AN: Ok, here's chapter 3. I'll try to post a chapter a day, but I have to be honest... I'm a bit distracted at the moment. I have a booksigning on Sat that I'm nervous about and right now is our busy season with the business... so, I'm usually running and not typing. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, see you tomorrow! :)
The ER waiting room was full of people waiting on word for one Sam Winchester. The registrar didn't know who this person was, but it was obvious that he had to be well loved to have such devotion aimed his way. The computer stated that Mr. Winchester was still in radiology, but it had been saying that for the past two and a half hours, which was why it was such a surprise to everyone when the door opened and a voice called out to anyone in the room.
"Anyone for Samuel Winchester!" Dr. Brent Hunt yelled, hoping that someone was waiting for news on the kid. He loved his job, but there were some cases that just hit hard. When he was told he had an emergency case, he wasn't sure what to expect. When he turned the corner and saw two paramedics and one firefighter standing guard, he groaned at the thought that another firefighter or officer had succumbed to his or her job. It wasn't until the three men saw him and announced in unison, "He's one of us!" that he knew there had to be a story in that bed… and he was right. The kid brother of a local fireman wasn't too much to get excited over, until you heard that he was the kid who was tortured last year and took that death defying leap of faith with his brother. Add to that that the kid had to have rushed into a burning house to get his mom out through a second story window, and you could tell why these men were determined that he got preferential treatment.
"Here!" John called out, already meeting the man in the middle of the room. It didn't take long for the rest of the family and their friends to surround them, waiting for news.
"Ok, first off, you have a very lucky young man, everything considered. When he got here, he had trouble breathing on his own, but he's now off the respirator and on full oxygen to help his lungs get rid of the smoke he inhaled. His blood pressure took awhile to stabilize, going from slightly elevated to below normal until about a half hour ago when it finally leveled out. He does have a fractured skull and some slight bruising on the brain, however there doesn't seem to be any actual bleeding which is a very good sign."
John looked at the doctor and sighed in relief – his son was alright, he was still with them.
"What about burns doc, did the fire get him?" Dean asked, hoping that his brother was spared that painful experience.
Dr. Hunt looked at the younger man and smiled, "No burns. His clothes were singed, but no serious damage to his skin."
"When can we see him?" Mary asked, even as she tried to balance Ellie on her hip.
Sighing, the doctor looked at his notes. "He's going to be in ICU overnight for observation. Normally family is allowed for ten minutes at the top of every hour; however I'm sure I can bend the rules a bit so you all can see that he's okay. I'll have a nurse come for you as soon as we get Samuel settled into his room."
Dean nodded and shook the doctor's hand, "It's Sam… and thanks Doc, you really don't know how much this means to us."
The wait hadn't been as long as everyone expected but seeing as the room was small; it was quickly decide that Mary and John would go in first while Dean and Lucas tried to keep Ellie happy. The others decided to wait a day or two before checking on Sam, but made sure Dean knew to call if anything was needed – no matter the time, day or night.
Dean didn't know exactly when his friends had become Sammy's friends, but he was happy that it happened; the kid deserved loyalty and respect. Thinking about all the things his little brother had already overcome in his life, made him a little embarrassed at what little he'd actually done himself. He grew up in a stable home with both parents, had all the 'quality time' growing up and even today, he'd never had to worry about where the next meal was coming from or his next pair of shoes, and he sure as hell didn't have to worry about being on the receiving end of an angry fist – well, a jealous boyfriend didn't count. His brother though, his brother didn't grow up with that, but still came out a good person, one he was proud to be associated with.
"Quit thinking so hard kid, your brain's not used to it," Lucas teased while keeping watch over Ellie as she played on the floor. "He's alright, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. It's just…" Dean sighed, "it was close…too close, you know?"
Lucas nodded in agreement. He'd pulled Vic off to the side and got the low down on what happened and close was an understatement. By the time that they had found the kid the flames were already working on the rubble he was trapped under. It had taken several minutes of spraying the flames directly to demolish the blaze, and then several more to dig through the debris to find the kid. From what he heard, their initial assessment was that a funeral was going to have to be planned, but thankfully the kid began to cough slightly, giving them the hope they needed to finish digging him out and get medics in there. Unfortunately it began to get dicey after that until finally the kid's heart just stopped and they had to start pumping him until he took over again… only to periodically stop breathing. Yeah, it was close… too damn close, and he knew that they weren't out of the woods yet. The kid might be breathing on his own again, but fractured skulls aren't something to play with either. No, the kid was in for some real pain, and his family were about to join him on a hell of a ride. Hopefully though it won't be a worst case scenario… heaven help them all if it is.
Dean stood by Sammy's bedside and watched him breathe, thankful to have this moment without other distractions. He knew how close they came to losing his little brother, he was just thankful his parents didn't.
"Hey Sammy, looks like they have you hooked up to the good stuff. That's good… really good. Look, I really want to stay here with you, but… Ellie saw them bring you out of the house and well… it's not good. She hasn't talked at all since we saw the ambulance leave and if she stays here much longer I don't know what'll happen. I know you understand and are probably wondering why we haven't left yet. It's just… damn it… why does this crap always happen to you Sammy, huh? I mean seriously, what the hell?" he paused, feeling the tears build, but knowing that crying over what could have happened wasn't going to get them anywhere. "I hope you don't mind, but I already told Mom and Dad that they can stay in the corner guest room… I figure it'll help our little princess to know that we're mostly together until you come home and convince her everything's ok again. I just wanted to let you know what's going on, and tell you that you better come home soon kiddo… no matter what you think, we can't do this without you."
Dr. Hunt stood outside the room and listened to the conversation taking place. He'd seen families fall apart and some come together in trying times, but this family seemed so tight nit that it actually renewed his faith in human nature. Looking down at the medical records he could tell his patient had been through hell in his life, but thankfully was able to pull himself out of the downward spiral he had been in years ago. Although not a believer in fate, he couldn't help but hope that Sam Winchester's recovery was a reward for his achievements lately and not punishment for his past mistakes…otherwise the kid was in for a hell of a time.
The kitchen was quiet as the four occupants sat at the table picking at the pizza that had been delivered less than ten minutes before. No one looked at the trash where the ruined casserole lay, burnt beyond recognition. No one spoke about why they were one person short, no one asked for something to be passed, no one talked about what the next course of action would be. Instead they ate quietly, waiting for the time to put the youngest to bed so the eldest could go and sit with the one they all wanted to be with.
However, in the attempt to keep everything normal, the tension was rising, especially when their gazes fell upon the item Sam had obviously brought home earlier; a cake from the neighborhood bakery, decorated with flowers in the recipients favorite colors with beautifully scripted letters spelling out, "Happy Birthday Mom"