Johnny Angel Ch. 23

Disclaimer: See chapter one

Previously: "Yes Sir," Dean replied, happy to know that they would have a place to stay where Sam could feel at home until he was fully recovered. And to be honest, he was looking forward to spending some time at Bobby's place himself since it was the closest thing they had to a home besides the Impala.

As Sam continued to improve over the course of the next week, he was finally looking forward to being released from the hospital. It had been a long month or so since he had awakened from the state of catatonia and he was itching to regain his freedom, even if it meant getting around in a wheelchair for the next couple of weeks. Sure, he was starting to get the strength back in his legs through the exhausting rehabilitation Brian was putting him through, but his muscles had not yet progressed to the point where they could hold up his weight for any length of time.

Thinking back over the past week and the exercise regiment he had endured, Sam was glad Brian had started him out on the three pound ankle weights to strengthen his quadriceps, hamstring, and lower back muscles instead of the ten pound ones that he had wanted to begin with. At first, he had felt humiliated that his physical therapist had even thought about using such a low poundage weight, but then Brian had explained that the heavier ones would have put too much weight on his joints, thereby causing him more problems in the long run because of the joint pain and injury they could have caused. It took some convincing, but Sam had finally relented when Brian informed him that the ankle weights were meant to strengthen his muscles, not hurt them. And in the end, Brian had been right as was evident by the muscle pain Sam had endured after the workout. The muscle spasms had been so bad from the three pound weights that Dean had ended up massaging his legs for what seemed like hours afterwards later that evening. He hadn't known muscle cramps could hurt so frigging much. So lost in his thoughts, Sam failed to notice when his big brother walked into the room.

"Hey Sammy, you okay there little brother? You look like your mind is a million miles away," Dean stated upon seeing the far away look in Sam's eyes after walking into the room while carrying a small bag that contained a change of clothing he had just purchased for his baby brother to wear once he was discharged. Sam had lost some weight over the past month he had been laid up in the hospital and most of his clothing no longer fit him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about how I can't wait to get out of this godforsaken place," Sam answered with a smile as he tugged his right hand through his disheveled mop of chestnut colored hair. "I am so ready to hit the road again."

"Whoa, Tiger! Don't go getting ahead of yourself. Dr. Thomas said there was a chance you could be released tomorrow, not that it was a sure thing," Dean warned, not wanting Sam to get his hopes too high just in case things didn't work out like he wanted them to.

"Dean, I'm getting out of here tomorrow even if I have to sign myself out AMA," Sam retorted stubbornly as he gave his brother a determined look. "They can't keep me here against my will."

"That's true Kiddo, but have you even given thought to how you're actually going to make it over to the door, much less down the hallway? I mean with you unable to even stand for any length of time, it would be pointless to plot your escape at this point."

"You could help me," Sam responded, giving Dean his best 'puppy dog' expression, the one his brother could never refuse when they were growing up.

"Damn it Sam, don't look at me that way. You know I've only got your best interest at heart and if the doctor says you need to stay a few more days, then you're damn well staying," Dean groused, knowing the effect that the look had always had on him.

"Please Dean, I can't take another day lying in this hospital bed with nothing to do. I need to get out there and take control of my life once again." Sam stated in the best pleading voice he could muster. One way or another, he was going get through to his stubborn brother.

"Well then, I guess you better thank your Uncle here for finding a rehab close to his place that's willing take to take you immediately on an outpatient basis," Dr. Alison Thomas informed her patient as she and Bobby strolled into the room in time to hear the last part of the conversation going on between the brothers. "That's the only reason I am agreeing to your release tomorrow morning. I have been assured by Mr. Singer here that your physical therapy will continue without interruption and that he and Dean will give you all of the encouragement and support you'll need to get through the ups and downs that go along with rehabilitation process."

"You bet your sweet ass he'll have all of the help and encouragement he needs," Dean voiced, gracing the doctor with a megawatt smile upon hearing the information that his brother would finally be released the following day. Truth be told, he wanted Sammy out of that hospital just as much, if not more, than Sammy himself wanted out.

"Honestly, I never doubted that for a minute Dean. Both you and Bobby have shown how dedicated you are to Sam and his recovery over the past couple of weeks. Sam would never have made as much progress as he has if it hadn't been for the two of you supporting him up along the way," Alison touted, making sure the two men knew just how important they were to Sam's recovery.

"Hey Doc, Sammy was the one who did all the work. He deserves all the credit, not us." Dean mused as he reached out to brush away the bangs that had fallen into his baby brother's eyes.

"While that may be true, you two also deserve some credit whether you want to admit it or not," Alison declared as she looked Dean in the eye to strongly make her point. "Now, there's just one more problem we have to face before I can sign Sam's release."

"Problem? What kind of problem?" Dean queried a little anxiously as he scrubbed a hand across his lower jaw.

"How much those of us here at the hospital are going to miss this young man," Alison answered, as she fought back the tears that were trying to spring forward from her eyes at the thought of their 'Johnny Angel' leaving. "Sam has been such a big part of our lives over the past several weeks and it's going to be hard to trust his well being to someone else."

"Ya know Doc, we can never repay you for what you and all the others did for Sammy when he arrived at the hospital," Dean proclaimed as a lump began to form in his throat.

"No repayment is needed, we were more than happy to help Sam in any way that we could. After all, he is the town hero you know," Alison reminded Dean, as she thought about how Sam had saved all those teens from the warehouse fire, nearly giving up his own life in the process.

"Still, I just want you know to that I'll be forever grateful to you and Detective Fletcher for going above and beyond the call of duty and for taking care of him until we were reunited once again. Without all of your hard work in tracking me and Bobby down, there's no telling how long it would have been before we reconnected," Dean proclaimed, his voice cracking with the words

"As I said, we were happy to help. Now, if you two will excuse us, I would like to do one final assessment of Sam's health before I get his release papers ready for in the morning," Alison informed the hunters as she wrapped her fingers around Sam's wrist to check his radial pulse.

"Sure Doc, we'll just be outside," Bobby stated as he motioned Dean to start walking towards the door. Following the younger hunter out the door, he pulled his slightly tattered ball cap off and leaned against the wall before tugging his fingers through his slightly graying hair. He was extremely happy that Sam was being released, but he was also worried about how the upcoming road trip to his place in South Dakota would affect the youngest Winchester. It was going to take a few days for them to make the drive, and he knew it would play havoc on Sam's muscles.

"Ya know Dean, I hate to say it, but I'm a little bit worried about this trip back to my place. It's bound to be hard on your brother and I'm concerned about how it will impact his recovery," Bobby voiced worriedly.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that myself. I don't want Sam regressing in his treatment, so I was thinking maybe we could stop early each evening on the way back to Sioux City. That way, we could put Sam through his PT routine and he could relax in a hot bath afterwards. I know it would take longer to get there that way, but…"

"But nothing, we'll do what's best for the kid," Bobby voiced with authority.

"But what about your salvage business Bobby? I know you need to get back to work after all the time you've already given up for us and…" Dean started, but was once again was interrupted by Bobby.

"And the business can wait, ya idjit. Family comes first boy. You oughta know that by now," Bobby grumbled as he lightly cuffed Dean on the back of the head for making such an absurd statement about him leaving. No way was he abandoning his boys when they needed him most. And that's what they were now, his boys! He couldn't love them anymore if they were his own. After all, family didn't stop with blood.

TBC