Voices in My Head
Chapter 16: Bi-polar Hospital Visits
Note: And here we come to the final chapter. Thanks for sticking with me!! And all the medical shit was made up. So, excuse me on that.
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All three Winchesters shot up and were at the doctor's side so fast, asking at once "How is he??" that on-lookers would have thought it rehearsed.
"He'll be all right, although the concussion he sustained is pretty severe. We got the swelling of his brain to go down and there shouldn't be much noticeable lasting damage."
"Noticeable?" John practically growled.
"Yes, well, you see there's a very good chance your son will have problems with things such as speech – he may slur his words more often and such – or basic motor skills. And he'll be having nasty bouts of migraines, I'm sure. But all that…well, that's not really what I'm worried about."
"How can you not be worried about all that?" Sam snapped before he could stop himself, but was elbowed in the ribs by Mary.
"Well, that's not what I meant. Yes, that is all worrisome, but there's something else."
Oh no. Sam thought, feeling totally panicked. A tumor? His heart? Oh crap! We just got him back! If something else tries to take him away—!
"It's his brain activity." At that everyone froze. Oh shit. They hadn't even thought of that. "It's…well, every human only uses a small percentage of his or her brain. Your son, well, he's using at least double the normal amount." All the Winchesters glanced at each other, all in one look agreeing they needed to play in dumb.
"Well, isn't that good?" Mary asked, "Doesn't that just mean he's really smart?"
"Well, I mean, it could. Einstein used more than the normal amount but your son's amount is much higher than Einstein's. This amount is worrisome. Too much brain activity can over-load the body. It can cause strokes or seizures." We've seen Dean's mind over-load his body. Sam thought again, Mine too. Supernatural powers tend to do that to you.
"Are you sure your MRI isn't just broken?"
"We ran the test three times. That's what took so long." He paused, and added "Has your son, your brother, ever had a seizure before?"
"No." John took the initiative, knowing the others weren't the best liars. Besides, it wasn't a total lie. It wasn't really a seizure, just a demon trying – and failing – to posses him, which lead to his body shaking involuntarily…ok it was a seizure, but not a normal one, besides it was five years ago. The doctor didn't need to know about it.
The doctor looked shocked at this. "Never?" Again John shook his head. "I—wow, I'm shocked. Well, I can't really prescribe any anti-seizure meds if he hasn't had one yet. But if he has one you must bring him to a hospital immediately. With that much brain activity it could lead to a stroke."
"Can we just see him?" John interrupted. He was getting bored with all this. It didn't even matter. They knew what could and couldn't happen.
The doctor, a little perturbed by John's lack of caring about possible strokes his son could have, quickly said "Yes, room twelve-seven. Right down the hall. But um, family only."
It was in that instant that they all remember Missouri was there with them. They turned around to see her standing there was a soft smile on her face. "It's all right." She smiled "Go ahead, I'll wait here."
With nods of thanks, really for everything she'd done for them, they all turned and followed the doctor down the hall. "He's awake now, the nurses wanted to test him to see what damage the concussion caused, but he refused to do anything until he saw you." Identical grins passed across the faces of the family before they stopped in front of his door. "Just be prepared. He's sluggish, and remember the possible damage I spoke of." And with that, the doctor opened the door and left them.
Sam was the first one in. He looked and saw that the left side of Dean's head had been shaved, not on the top but just the side, and the shaved area was covered in gauze. Dean's eyes blinked open when he heard someone enter, and grinned lightly when he saw Sam.
"Hey you." Dean greeted, his words were slightly slurred, and Sam worried about the damage Dean could have to live with. "You ok, Sammy?" Dean asked as his little brother came up to the bed and placed his hand over Dean's IV-less hand.
"I'm fine, you idiot. You're the one who got your head slammed into a bark bench."
"Yea, I still remember that hard-head comment. You're not getting away with that."
Before Sam could respond Mary stomped in, obviously she'd been preparing herself out in the hall. John stood in the doorway, watching with a smile.
"Oh, my baby!" Mary all but screamed, as she rushed to Dean and threw herself over him in a strange hug. "Oh, baby, I was so worried about you!" She cried with loving tears. Before taking his shoulders, and though she resisted the urge to shake him, started to yell at him. "How could you ever think to do anything so stupid?! What were you thinking?! You wanted to protect us?! We all protect each other, Dean! We're a family! Promise me you won't do it again." When Dean didn't respond, but looked into her eyes with a smile on his lips she shook him a little. "Promise me!"
"I promise." Mary could swear he was laughing.
And again she hugged him. "I love you so much, Deany! I was so worried I'd lost you—again! Damnit, stop getting taken from me! What kind of mother am I??"
With a laughing smile, though he dare not laugh aloud, Dean patted his mother on the back with his IV tailing after. "Woah, mom. Calm down. I'm ok. Everything's gonna be ok." He kissed her on top of her head and she pulled back, obviously calmed a bit. She lovingly caressed his cheek and then kissed his forehead.
"You're giving me gray hairs, Dean. Before you know it I'm gonna be a decrepit, ugly old woman at the age of fifty-five!"
"Impossible, you're too damn pretty." He grinned at his mother.
"Oh Dean, always the charmer. Always have been."
There was a comfortable pause where no one said anything, and John pushed off the doorframe. "Well, now that the bi-polar part of our visit is over." He said stepping next to the bed. Sam and Dean laughed aloud, while Mary slapped her husband's arm with a tearful smile.
John looked down at his eldest son. Dean looked back up at him, wiping his smile from his face and preparing himself for the reprimand.
"What you did tonight was really reckless and stupid, son." Mary was about to cut in with 'John, maybe now's not the best time…' and Sam was ready to push his father out of the room if he yelled at Dean now. Dean kept his eyes locked with his fathers, taking the consequences like a good little solider. But the next words that came out of John's mouth shocked his family. "I'm so proud of you, son. You did real good tonight."
Dean's eyes widened, "Thanks, dad." He whispered bewilderedly. Both Sam and Mary could tell how much John's words touched Dean. It had always been that way. Dean always took John's word as the word of God. Almost never finding fault in his ways, and always doing what was asked of him and more. Whenever John complimented Dean it was like he was on a high for weeks following it.
"That scar's gonna look really, awesome, bud." John grinned, pointing to where the bandage covered the giant gash where his head hit the bench and where they opened his head up to stop the swelling.
"You're just jealous because I'm gonna have all the ladies with this new battle scar." He smiled up at his dad, the high setting in. At this rate he won't need the drugs, Sam thought with a smile.
"He better not!" Mary glared at her husband, causing her three boys to break out into laughter.
After a moment Dean finally asked, "So when can I get out of here?"
"Oh no. No, no, no! You are NOT breaking out AMA this time, mister." Mary growled, "You've done it against my wishes a million times before and you are not doing it again. You are going to stay until the doctor says, maybe longer!" All three stared at her in bewildered shock. "I am not losing him again!" Mary cried to her husband and younger son in explanation as the two broke into laughter.
"Damnit." Dean whispered, looking away. A timid looking nurse with a nametag that read Karen walked in, holding a small tray with a vial and a syringe on it.
"Am I interrupting?" She asked worriedly, obviously new to the patient-interaction thing.
"Not at all." Dean said, flashing the girl one of his famous smiles and with that the girl practically turned to goo on the spot.
"Oh, well, um, I was told you needed you IV updated. What they used during the surgery has to be wearing off." It was then they all examined Dean. His hands were in tight fists, his knuckles white. He was in pain? Goddamn Dean, what kind of family were they when they didn't even notice that??
Well, in their defense, Dean was a pretty good actor.
Once the nurse finished injecting the drugs into his IV she smiled at Dean and made her way to the door. "See ya' 'round, Kare." He smiled again, and she lingered at the door a moment too long before practically scurrying away.
"Dean, you disgust me." Sam said with a roll of his eyes, though he was still grinning.
"Pssh, you're just jealous that you can't do that with just a smile."
"Sam, don't egg on your brother. Dean, sleep. You really need your beauty rest." John cut into the brotherly banter.
"Pssh, you wish, old man. Did you not see that nurse? She didn't want to leave!" He laughed, though his eyes were drooping now.
Mary slapped John on the arm, and scolded Sam from across the bed, before taking a step forward. She placed a soft, loving kiss on her son's forehead. "Sleep, sweetie. We'll be here when you wake up."
And with a soft smile on his lips, Dean did as told.
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The End
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Epilogue
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Dean lifted his head from where he fell asleep over some books at Bobby's table. He glanced into the next room through the giant doorway and saw his parents, Bobby and Missouri discussing something playfully. Leaving the younger people to the research? Geezers. Dean thought with a mental laugh. He turned to his brother, who was across the table. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About an hour." Sam said, glancing up from the books he was reading about the Devil's prayer.
"Dude, why'd you let me fall asleep?"
"Because I'm an awesome little brother." Sam laughed at the glare his brother threw his way.
Dean subconsciously scratched at the giant scar on the left side of his head. The stitches were long gone, but the hair was only stubby over there, so his large scar was still very visible. The nurses were beyond confused and shocked that Dean had none of the suspected damage. In fact, he was perfectly fine besides the occasional migraines. When the doctors weren't around Dean claimed that his super-brain had healed itself. Sam had just rolled his eyes and their parents laughed. Yea, there was definitely no damage.
Sam reached across the table and slapped Dean's hand away before saying, "Besides, you know how those migraine pills knock you out. I couldn't have woken you up, anyway."
"Fucking pills." He mumbled sarcastically.
"Would you rather be in crippling agony?" Sam asked, just as sarcastic. Sam cringed slightly to himself as he said it, though. On more than one occasion over the past month and a half since Dean had gotten out of the hospital (two months since they'd had their run in with the YED) Dean's had one of those 'attacks'. He would just scrunched up in a ball on whatever soft surface he could find, whether it be a bed, a couch, the back seat of the car, or the floor (depending on what was the closest). He would just scrunch up and clutch his head, his eyes so tightly closed they ached afterwards. It was always difficult to get him to take his pills during an attack, so whenever Dean started to get a slight headache he had to take his pills before the ache worsened. Sam always hated seeing him that way.
"Fucking park bench ruined my life." Dean growled to himself and Sam burst out laughing at that, unable to hold it back. The adults in the next room glanced at them and Dean glared as he pointed to the books on the table. Mary actually stuck her tongue out at her son before they continued their conversation. Although Missouri glared at Dean when he called them some nasty things in his head.
"C'mon, Dean." Sam said, still chuckling slightly. "We've got more research to do."
"Bastards never help." Dean said aloud, and Sam grinned when Missouri called 'You watch your mouth! Don't think I can't hear you!'
Ever since that night at the park they'd decided to do more research on the Devil's Prayer. When they discovered it was a great weakness to the YED they knew it was their best weapon. They hadn't found much more than they already knew yet. But they still knew a lot more than they did a year ago.
Holy shit. Sam thought to himself. Has it seriously been a year since we got him back? It feels like so much longer! So much shit has happened…Sam looked up at his brother. God, he was so scared when we first found him. So unsure. Now he's back to his normal, smart-ass, I'm-win-at-life attitude Dean he remembered. He's been through so much in one year, and yet he still managed to keep our family together, right when we were really about to fall apart.
A smile played across Sam's lips now. He really has kept us together. When he was taken three years ago the family would have definitely broken apart had it not been for the fact we were searching for Dean. And when we finally got him back a year ago and he was so broken…even in that state, right when we were all about to break ourselves, he managed to keep us together. God, Dean, how do you do it…? Sam wondered with a loving smile.
Dean finally looked up at Sam, "Dude, will you stop looking at me like that?! It's creepy!"
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Story End Note: Well, that's the end! Thank you so much to everyone who stuck with me when I made you all wait for months at a time. Thanks even more to everyone who reviewed. You are all beyond amazing. I really hope you enjoyed the ending!
Thank you everyone!!
-claire
