Disclaimers and warnings see chapter 1

Chapter 10 Crash

Sam looked over at his brother to see his head starting to dip down. He opened his mouth to tell Dean to pull over it was his turn to drive when Dean slumped into the steering wheel. The car pulled strongly to the right across the shoulder and through some small trees, twigs' really, not slowing the car at all. Sam stretched across and slammed his foot down on the break pedal. The car slammed to a stop and the engine stalled. Sam had braced himself with his arms on the dashboard but Dean had no such chance, the top of his head slamming forward into the steering wheel.
"Goddamn." yelled Sam pulling his unconscious brother back from the steering wheel and seeing his blood covered face.
Sam got out of his door moving around to Dean's side of the car and opened the door to check his brother over.
"Dean, wake up. Dean wake up, buddy. Come on, big brother wake up for me." He chanted as his hands moved over him.
He was breathing and had a strong pulse and looked like he was asleep rather than in a car accident. Except for the gash high on the right side of his forehead. Sam grabbed a bandage out of the first aid kit and wrapped Dean's head.

Sam surveyed the damage to the car, mainly damage to the bumper from the small trees. No real damage and drivable. Sam slid Dean over to the passenger side using his coat as a pillow for his head. Sam drove the car back on the road. She seemed none the worse for the small accident. Sam was more concerned about Dean and stopped at the next hospital he saw which was only a twenty minute drive from where the accident occurred. As Sam had to carry Dean into the ER, as he was still out cold, they took him in straight away. Sam filled in the relevant paperwork and called Bobby, to let him know they were delayed, while he waited.

An hour later Sam was called in by a nurse who took Sam to a cubicle where his brother was lying on a bed. A doctor in a white coat was bent over Dean and stood up as Sam approached and shook Sam's hand.
"Hello, I'm Dr Clark".
"Sam."
"So this is your brother?"
"Yes." Sam noted Dean had a dressing high on his forehead.
"Well Sam, we have noticed Dean already had stitches on his forehead. Can you tell me how he got those?"
"He was helping a friend with some moving and fell down some stairs." Well the stairs were true.
"I only ask because we are having trouble keeping your brother awake. If he was concussed when he fell down the stairs it maybe why he keeps falling back into unconsciousness. We have been waking him with smelling salts but he doesn't last long and is very confused. How long ago was the fall?"
"About three days. I think he did have a slight concussion. He fell asleep at the wheel that's how we ended up here today. It's very out of character for him to fall asleep while driving, he loves his car."

Dean would kill him for saying that but his health was more important at the moment.
"Mmm, well his new injuries are not as bad as they looked. Head injuries tend to bleed a bit and look scary."
Sam nodded sagely like he was learning something new.
"We have added nineteen stitches to his collection. We x-rayed his neck and back to be on the safe side but he was very lucky for them to come back clear. He will have a stiff neck for a few days and he will have a monster headache but he was pretty lucky considering. A concussion to add to the previous one. A nice big bump and bruise as well."
"So when can he leave?"
"I'd like him to stay overnight mainly because of the concussions and he is rather dehydrated so we will put him on a drip for a while. I'd really like to see him awake for more than a few minutes before we release him at any rate."
"Is there any chance I could stay with him overnight? He really doesn't like hospitals and he might freak out a bit if he is left alone."
"By all means. I will put a note on his chart that you can stay with him."
"Thanks."

A nurse entered and conferred with the doctor. He released the break on Dean's bed as another nurse came in and they wheeled the bed out the door. The doctor walked over to Sam.
"They are taking Dean upstairs level 2 ward C bed 2. Give them about ten minutes to get him settled and you should be all right to stay with him."
"Thanks again."
Sam shook the doctor's hand and walked outside to phone Bobby. He let him know not to come to the hospital but they would likely see him the next morning after Dean was released. Sam grabbed some food from the hospital cafeteria and walked up to Dean's room. It was a double room but the other occupant was missing at the moment and Sam had time to himself with Dean, not that it mattered because Dean was sleeping as he had been down in emergency.

Dean had a drip in and Sam noticed the skin around the new dressing was a darkening red and blue colour. Dean was dressed in hospital pajamas and looked small and tired. Sam held Dean's hand and found some old magazines to flick through. He watched TV as he spent his afternoon waiting around talking to Dean and stroking his arm. In the early evening Doctor Clark came in to check on Dean as he was concerned that he had not woken yet. He used smelling salts and some light slaps to bring Dean around.
"Hello Dean," said Doctor Clark.
"Sammy?" Dean mumbled.
Sam squeezed Deans hand but the doctor spoke before Sam could.
"Dean can you tell me where you are?"
"Whooo yooou?" Slurred Dean.
"I'm your doctor, Dean. Just wondering how your feeling?"
"Sammy?" Dean's half open eyes searched for his brother.
"Right here, Dean."

Sam tightened his grip on Dean's hand to show Dean he was with him. Dr Clark pulled out a light and shone it into Dean's eyes.
"Whoa ,nice warning doc." Dean flinched away from the light.
But the doctor had seen enough.
"Dean how many fingers am I holding up?"
"Not this game. Sammy why am I here?" Dean was slurring and looked at Sam rather than the doctor.
"Dean you were in a car accident. Do you remember it?" Dr Clark answered for Sam.
Sam sucked in a breath, 'way to bury the lead' he thought. Dean will freak out when he knows his baby's been damaged.
"Sammy you okay?" Dean asked trying to focus on Sam.
"Yeah, Dean I'm fine." He gave Dean's hand a squeeze.
"Good," slurred Dean he squeezed Sam's hand back and closed his eyes.
He fell to sleep within a second leaving the other men staring at him with their mouths open.

Dean stayed asleep all night and Sam slept fitfully at his side in the chair. The nursing staff must have been given instructions to check Dean every couple of hours, but the only one they were waking was Sam because an avalanche wouldn't have woken Dean and Sam had proof. The guy in the next bed snored like a friggin chainsaw. When the doctor on duty came around in the morning to check on Dean to see if he was ready for release, Sam did everything in his power to keep Dean awake for the few minutes they required so he could leave. The doctor was skeptical but allowed Sam to take him home telling Sam that Dean would need plenty of rest for a day or two. Sam helped Dean dress after the drip was taken out and was glad of the hospitals wheelchair policy for once because Dean was just about out again by the time they got to the Impala. Sam lay Dean down next to him on the front seat and Dean had his head on Sam's lap sleeping like a baby before they got back onto the main road.

TBC