Going Through the Motions Ch. 13
Disclaimer: No, I don't own them. I only wish I did! Making no profit either here folks. Unbeta'ed so all mistakes are mine.
A.N. I'm not sure about the flow of this chapter, but I am posting anyway.
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Previously: John eased the plastic fork out of Sam's hand and then picked the tray up and carried it out into the hallway so Sam wouldn't be nauseated by the smell of the left over food as he slept. After moving the portable table away from his sleeping son, John pulled the blanket up over his sleeping child and whispered "Sleep well kiddo, you did good."
As John sat watching Sammy sleep, he thought about the changes they were going to have to make in their lives to make sure Sam stayed healthy. Instead of beer, they were going to have to start drinking healthy liquids such as orange juice or sports drinks. Sure, the occasional beer would be okay, but it wouldn't do anything towards strengthening their immune systems. He wondered what Bobby and the others would think once he started turning down beer and asking for a glass of milk instead. He snorted as he pictured himself sitting in a bar and asking for a sparkling water--wouldn't he look like a big wimp. That wouldn't be the only change either. They had a habit of hitting the greasy burger and fry joints while out on the road instead of stopping at actual restaurant and sitting down for a meal. That would definitely have to change and he didn't think Dean was going to like it.
As for the amount of time they spent out on the road, they would now have to make sure that they carried health drinks and supplements when they were out on the road and away from civilization. Not only that, they would need to carry some kind of antibacterial cleaner such as Germ-X for when they weren't near a water source. That way he would at least be able cleanse his hands before touching Sammy, especially if he had an injury that needed to be taken care of. Hell, he would probably need to carry Germ-X in his pocket for everyday use now he thought. He knew the changes would be an inconvenience at best, but they would also be a necessity now.
"John…JOHN"
"Oh sorry Bobby, did you say something" John inquired when he heard his name called.
"We were just wondering where you went off to man. You had such a far away look in your eyes that we were wondering if you were okay" Bobby said referring to himself, Joshua and Caleb.
"Yeah, M'okay guys. I was just thinking about the changes that Dean and I will have to make in our lives for the sake of Sammy's health."
"What do you mean Dean and you? The rest of us are in this for the long haul too John. We'll do whatever it takes to make sure that kid is never infected again" Bobby stated with conviction. "That old house of mine is in for one hell of a cleaning and Josh and Caleb here are gonna help me do it."
"Whoa, wait a minute" Caleb said as he raised his hands in the air with the palm facing outwards. "Who said I volunteered to clean your house?"
"I did ya idjit and your damned well going to help unless you want me to unload a gun full of buckshot into that ass of yours next time ya come visiting" Bobby informed him.
"Just tell me where to find the broom" Caleb stated knowing Bobby had just enough chutzpah to do as he said.
"He probably doesn't own one" Sam smirked as he yawned widely and rubbed his chest with the knuckles on his right hand.
'That'll be enough out of you ya young pup" Bobby said with a glint in his eye. "You know damned well my floors are always clean when you come to visit."
"Sure Bobby, if you say so" Sam said with a wince as he tried to adjust himself on the bed.
"Sammy?" Dean questioned when he caught sight of the wince.
"M'fine Dean, my chest just hurts a little. I must have pulled a muscle or something in it.
"Maybe I should call for the doc" John suggested as he reached toward the nurse call button.
"Nah, I'm okay dad. I just need a minute" Sam stated as he took a few deep breaths to control the pain.
"Okay for now, but if it keeps happening kiddo, I'm having the doctor check you out just to be on the safe side" John informed his youngest as he carded his fingers through Sammy's hair.
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A few hours later, Bobby and the other hunters left to go get something to eat, promising to bring something back for John and Dean who had decided to stay behind since Sammy's dinner would be arriving soon. They knew if they didn't stay, Sammy would most likely refuse to eat any of it. As they waited for the tray to come, John decided it was time to share a memory of Sammy's birth with his youngest child. Sam needed something to take his mind of of how he was feeling.
"Ya know kiddo, I remember another time where I had to spend a few nights in the hospital with you. It was a couple of days after you were born. I had left Dean with Mike and Joanna, Mike was my partner in the garage by the way. I thought I was going to the hospital to pick you and your mother up and bring you home. But when I got to the hospital, I found your mother freaking out because you had suddenly quit breathing and your lips had turned blue. The doctors had rushed you away to run some tests leaving a nurse trying to calm your frantic mother. If I hadn't made it there when I did, I think Mary would have torn down the hospital" John said as he vividly remembered the incident in his mind."
"You never told me about that dad" Dean said as he sucked in a breath of air finding out how close he had come to losing his baby brother before he had even had a chance to live.
"We didn't want to scare you Dean. Anyways we found out a few hours later that Sammy was suffering from what they called central sleep apnea and that it was common in babies born a little early which Sammy was. The doctors decided to keep him for a couple of days just to make sure that he didn't have too many more episodes." John then looked at Sammy and said "I can remember staying awake all night long watching you sleeping in your crib tiger and making sure that your little chest was moving up and down while your mom sang lullabies. I was making damned sure nothing would take you away from me then and I'm not going to allow anything to take you away from me now."
Sam's eyes were shining with tears as he looked his dad in the eyes. "Thanks for sharing that with me dad. I wish I knew more about mom and the things she did."
"We'll I just have to make sure you do kiddo. You get well and get yourself out of here and we'll sit down and discuss your mother. You can ask me anything you want!"
"Sounds good" Sam said with a smile as he rubbed his chest lightly once again and saw the door to his room open. He groaned when he saw his dinner tray being brought in. He really didn't feel like eating after the way it left him nauseous earlier.
John took the tray from the candy striper and placed it on the portable table. He pulled the tray up to Sammy's bed and then lowered it until it was the correct height while Dean removed the top from the tray.
"Hey Sammy, this looks pretty good" Dean remarked as he saw the baked chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans and vanilla pudding.
"Then you eat it Dean cause I don't want it."
"No way kiddo, you know you've got to eat whether you feel like it or not. It's the only way you're going to get strong enough to fight this thing."
Come on Dean, if I try to eat that I'm gonna puke dude."
"That's what you said the last time Sammy. Just take it slow and easy and you'll be fine."
Sam huffed a little as he picked up the fork and dipped it into the mashed potatoes and brought it to his mouth. He gagged as he swallowed them down. After taking a few more bites, he could feel his stomach starting to rebel and pushed the plate away.
"Un uh Sammy, you need to eat a little more" Dean encouraged as he moved the plate back to where it had previously been.
"Dad, I can't" Sam said as he turned pleading eyes towards his father. "I really don't…" Sam's eyes grew huge as his stomach chose that time to regurgitate everything he had just eaten.
"Shit" John stated as he ran to the door and hollered "We need some help in here." He turned back to see Dean supporting Sam as he started to heave again. He nearly gagged as he saw more vomit spew forth from Sammy's mouth and onto his dinner plate.
John went into the small bathroom in Sammy's room and wet a wash cloth after he saw a nurse rushing towards the room. He heard the nurse say "Oh" before leaving the room once again. He wringed the water of the wash cloth and then held it to the back of Sammy's neck as his youngest dry heaved. He was relieved to see the nurse return just a minute later.
"I'm going to give him a dose of Phenergan" she said as she reached for the port on his IV and injected the medicine into it. "That should take effect shortly and stop the nausea" she said as she watched Sam grasp his stomach as he leaned over his plate and heaved again.
Dean winced as he saw Sammy's stomach emptying bile onto the plate. He could only imagine how bad his brother was feeling right now and he felt a little guilty himself for making Sammy eat. He supported Sammy's head with one hand and rubbed his back in soothing circles with the other until Sammy finally stopped heaving. Feeling extremely weak, Sam wilted in Dean's arms as he lost the strength to support himself in his upright position.
When Dean felt Sammy's weight collapse against his arms, he gently leaned his baby brother back onto his bed with the help of their dad. John however became concerned as he saw the pinched look in his youngest son's eyes as he pulled his hands up to his chest,
"Sammy, Sammy what is it son?"
"Hu-hurts D-dad" Sam said as the tears began to fall from his eyes.
"I'll get the doctor right away" the nurse said as she hurried out of the room to find Dr. Michaels before he left for the night.
"It's gonna be alright kiddo" John said as he pulled Sammy into his arms and gently rubbed his chest trying to help him fight the pain. Though he looked calm on the outside, he was screaming in fear on the inside wondering what more could possibly happen to his baby boy. He glanced over towards Dean to see his oldest child running his fingers through Sammy's hair while gentle shivers ran through his body. He knew that once he was out of Sammy's sight, Dean was going to collapse and have a breakdown of major proportions with this latest episode. He whispered words of encouragement to both sons as he saw Dr. Michaels come running into the room.
"Sam, I need you to tell me exactly how and where you are hurting" Shane said as he walked up to his patient and put his stethoscope to Sam's chest and listened to his heart.
"Ch-chest hurts. Feels li-like it's going clear through to my b-back" Sam whispered too tired to speak any louder.
Shane blanched as he heard the rasping sounds coming through the stethoscope. "Son of a bitch" he thought. The last thing this kid needed was problems with his heart.
TBC