The Pain Within Ch. 12
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Previously: "I'm happy to help anytime, that's what I'm here for. Just have me paged if Sammy has any more problems," the doctor stated just before leaving the room so the family could spend some time alone together before Sam's next dialysis session.
Sitting beside the hospital bed as Sam had what would hopefully be his last round of dialysis treatment, John light carded his fingers through his youngest child's chestnut colored hair as he slept. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this Sammy. It's my fault you ended up so sick. If only we hadn't stopped at that diner…" His mind drifted off as John thought about all the 'if only's' they had had in their lives, making him wish for what could have been.
Drawn out of his thoughts by a rustling sound, John looked down at the small hospital bed to see his youngest son waking. "Hey there Tiger, did you have a good nap?" John asked softly, plastering a smile on his face as he reached out to caress Sammy's right cheek with the pad of his thumb.
"M'okay Daddy. When can we go back to see Dean?" Sammy answered with a yawn, not noticing the slight pang of regret that crossed his father's face at hearing the words.
"In just a few minutes. See, here comes the nurse now." John replied as he watched Nurse Lisa approaching to disconnect Sam from the dialyzer machine. Lisa had been Sam's nurse since he had started the treatments and John really appreciated the way that she focused on making sure Sammy felt secure and unafraid while under her care.
"Hey Champ, you did fantastic today with the treatment. What do you say we get you unhooked from this thing and get you back upstairs to that big brother of yours?" Lisa cooed as she smiled at her young patient.
"Yeah, that sounds great," Sam answered as he watched Lisa start shutting down the machine so she could de-connect him from the tubes that led to the fistula in his arm. "Dean will really like seeing you again because he thinks you're hot."
"Sammy!" John gasped aloud, as his cheeks tinged a slight pinkish hue. "You shouldn't say things like that to a woman. It's impolite."
"Nah, it's okay," Lisa informed Sam with the wink of an eye to let him know that everything was alright. "A girl always likes to know that she still has what it takes to catch the eye of the younger generation, especially when they are as cute as you and your brother."
"Ew gross, girls are yucky," ten year old Sam replied as he scrunched up his nose in disgust.
"You won't think so in a few years to come, Little One," Lisa retorted as she finished up by checking Sam's vital signs to make sure that the treatment hadn't been too rough on his small body."
"Nuh uh, I am never going to like girls," Sammy retorted with the sound of firm conviction in his voice. Girls always wanted to do stupid things like kissing and no way was he doing something like that.
"You just keep thinking that way kiddo," John stated with a grin as he picked his youngest up off the bed and placed him in the wheelchair to be taken back to his room. He didn't need his hand full with two sons chasing after the women.
~~SUPERNATURAL~~
Sitting up in the bed as the door to the hospital room opened, Dean breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his baby brother finally being escorted through the wooden door. Dean, who had been unable to attend Sam's dialysis session because of being assessed by his own doctor, had officially been released as a patient a few moments earlier, and he hoped they would soon release his sibling also. He was so damn sick and tired of being in the hospital and couldn't wait to get in the Impala again to enjoy the freedom of the road, even if it was just to make the short drive back to their motel.
"So, what did the doctor say, does Sammy have to undergo any more treatments? Dean asked impatiently as he swung his legs back and forth while sitting on the bed.
"Jeez, Ace, you need to calm down a little. The Doc hasn't even seen Sammy yet," John chided lightly, noticing that his son was now dressed in blue jeans and an AC/DC t-shirt instead of the regulation hospital gown.
"I'm sorry Dad, it's just….oh, hey Lisa," Dean stated seductively as he eyed the pretty nurse with a gleam in his eyes.
"Hi Dean, you're looking good today," Lisa stated as she noticed the healthy tone the young teen's skin held for the first time since the small family had been brought into the hospital.
"There's never been a day when I haven't looked this good," Dean announced with a wink as he brushed a hand through his slightly longer than usual blonde hair.
"Oh lord, just kill me now," Sam groaned upon hearing the remark as his father gently lifted him from the wheelchair and placed him back on his hospital bed. He so did not want to witness Dean making a play for his nurse.
"Ya know Dean, if only you were a few years older, I think I would have enjoyed getting to know you better. But since you're still just a young teen, I'll just have to content myself with taking care of this handsome little brother of yours," Lisa said as she hooked up the IV once again before tucking the blanket in around her young patient.
"Way to go little dude, you're already a hit with the woman," Dean smirked as he walked over to San's bed and nudged him on the blanket covered knee. "But then how could you not be with an awesome brother like me?"
Any reply Sam might have made was stopped as the door to his room opened and his doctor strolled in, followed by Bobby, who happened to be carrying a couple of steaming hot cups of coffee in his hands.
"Hey Sam, how are you feeling after your treatment this afternoon?" Dr. John Gordon asked as he pulled the stethoscope from around his neck and warmed it before placing it to Sam's chest to listen to his heart and lungs.
"M'okay I guess," Sam answered a little warily as he looked glanced up at the doctor. He hoped the man wasn't there to shove anymore needles into him. He had had enough of those in the last couple of days to last a lifetime!
"That's good to hear. I've checked the results of your latest blood test and I'm happy to say that things are looking much better. Your output has increased and your liver seems to be functioning much better. I'm thinking that maybe we can release you in a day or two if we can get you back on solid foods again," John voiced with a smile as he reached out to brush away an errant strand of hair that had fallen into Sam's eyes.
"That's great to hear Doc, I can never begin to thank you enough for all you've done for me and my boys while we've been here" John voiced, reaching out to shake the other man's hand while accepting a cup of coffee from Bobby with the other.
"No thanks is needed. It's my job," Dr. Gordon stated as he pumped John's hand firmly. "I'm going to have the kitchen send up some chicken brother for Sam a little later after he has had some time to rest. You need to encourage him to eat as much of it as possible. I need to see if his stomach can handle having liquids before trying him on soft solids in the morning."
"Don't worry Doc, I'll make sure he eats," Dean informed the doctor, never lifting his eyes from watching Sam who was now lightly dozing on the bed.
"I'm sure you will. And by the way, I've cleared it for you to stay here in the room with Sam until Sam is released as long as the other bed isn't needed by a patient," Dr. John Gordon stated as he prepared to leave so that he could check on his other patients as well. "I've seen how much of an calming effect you have on the little guy and know it would be in Sam's best interest for you to stay by his side."
"You're got that right Doc," Bobby informed the doctor as he escorted the physician to the door. "Sammy and Dean share a bond that will last them through whatever life chooses to throw at them.
"Yeah, I can tell that," John voiced with a smile before walking out the door. It felt good knowing that the young man he was treating would be so well taken care of once he was released from the hospital.
TBC Sorry for the short chapter, but I thought it was better than no chapter at all.
