Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Supernatural (except for my non sport trading cards and DVD sets), J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (except my non-sport trading cards, multiple DVD sets, figures, etc) or anything else you recognize in the following story. No infringement is intended. No people, animals or books were harmed in the making of this story.

Author's notes: Sorry for the delay in postings. Here is the next chapter. It's a little short, and a little quiet on the action side as will be the next chapter. And there's a little language. Thanks to lynxlan for the quick beta today and to Heather for keeping the medical stuff correctly.

Renovations

Chapter 11

By infinite shadow

Caleb entered PICU. He'd considered stopping by Sammy's room but somehow he didn't believe the boy would be there.

He nodded a hello at the nurse and walked into Dean's room. There curled up against his brother's side was Sammy.

"About friggin time! Do you have any idea how boring it is to watch people sleep?" Dean groused.

Caleb smiled slightly at the sight of the youngest Winchester sleeping soundly and took a moment to hover over both of them. "Morning fellas," he said softly.

He gently touched the back of his hand to Sam's cheek and then touched Dean's forehead.

"You're not getting all medical on us now are you Caleb?" Dean asked with a slight grin. "Too much time with the nurses, huh?"

"You're cooler this morning Dean. That's good," Caleb said then pulled the cover up a little higher over Sammy. "But you're a little too cool little man."

"Sammy's always kicking off the blankets. Luckily he never got pneumonia," Dean said around a yawn.

Caleb eased himself down into an uncomfortable plastic chair. He did feel a little better now that he'd had a good night's sleep and some decent food from the diner down the street. With an easy and contented sigh he hunched over slightly, dug into the backpack he'd brought with him and pulled out a black paper back book.

"Sammy'd mentioned that his copy of the Hobbit had pretty much fallen apart the last time we spoke on the phone," Caleb said softly. "And well I'm not much for one sided conversations so I brought a new set of Lord of the Rings. Figured your copies that I gave you after your first hunt would have been totally trashed by now Dean."

"Actually they began falling apart last year. Still have them though," Dean said with a grin. "I've added notes and Aragorn still has moves I haven't figured out yet. Man would I like to get his sword or Legolas' bow and arrow. I'm not overly picky though. I'd settle on Sting. Maybe get it to glow when demons or spirits are around. Now that'd be cool."

Caleb noisily opened the first few pages of the book and cleared his throat. He took a deep breath intending to start to read but paused taking a glance up at Dean. "You'd better be awake by the end of this first book dude or I swear to begin tickle torture and prank war all on little Sammy on my own without you to protect him."

Dean snorted with a small grin. "Yeah right. If I believed that I'd believe in the Easter Bunny or better yet Santa Claus."

Caleb softly began reading the words of JRR Tolkien and Dean felt himself begin to relax. He curled himself into the nook of the window and let his eyes close. He let the words wash over him and for a minute it actually felt as if he was lying in bed with his brother sleeping next to him before he felt nothing at all.

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Jim walked into John's room with a newspaper in his hand.

"Well bout freakin time. What'dya say we get someone to remove this crap out of my side and I get me the hell out of here," John said.

"Well I'd say no," Jim said. "Let's wait to see what your doctor has to say first."

"Screw it. I'll get myself out," John said and reached for the tube in his side.

"You're worse than Sammy," Jim said.

John paused. "What does that mean?"

"Can't wait to pull everything out and go wandering," Jim said.

"That was yesterday afternoon. He had his orders and he would've followed them," John said.

Jim snorted softly.

"What?" John demanded.

"Sammy is a concussed thirteen year old who has a very strong albeit it confused mind of his own," Jim said.

"So? He knows to do what I tell him to do and when I order him to do something he follows it," John said with a firm tone.

"And what if he doesn't," Jim asked.

"He does," John said with a shake of his head. "Sammy's a good kid. Don't have to worry about that."

"Oh I know he's a good kid. And he didn't do as you asked," Jim asked almost enjoying goading John into a fight.

"What?" John asked.

"He didn't," Jim repeated calmly and was relieved when John finally let go of the drainage tube.

John blinked for a moment then ran a hand over his face. "Where is he?" He asked softly.

Jim smiled. "You really have to ask?"

John sighed. "Guess not," he said softly.

"You really are a bear in the morning, you know that?" Jim said.

"Just need a caffeine fix. If I'm going to be stuck here how about smuggling me in a cup?" John asked.

"Caleb promised to bring some after he saw Dean," Jim said.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Dr. Shaw said.

"Hey doc," John said. "I think I've healed enough. Get this crap out of me. I want out."

Jim chuckled. "You might want to come back after he's had coffee."

"Oh I've faced much more grumpy people in my time," Shaw said with a grin.

"Seriously doc. I need to see my kids," John pressed.

Dr. Shaw opened John's file and glanced down at the drainage container. "Honestly Mr. Winchester I'm not convinced you've healed enough to be discharged. You are still draining a fair bit of fluid, granted it has lessened since you were admitted but there is enough to still be concerned over. I'll have your younger son brought down to you."

"Or if we wait long enough Sam may come down on his own," Jim quipped.

John glared at him. "Funny."

"My other profession is a comedian," Jim said with a smile.

Dr. Shaw cleared his throat.

"I want an update on Dean," John demanded glaring at the doctor.

Shaw nodded. "I can get that for you as soon as I've finished checking on my patients."

"Or I can find out for you. Caleb's with them right now. If something was wrong he would've been down here to let us know," Jim said.

"Don't tell me they're fine. They're not. Dean's being kept alive on a machine and I haven't even seen him yet," John snarled.

"Mr Winchester please stay calm," Dr. Shaw started to say but got cut off.

"I want to see my son now," John demanded.

"I think I'll get that coffee now," Jim said as he stood up.

"Mr Winchester if you do not calm down I will not hesitate to sedate you," Dr. Shaw warned.

"I don't need to sedation. I need to see my boys," John barked.

"Just relax," Shaw said.

"Relax? My boy is dying and you want me to relax?" John exclaimed.

"Back in a bit John," Jim said moving out of the way of the doctor.

"Yes relax. Let us take care of you for a few days," Shaw said.

"Screw it. Get me a god damned AMA!" John shouted.

"I don't think so," Dr. Shaw said and looked at the nurse who was just coming into the room. With one look he communicated to her what he needed and she hurried out of the room.

John reached down and began to pull on the drainage tube.

"Mr Winchester if you pull that out you will drown in your own blood," Dr Shaw cautioned as he tried to pull John's hand away.

"Yeah right. I'm leaving," John said and then scrunched his face up in pain as the tubing moved an inch.

The nurse hurried back in and gave a loaded syringe to the doctor. "Sir please don't pull on that! You'll hurt yourself."

Dr. Shaw went over to John's IV line and added the contents of the syringe to the saline flowing into his wrist.

John tried to push the nurse off of his arm when he suddenly lost the urge to fight. His hands fell back from the nurse and he relaxed into the mattress.

"That should do it," Shaw murmured.

John smiled serenely up at the doctor.

Shaw smiled back. "Now then Mr. Winchester."

"Call me John," he drawled.

"John. You need some rest. We will need to keep you here for another day or two. All right?" Dr. Shaw said.

"Sure thing doc," John said with a sigh.

"Well I'll let you get some sleep," Shaw said and turned to leave.

"My boys?" John asked.

"In good hands with the preacher and his son," Shaw said.

"Oh good," John said as his eyes closed. "They're safe then."

Dr. Shaw shook his head slightly then left the room and spotted Jim leaning against the wall outside John's room.

"So is your brother always this combative?" Shaw asked.

"Only when he feels he's lost control and when he can't see his sons," Jim said.

Doc nodded. "Understandable but I need to ask that you hold off on that coffee delivery for now."

Jim nodded.

"He'll be a little dopy or sleeping for a few hours. You also may want to hold off on bringing his son down for a visit until much later this afternoon," Shaw said.

"I can do that. How is he doing? Aside from what just happened," Jim asked.

"He's still draining fluid, more than what I'm comfortable with. I had planned on having a scan done, but we'll hold off on that for now," Shaw said with a sigh. "As it is now we will have to recheck the wound for infection and he may have torn his stitches."

0000000000000

Sammy stirred slightly against his brother as he slowly came awake listening to Caleb read. He tightened his hold around his brother and sighed. Dean was here. Things were fine and he was safe. Dean would look after everything.

The thirteen year old lay there contented to float between waking and sleep. It was easiest here to picture the story that Caleb was unfolding and he could easily visualize the hobbits walking through the Shire with walking sticks and packs of supplies on their backs. He almost smiled. They were lucky they had the Impala for that and he was lucky he had Dean. He snuggled closer to his brother and frowned. This was wrong. He was too old to snuggle up to his big brother. Dad had said so. His heart began to beat faster. Dean would have known he was awake by now and he should be teasing him about being so scared.

Caleb stopped reading to glance up at the boys hoping for a sign that Dean was waking up.

"Caleb?" Sam mumbled.

"I'm right here," he said softly still mindful of the boy's head injury.

"Make Dean wake up," Sam said as he turned just enough to look at him. For some strange reason he'd give anything to have Dean tease the crap out of him at the moment.

"I would if I could but Dean needs to surface on his own," Caleb said.

"No. Wake him now," Sammy said.

"He's hurt Sammy," Caleb said. "What do you need him for?"

Sammy blinked at him for a moment. "Just need him."

Caleb smiled at him. "We all want him to wake up and he will when he's ready."

Sam frowned. "But…"

Gently Caleb put a hand on the boy's head. "Whatever you need just name it."

"Dean," Sammy said.

"Sammy if I could wake Dean up I would. But I promise you he will wake up," he said and then glanced at the sixteen year old. You better not make me a liar.

Sam pursed his lips and winced as his shoulder told him in no uncertain terms that this was a bad position to be lying in. "Fix Dad?"

Caleb's eye brows rose up. "Dude do I look like a doctor?"

Sam closed his eyes. "Disobeyed an order."

"Ah. Ok. Now that I can help you with. Now go back to sleep," Caleb said.

Sammy opened his eyes. "Read some more?"

"Sure," Caleb said and waited for Sam to tuck back against Dean. He pulled the blanket up over the boy then he sat back down and began to read.

Sam struggled to keep awake but between his brother's heartbeat under his ear and Caleb's steady calm voice he fell asleep.

0000000000000

Jim was heading towards Dean's room when his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his jacket pocket . "Jim Murphy," he answered ignoring the glare of a nurse.

"Cellular phones are not allowed in the hospital," she admonished.

"I'll be right there," he said softly and closed the phone.

"Sir you will have to turn it off," the nurse pressed.

"Of course. Sorry about that," Jim said as he turned and headed for the elevator.

0000000000000

A few chapters later Caleb looked up expecting to see another nurse but saw Dr. Ramsey instead.

"Well there is my favourite wandering patient," Dr. Ramsey said.

"Morning Doc," Caleb said as he stretched and yawned.

"Caleb. You look better today," Ramsey noted.

"Yeah. Thanks for the recommendation. That motel has to be one of the cleanest and comfortable motel's I've been in," Caleb said.

"I'm glad," the doc said.

Both men looked at Sammy as the boy mumbled in his sleep then settled.

"Did he wake up yet?" Ramsey asked.

"Yeah a little while ago but not fully," Caleb said.

Ramsey nodded and started to check Dean's file.

"I can take Sam back to his room now," Caleb offered.

Ramsey stopped scanning Dean's medical charts and looked over at the two boys. "Oh I think they're ok for now."

Caleb watched the doctor check Dean's output, the machine readings and then the doctor gently put a hand on the sixteen year olds forehead.

He gave Caleb a smile. "He feels a lot cooler today. That's a good sign."

"Yeah?" Caleb asked.

"Actually he's showing remarkable improvement since I left yesterday. His blood pressure has stabilized and his urine output is very good," Ramsey said.

"So he'll wake up soon?" Caleb asked hopefully.

"I need to run a few scans, do a few more tests," Ramsey said avoiding the question as he looked deeper through the file and frowned. "Oh."

"What is it?" Caleb asked calmly although his heart had started racing with fear.

"We just got his medical records from the hospital he was in about a week ago. Looks like the boy has a broken ankle, but as he didn't come with a cast we were unaware of the injury," Dr. Ramsey said.

"How did you miss that?" Caleb demanded.

Ramsey saw the anger for what it was - a mask for the younger man's fears. "Well he wasn't awake and honestly the main task when he was brought in was to keep him alive. Look I know it sounds odd that we would miss something like this but it's not like he could tell us and to be completely truthful he isn't feeling any pain."

Caleb sighed and put the book down on the bed. "I didn't know."

"Its not a big deal. He hasn't been all that mobile anyway. Even with Sammy here I doubt further damage has been done," Ramsey said. "Now that he's stabilized and responding well to the treatment we can move on to secondary injuries like his broken leg. We'll x-ray it and see what we're dealing with. Odds are we'll just have to re-cast it. Then you and the rest of the family can decorate it before the kid wakes up. Hey I'll even bring you some bright coloured pens."

Caleb ignored the doctor's good humour. "If there has been more damage?"

Dr. Ramsey took a slow breath, put Dean's file on the bed and crossed his arms. "Well that'll be a bit trickier. If he needs surgery then it will have to wait until he wakes up. Temporarily we could put a splint on it, monitor it like the rest of his injuries but surgery just isn't a good option right now."

"But," Caleb tried to object.

"Caleb," Dr. Ramsey said softly getting the man's attention back to the point instead of racing off on what-ifs. "Lets start with the x-ray. This boy has been through a lot. We don't need to get ahead of ourselves and see the worst in this, ok?"

Caleb took a calming breath. "Yeah ok doc," he said looking at Dean.

Ramsey picked up the file again and made a few notes in it.

"When can he be scanned so we know for sure?" Caleb asked.

"I'll order it and the portable x-ray machine will be brought here," Ramsey answered as he closed his file and looked at the two sleeping boys. "I'd like Sam moved back into his room before we do the x-ray though. I'll need some time to finish my rounds and order the scan."

"I hate to separate them," Caleb said thoughtfully.

"Me too. But I'll need to exam Sam as well. I can give you," Ramsey paused as he checked his watch. "An hour to get him awake and moving."

"I'll finish up this chapter and get him moving," Caleb said as he picked up the book.

"Well I'll see you in Sammy's room as soon as I'm finished with Dean's test," he said and then left.