Dangerous Times at Singer Salvage Ch. 11
John nervously looked at Judson after hearing him say that he had Sammy's test results. He was anxious to hear what the results had to say, but then he was also afraid the news would be something that he didn't want to hear. Judson called him out into the hallway so he could tell him the results of the test privately.
"John the tests have confirmed that Sammy is indeed in the beginning stages of liver failure."
John's face turned a chalky white as it lost all color upon hearing those words. He grasped the wall beside him to support himself as his legs became weak and he raised a trembling hand to grasp the side of his head.
"Oh God, what's going to happen to my baby?" John was able to gasp out though his mouth had suddenly become parched. He was beginning to get nauseated and felt sweat beading up on his forehead. He looked up and down the hall to locate the nearest bathroom in case of an emergency.
Judson could see how much stress the news was having on John so he put a calming hand on his shoulder and said "John, let me finish." John took a deep breathe and exhaled slowly then nodded for Judson to continue.
"As I said, Sammy is in the beginning stages of liver failure, BUT with the proper medicines and treatment, Sammy will be just fine. We're going to start Sammy on some antiviral medicines which will stop the attack on Sammy's liver. I also plan to start him on a round of steroids to help build his system up to handle the fight he is about to start."
Judson then went on to say. "As long as Sammy gets a well balanced diet that is loaded with vitamin and mineral supplements, he will be a healthy child once again. He will just need semi-annual check ups to make sure that his liver doesn't deteriorate any further."
Judson gave John a few minutes to assimilate everything that he had been told. He watched as the color returned to John's face and could see him visibly relaxing just a little as he took deep calming breaths. Judson then looked at his friend and said "Do you have any questions for me about what I've just said?"
John thought for a moment and said. "You've explained everything pretty well, but I do have one question for you. Will there be any side effects to the medicines that Sammy will be taking?"
"I'm glad you asked that" said Judson. "The steroids that Sammy will be taking could cause him to become rather cranky and he will most likely have body aches and pains for a few weeks as his system adjusts to the new medicines."
John thanked Judson for all he had done and walked back into the boys room to tell the others about Sammy's test results.
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Afternoon quickly turned into evening signaling the end of visiting hours. Bobby and Joshua promised to return in the morning with coffee and breakfast for John.
As John was left alone with his two boys, he settled down in a chair between their beds feeling the need to be close to both of them. He stretched out in his chair and flipped through the magazine that Joshua had left behind. Before long, his eyelids grew heavy and he was lulled into sleep by the beeping sounds of the machines that were monitoring his sons progress and vital signs.
Later that night
John was awakened abruptly by a shrill beeping sound. It took him a moment to get his thoughts together only for him to realize that Dean was desperately struggling to breathe. He was making the worst wheezing sounds that John had ever heard and his chest was heaving as he tried to get in what little air he could.
Just as John was about to yell out in panic, a nurse came running into the room to determine the cause of the alarms coming from the Winchester room. It took her only a second to ascertain that Dean was in respiratory distress and he was slowly asphyxiating from the fluids that had built up in his lungs. As she quickly got some materials ready, she called for Dr. Gillian Kennedy, the doctor who was on call for the night, to join her in the room and informed her about Dean's condition.
Dr Kennedy quickly went to work threading a tube down Deans throat and suctioned out the fluids that had built up over the course of the evening. She listened intently as Dean continued his struggle to breathe after having the fluids removed. Not liking what she was hearing, she turned to John with a grim expression on her face.
"Mr. Winchester, I am going to have to intubate Dean, his lungs are just too weak right now and he can't get enough oxygen into his lungs to sustain him. The ventilator will help him to breathe, keeping his oxygen saturation levels up until Dean starts breathing better on his own."
John was completely stunned into silence by the news. His brain refused to think about the words that the doctor had just said. There was no way both his sons could be so ill. He just stared off into space, completely dumbfounded wondering how things could take such a devastating turn of events in so short a time. He was shaken out of his almost near catatonic state when Dr. Kennedy gripped his shoulders giving him a little shake. "Mr. Winchester, do you understand what I have just told you?"
"Uh yeah" was all that John could manage to stutter out in his bewildered state. He watched astonished as his son was hooked up to the ventilator that would deliver the oxygen that Dean now needed to survive.
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Bobby and Joshua arrived at the hospital the next morning with breakfast in hand. As they walked into the room, they were completely aghast at the sight that met them. Dean had a tube running down his throat which was hooked up to a machine that pumped oxygen into the kid's lungs. The kid was a pale as some of the ghosts that they hunted and he had dark shadows under his closed eyes. They looked up at John to see him sitting by Dean's bed with large tears rolling down his face as he stroked Dean's cheek. Joshua walked over to John to and rested his hand on John's shoulder to provide what little moral support he could.
"The kid's gonna be alright John. Just you wait and see. He's a Winchester, and there isn't anything that can hold him down for long."
Those words seemed to help John get some of his resolve back. "You're right Joshua. My boy IS a fighter and he WILL beat this thing hands down." John then looked at Dean and said, "You hear that son? You show this bug what you are made off and you kick its ass. I know you can do it, if not for yourself, then for Sammy. He needs you too Dean."
As John was talking to Dean, he heard the sounds of rustling coming from Sammy's bed. He walked over to see his youngest son open his eyes and then glance around the room. Sammy struggled to sit up and cried out in pain when he tried to move. John walked over to gently help Sammy sit up but stopped when Sammy cried out even more. "Owwie Daddy, no touch Sammy, it hurts."
John ached for the little boy knowing that it was a side effect of the medicine that Sammy was on. He was going to feel achy a lot until his little body adjusted to the medicines. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to hurt you." He gently cupped Sammy's cheek with his palm and kissed him on the forehead.
Sammy was still hurting and he knew who could make it better. "Daddy, I wants Deanie. He always makes me feel better. Tell Deanie come get in Sammy's bed."
John looked at Bobby and Joshua with alarm in his eyes. He wasn't sure how much he should tell Sammy. Sammy couldn't see Dean from his bed because the curtain was pulled between their beds to keep Sammy from being frightened when he saw him.
Trying to give John a little time to decide what he should say, Bobby walked over to Sammy's bed. "Hey kiddo, want me to tell you a story?"
He knew how much the kid loved hearing stories that Dean told him so he was hoping to divert Sammy's attention from Dean for just a little while.
"Uh huh" said Sammy, tell me the story about The Fhree Bears. I likes baby bear cause his name is Sammy too. He's just like me."
Bobby then proceeded to tell the story to Sammy making him giggle at the way he used a gruff voice for papa bear, a sugary sweet, high pitched voice for mama bear, and a squeaky mouse-like voice for Sammy bear.
As Bobby finished telling the story, Sammy called out, "Deanie, did you hear Uncle Bobby telling the story. He so funny."
John looked at Sammy and gently took his hand so he wouldn't cause him any pain. "Dean couldn't hear the story Sammy. The doctors have him sleeping right now so he can get better."
"That's okay" said Sammy "You can pick him up and put him in my bed Daddy. I pwomise I let him sleep."
John hated having to tell Sammy what he was about to say. "Sammy, Deanie can't stay with you right now. He is having trouble breathing so the doctor had to put something in his throat to help him breathe. He has to stay in his own bed right now"
Sammy looked at John with tears flowing down his face. "Please Daddy. I needs him." Sammy was sobbing so hard that his little chest was heaving as he reached out for his father. "Please Daddy, please bring me my brudder, I need him real bad."
TBC
Sorry, for the wait. I meant to have this chapter posted last night.
