As well as the benztropine Dr. O'Brien had prescribed for Sam's tremors, the young hunter also started taking pregabalin for nerve pain and zolpidem for insomnia.

True to his word, Dean remained at Sam's side the rest of the week, leaving the hospital room only to go to the cafeteria for food.

The physician continued to be pleased with the younger hunter's progress and officially announced Sam could be discharged that Friday.

W

Dean called Bobby to tell him to expect them for dinner on Friday evening.

"That's great news, son," Bobby agreed, "How's Sam doing anyway?"

"Fantastic," Dean replied, "Can't wait to leave."

"I'll bet," Bobby agreed, "Well it'll be good to see you boys. Maybe have you stay for a while."

Dean promised that they would and ended the call.

Returning to Sam's hospital room, he saw his sibling still lying in bed, eyes closed, face turned towards the window.

"Haven't the nurses gotten you up yet?" Dean asked, coming to the edge of Sam's bed.

The younger man didn't respond; didn't open his eyes or speak.

"I know you're not asleep so you can quit pretending," Dean told Sam.

Again, his words were met with silence.

"Sam," Dean spoke in a firm tone, "Open your damn eyes and look at me. Talk to me."

The younger man sighed and turned his face, opening his eyes.

"What?"

"I know you heard me," Dean growled, "Why are you still in bed?"

"What's the point in getting up?" Sam muttered.

"The point," Dean snapped but then paused, and when he spoke again his tone was gentler, "The point is, the faster you recover, the faster we get you out of here."

"And do what? I can't hunt, not like this," Sam argued, "I'm useless."

Dean reached out and gripped his brother's shoulder, "You are not useless. You're not. We've been in tough situations before and we've gotten through them. And we'll get through this."

Sam didn't reply.

"I want you to stop this feeling-sorry-for-yourself shit," Dean told him, "If anyone has the right to feel bad about what happened, it's me."

Sam opened his mouth to argue but Dean raised his free hand, "Don't say anything. From this moment on, if I hear you say your useless or tell me to just leave you, I'll kick your ass."

Dean grinned to let Sam know he wasn't really mad at him and his brother smiled wanly back.

W

"See, aren't you glad you came with me?" Dean asked as he slid a red plastic tray from the hospital cafeteria in front of his brother.

"If you'd stayed in your room you'd miss all the cute nurses."

Sam picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip.

"What about the nurses who come to see me?"

Dean made a face and picked up a French fry from his brother's tray, "The operative word being cute, Sammy."

Sam rolled his eyes in response.

Dean leaned back in the molded plastic chair he was sitting on and idly gazed around the cafeteria while Sam ate.

"So, I was thinking we could stay with Bobby for a while until you're fully recovered," he told his brother casually.

Sam set his cup down hard enough to make the lid pop off and splash his lunch with lukewarm coffee.

"What? Can't we just rent a motel room or something?"

Dean frowned, "Why? Bobby's offering us a place- free, I might add- to lay low for as long as we need."

Sam, using his paper napkin to up the spilt coffee, muttered.

"I don't want to bother Bobby."

"Sam, what are you talking about? You know Bobby would love to have us."

Sam wadded the soiled napkin into a ball and set it on his plate, pushing the tray away.

"This isn't a about inconveniencing Bobby," Dean said, "You, what, don't want him to see you?"

Sam stared at the table for a long moment.

"Sam, c'mon man, this is Bobby we're talking about," Dean replied.

The younger Winchester moved his uninjured right hand to cover his bandaged left.

"I'm already a freak as it is," Sam muttered, "and this only makes it more so."

"Sam, what did I tell you," Dean replied, "No more putting yourself down."

Sam's mouth twisted, "Sorry."

Dean nodded in a self-satisfied way. He knew that once they got to Bobby's and had put this hospital in their rear view mirror everything would be better. Being among friends would help Sam's mental health.

Author's Note:

Thanks to mandancie, bagelcat1, lenail125, VegasGranny, reannablue, need2no, TweetyRulz, SupernaturalNova1981, elliereynolds777, Kas3y WarriorMIA, CheyPaigeFanFic and hazel for reviewing.

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