Chapter 2 – enjoy ;0)
Note: Thanks to everyone for the amazingly fantabulous reviews ;0) – you seriously keep me going!
Warning: Mild Language
Sam's POV
The muscles in my neck are popping as I cling onto Dean. My arms feel like they're tearing out of their sockets, but there's no way in hell I'm losing the hold I have on my brother. As soon as he latched onto my arms I knew I had his life in my hands. He's hanging limply now, probably unconscious, the fear of losing him fuels my strength and I pull with all my might, screaming in exertion and pain.
"… come on … come on …"
I finally manage to pull him free … collapsing back as I try to catch my breath, Dean lying lifelessly in my arms … god he looks dead ... I shake him slightly.
"DEAN!"
The house creaks ominously again so I stagger to my feet, grabbing him under the arms and dragging him a few feet away from the smoldering structure … coughing as I try to rid my lungs of the noxious fumes.
It's the first time I can get a clear look at him. His face is covered in grimy black soot, lips slightly parted and his red-rimmed eyes swollen shut. My heart beats frantically in my chest. I lean over, putting my ear against his chest … listening … praying for a heartbeat. I'm not sure if the frenzied thumping I hear is just coming from him or me as well, but his chest isn't rising ... he's not breathing …
… god Dean … don't do this to me again …
I've had too many damn years of practice doing this. I hate that it's like second nature to tilt his chin, pinch his nose and cover his mouth with my own as I give him 3 quick breaths. But I'm also thankful … cause I've managed to bring him back from the brink of death every time … just hope my luck holds out. I stop to breathe and cough, shaking as I cover his mouth again for another 3 quick breaths, my bloody fingerprints leaving marks on his still face.
… please … please …
It's on the forth try that I feel him inhale weakly against my lips … he wheezes as he battles to breathe but his eyes remain closed. My body starts shivering with relief ... feel lightheaded … probably in shock.
"It's okay son … you can stop now … we'll take over …"
I look up dazed. There are paramedics and firemen surrounding us. Didn't even hear them arrive.
"It's okay …" his hand is resting on my shoulder and his words finally penetrate my confused mind. I nod my head … my throat is sore … I cough again. The acrid taste of smoke from Dean's lips still lingering on my own. I stumble back as they surround him, checking his airway. Tears burn my eyes as I watch … they're helping him … they're helping my brother … he's going to be okay. One of the paramedics looks over at me worriedly, but then Dean starts choking, gasping for air and her attention is drawn back to assist him. I pray silently as they fight to save his life.
"… please Dean … don't leave me …"
"We need to intubate … his airway is swelling closed."
I sway on my feet, wincing as my hand touches my bloody side. I can still feel the sharp piece of wood imbedded deep in the muscle … I don't know how bad it is … my black t-shirt hiding the blood … but the adrenalin rush is fading and with it comes pain.
I cough again … my vision swimming.
Somewhere in my confusion I know that I need to get to the car. I start moving, making my way around the house. Nobody notices me. The paramedics are focusing their full attention on Dean as they struggle to get him to breathe. The firemen are fighting a losing battle against the blaze. I want to stay, but I need to hide the gun tucked in my jeans … have to get our fake medical insurance cards and wallets. Everything's in the car with our cell phones.
I focus on each painful step as I make my way back to the Impala. People are standing outside and along the road, eyes transfixed with morbid fascination as the fire consumes the house. I collapse against the door, breathing hard. I manage to slide halfway into the car, my breath hitching as more pain shoots up my side … blood dripping on the leather upholstery. I grin lopsidedly … Dean is so gonna kick my ass. With trembling hands I push my gun under the seat … hissing as I reach over to open the glove compartment, pulling out everything that we'll need. I sit for a minute looking in confusion at the wallets and cell phone resting on my lap. Not sure what I'm doing here … I feel kinda sick. I slowly look up just as more paramedics rush around the house with a gurney.
Shit … Dean ...
I fumble as I gather everything in my hands, pushing myself up again and locking the car door as I sway to my feet. I lean heavily against the Impala, slipping the cards and wallets into my pockets … need to phone Mrs. Harris, the kid's mom. It's just a quick call relaying the message that her boys are okay and that we're on our way to County General. She sobs with joy over the phone.
"Officer … I don't know how to thank you and your brother for saving my boys … I'll never forget this … never."
"No need to thank us … it's just part of our job."
It's just part of our job … a job that's ruined our lives and threatens to take my brother away from me again. I wipe my hands across my moist eyes as I watch them rush Dean over to the ambulance, securely strapped to the gurney.
Bobby … my hand is shaking so badly I'm not sure if I pressed speed dial for Bobby or Bob's Pizza Delivery. I wait with bated breath … but it's Bobby's gruff voice that answers the phone.
"Hey Sam … did you get him?"
"Yeah …"
"Good … you boys okay."
I blink hard … the ground seems to be spinning under my feet ...
"No … Dean's unconscious … they're taking him to hospital …"
"Sam … what happened … are you okay?"
"Yeah … just need to be with him … please take care of the car Bobby … it's parked on 24th off central … locked it … put the key's in the usual place."
I see them loading Dean into the ambulance … panic grips me … I call out ...
"… wait …"
But they don't seem to hear me so I take a tentative step forward … wish the ground would stop moving …
"… they're going Bobby … County General … need to go with …"
"Sam … you don't sound right … are you hurt?"
"… guess so …"
I stagger forward … have to get to the ambulance … they can't leave me behind … need to be with Dean.
"SAM! SAM!"
I can hear Bobby yelling my name but I switch the phone off … I'm sorry Bobby … I just don't have the strength to talk.
Out of the corner of my eye I see the kids we rescued … their small forms covered in blankets, holding oxygen masks over their faces. They're being led by one of the paramedics to the second waiting ambulance. The youngest one spots me, pulling away and rushing over, grabbing my leg in a tight hug. I smile down into his tear streaked face, gently ruffling the hair on top of his head. I sway slightly.
"It's okay buddy … you're safe now … I called your mom … she'll meet us at the hospital, alright?"
He nods and manages to smile up at me, a soft "fanks" whistling past his toothy grin as he squeezes me tightly again ... then rushes back to join his brother. He's older brother just nods his head in acknowledgement … he reminds me a lot of Dean at that age. It's moments like this that almost make it worthwhile … almost. God Dean … just hang on … I swallow the lump in my throat. A paramedic is suddenly right up in my face. I battle to focus on her.
"Hey … there you are … we wondered where you'd gone …"
Her voice trails off as she spots my bloody hand. I just need to lie down for a bit, don't feel too good. My legs suddenly start giving way under me. She's stronger than I thought 'cause she manages to catch and support my tall frame as we shuffle over to the ambulance. She carefully lowers me to sit on the ambulance step. I huff, face wrinkling as pain lances up my side.
I try really hard to focus, but everything she says sounds like a loud humming. She carefully lifts my t-shirt … I can see her mouthing 'Shit' as she turns to her partner. Suddenly I'm surrounded by frantic activity as they put an oxygen mask over my face, do a quick check of my vitals and place a pressure dressing around the wound. A few deep breaths later and the buzzing in my ears finally stops.
She's talking through the relay attached to her shoulder … wants to get me transported to the hospital in the other ambulance.
"No … no … I want to go with my brother … please … it's not far …"
"There's not much room in there … and it's not proper procedure …"
"Please …"
"Jill … we need to move now." It's the guy in the back with Dean.
She looks at the driver … he just nods his head as he looks up worriedly at the medic assisting Dean. They help me up carefully, positioning me to sit next to him, making me as comfortable as possible. She calls the hospital with our stats.
"I have two males on route, early twenties … hand controlled ventilation in progress, patient is in respiratory distress and unresponsive. He has a 3rd degree burn across his back, severe smoke inhalation and swelling to the trachea … also possible head trauma."
I shake as I listen to her rattle off the list … didn't even know Dean got burnt … I suddenly feel sick … I swallow down the urge to throw up.
"We also have a penetrating abdominal wound, severe blood loss, pupils are uneven, possible head trauma and smoke inhalation.
Jill inserts an IV line into my arm and gently wraps a blanket over my shivering shoulders. My gaze locks on the medic as he rhythmically pumps oxygen into Dean's wheezing lungs from the ampu-bag covering his face. They've cut his t-shirt down the middle, EKG leads leading to the heart monitor. I watch the readout nervously as I reach across to take his hand in my own. He's so still.
They've managed to clean him up a bit, exposing dry red skin … it looks almost like he's got a bad sunburn. Jill moves forward, forcing Dean's swollen lids open as she drops some clear liquid into his very red eyes. I try to continue breathing evenly as all the worst case scenarios play out in my head … I just hope there's no permanent damage.
The ambulance jerks slightly and I hiss in pain … I'd love to just pass out right now ... but Jill starts asking me questions about allergies and our medical history, which she scribbles on a form, worry etched on her face. I answer tiredly, giving her our fake insurance card details. She bags our cards, wallets, my cell phone and Dean's ring and amulet, writing out a label for Sam Wayne. I smile … Dean used one of dad's old aliases this time around … thought it was hysterical when dad used it … John Wayne. I snort.
"I'll keep these safe for you okay … how you feeling Sam?"
How should I be feeling? I look at Dean's cracked, dry lips … rubbing soothing circles on his wrist as I cradle his hand in mine. I'm so tired of this … it's just not worth it … it's not worth Dean's life, it's not worth mine … and it wasn't worth dads or moms. A sob escapes my lips.
Jill gently squeezes my arm.
"It's okay … you're both gonna be okay … you hear me … we're nearly there."
I look up at her, smiling tentatively … she's obviously never heard of 'Winchester' luck.
Dean's hand suddenly tightens in mine. His body starts shuddering on the gurney as he fights to inhale ... the alarm from the monitor next to him making me jump slightly.
"Shit … blood oxygen levels have just dropped."
"What's going on … what's wrong?"
The medic is checking the intubation tube.
"His throat is nearly completely swollen shut, he's not getting enough oxygen."
"Dean?"
They work frantically, trying to keep his airway open, but just as quickly he stops struggling, a faint sigh brushing past his lips one last time as he exhales.
"Ah crap … he's stopped breathing … what's our ETA?"
"Two minutes."
"Shit … he's going into cardiac arrest …"
"No … Dean?"
He starts CPR as Jill injects an ampoule of epinephrine directly into his IV.
"Please … do something …"
"We're trying Sam … just try to keep calm …"
Yeah right … my brothers dying and you want me to stay calm … I start coughing again … the agony in my side almost knocking me out. Jill reaches over to put a steadying hand on me as she relays the information to the hospital staff on standby.
"ETA one minute ... we have a code, CPR in progress."
She looks at my stricken face and her eye's widen.
"Sam, just breathe … deep breaths … that's it."
I follow her instructions, my chest suddenly feels very tight. The ambulance comes to an abrupt halt and the doors fly open as medical personal pull Dean out of the ambulance. One of the doctor's takes over, climbing up onto the gurney … performing chest compression as they rush him in through the ER doors.
"No … Dean …" I try to push myself up but my legs decide to buckle again. Okay, maybe I should just lie down for a minute.
"Take it easy kid … they're doing everything they can for him."
They carefully help me out of the ambulance, easing me onto a gurney and instantly start pushing me towards the ER doors. I'm rushed into one of the exam rooms and lifted onto a table. I try to find Dean … eventually seeing him through the open door between our two rooms. They're still doing CPR … his translucent skin glowing under the harsh lights. Even from here I can see the blue tinge to his lips and my heart aches, my chest tightening again. I look up at the doctor who is examining me … I need some reassurances that he's gonna be okay.
"… my brother?"
"It's okay Mr. Wayne they're working on him now … just need you to focus on yourself for a minute … can you feel this?"
I feel his hands probing along my injured side … but strangely there's no pain … can't remember taking any painkillers … just feel numb …
"Abdomen is slightly extended, I think we have some internal bleeding … also this chunk of wood in his side may have hit some internal organs. Let's give him 2 grams IV Cefotan and get him downstairs to Radiology."
He injects something into my arm.
"Mr. Wayne … can you hear me … I need you to answer my question."
I look at him blankly, he doesn't seem to understand that my whole life is ending just a few feet away from me. I turn my head slightly to look over at Dean again. He arches up off the table as paddles are applied to shock his heart … tears blur my vision.
"Mr. Wayne … I need you to concentrate … do you feel this?"
He pushes along the wound again … I shake my head slowly … my eyes feel really heavy … the images of them trying to revive my big brother etch themselves painfully into my memory.
"His blood pressure is dropping doctor."
"Damnit … okay people lets move and someone book an OR ... Mr. Wayne … can you hear me?"
… my last thought before everything fades into nothingness is … please Dean … please don't die.
TBC
Next POV from Bobby ;0)
