to stare at a wall in the opposite direction.

"See you, Steve."

"Bye, Dean."

I sit in a chair next to Sammy's bedside. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, Sam."

His tear filled turquoise eyes center on me. "What if I never get back to the way I was before the accident?"

"That's not going to happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know you. You have the same stubborn streak that all of us Winchesters have."

Sam cracks a smile.

"That along with having me will get you through this."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"I know I'm right. I'm older and wiser."

Sam wipes the tears from his face. "Okay, grasshopper."

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

Sammy is able to support himself with just the parallel bars. He's still a little unsteady so he has to use a walker when going to and from physical therapy.

Sam is still having trouble with his reading and writing. His brain is unable to process vowels. He keeps telling me that all the words look like gibberish. When he tries to write his name, all the vowels are missing. During one of the sessions with his occupational therapist, he got so frustrated that he tossed the pencil and paper against a wall. He apologized to the therapist but I can understand why he feels the way he does. He went to Stanford. Was headed to law school. And now he can barely read and write. I wish there was more I could do for him. Some way I could help him. But all I can do is be there for him and hope that is enough.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Sammy's legs have gotten stronger. He has ditched the walker for a cane. Sam is also walking the halls with Buddy. Every time I see them together, it brings a smile to my face. It's nice to see Sammy up and around.

NINE MONTHS LATER

Sam's reading and writing haven't gotten any better. His speech therapist has decided to try something different. Text to speech software and speech recognition software. She downloaded both onto Sam's laptop. The text to speech software will read aloud text from e-mails, e-books, word processing documents and web pages while the speech recognition software will convert anything that Sam says to text. It will even allow him to turn his notebook computer on and off just by saying it.

TEN MONTHS LATER

Sam is still learning how to deal with not being able to read and write properly. He doesn't seem as frustrated since his speech therapist installed those two programs on his laptop. He really is becoming a wiz at using both of them but I'm not surprised he was always good with computers.

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER

Sam has been discharged from the medical center. He is walking without a cane. You wouldn't be able to even tell he had been in a coma except for the whole reading and writing thing. I'm glad I didn't buy into Dr. Hastings' negativity. Look how far my brother has come.

Sam scans the motel parking lot. A look of confusion is on his face as he looks at me. "Where's the Impala?"

"With Bobby. The green Toyota Echo is mine."

My younger brother gives me a funny look.

"It was the only car Enterprise had left."

"Wait so you flew here?"

"Yeah, I flew."

Sam upturns his lips. "I'm very impressed." He pauses at the trunk of the sedan. "You know I heard you when you read and talked to me every night. Thanks for not giving up on me."

I open the trunk and toss my duffel inside. "You would have done the same for me."

"In a heartbeat," Sam places his bag alongside mine.

I close the trunk and sink into the driver's seat. Sam climbs into the passenger's seat beside me. Just like old times.

I cast a sideways glance my brother's way. "I'm glad to have you back. I don't know what I would have done if you never recovered."

"But I did and that's all that matters."

I nod my head in agreement, turn the ignition and point the Toyota Echo in the direction of the airport.

THE END

Author's note: Aphasia is a real condition that affects people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Dogs are being used in rehabilitation therapy. After reading an article about it, I knew I wanted to include it in this story if I was able to. I hope that you enjoyed the final chapter to this story and that the ending was satisfying. Thanks to all the people who have read and reviewed my story. Until next time. Take care.