AN: Okay, I have the ending planned and most of the plot points between now and then. I have no idea what my original plan was :/

I also had to reread the story like a million times to remember what I'd said about Dean's injuries. Apparently Jess never even asked him what happened, which is hilarious but makes my job easier now

John grunts in satisfaction. He stands over Dean and brushes a piece of hair away from his forehead, his finger lingering. He then takes a deep breath then begins digging through a duffle bag which has been half thrown under the bed. Eventually, John unearths a cell phone, which he tosses to me. I catch it instinctively and look at John, an eyebrow raised.

"Stay here until he wakes up. If there are any complications, call Bobby." John nods to the cell I am holding. "The number will be in there. Take care." He starts moving towards the door.

I stare at him in disbelief. "Where are you going?"

John does not answer. Just keeps moving, bowl still cradled in his left hand.

"So that's it?" I toss the cell on to the bed and grab his arm, fury flooding through me. "Your son almost dies, and you're just going to leave?"

John removes my hand from his arm, but does not let go. He holds me there, staring into my face. "Yes." He spits, his tone icy. "My son will understand." His grip tightens, almost crushing my wrist. I force myself not to flinch. "There are things you do not know. I was so close…" He looks away and drops my wrist; I immediately bring it to my chest and shield it with my other hand.

"So close?"

John sighs and rubs his beard. He looks older, weary. He looks over to the bed where Dean is wheezing softly and sets his jaw. "Dean will be safer if I leave."

Safer?, I wonder. "Dean will want to see you!" I insist. "At least wait until he wakes up!" I can not face explaining to Dean that his dad was here, but didn't bother to stick around.

"No. This is dangerous enough as it is." John walks past me, but hesitates at the door, he looks back at me. "Look out for Sammy." He says the words with a twist of lips that almost looks like a smile.

And then he is gone.

I sit in the dark, staring at Dean. I am afraid to look away in case his chest stops rising and falling. If that happens, I will be truly and thoroughly useless. My eyes are itchy and heavy and my cheeks are stiff where tears have dried on my face. This whole day feels like one of those dreams where you are stuck in an endless series of ridiculous situations, but you don't realise until you've woken up that nothing made sense. I feel like kicking myself. I had had a whole drive with John and I'd asked him nothing. Nothing. Now I was in a motel room with my boyfriend's brother who had almost died and I had absolutely no information. No clue as to how he got hurt in the first place or how that led to him looking like a Smurf.

I pretty much jump out of my skin when the tinny sound of 'Crazy in Love' comes from my phone. I check the Caller ID. Sam. Okay, I just have to be cool. Pretend there is nothing wrong. I can do this.

I overcorrect. "Hey!" I say, much too brightly.

"Jess? Where are you?"

I bite my lip. I have absolutely no idea what to say.

"What, no lie this time? Are you sure your Aunt didn't fall out another tree?" He laughs without a trace of humour. "I'm not stupid, Jess."

I press the phone to my ear, gripping it so tightly that my fingers heart. I can picture Sam: lips pressed together, chin jutted out, tense and ready with the tendons visible in his neck. "I'm sorry." It comes out as a whisper as the words struggle past the lump in the back of my throat. "I can't tell you."

"You can't tell me?" He'd be pacing now, arms raised in incredulity. "You can't tell me? Are you serious?"

I stare at the carpet. There's a suspicious coloured stain in the shape of Texas. There's nothing to say. No apology or explanation that could make this right.

Sam sighs. "Are you safe?" He asks curtly.

I clear my throat. "Yes, I'm safe."

He sighs again. He sounds tired. I slide to the floor and lean my head back, eyes closed. "That's good."

There's an awkward pause, nothing but the sound of us both breathing out of time with each other. With my eyes closed, I can pretend we're in the same room. Sam breaks the silence. "Just come home, Jess."