Summary: What if Sam had a heart problem that didn't surface until now?
Disclaimer: I'll have them home by curfew!
Author's Note: So this chapter was done faster than I thought it would be. It would have been quite unfair to leave you all with that cliffhanger from Chapter 3. Reviews are love. Enjoy.
While We Can
Dean had been waiting twenty minutes too long. Doctors told him it was caused by the stress. That only caused Dean more guilt. He shouldn't have put that kind of weight on his brother, should've just let it go and assured him. He shouldn't have argued and tried to prove a point. His brother was all he had left, and after the heart surgery, he knew Sam needed him. He couldn't be up his ass constantly.
He spotted Carter walking towards him with a grin on his face. Good news was expected. He made himself comfortable next to Dean and watched him for a moment before speaking.
"Jack is okay now. But...I'm guessing Sam isn't." Carter mumbled. Dean didn't really know what to say to the kid. He wondered vaguely if he had looked as distressed as he was feeling.
"Yeah, he uh, he had a seizure." Dean rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension in his muscles from sitting all day. He didn't care though, he'd sit in this uncomfortable chair for his entire life as long as Sam was okay.
Carter hung his head, at a loss for words. He was 11 years old. He didn't know about medical terms and seizures and heart attacks and surgery. He knew healthy, sick, dead, and alive. His eyes held the reassurance Dean needed, but his words made it felt real.
"You told me that Jack and Sam needed to find their way back." He started, sweeping a stray lock of blonde hair from his face. "So, let Sam find his way back."
Dean stared at Carter, taking in his innocence. He was like an adult in a child's body. The kid wasn't stupid, and the way Dean felt reassured almost instantly was remarkable to him.
"Yeah..." Dean nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
Carter gave him a sympathetic grin, pulled his knees and rested his head on top of them. "I think he's okay."
Dean's brow knitted together, thinking he was some sort of psychic like Sammy, but with a turn of his head, he realized it was just that he saw Dr. Sedwick strolling towards him. He had seen too much of the guy.
"How is he, doc?" Dean asked, peering over at Carter. He smiled warmly.
"Your brother is fine. He's awake and asking for you." He clicked his pen and hung it in the folds of his coat.
Dean's face fell. Even though they had argued, even though Dean was the cause of Sam's distress, even though he had made Sam have a seizure, he still wanted him to be there with him.
"Yeah?" Dean asked, rubbing his hand over his face.
Carter nudged his shoulder. "Go."
Dean glanced from Carter to the doctor and stood up, smiling at Carter. "Thanks, little man."
...Supernatural...
When Dean sat down, something felt wrong. Something felt out of place. Sam's hand was cold to the touch and his eyes were full of worry.
"What is it, Sammy? Aren't you happy to see me?" He smirked, cocking his eyebrow.
Sam shifted his position, a change that caused his chest to burn and throb. He met Dean's gaze, but turned away after a while, not sure of what to say.
Truth was, he was scared. He was afraid of having Dean spend the rest of his time in a hospital with Sam. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to research and save Dean from his Deal. He was afraid he'd die before he could figure out Dean's way out of Hell before it was too late. He wanted to get out of the hospital and help his brother, and he couldn't do that if he was stuck in a bed for another two months. This whole healing process needed to speed up.
"Sammy? You with me?" Dean asked, his voice laced with concern, his eyes full of worry. He went into big brother mode, leaning forward.
"'m fine." He mumbled. It was always Sam's answer when something was wrong. It didn't surprise Dean-in fact, he expected it-and he brushed a stray curl off of Sam's forhead before he continued.
"Sam. You've gotta open up to me. Doc seems to think the stress caused your little episode." Dean lowered his eyes. "Sorry about that, by the way."
Sam furrowed his brow and gaped at his brother. "Dean. Don't you dare blame yourself. I'm sick of you thinking everything is your fault." He huffed the way only Sam Winchester can and shook his head.
Dean watched his brother for any sign of distress, wondering why he was on-edge all of a sudden. "Yeah, okay."
Sam flexed his hands, stretching his fingers outward and curling them in again. The movement didn't go unnoticed under Dean's watchful eye.
"Are you in pain?" Dean asked, flat-out. He watched Sam's eyes dart to him, then back down to the blanket. He tucked the hand that wasn't in Dean's grasp into the folds of the hospital blanket. He wanted to play this tough act with Dean, but they both knew it couldn't-wouldn't-last.
"My arms and legs are sore. Doctor said the blood just needs to reach them. Once the circulation is back, it'll be fine." He noted, making sure Dean didn't worry.
"Uh huh. So, any hot nurses?" Dean tried to keep Sam's mind off of the pain-he knew his brother was hurting-and on a different subject. Even though Dean didn't act too worried, he took Sam's hand in his and rubbed his fingers, wrist, and forearm, hoping it would help with the circulation problem Sam had described.
For once, Sam actually played along with Dean and didn't scoff at him for thinking of women all the time. "Nah, they're all old."
Dean chuckled. "Maybe one of 'em will give you a sponge bath." He said enthusiastically. Sam made a grossed out face at him and wrinkled his nose.
Sam was quiet for a while, and had his eyes shut, and Dean though he had fallen asleep until he spoke again.
"So, who's that little boy you keep talking to?" He asked, turning his head to face his brother.
"Oh, his name's Carter." Dean paused, again thinking about how closely they were related. "His little brother's in the hospital, too."
Sam thought back to the little boy Lucas, and how Dean had bonded. He never really felt the need to settle down and have kids, but Sam just knew that Dean would make a fantastic father.
"Is he okay?" Sam questioned, keeping the conversation going.
"Lung collapsed, but Carter just told me he was getting better." Dean said. He was hopeful for Jack's recovery. Somewhere inside of him, he just knew. There was no way that whoever kept this world going was going to take Jack away from Carter. Neither one of them deserved this. Just like Sammy didn't deserve what he was going through.
"That's good. That he's getting better." Sam nodded. He admired his brother. Admired him for the way he took care of everyone else but himself, how selfless he was. It bothered him that he didn't look out for himself as much as he should, but there was never a time in his life when he didn't feel safe with his big brother.
"Dean, I don't want to be here much longer." Sam sighed. He wanted to go to Bobby's maybe, drive around and take in all that they can, and Sam could research out the ass and save Dean. He needed that lifestyle, not this one.
"Yeah, I know you don't. But you've gotta get your rest." Dean pointed out. He knew all too well how Sam hated hospitals.
"I want to rest somewhere else, then." Sam declared, sighing through his nose. Dean made a face that had Sam feeling like he didn't even have to talk anymore, because Dean could play the conversation out in his head. He knew his brother like the back of his hand.
Dean desperately wanted Sam to stay in the hospital for as long as he needed to, so that he could rest up, because he needed it. He couldn't even imagine how he would feel if he took Sam home and he still needed more time. He got up and walked out of the room and Sam knew that he was going to talk to the doctor. He smiled to himself.
...Supernatural...
"Alright." Dean came back in and sat down on the stool close to Sam's bed. "Doc says you can leave early if you're feeling up to it."
Sam grinned. He would definitely be feeling up to it.
"But."
Oh great, conditions.
"But what?" Sam wrinkled his nose.
"You have to promise that once we go home, you do physical therapy with me for a month." Dean wagged his eyebrows.
Sam groaned loudly. Physical therapy with Dean was horrible. Dean would push his buttons and push him physically and it was so hard because Dean took advantage of it, too. He'd make Sam do extra work, and though they both knew Sam could handle it, he didn't want to handle it. Though he'd never say it, Sam was grateful for Dean's belief in him. It always got him through the tough spots.
"I'll tell the doc you'll stay." Dean said, getting up again.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Wait." He grumbled.
Dean grinned and chuckled, taking his seat again. "Works every time." He patted his chest. "I'm the best physical therapist there is and you know it."
Sam shook his head rapidly, but his lips soon upturned into a grin.
He'd tell Dean he wasn't, tell him he pushed him too hard and that he was annoying, but he was.
His brother was the best at taking care of him.
Read: Look, no cliffy! Okay. So. Here's the deal. Do you want me to end it soon-maybe do a chapter or two about Sam's recovery? Or did you want more Sam whumpage? Thanks for reading! Reviews are love!