Going Through the Motions
Summary: Sequel to Flick of the Switch. They thought Sammy was getting better, how could they have been so wrong?
Disclaimer: No, I don't own them. I only wish I did! Making no profit either here folks.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
John glanced into the rearview mirror to see his youngest leaning against the door with his eyes closed and his casted leg propped up on a pillow in the back seat. Sammy had been asleep for about an hour now as they traveled down Interstate 25 in Pueblo Colorado and John couldn't be more happy, he knew how exhausted the kid was even if he didn't want to admit it. How could he not be with everything that had happened at the Hunters Clinic. As Sammy slept though, he could see the pain lines on his baby's face and knew he needed to find a place to stop as soon as possible. Sammy needed to sleep in a bed where he would be stretch out and be more comfortable instead of cramped up inside the car. Finally spotting a sign for a Comfort Inn, he pulled off at the required exit and into the motel parking lot. It was a little more pricey than what they were used to, but John Connor would be picking up the tab for them this time.
As he pulled up to the reception area, he left the Impala running with both boys asleep as he went inside to check them in. He walked up to the reception desk where a svelte young lady stood behind the desk. She was a pretty young thing with model perfect measurements. "Dean would have made a move on her in a heartbeat" he thought as he said "I'd like a room for the night please."
'Yes sir, will that be a single or a double" the blond headed girl asked as she started punching something into the computer.
"I'll need a double since it is me and my sons, something with a roll away bed also if you've got it" John mentioned knowing they would need the extra bed. If not, him and Dean would just have to bunk together since Sammy would need a bed to himself to make sure he got enough rest.
"That won't be a problem sir" the receptionist replied as she asked "Cash or credit" She quickly typed the information into the computer and then scanned the card. After she had finished the transaction, she handed the credit card back with two key cards to room number 110. "I hope you'll enjoy your stay with us Mr. Connor. There will be a Continental Breakfast served from six until nine in the morning if you'd like to join us."
'Thanks, that would be nice" John said as he placed the credit card back into his worn leather wallet and walked outside. As he climbed back into the car, he saw Dean looking over at him with weary eyes. "I decided to get us a room for the night, you boys need something more comfortable to sleep in than just the car."
"Hey don't be putting my girl down, she always there for us in a picnh" Dean said as he patted the dash before turning his head to check on Sammy who was still asleep. Sammy still looked a little pale to him and he wondered if they had done the wrong thing in leaving Donovan's place where Sammy was within arms reach of medical attention if needed.
Once John had parked the sleek black muscle car and turned off the engine, he tossed a room key card over to Dean. "Go open the door and turn down the covers on one of the beds while I help get your brother inside." John watched Dean walk over and open the motel room door before slowly opening the back door of the car. He reached a hand in to brace Sammy to keep him from falling out before opening the door completely since Sammy had been leaning against it in his sleep.
"Time to wake up kiddo" John said a he gently nudged Sammy on the shoulder. All he got was a groggy "huh" before Sam shifted on the seat and became comfortable once again without ever totally awakening. "Okay kiddo, looks like I'm carrying you in" John said as he reached in and placed a hand under Sammy's knees and behind his back before pulling him gently out of the car. He grunted with exertion as he stood up and started towards the room, the kid was actually heavier than he looked.
Upon entering the room, he saw that Dean had the blankets pulled back on the bed furthest from the door which didn't surprise him at all. He or Dean had always taken the bed closest to the door to be the first line of defense if anyone or anything ever tried breaking into the room. He tenderly placed Sammy on the bed and then bent down to untie his shoes and pull them off while Dean salted the doors and the windows. Knowing that Sammy wouldn't be comfortable sleeping in his jeans, John reached up and unsnapped them and then gingerly pulled them off being careful with the casted area of his leg. "I'm sure glad you're asleep tiger since you threatened to kill me slowly and painfully the last time I tried to do this" John smirked remembering how mad Sammy had gotten when he tried to help him at the clinic. After placing the blankets over Sammy and then tucking him in, John went out to the car to get their things. Upon returning to the room, he saw that Dean has also removed his jeans and was now soundly sleeping in the bed next to Sammy's. "Damn, guess that means I get the roll away bed tonight" John muttered as he quietly pulled out a clean tee shirt and boxers. He really needed a shower.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Early the next morning, John was awakened to the sounds of the shower running and Dean's voice singing. Glancing at the clock he saw that it was only six thirty in the morning. "Damn boy, couldn't you have waited another hour or two to grace us with your talents" he whispered as he looked over to see Sammy still asleep which concerned him a little since Sammy was usually the first one awake. He pushed the puke colored green blanket off of him and then walked over to his youngest son's bedside as the words "Back in black, I hit the sack, It's been too long, I'm glad to be back" could be heard coming from the shower. Placing his palm on Sammy's forehead, he thought he felt a little warm but it could be just from the way he was snuggled into the blankets. Needing to know if Sam was getting sick or not, he reached over to the first aid kit that he had placed on the dresser the night before. Opening the lid, he pulled out the expensive ear thermometer he had appropriated from a hospital earlier in the year. He turned the instrument on with one hand while he placed the other hand on Sammy's head to hold it still. He placed the tip of the instrument into Sam's ear and immediately felt his youngest try to shift his head away from the offending object. " Shhh, it's alright Sammy, be still, I'm just trying to see if you have a fever" he said.
"Dad, is Sammy okay?" Dean asked with a concerned look as he picked that moment to come out of the shower with a large white towel wrapped around his waist as water dripped from his hair.
"Yeah, I think so son. He just felt a little warm to me" John said as he took the thermometer from Sam's ear and checked the readout. "He's got a slight temperature of 99.5, nothing to be too concerned about."
"S'good" Dean said as he pulled a clean pair of jeans and boxers from his duffle while his stomach rumbled. He pulled them on quickly and then put on his shoes. " I'm starving, I'm gonna go out and pick up some breakfast since Sammy's still asleep, you want anything in particular?" he asked his dad as he grabbed his black leather jacket and shrugged it on.
"Yeah, pick me up a couple of sausage biscuits and get something for your brother too. He'll need something to eat when he takes his meds." John replied as he tossed Dean a twenty dollar bill from his wallet.
"Sure thing Dad" Dean replied as he brushed his hand through Sammy's bangs before pocketing the money and walking out the door. At least he didn't have to worry about anything happening to Sammy while he was gone since his dad was there.
Dean had only been gone for a few minutes when John noticed that Sammy was finally beginning to stir. He pulled a chair up beside his bed and watched as his youngest son slowly opened his beautifully expressive blue-green eyes. "Hey kiddo, how are you doing?" John inquired as he ran his fingers through Sammy's sleep mussed hair.
"M'fine" Sam said through a yawn as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. He felt a little tickle in the back of his throat but it was nothing to worry his dad about. No way was he chancing his dad going full mother hen mode on him again after what had happened at the clinic.
"That's good, glad to hear it. I need to change that bandage on your shoulder so how about leaning back against the headboard for me tiger" John said as he pulled out some fresh bandages and the antibiotic ointment that Donovan had given to him before leaving the clinic yesterday.
Sammy rolled his eyes at the moniker given to him when he was just a toddler. He was a grown man now but you would never know it by the way his dad, Dean, and the others referred to him using the childish nickname. He shivered a little when he felt his dad's cold hands touch his warm skin and then winced as the tape and old bandage was pulled gently away from his shoulder.
"Sorry kiddo" John stated hating that he had caused Sammy pain. The kid had already been through enough pain to last him a lifetime over the past few weeks with the way that bastard Ahriman had tortured him through his visions. As he pulled the bandage back, John noticed the pinkened skin and a few small pimpl3e like bumps around the knife wound area. He gently cleaned the area around the stitches and then applied some antibiotic ointment before bandaging it up again. "The wound is still a little tender, but it should heal up in time" John said as he taped the new bandage down.
"Thanks Dad" Sam said as he tossed off the blankets and shifted his feet to the floor hating the way the cumbersome cast felt on his leg. "Wait a minute, where are my jeans?" Sam asked as he noticed his bare legs. He couldn't remember getting into the room last night much less taking his jeans off.
"Uh, Dean pulled them off last night after we put you in the bed so you could rest more comfortably" John lied not wanting to incur Sammy's wrath at having undressed him again.
"Oh" Sam replied as his cheeks tinged with embarrassment at having been carried into the room last night and then undressed by his big brother. How could he have been so out of it not to realize that he had actually been carried?
"Why don't you go into the bathroom and get yourself cleaned up, Dean will be back soon with breakfast" John said as he noticed how uncomfortable Sammy was about not getting into the room himself last night.
"Kay" Sam replied as he pulled some clean clothing from his duffle bag. He couldn't chance taking a shower with the cast on his leg, but a bath sure would feel good since his body was beginning to ache a little. As he started running the water into the tub, he gave off a small cough trying to clear the tickle in his throat so that his dad wouldn't hear him. The last thing he needed was his dad or Dean acting like a mother hen around him again. As the saying goes, what they didn't know couldn't hurt them.
TBC