"You look like you need this more than I do," Dean smiled slightly and offered his Styrofoam cup of coffee to Sam the next morning as the younger Winchester picked at his bland hospital breakfast.

"Thanks," Sam mumbled and took the cup from his brother, and brought it, trembling to his lips.

"How're you feeling?" Dean asked tentatively.

Sam lowered the cup of coffee, "Truthfully? Like crap."

Dean nodded. That was completely understandable and appropriate to the situation.

He watched his brother shift awkwardly in bed, frowning as he drew his knees up, nearly hitting them against the wheeled table upon which his breakfast sat. The cup in his right hand titled sideways, dribbling coffee onto the crisp white linens.

"Damn it," Sam muttered and Dean took the cup from him, saving the sheets.

"Don't sweat it," his brother muttered, reaching out for the call bed dangling from the bedrail, "We'll get a nurse to bring new blankets."

Sam sighed and closed his eyes, dropping his head onto the pillow.

"Are you okay? Are you in pain?" Dean's voice asked.

Sam shook his head. He had only just started showing his brother how much of a nuisance he was going to be.

"You can go, you know," Sam told Dean, "You don't have to stay."

"Go? I just got here?" his brother commented, confused.

Sam opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Dean.

"I mean it, Dean. It was my fault this happened in the first place. I'm going to be a burden now, with this," Sam swept his right and towards his leg, "There's no way I can hunt."

Dean was shaking his head, even as Sam was speaking.

"Don't be stupid," he scolded, his expression fierce, "If anyone's to blame for what happened, it's me. I didn't want to leave until we'd dug up that grave, even though I knew the weather was getting bad."

Sam just looked at him.

"And you are not a burden," Dean nearly growled, "You never have been and never will be. We'll figure things out. There are ways to get around this; they have prosthetic limbs now, for one, and for another, even if you can't go hunting, I need someone to do all the research."

"Dean-" Sam began but his brother shook his head, smiling a little.

"You know how I feel about books and microfilm," he told his younger sibling, "I need you to do all that nerdy stuff."

Sam opened his mouth again, perhaps to try and argue again, but a nurse appeared.

"Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Can we get some new blankets?" Dean asked, "There was a bit of an accident."

The woman nodded and left the room.

"Dean-" Sam spoke as soon as they were alone again.

The elder Winchester held up a hand, "I'm staying right here until Dr. O'Brien gives you the OK to leave and when he does, you're coming with me. Got it? This isn't up for discussion."

Sam lowered his gaze, wanting to tell Dean he didn't know what he was getting himself into.

"Now, just shut up and finish your breakfast."

Author's Note:

Thanks to TweetyRulz, Zeldalsis, jensensgirl3, bagelcat1, NextAirAvatar, kandilyn, elliereynolds777, reannablue, mandancie, Kas3y, AlxM, Katlover98, Trucklady53 and Guest for reviewing.

Please leave a review and I'll make a speedy update!