Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…just having fun!

In The Thick of Things

Chapter 18 – Healing Again

Dean and Bobby carefully untied the barely conscious young man and lowered him onto the floor. Sam groaned as his body continued to shake…he was going into shock. "Cold….DDDeannn…so cold…" moaned Sam.

"Don't worry Sammy, just let Bobby and I get that knife taken care of, then we can get you into a nice warm bed." Dean said as he reached to place a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

"John throw me that towel over there…Dean you hold him down now while I pull it out. We'll need to put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding as soon as I pull it free." Bobby ordered as he pat Sam on the shoulder. "Ok, on three…one…two" Bobby pulled the knife out as Sam moaned in pain. He quickly applied pressure with the towel to keep it from bleeding out.

"I thought you said three" Sam said with a slight smile. "Where did you learn to count?"

"Well, I guess I didn't get as much education as you did…but I reckon I got enough to know how to get you back on your feet!" laughed Bobby as he motioned for Dean to help him get Sam into bed.

Once they had Sam back in bed, Bobby went out to get the first aid kit to finish the job. Dean and John sat near Sam's bed, almost afraid to let him out of their sight…each one thinking how close they had come to losing the youngest Winchester.

Sam's face was flushed with fever, but his eyes remained open as he looked at his father and brother. "What are you looking at?" he asked as his father quickly pulled the blankets tighter around his shaking son.

"Nothing Sam…it's just that…well, you really look like shit man!" announced Dean as he reached over to get a wet rag to begin washing some of the blood from Sam's face.

"Gee, thanks Dean…you really know how to make a person feel better!"

"Sam, I know I don't say this very often…I guess, well…I just wanted you to know, I'm proud of you…both of you…" John said as he stood to leave the room. He needed to get some air and think. Besides, he knew that Dean would take care of Sam…he always did.

"I'll be outside if you need me…and Sam…welcome back son!" John limped from the room as Bobby returned with the first aid kit. He watched John go and shook his head.

"Ok Dean, let me in there to see what needs repairing. From the looks of you, you need a little repair work as well…why don't you go lie down on your bed and I'll be there in a moment."

"I'm fine, Nurse Bobby…I'll help you with Sam, then I'll take a rest…not before!"

ooooooooo

Later that night, Dean lay awake listening to the even breathing of his brother in the bed next to him. He was proud of his baby brother…he had once again shown his strength…a strength that Dean knew he would never be able to match. Everyone saw his brother as the weaker one…but Dean knew better…when the chips are down, he would always want one person by his side…Sam.

Sam moaned softly in his sleep. Dean quietly got up and went over to sit on the bed next to his brother. He felt his brother's forehead and noticed that while it was a little warm, it was not as hot as it had been earlier. "Dean?" whispered Sam, half asleep.

"Go to sleep little brother…I have the watch tonight!"

"Dean…thanks" was all that Sam said as he fell back into an exhausted sleep.

"Sweat Dreams Little Brother" sighed Dean as he made his way back to his bed. His body was crying for sleep, but for now it was enough that he was able to rest and keep watch…his baby brother was safe and that was all he needed.

ooooooooo

John Winchester quietly left the letter he had written with his journal on the kitchen table as he walked towards the front door. He paused to look in on his sleeping sons…grateful that they finally had a few hours to get some much needed sleep. Once again, he wished that things could be different…hell he wished that he could be different…but his road had been set 22 year ago. He had a job to do and he would finish it.

As he left the cabin he looked up into the night sky. "Mary, I promise that I will get the bastard before he can hurt either one of our sons…I will find a way. Justkeep watching out for our boys." John pulled his coat tighter around him as he limped slowly towards his truck. Climbing in, he took one last glance at the cabin before he pulled away into the night.

ooooooooo

The demon was seething with rage. "Another one of my children have been taken from me! This is not over…no, I will get my revenge and when I am through the Winchesters will wish they had died today."

The demon felt fear for the first time in a long time. All his plans had come undone, yet he knew the power of patience. He would disappear for awhile and watch…he would get another chance and when he did, this time he would make sure that they suffered. When he was ready, the hunters would become the hunted!

ooooooooo

Sam opened his eyes and groaned as the sun hit them. He had a terrible headache and his shoulder felt like it was on fire. Otherwise, he felt pretty good for someone who had just gone 10 rounds with a demon. He looked over towards the other bed and smiled as he saw Dean sleeping on his back with his hand under his pillow…Sam knew what he would find under the pillow…same old Dean…always looking out for him. However, this time, it didn't seem to bother Sam as much as it used to.

Sam had done some growing up over the past few days. At least he hoped so. He still felt guilty about the things that had happened, but he began to understand that he had a role to play and that didn't make him weak. He also understood from his contact with the demon that it feared them most when they were together…his family for whatever reason, had been chosen to lead this fight.

Sam heard Dean moan as he came awake. "Sammy…you awake?" asked a sleepy voice from the opposite bed.

"Yeah, Dean…I'm here…a little sore and banged up…but heh, we're used to that by now aren't we?"

"Well, then since you are feeling so well, you can be the first one in the shower this morning…I mean really, you are starting to get a little ripe there little brother…just make sure you leave some hot water for me…or else!"

"Sure Dean…no problem!" laughed Sam as he headed for the bathroom quietly, trying not to wake his father and Bobby.

Samgot dressedand headed into the other room. "Dean it's your turn…" he stopped at the dejected look on his brother's face. He held a white sheet of paper in one hand and his father's journal in the other.

"He's gone isn't he" sighed Sam as he walked over to the table. Dean didn't answer, but handed the paper to Sam as he stood to stand by the window. Sam opened the letter to read what it said.

Dear Sons…

I know that you will not understand why I could not stay. But the last few days have taught me something about you boys and about me. I have to continue this fight on my own. First of all because, I have been on my own for too long now. You and Sammy are a great team…you don't need me to tell you what to do anymore. As I said last night, I am proud of both of you…of the men you have become. That leads me to the second reason that I have to go my own way.

I told you that I made a promise to your mother. I realize now that I have done all that I can do to help you defend yourselves against what is out there. But the rest of the promise is one that I made…you boys should now have a choice. Granted, you will always be hunted, I can't change that. But, you can chose what you want to do with your lives. All that I ask is that you both remain together until I can find the demon and kill it. Only then will both you and Sammy be free to pursue the life I always dreamed you both could have. If you choose to continue to hunt, to continue to protect the innocents from the evil that exists in the world, that is fine. But if you choose a different path…I will support your decision.

Don't try to find me. But know two things…once I find the demon and figure out a way to kill it, I will contact you and also, this time when you call…I will answer. If you need me, I will be there for you!

Take care of each other!

Love

Dad

Sam slowly folded the paper and placed it on the table in front of him. He looked with concern at his brother. He knew how much Dean wanted his family to stay together. He also understood now Dean's fear of being left alone.

"So, Dean…what do you want to do?" Sam asked quietly as he rose to join his brother by the window.

"I can't hide Sammy…I once told you that helping people and killing as many of those sons of bitches made life tolerable. I meant it…but I will understand if you want to go back to college, to try to live the normal life…hell you deserve it after all you have been through" Dean turned away from Sam's probing gaze, not wanting him to see the naked need in his eyes…he didn't want to do it alone, but he would…he wanted Sam to have a choice.

"You heard Dad, in the letter he told us to stay together…and I intend to do it…besides, what would you do without me there to save your sorry ass?"

"Save my ass…why you little…it seems to me that I promised to kick a little ass before this last mess…come here little brother" yelled Dean at the quickly retreating back of his brother. He grinned as he turned to follow him out the door. The road may be long and their may be times he would like to kill him…but Dean knew he would always be there for Sam…and that Sam would always be there for him! He just wished that his father could also be there with them.

Dean grabbed one of the duffle bags from the cabin and began to get ready to load the Impala. Sam followed close behind with his own duffle bag that he had taken from the gray impala. As the boys began to replace the weapons in the hidden compartment in the trunk, they suddenly looked at each other and smiled.

There in the middle of the compartment was the colt. "I'll be damned…he meant it when he said he would contact us" said Dean quietly.

"So where to next big brother?" asked Sam

"I'm not sure, but I figure we should get out of Dodge as soon as we can…we certainly don't want any more surprises…I'm sure Bobby will stay long enough to take care of the other men and handle any questions from the police. Are you up to a little trip?"

"Sure…I'm game."

A couple of hours later, the black Impala was on its way down the road with Metallica blaring from the speakers…in the passenger seat, Sam just sighed as he looked at his brother. Some things never change, he thought as he tried to rest his head back on the seat and settled in for some much needed sleep…some things never change

TBC

Raven524: So here we are back at the status quo. At least it's my take on where next season will start…Ok so now the story is over…or is it? Well probably not, as I have already started another story while working on this one…as long as the ideas keep flowing and as long as you all like what you read…I'll keep it up. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Until next time…keep R&R!