Double Dose of Angels, 4/7, [PG13] Dean, Sam, Bobby & OCs
Title: Double Dose of Angels (4/7)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: N/A, Gen
Betas: The wonderful sendintheklowns and blueeyedliz.
Word Count: 4,147
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Warnings/Spoilers: Minor character death and spoilers for End of Season 1 and Early Season 2. Does hurt Sam need a warning?
A/N: This story is for the lovely Gidgetgal9 who won a fic from me at Kazcon. The proceeds went toward a donation to National Lung Cancer Partnership in recognition of Kim Manners. I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it even if I couldn’t make it to the convention. Thanks to Gidgetgal9 for biding on me! I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. p.s. I didn't intentionally name the girls after Jared's and Jensen's sisters. it just happened that way =).
Summary: A Rescue mission gone wrong leaves Sam injured and the brothers with the responsibility of five-year-old twin girls who share a surprisingly strong connection to Sam that goes well beyond the loss of their parents.
Master Post
Previous
~*~*~
Dave stared at the house for a few moments, trying to map out his moments as best he could. There wasn’t much time but he’d take every second to make sure he did this right. The only thing that mattered was getting his girls out okay and he was willing to go down trying because if he didn’t succeed there was no point in him living anyway.
Finally he stepped onto the porch and pushed the door open as quietly as possible. Upon entering the house he quickly rolled the small carpet back and etched out a devils trap before placing the rug back in place. He listened closely for any signs of movement but when greeted with silence he slowly crept through the house, book clutched close to his chest.
Just as he was making his way into the kitchen he heard the basement stairs creak, warning him that someone was coming. He ducked into the other room, flipping the book open as quickly as possible to find the page Bobby had marked.
The door opened and Dave bit back a gasp when he finally got a good look at the Demon’s host. He took a deep breath and pulled the holy water from his pocket before quickly jumping into action, revealing himself to the Demon.
“About time you joined us, Davy.” Her lips curled into a seductive smile as she casually inched closer to him, completely unsurprised by his arrival. “I knew you wouldn’t decline my invitation.”
“This was a trap?”
“You are the guest of honor.” She steps right up to him, hand palming his chest. “Those girls of yours aren’t nearly as fun as you.”
“Why Winchester then?”
“Oh,” She laughed. “He was a lucky surprise.”
“You were in her the whole time?” Dave took a step back and pushed her hand away as he stared at the woman. “It was you?”
“You’re a smart one, Davey.”
“Why?”
“Well the suits just for fun, we demons have desires too you know.” She winked at him as she extended her hand, reaching toward his face this time but Dave batted her arm away once again. “You know too much, Davey. You’re getting too close. We have to eliminate the enemy.”
“What are you talking about?” He took a few more steps back and smiled as she took the bait and stepped with him.
The demon tilted her head, eyes turning black as she stared at him for a moment before looking down the floor. She growled angrily at Dave and tried unsuccessfully to break the invisible barrier.
Dave shook his head with an evil snicker as he pulled back the edge of the rug, revealing a tiny portion of the trap. As the demon spewed curses at him he opened the book and quickly began reading. Though he tried, he hadn’t missed all of the demons words.
“Those girls are going to be real important someday,” The demon laughed. “They could help us win, just like Sam Winchester but he’s become more of a pain lately.”
“It won’t happen.” His voice raised as the ritual was forgotten, the demon successfully getting under his skin. “I won’t let you have them.”
“How will you stop us if you’re dead, Dave?” She shook her head with a mocking frown. “Your little drawing may have stopped my physical movements but I learn something new each time I visit this disgusting place.”
The demon closed her eyes, smile on her face as she lowered her head and began to chant something Dave couldn’t make out. Suddenly there was a loud crash from the kitchen and Dave thought for a second that he heard a voice, maybe Bobby coming to tell him to abort the plan. Before he could think anymore about it, a loud roar erupted directly in front of him, his ears and face burning as he flew backwards, felt something smash against his back before the heat was suddenly gone and his head connected with something unforgiving, sending him into darkness.
~*~*~
Dean stared at the girls, their eyes now hypnotized by the glow and crackling of the fire. He adjusted Sam against his side, pulling his brother closer to him as he turned toward the house behind them. The frame was beginning to crumble, the roof already folding in as the fire ate away at the house.
“Bobby?” He turned toward the older hunter. “Was he…?”
“Yeah,” Bobby pulled his cap off and rubbed his arm across his forehead. “We should go.”
“We can’t leave him here.” Dean whispered. “Maybe he’s alright.”
“Dean,” The older man nodded toward the house with sad eyes. “Ain’t no one walking out of there boy.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Get Sam to the hospital and report a fire.”
Dean’s eyes went wide and he shook his head, holding even tighter to his brother. Neither of them ever went to the hospital unless there was no way around it and Dean refused to admit that now was one of those times. However, as he cataloged Sam’s injuries, he knew there was no other option this time.
He looked back at Bobby, feeling defeated, “What are we supposed to say?”
“The truth,” Bobby held up a hand before he could argue. “Except we can leave the Demon out.”
“So kidnapping?”
“And we’re the heroes.”
He was relieved to have gotten to his brother and the girls in time, but Dean felt nothing like a hero. They’d lost someone. Someone who still had a very important role in life and now with him gone, there were two orphaned little girls with nowhere to go.
One last look between his brother and the frightened girls beside him and Dean realized Bobby was right. He trusted Bobby and at that moment he knew the older man was much more capable of making decisions.
“Dean?” He felt the light tug of his shirt and looked down at the girls, having forgotten about their previous question.
More like he tried to ignore it.
“Mackenzie,” Dean is startled when Sam speaks up but is thankful. “Daddy went to find Mommy.”
Sam’s voice was soft and Dean can’t tell if it’s due to the pain or an attempt to calm the girls but he assumes it was a mixture of the two. He watched Sam closely when he heard the quiet moan, realizing Sam had put a bit too much weight on his right leg, but his brother masked the pain quickly.
The girls stared at the adults curiously, eyes shining with tears, “Will he find her?”
“I hope so.” Sam was biting his lip, body weight becoming even heavier against Dean.
“They’re both in heaven now?”
“Yes,” With that Sam’s head dropped to his chest and Dean knew Sam was out once again.
He motioned for Bobby to move to Sam’s other side, grateful for how gentle the older man was as he wrapped Sam’s injured arm around his shoulder. Bobby quickly turned toward Dean, lifting Sam’s leg with one arm as the other arm wrapped around to support Sam’s upper body. Without argument, Dean did the same and was reminded once again why he trusted Bobby to make important decisions.
“Is Sam okay?” Mackenzie, Dean assumed, stepped closer to them and tilted her head up and to the side as she studied Sam.
“He will be, but we have to get him to the doctors.” Dean wished he could do more for the girls, impressed with how calm they were considering, but he was focused on Sam.
“Can we help?” The other girl asked as she moved beside her sister, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
Dean looked at Bobby for a moment, a small smile curling at his dry lips, “Do you know how to use a flashlight?”
“We’re five, not stupid.” Mackenzie barked and Dean wanted to laugh at her attitude.
“Well then,” He and Bobby gently lowered Sam’s legs and pulled out their flashlights, handing one to each girl before lifting Sam once again. “You two are in charge of lighting our path.”
The girls took the flashlights with proud smiles before their backs were turned to Bobby and Dean and a nice lit path was spread in front of them. Together the five of them slowly made their way back to the road, Dean and Bobby calling out directions for the girls. They made a few short stops as Dean or Bobby took a second to relieve their muscles of Sam’s dead weight but eventually they made it.
Bobby helped Dean get Sam into the back seat so that Sam’s legs were stretched out as much as possible in order to ease the younger man’s pain. The girls reluctantly climbed into the front seat, wanting to stay in the back with Sam to make sure he was okay. Dean’s chest tightened at the girls’ obvious concern for his brother, but he wasn’t about to all the girls to sit on the floor.
He slid into the driver’s seat and waited to make sure Bobby was ready before he tore out of the driveway and headed back toward town. Thankfully they were only a few miles from town and that he had already made note of the local hospital so he had a general idea where he was going. He still wasn’t looking forward to visiting yet another sterile prison, places he had become so familiar with.
~*~*~
After what felt like hours of interrogation and skeptical looks, Dean and Bobby were finally free to sit and worry in peace. It hadn’t been so difficult explaining how Sam had been injured but the authorities were more concerned with the girls. Luck had it that Dave had left his wallet and cell phone in Bobby’s truck which gave the cops enough proof that Bobby was a good friend of the girls’ father.
Of course it helped that the girls were able to back their claims. Apparently they were extremely upset when one of the officers suggested that Dean, Bobby or Sam had hurt them. The men weren’t allowed back into the room while the girls were being questioned but when the police came back out with odd smiles on their faces, Dean knew the girls had done well.
The police assured Dean and Bobby that the girls were just fine, mildly dehydrated and shaken, but otherwise fine. They were unable to give any word on Sam but promised that someone would be out shortly to update them on his condition.
They had also been informed that the fire had been extinguished and two bodies were recovered, along with an injured man who had collapsed in the fields. Police were unable to identify the bodies of course but would be analyzing dental records and using their fancy equipment.
Dean could save them a lot of time and money. He knew who the victims were and he knew the dumbass wondering the fields as well, though he wished it had been that son of a bitch inside the house instead. Dave didn’t deserve what happened and maybe William’s hadn’t either, but he certainly seemed like a better choice in Dean’s opinion.
It felt like forever as the two men sat in the hard plastic chairs, waiting for word on Sam or the release of the girls. Dean glanced at his watch for the thousandth time, groaning as he realized that it had already been nearly four hours since they had arrived.
He heard the doors fling open, hoping to see Sam’s doctor but similarly happy to see the girls charging toward them, looking much healthier than they had. They seemed to have regained the normal energy of a five year old, though both were obviously still exhausted.
“Dean!” Two identical calls rang out through the waiting room and he instantly perked up as the two slammed into him. The nurse that escorted them simply smiled before she turned and headed back through the doors.
He didn’t even think about it as he wrapped his arms around them, giving them a tight squeeze before he pulled away and looked down at them. They both gave him a tired smile before they started looking around, realizing that something, or someone, was missing. Dean’s chest tightened once again as their eyes began to shine but he was quick to reassure them.
“Sam’s okay,” He whispered, hugging them close again. “The doctor’s going to come tell us how he’s doing any second now.”
As if on cue the doors opened once again and a doctor emerged with a clipboard held close to his chest. He caught Dean’s eye and smiled before heading over toward them, apparently already familiar with them and their situation.
The doctor nodded to the men and smiled brightly at the girls who were now sitting in Dean’s lap, staring intently at the man before them. Dean easily picked up on how tense the girls had become and assumed they hated hospitals just as much as the Winchesters, not that he could blame them. They most likely had paid as many visits as Dean and Sam.
“First let me assure you that Sam is fine and should be awake shortly.” Dean and Bobby sighed in relief and the girls seemed to relax a bit. “He has a mild concussion, which is the only reason we’ll need to keep him over night, and a few bruises around his lower back.”
“‘Cause that lady threw him into the wall.” Meghan spoke up, instantly turning into Dean’s shoulder when she realized she had interrupted the doctor.
Luckily the man nodded with a small smile, assuring the girls that he was not angry.
“He is very strong.” The girls nodded, Dean smiled and Bobby huffed out a laugh as the doctor continued. “Sam’s left wrist is broken but it was a clean break and easy to set. His right ankle is fractured but we were able to perform minimally invasive surgery so we’ll be able to send him home with a Cam Walker which will allow him to remain mobile while the ankle heals. He also has two broken ribs that will heal nicely as long as he takes it easy. Those will probably cause him the most discomfort in the next couple of weeks but I’ll leave proper instructions for you before he’s discharged. Most of his injuries may be explained by a fall and we were unable to find any signs of struggle but that doesn’t mean someone else isn’t responsible for his injuries.”
“It was the lady.” Mackenzie spoke up this time as she curled her little hands into fists. “She hurt Sam and she took Daddy.”
Dean rubbed her back gently, trying to calm the little girl but was stunned by her words. He hadn’t figured the girls fully understood what had happened. Sam did his best to explain but Dean assumed there would be more questions before the girls would fully comprehend. He of all people should know how wise to death you become when one of your parents is snatched from you. It doesn’t become any easier but you become more prepared.
“When can we see Sam?” Dean asked, both girls now resting against his shoulders.
“I’ll be happy to take you back now if you’d like.”
“That’d be great.” He nodded to Bobby who stood up and carefully grabbed one of the girls from Dean, allowing Dean to stand with the other securely tucked in his arms.
He knew the exhaustion was finally wearing on the girls and he hoped they would finally give in and let themselves sleep. Though another thing Dean knew was that little kids never wanted to miss anything and he doubted either of the girls would sleep well without being able to see Sam first. Dean couldn’t argue though because he was just as eager to see his little brother. There was still a lot the two of them needed to discuss.
~*~*~
“He’s okay?” Mackenzie lifted her head off Dean’s shoulder and he nodded as he brought the little girl closer to the bed.
“He’s just sleeping.” He sat her down gently on the edge of the bed beside Sam, Bobby doing the same with Meghan on the other side.
The room fell silent as all eyes focused on Sam, his right leg elevated, left wrist casted, and skin looking unnervingly pale in contrast to the hospital sheets. Dean took comfort in the steady beat of the monitor beside the bed and the even rise and fall of Sam’s chest that would most likely be painful once Sam awoke.
Meghan was the first to notice when Sam twitched, eyes slowly blinking as his head turned to the side with a soft moan. She was on her knees instantly, supported by Bobby behind her as she waved her hand innocently in front of Sam’s face.
Dean laughed quietly when Sam’s eyes focused on the tiny hand in front of him, his brother’s eyes scrunched up in confusion before he turned a bit more and saw the child beside him. The smile on Sam’s face was such a relief to see that Dean let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and allowed himself the fall back into his chair.
“You’re awake!” Both girls squealed as they tried to move up the bed to hug Sam.
Dean and Bobby jumped into action, both hopping up to grab the girls before they could aggravate Sam’s injuries. The smile on Sam’s face fell as the girls tried to wiggle their way back to him.
“Sam’s still hurting guys,” Dean set Mackenzie back down on the bed, trying to keep her still as much as he could. “You have to be careful.”
“We’re sorry,” Meghan whispered as she curled her small hand around one of Sam’s slightly exposed fingers of his left hand.
“It’s okay,” Sam smiled. “I’m really happy to see you guys.”
“We’re happy to see you too!” The men laughed at her enthusiasm and Dean noticed Sam’s face twist in discomfort but he quickly masked it. “You were right too.”
“Right about what?”
“Dean is a lot like Superman,” Mackenzie looked up at Dean and smiled before turning back to Sam. “But you’re a superhero too. You can be Prince Phillip.”
Dean laughed at Mackenzie’s response as well as the blush on Sam’s cheeks.
“Who is Prince Phillip, Mackenzie?”
“He’s the one who saved Princess Aurora, duh.”
Dean stared at the little girl in front of him as she shook her head, Sam and Bobby smiling behind her. He was still confused and had no idea who she was talking about but he didn’t dare ask because he could tell Sam was trying extremely hard not to laugh at him.
Before Dean could say anything else Bobby cleared his throat, “I think we all need something to eat and hospital food is not my first choice. Why don’t the girls and I go pick something up and sneak it back in? What do you two say?”
The girls looked between Dean and Sam before turning back to Bobby with excited nods. Dean could tell they didn’t really want to leave but he suspected they were extremely hungry and the idea of being sneaky was probably thrilling to them.
“Alright then,” Bobby picked Meghan up and held her over Sam, who smiled and gave the girl the tightest hug he could. “We’ll be back.”
Mackenzie held her arms up to Dean and he laughed, picking her up and holding her over Sam as well. Sam repeated his actions, masking his discomfort as he tugged at his sore muscles. The little girl smiled and gave Sam a kiss on the cheek before she turned in Dean’s arms, giving him a quick hug. He hugged her back and tickled her softly, causing her to giggle before she wiggled her way out of his arms and ran over to Bobby and Meghan.
Bobby nodded toward Dean and Sam as he opened the door, grabbed the girls’ hands and headed out into the hallway. Dean laughed as he heard the girls whisper something softly, followed by Bobby’s gruff laugh and Dean knew they were all in trouble. Those girls already had them wrapped around their fingers.
“Superman?” Dean sat back down in the chair beside Sam and smiled at his brother.
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
The two of them smiled at each other but remained silent. Dean knew he had a lot to say and he could tell Sam was waiting for it as well but he didn’t have the words ready yet. All Dean wanted to do was sit back and take in the fact that his brother was okay but he realized that he almost didn’t have this chance. He realized that he had to say it now before he was out of chances.
Sam was staring at him knowingly, eyes blinking open slower and Dean instinctively reached up, cupping Sam’s shoulder. When their eyes met Dean smiled softly but then lowered his eyes, rubbing his free hand through his short, disheveled hair.
“I’m sorry, Sammy.” He wasn’t sure if the words were loud enough but when Sam’s uninjured hand latched onto his arm, squeezing gently, he knew Sam had heard. “I’ve been real jackass lately.”
“As opposed to before?” Dean lifted his head and raised an eyebrow as Sam smiled. “You’ve always been a jackass, Dean.”
“Real nice,” He shook his head, trying to hide his smile. “I’m trying to apologize and you’re making fun of me.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for though.”
“If I hadn’t been so caught up in being a jerk then we wouldn’t have split up.”
“I suggested it.”
“I agreed.”
“And I’m a big boy, Dean.” Sam let go of Dean’s arm and tried to sit up better but winced in pain. “Look, we both knew splitting up wasn’t a good idea but we’re both okay. Neither of us have been thinking straight lately. We’re allowed to make a few mistakes.”
“Our mistake almost got you killed.”
“Our mistake, Dean. This isn’t on your head. If anything it’s my fault for letting my guard down.”
“I’m still sorry, Sam.” He squeezed Sam’s shoulder gently. “No matter how nasty I’ve been, as soon as I realized something was wrong, getting to you was the only thing that mattered. What I’m trying to say is that I… well, I’ll always-”
“I know,” Sam nodded with a knowing smile and Dean silently thanked him. “I never doubted you, dude.”
Dean smiled, pleased that Sam understand without him having to say anything. He was definitely not good with words and even though he’d been horrible at showing it, somehow his brother still knew that Dean loved him. Nothing would ever change that.
“What about Dave?” Sam’s eyes darkened and Dean shook his head. “What are we going to do with the girls?”
“I don’t know, Sam. They don’t have any family that we know of.”
“We can’t just leave them with someone else.”
“We can’t exactly take two five year olds on the road with us either.”
“They lost their dad. They need us.”
Sam words dug deep and Dean knew he had chosen them on purpose. The two of them knew too well how painful it was to lose a parent, especially when they were your only one left. Dean didn’t want to leave the girls either but he wasn’t sure what other options they had.
“You know Child Services will come for them.” Dean warned, knowing how the system worked.
“We can get out of here before they do.”
“You’re not ready to leave yet.”
“Oh please,” Sam rolled his eyes. “When are we ever ready when we ditch the hospital? We should leave tonight. Go back to Bobby’s. The girls will be safe there.”
“You’re too attached, man.” Dean stood up and backed away from the bed, pacing back and forth. “How do you expect to care for them? We can’t do this.”
“They trust us, Dean. We have to help them.”
He stopped pacing and turned back to Sam, seeing the earnest concern and knowing full well that Sam was right. Those girls had lost the only family they had and there was no way they could leave them in the hands of strangers.
“Fine,” Dean sat back in the chair, head dropping into his hands. “We’ll talk to Bobby.”
When he looked back up he saw Sam smile and he realized he was screwed. Neither of them had any idea how to take care of one five year old let alone two but they would learn. After all, Dean had done it before. It couldn’t have changed that much and Sam seemed to be really good with them. They could make this work. He just hoped Bobby agreed.
Next
Thank you all for reading! I hope I’m keeping everyone’s interest but I know not every chapter can be action packed. This was one of my favorites though because I love the interactions with Sam and the girls. I sincerely apologize for any false medical information, legal information or if the reaction the characters have is not what you expected.
I try really hard to make stories as true to reality as I can but I’m not a doctor and I’m not a lawyer. I do work with children though and am studying Early Childhood Education in school so I’ve learned quite a bit about how the child mind works. That’s not to say I know everything, and I do realize that what you learn in books isn’t always 100% fact.
Huge thank yous and hugs to blueeyedliz and gidgetgal9 for their birthday fics! They are amazing authors and awesome friends. I’m so lucky! You all should go read the stories because they’re wonderful!
Consciousness Is That Annoying Time Between Naps. J2 college AU by the wonderful blueeyedliz
Road to Redemption SPN drabble focused on Sam’s faith throughout his life by the very talented gidgetgal9
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: N/A, Gen
Betas: The wonderful sendintheklowns and blueeyedliz.
Word Count: 4,147
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Warnings/Spoilers: Minor character death and spoilers for End of Season 1 and Early Season 2. Does hurt Sam need a warning?
A/N: This story is for the lovely Gidgetgal9 who won a fic from me at Kazcon. The proceeds went toward a donation to National Lung Cancer Partnership in recognition of Kim Manners. I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it even if I couldn’t make it to the convention. Thanks to Gidgetgal9 for biding on me! I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. p.s. I didn't intentionally name the girls after Jared's and Jensen's sisters. it just happened that way =).
Summary: A Rescue mission gone wrong leaves Sam injured and the brothers with the responsibility of five-year-old twin girls who share a surprisingly strong connection to Sam that goes well beyond the loss of their parents.
Master Post
Previous
~*~*~
Dave stared at the house for a few moments, trying to map out his moments as best he could. There wasn’t much time but he’d take every second to make sure he did this right. The only thing that mattered was getting his girls out okay and he was willing to go down trying because if he didn’t succeed there was no point in him living anyway.
Finally he stepped onto the porch and pushed the door open as quietly as possible. Upon entering the house he quickly rolled the small carpet back and etched out a devils trap before placing the rug back in place. He listened closely for any signs of movement but when greeted with silence he slowly crept through the house, book clutched close to his chest.
Just as he was making his way into the kitchen he heard the basement stairs creak, warning him that someone was coming. He ducked into the other room, flipping the book open as quickly as possible to find the page Bobby had marked.
The door opened and Dave bit back a gasp when he finally got a good look at the Demon’s host. He took a deep breath and pulled the holy water from his pocket before quickly jumping into action, revealing himself to the Demon.
“About time you joined us, Davy.” Her lips curled into a seductive smile as she casually inched closer to him, completely unsurprised by his arrival. “I knew you wouldn’t decline my invitation.”
“This was a trap?”
“You are the guest of honor.” She steps right up to him, hand palming his chest. “Those girls of yours aren’t nearly as fun as you.”
“Why Winchester then?”
“Oh,” She laughed. “He was a lucky surprise.”
“You were in her the whole time?” Dave took a step back and pushed her hand away as he stared at the woman. “It was you?”
“You’re a smart one, Davey.”
“Why?”
“Well the suits just for fun, we demons have desires too you know.” She winked at him as she extended her hand, reaching toward his face this time but Dave batted her arm away once again. “You know too much, Davey. You’re getting too close. We have to eliminate the enemy.”
“What are you talking about?” He took a few more steps back and smiled as she took the bait and stepped with him.
The demon tilted her head, eyes turning black as she stared at him for a moment before looking down the floor. She growled angrily at Dave and tried unsuccessfully to break the invisible barrier.
Dave shook his head with an evil snicker as he pulled back the edge of the rug, revealing a tiny portion of the trap. As the demon spewed curses at him he opened the book and quickly began reading. Though he tried, he hadn’t missed all of the demons words.
“Those girls are going to be real important someday,” The demon laughed. “They could help us win, just like Sam Winchester but he’s become more of a pain lately.”
“It won’t happen.” His voice raised as the ritual was forgotten, the demon successfully getting under his skin. “I won’t let you have them.”
“How will you stop us if you’re dead, Dave?” She shook her head with a mocking frown. “Your little drawing may have stopped my physical movements but I learn something new each time I visit this disgusting place.”
The demon closed her eyes, smile on her face as she lowered her head and began to chant something Dave couldn’t make out. Suddenly there was a loud crash from the kitchen and Dave thought for a second that he heard a voice, maybe Bobby coming to tell him to abort the plan. Before he could think anymore about it, a loud roar erupted directly in front of him, his ears and face burning as he flew backwards, felt something smash against his back before the heat was suddenly gone and his head connected with something unforgiving, sending him into darkness.
~*~*~
Dean stared at the girls, their eyes now hypnotized by the glow and crackling of the fire. He adjusted Sam against his side, pulling his brother closer to him as he turned toward the house behind them. The frame was beginning to crumble, the roof already folding in as the fire ate away at the house.
“Bobby?” He turned toward the older hunter. “Was he…?”
“Yeah,” Bobby pulled his cap off and rubbed his arm across his forehead. “We should go.”
“We can’t leave him here.” Dean whispered. “Maybe he’s alright.”
“Dean,” The older man nodded toward the house with sad eyes. “Ain’t no one walking out of there boy.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Get Sam to the hospital and report a fire.”
Dean’s eyes went wide and he shook his head, holding even tighter to his brother. Neither of them ever went to the hospital unless there was no way around it and Dean refused to admit that now was one of those times. However, as he cataloged Sam’s injuries, he knew there was no other option this time.
He looked back at Bobby, feeling defeated, “What are we supposed to say?”
“The truth,” Bobby held up a hand before he could argue. “Except we can leave the Demon out.”
“So kidnapping?”
“And we’re the heroes.”
He was relieved to have gotten to his brother and the girls in time, but Dean felt nothing like a hero. They’d lost someone. Someone who still had a very important role in life and now with him gone, there were two orphaned little girls with nowhere to go.
One last look between his brother and the frightened girls beside him and Dean realized Bobby was right. He trusted Bobby and at that moment he knew the older man was much more capable of making decisions.
“Dean?” He felt the light tug of his shirt and looked down at the girls, having forgotten about their previous question.
More like he tried to ignore it.
“Mackenzie,” Dean is startled when Sam speaks up but is thankful. “Daddy went to find Mommy.”
Sam’s voice was soft and Dean can’t tell if it’s due to the pain or an attempt to calm the girls but he assumes it was a mixture of the two. He watched Sam closely when he heard the quiet moan, realizing Sam had put a bit too much weight on his right leg, but his brother masked the pain quickly.
The girls stared at the adults curiously, eyes shining with tears, “Will he find her?”
“I hope so.” Sam was biting his lip, body weight becoming even heavier against Dean.
“They’re both in heaven now?”
“Yes,” With that Sam’s head dropped to his chest and Dean knew Sam was out once again.
He motioned for Bobby to move to Sam’s other side, grateful for how gentle the older man was as he wrapped Sam’s injured arm around his shoulder. Bobby quickly turned toward Dean, lifting Sam’s leg with one arm as the other arm wrapped around to support Sam’s upper body. Without argument, Dean did the same and was reminded once again why he trusted Bobby to make important decisions.
“Is Sam okay?” Mackenzie, Dean assumed, stepped closer to them and tilted her head up and to the side as she studied Sam.
“He will be, but we have to get him to the doctors.” Dean wished he could do more for the girls, impressed with how calm they were considering, but he was focused on Sam.
“Can we help?” The other girl asked as she moved beside her sister, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
Dean looked at Bobby for a moment, a small smile curling at his dry lips, “Do you know how to use a flashlight?”
“We’re five, not stupid.” Mackenzie barked and Dean wanted to laugh at her attitude.
“Well then,” He and Bobby gently lowered Sam’s legs and pulled out their flashlights, handing one to each girl before lifting Sam once again. “You two are in charge of lighting our path.”
The girls took the flashlights with proud smiles before their backs were turned to Bobby and Dean and a nice lit path was spread in front of them. Together the five of them slowly made their way back to the road, Dean and Bobby calling out directions for the girls. They made a few short stops as Dean or Bobby took a second to relieve their muscles of Sam’s dead weight but eventually they made it.
Bobby helped Dean get Sam into the back seat so that Sam’s legs were stretched out as much as possible in order to ease the younger man’s pain. The girls reluctantly climbed into the front seat, wanting to stay in the back with Sam to make sure he was okay. Dean’s chest tightened at the girls’ obvious concern for his brother, but he wasn’t about to all the girls to sit on the floor.
He slid into the driver’s seat and waited to make sure Bobby was ready before he tore out of the driveway and headed back toward town. Thankfully they were only a few miles from town and that he had already made note of the local hospital so he had a general idea where he was going. He still wasn’t looking forward to visiting yet another sterile prison, places he had become so familiar with.
~*~*~
After what felt like hours of interrogation and skeptical looks, Dean and Bobby were finally free to sit and worry in peace. It hadn’t been so difficult explaining how Sam had been injured but the authorities were more concerned with the girls. Luck had it that Dave had left his wallet and cell phone in Bobby’s truck which gave the cops enough proof that Bobby was a good friend of the girls’ father.
Of course it helped that the girls were able to back their claims. Apparently they were extremely upset when one of the officers suggested that Dean, Bobby or Sam had hurt them. The men weren’t allowed back into the room while the girls were being questioned but when the police came back out with odd smiles on their faces, Dean knew the girls had done well.
The police assured Dean and Bobby that the girls were just fine, mildly dehydrated and shaken, but otherwise fine. They were unable to give any word on Sam but promised that someone would be out shortly to update them on his condition.
They had also been informed that the fire had been extinguished and two bodies were recovered, along with an injured man who had collapsed in the fields. Police were unable to identify the bodies of course but would be analyzing dental records and using their fancy equipment.
Dean could save them a lot of time and money. He knew who the victims were and he knew the dumbass wondering the fields as well, though he wished it had been that son of a bitch inside the house instead. Dave didn’t deserve what happened and maybe William’s hadn’t either, but he certainly seemed like a better choice in Dean’s opinion.
It felt like forever as the two men sat in the hard plastic chairs, waiting for word on Sam or the release of the girls. Dean glanced at his watch for the thousandth time, groaning as he realized that it had already been nearly four hours since they had arrived.
He heard the doors fling open, hoping to see Sam’s doctor but similarly happy to see the girls charging toward them, looking much healthier than they had. They seemed to have regained the normal energy of a five year old, though both were obviously still exhausted.
“Dean!” Two identical calls rang out through the waiting room and he instantly perked up as the two slammed into him. The nurse that escorted them simply smiled before she turned and headed back through the doors.
He didn’t even think about it as he wrapped his arms around them, giving them a tight squeeze before he pulled away and looked down at them. They both gave him a tired smile before they started looking around, realizing that something, or someone, was missing. Dean’s chest tightened once again as their eyes began to shine but he was quick to reassure them.
“Sam’s okay,” He whispered, hugging them close again. “The doctor’s going to come tell us how he’s doing any second now.”
As if on cue the doors opened once again and a doctor emerged with a clipboard held close to his chest. He caught Dean’s eye and smiled before heading over toward them, apparently already familiar with them and their situation.
The doctor nodded to the men and smiled brightly at the girls who were now sitting in Dean’s lap, staring intently at the man before them. Dean easily picked up on how tense the girls had become and assumed they hated hospitals just as much as the Winchesters, not that he could blame them. They most likely had paid as many visits as Dean and Sam.
“First let me assure you that Sam is fine and should be awake shortly.” Dean and Bobby sighed in relief and the girls seemed to relax a bit. “He has a mild concussion, which is the only reason we’ll need to keep him over night, and a few bruises around his lower back.”
“‘Cause that lady threw him into the wall.” Meghan spoke up, instantly turning into Dean’s shoulder when she realized she had interrupted the doctor.
Luckily the man nodded with a small smile, assuring the girls that he was not angry.
“He is very strong.” The girls nodded, Dean smiled and Bobby huffed out a laugh as the doctor continued. “Sam’s left wrist is broken but it was a clean break and easy to set. His right ankle is fractured but we were able to perform minimally invasive surgery so we’ll be able to send him home with a Cam Walker which will allow him to remain mobile while the ankle heals. He also has two broken ribs that will heal nicely as long as he takes it easy. Those will probably cause him the most discomfort in the next couple of weeks but I’ll leave proper instructions for you before he’s discharged. Most of his injuries may be explained by a fall and we were unable to find any signs of struggle but that doesn’t mean someone else isn’t responsible for his injuries.”
“It was the lady.” Mackenzie spoke up this time as she curled her little hands into fists. “She hurt Sam and she took Daddy.”
Dean rubbed her back gently, trying to calm the little girl but was stunned by her words. He hadn’t figured the girls fully understood what had happened. Sam did his best to explain but Dean assumed there would be more questions before the girls would fully comprehend. He of all people should know how wise to death you become when one of your parents is snatched from you. It doesn’t become any easier but you become more prepared.
“When can we see Sam?” Dean asked, both girls now resting against his shoulders.
“I’ll be happy to take you back now if you’d like.”
“That’d be great.” He nodded to Bobby who stood up and carefully grabbed one of the girls from Dean, allowing Dean to stand with the other securely tucked in his arms.
He knew the exhaustion was finally wearing on the girls and he hoped they would finally give in and let themselves sleep. Though another thing Dean knew was that little kids never wanted to miss anything and he doubted either of the girls would sleep well without being able to see Sam first. Dean couldn’t argue though because he was just as eager to see his little brother. There was still a lot the two of them needed to discuss.
~*~*~
“He’s okay?” Mackenzie lifted her head off Dean’s shoulder and he nodded as he brought the little girl closer to the bed.
“He’s just sleeping.” He sat her down gently on the edge of the bed beside Sam, Bobby doing the same with Meghan on the other side.
The room fell silent as all eyes focused on Sam, his right leg elevated, left wrist casted, and skin looking unnervingly pale in contrast to the hospital sheets. Dean took comfort in the steady beat of the monitor beside the bed and the even rise and fall of Sam’s chest that would most likely be painful once Sam awoke.
Meghan was the first to notice when Sam twitched, eyes slowly blinking as his head turned to the side with a soft moan. She was on her knees instantly, supported by Bobby behind her as she waved her hand innocently in front of Sam’s face.
Dean laughed quietly when Sam’s eyes focused on the tiny hand in front of him, his brother’s eyes scrunched up in confusion before he turned a bit more and saw the child beside him. The smile on Sam’s face was such a relief to see that Dean let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and allowed himself the fall back into his chair.
“You’re awake!” Both girls squealed as they tried to move up the bed to hug Sam.
Dean and Bobby jumped into action, both hopping up to grab the girls before they could aggravate Sam’s injuries. The smile on Sam’s face fell as the girls tried to wiggle their way back to him.
“Sam’s still hurting guys,” Dean set Mackenzie back down on the bed, trying to keep her still as much as he could. “You have to be careful.”
“We’re sorry,” Meghan whispered as she curled her small hand around one of Sam’s slightly exposed fingers of his left hand.
“It’s okay,” Sam smiled. “I’m really happy to see you guys.”
“We’re happy to see you too!” The men laughed at her enthusiasm and Dean noticed Sam’s face twist in discomfort but he quickly masked it. “You were right too.”
“Right about what?”
“Dean is a lot like Superman,” Mackenzie looked up at Dean and smiled before turning back to Sam. “But you’re a superhero too. You can be Prince Phillip.”
Dean laughed at Mackenzie’s response as well as the blush on Sam’s cheeks.
“Who is Prince Phillip, Mackenzie?”
“He’s the one who saved Princess Aurora, duh.”
Dean stared at the little girl in front of him as she shook her head, Sam and Bobby smiling behind her. He was still confused and had no idea who she was talking about but he didn’t dare ask because he could tell Sam was trying extremely hard not to laugh at him.
Before Dean could say anything else Bobby cleared his throat, “I think we all need something to eat and hospital food is not my first choice. Why don’t the girls and I go pick something up and sneak it back in? What do you two say?”
The girls looked between Dean and Sam before turning back to Bobby with excited nods. Dean could tell they didn’t really want to leave but he suspected they were extremely hungry and the idea of being sneaky was probably thrilling to them.
“Alright then,” Bobby picked Meghan up and held her over Sam, who smiled and gave the girl the tightest hug he could. “We’ll be back.”
Mackenzie held her arms up to Dean and he laughed, picking her up and holding her over Sam as well. Sam repeated his actions, masking his discomfort as he tugged at his sore muscles. The little girl smiled and gave Sam a kiss on the cheek before she turned in Dean’s arms, giving him a quick hug. He hugged her back and tickled her softly, causing her to giggle before she wiggled her way out of his arms and ran over to Bobby and Meghan.
Bobby nodded toward Dean and Sam as he opened the door, grabbed the girls’ hands and headed out into the hallway. Dean laughed as he heard the girls whisper something softly, followed by Bobby’s gruff laugh and Dean knew they were all in trouble. Those girls already had them wrapped around their fingers.
“Superman?” Dean sat back down in the chair beside Sam and smiled at his brother.
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
The two of them smiled at each other but remained silent. Dean knew he had a lot to say and he could tell Sam was waiting for it as well but he didn’t have the words ready yet. All Dean wanted to do was sit back and take in the fact that his brother was okay but he realized that he almost didn’t have this chance. He realized that he had to say it now before he was out of chances.
Sam was staring at him knowingly, eyes blinking open slower and Dean instinctively reached up, cupping Sam’s shoulder. When their eyes met Dean smiled softly but then lowered his eyes, rubbing his free hand through his short, disheveled hair.
“I’m sorry, Sammy.” He wasn’t sure if the words were loud enough but when Sam’s uninjured hand latched onto his arm, squeezing gently, he knew Sam had heard. “I’ve been real jackass lately.”
“As opposed to before?” Dean lifted his head and raised an eyebrow as Sam smiled. “You’ve always been a jackass, Dean.”
“Real nice,” He shook his head, trying to hide his smile. “I’m trying to apologize and you’re making fun of me.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for though.”
“If I hadn’t been so caught up in being a jerk then we wouldn’t have split up.”
“I suggested it.”
“I agreed.”
“And I’m a big boy, Dean.” Sam let go of Dean’s arm and tried to sit up better but winced in pain. “Look, we both knew splitting up wasn’t a good idea but we’re both okay. Neither of us have been thinking straight lately. We’re allowed to make a few mistakes.”
“Our mistake almost got you killed.”
“Our mistake, Dean. This isn’t on your head. If anything it’s my fault for letting my guard down.”
“I’m still sorry, Sam.” He squeezed Sam’s shoulder gently. “No matter how nasty I’ve been, as soon as I realized something was wrong, getting to you was the only thing that mattered. What I’m trying to say is that I… well, I’ll always-”
“I know,” Sam nodded with a knowing smile and Dean silently thanked him. “I never doubted you, dude.”
Dean smiled, pleased that Sam understand without him having to say anything. He was definitely not good with words and even though he’d been horrible at showing it, somehow his brother still knew that Dean loved him. Nothing would ever change that.
“What about Dave?” Sam’s eyes darkened and Dean shook his head. “What are we going to do with the girls?”
“I don’t know, Sam. They don’t have any family that we know of.”
“We can’t just leave them with someone else.”
“We can’t exactly take two five year olds on the road with us either.”
“They lost their dad. They need us.”
Sam words dug deep and Dean knew he had chosen them on purpose. The two of them knew too well how painful it was to lose a parent, especially when they were your only one left. Dean didn’t want to leave the girls either but he wasn’t sure what other options they had.
“You know Child Services will come for them.” Dean warned, knowing how the system worked.
“We can get out of here before they do.”
“You’re not ready to leave yet.”
“Oh please,” Sam rolled his eyes. “When are we ever ready when we ditch the hospital? We should leave tonight. Go back to Bobby’s. The girls will be safe there.”
“You’re too attached, man.” Dean stood up and backed away from the bed, pacing back and forth. “How do you expect to care for them? We can’t do this.”
“They trust us, Dean. We have to help them.”
He stopped pacing and turned back to Sam, seeing the earnest concern and knowing full well that Sam was right. Those girls had lost the only family they had and there was no way they could leave them in the hands of strangers.
“Fine,” Dean sat back in the chair, head dropping into his hands. “We’ll talk to Bobby.”
When he looked back up he saw Sam smile and he realized he was screwed. Neither of them had any idea how to take care of one five year old let alone two but they would learn. After all, Dean had done it before. It couldn’t have changed that much and Sam seemed to be really good with them. They could make this work. He just hoped Bobby agreed.
Next
Thank you all for reading! I hope I’m keeping everyone’s interest but I know not every chapter can be action packed. This was one of my favorites though because I love the interactions with Sam and the girls. I sincerely apologize for any false medical information, legal information or if the reaction the characters have is not what you expected.
I try really hard to make stories as true to reality as I can but I’m not a doctor and I’m not a lawyer. I do work with children though and am studying Early Childhood Education in school so I’ve learned quite a bit about how the child mind works. That’s not to say I know everything, and I do realize that what you learn in books isn’t always 100% fact.
Huge thank yous and hugs to blueeyedliz and gidgetgal9 for their birthday fics! They are amazing authors and awesome friends. I’m so lucky! You all should go read the stories because they’re wonderful!
Consciousness Is That Annoying Time Between Naps. J2 college AU by the wonderful blueeyedliz
Road to Redemption SPN drabble focused on Sam’s faith throughout his life by the very talented gidgetgal9