Johnny Angel Ch. 30
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Author's Note: A huge thank you goes out to everyone who read and reviewed and to the reviewers I couldn't reply to directly.
Previously: "Let's get out of here before these jackasses awaken." Bobby grumbled as he stood up, feeling the ache in his knees, but not admitting it.
"Sounds good to me. Sammy's going to be in need of some serious PT after this mess and I for one want him safe and comfortable in a familiar place," Dean voiced, climbing behind the wheel of the Impala. As far he was concerned, they couldn't get to Bobby's place soon enough.
Taking comfort in the sound of the engine as it rumbled to life underneath the Impala's hood once Dean and Bobby had settled into the front seat, Sam absently thumbed the protection amulet that hung around his neck as he lay stretched out in the back seat as much as his tall frame would allow him. He hated that others viewed him as being evil, but there was nothing he could do about it. It wasn't like he could stop the rumor mill from circulating about his rise out of hell, he just hated that it put both his brother and Bobby in jeopardy. Sighing audibly as he glanced out the side window, he wondered if maybe he should just up and leave as soon as his health would allow him to do so. At least that way, what was left of his family would be safe.
Gazing into the rearview mirror upon hearing his brother sigh, Dean couldn't help but notice the despondent look on Sam's face and knew immediately what was going through his sibling's mind. "Sammy, you can stop that line of thinking right now," Dean groused, waiting for Sam to look him in the eyes through the rearview mirror that hung from the roof of the classic black car. "What happened here was NOT your fault!"
"Dean, I heard what they said. It was me they were after. Maybe I should lea…"
"Sam, I swear if you threaten to leave just because you think you're keeping me and Bobby safe, I'll kick you ass from here to eternity and then back again," Dean voiced agitatedly as he thought about losing Sam after having just got him back so recently. "We're staying together and that's all there is to it. It's my job to keep you safe, always has been and always will be."
"Your brother's right, ya idjit," Bobby stated, joining in the conversation as he spun about it the front seat so he could look at Sam. "Despite what you think with that 'too smart for your own good' brain of yours, you are not to blame for what others think or do. Jerry and Frank were just a couple of ignorant imbeciles and not worth two cents of your time and worry. And let me tell you one more damn thing. If I ever hear of you talking about leaving again, I will personally hogtie you to the bed and keep you there until that nonsense leaves your head. Do I make myself clear, Kid?"
"Yes Sir," Sam answered, lowering his head so that his expressive blue-green eyes were hidden behind his long, wavy hair. Bobby was a man of few words and he knew Bobby meant every word he had said.
"Good, then lets gets this old bucket of bolts back on the road pr we're never going to get home," Bobby grumbled good naturedly.
"Bucket of bolts," Dean cried indignantly. "I'll have you know this car is a classic and part of the family. Aren't you baby?" Dean inquired as he patted her dashboard.
"Awww, ain't that just too sweet. I didn't know you could be such a sentimental girl at times," Bobby quipped as he look at Dean with a smirk on his face.
"Shuddup," Dean grumbled, his cheeks tingeing a bright pink as he put the car in gear and pulled out onto the road once again. In just a few short hours, they would arrive at Singer Salvage Yard and it couldn't be soon enough for him.
~~Supernatural~~
Finally making their way down the long and winding driveway that led to Bobby's house later that evening, Sam breathed a huge sigh of relief at seeing the wooden structure that he and Dean had come to think of as their second home, the Impala of course being their first. He hadn't said anything to his brother earlier, but his legs and his back were killing him from being cramped up in the car for so long and he wanted nothing more than to stretch out in a comfortable bed, take some pain medication, and go to sleep.
"Sounds like somebody's glad to home," Dean voiced with a smile as he glanced into the rearview mirror, concerned to note that Sam had lines of tension, or was that lines of pain on his face. He had mentioned stopping earlier to let Sam have a few moments to stretch out the kinks, but Sam had refuted the offer, saying he was fine. Now, he wasn't so sure he had made the right move by giving in to his brother.
"You okay there, Sammy?" Dean asked, pushing open the driver's side door and climbing out, ready to help Sam if need be.
"M'fine," Sam voiced through clenched teeth as he swung his legs around to the side and tried to stand up under his own power.
"Yeah, I can see that," Dean retorted sarcastically as he reached out a hand and grasped one of Sam's. "Here, let me help you, Sasquatch."
"Jerk," Sam mumbled as he grasped Dean's hand firmly, silently thankful for the help.
"Anytime, Bitch," Dean stated as he pulled Sam to his feet and then kept a hand on Sam until his brother had steadied himself. "You want me or Bobby to get the wheelchair for you?"
"No, I think I can ma-make it," Sam replied, hissing at the pain in his legs as he put his full weight upon them.
"Okay, well, just lean on us a little," Bobby advised as he rounded the back of the car, approached Sam and wrapped a supportive arms around the younger hunter's waist.
"'Kay," Sam whispered, sweat already beginning to bead on his upper lip as he moved his right leg forward to take that first hesitant step towards Bobby's house.
"That's it Kiddo, one step at a time," Dean murmured in encouragement as he tightened his hold on Sam's arm which was now placed around his neck to give him some leverage should Sam start to fall.
"M'not a kid," Sam grumbled halfheartedly as they slowly plodded their way towards Bobby's front porch.
"You'll always be a kid to me Sammy, even when you're old and decrepit like Bobby," Dean rebutted with a smirk as he glanced towards the man who had become so much like a father to them now.
"Smart ass! Your asking for an major butt whipping and I'm just the one who'll give it to ya if you don't shut your trap, ya idjit" Bobby groused, tightening his hold as he noticed the way that Sam's legs were beginning to noticeably tremble.
Dean was about to voice a retort when he and Bobby were suddenly forced to take on all of Sam's weight as the youngest Winchester's legs collapsed under the strain of trying to walk.
"Bobby, ya got him?" Dean questioned anxiously as he locked his knees to keep them all from hitting the ground at the sudden shift in weight Sam's collapse caused.
"Yeah, let's get him inside," Bobby answered, both hunters shifting their hold on Sam to his lower back so they could place their other arms under his knees. Lifting the youngest Winchester, they carried him the last few feet to the porch and then struggled up the steps with their precious burden. Swiftly unlocking the door while Dean took on Sam's full weight, Bobby held the solid wooden door open while Dean crossed the threshold and carried Sam over to the well worn sofa in the middle of the room where he gently lay him down.
"De'n, I…hurts so bad," Sam moaned, tears beginning to form in his eyes as he struggled to form a coherent thought.
"Yeah, well that's what happens when you hide things from me, Tiger," Dean lightly chided as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the pain pills he kept there on the drive. Giving Sam a few to dry swallow, he then began to massage the cramped muscles in his sibling's legs as Sam struggled to find a comfortable position on the couch with his aching back.
Unable to handle the sight of seeing Sam in so much pain, Bobby quickly excused himself from the room and went in search of the old hot water bottle that had provided much needed relief for him when he twisted his knee a few years back. If nothing else, he knew the heat would help to quell some of the pain in the young man's back until the pain medication kicked in.
Finally locating the desired object under the kitchen sink, Bobby turned on the how water faucet and let it run until the water became scalding hot. Quickly filling the red, rubber bottle, he carried it into the room where he observed Sam currently chewing on his bottom lip in an attempt to keep from crying out from the pain that assaulted him.
"Here, this should help with the pain in your back, ya idjit," Bobby said with affection as he helped Sam lean up enough where he could place the hot water bottle at the small of the younger hunter's back.
"Thanks Bobby," Sam voiced gratefully as Bobby helped him to lean back once again. He then exhaled in deep contentment moments later as the heat started to ease the pain in his lower back.
"Anytime Sport," Bobby stated as he reached out to ruffle Sam's chestnut colored hair, smiling at the way Sam's eyes were beginning to droop as the pain lessened significantly with each passing moment.
"Get some rest kiddo, I'll be here when you wake up," Dean whispered as he pulled the afghan from the back of Bobby's couch and placed it over his groggy baby brother.
"M'kay," Sam sleepily replied with a yawn before fading of to sleep with a contented look on his face.
Watching over his slumbering brother for just a minute, Dean knew without a doubt that he was right where he belonged, by his brother's side and that he could never go back to that life he had made with Lisa. Swiping a hand through his blonde locks, he knew he had a call to make and just hoped that Lisa and Ben wouldn't be hurt too bad by what he had to say. There was just no way in Hell he could ever leave Sam's side now that he finally had him back again.
TBC