Disclaimer: The characters of "Supernatural" were created by Eric Kripke and are owned by the CW Network. No profit is being made.

Note to Readers: Thanks again to all reviews and PM's. They are appreciated. Also, thanks again to those readers that review but don't sign in, so I can't personally reply back to you. My schedule is something to be desired, but I am trying to get a chapter to you every weekend at some point. Happy Reading, I hope.

Our Solemn Hour

By Dawn Nyberg

Chapter 13: Altar of Words, Part One

"Oh we never know where life will take us. I know it's just a ride on the wheel …" lyrics excerpt by Linda Ronstadt, Goodbye my Friend

Dean rubbed a hand across tired eyes and absently scratched the three day stubble on his chin. He sat next to Sam watching as he had been since his brother had been put in the ICU. His brain still processed the end results of that hunt and Sam's injuries. He was thankful that that the CT scans showed no spinal injury just deep bruising and his neck was okay. Two broken ribs had thankfully not punctured his brother's right lung when they broke. However, tests did show the reason for the reduced function of his brother's right lung, a severe contusion. The injuries would heal but it was the closed head injury and the edema the doctor had mentioned that had Dean pacing most days. He'd called for Castiel but the angel hadn't made any appearances and Dean figured he blew the pooch with having him heal Sam in the woods. He figured they were on their own for this.

Sam was on various IV pumps and monitors and due to the lung contusion and unresponsiveness he was still on a ventilator to ensure his oxygenation and to protect his airway. The doctors had also said that Sam was in a coma and the longer it took him to wake up and get off the vent the more chance he wouldn't or that there would be some type of possible brain damage.

"Come on Sammy," Dean reached over and took his brother's slack hand. "You ain't going out like this … you survived hell man, the cage, this is a cake walk. Open your eyes, squeeze me hand, anything … I'm not gonna be picky man."

"No change?" Bobby's voice was soft from the doorway. Dean cast a look at him and held is gaze for a moment, offered a brief shake of the head and went back to watching his little brother. "Dean, you need to get out of here for a few. Take a shower, shave, I got a room at the hotel across the street."

"No," Dean's voice was strong. He was inwardly grateful that Bobby had arrived earlier yesterday after he had called him to tell him about Sam.

"I'm sorry," Bobby started. "I guess I gave you the impression that was a suggestion, it wasn't. Go," his voice firm.

Dean turned and looked at Bobby, his eyes hard, "I'm not leavin' him."

"Kid, I ain't askin' you to up and abandon your brother," Bobby spoke evenly. "I'm just sayin' that kid wakes up and sees you lookin' like you've been rode hard and put up wet he'll blame himself." Bobby knew it was playing dirty but if it got the kid out of the ICU room for a couple of hours then that was what mattered.

Dean shifted his eyes back to his brother and watched him for a long moment, "You'll call me if he even so much as twitches," Dean hedged, his eyes never leaving Sam.

"Of course," Bobby affirmed. "Just get yourself a shower, clean-up, maybe get some rest."

"You're pushin' it Bobby. I won't be gone long."

"Dean, two or three hours, I can hold down the fort, if there is any news you're right across the street."

"Fine," Deam stood up and walked up to his brother's side. "I'll be back soon Sammy. Bobby's gonna stay with you while I'm gone." He gently ran a hand through his brother's thick, long bangs and walked out.

Dean walked into the hotel room. The place was nice compared to what he and Sam would usually stay in, he tossed the plastic key card with the Drury Inn and Suites wording going across the front. The room had two queen size beds and Dean tossed a gym bag on the nearest bed. He pulled out what he'd need in the bathroom and hurried inside.

Twenty minutes later he emerged, clean and shaven. He had put on some fresh cloths and was ready to return to his brother's bedside. He looked at the bed for a long moment and decided to stretch out for just a couple minutes to let his spine relax after being cooped up in an unforgiving ICU chair for three days. Fatigue washed over him so quickly he was pulled into a dreamless oblivion before he could think another thought.

The chirping of his phone made Dean grunt as he rolled over, "Sammy, get the damn phone," he grumbled as he buried his head in the pillow. He was too tired and his head felt foggy. "Sammy…" his mind caught up with reality and he sat up quickly and grabbed his phone as it beeped indicating a voice mail. The room was dark and only pale moonlight broke through the slightly open curtains of the third floor room. "Shit," he barked as he groped for the lamp. "Dammit," he hissed when he saw the bedside clock read 7:45 PM, he'd been asleep for a little over four hours. The lamp came on and he blinked from the brightness as his eyes adjusted to the light. He accessed his voice mail quickly and Bobby's voice came on: Dean, it's me … you need to come back, okay. Watch the traffic walking across the road, ya hear." Dean felt sick, he tried to call Bobby back but he didn't pick up. Cell phones weren't allowed to be on or used in the ICU, so he knew Bobby had to have walked outside the unit to call and now was probably back inside. His heart hammered as he dashed out of the lobby and did stop quick enough to watch traffic, all they needed as a family was for him to get tagged in the intersection and end up in the hospital.

Dean entered the ICU and quickly spotted Bobby outside Sam's room and the curtain was closed, "Bobby," Dean's voice unsure, afraid. When Bobby turned and looked at Dean, his world fell apart, Bobby had been crying. The older hunter wiped away an errant tear. "No," Dean choked out. Bobby reached for him but Dean dodged the touch.

"Dean, son wait," he spoke evenly. "It's not what you …" it was too late Dean was already pushing past Bobby. The man had convinced him to leave his little brother, to leave Sammy alone and now he was gone … he died alone was all Dean could think, and as he stepped around the curtain, his mind took a moment to process what he was seeing, "Sammy," his voice quiet, tentative. He reached down and touched his brother's forehead and ran a hand through his hair gently. Sam was not only alive but he'd been extubated and was on a simple nasal cannula providing some supplemental oxygen to his brother. He noticed that some of the more critical equipment had been removed or pushed against the wall. There were still plenty of wires and monitors but Sam wasn't on the ventilator anymore and when he took his brother's hand, cool fingers gripped his ever so slightly for a moment.

"He came out of the coma," Bobby said quietly. Dean turned to the older hunter and surrogate father for him and Sam.

"When? Was he awake? Is he okay? What did the doctor say? Why the hell didn't you call me the second he woke up?" Dean's rapid fire questions didn't surprise Bobby.

"I was a little busy making sure he didn't rip the tube out himself. He started moving a little but before I could call for help or leave to call you his eyes opened and he was fighting the tube. The kid's a hell of fighter but when he saw me he calmed down and let the doctors do there thing."

"Is he gonna be okay? What did the doc say?"

"He's going to sleep a lot but the will be waking him up for neurological checks. They said the edema appears to be going down. The doctor said he's turned a corner. He's gonna be okay Dean … just needs to rest and heal," Bobby affirmed.

"Really? What about his brain … they said maybe …" Bobby shook his head.

"Looks like he's in the clear Dean … he might have been half out of it but he was with it enough to know if I was here you weren't far … he asked for you and that's when I took the chance to call you. The doc's did a couple more tests but left a little before you got here."

"When I saw the curtain pulled and you were upset, I thought…" Dean broke off and looked back at his brother and he drank in the sight of Sam breathing without that damn tube.

"Sorry, they were just tears of relief Dean," Bobby offered easily. Dean was thankful that Bobby had taken the news of Sam back from the cage and the living for months in Tonganoxie … nothing seemed to shake the man. "You look better, got some sleep, huh?"

"Shouldn't have slept, I just …"

"You needed it kid, so stop bein' an idjit … you're not superman. Now, you're ready to be hear fro Sam and when he opens his eyes next he's not going to see you lookin' like three day old road kill." Dean offered a small smile. "Look, I'll leave you two for a bit. I'm gonna take a breather back at the hotel, you need me call, okay?" Dean nodded. "Sam's ICU doc may stop by and fill you in on things."

"Thanks Bobby … for everything," Dean looked at the man and then back at his brother.

"Yeah, yeah," his voice was gruff but there was a smile on his face. "I'll see you two later, remember call if you need me sooner, okay."

"Yeah, okay. Get some sleep."

Dean sat out in the ICU waiting room while Sam got a sponge bath and some blood taken. He stared at his cell phone and opened the contact list and after a long moment selected a name and hit send. "Hello?" He knew it was late but he couldn't help the hour.

"Lisa?"

"Dean? It's late are you okay?" She sat up in bed. She had worried about him because she hadn't hard from him.

"I'm good," he answered but his voice betrayed him.

"What is it?" her voice was worried. "Dean, talk to me."

To Be Continued