Johnny Angel Ch. 24
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Previously: "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.
Making his way down to the billing office early the next morning, Dean sighed knowing that there was no way he was going to be able to handle the medical bill without committing himself to years of payment. Sure, Bobby had taken out a policy on both him and Sammy a while back, but it would only cover eighty percent of the bill and that still left a huge chunk that would need paying. Of course, he hadn't mentioned it to Sam because he didn't want the kid feeling guilty, especially now that Sam was showing the first true signs of being content since his official release papers had been signed by Dr. Alison Thomas only moments earlier.
Pushing open the office door, he strolled over to the desk where an older lady with a scowl permanently etched on her face sat typing something into the computer. "Oh great," he thought as he took in the thick glasses and the prim and proper attire that she wore, "there is no way I'm going to be able to charm the socks off of this one."
"Excuse me young man. Are you just going to stand there and stare at me or is there something I can help you with?" The matronly woman asked as she glanced at Dean over the top of her cat woman style glasses with a withering look.
"Oh, sorry," Dean stammered at having been caught unaware. "I'm here to set up a payment plan for my brother's hospital bill sine he I being discharged today."
"And what is his name?" The curmudgeonly woman inquired with a haughty tone as she glanced at Dean in an almost condescending way before clicking her tongue with disdain.
"His name is Sam, Sam Winchester," Dean answered, thrusting his hands in his pocket to keep from wrapping them around the bureaucrat's throat.
Typing the name into the computer, the woman's demeanor changed almost instantly upon noticing who the patient was that the young man was inquiring about. Looking up from her computer, she graced Dean with a cordial smile, totally surprising him. "You'll be happy to know that your brother's bill has been paid in full and there will be no charges or his stay here at the hospital."
"Wh-What?" Dean stammered incredulously, sure that the woman had typed in the wrong information.
"Your brother's bill was taken care of by a very wealthy man who requested that he remain anonymous. Turns out that one of the teens rescued from the warehouse fire by your brother was his only grandson," the woman informed Dean as she read through the information listed on her screen. "He has also requested that anything else your brother may need or require for his recovery be billed to him also. He feels it is the least he can do for the gift your brother bestowed on the family."
"I…I don't know what to say," Dean voiced, truly perplexed that someone would do something so nice for them. For all of the years that they had been hunting and helping people, he could count on one hand the times that they had been thanked for their services.
"Say that you'll take wonderful care of your brother. He is a hero you know," the receptionist stated with a warm smile this time.
"You can count on it. Thanks," Dean replied before making his way back out the door. It was time to collect Sammy and leave.
~~Supernatural~~
"Bobby, what the hell is taking Dean so long? He said he would only be gone a few minutes," Sam stated as he sat fidgeting in the wheelchair, fully clothed and ready to go. The doctor had been by his room earlier in the morning and had formally released him after doing one final assessment, one that he would rather forget since it had included a digital rectal exam to check for prostate cancer along with the usual things such as blood pressure and pulse. Sure, he knew the doctor had seen him naked plenty of times while he was under her care, but that hadn't kept him from blushing profusely during the exam.
"I'm sure he'll be back in a few minutes," Bobby replied, glancing at his watch to see that Dean had only been gone for a few short minutes. He didn't admonish Sam about being so impatient however since he could totally understand the kid wanting to get out of the hospital after being there for long. "As a matter of fact, here he comes now."
"Hey Bitch, you about ready to blow this joint?' Dean asked with a grin as he came striding into the room carrying Sam's prescription medications in a striped green and white bag. He had stopped by the pharmacy on the way back from billing to get them filled.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Jerk," Sam answered with a smile as Bobby grasped the handles of his wheelchair and started pushing him slowly out of the room, Dean following behind the two of them.
As the small group of hunters made their way down the long sterile hallway and rounded the corner, they were extremely surprised to see a large banner proclaiming, "We're going to miss you Sam," hanging on the wall with most of Sam's nurses, his doctor, and his physical therapist standing near it with moisture laden eyes.
"Wh-What's going on?" Sam asked, truly perplexed as to why they would all want to see him off.
"We couldn't let our very own angel leave without saying goodbye now could we?" Alison smiled as she handed over a small gift wrapped box she had been holding in her hands before bending down to give Sam a chaste kiss on the cheek. "We all chipped in together and we bought you something that we hope you'll like."
"I, uh, I don't know what to say," Sam stuttered out, unknowingly parroting the words that Dean himself had said earlier.
"You don't have to say anything buddy, just open the box," Brian told his former patient as he reached out to clasp Sam on the shoulder and give it a light squeeze.
"'Kay," Sam stated with a small smile before untying the bow and opening the small cardboard box. Inside he found a small circle amulet made of black onyx with a pewter wolf's head and feathers mounted to it along with a genuine amethyst crystal located just under the wolf's head. Attached to the amulet was a leather cord so that he could wear the talisman around his neck.
"What is it Sammy?" Dean questioned as he knelt beside his younger sibling.
"It's a protect amulet for travelers. It's meant to provide spiritual protection as well as travel protection to the one who wears it," Sam answered as he gently rubbed his fingers over the small talisman.
"Since we knew you were going to be traveling back to South Dakota and that it would take a few days, we wanted to get you something that would hopefully watch over you since we couldn't do it ourselves anymore," Dr. Alison Thomas voiced, swallowing down the lump that was forming in her throat. "Hopefully, it will bring back a few fond memories of us also from time to time.
"I'm sure it will," Sam stated with a sincere tone as he pulled the talisman from the box and handed it to Dean to put around his neck. "I don't know how to thank all of you for everything you've done for me."
"Your getting well again is all the thanks we need," Brian informed his patient/friend. "Just do us one favor though?"
"Yeah, and what's that?" Dean asked as he carefully slipped the corded amulet around his baby brother's neck.
"Keep us informed of Sam's progress with his therapy. We'd all like to know when our favorite patient is back to the fitness level he was before the accident," Brian answered
"You can count on it," Bobby replied as he reached out to shake the physical therapist's hand.
"Okay, well, I guess it's time for everyone to get back to work. Take care of yourselves," Alison stated, knowing that the Winchesters and their uncle were most likely ready to get out on the road again. Gracing each hunter with a soft kiss on the cheek, she bade them goodbye before quickly walking away so that they wouldn't see the silent tears that were now trailing down her cheeks. She was going to miss the small family, especially Johnny.
~~Supernatural~~
Finally ensconced in the backseat of the Impala where he could stretch out a little, Sam felt free for the first time in a long time. He reveled in the feeling of the window blowing through his hair as the engine thrummed underneath the hood, it felt like being home again. Sure, he knew he still had a long road ahead of him and that it would take some time for his to fully heal, but he was back with his brother and the love of as man who was now basically a father to him. What more could he ask for?
TBC? I will leave it up to you readers to decide if you want to read more of Sam's recovery as the Winchesters make their way back to Bobby's place. Let me know your thoughts please.