Alternate Life or Real Life?

Disclaimer: as per chapter 1

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CHAPTER 18

Doctors ran along next to the gurney holding the IV bags high to keep the flow of fluids even and constant. The young man lying on the gurney oblivious to what was happening had his bloodstained face covered by an oxygen mask, 'no time left.' The Doctors all agreed they had to perform the transplant now if they were to save his life.

The donor was already prepped and ready to go, they had to get him in and start the transplant immediately.

The young man moaned and tried to push the mask from his face, as he started to cough, his breathing rough and ragged as though each breath was physically pulled from his lungs.

'We're ready to go.' The young doctor supervising the donor said as they finished prepping the recipient.

'Okay let's do this.'

The surgical unit bathed in a white light, before a shadow formed and maniacal laughter echoed around the staff and patients.

'Sammy?' Dean asked, sitting up and staring at the ill-looking young man in the bed. 'Nurse quick he's waking up.'

Sam moaned and tried to move but his body wouldn't cooperate, he blinked owlishly up at the face floating in front of him, the person looked very familiar, 'Dean?'

'Yeah it's me Sammy. Dude you scared the living daylights outta me.'

'Where?' Sam's voice broke, 'thirsty.'

'Can't give you anything until the Doctors come and see you, Sam you're gonna be okay.'

'What happened?'

'Dude don't you remember?'

'No ... it's all ... jumbled.'

'Oh it's good to see you finally awake Mr Sorenson.' The Nurse smiled as she came in, 'we were beginning to wonder that you were enjoying your dreams too much.'

'Thirsty ... can I get a drink?' Sam managed to get out, he had never felt so confused or lost, his hand hurt like hell, lifting it up he stared at the bandages encasing it to the fingertips. 'My hand?'

'The bite Dude, your bite was infected and had to rush you to hospital.'

'Bite?' Sam frowned, vaguely he could remember a demon dog biting him, but that was months ago. 'Where's Dad?'

'Somewhere in Montana I think, dunno he rang once while you were out but that was all.'

'But he was here ... the demon Grayson got him.' Sam pushed himself up and tried to get out of bed, 'Dean we have to go and save Dad.'

'Sammy hey, Dad's fine, there's no demon ... well not at the moment.'

'No, I remember the Doctor and Grayson ... they tried to use my visions.' Sam's fingers on his good hand twisted in the sheet as he fretted the cloth. 'They ... they killed Belle.'

'Who? Dude you lost me, I brought you here after you passed out in the car, I had to ring an ambulance ... Sam you've been in a coma for a week ... the bite had too many nasties and your immune system started to break down, so the Doctors put you in an induced coma to help you get better.'

'Coma?' Sam shook his head, the memories still fresh and haunting, 'the doctor he – he had this serum, I got poisoned and they were gonna do a bone marrow transplant. You were the donor.'

'Gee, there was a chance that you were gonna have me inside ya?' Dean grinned, 'Dude that is so kewl! But sorry it didn't happen Sammy must have been a wild trip though.'

'Dean – you sure, that this is real?'

'Why?'

'Well perhaps what I remember really happened and this is a dream.' Sam mused, 'Belle was so real.'

'So who is or was this Belle?'

'Isabelle ... she was an empathetic touch healer, they forced her to do it until it killed her.'

'Dude no one named Isabelle has been anywhere near you.' Dean shook his head, 'the only ones have been the nurses, and mind you I wouldn't mind to be in your place when they give you another sponge bath.'

'Dean!'

'What?' Dean grinned feigning innocence, he was just so happy to see Sam awake and talking.

'You're incorrigible.'

'Nah don't have a religion!' Dean quipped as he watched the nurse come back in carrying a small dish. 'Man oh Man Sammy.'

'Sorry to disturb you guys but Sam, the Doctor wants some bloods drawn for tests and then I can give you a sponge bath to make you feel more comfortable.'

'Thanks.' Sam said giving Dean a small-satisfied grin.

'Now that I'm not hanging around for.' Dean stood up and stretched, 'I'm just gonna go and ring Dad, let him know that you're out of the coma.' A shadow passed over Sam's face and he couldn't meet Dean's gaze. 'Sam what's wrong?'

'Nothing, it's okay go and ring him.'

Dean stared at his younger brother, taking in the pale cheeks and black circles under his eyes, the hollowness in his cheeks and the obscene amount of weight he couldn't afford to lose to begin with. 'I'll be back and we'll talk then.' Dean said a hint of warning in his voice, a warning that they were going to have a serious talk about their father.

After the nurse made him feel a lot more comfortable and clean Sam rested against the fresh pillows and stared sightlessly up at the ceiling, his turbulent thoughts gave him a headache as he tried to decipher what was real and what was the effects of the induced coma.

Unconsciously he picked at the bandages covering his hand, he tried to move his fingers and then he pinched them, but there was no feeling whatsoever in his hand or fingertips. What if he never did regain the full use of his injured hand? What good would he be to Dean and his father then?

'Sam you okay?' Dean asked quietly slipping back into the private room.

'Yeah I guess.' Sam sighed the other, whatever it was, although it still seemed more real to him than where he was now.

'I got hold of Dad's voicemail.' Dean's voice filled with unvoiced criticisms, 'so I left a message saying that you're out of the coma and on the road back to recovery.'

'Thanks, Dean ... I ... ah, I'm sorry for you know...'

'Yeah well ... okay Sammy spill it, what's eating you up?'

'Nothing.'

'Don't give me that Sam, there's something eating at you now what is it?'

'It's stupid Dean, don't worry bout it.'

'It's Dad isn't it.'

'Dean I –'

'He's got his reasons Sammy, but he knows that you're getting the best of care and that you're back on track.'

'What if I'm not though Dean?'

'What the hell are you talking about now?'

'What if my hand ... I'm no good for you one-handed.'

'Sammy ... I spoke to the Doctor after I brought you in ... you're going to need physical therapy but there is no reason why you shouldn't regain the full use of it.'

'Then why can't I feel it?' Sam sighed, 'why can't I feel my fingers?'

'Hey Sammy, you just woke up from a coma it's gonna take time for everything to kick in again.'

'And how can we afford to stay put?'

'Well I have shifted motels a couple of times ... but it's all good.'

'Dean, help me.'

'Dude what are you doing?'

'Getting out of here, I can't stay here Dean.' Sam said, he could feel the rising panic as he realised where he was.

'Sam talk to me what is going on?'

'Dean I – all I know is this is the room that they held me in with Isabelle before they took me to the labs.'

'Sam I –'

'Dean please, I dunno what happened but please get me out of here.'

'Calm down Sam, wait until the Doctor comes and we'll ask him, if he says yes then I'll bust you out of here.'

Sam sat back and looked around the room miserably, the memories of Isabelle in the bed next to him, of the constant injections of the poisonous serum. 'Dean I can't stay here, it's too...'

'Okay, okay just stay calm.'

'Ah now, Mr Sorenson you've had quite a time of it haven't you.' The doctor said as he walked into the room followed by a young intern and a nurse. 'I am Doctor George Wells, I've been looking after you.'

Sam stared at him in stunned silence, all he could see was that face, the same face and the same doctor who forcibly injected and tortured him. 'What are you doing here?' Sam rasped, 'Dean? Dean what's going on?'

'Sammy, hey calm down Doctor Wells here is your doctor.'

'No, no I'm getting out of here.' Sam insisted as he pulled out the IV drip and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

'Sam get back in bed now.' Dean snapped as he jumped up and tried to stop Sam from getting out of the bed.

'No Dean you don't understand ... please.' Sam dropped his voice and refused to look up at the doctor, 'please just let me go.'

'Doc?' Dean looked over at the man. 'What do you think?'

'Well, it's against my wishes but I can't hold him here, he's not a prisoner. I'll get the paper work organised if he is determined to leave, but you will have to sign a form stating that you are leaving against medical advice.'

Sam nodded his head and kept his gaze averted from the medics, 'help me Dean please.' He hated pleading his brother for anything, but the thought of one more night in that hospital with that doctor made him feel like throwing up.

The doctor shook his head and gave the nurse instructions for Sam's release and then he left with the intern in tow.

Dean stepped back from Sam and stared down at his baby brother, 'okay Sammy spill.'

'Just get me outta here.' Sam said, 'I'll tell you everything after we leave here.'

'Okay, but you show one tiny fraction of getting worse and we are hauling your ass back here even if I have to drag it myself.'

'Dean ... thanks.' Sam managed to get out, and then trying to conserve his waning strength he concentrated on getting dressed, 'let's get going.'

Two men stood watching out a window on the top floor of the hospital, as the two brothers made their way to the black impala, then as the older one helped his sibling up and into the car.

'Is this the right thing to do?' Doctor Wells asked without taking his hungry gaze off Sam, 'it would be much easier to keep him here.'

'No, no it's fine, we can still accomplish our objective even if he leaves. Perhaps it may work to our advantage.'

'How so?'

'If we give him time to recuperate, to feel safe again then their guards will be down and then we can go in ... '

'Ah I understand completely, very good Mr Grayson very good.'

TBC