An annoying beep woke Dean from a lovely dream…why the hell did my idiot brother bother to set an alarm if he isn't going to wake up and turn it off… Dean opened his eyes to yell at Sam, only to find himself staring up at a crisp white tiled ceiling. Inhaling the chemicals in the air, his brain immediately identified his setting…hospital. Not his first rodeo there, though what had happened to put him in a bed this time…Sam! He sat up abruptly, which turned out to be a decidedly bad idea, since the room swam briefly at the change in altitude and his stomach objected. Swallowing against the urge to toss his cookies, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling his body regulate even as he heard a cheerful voice say, "You're awake!" Opening his eyes back up cautiously he recognized the nurse as the same one who had helped him before…whenever before was. She smiled at him even as she came closer to raise the head of the bed and check his vitals. "You gave me quite a scare last night, nearly tumbled off my exam table and cracked your head open!"

"Sorry." he murmured, Last night...so not out too long, good. "Nurse…" racking his brains for her name.

"Nurse Katy." she supplied, smiling again. He returned the smile. Pretty sure it was a last name before. he thought to himself. Out loud he simply said, "My brother, Nurse Katy?"

"He's in a room down the hall. He came through surgery just fine, and once I'm sure you're not going to faint on me again I'll let you up so you can go see him."

"I didn't faint!" he replied, affronted.

"You most certainly did." she replied, unruffled. "You were exhausted and injured, not to mention emotionally wrung out from worrying about your brother and extremely upset over your experience… We gave you fluids and some pain medication, and you slept for nearly 18 hours. Took the collar off you while you were out too." He goggled at her…he slept for 18 hours? He rubbed his neck, thankful to have that hateful collar off, wincing when he touched some irritated spots. He impatiently waited through her various checkups, including rubbing some salve on his neck, and then at last she proclaimed him fit to see his brother. Swinging his legs out of bed, he realized he was now dressed in scrubs. Noting his surprise she responded, "Your clothes were torn and covered in blood. They are in a bag in the cupboard, but I recommend tossing them." He nodded, stilling briefly as he recalled the copious amounts of blood his brother had lost, then moving quickly, needing to see for himself that Sam was ok.

Thanking Katy as she left him at Sam's doorway, Dean took a quick breath before entering and approaching the bedside. Sam was hooked up to a variety of monitors and his shoulder was swathed in bandages. He was asleep, looking younger than his age, his hair splayed out on the pillow and across his face. Dean just watched him for a moment, taking in the gentle rise and fall of his chest and soaking in the fact that he was alive and going to be ok. He frowned at the angry marks on his neck that mirrored his own, then gently reached up to brush the hair off his face.

"G'offf me." Muttered Sam, a hand rising slightly as if to swat at him, then. "D'n?"

"Hey sleeping beauty." Dean teased softly. He smiled as Sam slowly blinked and focused on him.

"You're here." Sam said, starting to move but freezing as his injury made itself known.

"Hang on." Dean said, reaching for the controls and slowly adjusting the bed until he was sitting up slightly. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner."

Sam frowned at him, "You have nothing to be sorry for Dean. You apparently fainted - "

"I did no such thing!"

"According to Katy you did."

"Traitor." Dean muttered. "Anyway, I'm here now. How are you doing?"

"I'm alive." Sam said, squirming to try to get comfortable and groaning as he jarred his shoulder. Dean reached over and helped adjust the pillows behind him and he sighed his thanks. "I'm ok. Glad to be free."

"Yeah." Dean stared at him briefly then looked away, thinking about what a mess he had led his brother into. If only he had listened and not run head-first into danger…

"Dean." Sam said softly. When he didn't say anything else Dean looked over, reading his expression like a book. It's not your fault. We're ok. I'd follow you anywhere. He looked away again, chagrined at the reality he'd already known - that Sam really would follow him anywhere, to hell and back if necessary - and the realization he needed to be a better leader.

A hand on his arm brought his gaze back to Sam, who had realized that words were needed this time. "Dean, I don't blame you. I am a grown man, believe it or not, and can make my own choices. I could have refused to go along with your plan. I could have, but I chose to join in. I. Chose." he said firmly. "Yes, we ended up in a messy situation, but we got out in one piece. Well mostly one piece." he amended as Dean gave a pointed look at his shoulder. "So please stop blaming yourself. It doesn't do anyone any good, and it annoys me." he finished with a smile. Dean reluctantly smiled back, holding his gaze a minute more in a silent exchange of affection, then plopped down in the chair beside the bed. "So Nurse Katy…do you think…" he continued, giving his brother an out from the near chick-flick moment.

Dean did not disappoint. "Hey! I saw her first - "

–SPN–SPN–SPN–SPN–SPN–

All told, it was another few days of recovery for Sam before they could escape Nurse Katy's care. Finally signing himself out, both of them giving Katy goodbye hugs that had her laughing and blushing, they exited and climbed into the Impala with a sigh of relief. Dean had gone by their hotel a day earlier to check them out, choosing to stay at the hospital with Sam despite his urging him to sleep in a real bed. Now as he pointed the car for Sioux Falls he cranked the music and sent a cheerful smile over to the passenger side. Sam gave the obligatory grimace in response to the loud music, but couldn't totally mask the look of contentment he was sporting. It felt good to be back where they belonged, mostly in one piece, cruising down the road together. Something soft hit him in the face, and he glanced down to see Dean's jacket folded over for him to use as a pillow. Without a word he propped it under his head, and minutes later he was out.

Bobby was waiting on the porch when the boys pulled into the auto yard, hands on his hips. He stared at them, face unreadable, and then slapped Dean upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" he whined, even as Sam smirked.

"That's for sending some kid to me with our password but neglecting to mention the kid don't know a damn thing about the supernatural!" Bobby growled. Dean stared back at him, his face comical in his dismay. He'd been so out of it when Toby had asked what to do…

"Sorry Bobby," Sam interjected. "Dean was dealing with a lot at the moment, and shortly afterward fainted…"

"Did not!"

"Fainted eh?" Bobby rubbed his face to keep from smiling, "I guess a girl moment could explain your total lapse of judgment."

"Girl..mom..what…" Bobby and Sam exchanged mirthful looks as Dean sputtered at the abuse.

"Is he still here Bobby?" Sam asked, "or has he run screaming?"

"Oh he's still here. Turns out he's a sponge for learning everything there is to know about this life. Smart kid, just never had anyone put any love or care into him to see it." Sam and Dean exchanged a look, fully understanding now that Toby was firmly ensconced in the Singer household. Sam wobbled slightly, having not been on his feet this long in quite a few days, and Bobby quickly ushered them inside and firmly pointed Sam to the couch. He grumbled, but settled down on it with barely veiled relief.

Toby looked up from his spot at the desk to greet the brothers, and they both silently observed the kid. He was noticeably different...all the pent-up tension and aggression was gone, and in its place was an earnest happy look. It made him look younger and somehow softer. "Hey guys!" He greeted them enthusiastically, "This place is amazing! And monsters…you guys are super heroes!" They both laughed at that, shaking their heads. "Seriously Dean, thank you so much for sending me here. Bobby is the best, and I'm learning so much! Did you know that in ancient Mesopotamia…" Sam's eyes brightened and he leaned over to glance at the book Toby was reading, while Dean wandered into the kitchen to find a beer. Finding Bobby at the kitchen table he joined him.

"We've created a monster." he said sotto voce. Bobby snorted into the bottle he had been drinking from.

"He's your brother all over again. Inquisitive, fascinated by lore, always asking why..."

"Good. Means the geeks can talk and I don't have to listen to it." Dean snarked, even as he looked over at his brother and smiled fondly at his animated expression as he and Toby conversed. It has been a while since he'd seen the scholarly expression on Sam's face…too long really. He frowned. It had been a tough road lately, and they were due for a break. He felt Sam's gaze fall on him and glanced up to see a questioning look. Are you ok?

All good brother. He smiled briefly to reassure Sam, who smiled back before returning to his conversation. Maybe they should stick around Bobby's for a bit and let Sam get back to full strength. Possibly even take Toby on an easy hunt or two. Yeah…

"Bobby, you got any food in this joint? I'm starving."

"What do you think this is, a restaurant?" Bobby grumbled, even as he rose to throw some cans of chili on the stove. Dean smiled, grateful that they had a place to land, and that they were all in one piece. Rising, he meandered back to the living room to mess with the geeks. This could be good…