Looking at the still form on the bed, they tried to decide where to start.
"Maybe we should clean him up first before bandaging him, Dean. Without Cas' healing abilities, the chance of infections is much larger…"
Glancing at his brother, Sam expected a harsh reply to be directed his way, but nothing was coming. His brother looked beyond tired, shoulders sagging, his whole posture nearly screaming defeat. "That's fine Sam, I'll go get some clean towels" Dean raised himself of the bed, walking slowly out of the motel room. It had been a long day and it wasn't over any time soon either…
Returning his attention back to Castiel, he took a closer look at the pattern of the bruising around the Angel's heart. They looked to be shaped in the form of a fist; studied from even closer, he could nearly see the outlines of fingers on the bruised flesh. Shaking of the nauseating feeling at the idea that someone had pushed his hand straight through Cas' chest, he noticed the Angel's breathing becoming irregular. The rise and fall of his chest accelerated, as his right hand got a desperate hold on the sheets beneath him, clenching and unclenching, like he was trying to find something to hold on to. Soft cries escaped from between the Angel's lips and his facial expression was raw with fear. Sam, who had been moving towards the injured Angel, nearly jumped back as his eyes suddenly flew open.
"Agh…nooo…! W-wha…happ'nd" A wail started to tear from his throat, eyes roaming from left to right. Sam, recognizing the man by his tone of voice and his behaviour, stood rooted in shock for a moment. This was Jimmy again…
Voice trembling slightly, Sam tried to get the panicked man's attention. "Jimmy? It's okay, man. It's me, Sam Winchester? You're going to be okay, you hear?" Taking a deep breath, Sam mentally cursed himself at the insecurity in his own voice. How was he to comfort Jimmy if he wasn't even sure himself? Sinking on the bed beside Jimmy, he gently took hold of his shoulders.
Finally, the man's eyes settled on the younger Winchester's face, blinking up at him. "S-Sam? Yeah…Dean's…brother…"
"It's all right, Jimmy. Try to keep still" Jimmy tried to focus on Sam, but his eyes started to droop again. Sighing in relief, Sam made to stand back up, when Jimmy's eyes once again flew open.
"Amelia…shot me! Oh my God…Claire…okay?" Sam frowned, remembering what happened the last time Castiel had left his vessel's body. Didn't Jimmy remember anything after that? He debated telling the man what had happened since, but quickly decided against it. It would have sounded crazy and unlikely to Jimmy when he was feeling well, but for his befuddled mind it would be impossible to grasp now. It would only lead to more panic. When he was better, they would tell him, but for now he had to stay calm first…
"Shhhhh, Jimmy, calm down. Your family's fine, they're safe now" Jimmy focused his blue eyed stare on him, the pupils blown wide, trying to understand. Sam couldn't help but feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Huh" he thought "Guess Cas learnt it from the best…"
Those blue eyes swiftly became unfocused again, the effort it took too much for the injured man. The emotions flew in quick succession over his face; pain, fear, distrust. Sam couldn't blame him, after all, last time he hadn't been too kind to the man. Sighing he tried again: "Jimmy, your family is safe. If you want I can try to contact them. But you've got to stay still, you hear. We think your back is broken…"
His body stilling at last, the man sighed in defeat "O-Okay" His breathing came out in short puffs, a rattle nearly audible with each one. The eyes, unfocused, blinked frequently, trying to fight the pull of unconsciousness... "I...feel...him" he whispered, the sound so soft, that Sam moved closer. "You mean? Castiel?" he asked gently, not wanting to make the man feel even more uncomfortable by sitting too close. After all, they hardly knew each other. They knew him only as Castiel, and that was a much different person than the man he was talking to now...
Jimmy nodded, glassy blue eyes once again searching out Sam's hazel ones. "Says...okay...Claire...wife okay...ugh..." His voice slowly evened out. "Castiel...sick...weak...Told...tell you..."
Startled, Sam pulled back a bit. He was surprised that Castiel and Jimmy were able to communicate with each other. But then again, they were linked together in this body. "Castiel is telling you that" Sam asked for confirmation, feeling a headache starting to grow behind his temples.
"Can't...alive...Need food...water...he stronger" Once again leaning closer to hear his words, Sam noticed the man's eyes were sliding closed, his voice trailing away. "It will be fine Jimmy, just hang on a bit longer. You're doing great. It's going to be okay, you hear?" Sam soothed, placing his hand on Jimmy's shoulder, offering comfort as the man groaned in pain and slowly slid back into unconsciousness...
XXX
Walking back inside the motel room, Dean's gaze landed on his brother's hand on the Angel's shoulder, sitting beside him on the bed. "You need some more time together Sammy. I could step back out you know!" Dean grinned as his brother shook his head, throwing a look his way. Placing the clean towels on the table next to the bed, he stretched, his spine audibly popping.
"Jimmy was conscious, Dean. The poor guy" Dean instantly became serious again. "What? Did he say anything? Did he mention Cas?"
"He was really out of it, Dean. I could only hear half sentences. I think he meant to say that Cas was no longer able to keep him alive; that we now had to take care of that until Cas was stronger again."
"You mean food, water, showers? Things like that?" Dean asked, sounding hesitant.
"Yeah, something like that Dean." Nodding, Dean sighed. "Well, let's start with cleaning him up then, wouldn't want him to stink up the place. Why don't you see if you can find a large bowl to put some water in? I think a trip to the bathroom will be a little too much for the big guy."
Sam nodded, walking to the cupboards to do just that. He knew Dean was nearly ready to fall face first on the bed, the cheerfulness too much of an act. After having spent so many years together on the road, he knew every habit his brother had, even the ones he denied having. But he just went along with it; leave it to his brother to lighten the mood in these situations. It would help them get through the night and hopefully so would Jimmy...
XXX
"The back of his head isn't looking that great, Dean" Sam had turned Jimmy on his side to take a better look at the wound on his skull. They had aimed a small bedside lamp at it, Dean trying to assess the damage after carefully cleaning the blood away.
"Yeah, I know, we should stitch it up. But what about the damage inside, huh? He probably has a concussion, maybe even worse. Combine that with his broken back, it equals problems to me!"
Sam aimed the lamp to get a better look at the man's head, not responding to his brother's outburst, irking him further. "Sam, you listening, dude? Checking Cas for head lice or something?"
Closing his eyes, Sam fought to keep his calm. "I'm thinking Dean! Take it easy all right…!"
A heavy silence settled between them for a moment…
"Cas said no hospital, Sammy. Maybe…" He was quickly interrupted by his younger brother. "Cas is sick Dean, look at him. He can't help Jimmy, he even said so! It's up to us to decide!" Dean ground his teeth together, the muscles in his jaw bunching together. "Well then Mr. Know-it-all, what are we going to decide?"
"I'm still trying to figure that out Dean."
"Well better think fast then!"
"Well, if you'd stop yelling at me for a sec, then maybe I'd be able to!"
Sighing, Dean placed the cloth he was holding in his hands back in the bowl, leaning back against the wooden back of the cheap motel chair. "Sammy…" Dean yawned loudly, leaning backwards with his chair, balancing it on its two back legs. "What Dean?" Sam questioned. "We could call Bobby to see if he maybe knows a doctor we can trust. That way we'll have both our ways…"
Looking up in surprise, Sam realised that could work.
"How about that dude that patched you up when you were real ill? John, Jane…what's his name?"
"Josh"
Dean smiled. "Yeah that's right. That dude was so cool. He gave me this I-pod he got out of the stomach of a six-year old. I think I still have it lying around the Impala somewhere. Totally awesome" Sam shook his head in exasperation, the whole thing still sounding rather disgusting to him. The fact that the I-pod still had been playing Justin Bieber even after being swallowed was just gross.
"Yeah, well, that's your opinion. The doc gave it to you for your birthday, right?" Dean laughed, a real laugh this time. "He cleaned it. And it still works fine!"
Their fighting and banter had awoken Jimmy once again. Consciousness coming before remembrance, he tried to lift his upper body. Pain shot through his body, his breathing hitched and his vision blackened again.
"Jimmy, calm down. Easy dude" Dean and Sam both dove towards the man, holding him down by the shoulders. The bowl with water toppled as Jimmy's hand slammed against it. Desperately trying to get hold of the flailing limbs, they couldn't prevent the little lamp from crashing to the ground, small blue sparks dancing across the red motel carpet.
"Jimmy! STOP!" Dean tried to get through to the frantic man.
"No…don't y-yell…please…" Jimmy tried to scream, sounding terrified, his hand connecting with Dean's jaw, tears streaming down his cheeks…
"Easy Jimmy…Try to stay still" Sam soothed, placing his hand on Jimmy's shoulder, trying to get eye contact. Dean had taken a step backwards, grabbing the first aid kit and the now empty bowl from the bed. The lamp was emitting a burning smell and Dean swiftly pulled the plug out of its socket before they would have to explain how they managed to set fire to the room. Meanwhile Jimmy seemed to calm down somewhat, or maybe he was just too exhausted to keep going on with screaming. He cried and moaned while Sam continued talking to him, until finally Jimmy seemed to recognise his surroundings at bit more.
Dean walked over to the door where he had hung his leather jacket. Ignoring the bloodstains on it, he pulled out his phone. "I'm gonna go call Bobby" he said to the room, turning to look at his brother, who looked back at him, the same desperate look on his face…
XXX
AN: Poor Jimmy…Just because an Angel is afraid of hospitals he should suffer. Then again, he'd be rather lonely in hospital. And who doesn't want to be taken care of by the Winchesters ;)
X
Josi
AN Aranna Undomiel:
Don't blame me for Jimmy's problems, I'm just translating…lol Thanks for the lovely reviews :D And I apologize for the tardiness of this chapter. Real life got me in somewhat of a chokehold, which made it difficult to find the time to translate it. Hope you enjoy!
