Warning: hurt!dean;

This chapter: Dean's medical condition changes...

Chapter 8

John sipped on a cup of coffee while waiting for another one to brew. When the task was complete, he walked over to Sam and handed it to him. The two Winchesters were now in the ICU family waiting room, awaiting the time they could return to Dean's bedside. After Sam's breakdown, the two had barely spoken. John returned to the other end of the room. After some time, he spoke quietly.

"What's he like?"

Sam stared at the blackness of his coffee, as if all the answers lie there. He looked up as he heard his father's low, deep voice pierce the silence. "Huh?" He had not fully understood the question.

John turned around. "Dean. What's he like, now?"

Sam smiled sadly as he thought of his brother. "Dean is still Dean..." Sam gazed up for a moment, "but, maybe a little more emotional. Dean's been more up front about his feelings."

John grinned slightly. "Sounds like your mother." Sam sat up straighter. His father so rarely discussed his mom. John continued. "Women. They love to talk things out...share how they feel." He spoke almost wistfully, as if he was having a memory of his beloved wife.

Sam waited before speaking again. "Before going to Mason, some guy hit on Dean when we were at a bar. He grabbed her pretty hard, but she kicked him in the nuts." Sam chuckled slightly; he wished he could have seen the look on the jerk's face. His reverie was short lived as he recalled the look in Dean's eyes after.

"She." John said slowly as if he was trying the word on for size. He looked directly at his younger son. "You call Dean a 'she' so easily...like he was always one."

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I think after dealing with the cops and hospitals over the last few days, I had to make sure I didn't slip up. I know that Dean is still a 'he'...but it's getting so muddled in my head now. He's different, yet he's not."

"How long has it been?" John inquired.

"Six days."

John took the seat next to his son. "What happened?" Sam spent a few minutes and relayed the story to his dad. John stayed silent for a time, thinking. "And you checked out the waitress and the bar?"

Sam nodded. "No paranormal activity. She wasn't a demon."

"Well," John responded, "once Dean is better, we'll look into it and reverse it." He said with conviction. Although Sam would never admit it, there was something comforting about the tone in his dad's voice.

"Dad?" Sam asked quietly.

"Yeah?"

"After that jerk in the bar, Dean admitted to me how scared she was that she wouldn't be able to hunt or to fight." Sam swallowed heavily. "And after this..." His voice choked and he closed his eyes as images of what Dean likely suffered flooded into his mind.

His father had nothing to say, but placed his arm on Sammy's shoulder.

Dean made steady improvements over the next two days. The medication she needed to stabilize her blood pressure was turned off. Sam and John were ecstatic to learn that in addition to the breaths Dean received by the machine, she had taken a few breaths of her own.

Sam walked into Dean's room after grabbing a small meal in the cafeteria. He had no appetite, but he forced himself to eat to keep his strength up for Dean. He smiled at the nurse as he took his customary seat at Dean's bedside. He looked down and saw her wrists were bound to the bed. His eyes widened and he turned to the nurse. "Pam? What's going on?" He said as he pointed to her wrists.

"Dean opened her eyes briefly..." She began, but Sam interrupted.

"What? Why didn't you page us?" His anger was growing.

"It happened at shift change and was very brief, Sam. She started weakly pulling at her breathing tube in her mouth."

"So you have to tie her down?" He asked in an accusatory tone.

"Yes, Sam. We do. We have started turning down her sedation so she can awaken on her own. But, we do not want her pulling out her tube prematurely."

Sam settled a bit. "It just seems cruel, that's all." He said as he stared at her delicate hand.

"I know. But this is positive news. She's really improving. Just hang in there."

Dean's mind was foggy and muddled with confusion. She felt like she was floating and slowly, harshness was settling in. She heard faint beeps and other noises she did not recognize. She went to move her arms, but that action was impeded. All she could think was 'Sammy' as fear gripped her. She was not aware of where she was, when it was. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to open them. A kaleidescope of light bombarded her as her lids cracked open. She could barely focus as she was met with bright white colors. She thought she heard a voice, but it was hard to concentrate as pain ripped through her. She thought she was suffocating as she felt something in her throat. She used all her energy to try to move her arms to relieve the obstruction. All she could produce was a single tear falling from her emerald green eyes.

Dean's nurse turned back towards her as she heard a noise. There was a moan as she saw Dean's eyes flickering open and a single tear falling from one eye. Dean seemed to be in distress, her consciousness returning to her. Pam quickly went to the phone and called the doctor.

Dr. Nile found John and Sam in the waiting room. The two looked haggard as they stood to greet the physician. Their eyes were hopeful as they saw the doctor smile.

"Dean's awake." The doctor began. The two Winchesters let out a sigh of relief. "She seemed to be in pain, so I gave her some medicine. We are weaning her off the ventilator. I am hopeful that we may be able to pull the tube in the morning."

"That's good news, Doc." John added quietly.

"Is she awake right now?" Sam asked eagerly.

The doctor shook his head. "It probably took a lot out of her, plus I gave her pain medicine." He saw the disappointed look on Sam's face. "She'll awaken again, Sam. Don't worry."

"Can I see her?" Sam added.

"Of course." He smiled as he saw Sam rush off to her bedside.

Sam stood hesitantly at the door. As he watched Dean's calm face, she did not look any different than over the last few days. But, now there was hope. Sam grabbed her hand as he sat. He leaned over so he could speak directly in her ear and not be heard. "Wake up soon, Dean." He said as his eyes watered. "I can't wait to see you..." He dropped his voice even lower. "I love you."

Dean's eyes opened in the morning and this time, she was able to focus. She thought she might be in a hospital. She kept thinking of how she got there, why she was there. Brief images associated with pain and fear gripped her. Everything was so perplexing. Where was Sammy? She suddenly was staring into faces she did not recognize. She felt her eyes widen and her heart race. She started to pant wildly.

"It's okay, Dean." Dr. Nile spoke slowly and calmly as he tried to reassure her of her safety. "You are at Los Angeles Memorial Hospital. You were hurt."

Dean used all her energy to try to speak, but all she do was moan weakly around the breathing tube. She felt a tickle around her wrists.

She heard a female voice. "I'm your nurse, Kara, Dean. I am going to untie your hands."

The doctor spoke again. "Dean, we will get that tube out of your mouth soon, but please don't pull at it. We need to take care of a few things first." He paused. "Do you understand me?" He asked kindly.

It took a bit for the command to register through Dean's mind. But, she mustered some energy to be able to nod her head. She tried to keep her panicking at a minimum. She heard voices conferring for a time. She never felt so alone at that moment. All she wanted was to see her brother, to understand what was happening. She could not help the tears that fell.

After an eternity, people gathered around her. She heard the male voice again.

"Okay, Dean. We are going to remove the tube. When I tell you, I want you to use all your strength and blow out. Okay?" Dean nodded hesitantly. Dr. Nile took one last look at the numbers and looked back down at Dean. "On the count of three, Dean. One, two, and three...blow."

Dean gasped as the offending tube slipped out of her throat. She coughed and gagged for a moment as an oxygen mask was placed over her mouth. As she settled, her fatigue was overwhelming. She closed her eyes briefly, but then she heard the same voices again.

Dr. Nile spoke. "You did great, Dean. I need you to do a few things for me. I know you feel weak but can you squeeze my hands?" Dean concentrated and was able to lightly grip his fingers. "Great. Do you feel me touching here?" The doctor grasped her toes and touched her legs. Dean nodded.

She had so many questions to ask. She tried to speak, but felt like she couldn't find her voice. She feebly batted at her oxygen mask and the nurse removed it briefly. Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. She felt so tired.

"S-s-s-a-a-m-m..." She whispered as she closed her eyes. She had no energy left.

"Your brother is here." Kara looked to the doctor to see if she was ready for visitors. He nodded. The nurse went to the phone and called the front desk.

Sam's hands felt restless as he practically sprinted down towards Dean's room. They had told him that Dean asked for him. He knew his dad was eager to see her, but the eldest Winchester understood and stayed behind for the time being. Sam's heart was racing in anticipation. When he stepped in the room, he was so happy when he saw the tube out of her mouth. She seemed to have some thin tubing in her nose. The nurse smiled at him when he entered.

"She did well when we took the tube out. She started on a mask and now we have a simple cannula in her nose. She still needs a little oxygen and that will provide it. She was asking for you." She smiled and then stepped just outside to give them a little privacy.

Sam let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he sat down. " Dean?" He spoke almost reverently. His heart nearly exploded with excitement as he saw her slowly open her emerald green eyes. He grabbed her hand and placed a chaste kiss upon them. "God...Dean..." Tears fell from his eyes.

"S-s-a-a-m-m-y..." Dean slowly turned her head towards him and weakly smiled as she saw her brother for the first time. Relief flooded through her. He was there and he was real.

"Thank God..." He whispered as he brought her hand to his face.

Dean had to concentrate to speak. Her throat hurt, it felt foreign to her. She was fixated on Sam's face. Her voice was so low, Sam had to lean in. It took some time for all her words to come out. "Y-you're h-here..."

"I am, Dean. Everything will be fine. You're safe, now. Okay? You're safe." Sam insisted to reassure her and himself. He stroked her hair gently.

"F-found m-me..." Dean said as her chin trembled and a tear fell down her sculpted cheek.

He reached up to wipe her tear. "I did. I'll never let you out of my sight again. I swear to you." He said with fire in his eyes.

Dean tried to smile as she was comforted for the first time since returning to consciousness. She closed her eyes as she felt Sam's light touch on her hand. "So t-tired, S-s-sammy..."

"I know, Dean. Just rest...I'm here now. Just rest."

TBC...