What had first been an infected appendix has turned into something way more severe for the youngest Winchester. Hurt!Limp!Sam & Awesome!BigBrother!Dean.

Sequel to my story "Just A Bug" but it can easily be read as a stand-alone story.

Note: I am not a doctor so I know there might be errors in the medical procedures.

-Elisa.

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Being admitted at the hospital with an appendix that had decided to perforate, which had led to peritonitis which again had developed into sepsis, was not something Sam Winchester had wished to experience in his lifetime. However, that was how things had turned out and after spending a couple of days on a ventilator that had helped the youngest Winchester breathe, Sam had finally woken up and had spent the next few days alternating between listening to his brother complain about the lack of hot nurses, and being asleep. Dean had been by his brother's side the entire time, but Sam had finally succeeded in sending Dean off to get some food for both of them. Sam was still dealing with the aftermath of his illness; he'd been tired and didn't really have much of an appetite but he'd blamed the latter on the fact that hospital food was gross – which was the reason why Dean had finally given in and had left to find something more edible for them. Sam wasn't exactly convinced he would be able to eat much at all when Dean got back, but at least Dean would be able to eat something and that had been Sam's goal all along.

Sam had been hospitalized for a few days now and the doctor, who had been monitoring him on a regular basis, was now doing a check-up on the young hunter.

"Well, your oxygen level has increased a bit so that's good, though you still need to keep the nasal cannula for now." The doctor told Sam as he scribbled some notes down on his journal. "And the antibiotics have been doing their job as well; the sepsis is gone."

Sam looked at Dr. Calvin and noticed the thoughtful look on the man's face and the way he restlessly clicked his pen. Though the doctor had just given him good news, Sam could sense the unspoken words in the room.

"That's great doctor, but I can feel a 'but' coming up." Sam said.

"Mr. Page, I need to be honest with you." The doctor said and thumped his chin with the pen in his hand.

"It's Sam." Sam remarked.

"Sam, some tissues in your body are particularly sensitive to severe shock." The doctor explained. "The kidneys can be damaged by insufficient blood flow and I believe that has happened in your case."

"So.. You're saying that my kidneys are damaged?" Sam asked with a concerned frown line between his eyes.

"They're not functioning as properly as they should be." The doctor answered.

"But what does that mean?" Sam asked and suddenly wished he hadn't sent his big brother out for food.

"It means you're experiencing what we in medical terms call renal failure." The doctor said. "Among other functions, the kidneys filter the blood and get rid of waste products. I've been monitoring your blood tests and I've noticed an increase in your urea levels which is a clear symptom of kidney failure. It's dangerous because it can affect other organs in your body like your brain, cause inflammation of the heart lining or decrease your muscle function. Since waste products are building in your blood, it explains why you're feeling tired and don't have much of an appetite."

The doctor paused for a moment to let the younger Winchester brother absorb some of the information he'd just passed on. When Sam hadn't said anything after a few moments, the doctor took it as a sign to continue.

"Another symptom of kidney failure, that I've noticed, is a decreased red blood cell count – otherwise known as anemia." The doctor continued. "That is why you're probably experiencing that your body quickly tires. You may also experience that your breathing becomes more rapid which is why you're keeping the nasal cannula for now."

Sam swallowed hard and knew that the paleness on his face right now had nothing to do with the fact that he was sick.

"There are ways to further determine the type of kidney failure you've got." The doctor said and scribbled on his journal again. "We're talking about use of ultrasound or biopsy of the kidneys."

"Bi-biopsy?" Sam stuttered and really really needed Dean to be there now.

"Since we haven't determined anything yet I can't tell you what treatment we're going to use for your kidney failure, but it's possible you're going to be in dialysis. I'll let you know when I've got more information." The doctor said and shot Sam a quick smile before leaving the room.

Sam nervously fidgeted with the sheets of the hospital bed and tried to get rid of the lump that was forming in his throat while he came to the realization that he was scared. The youngest Winchester brother knew a little about a lot of things but the medical stuff – when it became as serious as this seemed to be – wasn't really something he knew much about. The doctor's words had left him frightened and confused, and in that moment Sam felt more like the little kid he had once been than the man he was supposed to be now.

"So, do you think there was a place nearby that had some of that healthy crap you like to eat? Nooo, I had to drive to the other frigging part of town to find something for you, princess." Dean babbled as he came into the hospital room carrying some brown paper bags of food.

"Dean." Sam said.

"And then I ran into this frisky little lady who dropped her number in my pocket." Dean said with a snicker while lining the food up on the small table next to Sam's hospital bed. "I seriously wondered if I should dump your sorry ass and take her for a drink instead."

"Dean." Sam said again.

"But then again, a promise is a promise and I did promise you to bring you some decent food." Dean said.

"Dean." Sam said a third time and this time his big brother turned his head and looked at the younger man.

"Yeah?" Dean asked with a frown and stopped what he was doing when he saw the expression on Sam's face. "Sammy?"

"The doctor was here while you were gone." Sam said. "He ehm.. He didn't have great news."

Dean put down the cup of coffee he had been grasping in his hand and starred at his brother.

"What kinda bad news?" Dean asked warily.

"He said my kidneys are damaged." Sam said and started picking at a thread in the corner of the covers without looking at Dean. "That it explains why I'm tired and haven't got any appetite. The doctor said it could affect my brain, heart, muscles.."

"What?" Dean asked with wide eyes.

"That's what he said." Sam said in a small voice.

Dean washed a hand down his face and then noticed how upset his brother looked.

"What else did the doctor tell you?" Dean asked.

Sam shrugged his shoulders and still didn't look Dean in the eyes so Dean gently lifted Sam's chin and forced his little brother to look at him.

"What did he tell you?" Dean asked in a soft voice and swallowed hard as Sam's eyes suddenly filled with unshed tears. "Hey, it's okay. You can tell me."

Dean put a hand on the back of Sam's neck and gave it a mild squeeze. Sam blinked back the tears that had threatened to fall and then cleared his throat.

"He said they'll do some tests to determine the right treatment.. Something about a biopsy." Sam admitted and Dean's brows furrowed. "Dean, I'm.. I'm.."

Scared.

Sam didn't even have to say anything because Dean could clearly see how frightened his brother was.

"I know." Dean said and held Sam's look. "But it's gonna be alright."

Dean kept eye contact with Sam a little while longer and gave his brother's neck another reassuring squeeze before moving away.

"You know what, why don't you try to eat something?" Dean asked and nodded towards the food he'd lined up on the small table next to the bed. "I'll go have a little talk with the doctor."

"I don't think I'll be able to eat anything, Dean." Sam said while eyeing the food.

The mere thought of eating something made him feel nauseous, and Sam didn't know whether it was because he was ill or because of the bad news he'd just received.

"Just try, okay?" Dean said. "I'll be back soon again."

"Okay." Sam said in a small voice.

Dean let his hand linger a bit on the doorknob and glanced back at his defeated brother before he opened the door and started searching for the doctor.

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"Why did you say all those things to Sam?" Dean angrily exclaimed as he burst through the door to the doctor's office.

Dr. Calvin looked up in surprise from behind the pile of papers on his desk and eyed the oldest Winchester brother warily.

"I was just being honest with him." The doctor answered. "Your brother's kidneys.."

"Yeah, Sam already told me." Dean said, cutting the doctor off. "But you had no right to scare him like that!"

"No offence Mr. Page, but your brother is a grown man." Dr. Calvin said with patience. "And he has the right to know what's going on with him."

"Yeah, but you could at least have waited until I was there with him so he didn't have to receive the bad news on his own." Dean said and let out a sigh as the doctor gestured towards the chair in front of his desk, before he plopped down on it.

"Mr. Page, I can't say for sure what treatment we're going to use on Sam but I think it's very likely that Sam will receive dialysis." The doctor said.

"For how long?" Dean asked.

"I don't know." The doctor answered sincerely. "Sometimes it's only necessary for a few weeks but other times.. Well, we'll see what happens."

Dean nodded his understanding. Sam had to be alright.. He just had to.

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TBC..

Reviews are always appreciated!

-Elisa.