Alternate Life or Real Life?

Disclaimer: as per chapter 1

Author's note: So okay this one isn't as long as my other chapters, but ...

CHAPTER 12

Sam lurched towards the doctor, his only thought was to save his family, his brother and father from the doctor and that Demon. Feeling like he was moving in slow motion he finally managed to contact with the doctor's arm knocking the older man off balance.

Sam dropped to his knees following the doctor down towards the floor, stunned Dean stood staring at his younger sibling for a moment and then he shook himself and bent down to grab Sam just in time.

'Did I do good?' Sam asked blinking owlishly at his brother through his thick fringe, 'you okay?'

'Damn it Sammy, what do you think you were doing!' Dean thundered as relief washed through him, Sam was still okay.

'Gee a thanks would have been enough Dean.'

John hurried to his two sons and squatted down next to them, he couldn't take his gaze off Sam's pallid face and haunted eyes, 'guys we have enough time for that later but now we have to get out of here. Dean can you help Sam get up?' John turned his attention to the nurse staring at them, her eyes wide and still unfocused, she was starting to go into shock, 'Cate? Cate can you hear me?' Cate nodded unsure of her own responses, 'good, now listen to me Cate, I need you to help me get the boys out of here can you do that?'

'Ah yes, yes I can but what about the Doctor?'

'Sam managed to knock him out, I'll tie him to the bed.' As John spoke his gaze drifted to the bed and the IV bag of the black serum leaking onto the floor, staining it. 'Yes, yes now quickly, Cate, Dean get Sammy up on that gurney.'

'It's Sam.' Sam mumbled in protest, he felt so tired but almost alive again, a tinkling laugh sounded and that all-consuming warmth flooded his abused body once more, contentedly he closed his eyes and let Isabelle's presence wash over him. He almost felt safe again.

'Dad, he's starting to wake up.' Dean's voice came through the fog, confused he tried to open his eyes but they felt like they were glued closed. Cautiously he tested his arms and legs and then breathed out a deep breath he felt like he had been holding for too long. He was finally free of the restraints.

His tongue felt like it had swelled to double its normal size, he was so thirsty, a tiny whimpering sound startled him, was that his own voice? A glass pressed against his lips and he thirstily sipped from the straw. The cool liquid easing the fire in his throat. Again he attempted to open his eyes, this time he managed to open them, a bright light smothered his vision and made him cry out in pain, squeezing his sensitive eyes closed again.

'It's okay Sammy, I turned the light off.' A familiar voice spoke, in soft, tender tones trying not to frighten him anymore.

Gradually he opened his eyes again and stared blearily up at his father's face. Behind him was Dean and a young woman whose face he recognised but couldn't remember from where.

'Dad?' Sam whispered hoarsely, 'where am?'

'You're safe Sammy, we got you out of there.' His father grinned, trying to keep his tears at bay, 'as soon as you're better then we're out of Trinity.'

'Dean?'

'I'm fine bro, you just rest and take it easy.'

'No, no can't there's still danger.'

'Hey Sam take it easy Dude, you're safe and you're gonna get better.' Dean sat on the chair next to the bed and leant closer to Sam, 'listen closely Dude, you're gonna get better, and we're getting outta here, back to doing what we do best.'

'No Dean listen to me, there's another ... the Demon he's here.' Sam tried to sit up but a sudden sharp pain in his head made him wince and let his head fall back onto the pillow. His skin felt like it was crawling with unseen insects, frantically he scratched his arms and legs but he was too weak to put a lot of energy into it. 'Fuck!' He muttered as the itching turned into shivers, 'so cold.'

'What's going on?' John demanded turning to face Cate, 'what's happening to Sam?'

'Dean gonna be sick.' Sam groaned through his chattering teeth, as the meagre contents of his stomach forced its way up his throat, followed by black bile.

'I – I'm not sure, but.' Cate stammered as she pushed past the two men to reach her patient, 'but if you ask me, I would say he's starting to go through withdrawal.'

'Withdrawal? How? What?' John paced the hotel room impatiently running his hand through his hair, 'what did that Quack do to my son?'

'The serum, the serum would be the only medication that I could think of that would cause that kind of discolouration.' Cate said thoughtfully inspecting the vomit with a critical nursing eye.

'What the fuck is that serum?' Dean demanded as he finished cleaning up Sam's mess.

'I honestly don't know what it is comprised of, but from what Sam is going through I would have to say that there are some high potency drugs in the mix.'

'What now?'

'If Sam wasn't so weak I would say cold turkey but ... '

'But what Cate?' Dean stopped what he was doing and stared up at her.

'In his current state it may prove fatal, he has a weakened heart, his immune system has been all but destroyed as well as the fevers, and painful headaches, and well I just wish he was a lot stronger.'

'I can do this.' Sam wheezed as he laid back in the bed and stared up at his father, 'I can do this Dad.'

'I know Son, but ... '

'No buts, Dad I can do this.' Sam declared, swallowing down on the shivers and shakes as another coughing paroxysm silenced him.

'Okay Sam, just lie back and take deep breathes, in and out that's it.' Cate's quiet professional manner had an instantly calming effect on all three of the men. 'John, Dean we're going to need supplies.'

'Tell us what you need, ' John said, 'we'll get whatever you need for him.'

'Okay let me write a list, sit with him Dean and keep him calm.' Cate said, giving him a small smile and patted his arm, 'if he wants to sleep try and keep him awake.'

'No probs there Cate.' Dean smiled back, relieved that finally someone was willing to help not destroy his brother.

'Although I should warn you, this is going to be a hard slog for all of us, Sam is going to get angry, abusive, sick, withdrawn but none of it will be permanent it's just the drugs as he gets them out of his system. Think of it as a spider that just once it has it's little fangs in you and just won't let go no matter what you do.'

'Great, just great.' Dean muttered as he turned to look at Sam, 'hunting the nasties in Sammy that were put there by a man not by possession.'

'Dean!' Sam snapped, 'Dude it's Sam not Sammy!'

'Yeah, yeah how about you lie back and rest and no more cheek!' Dean growled and then gave Cate a wink.

While he finished cleaning up another mess Sam made as they talked, Cate and John went through the list of medical supplies they needed to help Sam. Dan sat down on the side of the bed and regarded his brother with an even stare.

'What? Have I grown an extra eye or something?' Sam whispered trying to sound lighter and a bit better than he was feeling.

'Dude you really scared me.' Dean admitted, his voice just above a whisper, 'when you got sick in the car I didn't know what to do, and look what happened I took you to the hospital of hell.'

'Not your fault Dude.' Sam grinned and then started to retch again, 'Dean I ... '

This time Dean was ready with a plastic bucket and held it for Sam while he finished vomiting more bile and other noxious fluids, this time the episode left him gasping for breath and sweating profusely. 'So cold Dean.' He whispered, 'so cold.'

'Hang in there Sam, okay it's going to get better.'

'No, so tired ... just want to go to sleep.' Sam's eyelids grew heavier and he stopped fighting to keep them open. 'So tired, just want to be warm again.'

'Hey Sammy, come on Dude stay with me.' Dean cupped Sam's chin in his hand and forced him to focus, 'that's it come on Sammy.'

'Dean, no have to go, too cold the light is warmer.' Sam's eyes fluttered closed and then seconds later he opened them again, 'Jess? Mum? I can see them Dean.'

'Nope it's just a dream Dude, they're not there.'

'They are in the warmth Dean, I have to go, I have to tell Jess.' Tears fell down Sam's cheeks as he gazed at the ones only he was able to see.

'Sam listen to me, you have to stay awake and stay focused, me and Dad are not going anywhere, and neither are you.'

'So cold, so tired Dean,' Sam wept openly, 'so tired of fighting.'

'Sam, don't you dare leave me, you hear me.' Dean shouted and shook his brother's limp form, 'don't you dare.'

TBC