Lost and Found

Epilogue

Sam was mostly unconscious for the entire ride and Dean didn't leave his side, he was worried that they wouldn't make it in time.

"What if we don't make it in time?" Dean asked worriedly. His brother still hadn't moved at all so Dean was worried that it meant Sam was losing the fight.

"Dean," one of the paramedics said to him. It was just his name and usually, that could mean a million things, some were good and others were bad. Grabbing his brother's hand he turned to see what the paramedic wanted to tell him. Dean didn't need an answer once he saw that they had arrived at the hospital.

"We made it Sammy," Dean said to him. Maybe he was crazy or just traumatized from all that had happened but he swore he could feel Sam squeeze his hand back. It was for a split second but at least it was a response and not total silence. Later Sam was taken into surgery so that the bullet could be removed from his shoulder and Dean was forced to stay outside of the room. "Wait, I need to be with him," Dean argued.

"We can't let you in, this surgery is dangerous and he will need rest once it's done," the doctor explained. "I see that you're close with your brother and I promise I will do all I can for him,"

"I..." Dean trailed off because he still wanted to argue with the doctor. But he couldn't find his voice and sat outside waiting for the surgery to be finished. Dean lost track of time waiting and must have asked a hundred times if his brother was alright. Eventually after what seemed like an eternity Dean was finally allowed back.

"He's stable and awake but he will be in pain for a long while, keep him from doing anything extreme," the doctor explained to him. Dean thanked the doctor and rushed inside to see that his brother was alright, he looked exhausted and was on a lot of pain-killing drugs.

"Sammy are you okay?" Dean asked his brother.

"Yeah I feel...spectacular," Sam slurred. Dean thought briefly about laughing since his brother said complete nonsense well under all these pain killers. "You look funny and can I become taller than you?" He asked.

"Alright man you need to sleep this off," Dean said to him.

"No Dean love me," Sam responded, grabbing Dean's arm. "I missed you,"

"I missed you too Sammy, but please, you need to get some rest," Dean answered as he saw both his grandparents and Jody stepping into the room. Dean stiffened as he wasn't sure how to react twelve years of abuse could really leave someone scarred for life. "Sorry, i'll let you talk to him," Dean said quickly as he removed Sam's hand from his arm and walked out of Sam's hospital room.

"No, I want him to stay," Sam said.

"We'll talk to him alright bud, you just sleep this off okay?" Samuel responded and Sam fell asleep almost on command. Dean was standing out in the hallway remaining completely silent. He had kept his guard up since he wasn't sure how to speak to his grandparents. "Dean, are you still out here?" They asked at the same time.

"Y..yeah," Dean said nervously but never exactly tried to make eye contact.

"You don't have to be afraid Dean, we're family," Deanna said to him. "We also can't express how grateful we are to see that you're alright," Dean looked down, he could feel butterflies in his stomach twelve long years of not knowing who he was and not being part of an actual family really hit him hard.

"I don't know what it's like to have a family," Dean said simply, he had a saddened expression on his face since it was still all new to him.

"I bet your brother could teach you," Deanna answered with a smile. "By the way, the Sheriff has something for you,"

"I believe this is yours," Jody said, taking out Dean's locket from her pocket. "We found it in Crowley's jacket," Dean stood up straight and politely took the locket from Jody.

"I thought he got rid of it," Dean said and for the first time, he could feel hot tears coming down his face as he placed the locket around his neck. "Thank you," Jody gave him a smile and told him not to worry about it.

"It's what we do, now Mr. Winchester there is one more thing I would like to ask before I leave," Jody said to him, taking out a file of papers. "Your grandparents and I have been talking a lot, and they think it's the right decision but only you can decide," she continued. "Take a look through this and decide if it's what you want," she handed him the file. Dean looked through all the papers and saw they were legal guardian forms, he was scared at first thinking he couldn't provide for Sam without a place to go. But the more he thought about it the more he wanted to do it, he wanted Sam to be with him every day so they could be brothers again.

"I don't need papers to remind me how I feel about my brother, I'll do it," Dean answered. There was no way he could turn down the offer after Sam had fought so hard to find him, so he signed the papers and asked if he needed to sign anything else. Jody left after that saying that her work for today was done, Dean thanked her a second time and was grateful she was able to nab Crowley. His grandparents said they needed to get back home and find a place for Dean to go since he would need his own place.

"Sam is in for quite the shock when he wakes up," Samuel commented as he prepared to leave with his wife. Dean promised to take care of Sam and himself as the two left, he wondered momentarily if Sam would be disappointed about this arrangement. He wasn't sure what he would do if that were the case, but nevertheless, he walked inside Sam's hospital room and gently touched his brother's forehead.

"De?" Sam mumbled as he woke up. "I thought you had left," he was still a little out of it so he didn't even realize how much time had passed.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, besides you and I are going to be spending a lot more time together, " Dean told him. When Sam asked what that meant, Dean explained what had happened earlier and how he was legal guardian now.

"Wait, you're serious?!" Sam asked, his eyes lighting up with delight.

"Yes I am but this means you have to do what I say," Dean said to him and Sam playfully pushed him. Dean ruffled Sam's hair. Sam declared that he was not a baby but hugged his brother anyway. "Hey, you know you love me," Dean said to him.

"Do I know that?" Sam asked himself. "Yes, I do."