One Hundred Days
Disclaimer: see chapter one
S—D
Chapter Eleven
Then:
The technician stared at the two men walking with Doctor Tom Gardiner and hissed under his breath, he never thought that he would see those two again. Especially the retard. He had enjoyed playing with him until his bigger younger brother turned up and made it into a fight.
He glanced down the hallway a few times and then hurried off to hover around the good doctor's office; he wanted to find out if the retard was going to be back in here as a patient. He remembered the whimpering and wailing as he flicked him with the tubing and pinched and slapped him. It was as if it was meant to happen for him, after the grief the younger one caused him last time, it was his chance for retribution.
Now:
Memorial Hospital
Grangeville Kentucky
Tom looked at the brothers and couldn't help but smile at them, especially when Dean started to pull faces at Sam behind his back. 'Ah Sam would you like to go and get some coffee and stretch your legs? Dean'll be fine here for a few minutes.'
'You sure Doc Tom?' Sam frowned, the thought of having five minutes to himself was just so tempting but on the other hand, he didn't want Dean to think that he was abandoning him.
'Can ya get me one too please Sammy?' Dean gave him his own version of puppy dog eyes making Sam smile openly for the first time in a long time.
'Sure Dean ... doughnut or pie?'
'Um pie please,' Dean grinned cheekily, 'cherry?'
'I'll see what they have ... Doc Tom while I'm doing a coffee and pie run would you like some too?'
'Coffee would be great thanks Sam, but take your time I think Dean and I will be able to amuse ourselves.' Tom grinned and winked at his co-conspirator.
'Okay I'll be back soon.' Sam laughed and patted Dean's shoulder on the way out, he was so happy that they decided to do this; Dean seemed to be relaxing even more in the doctor's presence.
Once Sam had left Dean's grin faded slightly and suddenly he found his shoes very interesting. Tom sat quietly for a moment watching his former patient and then cleared his throat. 'So how about we get the pesky check up done first?'
'More poking and prodding?' Dean screwed his nose up and absently scratched at his new scars.
'Fist we'll check the scars.' Tom chuckled and nodded over to the exam table, 'want to hop up?'
'You don't want me to strip off?'
'Nope just your shoes unless your feet stink too much.'
'Dude!' Dean shook his head in mock horror and slipped his boots off, 'thanks Doc.'
'What for?'
'Letting me come back, I didn't like them others, they made me feel dumb.' Dean said glancing up at the doctor, 'they talked to Sam but not me.'
'That's not really fair is it?'
'Nope ... hey doc easy on the pushing, Brain Injury Man here.'
'Sorry.' Tom swallowed down on his rising laughter and continued to check the scars closely, 'have you had any headaches?'
'Ah yeah kind of.'
'How bad on a scale of one to ten?'
'Umm bout seven.'
'How about your eyes? Any double vision? Trouble reading or seeing into the distance?'
'Hmmm nope and nope and nope.'
'How about bright light?'
'Hate that.' Dean shivered and tried to pull away from Tom, 'when's Sammy coming back?'
'Soon ... Dean? Talk to me, tell me what's wrong?'
'Don' like bright light,' Dean pouted, 'hurts.'
'That's okay son, I promise no big bright lights here.'
'Thanks Doc Tom.'
'So can you turn your head around to your right? Excellent, now your left? Excellent how about looking up and down? Well done Dean.' Tom enthused, 'okay I want you to take my fingers in your hands and squeeze as hard as you can.'
'Don' wanna hurt ya doc.' Dean smirked as he squeezed Tom's fingers as hard as he could. After that Tom finished doing the basic neurological tests with Dean he did a quick over all check up with blood pressure, lung sounds, glands, and so on lastly he checked his weight and then started to prep to take a blood sample.
'Aw do ya hafta?' Dean whinged when he saw the needle, 'honestly?'
'Sorry Dean but it's only one just wanna check that your oiled properly!'
'Eww doc I aint the impala.' Dean laughed and then realised that the blood test was all over and he never felt a thing.
'Okay Dean you can take a seat and put your shoes back on,' Tom said as he wrote on the vial's label and placed it all in the collection bag, surreptitiously he checked his watch and frowned, he was sure Sam would have been back before now. 'So Dean how you doin' really?'
'Okay guess, sometimes I – I feel ...'
'Feel what Dean?' Tom prompted him after his hesitation.
'Feel dumb, feel like a dumb kid...'
'You know that you're not.'
'Yeah I guess.'
'Dean what is it? What's really wrong?'
'I wanna be Sammy's big brother again, not the dumb retard brother.' Dean dropped his gaze to the floor and started to twist and work the hole in his jeans with his fingers, 'when's Sammy coming back?'
'Not sure but he shouldn't be too much longer.' Tom said and then cleared his throat again, 'Dean?'
'Yeah Doc?'
'How would you feel if I organised you a therapist to work with you, at home or here to help with the things that your struggling with?'
'Don't wanna be shrinkified!' Dean cried out horrified.
'No, no not that kind of therapist.'
'What kind then?' Dean stared at the doctor his eyes dark with suspicion.
'This kind of therapist is an occupational therapist, they help you to relearn what you already know and sometimes help teach you some new ways to do the things that you do have trouble with.'
'Will they make me ... me again?'
'They'll help Dean I promise.' Tom said trying to sound more positive than he felt although Dean's tests showed a vast improvement to what the surgeons had in their reports. 'Just some simple things to work with, like some exercises to get your muscles working properly again, and to help with things like your dexterity.'
'Dex...what...ity?'
'Dexterity, so you can pick small things up again, moving without trouble or losing your balance things like that.'
'Ah cool.'
'Then some reading, writing and comprehension skills.'
'So I can use the puter again?'
'Yes I think so.'
'Okkies but only if Sammy says it's okay.'
'Sure, hey why don't we go and find that brother of yours I think he's gotten himself lost.'
'Probably hiding from the hot nurses.' Dean sniggered as he followed the doctor out of his office.
S—D
A little earlier:
Sam closed the office door and for a moment leant against the wall and heaved a tired sigh, he could hear Dean's laughter filtering through and Sam smiled again. Scrubbing his hands across his face he pulled away from the wall and stretched his long limbs wearily, coffee was sounding better and better.
Sauntering down the corridor towards the hospital cafeteria Sam pulled his cell phone out and gave Bobby a quick call, letting him know that they got there okay and that Dean was talking to Tom now, hanging up he paused watching a commotion start in the ER. His curiosity getting the better of him he headed towards the ambulance area where an unconscious man was being wheeled into the hospital.
'Dad?' Sam gasped staggering slightly when he saw the familiar face, 'oh God Dad?'
'Sir please...' A nurse tried to move Sam out of the way but he stood firm and stared down at the unconscious form of John Winchester.
'No, no please he's my dad.' Sam protested glancing from his dad to the nurse blocking him, 'what happened?'
'He was found lying outside the ambulance bay by security, with nothing but jeans on and no identification, are you sure he is your dad?'
'Yeah, yeah his name is John …Singer.'
'Singer? Oh your Dean's brother Sam?' the nurse blushed and smiled up at the distraught young man, 'I'm so sorry I didn't recognise you earlier we heard that your dad went missing.'
'That's okay ... oh God...'
'What is it Sam?'
'This was how, the same people who hurt Dean I think that they're the ones who did that to dad.' Sam cried out, the shock hitting him hard he felt his knees start to buckle as they wheeled his father away behind the cubicle curtains.
Nurse Jo Randall stared at Sam for a few seconds and then taking his arm guided him to a chair gently she pushed his head between his knees and went to get a drink for him.
'Thanks.' Sam mumbled taking the sweetened juice from her and sipped it, 'I – I dunno what...'
'Hey it's okay ... I would have been more surprised if you hadn't had any reaction to seeing your dad like that.'
'Thanks again.' Sam sat back and took a deep breath as black spots danced in his vision.
'So Sam how come you're here anyway? Is Dean alright?'
'Huh? Oh yeah he's with Doctor Tom Gardiner having a check up.' Sam smiled wanly, 'I – I was just going for coffee while the Doc gave him a once over.'
'In the doctor's office?'
'Yeah.'
'Okay so why don't you go and get your coffees and as soon as I have news on your dad I'll come and find you.' Jo smiled and gave Sam's shoulder a squeeze, 'but stay put until you feel well enough.'
'Thanks again Nurse Randall.'
'Jo please Sam and it's fine I'm happy to help.' Jo smiled sweetly and tried to keep her eyes from roaming over that long hard body. 'Oh I think that the police will probably want to talk to you, they've already been notified.'
'Ah okay I'll be in the doctor's office.' Sam stood up, waited for the dizziness to subside and then gave Jo a full dimpled smile, 'thanks for your help Jo.'
Staggering slightly Sam turned to stare at the cubicle where his dad lay so close and yet he may as well have been miles away, and then he headed towards the cafeteria again feeling once again like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
S—D
Lost in his thoughts, Sam ordered the pie and coffees and waited for them patiently sipping on a bottle of water. People milled around him but he took no notice of them; he was unable to get the image of his father's battered face out of his mind, how am I gonna tell Dean?
A man slunk into the cafeteria and watched his new prey, he knew that he couldn't get to the retard but the brother; he would be just the thing to smoke out his true objective.
Watching the tall young man carefully, he noticed that he was seriously pre-occupied which worked in his favour even more. Taking note of what Winchester ordered, he quickly plotted out where the best place would be to make his move.
Slipping out of the crowded public area, he moved towards the quieter part of the corridors leading towards the doctor's offices suite, he knew from following Sam that he would have to pass this way again. He palmed the syringe carefully, smirking with how easy it was to lift off the medications trolley while the nurse was busy. He knew enough to recognise the name of the strong sedative. Pulling the cap off he had it ready and waiting, with his free hand he wiped the sweat from his eyes and glanced around the corner, the hunched over figure just appearing in view when he did so.
'Game on.' He muttered and readied himself, he felt his heart pounding in anticipation, the sweat beading on his face and running down his back testament to his hyper-state of excitement. Moments later he watched as Sam walked passed him, juggling the three coffees and box of pie.
Holding his breath, he lunged plunging the needle into the base of Sam's neck, only letting his breath free when he caught Sam as he collapsed, hooking his arms in Sam's armpits he dragged him out of the corridor and into the empty room where he had a gurney ready.
He left his victim for only a moment to clean the spilled coffees and pie box and dropped them into the bin before hurrying back to Sam. Quickly, he used the restraints on the brother who once manhandled him for using them on his retard brother. A smile formed on his face as he thought of the retribution he was going to mete out on the younger Winchester.
'You're mine now, I'll teach you to get me suspended and on charges I had to fight.' He snarled as he pulled the restraints tighter than they should be, and then fastened an extra restraint over Sam's chest and then again one across his knees. Finally, he pushed a cloth into Sam's mouth and sealed his lips with a piece of surgical tape and then covered it up with an oxygen mask. A white sheet covered his immobilised prisoner and finished the effect; now he just looked as though he was taking a patient to the labs for tests.
S—D
'Hey Doctor Gardiner, nice to see you again Dean.' Nurse Jo Randall smiled as brightly as she could when she saw her former patient hiding behind his doctor. Dean stared openly at the pretty nurse, with her short bobbed brown hair and big doe-like brown eyes and infectious smile, he remembered her ... well kind of.
'Hey Jo.' He mumbled, 'nice to see ya again.'
'What can I do for you Jo?' Tom asked bringing the nurse's attention back to him.
'Oh I was looking for Sam he said that I could find him here.'
'Sam? We were actually just going to find him, he's been gone a while and we were getting a little concerned.'
'Oh, ah Doctor could I speak to you for a moment?' Jo's smile faded a little as she spoke.
Concerned Tom gazed at her for a moment and then turned to Dean, 'Dean do you just want to wait here for me I have to talk to Jo about some patient stuff and then we'll go find Sam.'
'Okkies.' Dean sighed impatiently and started to kick the wall. 'Stupid nurses.' He kept repeating.
'What happened Jo?' Tom asked trying to ignore Dean's antics.
'Sam, Sam and Dean's father was brought in and Sam saw him, it appears as though who ever hurt Dean took their dad.'
'Oh God.'
'I told Sam to go and get your coffees and that I'd come and get him when I had news of his dad, he told me that he would meet me here.'
'So he's not here and not ... did you see him at all after he left?'
'No and he shouldn't be still in the cafeteria.' Jo chewed her lower lip and glanced over at Dean, 'what do you want to do?'
'How is their father?'
'He's in surgery ... the doctor's are not optimistic but hopeful if he pulls through surgery then...'
'Damn it, if the boys didn't have enough to deal with.' Tom ran his fingers through his hair and gave the nurse a quick smile, 'want to come with us while we look for Sam?'
'Sure if you want, I'm due to go on my break so I have time.'
'Dean you ready to come?' Tom turned to his young patient; he couldn't help grinning when he saw his charge's antics. Dean somehow, somewhere found a pen and was drawing on posters of faces. 'I see that your drawing skills are not lacking.'
'Sorry.' Dean dipped his head and pocketed the pen, 'we go find Sam now?'
'Sure thing, Jo's gonna come and help us look for him is that okay?'
'Yeah ... guess so,' Dean wrinkled his nose, 'girl cooties.' He added under his breath.
Dean's humour faded each minute it took in their search to find his brother, the last time anyone had seen him was in the cafeteria, and fortunately, anyone could easily remember someone of Sam's height and build. The three searchers started to backtrack their way Tom's office, when a damp spot on the floor and the smell of spilled coffee caught Jo's attention. Curiously, she went over to the spot and tentatively touched it; lifting her finger to her nose, she sniffed and recognised the coffee's aroma. Standing, she stared around her, a frown creasing her pretty face when she saw the remains of the treats in the bin.
'Doctor Gardiner over here.' She called. 'I have found something.'
'What?' Tom and Dean hurried over, Dean's face falling when he couldn't see Sam.
'Where Sammy?' He demanded getting into Jo's space, 'where is he?'
'Dean I?'
'Dean son calm down.' Tom pulled Dean away from the young nurse and kept hold of his arm, 'what is it Jo.'
'Sam's box of pie and the three coffees someone has thrown them in here after spilling the coffee.' Jo said watching Dean warily.
'Where's my Sammy?' Dean wailed, 'where's my Sammy?'
