A/N: Wow, what a response! Thank-you all so much for your lovely reviews, alerts and favourites - they totally made my day! And as a result, here is the next chapter, even earlier than I originally intended to post it!:-) Let me just say right here that I am not a doctor, and whilst I did research this fic pretty thoroughly, it is very possible that some inaccuracies still slipped in. So forgive me for those and enjoy the ride!
Disclaimer: Last time I checked I didn't own Sam and Dean:-(
Blood Brothers
Chapter Two
By the time the Impala pulled into the parking lot of another motel, Sam's clothes were damp with sweat and he was shivering. He was definitely coming down with something. Dean looked over at him, an expression of concern on his face.
"Sam, you don't look so good. Why don't you wait here and I'll go and get us a room. OK?"
Sam nodded mutely and pressed his aching head against the now closed window, savouring the coolness of the glass. He closed his eyes against the pain and just listened to the sounds around him.
Dean wasn't gone long. Sam could hear the door of the Impala creak open and slam shut on the driver's side and feel the engine start up again as Dean drove them to their room. He didn't open his eyes however. It was better this way. He heard Dean open the trunk and carry their bags into their room (even though his ribs must have been killing him), and then he felt his brother gently but firmly take hold of his arms and help him out of the car and into their room, his voice keeping up a running commentary all the way.
"Easy, tiger. I've got you. Just a few more steps and then you can sleep, OK?
Sam nodded.
"OK then. Here we are. Do you want to go to the bathroom first or straight to bed?"
"Bed." Sam mumbled.
"OK, bed it is then." Dean helped him on to the bed, pulled his shoes off, and then helped him under the covers.
Sam knew that all this labour could not be going down well with Dean's cracked ribs, and attempted to communicate this to his brother.
"Sorr' D'n. You sh'd be resting yoursel'." His words came out a bit garbled but he figured Dean would understand.
"All part of the job description, Sammy. Don't worry about me, OK? Anyway, you can make it up to me by doing laundry for a month when you're better."
"'K." The way he was feeling right now, Sam would agree to anything that contained the phrase 'when you're better'. The dull ache in his head had increased to a heavy pounding, as if a little dwarf was sitting in his brain with a hammer and chisel trying to turn it into Mt Rushmore. He felt a cool hand brush against his forehead, and a moment later a thermometer was stuck under his tongue.
"Hold that there Sammy, OK."
Sam acquiesced in silence and after a minute Dean removed the thermometer to take the reading. A couple of seconds later, he swore.
"Dude, your temperature's pretty high. It's not in the danger range yet but I'm going to keep an eye on it, OK? In the meantime, take these aspirin. There's a glass of water beside the bed – think you can manage?"
Sam nodded.
"Ok, then. While you do that, I'm going to head down to reception and see if I can find out where the nearest 24 hour clinic is. Just as a precaution, you know."
Sam nodded again, not really caring at this point in time. He heard Dean leave and reached out his hand blindly for the bedside table, feeling around until he found the glass. Bringing it to his lips, he gulped down the cool water with a couple of aspirin and collapsed back on to his pillow again, feeling drained by the small effort. Then closing his eyes, he fell into a restless sleep.
~ O ~ O ~ O ~
Dean hurried back from the reception area, having obtained the information he had gone for. Unfortunately the nearest 24 hour clinic was a good half hour away. Truth be told he was more worried about Sam than he let on. This fever had come on very suddenly, and whilst he knew that sometimes flu and other bugs could do that, this didn't seem like your typical flu. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly about it seemed off; he just felt instinctively that something wasn't right. He mentally kicked himself for being out of it for so long after the hunt (even though he knew that wasn't really his fault), and consequently not able to check up on Sam's injuries the way Sam had done for him. But he resolved that he would do that now, and see if perhaps there was something he had missed…
~ O ~ O ~ O ~
A few minutes of careful examination later and Dean found himself staring down at the cut on Sam's leg, which was not only still hot to the touch but was now surrounded by a strange purple rash.
"Oh, that is so not good."
~ O ~ O ~ O ~
Sam had not been too happy about being dragged out of bed and back to the Impala, but after seeing that rash on his leg, Dean was not taking any risks. He was pretty sure now that the fever was caused by an infection and was worried about the length of time that had passed since Sam had received the cut. He had no idea if Sam had even been able to clean the cut properly, although there had been some remnants of antibiotic cream smeared across it. Either way, the sooner they got to the 24 hour clinic the better.
~ O ~ O ~ O ~
Dean sat in a chair across from the examination bed where his brother was lying. The doctor on duty, a very pleasant man, was busy taking Sam's blood pressure and drilling Dean with short, clipped questions.
"So, when did you say the fever started?"
Dean looked up at the doctor. "Um, this morning sometime I think? He wasn't feeling great when he woke up."
"Hmm." The doctor frowned. And you say that you noticed the rash about an hour ago."
"Yes, that's right. I didn't even know he had the cut until today. I got mugged you see, and was pretty bashed up, so I wasn't really with it until this morning." A fact for which Dean still kicked himself.
The doctor turned back to Sam and undid the blood pressure cuff. "Well, his blood pressure is very low, and his temperature is sitting on 100 at the moment. He also seems to have an increased respiratory rate. All of this, coupled with the rash, is indicative of sepsis."
Dean felt a cold, hard lump start to form in the pit of his gut. "Sepsis? As in blood poisoning? But…how did he get it so quickly?"
"Well, an untreated cut can become infected very quickly, and if the person doesn't take any antibiotics, sepsis can occur within a couple of days. You told me that he received this cut about two days ago now, right?"
Dean felt his heart sink. "Yes, that's right."
"Yes, and by the looks of things whatever cut him was probably very dirty, maybe rusty. My guess is that he either forgot about it or just didn't think it was serious enough to take good care of, and here we have the result. I'm afraid you're going to have to take your brother to the hospital as we don't have the facilities here to look after him properly. I'll go now to phone through for you, so they'll know to expect you."
Dean nodded, feeling numb. How could a small cut result in the need for hospitalization?
The doctor was moving towards the door, so Dean quickly stood up to stop him. "Um, I was just wondering…what's the prognosis?"
The doctor turned back in the doorway. "Well, the fact that it's already turned into sepsis is not good. However, it is very treatable with antibiotics as long as he gets them quickly enough. I suggest you get to the hospital. Do you know how to get there?"
Dean shook his head. He hadn't seen the need to enquire about the whereabouts of the hospital, thinking that this was something that could probably be dealt with simply at the clinic.
The doctor smiled sympathetically. "I know this is a bit of a shock, but it is treatable. I'll ask the receptionist to write up the directions for you."
Dean nodded and turned back to the bed where Sam was still lying, shivering and moaning softly.
"Come on, Sammy. Let's get you to the hospital, OK."
~ O ~ O ~ O ~
The doctor on duty at the hospital was an older man with a harried, tired expression on his face. He assessed Sam quickly and thoroughly and confirmed the diagnosis of sepsis, admitting him immediately. Within half an hour, Sam was hooked up to all kinds of monitors, as well as an IV of fluids to restore his blood pressure, and antibiotics to fight the infection.
The nurses and doctors gone at last, Dean sat in a chair beside Sam's bed, silently heaving a sigh of relief as he realized that everything would be OK.
Until the monitors started going crazy and Sam started gasping for air.
To be continued...
A/N: I would love to hear what you think of the chapter and story so far! Also, what did you all think of Friday night's episode? All I can say is I am VERY happy and can't wait for next year!:-D