Silence enveloped the house as Jim stood at the top of the stairs, staring down the corridor as blue-hued light flickered across the floor and muffled voices drifted to him from down the hall. It had been a little over two hours since the boys had arrived on his doorstep, and he was thankful that the worst seemed to be over for Sam right now.

The youngest Winchester had showered and changed clothes; had managed about half the soup and all of the apple juice; had taken his pain pills and antibiotic; and was beginning to drift off when Jim had excused himself earlier and taken the bed tray back downstairs to the kitchen. He had assumed Sam would be asleep by now, but he heard two voices mixed with those from the TV.

Curious, Jim walked down the hall, the soles of his shoes softly striking the wooden floor, and stopped just before the ajar door. He peered through the crack, his heart warmed at the sight of Dean propped against the headboard with Sam curled up beside him under the sheets. Sam's head rested against his big brother's chest, just under Dean's arm as it wrapped protectively around him, holding him close.

"Dude, there's no 'k' in 'Ramble On'!" Dean shook his head. "How do you get to be on Wheel of Fortune if you're a dumbass?"

"Just because he doesn't know the answer to this category doesn't mean he's a dumbass," Sam responded, his voice barely a whisper.

"Because you're drugged and half asleep, I'm gonna forget you said that, Sammy."

"Not everybody knows Led Zeppelin songs, Dean. Some people don't even like them."

"Silence, blasphemer!"

Jim chuckled softly, immediately attracting Dean's attention. "Sorry. Didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Dean shrugged. "I knew you were there." He then nodded at the TV sitting atop the bureau across the room, inviting the Pastor into the room and into the conversation. "Do you know the answer to this?"

Jim pushed the door open and entered, focusing on the screen as words at the bottom declared the category to be "Song & Artist". "I'm assuming it's a Led Zeppelin song?"

"Only one of their best songs ever – "

" – according to you," Sam interrupted softly.

"Shut up, Sam," Dean snapped. "Your favorite song is 'I Feel Pretty.'"

Jim shook his head. These boys.

"Is not," Sam whined hoarsely and then coughed. "I like Zeppelin songs."

"Yeah?" Dean asked, sounding skeptical. "Which one?"

"'Going to California'."

Dean was silent for a moment, stunned by how quickly Sam answered. "Seriously?" He shook his head. "Why?"

Sam shrugged, thinking about his favorite lyrics. Made up my mind to make a new start...Going to California with an aching in my heart...Someone told me there's a girl out there...With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair...Took my chances on a big jet plane...Never let them tell you that they're all the same...Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams...Telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.

"Don't know," Sam finally answered, closing his eyes. "Just like it. Why do you like yours?"

"Because it kicks ass!" Dean answered automatically. "I mean...that's what we do – we ramble on. It's like our theme song."

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear...How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air...T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair...But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her...yeah.

Yeah, Dean thought bitterly, knowing the lyrics referred to Tolkien but always reminded of their mom and that night during that part. Definitely our theme song.

"I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat," the male contestant declared, drawing Dean's attention back to the TV. "'Ramble On By Led Zeppelin.'"

Dean rolled his eyes as the audience clapped. "Yay for you...dumbass."

Jim arched an eyebrow, but Dean just grinned, wondering if the Pastor ever regretted their pact – that when Dean turned 18, Jim would stop lecturing about his "abundant use of foul and offensive language."

"I could've called him something worse," Dean teased good-naturedly.

"Yes. I know," Jim answered laconically, mock sternness in his voice. He knew Dean tried to tone it down around him, and truly, that's all he could ask for when it came to the oldest Winchester brother.

Dean laughed softly and then looked down at a suspiciously quiet Sam.

"He asleep?"

Dean nodded, sweeping slightly damp bangs from Sam's forehead. "Yep. 'Bout time, too."

"He always did fight sleep," Jim commented, checking the salt line by the window and noticing the rain had finally stopped.

"Still does," Dean answered, shifting under his brother's weight.

Jim smiled. "Need anything before I turn in?"

As if on cue, Dean's phone began to vibrate, clattering against the nightstand as it inched its way toward the edge and then abruptly fell to the floor.

Sam startled awake, his brow furrowed as he glanced up at Dean.

"Damn it," Dean muttered, aware of Jim moving to retrieve the phone but focused on his little brother.

"D'n..."

"It's okay, Sammy," Dean soothed, calming hand rubbing his brother's back. "Just the phone. Go back to sleep. You're okay."

Sam looked puzzled, his hand fisting Dean's shirt, curling around the amulet, tangling in the black cord and then he relaxed as the combination of exhaustion and medicine swept him back under, his features smoothing out in sleep once again.

"Missed call...Dad," Jim read from the phone's display.

"He'll call back," Dean assured sarcastically, taking his phone from the Pastor. The words had no sooner left Dean's mouth than the phone started vibrating again. "See?"

Jim nodded and turned to leave. "I'll be down the hall, if you need anything. Good night," he said, closing the door behind him.

"Thanks, Jim," Dean responded, then sighed and answered the call. "Hey, Dad."

"I thought I told you to call me."

Dean narrowed his eyes, unexpectedly and instantly pissed at John's tone, which implied that their dad was more annoyed by his order being disobeyed than by being kept out of the loop on Sam's condition.

"Yeah, I know, but I've been busy."

"With what?"

Dean felt his blood pressure rise. With what? Was he fucking kidding?

"With Sam, Dad."

"Oh," John responded, sounding as though he had indeed momentarily forgotten about his youngest in his annoyance of being disobeyed by his oldest. "How is he?"

Dean glanced down at his little brother snuggled close to his chest. "He's fine. The last few hours have been rough, but he's fine right now."

"Good," John replied. "I told you it was just routine surgery."

Dean said nothing, annoyed that John kept using that phrase.

"Where are you now?"

"Pastor Jim's."

"Why?"

Dean shook his head at what seemed obvious. "Because Sam just got out of surgery a few hours ago, Dad. He's been sick and now he's sleeping. He needs to rest and recover."

"He can rest and recover in the car, Dean. I want you both back on the road in the morning. Meet me in – "

"No," Dean interrupted, his voice louder than intended.

Sam twitched, then rubbed his face on Dean's chest and sighed.

Dean lightly patted his little brother's back and listened to the rumble of their dad's truck in the silence over the line.

"Dean – "

"No, Dad. I mean it." Dean's grip tightened on the phone. Following orders with no argument was protocol; but Sam had always been the exception to that rule. "Sam needs to recover for at least a week, preferably two. He stays here."

"Dean – "

"Dad, I'm not arguing with you about this," Dean stated matter-of-factly. "You told me earlier today to handle it, so I did. Sam's had the surgery, and now he needs to recover. Not recover on the road, but recover here. Period. End of discussion."

There was more silence as Dean waited for John to read between the lines: don't fuck with me about Sammy.

John sighed harshly. "Fine. Sam can stay, but you leave in the morning and meet me in Ida Grove, Iowa."

"What? Why? What happened to the hunt over in Fairmont?"

"Done. Simple salt and burn."

"What's in Ida Grove?"

"Not sure. Probably gonna take a few days of research to figure everything out, plus interviews and all that crap. That's why I need you to leave out as soon as it's light."

"Dad, I can't leave." Dean glanced down at his brother. "Sam needs me."

"I need you too, Dean."

And there was the story of Dean's life.

Dean sighed.

"Listen, I know it's hard for you to leave Sam when he's sick, but he's gonna be fine. The worst is over, and Jim will watch out for him. I need you in Ida Grove to watch my back, Dean."

Dean nodded, his fingers absently rubbing small circles on Sam's shoulder. He could hear the logic in John's words, but he still felt torn.

What if something happened to Sam while he was gone? The doctor had mentioned complications, and if any recovery were going to get complicated, it would be Sam's.

Then again, what if something happened to their dad because Dean didn't join him and wasn't there for backup?

Dean sighed again. Shit.

"Dean."

"Yeah, Dad. I get it."

"So I'll see you in the morning?"

Dean hesitated, staring down at Sam.

"Dean?"

"Yes, sir. I'll be there."

"Good. It's about a three-hour drive to Ida Grove from Blue Earth, so I'll plan to meet you at the library at 0900 hours."

"Yes, sir."

"Take care of Sam and be sure to thank Jim. I'll be in touch," John promised before ending the call.

Dean stared at the phone, then glanced down at Sam as his little brother shifted in his sleep, burrowing impossibly closer to his side, and causing Dean to smile affectionately.

A sick Sam was a clingy Sam, and a clingy Sam always clung to Dean.

Dean sighed, resting his chin on top of Sam's head, feeling the heat radiate off his little brother and wondering if he had just made the right decision.

"I'd like to buy a vowel," a female contestant excitedly announced, causing Dean's attention to flicker to the TV he forgot was still on. "An 'a,' please."

Vanna touched the five lighted squares on the puzzle board, filling in most of what was left of the "Phrase."

"I'd like to solve the puzzle," the same female contestant said, barely able to contain herself. "Between A Rock And A Hard Place."

Dean snorted and shook his head. She could say that again.

TBC

Thanks for reading, reviewing, and alerting! One more chapter to go before it hits the fan for Sammy...