A.N. Ok, I'm starting to panic now at how many of you are following this. I promise I'll try my very best not to let you down!
"Out of Control"
CHAPTER 4
It started out as an awareness of background noise. Gradually growing louder it finally coalesced into voices. They sounded hurried, their words made no sense, except one. Amongst the chaos, someone seemed to be calling his name. Dean's head turned a fraction in that direction. The voice was female, Mom? Through the darkness Dean fought to respond, and ran straight into sudden searing pain. Dean's body reacted instantly and he jacknifed, desperately trying to curl up into himself.
"Christ! He's movin'!"
"Grab his legs...
"Dean, calm down"
...Keep him straight"
"Pulse rate increasing!"
"Dean, you're in hospital...
"Watch the IV line!"
...You have to stay still Dean."
"Is that canula still in?"
"Will someone hold his Goddamn arms?"
"Dean, you're safe, relax."
"Arrhythmia people! Move it or lose it!"
XXX
Sam sat himself in a corner booth where he could, if necessary, view nearly the full length of the diner. He ordered a black coffee from the pleasant enough waitress and settled in to begin the agonising three hour wait for Bobby. He'd been sat for around twenty minutes when his attention was drawn to the TV fixed up on a wall and to the image of a local news reporter standing outside a hospital.
"...in to the hospital behind me. The full identity of the man who we are told is roughly in his mid twenties, along with what has happened to him, remains, at this stage, a mystery. Although we have been told that there is certain evidence to suggest the young man may be called Dean. The police are asking that anyone who thinks they may know the patient to please contact them. The latest from the hospital itself is that the young man has been taken into theatre, where his condition is described as critical. There will be further updates on this station as they come in."
Sam's hands shook so much that black coffee spilled from his cup and onto the table. His pleasant waitress must have been watching, as she was by his side almost immediately,
"You ok hon? I can get you more coffee if you want some."
Sam shook his head and gave the girl a weak smile.
"No, I'm good. I'm meeting someone here but it's gonna take him a while to get to here. Is that likely to be a problem?"
The waitress grinned and shook her head.
"No, that's totally fine, just let me know if you need anything. The name's Andrea.."
Sam nodded,
"Thanks An?...Andrea. I will."
After a while the warmth of the diner combined with exhaustion and the reassuring sounds of normal life going on around him all ganged up on Sam and he fell asleep, tucked tight into the corner.
XXX
"Yes! We've got a heart beat!"
The surgeon gave a sigh of relief and turned to hand the defibrillator paddles to one of the nurses on his team.
"Well done people, very well done. Now...lets get this young man prepped so I can find that bleed and fix it. Speed matters here people, speed and focus. I want this patient to leave this theatre alive. Everyone got that?"
As the surgical team moved to their individual tasks, the theatre phone rang. A young male nurse picked it up, listening a while before speaking.
"Ok….that's great news! I'll let Mr Carter know…yeah…..thanks."
Hearing his name, the surgeon look up.
"What's the good news about?"
"Sir, a member of the patient's family has come forward in response to the media reports."
"Excellent. Is it a next of kin?"
"His Uncle. Apparently both parents are deceased. They've got him in the relatives room, he's asking for an update."
"And he will get one, just as soon as I am good and ready."
XXX
Sam was unceremoniously woken by a firm shove against his shoulder and a familiar voice.
"Wake up Sleepin' Beauty, your phone's ringin'.
Still in a daze, Sam began patting pockets, finally yanking his phone out from a jacket pocket as Bobby sat down. Sam looked at the caller ID, then across to Bobby.
"It's Dean's ID."
"Well? Answer it Princess."
Sam hesitantly put the phone to his ear.
"H….hello?"
"This is the Sheriff's department. Could you give me your name sir?"
Panicked, Sam hit end call, then turned his cell off and quickly shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. Eyebrows raised, Bobby waited.
"It was the Sheriff's department. They asked for my name!"
"Guess they've got a hold of Dean's phone then and they're going through his incoming calls list. When did you last ring him?"
"I tried ringing him when I was heading back to the bar. He didn't answer, so I left a message. He'd been found by the bar owner by then."
Bobby nodded.
"Ok. First, I need a coffee; then we need to track down the hospital that's got Dean and try to figure out this whole friggin' mess."
"He's at Mercy General."
"And you know that how?"
"There's been reports of Dean being found on the local news. The last one I saw said he was in surgery and his conditi…..his condition was critical. They were asking anyone who might know Dean to come forward."
As Sam spoke, Andrea wandered over ready to take Bobby's order, her eyes widened when she heard Sam talking.
"Your talkin' about that poor guy, Dean. The one who was found all beaten? I heard that report too, and it worked. Isn't that great?"
Sam's mouth opened and closed without him actually saying anything, leaving Bobby to step in.
"I've only just heard about this poor guy. Has someone come forward then?"
Andrea's smile grew,
"Yeah! His uncle; and the last update said Dean's condition's more stable. Seems he's gonna make it, d'you think?"
Bobby smiled up at the waitress,
"It sure sounds that way. Can we get a couple more coffees?"
Bobby watched as Andrea walked away, then turned back to Sam.
"So…you two got any uncles I don't know about?"
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