Alternate Life or Real Life?

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CHAPTER THREE

Dean paced the reception area, the receptionist Sheryl had gone to find one of the nurses to take him to the ward where they placed Sam. Frustrated he pushed his hand through his hair once again, even with a few hours sleep and a meal he still felt on edge and exhausted. Worry for Sam, and the fact that there was no word from their father made Dean's meager sleep restless and tiring.

'Mr. Mitchell?' The nurse Grace said as she cleared her throat, she strode towards him with an air of efficiency about her. 'Ah yes you're young Sam's brother aren't you.'

'Yeah so where's Sam?'

'He is on the wards and resting comfortably, the doctor would like to speak to you before you see your brother.'

'Sorry lady but I'm through waiting, the doctor can come to me, where is Sam?'

'I-I this is most unusual Mr. Mitchell the doctor prefers to speak to you first before you go on to the wards, it doesn't upset the patients routines that way.'

'I don't give a flying…look I'm tired, angry and just want to see how my brother is doing, now either you can take me to see him or I will go and find him myself.' Dean declared as he stood firm, crossing his arms over his chest he stared unblinking at the nurse, slowly he arched an eyebrow and silently challenged her to take him on.

'Very well, Mr. Mitchell if you would follow me, but, please remember, not to disturb any of the other patients and please be quiet.' Grace said her voice low and menacing as she strode off not waiting to see if Dean was following her.

They walked through the sterile corridors, small two-bed wards lined the passage way, after walking down two steep ramps and through several passages she finally stopped walking and paused with her hand on a door handle, 'very well Mr Mitchell your brother is in this room, he does have a room mate so we would appreciate it if you do not disturb her at all.'

'Yes Ma'am.' Dean nodded his head with a serious look on his face; his only thought was to make sure that Sam was okay. 'I promise.'

Grace stood staring at him for a few seconds barring his way into the room, then she shook her head and opened the door for him, sliding an electronic key through its slot to gain entry.

Dean took notice of the security device and which pocket she returned the keycard to, with a bright smile he thanked the nurse and hurried into the room.

'Hi Dean.' A young woman lying in the bed closest to the door spoke to him, 'you're Sam's brother?'

'Yeah, hi you Sam's roomie?' Dean's grin faded as he took a closer look at the patient, she had long dark hair fanning her face on the pillow, though her face devoid of any colour except two large black circles surrounding her pale grey eyes, her lips looked dry and sore. Assorted cords and tubes disappeared under her hospital gown and reappeared connected to the monitors surrounding her bed. But, the most eye-catching thing was the leads connected to two small patches on each of her temples. The sheets tucked high over her chest hid her body from view.

'Yeah Isabelle, but I prefer Belle.' She said as she licked her dry lips, 'Dean I don't have much time but please listen to me.'

'What is it?'

"Sam…you have to get him out of here, now! Before they get …' Belle stopped speaking and gasped in pain, squeezing her eyes shut as her body started to buck with convulsions and then suddenly, just as quickly as the attack started it stopped. Panting heavily she opened her eyes and tried to focus on Dean's face. 'Get Sam out of here Dean please.'

'Belle? You okay? Want me to get the nurse or someone?'

'No! No, please they are the ones.' Belle stopped speaking as her eyes moved to the door way, 'please go to your brother Dean.' She whispered as a hissing sound came from the door, someone was swiping a keycard.

Biting his lip Dean nodded and stepped around the curtain to where Sam lay in his bed, his breath caught in his throat as he stopped short and stared in shock at his baby brother.

Sam was hooked up to leads, cords and tubes exactly the same as Belle, including the two patches attached to his temples. His face looked bruised and swollen, large dark circles under his eyes and his skin had a deathly pallor.

'Sam?' Dean whispered trying to calm himself before he reached his brother's side, 'Sammy can you hear me?'

'Dean?' Sam asked hoarsely, his eyes opened slowly and he blinked furiously trying to focus on the familiar face.

'Hey Sammy…feeling better?'

Before Sam could answer the doctor appeared just behind Dean, a small smile on his lips but his eyes were dark and cold, 'Mr. Mitchell, the nurse told me that you insisted on me coming to you here.'

'Yeah I wanted to see Sam.' Dean said, sounding a little more defensively than he wanted to. 'So Doc what's the prognosis?'

'We are still waiting for some of Sam's test results to come back before I can give you a definitive prognosis.'

'What's wrong with me Doc? Come one just tell me please.' Sam implored the doctor, he was so tired and his head hurt unmercifully. But now, now it was more than that, his chest burnt like his hand and he couldn't move. He could feel his arms and legs alright but he couldn't move them, if he wasn't in a hospital bed and if he could feel them he could swear that he was restrained physically to the bed.

'For now Sam all I can say that it could be viral infection that is resistant to the usual forms of treatment. It stems from the bite on your hand, whatever bit you is a carrier.'

'So you're saying that my brother is suffering from some dog's disease?' Dean asked staring intently at the doctor, refusing to let the medic 'off the hook' so soon.

'Not in so many words but yes the dog is most definitely the cause of the virus.'

'So what can you do?'

'For now monitor his condition, keep the fluids up and treat the infection with large doses of antibiotics until we have all of the results in.'

'Why can't I move Doc?' Sam asked, 'my arms and legs I can't move 'em at all.'

'Unfortunately you became rather violent during your attack Sam and the nurses had to restrain you, just as a precaution you understand we didn't want you hurting yourself anymore.'

'So why is he still restrained?' Dean demanded without taking his gaze from Sam's face and the stricken look he wore.

'Until we are satisfied that he no longer poses a threat to himself or to the nursing staff.'

'Look at him Doc he can hardly keep his eyes open, somehow I don't think he's going to be fighting anyone.' Dean snapped, letting his anger and frustration boil over.

'Hey Dean, it's alright.' Sam said though his voice was barely audible, 'the Doc knows what he's doing.' Just as he finished speaking, Sam cried out in pain and squeezed his eyes shut, tears forced their way out and fell down his face as convulsions wracked his painfully thin body once again.

'What's going on Doc?' Dean demanded as he tried to hold Sam and calm him down.

'Stand back and give me some room Mr. Mitchell.' The doctor said pushing Dean physically out of the way and using his own body blocked Dean's view of Sam.

He produced a small syringe from his pocket and injected the contents directly into Sam's neck using his other hand to cover the hapless young man's mouth, effectively silencing him. The seizures slowed and finally the doctor stepped back to let Dean move back to his brother's side.

Sam laid quietly, tears streamed down his face, he kept his eyes closed but he was aware of his surroundings. The sound of Dean's voice calmed his tumultuous emotions and breathing, he just wanted the doctor to leave them alone.

Then, as though on queue Isabelle started to moan and thrash about in her bed, making the doctor leave the cubicle and the two brothers alone finally. Slowly Sam opened his eyes and smiled up at Dean, his relief so evident on his face.

'Dean.' Sam whispered, 'where is he?'

'Just next to us with Isabelle,' Dean answered in hushed tones, leaning closer to the younger Winchester sibling, 'how you doing Sammy … really doing.'

'Not so good but Dean … something's not right.'

'Yeah tell me about it, Dude you look like death warmed up.'

'No, not me, this place something is really weird here Dean.' Sam strained to stay awake and to keep talking but he was overwhelmed by a sudden lethargy that left him heavy headed and exhausted. 'So tired Dean, so cold.' He mumbled as his eyes closed, unable to keep them open any longer, 'so cold.'

'Hang in there Sammy, I'm gonna check things out.' Dean promised, as he pushed hair from Sam's face, 'you sleep and I'll be back.'

'Dean don't go!' Sam cried out his eyes snapping open, 'don't I … argh!' A vision assailed Sam's senses, bursting to life in his mind, assaulting his already sensitive nerves and frail body.

"Sam, Sammy come on Dude talk to me.' Dean said as he caught Sam's face in his hands, 'look at me Sammy.'

Sam's eyes snapped open, his eyes clear and sharp as he stared up at his older brother, 'Dean it's this place, it's the hospital.' Sam gasped as his muscles started to seize and convulse once again.

Isabelle laid silently in her bed, the doctor fiddled with her monitors with his back to her; she listened to the voices from the other side of the curtain. She had to help them, before the doctor could get at Sam completely. It was too late for her but not for Sam, not yet anyway.

TBC