Disclaimer: refer to chapter one

NOTE TO READERS: This chapter is around 7 pages long. I wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to send PM's and leave reviews! Now, last week FFnet was on the fritz and wasn't sending out alerts, so I hope that everyone I sent a review reply to received their thank you replies from me. At any rate, for everyone that is reading this story thank you!! Happy reading, I hope.

Side Notes: AMA means against medical advice

Chapter Six

Borrowed Hope

By Dawn Nyberg

"…Together in all these memories I see your smile. All the memories I hold dear … you know I will love you until the end of time…" Lyric excerpt by Within Temptation, Memories

Sam and Dean's ICU Room, Early morning, November 4, 2007

The sound of choking and alarms pulled Dean abruptly from his sleep. His head whipped over toward his brother. He ignored the pain the sudden movement caused his sternum. "Sammy!" Dean's voice barked. "It's okay, you're okay, don't fight the vent," he wanted to be at his brother's side but he couldn't get up without help and he hated that.

A nurse and resident came skirting into the room.

"He's bucking the vent. I'm gonna have to sedate him."

"No," Dean called out. "Sam! Listen to me … I'm here look at me," Dean waved an arm as best as he could so that Sam would see him in his peripheral vision. "Sammy, I'm here. Relax and let the vent help you, okay?"

The doctor seemed to ignore Dean as he began pulling up the sedative into a syringe to inject into Sam's IV line. "Dr. Imes," the young nurse spoke evenly. "Look." The young resident looked down at his patient and saw Sam turning his head ever so slightly to seek out his brother's voice. His heart rate was settling and his breathing was falling into rhythm with the ventilator.

"That's it Sammy, just relax. I'm here and you're going to be okay. We're roomies now, so just relax," he encouraged and soothed all at once. "Close your eyes and sleep little brother." Sam blinked sluggishly a handful of times and finally obeyed his big brother's prompt and he succumbed to a heavy sleep.

"I guess Dr. Helman had the right idea, huh?" Dr. Imes looked over at Dean. "You got the touch I see."

"Is he okay?" was Dean's only question, his only concern.

"Yes, his vitals are stable and his oxygen levels are good."

"What about the pneumonia?"

"He's only been on the IV meds around 24 hours now, so we'll have to wait but his fever is down a couple points and that's good." He walked over to Dean's bedside. "I'm covering for Dr. Helman until he gets in this morning. "He left orders for your abdomen and sutures to be examined."

"I'm okay," Dean pulled the sheet tighter around his sides. The doctor allowed himself an amused grin.

"I'm sure you are but I gotta look anyway. He wants to make sure you haven't been moving anymore than necessary."

"I haven't."

"Humor me," the doctor replied.

"Fine," Dean huffed quietly not wanting to wake his sibling. The physician did his examination and covered his charge up.

"Looks good. Your sutures are healing very well considering it's only been six days since your surgery and from your file you nearly died, so everything considered you're doing much better."

"When's the doc gonna let me start trying to walk around?"

"Maybe, today to tell you the truth but you're going to need some help sitting up for a while until the abdomen completely heals and your sternum. You're not going to be doing any track meets but possibly a trip around the room or around the nurse's station."

"I just want to be able to walk over to my brother … I'm not asking for a lot."

"Dr. Helman should be in around 8:30 and will be in to see you both and maybe he'll let you try getting up today." Dean nodded. He cast a look at his little brother who appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

Two Hours Later, Sam and Dean's Room

"See that wasn't so bad," Bobby spoke quietly as Sam slept on in the next bed. Dean scowled at the older hunter.

"I can't sit up on my own Bobby how's that not so bad in your book?" Dean complained.

"Look Dean, your stomach is healing and your sternum and ribs will be healed up soon enough, so you have to have patience. Hey, look at the bright side, at least the doc is letting you walk around the unit if you want and you can sit beside Sam."

"Yeah," Dean relented and let his gaze fall on his little brother. "He looks a little better, right? Not so sweaty," Dean looked at Bobby.

""Yeah, Dean he does," he agreed. He was relieved to see that Sam appeared less flushed with fever and was sleeping peacefully.

Two Days Later, The ICU

"Dean, I'm ready to have you moved to our stepdown unit," Dr. Helman began. "Your blood counts are great and your actually getting around much better than I would have thought at this point and I may even discharge you in a couple days."

"I'm not leaving my brother," Dean leveled the doctor with a death glare. Bobby sat silently beside Dean deciding when to add his two cents.

"Dean, you don't require the intensive care any longer…"

"But my brother does and I'm not leavin' him," Dean's voice brooked no argument.

"Dean, his pneumonia is responding nicely to the IV treatment and his latest chest x-ray showed some great improvement. He's going to need another two or three days of the IV meds but I can assure you he is no longer in danger from the pneumonia."

"Then why is he still on the vent, huh? He needs me in there to keep him calm."

"Well, speaking of the vent I already had respiratory adjust his vent settings and we are going to start weaning him from the ventilator over the next day or two. He's clearly making breaths on his own but it's clear we may still need the VPAP when he comes off the vent completely. Dean, Sam's lungs were severely traumatized in the car accident, so he is taking a bit longer to rebound but he's responding to treatment now. You can visit him but you don't need the ICU anymore."

"Fine, then get me some damn AMA papers and I'll sign out now and stay here with him anyway." The physician looked from Dean to Bobby seeking some kind of level-headed support.

"Dr. Helman," Bobby straightened in his chair. "It's obvious that Sam responds to his brother and his health has improved since Dean has been able to be with him in the same room." Bobby looked at Dean and back at the doctor. "He's not kidding about the AMA papers …"

"You said yourself that you might even discharge me in a couple days, so …"

"The operative word was maybe Dean," the doctor countered. He sighed. "Fine, you can stay, but you're going to be getting some more units walks in because you're ready for stepdown treatment but you can remain in the room with your brother."

Dean just offered up a pleased with himself smile and the corners of Bobby's mouth quirked up in an amused grin.

Two Days Later

"How ya doin' Sammy?" Dean watched eagerly as his brother came off the vent and the doctor placed the VPAP mask over his nose and strapped it on.

"Okay," Sam's voice was quiet from disuse and the intubation tube had left his throat feeling raw after having been in for a few days.

"You sure?" Dean eased closer trying to get a good look at his younger sibling. Dean looked at the doctor. "Well, doc? He getting' enough oxygen?" he pushed as he cast a nervous glance from Dr. Helman to Bobby and back to his brother.

"His numbers look good," the doctor smiled reassuringly. "Now, remember Sam you need to breathe through your nose to get the VPAP assistance, okay?"

"Yeah," Sam replied.

"Now, Dean I gave you your walking papers this morning but I have left explicit instructions with your uncle that you're to take it easy. No strenuous activities for at least another five weeks and no picking up anything heavy … you know the drill, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, but I'm stayin' with Sam at night," Dean countered.

"I doubt the sleeping chairs will be comfortable for you Dean and you need to get your rest, too."

"Dean, I'm okay … now," Sam tried to assure.

"Sam, I'm staying," Dean confirmed with one of his I'm older and what I say goes looks. Sam knew it was pointless to argue … he wasn't winning this argument.

"Don't worry doc I'll make sure he takes care of himself," Bobby confirmed.

Three Days Later, The ICU

"Well, Sam I have to say I'm very pleased you've been able to come off the VPAP and your oxygen levels have been holding. I'd like to see about getting you up on your feet and see if you're mobile since your latest chest x-ray shows your lungs are now clear."

"You sure he's ready for that?" Bobby spoke before Dean could. Dean had been officially discharged two days ago but insisted on staying with Sam until Bobby hauled him of there and forced him to stay at the motel to sleep and rest.

"Well, the sooner we can get him ambulatory I'd like to see about moving him to our stepdown unit for a day or two and then see about finally getting him out of here. I'm also very pleased with your stabilization x-rays. Your ribs are healing nicely but you've still got a way to go before you're 100 percent, but you'll get there," the doctor smiled.

"I'm okay guys," Sam spoke softly. "I want to try."

A Few Moments Later

"Nice and easy Sam, no need to break track records," Dr. Helman encouraged as he and a nurse helped him to get out of the bed as Dean and Bobby both hovered nearby. "Now, Dean no trying to support his weight you got it? Let your uncle do the work." Dean frowned.

"He's my brother you know," his voice low and angry.

"Yes, I know," the doctor rolled his eyes in exasperation at his former patient. "You reminded me practically every day you were in the hospital and every day since your release. I get it, I do, you worry and you want to be there for him but your ribs are still healing and so is that sternum, so no taking on his weight."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Dean grumbled.

"Don't worry doc I won't let him," Sam huffed out a breath as he stood slightly hunched leaning into Bobby who had stepped forward to help him and take over for the nurse who was trying to support Sam's tall frame despite her petite 5'4" stature. Sam tried to straighten up and groaned.

"Sam?" Bobby asked gently. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Sam assured. Dean eyed his brother.

"You sure Sammy? You in pain?"

"Dean, I've been on back in a bed for days," Sam complained. "I'm a little sore. I'm okay."

"Sam I don't want you pushing to hard this is just your first day out of bed. I'd be happy to just see you shuffle around the nurse's station and back, no need to try lapping the whole unit just yet."

"Yeah, Sammy the doc is right, so take it easy, okay?" Sam rolled his eyes.

Sam leaned into Bobby as he shuffled around the nurse's station a couple times. "You ready to go back to bed now?" Bobby tried to aim Sam in the direction of his room.

"Yeah, Sammy you look beat after a couple laps," Dean added.

"Not ready to," Sam huffed and took in a breath. His forehead was beaded with sweat from the exertion the small walk around the nurse's station had caused.

"Dammit Sam you heard the doc you need to take it easy," Dean gritted under his breath.

"Just a little down the hallway a little and then back, okay," Sam pushed out. Dean looked skeptical at the distance. The ICU had two long hallways with flanking cubicles and larger rooms for patients with a lot of equipment.

"Fine, but just to the door that says 'Supplies', okay? Then back to bed," Dean countered.

"Your brother's right … don't push it," Bobby added as he kept firm support on Sam's arm and one at the small of his back as he shuffled in the white socks they had given the young man. He had a thin robe on to cover the open back of his hospital gown. Bobby was mindful to stay on the side Sam hadn't had major surgery where his ribs were still healing. Sam shuffled with determination toward the 'Supply' door he had silently agreed to. He was thankful Bobby had a grip on him because the way the room was starting to sway he wasn't sure how long he'd be on his feet if the older man wasn't keeping him up. He stopped abruptly when the room shifted violently and his vision grayed out for a moment.

"Sam? Sammy?" Dean's voice was close and sounded concerned. Bobby squeezed gently on Sam's arm he was holding.

"You with us kid?"

"I'm … good," Sam concentrated on his words. "I'm okay." Dean frowned and shook his head.

"No, you need to be in bed. Bobby let's get him back to his bed."

"I got him Dean," Bobby spoke evenly when he saw the young man attempt to offer his support to get his younger sibling back to bed. Sam shuffled with uncertain feet in the direction he was being led but the hallway was coming in and out of focus and he felt like he was on a Tilt-a-Whirl, and he'd always hated that ride as a child.

"Bobby?" Sam's voice held a hint of confusion and fear. "Think I'm gonna be …"

"Whoa," Bobby lurched as Sam sagged into his arms more and vomited against a wall. "Dammit all to Hell," Bobby's voice was thick with worry. "Dean go get the doc, it's okay Sam, you're okay," but before Dean could take a step Sam vomited violently again as all of his weight crumbled into Bobby as he passed out and oblivion swallowed Sam Winchester.

To Be Continued

I'm hoping that that I can finish this in one more chapter but it may be one or two more it depends. My schedule is still insane but I'm making every effort to keep my promise of at least one update a week. I hope you're still enjoying the story. Thank you for reading!