Alternate Life or Real Life?

Disclaimer: as per chapter one.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Belle gasped and her eyes snapped open, she stared wildly about while she fought to gain her breath.

'Belle, hey Belle it's okay, you're okay.' Dean soothed her, damn when did I inherent a female Sam?

'Sam ... have to help Sam,' Belle said her voice still breathy, 'he – he.'

'He what?' John demanded stepping closer to Belle, 'what are you talking about?'

'Dad please.' Dean said as he looked up and glared at his father before turning his attention back to Belle, 'it's okay Belle, get your breath, how do you know Sam's in trouble.' Now there's an oxy moron.

'I – I'm not sure, it was like I could hear his voice calling me, he said ... ' Belle frowned and tried to remember.

'He said what?' John said, his frustration sounding in his voice.

'Dad.' Dean hissed, yep another Sam on my hands.

'Danger, he kept saying danger, and trouble.' Belle turned her tear-filled eyes to Dean, 'I am so sorry Dean but it was just whispers, I thought I was dreaming at first.'

'Why would he call you instead of his brother or me?' John demanded, his anger building, time was wasting and the lines were getting blurred more and more, he needed to get back to the hunt but he had to make sure Sammy was alright. He had promised Mary to look after him, their baby no matter what.

Ignoring his father, Dean concentrated on Belle, in a low steady voice he managed to calm her down enough for her to relax and not give the nurse any reason to come and check on her. 'Do you remember anything else Belle?'

'No, no just that there's danger for us, but I feel it's more to do with him.'

'Sounds like Sam.' Dean muttered under his breath.

'Doctor's coming,' Belle whispered, 'and Sam's not with him.'

'We'll leave and let you get some rest,' Dean stood up and frowned at his father, 'Dad we had better go back to where Sam's bed usually is, the Doc is coming.'

'How do you ... oh right.' John nodded absently, he still didn't trust the young woman and her claims that Sam spoke to her.

Just as they finished settling and making it look like they had been there all along the doctor swept into the room, he gave Isabelle a cursory glance and went straight to speak to John.

'Mr Mitchell.' The doctor held his hand out and shook John's with a firm grip, 'I was wondering if I could have a word to you about your son's condition.'

'Where is Sam?' Dean demanded.

Ignoring Dean the doctor concentrated on John instead, 'Sam unfortunately had another ah event during his treatment I am afraid that his condition has deteriorated considerably.'

'What exactly does that mean?' John asked, his own paranoia and suspiciousness started to rise.

'I had to have Sam placed in an isolation cubicle for his own benefit, he has had two episodes now where he has had to be revived by defibrillation. His heart has weakened to the point where now even a slightest infection could prove fatal.'

'But he was getting better.' Dean pushed himself between the two men and focused his anger on the doctor, 'what have you done to him?'

'I am sorry young man, but the virus your brother has attacked his heart, we have him connected to a heart monitor and ECG as we speak to see if we can pin point exactly what the problem is and why his heart keeps stopping, but until then we have to keep him isolated.'

'Can we see him?' John asked as he put a warning hand on Dean's shoulder.

'Certainly I'll show you where you can change.'

'Excuse me change?' John's inner warning alarms started to screech in his head, 'exactly what is going on Doctor?'

'It is standard procedure, when you visit a patient in isolation you are required to wear sterile scrubs, slips over your shoes, and a mask.' The doctor looked at both father and son, a slight frown on his face, 'I am afraid I must insist on this if you are to visit with Sam, also please limit your time to ten minutes, he is a seriously ill young man and needs his rest more now than ever.'

Dean opened his mouth to retort but John's grip on his shoulder tightened slightly in a silent warning. The doctor looked at the two men once more before nodding his head and turned to leave the room, again barely acknowledging Isabelle.

'Dad I'll be right with you.' Dean said as he lingered close to her bed.

'Fine Son but don't be too long.'

'Yes Sir,' Dean waited until both his father and the doctor were gone before he went to Belle's side, gently he brushed her hair from her face, 'hey Belle you awake?'

'Hey Dean.' Belle smiled, 'where's your Dad?'

'The Doctor has Sam in some sort of isolation unit, he says that ... he says that Sam has a weak heart and has to be kept away from any possible means of infection.'

'Then why hasn't he got me to heal Sam?' Belle whispered her face paling, 'what is he doing to Sam that he doesn't want anyone to know including me?'

'That Belle I am gonna find out, I'll be back soon, you be alright?'

'Fine, go I'll be here.' Belle gave him a small smile.

Dean went to leave and then turned around and went back to Belle, leaning over he brushed a gentle kiss on her cheek and then left to find his father.

After they had dressed in the appropriate sterile gear Dean and John followed the doctor into a small room, walled with glass. Sam lay in a bed in the centre of the room surrounded by monitors.

He looked so fragile, and so ill, his chest barely moved under the leads and patches connecting him to the different monitors and machines.

'Sammy?' John whispered, paling as he took in his young son's appearance.

'Oh Sam what have they done to you?' Dean muttered under his breath, he stood at the end of the bed and stared down at his brother, his anger rising, as his thoughts went back to just a week ago when Sam was complaining about the music they were listening too.

'Dad?' Sam croaked, as his hand weakly tried to push the oxygen nasal tubes out, 'where's Dean?'

'Right here Sammy, I'm right here.'

'Belle?'

'Hey I'm looking after her.' Dean forced himself to sound brighter and happier than he felt.

'Dang ... dang ... danger.' Sam got out before his eyes fluttered closed, his hand falling lifelessly at his side.

'Dad, we have to do something ... that doctor.'

'I know Dean can you smell something?'

'Aside from hospital disinfectant all over the place? Yeah, yeah I do ... sulphur.'

'Yeah, okay I need you to stay with your brother for as long as you can.' John said as he started to leave the room without looking back at Sam.

'Dad, I ...'

'Dean please just do what I say.'

'Yes Sir.' Dean watched his father leave, stripping off the sterile garb as he went, and then the young hunter went to sit next to his brother. 'Well Sammy it looks like it's just you and me.'

Sam moaned and fought to open his eyes, he had to get a warning out to Dean, and he could hear every word said, if only he could open his eyes.

'Sammy?'

'Dean?' Sam's hand flailed until he felt his brother's solid and warm hand, 'Dean.'

'Yeah man, I'm here, Dad's here too. Well he'll be back soon.'

'Have to get outta here, Dean ... demon ... here.' Sam tried so hard to speak coherently he started to cough violently.

'Sam, Sammy listen to me you have to calm down or that doctor will be back and I will have to get outta here.'

Sam heaved a shaking breath and tried to relax enough for the coughing fit to ease, 'where is he?'

'The doc?'

Sam nodded, he was too tired to try and speak again instead he squeezed Dean's hand tightly. Tears slowly fell from his closed eyes and made damp trails down his face, making him look even more fragile.

'Dude stay with me, Dad's gone to check things out, you just have to concentrate on getting better.'

Sam nodded and with a shuddering breath he let himself drift off to sleep, his large hand still wrapped tightly around his brother's slightly smaller one.

'Damn Sam, Dude you still got a helluva grip.' Dean muttered as he tried to wriggle his fingers free.

While Sam slept and there was no sign of anyone around Dean picked up the chart hanging on the end of the bed and flicked through it, making mental notes of the different notations on Sam's condition and progress. His breath catching when he read the medications list, especially the name of one in particular, that had 'experimental' pencilled next to it.