116: Welcome Back, Sam

Dean stared at the steel door that led into the panic room, drumming his fingers on his thigh impatiently before glancing down at his wife. Jane was mobile, but not without limping, and he knew beneath her dark blue jeans, her thigh was wrapped. Sam had done a number on her with that screwdriver, he was sort of worried about some lingering sort of muscle damage. "You should be resting."

"I'm fine," Jane smiled tensely, the pinched look in her face contradicting her words. Bobby was upstairs, sleeping the sleep of the dead, induced by a lot of whiskey. Bobby hadn't been able to look her in the eye, not after what had happened. He had half-mumbled his apologies and an explanation, and she got it. He had felt useless, unable to do her any good, and she got it. She had felt the same way. But, she was now completely on board with Sam getting his soul back. There was no way that could be worse than the Sam from the other night.

Dean and Jane both stepped out of the way when the door opened and Castiel emerged. Just behind him was Sam, asleep on the cot, an IV in his arm. "Well?" Dean demanded anxiously.

"His soul," Castiel said slowly, rolling down the sleeves of his shirt. "is in place."

Jane felt something ominous ripple over her, just the tone of voice the angel used. "Will he wake up?" She wasn't sure if she wanted her brother-in-law too, and felt almost ashamed at her thoughts.

"I'm not a human doctor, Jane."

"Well, take a guess." That was Dean, and he ordered it.

One of these days, Castiel's seemingly infinite patience was going to hit that point of no return and he was going to smite the Hell out of Dean.

"Probably not." The exasperation was evident. "I told you not to put that thing back into him."

"He was going to kill Jane."

"He was going to try, he wouldn't have suceeded."

"Sure," Dean snorted, running his fingers through his short hair. "Because you're such a great guardian angel."

"I'm not a guardian angel."

"Damn right you're not."


It was during a brief of a potential job that Sam woke up. Dean and Bobby had been sitting, drinking, while Jane dozed on the couch. Jane roused herself, not saying a word as Sam tried to wrap his mind around what he was seeing. To him, the battle with Lucifer had just happened, he had just witnessed his own hand murdering them. She hadn't been there, for that final meeting, final fight. Dean had made her remain behind, with some angelic help. She had heard Lucifer in her head during that… she shuddered.

Her gray eyes snapped back into focus when she realized Sam was bending down. If he noticed her cringing, he didn't say a word, he just pulled her up into a back cracking hug. "Hi… Sam…" Jane tried to put some warmth into her tone as she awkwardly patted his back. She knew this Sam was worlds apart in differences from Soulless Sam. Even when he had been a demon blood fiend, he had been worlds apart. That did not change the fact that she had a twinging wound in her thigh because of him, or that she had known he would kill her.

"Jane, you…" Sam simply shook his head, pressing a kiss to her hair.

Dean shook his own head when his wife met his stare. He could already see some issues on the horizon there.

"Welcome back, Sam." She whispered.


"Wrench, wench."

"Hardy har har, Bobby." But Jane handed him a wrench anyway from her place on an old tire besides his tool box.

"Hey."

Bobby dropped back into his wheelchair with a heavy plop at the sound of Dean's voice, sharing a look with Jane. "How is he?" He accepted the beer he was passed, watching as Jane took one offered to her as well.

"Better, he's doing good."

Jane snorted, popping the top before taking a sip.

"Okay you two, what the hell?"

"Look, Dean, I'm glad he's better, I am." Bobby said slowly, staring intently at the younger man. "But ten days ago, he went batshit crazy on me and Jane, or did you forget that?"

"No…" How could he? He slept with Jane every night and he couldn't help but notice she made sure the door was bolted shut, with a chair propped beneath the doorknob. He knew why. She had told him what had happened when he was off playing Death.

"Then why is it all just erased? Damn it, I'm glad he's going to be okay Dean but I'm having a hard time just looking at him. And I'm not the only one."

"You leave her out of it, Bobby."

"He's not wrong, Dean." Jane said quietly.

"It wasn't Sam!"

"Maybe not all, but it was him."

"So what? You two want to tell him?"

Bobby shook his head. "No… no…" He already knew they couldn't. Either Sam wouldn't remember it or worse… it would trigger something and all those memories would come flooding back. It wouldn't end pretty.

"Good. Good." Dean glanced back and forth between the pair, his eyes narrowed. "I'm glad we're in agreement."

"He WILL find out, Dean."

Her gentle but firm voice made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, wondering if she was having one of her ESP moments. "Sweetheart?"

"You should better then anyone, Dean, the truth always comes out. Usually when you least want it too."