Fighting to Breathe Ch. 14
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Previously: "Dean, I have the results of Sam's tests."
Dean couldn't help but feel a little anxious as he looked at the piece of paper in the doctor's hands. The answer to whether or not his brother would have to have dialysis was literally held at the doctor's finger tips. Taking a deep, calming breath, he asked, "So what's the verdict doc?"
"I'm sorry to say the blood tests show a definite abnormality. We'll need to do a CT scan and a biopsy to be sure, but it looks like Sam's kidney has been damaged to the extent that he will require dialysis to remove the waste products in his blood until his kidney is able to do the work on its own once again."
"Son of a bitch." Dean gritted out through clenched teeth as he clenched his hands into a fist. "Why does everything always have to happen to him?"
"Calm down Dean, you don't want to wake Sammy and let him see you so upset." Bobby intoned as he placed a comforting hand on Dean's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Sam is going to have a rough time accepting the news and he's going to need you to be strong for him."
"Yeah, I know you're right Bobby, it's just that Sammy never seems to catch a break. It's like fate has it in for the kid or something." Dean stated with sadness as he scrubbed a weary hand across his face and then walked over to stand by Sammy's bed. Glancing down at his brother, he couldn't help but think how deceptive things looked with him sleeping so peacefully right now.
Running his fingers lightly through Sam's disheveled hair, he asked the doc, "So when do you need to do the new procedures?"
"They can wait until your brother awakens on his own, there's no sense in disturbing him while he is sleeping so peacefully. When he awakens, I can break the news to him if you'd like." Dr. Kelly informed Dean knowing he'd already had to deliver bad news once to his brother.
"No, he's my brother, it's my responsibility, I'll do it." Dean said as tears began to film his eyes. If it weren't for bad luck, they'd have no luck at all.
"Okay then, I'll leave you gentleman alone." Dr. John Kelly stated as he left the room to go set up the CT scan for later that same afternoon. It was times like this that he really hated being a doctor.
After watching the doctor walk away, Dean collapsed down into the chair with his head in his hands. "What are we gonna do Bobby?"
"I'll tell ya what you're gonna do ya idjit. You're gonna pull yourself together and be there for that boy, but ya ain't gonna do it alone. I'll be there for you boys every step of the way. As soon as the doc says it's okay, we'll load Sammy up and make him as comfortable as possible and then you boys are coming to stay with me." Bobby answered as he cupped the nape of Dean's neck and pulled him forward into a hug. "You're not alone kid."
"Thanks Bobby." Dean whispered as he relaxed against Bobby's hold. Finally, he didn't feel as if he was suffering the weight of the world on his shoulders alone, he had somebody willing to help carry the burden for a little while.
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Awaking just a few short hours later, Sam opened gritty eyes to find Bobby sitting by his bed watching over him and no sign of Dean. Taking a deep breath, he smiled at the hunter before asking "Where's Dean?"
He's over there on the roll away cot sleeping." Bobby answered as he nodded his head in the direction of the bed. "Your brother's exhausted so I made the stubborn idjit lay down so he could get some rest."
"Thanks for watching over him for me Bobby, I hate it when he doesn't take care of himself because he's too concerned for me."
"That comes with being a big brother, Sammy. Your needs will always come first whether you like it or not."
Yeah, I know, that's what I'm afraid of." Sam admitted as he chewed on his bottom lip.
"What do you mean kiddo?" Bobby asked with concern.
"What if something happens to me Bobby? I'm afraid of what Dean will do if…"
"Don't even start thinking like that Sam. You're going to be fine. I know things are up in the air at the moment, but they'll get better, just wait and see." Bobby stated not telling Sam about the blood test results knowing that Dean wanted to be the one to tell him. Watching Sam fiddle with the blanket, he knew the kid still had something on his mind that was bothering him. Reaching out to place a comforting hand on Sam's shoulder, he asked. "I can tell something is eating at you, so spill Tiger."
"I-I'm scared Bobby." Sam stated as he looked up at the hunter with glistening eyes. "All my life I've known to expect danger when it came to the hunt, but I don't know what to expect when it comes to dialysis, if I have to have it, and it scares the hell out of me." Feeling a little ashamed for admitting that he was scared, Sam hung his head towards his chest.
"Aw Sammy" Bobby intoned before sitting on the edge of his bed and pulling him into a hug. He could feel the boy slightly trembling and it hurt him to his very soul to know he was feeling so scared. "Listen to me Sam, you don't have to be afraid of this. We'll research everything involved and then you'll know what to expect kiddo. You won't be going through this blind, and besides ya idjit, Dean and I will be there for you every step of the way. Like I told Dean earlier, you boys aren't alone in this. Do you hear me son?" Bobby queried as he placed his fingers under Sam's chin and gently lifted his head to make Sammy look at him.
"Yes Sir, I hear you." Sam said with a smile and leaned into Bobby's embrace once again, finally letting all of his frustrations out.
Unbeknownst to Sam and Bobby, Dean was lying on the roll away bed wide awake with his back to them and listening to every word they said with silent tears streaming down his cheeks. He decided not to interrupt the moment between the two hunters since Sammy was finally talking about his fears. He knew Sam would clam up and try to hide how he was feeling if he knew how much it was upsetting his big brother. Knowing that Bobby had the situation firmly in hand, he wiped his tears and allowed himself to rest once again.
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Later that afternoon after Dean had told Sam about the need for the CT scan and the biopsy, Dr. Kelly entered the room to talk to Sam about the procedure. He could tell the young man had been upset by the news with the tear tracks that adorned his face, but he wanted to be sure his patient, as well as his family, understood what was going to happen. Pulling up a chair beside Sam's bed, John said, "Sam I'm here to talk to you about what's going to happen with the upcoming biopsy. The first thing you need to know is that the biopsy is basically a diagnostic test which involves collecting small samples of your kidney. While rare, there can be complications and they are usually mild and easily taken care of it most cases."
He then went on to say, "The procedure will involve taking you down to X-ray so we can do a scan to locate the position of the kidney with you lying on your stomach. Once that is done, I will apply a local anesthetic to your back to keep you feeling as little pain as possible. Once the area is numb, I will stick a spring loaded needle into your back as you hold your breath for about thirty seconds so I can get two or three samples from your kidney. Let me warn you that the needle will make a loud clicking sound so it doesn't surprise you once I've started the procedure. It's important that you lay as still as possible until the procedure is over."
"Then what happens?" Dean questioned, needing to know what to expect afterwards.
"After the biopsy, Sam will need to lie on his back for a few hours and be monitored closely for bleeding. The nurses will monitor his blood pressure and pulse on a regular basis for the first few hours to assess for blood loss. While that is going on, I will be in the lab checking the kidney tissue samples and can hopefully get you the preliminary results within a few hours. It will take a couple of days to get the full results from the needle biopsy." John informed the hunters.
"How long will the biopsy take?" Bobby questioned wanting to know how long Sammy would be away from them, feeling that even one second would be too long in his opinion. He knew they wouldn't be able to be by his side for the procedure and hated knowing the kid would be alone, without him or Dean there to support him.
"Well, if there is anything good about the procedure having to be done, it's that it usually only takes an hour. Sam can be brought back here to recover while the nurses do their monitoring." John replied in answer to the question.
Breathing out a sigh of relief that it wouldn't take nearly as long as he thought, Sam queried, "So when do we do this?"
"Actually, the procedure is scheduled to begin in approximately ten minutes." John answered as he glanced at his watch. "Two orderlies will be here in a few minutes to take you down to x-ray. Now is there any more questions before I leave?"
"Yeah, could you uh, maybe sit down and talk with us about what's involved with dialysis after the biopsy procedure?" Bobby inquired as he gazed at the man. "I mean when Sam is feeling up to it of course."
"Sure, I'd be happy to." John answered as he patted Sam on the leg. "I'll see you in a few minutes down in x-ray." He informed the injured hunter before leaving the room.
Noticing how pale his brother seemed to be, Dean grasped his baby brother's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry Sammy, this biopsy will be over before you know it and Bobby and I will be right here waiting for you when you get back."
"Yeah, I know, I'm just a little nervous is all." Sam told his brother before chewing on his bottom lip with nervousness just before the two orderlies entered the room.
"You guys mind if we walk with you?" Dean inquired as he watched the men raise the safety bars on Sam's bed hoping it would help to dispel a little of the nervousness Sam was feeling.
"Nah, whatever you want." Trey, the tall orderly answered as he unlocked the brakes to Sam's bed. He could tell from the look on the blonde man's face that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Navigating the hospital bed through the doorway, they pushed Sam down to the x-ray lab where he was quickly ushered inside so the procedure could start.
Standing outside the door, Dean couldn't help but feel anxious wondering if Sam was doing okay in there and if he was feeling any pain. He wished the door had a small window on it where he could look into the room to make sure his baby brother was okay and so that they could make eye contact with each other. "It will only be an hour, just an hour." He whispered as he tried to calm himself. But hell, it would be one of the longest hours of his life.
TBC