AN

I apologise for such a long wait for the chapter but life has its way of catching up and ripping everything to pieces on me. Now I know I left the last chapter at a cliff hanger, and I warn you, that this doesn't completely coincide at the moment, but in later chapters the ending and what happened then, gets explained. But for now, its another few weeks later scenario, where Jo and Ellen get avoided like roadkill on a hot day.

Again, sorry for the wait. But enjoy!

14.

'So ah Bobby, got any um,' Sam seemed to be struggling around the word he was trying to find. Like he knew what it was, but couldn't quiet draw it out enough. Bobby was losing his patience with the kid, and slapped him on the back of the head, telling him to hurry up and spit the damn thing out.

'Got any chicken feet we could run around with?' The two boys cracked up in laughter, Bobby flushed a deep red before throwing the pencil in his hand at Sam who deflected it easily, laughing even harder. Even Dean was sharing in the humour. The boys must have heard him mumbling in his sleep, right before he woke up with a start like he had never felt before.

Shaking away the lingering memories of chicken feet chasing him down the street, he told Sam to stop laughing and eat his breakfast. Dean had already stopped laughing and was downing coffee by the mugful. 'Is there a coffee drinking contest happening that we don't know about, or are you just really thirsty?'

Pausing, cup midway to his lips, Dean looked a little sheepish. Bobby imagined if he were able to see, his eyes would be wide like a doe caught in the spotlight. Dean slowly lowered the cup to the table, looking even more sheepish then before as he pushed it away, searching carefully for his plate of bacon and eggs, and not offering any reason at all for his camel like drinking habits.

'You ready for today?' Sam asked tensely, Bobby looked up in realisation. He had been so caught up with last night's discovery and feed for his stupid nightmare that he had forgotten that Dean's first appointment at Sioux Fall Hospital was today.

'I guess so.' Was all Dean offered before he deliberately shoved way too much food in his mouth and busied him with trying to chew it all done.

'That why you drinking so much coffee, add a bouncing bean to your stamina? Because I can tell you kid, all it's going to do is have you running to the toilet, so to say hoppy.' Dean smirked at Bobby, laughing falsely before reaching around for his cup again. 'Eleven o'clock.' Bobby offered as Dean changed the direction of his hand.

'Now I might not be here when you boys get back from the hospital.' He threw it in there as swiftly as he could, hoping they wouldn't notice it. But Sam's keen ears pricked up in an instant, turning his eagle like gaze on Bobby.

'Where are you going?' Sam asked, almost innocently. But if Bobby didn't know the kid better, he would have fallen for the innocence of the question. Instead however, he snorted and took a deep gulp of his coffee.

'Give him a break Sam, man problem needs sometime to himself without us two under his feet and causing chaos at every turn, and breaking everything.' Dean added a light laugh to it, but it didn't lessen the blow any, it still struck Bobby hard though and he regretted saying anything at all. But then if he left without saying anything… things would be interpreted however the boys saw fit, and then he wouldn't be there to rectify.

'It's a light supply run, getting low on a few ingredients that's good to have around the house.' He hoped Sam wouldn't probe anymore, but he noticed the way his eyes squinted in silent question. Meeting his gaze he saw him mouth the words, in the garage, explanation. Nodding he stood up and put his dishes in the sink before finishing his coffee and letting the mug join them.

Facing the two boys he watched them for a moment and contemplated just telling the truth, but he knew that wouldn't be a good idea. Sam would get all excited while Dean would get his back up and shut the whole thing down immediately. Ever since the faith healer and his father's death, Dean refused any assistance like that at all. I would not be fair on them, Sam in particular as he would get his hopes up them most.

It didn't take too much for Bobby to see how much everything was affecting the younger brother. He would always catch Sam with a guilty expression painted all over his face, or else on the verge of tears, mouthing a silent apology to Dean while he slept on the sofa during the day.

'You think you can cope with doing the dishes Dean? I need Sam's giraffe legs out in the shed for a minute, get something off a shelf.' Dean nodded, leaning heavily on the walking stick by his side to help him stand, picking up his plate with the other hand and slowly making his way towards the sink. Two and a half months out of hospital, and he was making good headway. Bobby beamed at Dean, proud of him for a moment as he watched him reach instinctively for the plug, his mind memorising everything already.

'Back in a minute Dean.' Sam clapped Dean on the shoulder before heading out the back door, Bobby following on behind him. His mind spun with theories as to why Bobby was going away for a few days. They had both agreed that hunting would be put on hold for the moment, that they wouldn't talk or discuss it in any way. Though Bobby couldn't completely stop with the phone calls that were always coming, they weren't meant to be going on about it anyway.

'What was that Bobby?' Sam exploded as the door shut behind them, barely able to contain himself.

'Settle yourself down you damn idjit!' Bobby growled back at him, slamming around on the work bench, trying to at least make it sound like they were doing something outside instead of just sneaking around Dean's back.

'We promised no hunting talk. Period.' Sam yelled back.

'I know, I know.' He wished he could just tell them the truth and get it over and done with, but that would certainly be too hard.

'Then what was it?'

'I can't say anything right now, but if I can get everything when I'm out I will tell you then.' None of that sounded convincing, he didn't even know if he was convinced himself. But Sam seemed to believe him, for now.

'Fine, whatever, I need to go get Dean ready for his appointment.' Sam stalked out of the garage. Leaving Bobby to stand there questioning himself. When he walked back inside the two boys were arguing at the breakfast table.

'Dean I don't care, you have to go to this appointment whether you want to or not. It doesn't matter how well you are doing on your own, it is beside the point. Now get up and get ready before I carry you to bedroom and dress you myself. I will use brute force on you.' Sam was shouting, approaching Dean with a menacing look on his face.

'Okay, okay. Back off Robo-Mother.' Dean pushed himself to his feet as quickly as his leg would allow him too. Bobby chuckled by the door, and leant into the frame. For the sake of those boys, he would make sure that this would work, that he would be able to get Dean his sight back. The thought of the boy having to go through life without his sight… Bobby pushed of from the door frame and started putting the dishes away that Dean had already made fast work of.

'Don't you dare pop one of those pills Dean! You know they put you to sleep!' Sam ripped the bottle out of Dean's hands in frustration. He couldn't understand why he was being so difficult about this, it had come out of nowhere.

'Well give me my other pills then!' Dean demanded adamantly.

'Why are you acting like a child Dean?' Sam sank down on the bed with Dean and let his body deflate tiredly. He would probably have more luck with a child he thought.

'It hurts Sam, all the time. Sometimes I sit there and think; I'm so happy I can't see my leg because then I know I would just get more depressed. It's so not helpful being blind and invalid, it would be easier if I…' Dean drifted off, shocking Sam. His brother was never this open about his emotions. He knew where the rest of that sentence was headed, and was thankful he didn't finish.

Sam would have broken down completely if he had, hearing it out loud would have more it all the more real. As he reached over for the painkillers, he promised himself that from now on he would keep a closer watch on his brother, monitor his medication intake.

If Sam lost Dean that way, he didn't think he would be able to keep himself from following suit. 'Here you go, now get ready. Clothes are on the bed beside you. If you hustle we might not be too late.'

Bobby moved away from the bedroom door quickly, busying himself at a bookshelf as Sam walked through it seconds later. He had heard every part of that conversation and felt his heart break with each word. He thought of John, how he would have reacted in a situation like this, to hear his son talk about suicide.

Shaking his head, he felt guilty for being thankful John wasn't here. The hard man would probably slap his son on the back of the head and tell him to harden the fuck up with talk like that. It broke his heart to hear him talk like that, but there was nothing that he could do right now. Being there was no longer enough. He needed action.

'Make sure you call me and let me know how the appointment went Sam, I shouldn't be more then three days at the most, when I get back we will talk. Make sure Dean doesn't get in to too much trouble while I'm gone. I would like to find all the glass in one piece when I get back.' Sam laughed in response and nodded.

'Sure thing Bobby.' Sam walked up the stairs with a stiff back, while Bobby shoved a few vials and containers in to duffel before following Sam and retrieving the book he would need with all the ingredients for the difficult summoning.

Revving the engine to the old pick-up truck, Bobby tried to think of a quick and easy way to achieve his goal. Getting the ingredients was going to be no feat in comparison to what would come from the summoning.