A/N: I am SO sorry for my extended absence, especially on a cliff hanger, but my muse decided to go to TJ with Celeste101's muse and pick up men by baiting fishing poles with Coronas...
In all seriousness, I am taking summer classes and the work load is brutal so the updates will be a little sporadic until I get the rhythm down. I am also sorry this chapter is so short but I wanted to get you something to read. Hello to all my new readers and thanks to my faithful readers/reviewers/followers. You guys are the best and the reason I am still writing this thing. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the universe. If I did, I wouldn't be here writing about them, I'd be living there, eating pie off of Dean's tummy. :)
Dean awoke to the sounds of beeping and whispering. Sounds he only equated with being in a hospital. He had yet to open his eyes, but he could feel Sam there at his side. Sammy wouldn't leave him alone until he was sure he was ok. That was just Sammy. Dean also heard pages turning and assumed the doctor or a nurse was in the room. He was listening intently, hoping to hear something about his condition before opening his eyes. The next voice he heard wasn't just any doctor or nurse, it was Raven.
"Sam, his vitals look really good. The fractured ribs didn't penetrate his lung and that is excellent news. He needs some rest but he's going to be just fine." Dean heard her professional manner and wondered what she wasn't telling Sam. "He's awake," she said with surprise.
"Dean, can you hear me?" Sam asked with genuine concern in his voice.
Dean opened his eyes about halfway as the lights were bright, "Yeah I can hear you, Sammy. I have some busted ribs. I'm not deaf."
Sam smiled and shook his head, "Yeah, Raven. He's going to be just fine."
She leaned over his bed, shining a penlight into his eyes, checking his pupil response. The results of the CT scan were already back but she wasn't taking any chances.
"Would you get that friggin light out of my face?" Dean pushed her hand away.
"My, aren't we the happy patient?" She grinned at him. He was going to be alright and she knew that but the image of his blood stained face under that tree branch continued to haunt her.
He honestly had no idea how close he came to death. When she got to him, his pulse was weak and his respiration was practically non-existent. She had started mouth to mouth resuscitation while Sam was trying to get the limb off his chest. Normally in situations like that, her training took over and her emotions were shoved aside. This time though, the feelings wouldn't budge. The tears flowed freely as she blew breath after breath into Dean's lungs. He wasn't going to die. She wasn't going to let him die.
It finally took five men to pull the branch off of him. The paramedics were on scene by then but Raven stayed put. They tried to move her but after Sam screamed at them that she was a surgeon; they yielded to her superior training. Raven was a good hunter, but this was where she belonged and she wasn't about to trust Dean to just anyone. She had him assessed, an IV started and in a cervical collar as quickly as she could make her hands move. In no time, Dean was in the ambulance and pulling up to the door of the emergency room across the street.
Once the branch had been removed, Dean's vitals had improved dramatically. His respiration had returned to normal and his pulse was steady. Unfortunately, she did not have hospital privileges so her treatment of Dean ended at the door. But the doc on duty advised her at every turn, sharing lab reports and radiology results, even consulting her on the best way to proceed concerning Dean's ribs.
Raven knew that her having a say in Dean's treatment made Sam feel better. Truthfully it had made them both fell better.
Sam went to get them both some much needed coffee. She didn't even flinch when he suggested it. It was going to be a long night and she needed to be alert. Raven was checking Dean's vitals yet again when he stirred, moaning. She ran her hand across his forehead in an effort to calm him. He opened his eyes, looking disoriented. Something tugged at her heart and she sat on the edge of the bed, shushing comfortingly, using the same tone he had used with her.
Dean looked at her, disoriented from the pain meds. He might have been out of it but he knew the look she was wearing. Her beautiful indigo eyes had caring in them, maybe even some love also. She was running her hands through his hair and it felt amazing. Before he could make any sort of comment, she kissed him on the forehead. It was a sweet gesture, full of promise. She caressed the side of his face with her palm and god help him, he leaned into her touch.
She bent down again and whispered in his ear, "Dean, please rest. We will talk when you are feeling better. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
He smiled at her and closed his eyes, sighing peacefully. It was only minutes before she heard gentle snoring. She sat in the chair next to the bed and let her mind wander. Dean was going to make a full recovery and she was relieved. She told herself that it was for Sam's sake but she was lying. After the powerful emotions that were brought to the surface, Raven couldn't deny it any longer. She was falling for Dean… hard. What am I going to do? she thought. It wasn't supposed to happen this way.
Sam came back and saw Raven sitting by Dean's side. She turned to see him smiling at her broadly.
He handed her a cup of coffee and took the seat next to her, "How's he doin?"
"He's fine," she said, the relief flooding her voice, "the Doc is going to let us take him back to the motel. He wants to make sure Dean won't have a bad reaction to the meds and then we can take him back. He's taking into consideration that he will be under excellent care."
Sam rubbed her shoulder, "He is under excellent care. Raven, you saved his life."
She shrugged, "I did what anyone else would have. You know what Sam, let's not tell him about that, ok? I'm not sure how he would react."
"You're right," Sam said chuckling, "He'd probably get pissed."
Raven took a deep gulp of the coffee and almost choked. "This crap tastes like battery acid!" she hissed. Standing and walking to the trash, she threw the cup in with gusto.
Sam stood also and followed suit. "Come here," he asked gently.
She allowed herself to be pulled into Sam's arms. It felt so good to be there. In his arms, there was no conflict, no unnerving emotions, just peace. In his embrace, she was home.
Dean heard their voices and opened his eyes slightly so he could see her. He wanted to gaze at her angelic face again. Instead, he was treated to the sight of her encircled in his brother's arms. Sam's head was lying on top of hers and the look on his face told him everything he needed to know. Sammy was in love with Raven. Her face was turned away from him and he was grateful. Dean didn't want to know how she felt about Sam. He decided then and there to quit Raven, cold turkey. It was bad enough that she was playing them against each other. She was probably working to drive a wedge between them, he thought. That's what she's up to, that bitch.
His already heavy eyelids closed against his permission and he was out cold. The last thing he thought as he fell asleep was that he was going to figure out her plan. One way or another, he was going to protect Sam as well as himself.
A/N: As an aside, I was in the emergency room of the hospital Dean's in right now. My hubby thought I was having an aneurysm. However, I just had the worst migraine of my life and am now fully recovered. See, I had a legitimate reason to be gone so long... research! )