As usual, I am just blown away by the response to this story. Thanks to everyone following and especially to hotshow. Without her input and enthusiasm, Lil' Sammy never would have come to be. Thanks again! (I figure one more chapter will wrap things up. It's been fun!!)
Chapter 21
Mike met Joe and Gunth just outside the ER. Reid stayed inside with Singer. He did not know what good friends the two men were before tonight. Reid was insisting on staying with Singer past their shift, to the point of telling Mike to just take the cruiser and go home. That was not happening.
Joe handed over a mug shot of Elizabeth Jeffries. "Thanks," Mike said, stuffing it in his shirt pocket, "this will come in handy when those guys wake up. She much trouble?"
Joe laughed. "She was, but not anymore." Gunth was grinning more now than he did during Bob's bachelor party.
"What happened?" Mike leaned in the car window, resting against the car.
"We got to wondering if that woman was mentally stable," Joe said, eyes sparkling. "Got the resident psychiatrist here to come see her."
Gunth laughed from the passenger seat. "Man, it was great! She saw the doctor and started screaming, calling him a quack. Demanded we call her hospital."
"So I did," Joe added with a nod to Gunth. "Didn't I? Her hospital said their doctor Jeffries was taking some personal time and could not possibly be in our drunk tank."
"And?" Mike asked, when both Joe and Gunth fell into silent grins.
"And the doc admitted her. She's a psych patient now. We don't have to deal with her."
Mike saw Joe in a new light. The man was a veritable genius. "You're good," he said, shaking a finger at Joe. "Really good."
Joe reached through the open window to slap Mike's hand. "Aren't you supposed to be off duty now?"
"Yeah, but Reid wants to stay. Guess he and Old Man Singer are friends," Mike replied with a shrug.
"Really?" Joe and Gunth exchange a look of surprise. "You staying, too? Or you want us to give you a lift? I'm sure Reid wouldn't mind."
"Nah," Mike shook his head, "I'll wait. I'm kinda curious to hear the story those guys have anyway. Thanks again for the pic."
"Okay, Mikie. Call if you change your mind!" Joe's arm waved out the window as they drove off. Mike headed back inside.
Reid was still in the same seat, but Old Man Singer was nowhere in sight. Mike took his place from earlier, next to Reid. "What happened to the old man?"
Reid chuckled. "That old man would probably knock you on your ass if he heard you talking like that."
"Have to catch me first," Mike replied evenly.
"Good point." Reid replied, shooting Mike a quick grin. "One of the nephews was coming out from the anesthesia, had the staff worried for some reason. They asked Bobby to come back there." Reid studied him for a moment. "Don't have any kids, do you, rookie?"
Mike shook his head.
"You work a lot of hours, Mike. Any girlfriends?"
Mike stared at his partner for a moment. They had been working together for six months, and this was the most personal question Reid had ever asked him. "Uh, no. Not really."
Reid's brows drew together. "You don't have to answer this one, but I'd appreciate it. Just so we understand each other. Do you like girls?"
Mike's mouth flopped open. "What?"
Reid shrugged. "Not judging you. Just want to understand you better, rookie."
Mike shook off his shock. "When I date, she's always female. Feel better?"
Reid sighed, looking out the glass doors. "That's not why I asked, Mike."
"Then why did you ask?" Mike stared at his partner. Reid was one of the best, Mike had learned volumes in the past six months, but the man had the ability to throw verbal curve balls unlike anyone he had ever met.
Reid met his eyes. "Just to understand you better. Like I said."
Mike looked away first. Reid's gaze was just that intense. It made him feel like the man could stare right into his soul. "Think those guys will be up to answering any questions tonight?" he asked in what he hoped was a casual voice.
Out of the corner of his eye, Mike saw Reid looking out the glass windows again. "Maybe. Depends on how bad that thing got them."
The white swinging doors that led to the ER swung open and Singer stepped through. He motioned to them.
"Looks like you're going to find out," Reid said as he followed Singer. Mike stayed behind his partner, following only a step or two behind. Probably the reason he ran smack into Reid only a moment later. Reid turned to shoot him a strong look before shaking off the jolt Mike gave him. Mike grinned sheepishly, taking a step back.
One of Singer's nephews was strapped down to a hospital bed. Usually people restrained like that were violent. This guy just looked around, clearly confused.
"Bobby? What are you doing here? And where's Dean?" The guy sounded worried, but calm and rational. Perfectly normal, considering the circumstances.
"Sam? How you feeling?" Singer asked softly, approaching the bed. Mike did not know the old man's voice could sound so gentle. "How's the head?"
The nephew, Sam, frowned at him. "Uh, okay. Was I hit in the head? Feels like something's wrong with my side." Sam tried to turn in the bed, but the restraint held him firmly in place. "What the hell is this, Bobby?" His voice went from confused to angry and demanding in two-point-nothing flat. Maybe those restraints were justified.
"Need anything, Sam?" Singer pulled something out from under his jacket. It took Mike a moment to recognize it. It was a Batman doll. What this a joke?
Sam stared at Singer, his brow furrowing. "Bobby, did Dean put you up to this?"
"Up to…" Singer dropped the doll on one of those little hospital roller tables. "Uh, no. Sam, what's the last thing you remember?"
Sam groaned, falling back under the restraints. "Dean and I had an argument. I went for a walk, to cool off." Sam frowned. "Not too sure after that."
Mike pulled the picture of Jeffries out of his shirt pocket. "Mister Singer?" he asked softly. Singer turned, studied the picture for a moment, nodded. Mike stepped forward. "Mister Cooper, do you recognize this woman?"
Still shooting suspicious looks at Bobby, Sam tore his eyes away to look at the mug shot in Mike's hand. The young man shook his head slowly. "Nope. Sorry, officer. I've never seen her before."
"That's what I figured. Thank you, Mister Cooper." Mike stuffed the picture back in his pocket.
"So where is Dean?" Sam asked again. "And why the hell am I trussed up here?"
"Hang on, Sam. I'll take care of that." Bobby rushed out, leaving him and Reid alone with Sam.
Sam looked uncomfortable and Mike could not blame him. Not many people would look comfortable strapped down to a hospital bed.
Mike cleared this throat, making an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence. "Pretty brave."
Sam's eyes locked on him. Somehow Sam reminded him of Reid, same intense gaze. "Excuse me?"
"Going after that rabid mountain lion," Reid said. "I understand it got you pretty good on your side."
Sam frowned, looking down. "That's what hurts," he mumbled. Then louder, "mountain lion, huh? Did we get it?"
"Yes," Reid answered. "I helped Bobby burn it while you and your brother got the leisurely ambulance ride."
Sam's eyes snapped up at that. "Dean's hurt? Where is he?"
"Sam?" Doc Wayne came in, followed closely by Bobby. "How are you?"
Sam frowned at the doctor. "Where is my brother?" he demanded.
"Oh," Doc Wayne reached for the Batman doll, but Bobby caught his arm. "Uh, Sam, can you tell me how old you are?"
"If I do, will you tell me where my brother is?" Sam snapped back, clearly running low on patience. Doc Wayne nodded. "Fine," Sam heaved a great sigh, as though the information were extremely burdensome. "Twenty-three. Now, where's my brother?"
Doc Wayne smiled. "In surgery. His shoulder was pretty torn up. Much worse than your side there."
"Are you someone who can take these restraints off? I'm starting to feel like you're going to ship me off somewhere." Sam struggled under the heavy straps.
"Sure, sure. Hold on a minute, Sam." Doc Wayne rushed to remove the restraints, barking orders at a nurse who chose that moment to pop her head in to check on the patient. The nurse left a few minutes later, carrying the restraints out.
"Thanks, doc," Sam sat up.
"Whoa, whoa," Doc Wayne forced Sam back down. "You'll pull out all our good work. Just lay back."
"When will Dean be out of surgery?" That Sam sure had a one track mind.
"I'll check if you promise me you won't try to get up or do anything stupid," Doc Wayne said, hovering over the bed.
Sam grimaced. "Dean's the one who pulls stupid stunts, not me. Right, Bobby?"
Bobby let out a grim chuckle. "Got me there, Sam."
Doc Wayne rushed out, returning shortly. "Dean is in post-op. The surgery went very well."
"I want to see him," Sam insisted.
"No," Doc Wayne replied. "And if you try, I'll have you back in those restraints, Sam." Doc frowned at the young man. "I think you were easier to deal with before."
"Before what? Before I woke up?" Sam glared back.
"Nevermind. We'll be admitting both of you." Doc Wayne held up a hand as Sam's mouth opened. "I've already made arrangements to put you both in the same room." Sam's mouth snapped shut. "They'll be moving you in just a moment. Dean's injuries were a little more serious, so it may be an hour or so before he joins you."
Sam shifted in the bed. "More than his shoulder?"
Doc Wayne nodded. "He took a pretty hard blow to the head. It's probably just a concussion, but we're doing a CT scan to be safe."
Sam nodded. His gaze shifted back to Singer. "Sticking around for a while, Bobby?"
"You bet."
Reid cleared his throat. "Bobby, we'll be heading out now. If you need anything, give me a call."
Bobby held out a hand. "Thanks, Reid. I will."
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Sam waited for the local cops to leave before turning back to Bobby. He might have woken up strapped down to a hospital bed, but his eyes were still good enough to read the city and state embroidered on their uniforms. "What are we doing here, Bobby? Last I checked, Dean and I were a couple of states away."
Sam watched Bobby's face shift into indecision, something he rarely saw on the man's face. "Maybe we should wait for Dean."
"Bobby." Sam struggled to sit up, knowing his height made him appear imposing. Something Dean could do with a look. "What's going on? And what is all this about a mountain lion?"
Bobby leaned over to whisper, "Wasn't a mountain lion."
"I guessed that much," he hissed.
A team of nurses and orderlies appeared to move him to a regular room. This conversation would have to wait.
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They pumped some of those really good hospital drugs into him before moving him to a room. By the time he and Bobby were alone again, Sam only cared about going to sleep. When he woke up, the room was flooded with sunlight and there was a second bed to his left.
"Hey," he called out softly, hoping it was his brother. "Dean?" He was rewarded with a groan. "Dean, wake up."
"Now I'm not allowed to sleep in the hospital?" Dean's hoarse voice came from the other bed.
"Hey, man. You all right?" Sam asked, rolling on his good side, trying to get a good look at his brother.
"If I were all right, would I be here?" Dean demanded. Sam grinned, it sounded like Dean was just fine. "How are you? Bobby remember to bring up Batman?"
"So you did put him up to it, huh?" Sam shook his head. "Not one of your better jokes, Dean."
Dean's head snapped to the side, something Sam was pretty sure his brother should not be doing with a concussion. "What did you say?"
"I said the Batman joke was weak. I mean, the itching powder was better than that." Sam held up a hand. "Not that I'm volunteering for it again."
Dean struggled to sit up, pushing himself up with his good arm. He stared at Sam a moment before asking the very strange question, "Sam, how old am I?"
"What? Dean, what is…"
"Sam! Answer the question!" Dean barked, cutting him off. "How old am I?"
"Ah, twenty-eight." Dean was still staring at him. "Shit, did I miss your birthday again? What month is it?"
Dean chuckled, lying down. "Good to have you back, Sammy."
"Uh, did I go somewhere?"