She closed her eyes tightly for brief moment, feeling the sting of tears before she sensed someone approaching. The second woman stopped in front of her and held out a paper cup full of vending machine coffee which was accepted silently by the first. She offered a small smile to the teenager sitting next to the woman's right and he just stared at her before he looked down at the grayish carpet beneath their shoes that made the waiting room even more sterile feeling, if that was even possible.
Lisa reached out her other hand and tugged on Riley's fingertips, encouraging the slightly younger woman to sit down next to her. "Ben, why don't you go see if the cafeteria's open and get yourself a sandwich or something..." Lisa started digging around in her purse with her free hand for some cash until their mutual friend approached them.
"Hey Lisa... I was just gonna walk down there. I got it. C'mon Ben." Meg waved her money away before she smiled at the young man who just sighed before getting up. Lisa and Riley watched them go until Lisa spoke quietly.
"You okay?"
"I am so far from okay." She murmured, a fresh batch of tears stinging her eyes.
Lisa shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "I know we aren't exactly friends... But if you need anything..." Riley looked over at her boyfriend's ex. The mother of his child. "I may as well be on speaking terms with you since you're going to be in my son's life. It just feels intimidating." Her admittance was soft and took the other woman by surprise.
"Intimidating?" She couldn't help her tone. "You're the mother of his child. You're always going to have a place on his life." That made Lisa smile the tiniest bit. "I'm just his current girlfriend." That made the smile drop from Lisa's lips immediately.
Before she could dispute that statement, Sam approached, his own eyes bloodshot and red. "Hey guys. Mom and dad are trying to get a flight in as soon as possible, but the weather's shit out their way." Sam folded his tall frame into the chair next to Riley. "Fuck... This is so fucked up." He sounded exhausted and felt Riley's hand in his, squeezing gently. "He's still in surgery and they can't tell me anything." He ran a nervous hand down his face. The creases around the corners of his eyes were more apparent from lack of sleep. Sam suddenly remembered his nephew and leaned forward to speak to Lisa across Riley. "God... Ben. It's a school night. He's-,"
"It's fine. He can miss tomorrow." Lisa spoke softly. She glanced at her watch. It was nearing two in the morning and she fought another yawn.
"You want me to take you guys home? Have you eaten?" Sam fretted for a moment before he heard Meg and Ben approaching from their trip to the cafeteria around the corner.
"I can take you guys. You need to stay here, Sam." She spoke gently as Ben slid back into his seat next to his mom. "Cafeteria was pretty picked over." Lisa put her arm around her son's shoulders and kissed his head. "Listen, I know you guys are pretty far from here... Why don't you just stay with me tonight? Cas is out of town anyway." Riley looked over at Lisa and was thankful when she agreed. "Great."
Sam rose and Meg hugged him tight before Riley set down her coffee on the half wall behind her before getting up on shaky legs to hug her friend. Meg kissed her cheek before pulling back, a sad little smile tugging at her lips.
Sam and Riley hugged Ben before the two women who each loved Dean hugged one another for the first time. They didn't see Meg and Sam share a relieved look behind them.
"Thank you for the coffee." Lisa whispered and Riley nodded before they let go.
"Call or text or whatever when you guys get home." Sam spoke up. "Just let us know you got home okay."
"We will." Meg promised. "Love you guys."
"Love you too." Sam spoke for he and Riley before the trio departed the nearly empty waiting room. When he looked back at his brother's girlfriend, silent tears were pouring down her cheeks now that they were alone.
"Oh honey..." His own heart was breaking and to see her break down was like twisting a knife on his chest.
"Tell me he's going to be okay." Her hoarse whisper was gut wrenching. Her small hands unconsciously clutched the front the flannel shirt he was wearing. "Tell me, Sam."
His throat worked to swallow as his hands gently took hers. "He's a fighter. He's gonna be okay. I know it."
"I never should have let him take that extra shift." She sniffled. "This is my fault. All of it."
"No it's not." He didn't have the energy to argue with her right then. "Lets just sit here and wait for someone to tell us something. Sit, Ry." They sat down and she leaned into Sam, his arm coming around her shoulders. "Close your eyes, honey... I'm right here."
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Sometime later, Sam was awakened by his cell phone in his chest pocket vibrating. There was a text from Meg he'd missed from earlier. He glanced at Riley, who was dozing against him before thumbing his phone on quietly. "Cas? What the hell time is it?"
"It's almost five." He yawned. "I'm just sick about Dean. I'll be on my way in a couple hours. I feel so helpless. Out of all the weeks for a conference..." His words trailed off. "How are you and Ry? Are your folks coming?"
"We're a fucking mess." Sam shifted slightly, his back stiff from the waiting room chair. "They're trying to get a flight... Weather's holding them up."
"I'm so sorry Sam." Pause. "Meg went home? She texted me few hours ago."
"Yeah, she actually took Ben and Lisa to spend the night at your place. She didn't want them driving all the way to their house that late."
"She texted me when she got home." Cas sighed. "I'm gonna check out here and head to the airport. I should be home by noon. Can I bring you guys anything?"
"Just you. Thanks Cas. Be safe."
"See you soon."
There was a doctor paged overhead by the operator and Riley's eyes fluttered open as she startled awake. "Sam?"
"Right here." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Nothing yet."
"God... Please make him okay." She whispered.
Sam smiled a little at her quiet prayer and as if her prayers were answered, a nurse with blue surgical scrubs on came around the corner. "Sam?" Riley choked out and he froze for a second.
"Winchester?" She asked as she approached and they nodded eagerly, scrambling to their feet. "How are we related to the patient?"
"I'm his brother and this is his girlfriend."
"He's out of surgery. They moved him up to the ICU and he's on the ventilator." Riley closed her eyes tightly. "Broken leg was repaired and a fractured collarbone. He did have a concussion and some swelling on his brain..." Riley's fingers dug into Sam's forearm painfully, but he barely noticed. "...had to protect this airway until the doctor wants to wake him up... Let them settle him in his room and you two can go in. We have visiting hours and a strict 2 person limit, but I think they'll make the exception since he got out of surgery so late." She took a breath, noting the young woman's silent tears. "C'mon... Follow me." Sam tugged on Riley's hand and they followed the nurse past a couple sets of doors where she had to swipe her badge for entry. The ICU was sterile white and quiet other than the soft sounds of the heart monitors beeping softly. "Hey Heidi... This is Mr. Winchester's family." She smiled tiredly. "Take care you guys." With that, she was gone, disappearing behind the double doors at the other end of the unit. The nurse, Heidi, rose and came around the desk. She explained things as best as she could.
"Guys, he looks pretty banged up, but he's stable." She offered a smile. "I don't mind if you stay for a few minutes, but I'm sure she told you that visiting hours aren't until 9am." She paused outside his door. " I'll give you some time... then we gotta let him rest."
Tubes, wires and equipment was attached to Dean's still form. There was a gown placed across him, but it wasn't on his arms, just covering his lower half. Leads and electrodes were stuck to his chest and he had IVs in both arms near the bend of his elbow and another line of some sort in the underside of his left wrist. A large dressing was on the right side of his neck and fluids were running in there as well.
"Heart monitor," Heidi pointed to his chest wires. "He's on some fluids and pressors to keep his blood pressure steady... He was a little low in the OR."
"Can he hear us?" Sam asked quietly and the nurse smiled a little.
"I would like to think so." Pause. " But we do have him sedated, so I'm not sure what he can actually hear and understand." With that, Heidi leaned down, close to his left ear. "Dean, honey, your family's here..." Riley and Sam saw his eyebrows slowly furrow a few seconds later. "Atta boy. You rest now." Heidi straightened and patted his bare shoulder. "Guys, about 15 minutes, alright?"
Riley looked over at the large machine next to the bed, the one that had a large blue tube connecting Dean to the oxygen by way of a thin tube that was sticking a couple inches out of his mouth.
Sam stepped up behind Riley, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, his chin on her head. "Dean, can you hear me?" Riley's hand reached out to take Dean's as they stood at the bedside. "Dean, you gotta fight, brother. You gotta be here. We need you." Sam sniffled. "We love you, Dean."
Riley was already crying again.
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"Sam," Castiel was breathless, fresh off the plane as he approached the pair in the waiting area outside of the ICU. He hugged Sam first, then turned his gaze on the brunette before pulling her in for a tight hug. "Guys, I am so sorry I wasn't here..." He kissed her temple before pulling back. "I talked to Meg... She and Lisa are coming back up here Meg will take you guys home for a hot shower and some food.." Sam and Riley immediately started to protest, wanting to stay there at the hospital. "No. I insist. Lisa and I are just fine to be here in case there's any news. Meg will bring you two and Ben back this afternoon. I guess he was still sleeping anyway." Riley and Sam looked at one another before Cas offered a smile, his arm still around Riley's shoulders.
It was only a few minutes before Lisa and Meg approached the trio and more hugs were exchanged. Cas leaned in to kiss Meg before she handed her husband a fresh cup of black coffee.
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An hour later, Meg was loading the last plate into the dishwasher and she dried off her hands as she moved her gaze into the living room. Sam and Riley were sleeping on the couch on the lounge end. Sam was laying on his back with his feet hanging off the end and Riley was curled up against his side, his arm around her. They had both eaten, showered and changed into some fresh clothing courtesy of Meg and Cas.
Anyone else would have questioned the way the pair was sleeping, but not Meg. She knew as well as everyone else how close Sam and Dean were and how much he loved and trusted the two of them.
"Morning." Ben interrupted her thoughts as he padded down the stairs in Castiel's pajamas that were too big for him. "Mom go back to the hospital?"
Meg smiled warmly at him. "Hey honey. She's there with Cas. He flew on this morning. Your clothes are washed and folded on the dryer. I saved you some bacon and eggs. The teenager just nodded tiredly before heading in the direction of the laundry room. She pulled his plate put of the fridge to warm up in the microwave.
Ben reemerged a moment later back in his clean clothing from yesterday. "Thank you." He slid into the barstool and picked up his fork as she set the plate down in front of him before pouring him a lowball tumbler of orange juice. She sipped her coffee and looked over at Sam and Riley again. The brunette suddenly stirred and sat up.
"You okay honey?"
Yeah... Fine." She got up carefully and headed towards the downstairs bathroom. Sam hadn't moved and Meg and Ben heard the sink turn on in the bathroom.
"I'm gonna go check on her. You eat. I can take you back up to see your mom and dad when you're done."
Riley was sitting on the tiled bathroom floor when Meg tapped on the door. She looked pale and exhauated. "You okay Ry?"
"I'm so tired I feel sick." Meg studied her closely. Riley was sitting next to the toilet with her knees pulled up in front of her. Her elbows rested on her knees and one hand was covering her mouth. Her stomach heaved once and she closed her eyes tightly, trying to will away the nausea that threatened to overtake her.
"Meg?" A female voice interrupted them and Meg looked up to see Ruby in her scrubs. " I am so sorry... I got out of work late this morning. Damn night shift." Her face softened when she saw Riley sitting there. "Do you mind if i grab a quick shower? I smell like the hospital."
Meg patted her arm and spoke. " Absolutely. I'm gonna run Ben back up to the hospital. Sam's out in the living room sleeping." There was a pause and the two women exchanged glances. "Riley, Ruby will take care of you." The young woman didn't even reply.
"Honey," Ruby spoke soothingly. "Can I get you anything?" Riley shook her head slightly. "Let me get cleaned up real quick." They heard the front door close behind Ben and Meg a few minutes later. Ruby stripped out of her hospital scrubs while Riley sat next to the toilet, sweat rolling down her back. The water turned on and the tiny room filled with steam. Ruby showered quickly, hearing Riley retching into the toilet again. She wrapped a towel around herself before stepping out. Sam was standing in the doorway, looking worse for the wear. His red rimmed eyes eyes met his wife's and she sighed. She gave him a quick kiss before stepping around him to get some clean clothes from her bag.
Sam knelt next to Riley, his hand on her back. "You alright?" She took a couple squares of toilet paper and wiped her mouth before sitting back against the wall. Her eyes moved to his pointedly, trying to see if her friend was thinking the same thing she was.
He stared at her until the light bulb went off in his own head. "Ry..."
Ruby was in her yoga pants and a tshirt, toweling her hair when she approached the bathroom where Sam was leaning against the sink, looking down at his brother's girlfriend. He looked at his wife sharply and raised an eyebrow slightly.
Ruby froze in the midst of toweling her damp hair before she spoke. "Oh my gosh... Are you,-" Riley held up a shaky hand.
"Please please please don't do this now."
Ruby reached out to squeeze Sam's forearm. They shared a knowing look as Riley answered, her forehead resting on her forearms folded across her knees. "I don't even know for sure... I mean, I had my suspicions but now I can't even bring myself to..."
"Our secret." Ruby promised. The front door opened again and a voice called out.
"Anybody home?"
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Hey y'all!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review. Have a great week!
CitrineMama