I'm sorry about the wait. Good news: The stuff that is keeping me from writing for you guys is almost over. That means I'll be updating more in just two weeks!

xxx

Chapter 16

"Are you the family of Dean Winchester?" asked a female voice.

Sam woke up suddenly, forgetting where he was for a moment. When the events of the past day came back, he realized that this nurse was Sam's only chance to find out how his brother was doing. Or if he was even alive.

"Yes, that's us." the Doctor answered for Sam, getting out of his chair and standing up straight.

"How's my brother?" Sam asked desperately, standing up beside the Doctor, rubbing his eyes.

"He was in quite a state when he got here. Three broken ribs, a broken wrist, lots of bruises and cuts, and many stab wounds. Though most of them weren't severe, that many wounds can take a toll on a person, not to mention all of the blood loss." the nurse explained. Sam tensed up. He knew that Dean was doing horrible, he'd seen it with his own eyes. But hearing someone else tell him about all of the wounds made him even more worried about his big brother, if that was even possible.

"But he's doing ok, isn't he? He's alive?" the Doctor asked, seeming worried about the older Winchester as well.

"Yes, he's ok. Dean's quite a fighter. We were surprised he made it here, let alone through the night. But we got him stabilized and he's awake right now. Do you want to see him now?"

Sam nodded eagerly and the nurse led them down a series of hallways before stopping outside a doorway.

"You can go inside." the nurse said before walking away.

The Doctor opened the door, allowing Sam to walk into the room first. The walls were white, along with the tile floor. There was a wooden stand next to the bed with a digital clock and a glass of water. The hospital bed wasn't any more entertaining. Sam figured that this room had to be one of the most boring hospital rooms he had ever been in. And that was saying something, considering no hospital room was particularly interesting.

Sam looked at Dean and his stomach dropped. He looked so small and defenseless in the bed, with his wrist and ribs bandaged and the cuts and bruises standing out on his pale face. When he saw Sam though, Dean smiled weakly.

"Hey Sammy." he said, his voice sounding hoarse and soft, from both exhaustion and his dry throat.

"Hey Dean. How are you feeling?" Sam asked gently, crossing the room and sitting in one of the chairs next to Dean's bed.

"Yeah, I'm good. Are you ok?" Dean asked, taking on his protective older brother tone.

"Your brother's fine, Dean." the Doctor said, walking into the room and shutting the door behind him quietly.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm one of the people who saved you. Remember?"

Dean thought about it for a minute, then he gave the Doctor a look of recognition, "I remember now. But why'd you save me?"

"Because it's my job. I save people who need saving. Including the heroes, like you and your brother." the Doctor told him.

Dean smiled a little at that. "Did you say your name was Doctor? Doctor who?"

The Doctor's eyes lit up like a child's on Christmas, "I love it when people ask that!" he exclaimed, punching the air happily. "And it's just Doctor. The Doctor."

"Well, Doctor, I have to say, you did a great job. Thanks."

"Any time Dean."

"Hey, how do you know so much about us?"

"I know a lot of people. I've kept tabs on you boys. It's how I knew you were in trouble."

Dean nodded. He knew that in most other circumstances, he would have been unnerved and generally creeped out to hear this. But, for some reason, he felt better knowing that the Doctor would be there to help them if they truly needed it.

"Sam." Dean said.

"Yeah, Dean?" Sam asked, looking at him.

Dean gave Sam a look that told him everything that needed to be said. The boys could do that better than most. When they gave each other looks like this, there was no misinterpretation, no misunderstanding. There was no lying either, there was no pretending. It was the most true, pure thing that they could do to express their emotions without words.

"I'm kind of hungry. Can you see about getting me some grub?" Dean said.

"Yeah, give me a second." Sam told him, walking out of the room to get his brother some food.