Chapter Five: Lou

Beep

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There was the infuriating heart monitor again. Dean really hated waking up to that thing in his ear. It was bad enough the guy lying next to him had a wheezing snore when nightfall came. Opening his eyes Dean glanced over at the heart monitor. Susan was bent over the machine studying the rythm of the lines. He watched her for a moment realizing she hadn't seen he was awake yet. "Y'know..." She jumped and turned to him. "...you should really ask someone before you going digging around in ther personal stuff."

Susan set a hand to her chest. "Oh, Dean!" She panted with a laugh. "You frightened me. I was hoping I didn't wake you." She laughed a little louder at her sudden jump. "You heart rate isn't personal propertly if you're in the hospital on a heart monitor." Smiling as his half shrug she pulled the chair underneath herself. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was knocked around with a sledge hammer." Dean grunted as he attempted to lift a hand to his face. He gave up half way and let it fall down on to his stomach. "Where's Sammy?"

"He's with your father and Bobby. They're all getting something to eat right now. I told them I had to do a few tests and it would be easier if the room was a little less crowded. They got the hint and left." She chuckled. "You're doctor wanted me to check up on you."

Dean frowned. "Well I can understand checking up on me but my heart rate?" He watched as Susan looked away. "Susan, is there something else wrong with me?"

She shook her head. "Don't worry about that Dean. We'll take care of everything." Reaching out she took his hand in hers. "Are you hungry? You missed breakfast but I can get something from the kitchen for you."

Dean shook his head. "Nah, I have some wonderfully nutritious chocolate waiting for me in the drawer. I'll munch on that until lunch or something."

"Cause that's healthy."

"Better than nothing." Dean raised a hand to his mouth as he let out a few dry coughs. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm? Yeah, sure what is it?" Susan rested the clipboard on her lap.

"Was there...was there a girl who came in here recently? She would have been around twenty, mystery death possibly?"

Susan frowned. "Why would you want to know?"

Dean was quiet for a moment. God, why didn't he think this through? He was bad enough at making lies on the spot when he was healthy and sober, but right now he was sick and drugged out of his mind. "My friend's sister's fiance's cousin had something. She was telling me about it awhile back. I heard someone was brought in recently that fit her description so I guess I just wanted to see if it was the same."

Susan stiffled a laugh. "You're an unbelievebly shitty liar you know that."

Dean's jaw dropped. "Hey, I take offence to that. Considering you guys have me doped up harder then Courtney Love I did pretty damn good."

"Alright I'll give you that. Unfortunatly that information is not for me to disclose Dean. You will have to wait to hear from you're friend to find out what has happened." Glancing down at the chart she sighed. "I better get these to your doctor before he get too busy. You're family should be in to see you momentarily." Getting up from the chair Susan carried the board with her. "Rest up."

Once Susan was gone Dean relaxed into the matress. He felt so drained, so tired and for the life of him he couldn't remember the conversation he had just had. Maybe sleep was a good idea. "Pretty little thing isn't she?" Dean lifted his head at the voice. Glancing over at the curtain pulled between him and his roommate he frowned.

"Grandpa?" Dean questioned as he reached out and pushed the curtain aside. Yup, there was his roommate. The old man with the wheezy snore. He had tubes going every which way on his body. Dean guess he was spending his last days in the hospital. He was old, very old. Running around maybe his late 80's early 90's. It was hard to tell once someone hit 80 anymore. They were all wrinkled and white in Dean's books. This man was no different. Wrinkles covered his body, he was thin and the hair on his head was pure white and thinning in a horseshoe.

"Nurse Susan? She's hot right?"

Dean was a little taken back by the comment but smiled and nodded. "Yeah, she's pretty awesome."

The old man smirked. "I'd tap that any day."

Dean jerked his head at the comment. Was this old man for real? Maybe his roomies wasn't so bad. "Yeah?" He smirled. "A good way to go huh?"

"Oh yes. I'd die banging that broad anyday."

This time Dean laughed. For someone who looked like they were on their death bed all this man could really think about was banging Susan. "So, what are you in for?"

The old man looked to Dean. "You make it sound like we're in jail boy." The old man wheezed out a laugh. "Which isn't far from the truth considering neither of us is really allowed to leave and we may just die here."

"That's a little harsh. Shouldn't old men be looking on the brighter side of things at your age?"

"Boy, once you hit 97 there is no more brighter side. My last day is going to be spent in this bed. I would much rather have it spent at home in the house I built but then you die and cops get involved. Those morons could tell a natural death to a homicide any damn day. They're all donut eating pigs if you ask me. But...then again I'm only speaking of the ones that have really pissed me off."

"I know what you mean." Dean muttered. "I'm Dean, by the way."

"Dean? Nice to meet you. Name's Lou." The old man wheezed again. "Heard you got sick?"

"Seems like it."

"Y'know...you're quite young to be stuck in a hospital bed. You make sure you get better boy. At least one of us can get out of here without being carted away in a body bag."

Dean watched the old man, his mouth was hanging open as he wheezed. Lung problems, heart problems, tubes feeding him and giving him air. He was falling apart right before Dean's eyes. It bothered the older Winchester that he couldn't help this old man. A spell, a chant, anything to make him feel better. "You shouldn't say stuff like that. I mean...life is great y'know. Shouldn't be taken for granted."

"Ah, Dean. You're a kind lad to be giving me hope but after I hit 90 I knew my time was drawing near. I lived a full life. Had a family, accomplished my goals. I'm ready to move on to the afterlife whether it be the fiery pits of hell or the glory of heaven." The old man smirked. "Personal I just hope I don't come back reincarnated as an insect. What hanky panky would you get as a fly?"

Dean chuckled again. "I hear that."

"Well you ain't got anything to worry about. You still have a good sixty year before you croak and worry about coming back as an ass. Me...well...I'm heading off soon. You're a good kid Dean. A little cocky at times but good none-the-less. Take care of yourself."

"Yeah..." Dean turned his head forward to the doorway. Sam still hadn't shown up. Looking back to talk to Lou again he found the old man was asleep. As sick of a thought as it was Dean hoped he would go like that. Better while you sleep then when you're awake.

"Dean?" The Winchester looked up to the door as the doctor came in. He didn't look too happy. "How are you feeling? Any better today?" Dean didn't feel like he wanted to talk so he merely shook his head. Maybe the doc would think he lost his voice and leave him alone. "I didn't think so." This caught his attention. "You're flu has increased in severity, you're lungs are both infected and if we don't get you under treatment immediatly the infection will spread to your throat, eyes and ears as well as other internal organs. Because your condition is so unbelieveble serious we are going to have to place you in quarantine until your symptoms have decreased. Can you speak?"

Great now he had to talk. "Yeah." Dean groggily mumbled. "Why can't I stay here? Lou's about to kick the bucket anyways."

"Lou is suffering from a different type of lung infection. What he has coule be easily carried over to you making you even worse. We're placing you in quarantine for you protection not his. Right now your immune system is having a hard time fighting against all these virus' take home in your body. Another could surely cause severe damage. With your immunity so low you are vulnerable to worst of virus' in the end...your immune system could be defeated."

"Defeated?" Dean felt a streak of fear run through him. When he had been in grade school he had done a paper on the body's immune system. It was fascinating to know that you immune system was keeping out all the bacteria that would cause your skin to decay. "In other words...I'd die."

The doctor winced. "I wouldn't put it in such a way but yes, you could posisbly die. This is why we are sperating you from the other sick patients. We are preparing a private room right now that you'll be moved into shortly. You're visitors have been informed that you are being moved and will not come see you until you've been settled in the private room. Even then it will only be for a short time and only if they are dressed appropriatly."

"Dressed in what?" Dean wasn't liking the sound of this at all. The doctor seemed much too calm with the way he was explaining things. Didn't he understand that Dean had a job to do! People were dying and he was lying in bed because of some stupid cold. This was starting to get ridiculous. Dean Winchester was raised like a soilder! He was forced to grow up at the age of four! He was a hunter and a damn fine one at that! Dean Winchester was barely even scathed by spirits, demons and other supernatural creatures! There was no one in hell he was going to let a virus kill him.

"Scrubs. We wouldn't want anyone who is seeing you to get sick as well." The doctor then moved on to Lou. He seemed quite busy and flustered. Perhaps the body that had come in was in fact another victim of this underground cult. Whoever was doing it had to be found and stopped. Human or not. "I'll be gathering the nurses and we'll move you over soon. We'll be bringing a stretcher in to move you from this bed to that one."

Nodding Dean watched the doctor leaved before looking over to Lou. He was awake but instead of looking over at Dean he was staring out the window. "It was good chatting with you, boy." Lou mumbled as he wheezed again. "Maybe we can talk again sometime." Looking back over to Dean Lou smiled at him. For the first time Dean noticed that the man had crisp blue eyes.

XxXxXx

The move had been more the uncomfortable. Dean had nearly half a dozen people in the room helping him move from the bed to the stretcher. It was like he was completely helpless. Someone was moving his legs, someone his hips, someone his back, someone the bags, someone was removing the heart monitor and the last was making sure he wasn't flashing anyone the entire time. Didn't these people let their patients think for themselves? To say it was embarssing was the least. He was forced to lie down to go up a flight and down the hall before the same process happened all over again. He had to admit, though, come the second move he was running low on energy and his body felt a lot heavier then is should have. Once the nurses had vacated Dean took a good look around.

The room was very similar to the last only with one bed instead of two. A bonus for Dean was a TV with DVD and VHS player attached. If he really wanted to he probably could sucker Sammy into letting him rent a few good shows and slipping them in while he got better. With a little charm and a little class he could probably get his brother to sneak him in some much needed porn.

"Dean?" Sam called from the door as he knocked on it lightly. He voice sounded a little muffled.

Looking to the door as his brother came in sight Dean eyed him. He was dressed in a cheap yellow hospital gown that went over top his clothes, a white hair net, gloves and a mask - y'know the kind they worn during an operation. Bobby and Pastor Jim were behind him. "Sammy? Man...you look like a mad scientist."

"Yeah, well I've come to see how frankenstein is doing." Walking over to the side of the bed Sam eyed the room. "Looks like you got everything you'll need in here...fridge included." Sam eyed the small cooler in the corner of the room.

"Yeah." Dean replied dryly. "Where's dad?" Dean watched as Sam exchanged glances with Jim and Bobby. "He left didn't he."

Sam looked back to Dean. "He said that he knew who was getting attacked next and bolted. He didn't even give me a chance to stop him."

Dean nodded. "Yeah. Sounds like dad." Dean smirked. "But hey, I'm not dying so as long as he saves someone..." His voice trailed off. Sam knew that tone. Dean was crushed that his father had left - especially after getting news like he had. "How's the hunt coming? My baby still good?"

Sam nodded, his cheeks rising under the mask in a smile. He took a seat beside Dean's bed. "Yeah. Been washing it every day since you got in here. Wax too." That brought a smile to Dean's face. "The hunt...is going slow. Dad and Bobby checked out the sewers while Caleb, Pastor Jim and myself went to investgate the crime scenes of the other victims. We're certain of one thing. We're looking for a human."

Dean's eyes widened. "A human?"

"Yeah." Sam pulled out some paper's from his bag and handed them to Dean. There was a colour picture of a blue stone coiled in copper on a black string. "This stone is supposedly a compass to the fountain of youth. It kind works like a dividing rod is supposed to."

"Seems kinda corny...and...well fake."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I've seen over a dozen stones like this in the last ten gift shops we've ever been in. Apparently there is one that's the real deal. It's supposed to be a luck charm. It's been said that this stone gives you luck to remain young. Prevent wrinkles, brittle bones, sagging skin the works. Most of them are fake but there is a real one that has the power to steal youth...with the right ritual to awaken it. Whoever is taking youth is using this stone."

"So do you have a lead on who is using it?"

"Not entirely. We've just found out about the stone. We haven't gotten a chance to really look for any cults or blogs about the cult. Bobby and Caleb were looking into it at the library but it closed before we had a chance to find anything. We decided to stop by and come see you."

Dean scoffed a laugh. "Yeah...well unfortunatly I'm not in a tiptop shape for visitors."

"Do you want us to leave?"

Dean shook his head. "Nah. Stuck in quarantine doesn't exactly give you many people to talk to. I have my choice of the tulip or the teddy bear."

"Actually..." Both boys looked up to Susan standing in the doorway. "You're guests will have to leave Dean." Susan gave Sam an apologetic smile.

"Okay." Looking back to Dean Sam stood up. "I'll come see you tomorrow. Hopefully dad will be around as well. Get some rest, Dean." Turning to the exit Sam left with Bobby and Pastor Jim tailing him. He found it odd that the two men hadn't said a word to Dean but then again they may have just been in shock at the way Dean had looked. Walking dead was an understatement.

Once the door was shut Susan turned to look back at Dean. "Sorry about that Dean but I didn't want to announce you were too helpless to bathe yourself." Dean smirked at the pink that crossed over her cheeks. "Of course the personal areas are yours but..."

Dean smirked. "Well the don't have to be." That got her cheeks burning. "Don't worry about it Susan. I'm glad you didn't tell them. Sam would never let me hear the end of it."

Bringing a wheelchair to his side Susan helped Dean out of bed. "Let get you cleaned up and back in bed. The doctor is working on getting you some new medication which you'll be taking afterwards." Unlocking the chair she pushed Dean towards the bathroom.

Sorry for the lack of updating guys. Everytime I got around to writing I had to go to bed cause of work. My sister's wedding is drawing closer so I'm working on a few things for her and work has bumped up my hours. I'll try to get the chapters out quicker. Sorry for it being so short as well. I'll try to keep the others lengthy.