Hi there!

Sorry I took so long to update, school was all crazy and messed up this past week.

I also wanna give a big virtual hug to all the people who have reviewed this story! And I don't just give out hugs to anyone, virtual or real-life, you're pretty awesome and special if you get one. :)

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~Christianne

Nikki POV

"Dean!"

Choking noises.

"Help! I need help in here!"

I jolted up, scrambling to my feet while pulling Sam's jacket over my shoulders…I was cold.

Sam had this…this look on his face, like he didn't know whether to grin and laugh or cry. I just squeezed his forearm, smiling up at him. He glanced at me with that teary eyed grin and grabbed my hand in his, weaving his fingers through mine easily as he squeezed it.

Now, I was happy for two reasons.

"All the internal contusions are healed. Your vitals are good, you've got to have some kind of angel watching over you." The doctor said, looking at his clipboard.

"Thanks, Doc," Dean sighed as the doctor left.

"You said a reaper was after me?" Dean asked, going back to the conversation we'd been in the middle of when the doctor came in.

Apparently, Dean didn't remember a thing.

"Yup." I nodded, tossing Sam's jacket onto a chair, pulling the plaid sleeve over my fingers as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"How'd I ditch it?" He asked.

"You got me," Sam said, shrugging.

"You really don't remember anything?" I pressed gently.

"No…Except this pit in my stomach…Something's wrong." Dean said, I could tell he meant it.

Before, I was annoyed that Dean had made me realize I really had thing for his brother; I knew he'd tease me about it. But now that he was clueless to it, it made me wish he'd remember. Granted, he might've locked me and Sam in a closet for a forced game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, but it's just the weight of it. Wanting to tell someone something just so it's not all on you.

A knock on the door frame made me look up, and seeing who it was made me step back.

"How you feelin' dude?" John asked.

"Fine, I guess." Dean answered, shrugging a little. "I'm alive."

John had a smile on his face. A smile. Granted, it was a little one, but it was still a smile. s"That's what matters."

"Where were you last night?" Sam asked, upset.

John's gaze flickered to Sam, and his smile faltered a little. "I had some things to take care of."

"Well, that's specific," Sam scoffed.

"Sam," I lightly scolded, sending him a look.

"Come on, man," Dean complained from his hospital bed.

"Did you go after the demon?" Sam asked, not letting up.

"No." John said eventually. I believed him.

"You know, why don't I believe you right now?" Sam asked, a hint of sarcasm coloring his tone.

John sighed, shaking his head slightly as he took a few more steps into the room. "Can we not fight?" He asked.

"You know, half the time we're fighting, I don't even know what we're fighting about." John said, almost laughing as the smile came back on his face. "We're just butting heads. Look, Sammy, I've…I've made some mistakes, but I've always done the best I could."

He paused and looked at Dean. "I just don't want to fight anymore, ok?"

"Dad, are you all right?" Sam asked, sounding worried, almost scared.

"Yeah," John said, his smile briefly growing bigger. "Yeah, just a little tired…Hey, son, would you mind, uh-would you mind getting me a cup of caffeine?"

"Yeah," Sam nodded, looking stunned and deep in thought. "Yeah, sure."

"I'll go with," I said quickly, looking down as I passed John.

"Nikki," he said, stopping me just before I walked out the door. I looked up at him expectantly, ready to take the blame for Dean being comatose, unrest in the Middle East or Global Warming.

"Thanks," John said after a brief pause.

"I-I-You…Uh…What?" I finally got out, confused beyond belief.

"Thank you," John repeated. "For…Your help. With the vampires, Dean…" He trailed off.

I was at a complete loss. I had no idea what to say to him. My arms dropped to my sides as I looked up at him.

"Uh, well…your welcome?" It came out like a question. John gave me that little smile he'd given Sam earlier and nodded for me to go. I didn't move until Sam put a hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me out the door.

"Do you know what that was about?" I asked Sam as we walked to the cafeteria.

"No, not a clue," he said, shaking his head.

We walked in silence to the cafeteria, my arms crossed over my chest again and Sam's hand stuffed in his jacket pockets. Neither of us said anything while Sam got a cup of coffee from the machine.

"Something's not right." I said, breaking the silence on the way back to Dean's room.

"I know." Sam answered, not looking at me.

I frowned and glanced up at him. He wouldn't let me use the spell to fix his face, Dean either. Just reciting it a few times wouldn't do me any harm.

I was so deep in thought I ran into Sam, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway. The coffee cup Sam had been holding dropped to the floor. I quickly sputtered out apologies, but Sam didn't say anything. I followed his gaze and gasped as I saw what he did.

"Dad?" Sam said, rushing over to his father, who was currently on the floor of an empty room, not moving.

I went to his other side as Sam yelled for help. I grasped John's hand to start the incantation, but it wouldn't connect. He was gone.

I fell back, sitting on the floor until Sam grabbed picked me up as he was pushed from the room. I stayed at the door as doctors started compressions and Sam went to get Dean.

A nurse was about to tell Sam and Dean to go away, but Dean spoke up. "No, no it's our dad…It's our dad!" He repeated, harsher the second time when the nurse tried to push them out again.

The buzzing flat line rang in my ears. I didn't even comprehend what the doctor where yelling. I just kept looking from John, to Sam and Dean's horrified looks.

"I'll call it." One doctor said, stopping the compressions on John's chest and looked at his watch.

"Time of death, 10:41 am."