In which Michael finds his father.

[herecmestrouble]

Storming a Triad guarded building wasn't an easy thing to do, so they went in with every weapon they had. Finding out where they were even holding his father had been hard, but they had still managed to do it, tracking their movement and backtracking when they were wrong, over and over again until they had found the right facility, and even then

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[likely_evil]

The cold floor was the only comfort that Sam had for the last few days as his body was starting to succumb to the infections and pain and the last residuals of the blood addiction withdrawal.

It was easier to just lay still and breathe and sleep then to even fight any longer. Stolas had even gotten bored when Sam stopped fighting back and just laid there and ignored him. He wondered if they were just waiting for something, or if they just planned to let him die on his own and see how long it would take.

He woke up when the exorcism was played over the PA. His face was turned away from the door and he couldn't even lift his head when he heard the door open and his son's voice. He did, however, hiss as he felt his son's hand on his shoulder. It was a light touch but he just hurt everywhere at this point.

"Michael?" he asked, hoping it wasn't a trick of Stolas' in his mind again. One bloodshot eye cracked open to see the foggy outline of his son.

[likely_evil]

"I'm not used to needing people. I didn't think."

Because in a way, it was true. He was used to Ruby being there at his side. she slipped in once Dean died and had always been there. With her gone... he didn't know how to ask anyone else.

[herecmestrouble]

"Dad." Michael grit his teeth a bit, trying not to sound too upset with him about this but not sure how not to. "You can't do this on your own. Stolas could have killed you, and you wouldn't come back like Mom could. If Mom even managed to come back in my lifetime. I would have been out both parents in the span of a month, all because you decided to get reckless."

He was quiet for a moment, his eyes staying down. "I can't do this on my own."

[likely_evil]

Sam closed his eyes, feeling horrible. He had never heard Michael being disappointed in him and it tore at him in ways Stolas couldn't even have hurt him. He turned his head away. "I'm sorry. I just wasn't thinking."

[herecmestrouble]

Michael wouldn't say he was disappointed. Just worried, hurt and frustrated. Considering he'd gotten barely any sleep in the past month or so, he was barely holding himself together. He's just glad he had made it in time, or it would have been much worse. Dropping down into the chair next to the bed, he looked over at his dad with a heavy sigh.

"I know you miss Mom. I get it. But -- she wasn't all you had. You can't just cut me out."

[likely_evil]

"Your mother gave me a similar speech when your uncle died."

Sam looked back over at his son, apologetic. "I don't handle grief well. I didn't mean to make you feel like that."

[herecmestrouble]

"It's okay," he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before pushing himself up. "I should let you get some rest. And I ... probably could use some too."

[likely_evil]

"Michael."

Sam pushed himself up to look at his son. The movement hurt and he tried to hide it from his face, but he was worried about him. "It's not okay. You're right, and I'm sorry. I'll consider this a strong reminder that I'm an idiot. And I don't want you to think I'm doing this because..."

He didn't know what to say, and he choked up a bit. "I just want to get her back, Michael. For both of us. I want her back before... before she loses herself."

[herecmestrouble]

"I know, Dad. I know. But even if you did manage to do that, it'd kill her if she got back and you weren't there. Especially if she could remember."

[likely_evil]

"I know. Sometimes you don't look at that though when you want something too much."

He lowered his head. "I won't do this again. I know better... I just..." he sighed.

[herecmestrouble]

"You miss her."

[likely_evil]

"it's like... you spend all your life with an arm, and one day it's torn off violently. And then you have to be the one with the brave face while trying to learn hwo to redo everything, and people know you hurt, but they don't understand just how off balance it throws you."

He looked up at his son. "I'm trying, kiddo. I'm just not doing too good, and I didn't mean to let it get this bad or you to see me this way... I know you're hurting too and I was trying to keep it together for you so you had a rock..."

[herecmestrouble]

"Dad ... " Michael moved closer, giving his father's hand a squeeze again. "I'm not six anymore. Pretending you're Superman isn't going to help me."

[likely_evil]

"I know. Trust me, I know." He squeezed Michael's hand back. "But you're always going to be my baby boy, kiddo. And you don't need me anymore because you've already proven you can run this place without me around. And you're becoming more and more like your mother every day." He knew his hand was trembling as he thought about Ruby.

[herecmestrouble]

Michael watched his father for a moment, before moving in closer and sliding an arm around Sam's shoulders as best he could in that position. "I'm always gonna need you, Dad. Just gotta change the how."

[likely_evil]

Between the arm in the sling and the neck brace, Sam kinda felt stupid as he tried to hug his son, his fingers clenching the back of his shirt tightly. "You're already hurting, kiddo. I didn't want to add mine to yours. I'm your dad, and I'm supposed to be the one who takes care of you."