Chapter Text
Four days later
It's been almost a week now and the boys had found a routine. Sam and Castiel would stay the night in the hospital, Castiel lying beside Dean and Sam sitting in the chair on his other side. Gabriel would go home and sleep, and then return the next day. He brought coffee and donuts from a bakery nearby, but Dean was strictly on hospital food for the time being so all he could do was watch them. The three stayed for the morning, but then would leave for lunch around the same time Dean had one of his check-ups, coming back an hour later.
They talked, but mainly the uninjured three while Dean listened. One of the things they discussed was what they'd do for Dean once he was out of the hospital. School would be starting soon after all and that brought more challenges.
It was established that Dean wouldn't be able to play football, even if he somehow healed his injuries, the strain could do even more damage. He was a little disappointed in that, but then confessed a reason he even got into the sport was to try and appease his father. They had a moment of silence as the group let it sink in. Then Castiel agreed to stick with him during the school year as he had before, and being a couple, it would be easier to do so. They could get a wheelchair for Dean to use, and the Novak's already have crutches when Dean is ready for them. Luckily, the hand that was injured wasn't Dean's dominant hand, so he could still write and function with it. Dean was happy he wasn't completely useless.
The whole time Dean has been in the hospital, he hasn't been able to move from the bed at all. Only to use the bathroom, and even then, he needed the nurse's help to do that. Dean hated feeling helpless, but... having his friends and family here helped him. They didn't judge or make fun of it at all, so that helped Dean to be able to bear it.
On the fourth day, they were all in Dean's room that afternoon when the door opened, Dean's doctor walking in with James.
"Oh, thank god," the man said, and the kids backed away to give him room. James came to Dean's side and brushed his hair away from his face. "Dean, I was so worried for you." The sincerity in the man's voice seemed to trigger Dean and the boy began to cry. Cry because he knew James really meant it. That he cared for Dean like a father should and it just brought the boy to tears.
James smiled down at Dean, sitting in the chair. "The doctor told me about your condition, and I want to let you know you and your brother are welcome in my house for as long as I can have you," James told him and Dean smiled beneath the mask. Sam was smiling too and hugged Gabriel. The four knew that James wouldn't turn them away, but hearing it confirmed from the man himself was what they needed to hear.
"But," the doctor cut into the happy moment. "It can't be a forever solution." He grabbed the attention of the four as James looked down sadly.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Castiel asked him.
"With their mother deceased and father in prison, Dean and Sam Winchester are now orphans. Now James could hypothetically adopt the boys, but as I gather, Dean is dating one of his children and James is absent from the house for long periods of time," the doctor explained. "I hope you all understand that the social security workers wouldn't approve of that situation."
The kids nodded, then Sam spoke up. "So... what will happen to us?" He asked quietly. James looked at him and held his hand out, beckoning Sam to come over to him. The man sat the boy on his lap.
"For the moment while Dean is healing, you both will stay in my house," James told Sam. "But once Dean is able to move more... we'll have to find a more permanent home for you and your brother."
Sam looked at James worried. "But... but when if they take us far away?" Sam questioned, looking at Dean and seeing the same worry on his face.
"We'll tell them to try and find a place near here," the doctor explained with sympathy. "But it may not be a possibility."
The doctor then got a call coming from another patient and had to bid them a goodbye. The room was silent, everyone thinking about what the doctor said. But James wanted to lift the mood.
"Hey, let's not think too far ahead yet," the man said, looking around the room. He had Cas and Gabriel sit on the edge of the bed. "Dean still has a long road to recovery, so for the next few months, let's forget about what happens afterward," James told the boys. "I'll take time off of work, I think my boss will agree that I deserve it, and I'll research things that can help Dean with moving around. Dean can sleep in the living room and Sam in Gabriel's room. Like a long sleepover."
Although their minds weren't completely at ease, the children smiled and nodded.
"It'll be okay," James said, hugging Sam close to his chest. "We'll make it."
A few days later, Dean was able to be taken off the oxygen mask, then two more days he could do home. James had bought a wheelchair for Dean since they couldn't use the ones from the hospital outside of the building. They were able to fit the folded-up wheelchair in the trunk of his car and they drove back to the Novak house. When they got there, it was a teamwork to get the wheelchair out of the car, putting it back together, and helping Dean out of the car and into it. In the end, Sam was pushing Dean down the pathway in his wheelchair, both of them smiling at being back. They had to lift the chair into the house, but from there, it was free roam.
While Dean used the wheelchair, he would be sleeping downstairs on the couch, but that didn't stop Castiel from joining him some nights. Dean would be laid fully on the couch while Castiel slept on the floor or on an armchair. One night, the pair had found a mattress leaned against the wall for Castiel to use instead.
As the doctor said, Dean wasn't moving much. He couldn't really move in the wheelchair on his own with a casted arm, so most of the time he had to have someone pushing him. Meaning he always had someone with him. Because of this, and Dean's time at the hospital, he had quit his job at the garage since he wouldn't be able to come into work for a long time. James helped Dean with using the bathroom and with showering. It was awkward for Dean at first, but eventually, it felt like James was just a parent helping their son. Dean had that thought a lot when James was helping him or doing such simple things that meant a lot to Dean. The boy broke down crying many times, from the pain killers and the emotions he was feeling from being here. Being free. Being cared for from a parent that acts like a parent. There were many times Dean fell asleep crying in James's arms.
Sam had similar instances, but not as many as Dean. Dean was the one that faced the most abuse and mistreatment from John, who had known what he'd been like before. He had more trauma than Sam, but it didn't mean the boy had none. Sam had always looked to Dean more than John as a parent figure. Dean tried to keep what was happening away from Sam, so all the weight that was on his shoulders was now gone and he was finally able to be vulnerable. Sam was there for his brother when he broke down, often not saying anything, just hugging him and crying too. But many times, they were tears of joy because Dean's tears weren't from pain this time, but from utter relief.
A few weeks passed by with James and Gabriel making the meals and Sam helping out with the chores. They had a lot of movie and game nights, also for Gabriel and Castiel to be able to soak up their time with their dad here. James does have to leave sometimes, but he isn't gone as long as he usually was. And with a full house, there was never a dull moment. Even in a wheelchair, they found ways to have fun with Dean. The boy wasn't talking very much in the beginning, but now he was slowly getting more talkative, and it was easier to speak.
Even so though, there were still struggles. Dean suffered from nightmares many nights that woke up Castiel and sometimes the others. Sometimes it brought pain from his injured limbs because he tried to move them in his sleep and had to take painkillers in order to fall back asleep. Having Dean and Sam in the house was both a blessing, but it brought some hard times. Though that didn't stop the Novak's from being welcoming and warm to them. The boys had certainly been through enough.