Thank you once again for all your beautiful and overwhelming comments. This is what keeps me going. It took a little longer to update this time but you all know life doesn't stop for Supernatural, even though it really should.

Standard Disclaimer applies, the boys still don't belong to me, if they would, I promise I would share them with all of you!

The sirens of the ambulance seemed unusually loud from the moment Bobby first heard them but considering the size of the town, the fire station was most likely just down the block. It took only another moment before the the vehicle to come to a stop in front of the building and another one for the first paramedic to run into the room.

He assessed the situation with one look, then turned towards the door and called out, "Ben, we need the O2 in here asap! Oh and bring a mask!"

Moving back towards the bed, he attached a pulse oximeter to one Sam's finger, then turned to Bobby, "Hi, my name is Tony, how long has he been like this?"

"Not sure, I found him less than 15 minutes ago but I've been told that he was already pretty sick several hours ago."The older man was still sitting on the bed, holding on to his friend's limp body.

Now the other paramedic, a kid that looked to be around Sam's age, hurried in with a gurney and portable oxygen tank. He opened the flow and then applied the mask to his patient's face, securing it behind his head with an elastic strap.

"Sir, would you help us lean him forward, so I can listen to his lungs?" he asked, while already taking Sam's other arm.

The older hunter remained quiet but gently put his hand underneath Sam's arm and together they pulled him forward until his head rested listlessly against Bobby's shoulder. While the medic moved his stethoscope down his patients back, Sam's breathing was becoming more labored, his lips still bluish even with the oxygen on.

"His oxygen levels are still only 81." The older of the two was clearly concerned, "I'm turning the O2 up to 6 L."

He exchanged a worried glance with his partner. While he adjusted the flow meter on the tank, the other man secured a cuff around the Sam's arm and checked his blood pressure.

"His pressure is a little on the low side but he looks like he is quite dehydrated from the fever, so it's not really surprising. Let's get him moved to the gurney and into the unit so we can start an IV."

Bobby was ready to take Sam's upper body, but Tony stopped him. "Sir, we got him, why don't you make sure the oxygen tubing is out of our way."

Watching the professionalism with which they moved the unconscious man onto the gurney, Bobby was well aware that his help was not needed. To let him handle the tubing was merely to give him the feeling of usefulness. Still, he was grateful, seeing John Winchester's youngest in this much distress was difficult to handle at best.

He followed the gurney out and watched it being moved into the ambulance. The older medic then turned to him.

"Sir, we are going to start an IV line and call the doc for some med orders. Why don't you drive ahead to the hospital and meet us there. Do you need directions?"

He hesitated for a moment, feeling the need to not let Sam out of his sight but when his thoughts wandered to Dean, he decided against it, "No, I know where it is."

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Brenda Parker sat at her desk and finished some of the paper work that was so bothersome but had to be done. She still remembered the times when being a nurse was only about the patient, now it seemed to become more and more about the papers. Yet she prided herself in the fact that Mercy was a place where patients still counted more than documents.

It had been fairly busy for a midweek afternoon but things had settled down now. Usually it was the other way around, patients came in after the physician's offices closed.

The nurse's mind wandered to the phone conversation she had earlier with Bobby Singer. She really hoped he would be able to find the kid that had been so seriously ill. If she just would be able to do more herself but short of calling the police there was nothing else.

She was ready to pick up the phone and dial his number again, when Dr. Connell walked out from the emergency area.

"Brenda, I just got a call on the radio. They are bringing Sam Winchester in shortly. Right now they are starting an IV line, I gave orders to start him on some normal saline and give him a breathing treatment on the way here. They should be here in about 10 minutes."

"Thank God!" the nurse was grateful for the news.

"I have them get room 4 ready for him and already called x-ray, they can do pictures in the room. I don't want to get him down there, I got a feeling that we will have our hands full trying to stabilize him."

Brenda nodded, "I'll take care of Mr. Singer when he shows up. I bet he'll want to see his other nephew also."

Watching the younger woman leave again, her attention was distracted by the sudden opening of the door. The man that stormed in had the appearance of someone of a mission.

"Mr. Singer?" She walked toward him.

"Yes, you must be Nurse Parker."

Although he liked the warmth in her voice when he spoke to her on the phone earlier, the hunter was not a man to trust easily and took a second to size up the woman in front of him. The outward appearance was that of an early fifties woman with light brown hair with few strands of gray woven through it and a feminine but somewhat athletic build. She was approximately of his height. Otherwise fairly plain looking her most prominent feature were her striking golden brown eyes and the expression on her face that showed genuine interest and caring.

"Everyone around here calls me Brenda."

"Ok Brenda, I'm Bobby, they should be bringing Sam in any minutes. He is in pretty rough shape."

Noting the worry on his face, she assured him "We already received the notice, Dr. Connell is ready for him. I promise you she is very capable and will take good care of him."

She could tell that her words didn't fully convince him, yet he still gave her a smile.

"Thanks, I'm just really worried about him and also his brother. Which brings me to my next questions, what did Dean's tests show?"

Putting her hand on his arm, she said, "Why don't I take you to our intensive care unit, I'll tell you on the way."

"Is he alright?" Bobby wasn't sure how much more he could take in one day.

Walking him along, the nurse started to explain, "His scan showed a small bleed. It looks like it stopped by itself but there is same swelling in his brain. Dr. Connell consulted with one of the neurosurgeons at the University Hospital in Iowa City and started him on some IV medication to bring the pressure down. His other injury is a fractured tibia. Thats one of the bones in the lower leg."

She looked at the man beside her but continued walking.

"So how serious is this?" at this point the hunter wasn't sure if he really wanted to know the answer.

"It depends, if there is no further bleeding and the swelling goes down he should be ok. We have him scheduled for another scan tomorrow morning. If there are any complication we will have him air vac'd to the University. His leg is a simple fracture, it is in a brace right now. After he wakes up we will have one of the orthopedic surgeon evaluate him and determine the best option for treatment."

She stopped in front of a door and opened it, "We are here!"

Guiding him into the room, she gave him an encouraging nod, "Bobby, I'm sure Dean is going to be alright, why don't you spend some time with him, while I check if they have brought Sam in. I will get you as soon as I find out how he is doing."

Giving him another smile she left the room.

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Bobby looked at the quiet form in the bed in front of him, halfway expecting him to open his eyes and cracking one of his crooked grins. It seemed too surreal for the younger hunter not to always be on the move. Although both boys were very active, Dean sometimes seemed to border on ADHD. Especially when he was worried about his kid brother.

Checking the monitor keeping track of the younger man's vital signs, his long experience of treatinghis own and other fellow hunter's injuries and illnesses made him breath easier. Sitting down, he looked at the younger man's way too pale face.

"What in the world did you two get yourselves into this time?"

It was a rhetorical question to which he didn't expect an answer, so he was even more surprised by the slits of green eyes looking back at him.

"Dean, hey, good to see you awake."

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The darkness that surrounded him felt like a velvet blanket, keeping him warm and weightless. There was a distant remembrance of pain and sickness in the back of his mind. A feeling that he really didn't want to go back to. But there was also something else, something that to him. Or maybe it was some

one. The answer was close to him and yet just out of reach and the softness of the dark was too comforting to let go of just yet.

But now there were noises pushing their way into his mind, noises he couldn't and didn't want to identify. He wanted to wave them off, tell them to go away until he heard a familiar voice speaking.

"What in the world did you get yourselves into this time?"

His eyes opened but immediately closed again half way due to the brightness assaulting his senses.

"Bobby?"

His foggy brain tried to grab on to what was going on. When the fog cleared enough, he let out a gasp.

"Sam is sick, Bobby, he needs help."

He attempted to sit up but the older hunter pushed him back down in the pillow before he could get anywhere.

"It's ok, you don't have to worry about Sam. They are checking him out right now!"

He hoped Dean wouldn't ask any more questions about his brother. He really didn't want to tell him about the seriousness of Sam's illness, not before he was sure the younger hunter wouldn't suffer any complications from his own injuries.

It turned out his worries had been premature because at least for now the older Winchester seemed content with the knowledge that Sam was being taken care of. His eyes closed again and he went back to sleep within seconds.

Standing for a more minutes Bobby watched Dean's unusually peaceful face. Then he left the room to notify someone of their patient's short bout of consciousness. Returning after a few minutes with one of the nurses in tow, he watched her assess the young man. After she she finished, he settled back into his previous seat.

For a while he was lost in thought, waiting anxiously for any news about the younger Winchester. But the soothing sounds of Dean's steady breathing,combined with the restlessness of the last few days finally lulled him into sleep. It was not until he felt a gently tuck on his shoulder that he startled awake.

Jumping up he found himself face to face with a tall woman, who looked to be in her late twenties. The name on her lab coat identified her as Dr. Patricia Connell. She smiled at him, yet from the serious expression on her face he was certain the news she had couldn't be good.

TBC

Some explanations for those who don't know. I always make the assumption every one knows what I do but meaning that not every one works in the medical field, here it is.

ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Pulse Oximeter – Device to clip on finger or toes to measure oxygen level in the blood

O2 – chemical formula for oxygen and used as short version for it in the medical field

Normal oxygen levels for a person are between 96 and 100, if the level is below 90 you usually have to wear oxygen to bring the concentration you are breathing in up. A mask will provide more oxygen than a cannula.

Please review and let me know what you think. I promise the next chapter will tell you more about how Sam is doing. Hugs, Vonnie