Supernatural does not belong to me, although I wish it did. I am simply playing in Kirpke's sandbox for a bit. All rights and ownership are the property of Kripke and the CW network. I am not making any money from this; it is for my own personal pleasure.

Synopsis: Set at the start of Season One, Dean had been in a wheelchair since his father disappeared more than a year ago and he finally has to tell Sam… There'd been an accident that night and Dean had paid a very high price….one he still doesn't understand. The story will have some hunts from season one and possibly into season two…the brothers will continue their search for their father…there will be alterations to the hunts to accommodate Dean's new situation. I have every intention of returning Dean to good health before this ends…but getting there is going to be bumpy.

Please keep in mind that I do not have a Beta, so any and all grammatical errors are my own. Not Slash. Brotherly love and Angst only…

Please Review: They make me feel guilty and write faster...

Chapter 4

Injuries and Revelations

Sam watched with rising horror as the upper half of Dean's body seized, all the muscles clenching at the same time as his eyes rolled back and forth rapidly beneath his closed eyelids. It was surreal to see only half of Dean's body moving while the lower half remained eerily still. After what felt like a lifetime later…but was in fact only minutes, Dean's body relaxed as his head lolled to the side, exposing the thick trail of blood that had dried in a line from his ear down his neck disappearing below the collar of his shirt. Sam inhaled sharply as he saw the evidence of a serious head injury so blatantly exposed. God…how di d I miss that? He asked himself in disgust.

Sam rushed to grab cold towels and then hurried back to Dean's side, placing the cold compresses against Dean's red and flushed skin, the heat was radiated outward and he wanted to slink into a corner and hide. Once he had laid the towel across Dean's forehead, he jumped up to grab the ear thermometer from the medical kit and placed it gently in the ear without the blood. He waited the couple of seconds necessary for the thing to read the internal temperature, it beeped and read 104.3. That had Sam scrubbing his hand across his face in frustration; he stood up and opened the door to the motel, glancing in either direction for the ice machine. He finally spotted small metal machine that glowed with the words 'ice' at the end of the walkway, he grabbed the ice bucket and rushed to fill the thing…it took several trips to and from the machine to get enough ice in the bathtub so that he could submerged Dean in the small tub in order to reduce the fever. He knew that this was going to be incredibly uncomfortable, that Dean was going to feel like he was freezing…but they had to get that temperature down. He stripped off Dean's jeans and got his first real look at Dean's emaciated legs and the far too numerous scars that were randomly scattered over the white and slightly freckled skin.

"God…Dean…" he breathed as he remembered how callously he had thrown Dean's lack of the use of those broken limbs back at Dean a few hours ago. His eyes started to go fuzzy as the tears filled them and he sat back, trying to get a hold of his rampaging guilt. He didn't know what had happened to Dean while he'd been in school…but he had every intention of finding out. He swallowed and leaned down to gently pick up his brother…immediately noticing how easy it was, Dean stood nearly 6'2 when he was standing, Sam knew that he shouldn't be able to lift his brother this easily. They would need to do something about the weight loss once Dean was on the mend. He walked the few steps to the bathroom and gently lowered Dean into the ice bath.

The effect was instantaneous as Dean's body reacted, as violently as it could with only half of it responding to the electrical impulses, to the extreme change in temperature. He moaned and shook his head back and forth as he tried to pull himself away from the freezing cold that was trying to infiltrate his body. "No….too…c…cold…" he moaned out, making Sam feel even more guilty, if that was even possible at this point.

"Dean…we gotta get you cooled down…" he whispered as he took a wash cloth and placed on Dean's forehead. The water had taken on a pinkish hue as the blood was washed from Dean's chest and the salt finished dissolving, leaving only the massive purple bruising and the holes where the salt had broken through layers of skin only to imbed themselves deep within the pale chest of his brother. Sam glanced across Dean's body in search of other wounds he may have missed, he saw there was the start of a decent bruise across Dean's ribcage on the left side…damn-it! That means either cracked or broken ribs…

Sam tried not to look at Dean's chest anymore as he waited the necessary five minutes that they usually gave to the person in the ice, and then he was pulling Dean from the ice cold water. His brother was shivering…at his upper half was shivering. His lips had taken on a slightly blue tint as his teeth chattered together and his head rolled from side to side in response to the cold. He was semi-conscious now as Sam picked him up and watched with growing frustration as his brother's eyes rolled beneath the slightly parted lids. "Come on Dean…" he said as he laid Dean back on the bed. He tried to wrap the clean towels around his shivering brother; Dean's soaking wet boxers were hanging loosely on his far too lean hips exposing even more white scars on the hips bones. "What the hell happened to you Dean…" he asked as he reached for the alcohol. He knew that this was going to sting like hell, but he needed to clean those wounds.

Before he attacked his brother with the antiseptic, he placed the thermometer back in Dean's ear and listened for the beep. Once it had alerted him, Sam pulled it out and was relieved to see that it read 102.6. That wasn't great, but it was at least acceptable. He poured the alcohol directly onto the numerous wounds littering Dean's chest, his brother's face immediately pinching in pain as he gritted his teeth against the white hot agony that was washing across his chest.

"Sorry Dean…sorry…sorry…" Sam kept repeating as he wiped the bloody liquid from Dean's skin. He felt the tears start to roll as he saw his brother's glassy eyes open and then roll around until they crashed into his, but the instant hardening of those emerald eyes made Sam sit back and look away. When he looked back up, Dean's eyes were shut again, but his breathing was more even and his skin was less flushed.

The look of hardened sorrow that had been reflected out his brother's eyes had cut Sam to the bone. He reached over and gently placed the bandages on the multiple wounds; he then carefully wrapped them with gauze wraps and then bundled Dean up beneath the heavy comforter.

Sam was sitting in one of the chairs at the crappy table in their room, when his cell phone rang. He reached for it automatically, not even checking the caller ID. He was surprised when Bobby's gruff voice came over the line, "Sam?"

"Yeah…hey Bobby." He said automatically.

Sam's tone set off warning bells in Bobby's head as he listened to the kid breathe raggedly on the other end of the phone. "You boys okay?"

Sam chuckled without any trace of humor as he ran his hand through his hair and leaned forward on his elbows. "No…Bobby. We stopped at this Asylum that Dean wanted to check out…and the ghost…"he stopped unable to continue for a moment, his throat thick with emotions.

"What happened Sam…is Dean okay?" Bobby rushed forward when it didn't appear as though Sam could speak for a moment.

"The ghost…it touched me…made me say horrible things to Dean…things I didn't mean." Sam finished as his voice tightened.

"Idgits! I told you two to come here…why'd you stop for a hunt?" Bobby growled, his own fear ramping up as he heard the broken tone of Sam's voice. "What did it say…?"

Sam shook his head, the tears starting to roll down his cheeks again as he ran his own awful words through his head again. "Bad stuff Bobby…" he managed around the lump in his throat.

"Okay…so how close are you to me?" Bobby asked, taking his baseball cap off and running his own hand through his hair before replacing it.

"At least a day…but Dean got hurt and we might not be there for a couple of days…" Sam said quietly.

"Balls! Where exactly are you Sam? I'll come to you." Bobby told the young hunter.

Sam gave Bobby the address and then got enough control of himself to ask Bobby one more question about his brother. "Bobby…Dean's got a lot of scars…more than he could have gotten just from hunting…you know anything about that?" Sam asked slowly.

He heard the slow inhale of air as Bobby decided exactly what he should tell Sam…particularly over the phone…it was certainly something that he thought that Sam should know, although he knew Dean wouldn't want him explaining anything to the youngest Winchester. He weighed just how pissed Dean would be about Sam finding out about what their father had done. His guess…royally pissed off. "Yeah Sam…I know something about those scars…but why don't we talk about it when I get there…it's kinda an in person sorta thing." Bobby made the instant decision that he would be talking to Sam about all the shit that had gone down after he'd walked out on his brother all those years ago.

Sam just stared at the wall as his mind ran in a million different directions…just what the hell Bobby had meant that it was something he had to hear in person. If those scars were from hunting…the old hunter would have simply told him on the phone. So that meant that there was definitely something bad that had gone down after he left for college…something that neither Dean nor Bobby really wanted to talk about.

"S'mmy…?" came a muffled question from the direction of the lump on Dean's bed. Sam's eyes immediately shot up to connect to the fever bright green gaze of his older brother. "You…okay?" Dean finished as he looked Sam up and down checking his little brother for injuries. His hands were clutching the comforter in pain as he watched Sam.

Sam moved to the bed and sat on the edge, his hands itching to touch his brother…but not daring to. "I'm fine Dean…but you got hurt…" Dean rolled his eyes, like he expected to get hurt…like it was no big deal. "I hurt you Dean…" Sam whispered, his eyes still watching the incredibly interesting pattern on his pants. He couldn't quite bring himself to look his brother in the eyes yet.

Dean shook his head and brought his hand up to touch his chest absently. "Wasn't your fault Sam…don't worry about it." That brought his blue-green eyes up and Sam watched with dismay as his brother dismissed what Sam'd done to him in less than two seconds flat…and Sam felt his anger start to bubble again as he saw firsthand just exactly how little Dean valued his own life. He shouldn't have been able to simply forgive Sam for what he'd done, not that quickly…even if it had been the result of a 'ghost whammy' as Dean would put it.

Sam started to say something else, but Dean interrupted him, his voice stronger and his words far clearer than before. "No Sam! I said forget it…and I meant it. Look, bad shit happens, it comes with the job…I got thicker skin than you give me credit for…and I don't want to talk about this okay." Dean ground out through his clenched teeth as he stared with guarded eyes that were silently pleading with Sam to let it go… Sam's eyebrows came together in frustration as he turned from Dean's intense gaze and bit his lip as he tried desperately to let it go.

"Whatever…" Sam finally breathed out as he turned from Dean's injured form and walked to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and walking back to the bed. He handed the opened bottle to Dean and watched as Dean took the plastic bottle in trembling hands and brought it to his parched lips. "Look, I'm going to go to the gas station and grab some Gatorade and something to eat…any requests?"

Dean swallowed at the thought that Sam might not come back…he might be trying to leave him…just like their dad had. But if that was what was going on…it's not like he could prevent it. "Pie…"he said simply and then added, "M&M's…the peanut kind." Sam's head tilted to the side and he couldn't help the smile that crinkled his eyes at his brother's typical response. Dean would request junk food rather than a real meal. At least that part of Dean hasn't changed in the last few years. It was about the only about his brother that seemed to be the same as when they were kids…everything else was so guarded and different that Sam was having a hard time reconciling the man lying in the bed with the strong cocky brother that he remembered growing up. He hadn't known it then, but the whole persona that Dean portrayed had been an act…but he could see it now.

"I'll see what I can find Dean." He answered as he grabbed his jacket and then handed Dean his cell phone before he walked out. "Call me if you need something Dean…I'll only be about fifteen minutes."

Dean nodded and reached out gingerly taking his phone and setting it next to his hip. "Uh Sam?" he called, causing Sam to turn around. "Remote." Dean finished and forced a smile onto his face, holding his hand out as Sam tossed the remote and Dean caught it, despite his fuzzy vision.

True to his word, Sam was only gone 14 minutes and Dean had spent those fourteen minutes replaying the things Sam had said as he bit his lip and stared at the blank screen of their tv. He knew that Sam had meant the words…but he also knew that Sam wouldn't have said them without the interference of the ghost. He inhaled and then instantly regretted the deep breath as his chest lit up in pain and his rib protested the movement. He heard the Impala pull back into the lot and he closed his eyes in relief that Sam had indeed returned for him. This constant worry about being left was really starting to weigh on him…he needed to deal with it or else he was going to push Sam away. And that was the last thing that Dean wanted.

The door to the room creaked open and Sam pulled the key from the lock as he set down 2 small bags on the table, reaching behind himself to push the door closed. His eyes flickered over to Dean's bed and he was surprised to see Dean was still awake and watching him wearily from the cocoon of blankets.

"Pie?" Dean asked hopeful as he eyed the bags on the table.

"Trying to use your x-ray vision there superman?" Sam smirked at the look of disgust on Dean's face at the comment.

"Never wanted to be superman dude…I'm batman…remember." Dean snarked back as his eyebrows rose and he smiled slightly at Sam.

Sam couldn't help the smile that spread quickly across his face, he'd forgotten his brothers less than healthy obsession with the dark knight. Dean had always been batman when they were kids…Sam had always had to be someone else.

"Uh-huh." Sam said as he unloaded the bags and pulled out the piece of pie inside a plastic container. "Apple okay?" he asked, knowing that it was Dean's favorite.

Dean's eyes lit up, he was still a little nauseated from the concussion and his face felt like he'd spent far too much time in the sun…the heat still radiating off him as he nodded. He wanted to just forget that this whole incident at the asylum had ever happened. He knew that Sam wouldn't be satisfied with that though, and he was dreading when Sam would bring up the sensitive issue again.

XXXX

Bobby showed up around 3am, knocking on the door of the motel room and waiting as he heard the soft shuffle of one of the boys on the other side…Sam…it would have to be Sam, since Dean didn't shuffle anymore. Sam pulled the door open and stared tiredly at the old Hunter, he smiled and allowed Bobby to pull him into a tight bear hug. "Damn it's good to see you boy." He said as he pounded Sam on the back in affection. His eyes swept into the room and he couldn't' help but notice the wheel chair sitting idly in the corner next to Dean's bed. His sharp eyes shot back to Sam's and then over to Dean with the question written all over his face. 'Why was there a wheel chair in their room?'

Dean swallowed hard and then met Bobby's eyes… "Um…yeah…so I can't walk….surprise." he said with no humor as he watched the news slam into the old hunter and his sharp blue eyes widened with understanding.

"What?" Bobby asked, more out of habit than anything else. He thought that these boys knew that they could contact him when things went wrong…apparently Dean hadn't gotten that message.

"Can't walk…got hurt more than a year ago…" Dean answered simply. His voice was void of emotion as he finally said it out loud.

Bobby exploded, "Why the hell didn't you call me boy!" he yelled and then immediately regretted it as Dean shrank back into the pillows. His fever bright eyes wide and tinged with a touch of fear. Damn-it. Bobby thought as he remembered the specific reason that Dean and his father had been out of his life for the last four years…the kid was probably waiting for him to cuff upside the head for failing to let him know about his injury. "Sorry kid…what happened?" he said more softly. Truthfully, it hit him right in the heart that Dean hadn't felt that he could come to Bobby for help…and he was going to make sure that the kid didn't feel attacked as a result of his hurt feelings.

Dean looked down as he spoke… "I don't really know…we were on a hunt and the next thing I know I'm waking up in the hospital alone and unable to walk."

Bobby watched as Dean recounted the quick and dirty version of the accident, "Where was your dad?"

Dean shrugged and refused to meet Bobby's eyes. "Don't know…he wasn't there when I woke up and I haven't seen him since."

Bobby took a step forward and then stopped when Dean visibly flinched. "He just left you…alone?"

Dean nodded slightly and continued to look anywhere but at the two men standing in the doorway. Bobby shifted and then decided that he would address this at a later time when Sam wasn't standing there listening to everything that his older brother was trying desperately to hide.

Dean watched the whole interaction between the old family friend and his brother with interest. He was glad that Bobby cold simply accept Sam back into his life, as though nothing had ever happened. His chest was burning as he shifted slightly in the bed and reached over to turn on the light next to his bed. Bobby's eyes connected with his as the movement drew his attention, "Dean…So how're ya feeling boy?" he asked as he stepped past Sam and set his bag on the table.

"M'okay Bobby…you?" Dean answered quietly.

Bobby reached down and patted him gently on the shoulder and then looked back at Sam who was still standing in the open door. "You gonna just stand there like the ugly girl at the prom?" he said.

Sam inhaled and then stepped into the room, gently closing the door and walking to the fridge and removing a couple of beers from it. He handed one to Bobby and pointedly ignored Dean's irritated expression when he didn't offer one to his injured brother. "Thanks." Bobby said as he moved to sit in the chair next to the small table. "So tell me about this hunt…" he asked as he took a drink of the beer and looked at the brother's in expectation.

Dean's eyes connected with Sam's and he could tell that his brother was silently pleading with him to leave out the nastier parts of that hunt. Sam narrowed his eyes and shook his head, watching as Dean dropped his head onto his chest. The action was so familiar to Sam, he'd seen Dean avoid many arguments with him as a kid by simply shutting down and that was what he was seeing now…and it was breaking his heart.

Sam proceeded to explain the hunt, but he was a little selective about how much he told Bobby…he could see Dean slowly checking back into the conversation as he avoided the more awful parts of the evening. Sam had every intention of telling Bobby everything, but it wasn't going to happen while Dean was awake. Luckily Bobby had brought some pretty good pain meds with him, which Sam promptly bullied Dean into swallowing. More than an hour later Dean was finally resting, not the twisted version of sleep that he usually had, but actually resting.

Sam was sitting across from Bobby, peeling the label off his beer bottle. "So…." Bobby began and Sam's eyes shot up to the old hunter's concerned face.

"What?" Sam asked.

Bobby crinkled his forehead and leaned forward with his hands on his knees. "What is it you want to know Sam." He asked quietly.

Sam made a face and then shook his head. "What the hell happened while I was gone Bobby?" his eyes were drawn back to the bed and his brother's sleeping form.

"It wasn't a good time Sam." Bobby said tiredly.

TBC…

Author's Note: Brotherly angst and comfort galore in the next chapter. I wanted to separate them out, Bobby will be an integral part of the boys trying to move on with the hunt for both their father and a possible solution to Dean's injury. The brothers will be headed out on the road soon and getting into trouble on another hunt…good old Winchester luck.

Please Review: Best part is hearing what you guys think about the story.