Disclaimers and warnings see Chapter 1

Chapter 37 Hero

When Dean opened his eyes again he was in the back of an EMT. Sam was hovering over him holding his hand with the other hand over his tattoo. "Finally Dean, How are you feeling?" "Ccccoooldd" Dean squeezed out.
"We're nearly at the hospital, Dean. They will look after you. You'll be ok. Then when you're better,I can kick your ass."

Dean knew that look. Sam was happy he was ok, but pissed he had put himself in danger. "Ssssssoorrryy Sssaaammmyyy."
"You better be. You're lucky I love you, you hear?"
"Mmmeee toooo". Dean reached up with a hand that felt like a lump of heavy wood and swiped it across Sam's slowly leaking abrasion on his forehead. "Yoooouokkkkaaayyy?"
"Yeah,De. Im ok." The vehicle came to a halt and the doors were swung open to reveal a group of doctors and nurses that swarmed all over Dean and bustled the gurney through the hospital doors.

Sam was left to fill out paperwork while Dean was being cared for. After he filled out the paperwork he called Bobby to ask if he could come down for support, he really could use some. Even though Dean was out immediate danger he felt completely rung out.

A nurse came out and took Sam to a small treatment room and checked his small cut and put a plaster on it before checking his eyes for concussion. He was given the all clear and led back to the waiting room.

While he was waiting, other members of the crew came in for treatment. Most of them coming over,thanking Sam, and his brother saving their friends. They were all concerned about Dean's condition.

Sam was allowed in to see Dean after an hour. He found him on a bed in the ER treatment room that resembled a surgery, hooked up to a plethora of machines,and IV bags with warming blankets on him. Dean was asleep which a good thing considering his condition.

A doctor came and talked to Sam "Your brother's condition is not as dire as it may seem. I know all these machines look a bit daunting but we are giving your brother intravenous warm fluid to help warm up the organs and improve circulation. We are monitoring him closely to insure his temperature gets back to normal without any further shock to his system. I assume you will want to stay with him?"
"Its Sam and yes if that's ok".
"He should wake up soon. It's just exhaustion and the drugs that's got him sleeping, but feel free to chat to him and talk to him when he wakes. We would like to see him awake and alert sooner, rather than later. I hear he's quite the hero, saved two men off the boat that sank?"
"Yeah, he did".
"We will make sure he is well taken care of,Sam".
"Thanks."

Sam went to his brother's side and stood next to his bed his fingers idly rubbing over the tattoo on his arm. "See you're gonna be ok again Dean. But I need you to wake up again baby. Come on show me those beautiful big green eyes of yours."

Sam picked up Dean's hand and was rewarded with a squeeze back. "That's it De you can do it baby, open em up for Sammy." Sam squeezed Dean hand.
"I'm the only one that gets to call you that." Dean's voice was soft and slurry, but it sounded great to Sam,and he laughed softly at Dean.
"That's right, De just you. Now open those eyes, come on."

Dean's eyelids fluttered and he opened his eyes like it was a major effort. "That's it, good work De."
"Why are you talking to me like I'm a baby?"
"You are a baby De. My baby." Dean smiled up at Sam tiredly until he saw the plaster on Sam's forehead.
"You ok?"
"You always ask that. I'm fine we got the bad guy, again. And you were the one hurt again."
"I was hurt?"

Dean looked around for an injury. "Hypothermia is still an injury Dean."
"If you say so".
"Just lie there and get better so we can get out of here."
"I'm ok. We can go now." Dean moved to throw back the covers but he didn't have much strength back yet and it looked less than half hearted.

The cough he had didn't help sell it either. "Just lie there and relax at least for one day. The company's got the insurance covered, so just relax. At least until they unhook you." Sam rubbed a hand over Dean's face.
"One day." Dean said softy in Sam's ear as he moved in closer, for a light kiss on the cheek.

There was the sound of approaching feet and Sam pulled back from Dean as the curtain parted and Doug and Greg walked in. "Hey, there's our hero. Already awake and looking better." Dean looked around as if he was looking for someone.
"You,Dean." Sam prodded.

Dean gave Doug and Greg a small smile and was surprised when Greg came right up and hugged him hard, knocking the wind out of him. "Thanks Dean, I really owe you for getting those guys said you would and you did. I'm mighty grateful."

Greg looked embarrassed at his babbling. "We're all grateful Dean. We really are. We will be recommending you for the award for bravery that they give out in San Francisco." Doug had a big smile on his face, but Dean looked horrified.
"Ah no, it's ok, just part of the job." he rasped, his throat quite sore.
"Don't worry Dean. I'll make sure the nomination goes in. I won't forget."
"Oh God, kill me now." Dean muttered low enough only for Sam to hear.

Sam decided on a change of subject to save Dean's sudden red face "How are those two guys?"
"They are fine, thanks to Dean. Being treated for Hypothermia and shock should be out tomorrow. I'm sure they will come see you before they leave. One of the guys you saved, John Aimes, his wife will want to meet you. They had twin girls three weeks ago. To say she's relived is an understatement."
"Anyway" Doug started "we should let you get some rest."
"Good idea, you get better soon Dean. We want to see you guys back on deck."

The rest of the crew had no knowledge of their temporary position. Greg shook Sam's hand and patted him on the shoulder, then to Dean's dismay wrapped him up in another hug even though Dean held his hand out.

Doug let Greg start to walk out before turning back to Sam. "I saw the red and green flashes during the storm. Does that mean our problem is gone?" Sam had given Doug the heads up to their plan before they left dock that night.
"Yes, there shouldn't be anymore problems as far as that goes".
"That makes me feel safer." Doug smiled "Thanks for your help boys, and get better soon Dean. I will see you before you leave town." Doug pointed to Dean and gave him a funny look as if he had a secret he wanted to share.

Sam convinced Dean to take another sleep and he woke up at lunch time in a normal hospital room with a doctor hovering over him and Sam standing with his arms folded not looking pleased. "Hello, Dean. How are you feeling?"
"Fine". Doctors were not his favorite people.
"Sam was telling me you threw up some seawater when you were bought aboard the ship this morning. Do you remember what happened?"
"Yeah. I sank a little before I was helped on board, breathed in some water. Found it hard to breathe for a few seconds then coughed it out then threw up."

Dean spoke slowly like it was hurting him to admit what happened. "We are a little concerned that you may have breathed some water into your lungs so we are concerned about secondary drowning. We need to keep an eye on you at until at least tomorrow night or the next morning just to be sure then you should be out of danger."
"So what I'm stuck in here until tomorrow night?" Dean looked grumpy.
"Yes I'm afraid so. But your brother can stay here with you if you would like." Dean cheered up, slightly.

When Dean woke late that afternoon and was surprised to see Bobby at his bedside not Sam. "Hey Bobby. What's up?"
"Nothing much, just sitting waiting for my 'nephew' the hero to wake up." Dean gulped he didn't like this hero stuff.
"Where's Sam?"
"Doug called by and asked Sam to go down and fill in a report about the 'incident' last night. He also said they were going to try and salvage some if not all of the boat that went down and he could offer Sam some cash if he wanted to help out."
"He's gone back out without me?"
"Keep your britches on."Dean had moved to get up, but Bobby pushed him back down gently.
"I checked the weather, the storm moved over and its as flat as glass out there said he will be back in the morning and to make sure you get plenty of rest."

Dean's face was despondent. "Want me to invite the reporters in that have been hanging around? That might cheer you up." Bobby joked.
"What do they want?"
"They want an interview about what happened. News travels fast in the big smoke."

Dean grizzled about dumbass reporters having no idea and then thanking Bobby for running interference, the last thing he needed was his face in the papers. Things finally got better when dinner was bought in, it was hospital food but he hadn't eaten in so long it tasted quite edible. All Bobby had to do was keep Dean busy until morning when Sam returned, 'that should be fun' he mused.

Bobby found it hard to keep Dean amused as the evening drew on , he was regaining his energy and feeling better. As Bobby hadn't had dinner, he suggested that he go out and get some food, and sneak some in for Dean. Dean of course was more than happy with that idea and promised to be good while he was gone. Bobby went out and grabbed some food for himself and Dean.

While Bobby was gone John Aimes and his wife dropped in to see him and was happy to see him almost climbing the walls to get out. John had been released and was on the way home, but he wanted to stop, and thank Dean. Johns wife fussed over Dean, as Doug had said she would, and Dean was as red as a tomato during their visit.

As they were about to leave John looked at Dean with the same look Doug had given him earlier in the day. "Dean we know that you were in the cabin when the boat went down and the cabin was closer to the surface than the locker when the ship sank. That means you had to swim down to us. I can't thank you enough for getting us out of there." Dean gulped looking down at his hands.
"Its ok man. Anyone else would have done the same thing."

John shook his head as if to disagree then seemed to remember his wife was there and pulled her to him. They thanked Dean again and left. They were gone only a few minutes before Bobby came in, cheering Dean up with a large paper bag smelling suspiciously of burgers.

That worked for a hour before he was bored again already so Bobby suggested they watch a movie on the small TV together, and it took more than half an hour to find one they both agreed on.

Towards the end of the movie a nurse came in with sedative for Dean to have a good night sleep and Bobby almost cheered with delight but promised he would stay with Dean for the night. Dean sent him off to his motel telling him to get some sleep he would be ok. Bobby waited until Dean was nodding tiredly like an owl, before saying goodnight, and leaving for the motel.

The next morning Dean was up and showered and sitting on the edge of his bed waiting for Sam before Bobby came to see him. "Where's all you're stuff kid?" Bobby was referring to all the IVs and monitors from the day before.
"Don't need em. Doc says I'm just being observed for the next twenty four hours then I can go. Cool hey."
"It won't come soon enough."
"Hey, have you heard from Sam? I thought he would be here by now."
"He said it was a big job. He'll be back soon."

Bobby spent the morning watching TV with Dean and going down to the kiosk for some more food as he was famished.

Sam appeared at lunch time, looking clean but very tired, and just in time too as Bobby was getting close to pulling a weapon on Dean, he was asking to call Sam so many times. Bobby excused himself to get coffee, while the brothers reunited. Sam gave Dean a soft kiss gripping his left arm at the tattoo, showing Dean how much he missed him.

Sam pulled out the lotion,apologizing not having been there for the previous night,and using plenty of lotion to make up for it. Bobby noticed how much more settled Dean was now that Sam was back. The other man Dean had helped out of the boat came to say thank you and was almost as gushy about it as John had been much to Dean's dismay and Bobby's glee.

Sam was very tired but stayed with Dean bringing him food from the diner down the street at dinner time and curling up on a chair for sleep. Dean eventually told Sam to go back to the motel and get some sleep. He wanted him back bright and early to spring him when he was cleared.

Sam left looking and feeling disgruntled, knowing he wouldn't sleep much with out Dean promised to be back first thing as the nurse administered another sedative to make sure Dean had a good night sleep. Bobby left with Sam assuring Dean he would see him before he left tomorrow.

TBC