Catch Me When I Fall

Hero

The next morning, Sam was sitting in the chair beside the bed, watching his big brother sleep.

"Hey Sam. I brought ya a sandwich," announced Bobby, coming into the room with some breakfast. "And don't say yer not hungry, or I'll whack ya around the head with it."

Sam rolled his eyes and took the sandwich, before he got beat up by it. "Do you think we can get through to him?" he asked, opening the sandwich wrapper.

"I hope so, Sam. I can't stand to see him like this."

"I know. Me neither. Dean's always the strong one." Sam sighed, and watched Dean. "But it's my turn to look after him now. I don't care what he wants, I'm not letting him die."

"Ya mean 'we're not'? If anyone can get through to him, it's his family. We can be just as stubborn as him."

"Yeah. We've got to show him how much we love him, and he's worth saving." Sam leaned forward when he saw Dean's eyelids flutter. "Dean, are you awake?"

Dean slowly opened his eyes, and turned to his brother and second father. "No, I'm still asleep," he whispered with a tiny smile.

"See? I told you, you talk in your sleep," Sam joked, smiling back. "How are you doing? Are you in any pain or anything? Please don't lie to me."

"I'm fine, Sam. I want to go home, when can I go?"

Bobby and Sam rolled their eyes. "Yer not going home until the doctor says. I'll tie ya to the bed if ya even think about getting out of it."

"Didn't know you were that kinky, old man," said Dean, smirking.

"Don't smart-mouth me, boy. Me and yer brother have been worried sick."

"Why? There's no need to be, I'm fine. You know I hate hospitals, I don't want to be here," Dean whispered, looking at the two men.

"I'm sorry, Dean. You need help. We can't sit back and watch you kill yourself. Do you think dad wanted this? Do you think he gave his life, so you could give yours up too?"

"Shut up, Sam. J-Just shut up."

"Why? We love you, Dean. We can't watch you do this to yourself."

"Fine, go somewhere else then. Why can't you let me die in peace?" asked Dean, turning on his side, facing away from them.

Sam's eyes filled with tears, while Bobby lost his temper. "Now, listen to me boy." He sat on the edge of the bed, and grabbed Dean's shoulders, before gently turning him onto his back. "Don't ever say anything like that again, ya hear me?"

"Bobby, get off me," said Dean, trying to get away.

"No. Yer going to lay there and listen. We're not going to let ya die, yer the closest thing I've ever had to a son." Bobby struggled to keep his emotions in check, his eyes filling with tears. "Ever since I first met ya, even though yer a pain in the ass sometimes, I've always loved ya. Sam had his brother to take care of him, ya even took care of yer dad... But nobody took care of ya. I took that job on myself, and I'm not giving it up now, and I'm not giving up on ya either."

Sam nodded, and pulled his chair closer to the bed. "He's right, Dean. Please... If you don't want to fight for yourself, fight for your family. It's one of the many things you're best at."

A tear slipped down Dean's cheek, and he shook his head as he finally stopped struggling. "No. I... I... The only thing I'm good at is letting people die."

"That's not true. You're a great brother... the best. You protect and help everyone that needs it. You make people laugh with your weird sense of humour. You keep your family together, and sane. You're an amazing hunter. We'll be here all night if I have to name all the things I love about you. To me, you're the best at everything. You're awesome. You're my best friend... You're my hero, Dean."

Dean's eyes lit up at hearing the last part. "I'm Batman?"

"Batman wishes he was as cool as you. You can take all the superheroes, put them all together... and I bet you could kick all their asses with one hand tied behind your back."

Dean looked up at Bobby, then back at Sam with his huge green eyes. "You... No... I'm not..."

"I'm so proud you're my brother, Dean. I don't think I could cope without you." Sam tried to wipe his tears, but more fell. "I love you so much, Dean. Please... Please don't die," he begged, taking Dean's hand in his. "Please."

Bobby watched the emotions play across Dean's face. If anyone could get through to him, it was Sam.

"D-Do you really mean that?"

"Mean what, Dean?"

"Hero? Awesome?"

Sam smiled, and squeezed his hand gently. "I mean every word. I've idolised you since I was four, I used to try and be just like you. But I realised, there's nobody as cool as you. If you look up awesome in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of Dean Winchester."

Dean thought about everything Sam had said to him, and he smiled properly for the first time in months. "I'm awesome."

Sam and Bobby laughed. "Yeah, ya are. Yer also an Idjit, but yer our Idjit," the older man said fondly, ruffling Dean's hair.

"So... Will you let us help you? Will you try to eat?" Sam asked him, looking hopeful. "Stop trying to kill yourself?"

Dean's smile dropped. "I... I..."

"We'll be right here with you every step of the way. We need you. Let us help."

Dean took a deep breath, and hesitantly nodded. "O-Okay. I-I'll... try."

"That's my boy." Bobby surprised Dean by sitting him up, and wrapping his arms around him in a hug.

"Er... Bobby? Can't breathe here." Dean looked over at Sam, his chin resting against Bobby's shoulder. "Sam... Help."

Sam was no help; he joined them on the bed, and carefully hugged him from behind, completing the family hug.

Dean tried to get free, but he was caught between the two men. "Uh... guys? Chick-flick moment. Come on, Samantha and Roberta, let me go." When they didn't, Dean gave up, and relaxed into his family's arms.

"I love you, Dean," whispered Sam, closing his eyes. "We love you."

Dean closed his own eyes, a smile on his face. If anyone asked him about it, he would deny this moment ever happened.

But for the first time in a long time, Dean felt safe and protected...

He felt loved.