The Stones
Author's Note:
Prompt comes from Shanannigans: Sam gets kidney stones. Set during any Season in the series.
"Sam!" Dean called as he hit the bathroom door, "What the hell are you doing in there? It's been twenty-five minutes!"
Sam closed his eye for a moment and gritted his teeth, "Can't you hold on for a moment?"
"I have been waiting patiently for you for almost a half-hour," Dean argued, "I've gotta take a piss!"
Sam sighed and flushed the toilet, pinkish urine swirling around the bowl.
Doing up his pants, Sam washed his hands in the sink, wincing at the pain in his abdomen. He sucked in a deep breath and held it until the sensation passed.
He knew what was wrong. He had kidney stones. They weren't dangerous but they were painful as hell until they passed.
He'd had them once before, while in college. At first he'd thought it was his appendix and Jess had driven him to the nearest hospital in a panic. After being shown into an exam room almost immediately- because if it was Sam's appendix and it ruptured while he was sitting in the waiting room, bad things would happen- and being prodded in the stomach by a doctor, they discovered that it wasn't in fact his appendix. Which was a relief but then Sam had been forced to wait six long hours to get an x-ray that revealed he had kidney stones instead. The doctor had given him something for pain and told him that all he could do was wait until they passed.
It was going to be a long few days if Sam had them again. And with Dean breathing down his neck, it would be even worse.
"SAM!" his older brother bellowed dramatically, "If you don't get out of the bathroom now I'm gonna burst and I'll make you clean it up!"
Sam wrinkled his nose at the thought and opened the bathroom door.
"Thank God!" Dean exclaimed and rushed into the room before Sam could clear the doorway.
Sam shook his head and sat down on his bed. He'd be alright again in a few days.
The bathroom door opened and Dean stepped into the room.
"Ready to go get some dinner?" he asked, sounding much happier now that he'd had the chance to relieve himself.
"Sure," Sam replied and stood, wincing slightly but Dean didn't see.
W
Sam sat down in the booth across from Dean and picked up the menu.
He flicked through the laminated pages until he found the list of salads and paused, reading what the diner offered.
"Hey there, welcome to Bruno's," a young waitress asked in a strong Southern accent.
Dean looked up from his own menu and grinned charmingly at her, "Howdy."
Sam rolled his eyes and looked up.
"Can I get you two some drinks to start off with?" the waitress- Cherry, her nametag read- asked with a seductive smile in Dean's direction.
"Beer," the older brother answered instantly.
Cherry nodded and scribbled on her notepad.
"And you, Sugar?" she asked, turning to Sam.
"Just water," he answered. Normally he'd go for a beer as well but water helped with kidney stones.
"Sure thing," Cherry said, "Let me know if you want something a little stronger, alright?"
Sam shook his head and returned to perusing the menu. Frowning, he stood and set his menu down.
"I'll be right back," he told Dean as his brother looked at him curiously.
"If she comes back, order for me, would you?" Sam asked, "Salad, Dean."
"Sure thing," his brother replied, "You positive you don't want a burger?"
Sam shook his head and headed towards the men's room.
SPN
Dean glanced at his watch and turned around in his seat to see if Sam was making his way back to their table.
Frowning, Dean wondered what was taking his brother so long to use the bathroom.
Cherry had returned five minutes after Sam had left with their drinks and Dean had ordered for both of them.
Although he was tempted to get his brother something full of meat and grease, Dean had decided against it and asked for a Caesar salad instead- at least it had bacon on it- and waited for his sibling to return.
Ten minutes had passed and Dean was getting concerned.
Drumming his fingers on the table, Dean took a quick swig of beer and was just about to stand up and head into the men's room himself when Sam slid into their booth across from him.
"Did you fall in?" Dean asked.
Sam smirked and shook his head, "What? Can't I go to the bathroom without you worrying about me?"
"Not when you take that long," Dean told him and Sam rolled his eyes, "You are getting paranoid in your old age, Dean. Thinking that everything is out to get me every time we step outside."
Dean didn't say anything. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn Sam's eyes looked a little glassy and his face a little pale.
"I got you a salad," Dean told him, "Just like you wanted, Your Highness."
"Just because I don't want to die of a heart attack when I'm forty does not mean I'm being uptight," Sam commented.
Dean smiled, "With our job, I'll be lucky to die of a heart attack at forty."
Sam scowled but didn't say anything else. Instead he shifted his position on his seat, frowning a little bit.
W
Cherry returned with their meals shortly afterwards and Dean couldn't have been happier.
"I'm starving," he announced somewhat needlessly and began eating.
He was halfway through his hamburger when he noticed that Sam's salad was mostly still in its bowl.
"Are you not hungry?" Dean asked through a mouthful of food.
Sam shook his head, spearing a piece of wilted Romaine on his fork and staring at it.
"You feeling alright, Sam? You look a little pale," Dean observed, pointing at his sibling with a French fry.
Sam shrugged, "I'm okay, just don't feel like eating a mushy salad right now."
"You should have ordered a burger," Dean replied, "They're really good."
SPN
Sam couldn't help but feel relieved when they returned to the motel.
He was not feeling well. His abdomen hurt and he was sick to his stomach. Sam really just wanted to lie down for a little while.
Luckily they weren't on a case so he could do just that. As Dean sat down on the end of his bed and turned on the television, Sam climbed into his own bed and laid down without bothering to change his clothes.
"Hey Sammy, that movie you like is on," Dean said, his back to his brother, "You know, the one with the-"
"Sam?" Dean's tone became concerned, "Are you okay?"
"Just tired," Sam muttered into the pillow, his eyes closed.
"Oh," Dean replied, "Oh, sure."
Sam heard the volume on the TV turn down and he quickly slipped into unconsciousness.
W
Sam's eyes snapped open. He was shivering and he curled up. While asleep, he'd kicked the blanket down to the end of the bed and he was too tired to sit up and grab it. The mote room was dark and Sam wondered how long he'd been asleep for. He could hear Dean snoring in the bed next to his so it must be late.
Sam lay awake for a moment before the call of nature forced him up. He yawned and wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand.
Sam gave a cry at the sharp pain that exploded in his side as he stood; it felt as though someone was twisting a knife between his ribs.
Dean grunted in his sleep but didn't wake. Sam stumbled the short distance to the bathroom and closed the door, turning on the light.
Catching sight of his reflection in the mirror, Sam frowned. His face was pale with dark circles beneath his eyes, like he hadn't slept in a couple of days.
Shaking his head slightly, Sam went over to the toilet, lifted the seat and unzipped his pants.
A moment passed and nothing happened.
Sam knew he had to take a piss but nothing was coming out.
Reaching out, Sam braced one hand against the counter and waited.
W
"Sam, how long are you gonna be?"
The young man looked up at the sound of Dean's voice and frowned.
How long had he been standing there?
"Hold on a minute, Dean," he muttered, "Geez, can't I go to the bathroom in peace?"
"It's the middle of the night," Dean informed him, "What the hell are you doing in there?"
Sam didn't answer. Finally- finally- he was able to relieve himself. The light pink stream though was slightly troubling. Gritting his teeth in pain, Sam finished and zipped his pants up, washing his hands quickly and opening the door.
Dean gave him an odd look as they crossed paths and closed the door behind him.
"Sam!" Dean suddenly shouted and the bathroom door flung open.
"What?" Sam replied; he just wanted to sleep.
"The hell is that?" Dean asked, pointing to the toilet.
For a moment Sam stared at him, confused, before he realized he'd forgotten to flush.
"Uh…" he stammered.
"You're sick! I'm taking you to a hospital," Dean exclaimed, a look of panic on his face.
Sam held his hands out as Dean tore from the bathroom and grabbed the car keys from where they sat on the small table.
"Dean, I don't need to go to the hospital," he said in his most placating tone.
Dean turned and stared at Sam as though he were crazy.
"There's blood, Sam! That's not right," he exclaimed.
"It's okay, Dean," Sam tried again, "You're blowing this way out of proportion."
Dean crossed his arms over his chest, "Care to tell me why we shouldn't drive to the hospital right now and get you checked out for some STD or-"
Sam scowled, "It's not an STD, Dean, its kidney stones."
Dean stared at him for a moment, "Kidney stones?"
Sam nodded, "It's okay, they're not deadly or anything. Just painful."
"And you don't have to go to the hospital for them?" Dean asked, apparently calmed down somewhat.
Sam shook his head, "Not usually."
"When were you planning on telling me about it?" Dean asked and Sam sighed, "I wasn't."
"Why not? Shouldn't I know something like that?" Dean asked, his tone irritated.
"No, because it's no big deal and because I know you'd freak out," Sam replied.
"You're sure you're okay though?" Dean asked, seemingly more worried about his brother than to feel insulted by what he'd just said.
Sam nodded, "Yeah. Sorry I scared you."
Dean gave his a look that said 'you'd better be' before setting the car keys back down and returning to the bathroom, flushing the toilet before relieving himself.
SPN
Dean woke slowly, groaning at the sun shining directly on his face.
Sighing he rolled onto his back and glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand between the two beds. It was almost ten o'clock in the morning.
At least Sammy let me sleep in, Dean thought; damn, he's quiet.
Normally his brother tried to let him sleep when he woke before him- which was almost all the time- but with Dean's training, even the slightest noise Sam made eventually because too much and woke him up.
Dean glanced over at Sam's bed, expecting it to be empty and found it still occupied.
Sam was lying curled up on his side, his back to Dean.
Dean frowned; Sam rarely slept in.
Sitting up, Dean peered more closely at his brother. Sam's breath was fast-paced and shallow and he was visibly shivering.
Shit, Dean thought and stood quickly, crossing to his brother's side.
"Sam?" he said and touched his sibling's shoulder.
The younger man groaned but didn't wake up. Dean placed a hand on Sam's brow and frowned at the heat coming from his skin.
A fever wasn't good. Not at all.
"Sam, c'mon man," Dean shook Sam's shoulder, "Wake up."
Sam opened his eyes slowly, "M'okay, D'n."
"You're really sick," Dean told him.
"Just… stones," Sam muttered and closed his eyes again.
"I don't think a fever is part of the package, Sammy," Dean told him and grabbed his shoulders, "We are going to the hospital."
Sam protested, tugging at Dean's hands, "Don' need to, D'n."
"Maybe," Dean growled, "But it'd sure make me feel a hell of a lot better if we went."
Sam sighed and stood shakily.
"Grab your shoes," Dean told him as he picked up his jacket and the car keys.
Sam shuffled over to where he'd left his shoes the night before when they'd returned from the diner and sat down heavily on the end of his bed to put them on.
"Gotta go to the bathroom," Sam muttered and started to stand but Dean reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, "Not like that you're not. I don't want you falling over and hurting yourself. You can barely stand as it is."
Dean guided his brother towards the door and opened it, ushering Sam outside.
W
It didn't take long to drive to the hospital. Dean parked and headed into the Emergency entrance with Sam at his side. He made sure Sam was sitting in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs before heading to the nurses' station and explaining the situation.
The nurse- an older woman with grey hair- told Dean to fill out some paperwork and wait until a doctor called them.
Dean returned to his brother's side as he completed the forms, frowning when he saw that Sam could barely keep his eyes open.
"Gotta go to the bathroom," Sam told him as though he'd only just remembered himself.
"Okay, Sammy," Dean said, "One second."
He stood and returned the forms to the nurses' station before leading Sam towards the bathroom.
He guided his sibling to a stall instead of a urinal and stepped into the small space with him. Dean didn't want Sam falling and hurting himself.
Sam slowly lifted the toilet seat and unzipped his jeans. Dean made a point of reading the graffiti on the walls of the stall as his brother stood poised to pee.
Nothing happened.
Dean frowned.
"You okay, Sammy?" he asked, still not looking, knowing his brother would be terribly embarrassed.
"Hmm," Sam muttered a reply and reached out with one hand to touch the wall beside him, bracing himself.
"Don't need a hospital my ass," Dean grumbled as he waited… and waited… and waited.
Eventually Sam went and Dean left the stall to wait in the main area of the bathroom. Luckily no one had come in while they were sharing a stall- that would have been awkward- and it remained quiet as Sam exited and washed his hands in the sink.
Out in the waiting room again, Dean grabbed a magazine, knowing that it would probably be a while before a doctor saw his brother.
W
"Sam Brewster?" a youngish doctor called and Dean heaved a sigh of relief.
After four hours of sitting around, he was ready to shoot someone.
Grasping his brother's arm, Dean led Sam towards the physician.
"I'm his brother, Dean," he explained to the doctor and the man nodded, peering down at the form he had filled out.
"Your brother has kidney stones? How long has this been happening?"
Dean shrugged, "I don't really know. I only found out last night."
"Has he been experiencing any other symptoms besides the fever and discoloured urination?" the doctor asked.
"Maybe," Dean replied, "He wasn't really hungry at dinner last night, if that means anything."
Dean glanced at his brother for help but Sam was out of it, his face pale and sweaty, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
"I'll need to do some tests to determine exactly where the stones are," the doctor explained, "And I'll also give your brother something to bring his fever down."
"Okay," Dean replied, knowing that soon Sam would be leaving him.
"I will come and let you know what I find and what the next step should be."
Dean nodded. The doctor took hold of Sam's other arm and Dean released him.
Sam peered confusedly at him, "D'n? Where you goin'?"
"Back to the waiting room, Sammy," Dean replied, "You have to go with the doctor. He'll get you all sorted out."
Sam didn't look happy about that arrangement and peered over his shoulder as the doctor began leading him away from his brother.
Dean quickly turned away. It was stupid, he knew, but Sam's puppy eyes were getting to him.
Returning to the waiting room, Dean sat down again and sighed.
W
"Dean Brewster?"
The older brother looked up instantly at the sound of the doctor's voice but frowned when he didn't see Sam with him.
"Where's Sam?" he asked, starting to feel nervous.
"He's in an exam room," the doctor told him.
"Is he going to be okay?" Dean wanted to know.
The doctor nodded, "I think I'd like to do a shock wave lithotripsy on your brother."
Dean frowned, "What is that?"
"It is a procedure that uses shock waves to break up the kidney stones into smaller pieces so that they can pass through the urethra easier."
"Okay," Dean said uncertainly.
"It has some side-effects though," the doctor said, "it can cause bleeding, bruising on the back or abdomen and it is painful but it is the least intrusive way to remove kidney stones."
"What are the other options?" Dean asked, mostly out of curiosity.
"Surgery," the doctor told him bluntly.
"Okay," Dean said and sighed, "Do the shock wave thing."
The doctor nodded, began to turn to leave before pausing, "Would you like to stay with your brother during the procedure?"
Dean said he would and followed the doctor down the hallway.
W
Dean watched over Sam while the doctor worked. Although his brother was anesthetized and didn't know he was there, Dean felt better being at Sam's side.
The doctor set up a machine that to the eldest Winchester looked a little bit like a laser from an action movie and pointed it at Sam's abdomen. The table Sam lay on was specially designed, with an area for a soft cushion filled with water to lay against his brother's kidneys. A screen on one side of the machine showed the doctor exactly where the stones where so he could direct the shock waves.
The procedure took an hour and afterwards the doctor was confident the stones had been blasted into small enough pieces that they wouldn't give Sam too much trouble to pass anymore.
Dean followed his brother as Sam was taken to a room to recover.
"When he wakes up," the doctor said, "get him to drink some water. It's important that he has a lot of liquids."
Dean nodded and promised he would, thanking the nurse who brought in a pitcher of water and a plastic cup.
Dean sat down in the chair left for visitors and grabbed his brother's hand.
"Even you can make a mountain out of a molehill, Sammy," he muttered and brushed his sibling's bangs away from his brow.
SPN
Sam opened his eyes slowly.
Why was he so sore?
Oh yeah, the kidney stones.
He groaned in pain and tried to sit up, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, hold on a minute," Dean's voice said, "Give yourself time to wake up."
Sam settled back down and blinked up at his brother.
"D'n?" he muttered, his mouth feeling dry.
"Hey, Sammy," his brother replied.
Sam realized that the quality of light was far brighten than it should have been for their motel room and it smelled strongly of ammonia.
"Where are we?" he asked tiredly.
"The hospital," Dean told him, "You were spiking a fever."
"How are you feeling? Are you in pain?" Dean asked, his eyebrows knitting together in concern.
"A little bit," Sam replied.
Dean nodded, "The doctor said it might leave bruises."
"What?" Sam asked, suddenly wide-awake, "What happened?"
"Whoa! Calm down Sammy," Dean exclaimed, "You're okay."
"What happened?" Sam asked again, eyeing his brother suspiciously.
"The doctor used this cool machine to smash all those kidney stones to little bits so they'd be easier to piss out," Dean informed him.
"Oh," Sam muttered and started to close his eyes again. He was just so tired.
"Sam, hey," Dean squeezed his shoulder and he opened his eyes.
The older brother's expression was serious now.
"Next time you tell me when you're sick," he ordered, "Got it?"
"But Dean-" Sam began but his brother held up a hand, "I mean it, Sam. I know you thought you could handle this on your own but it turned out you needed help."
Sam glanced down, suddenly ashamed.
"What would have happened if I hadn't found out, huh?"
Sam shrugged, "I don't know."
Dean reached out and turned Sam's head so he was looking at him, "You know you're a magnet for trouble. I hate to say it but even the simplest things seem to become very complicated when you're involved."
"I didn't think it was a big deal," Sam explained, "When I got them at school it was fine. Jess freaked out though. Thought it was my appendix."
Dean released his brother's face and sighed.
"I just didn't want you to worry if you didn't have to, Dean," Sam told him, "That's all."
Dean's eyes pinched, "I'm always going to worry, Sammy. Whether you stub your toe or get shot, I'm going to worry about you. That's my job."
Sam couldn't help but smirk just a little bit, "Seems like a shitty job to me."
"Don't be a smart-ass," Dean chided, "That's my thing."
Sam chuckled before turning the puppy-eyes on and peering at his brother, "I'm sorry you worried, Dean. I'll let you know next time I get sick. Even if it is just a stubbed toe."
Dean snorted, "Yeah, okay Sammy."
Sam was about to close his eyes when Dean reached over and offered him a plastic cup of water.
"Drink up," Dean said, "The doctor said this'll help evicting those little bastards easier."
Sam rolled his eyes and took the cup, grateful for the cool liquid on his parched throat.
"Hurry up so we can get out of here," Dean told him and Sam sighed, unable to help but smile.
He was so lucky to have a brother who was as concerned about his wellbeing as Dean was. Even though it drove him crazy half the time.
Sam wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Author's Note:
Thanks to Shanannigans, reannablue, kasey, whatnosheep, grishma239, sandycub, jo1966, Jenjoremy, elliereynolds777, SamDeanLover28, sammynanci, L.A.H.H and Guest for reviewing.
Thanks to everyone who alerted, followed and favourited.
I know that Dean would likely not be allowed into the room while the doctors preformed the Shock Wave Lithotripsy- it is a medical procedure- but I didn't want to leave him in the waiting room the entire time. He'd been out there long enough.
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