Fighting to Breathe Ch. 6
Disclaimer: I do not own the Winchester boys or anything else recognizable in this story. Nope, not making a profit either, just doing this for fun!!
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Previously: Pulling a chair up beside the bed, he reached out and grasped Sam's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "I'm here for you tiger, everything is going to be okay."
Sitting at his brother's side, Dean couldn't help but think that it should have been him lying in that bed instead of Sammy. He was the one that should have been speared in the chest by the al-mi'raj's horn. "Sammy, why did you do it? Why did you throw yourself between me and that damn rabbit?" He whispered as he carded his fingers through Sam's hair. "I'm the big brother. I'm the one supposed to be protecting you."
Scrubbing a hand though his own hair, he shivered at the sounds coming from within the ICU room, the whoosh-click of the ventilator, the beeping of the heart monitor, the sound of the BP cuff inflating itself at five to ten minute intervals, all sounds indicating that Sammy was fighting for his life. God he hated hospitals, but that hate increased tenfold when he was forced to stand on the sidelines and watch Sammy struggle for life. "Come on kiddo, you've got to fight this, you've got to wake up. I'm going crazy here man." He watched for any signs that Sammy had heard him, just a slight twitch or anything but his baby brother remained still an unresponsive.
Feeling a desperate need for coffee, Dean stood up and squeezed his brother's hand. "I'll be right back tiger." He stated as he walked to the door and looked over at Sam one more time before leaving the room. He felt immense guilt about leaving Sammy alone, even for just a few minutes. Bt if he didn't get some caffeine soon, he was going to lose it. Walking down the hall, he really wanted to reach out and punch something to release some angst, but getting himself kicked out of the hospital by security wouldn't help things and would only serve to keep him from the one person he swore to protect.
Taking the elevator down to the basement level, he entered the cafeteria and ordered a strong cup of black coffee and then sat down at one of the tables by the window. Glancing outside, he saw the ominous dark clouds that were building in the evening sky and he marveled out how well they matched his mood making him feel even more somber. Taking a sip of the steaming hot brew to try and clear his thoughts, he heard the sounds of AC/DC's Highway to Hell emanating from his cell phone. Pulling the phone from the pocket of his leather jacket, he saw the name Bobby highlighted on the face dial.
"Hey Bobby." Dean stated wearily upon flipping open the cell phone and placing it to his ear.
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Sitting at his kitchen table and surrounded by research, Bobby was positive that he had found a nest of vampires who had taken up residence in the small town of Sandusky, Iowa. There were just too many unexplained deaths where the victims had been found with puncture wounds in their necks. Add that to the rash of nighttime violence, it all added up to the dreaded creatures of the night.
Knowing that they had to be stopped, Bobby thought about the different hunters that were close to the area. Ben Tarver was out that way, but he was currently involved with hunting a bearwalker and Stan Winslow was involved in hunting a selkie. The only other logical choice had to be Dean and Sam Winchester. The last he heard, the boys were in Missouri so they would be the perfect candidates for the hunt since they were only a state away.
Picking up one of the various phones that hung on the wall, he called a number he knew by heart. He smirked as he heard the Highway to Hell song playing while waiting for Dean to answer. The idjit always did like his rock music. All thoughts of the hunt flew out of his mind however when he heard the weariness and anxiety in Dean's voice as he said "Hey Bobby."
"Dean, what happened, is something wrong?" Bobby queried clutching the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white in the process. "Did something happen to Sammy?" All he heard was the sound of silence and he wondered if the connection had been broken. He was about to hang up and try again when he heard Dean's shaky voice come across the line once again.
"Sammy's hurt Bobby, he's uh, he's in the Intensive Care Unit fi-fighting for his li-life right now." Dean sobbed as he finally allowed himself to break down.
"What the hell happened?" Bobby yelled loudly and then winced realizing how that must have made Dean feel. He didn't need to put more pressure on the kid, it was obvious he was already under enough strain as it was. "Sorry Ace, I didn't mean to yell at ya. What happened and why didn't you call me?"
"Sorry Bobby, with everything that's happened to Sammy, I just didn't think…my mind's not functioning right now ya know."
"S'okay kid, just tell me what the hell happened." Bobby stated needing to know what happened to the youngest Winchester. Those boys were like his own children and he couldn't stand the thought of one of them being hurt and in pain, much less fighting for their very life.
Finding a quiet corner where people wouldn't overhear him. Dean said, "We were hunting an al-mi'raj. The thing somehow got the drop on me and Sammy threw himself in front of it. He sacrificed himself for me Bobby" Dean informed the older hunter as he swiped the tears from his face with his shirt sleeve.
"I thought those damn things were just a legend, they were supposed to have been eradicated over a century ago." Bobby voiced in surprise.
"Yeah, well obviously they weren't." Dean replied with a sigh as he looked at his watch. "Listen Bobby, I gotta get back up there to Sammy. He's been alone long enough."
"Sure Dean, I understand, but before you go, tell me which hospital you boys are at."
"We're at St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Bantonsville, Missouri." Dean replied.
"I'm on my way Ace, I'll get there as soon as I can. You just take care of yourself and that brother of yours until I can get there son." Bobby informed the fatigued hunter.
"Thanks Bobby, we'll uh, see ya soon." Dean said before breaking the connection. He was ecstatic to know the man was coming, he really could use Bobby's support right now."
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Walking back up to Sam's room, Dean entered to see Janice standing beside his brother's bed with a tympanic thermometer placed into Sammy's right ear. "So-something wrong?" Dean inquired fearfully as he heard the instrument emit a small beep.
Glancing at the readout on the instrument first, Janice looked up and Dean and said, "Sam's running a slight fever. Hopefully it's just a side effect from the strain his body went through with the surgery."
"But if it's not?" Dean questioned knowing that from the look on Janice's face that it wouldn't be too good.
"Dean, I really shouldn't say anything. I'm not a doctor and I'm not qualified to say …"
"But you have an idea of the things that could happen. Please Janice, I need to know what my brother could be looking at." Dean pleaded as he forced a smile in Janice's direction.
"It could be any number of things really. With a lung injury like Sam's, pneumonia is always a major worry. His lungs are too weak right now to handle any fluid build up, there's also bronchitis, and in the worst case scenario, septicemia or sepsis. We just have to pray that the temperature is Sam's body's way of dealing with all the trauma he has gone through." Janice answered.
"Sonuva…" Dan mumbled as he scrubbed a hand across his face, a five o'clock shadow beginning to show. "Thanks for being honest with me Janice." Dean stated even though the nurses words now had him scared to death about the things that could go wrong.
"You're welcome, I'll be checking in approximately every thirty minutes to check his temperature and to see how he's doing." Janice informed Dean before patting Sam on his blanket covered foot and walking out the door.
Watching as the nurse left once again, Dean walked into the small bathroom and grasped one of the white fluffy washcloths from the small shelf. Rinsing it under the cold water coming from the tap, he wrung out the excess water and carried it into Sam's room and began to wipe down his baby brother's fevered skin. "Bobby's on his way Sam., he should be here be here sometime early tomorrow morning. You know it would be kind of rude for you not to be awake and welcome him so how about opening those blue-green peepers of yours, what do you say dude?
Seeing no reaction, Dean continued his ministrations hoping to cool Sammy down. He knew the nurse said Sam only had a slight fever right now, but he knew just how bad that could be for someone who was in the ICU and on life support. Folding the damp cloth into thirds, Dean placed the washcloth on his brother's forehead and then palmed his cheek. "That's okay kiddo, you get some rest. I'm sure you'll be more willing to open your eyes in the morning."
Snagging the chair off to the side with his foot, Dean pulled it up beside his baby brother's bed and the grasped him by the hand. "Sammy, you and I are going to have a talk once you get out of here about putting yourself in the path of danger. I know you were trying to protect me tiger, but you have no idea what it does to me to see you like this. The guilt is eating me up man. It's my fault you were hurt and there's nothing I can do to change that, nothing I can do to make you better." Dean voiced with a soft sob.
Feeling exhaustion overtake him, Dean lay his crossed arms on Sam's bed and used them to pillow his tired head. Closing his eyes, he wished he could block out the noise of the ventilator as it continued it's whoosh-clicking sound. He was nearly asleep when he heard the whisper soft squeak of shoes entering into the room. Sitting up and rubbing his red rimmed eyes, he noticed Janice doing something to Sam's IV port
"Sorry Dean, I didn't mean to wake you. Dr. Kelly has ordered a fever reducer for Sam and I'm adding it to his IV medication. I'll be out of your way in just a minute." Janice stated feeling badly about having woke the older brother. It was obvious that he was beyond exhausted and needed to get some sleep.
Seeing Janice and hearing her calming voice, Dean instantly relaxed and pillowed his head on his arms once again knowing that Sam wasn't in any danger. He allowed himself to drift off to sleep once again and never noticed when Janice placed a blanket over his shoulders to help keep him warm throughout the night.
TBC