Authors Note: Hey :) It's been late again i know :( I put full blame on virus on the computer i use at work for the delay ... well thats part of it anyways. I'm sorry and i hope you all like this chapter!!! I'm thinking that there is probably at least 3 more chapters to go and they'll be dealing with a lot of issues so we'll see how we go but there is at Least 3 left. Thanks so much for everyones reviews. I live for them lol :D
Also, I know Ridley already posted the addy for my Brotherhood Tribute Vid on her latest chapter of "Who Your Friends Are" but i just wanted to tell u all that if u havent seen it and want to, the link to my youtube page is on my profile. Its the latest vid there at the moment. Thanks to everyone who has left comments there and with Ridley ... i really appreciate it and im glad u all liked it!!
Now onto the next chapter. Hope you like it ...
Chapter 25. Freakin Doctors
"… didn't mean to scare her … to be honest now I don't even know what I had been thinking … a stupid move."
Sammy? He was sure that was his son's voice. He felt all foggy.
"Samuel …"
"I'm surprised Caleb hasn't kicked my as…butt yet."
God, what the hell had happened? He felt like had been run over by a truck. His leg felt like it was on fire.
"Samuel, everything is always clearer in hindsight and yes you should have stayed put like you were told … what Caleb tells me … saved him."
Mac? It was frustrating. Everything was fading in and out and he felt like he might succumb to the darkness again. He frowned as he tried to make sense of the words being spoken.
"Where did Caleb … the way?"
Mac sighed, "To get some more coffee … look like a coffee soon enough."
"Did he … about Carlson?"
Carlson. That name jolted John's mind into full awareness. He remembered everything now with startling clarity. He remembered hearing Caleb and the boys and being worried that Carlson would get to them. He grunted as he tried to move his right arm to find it held against his chest. Trying to move it was not something he was going to try again anytime soon.
"He did …" Mac paused and John could hear someone moving towards him. "John?"
"Is he waking up?" Sam asked, his voice sounding so hopeful.
He could feel them gather on his left side and then someone's hand grasped his wrist. It was definitely Mac's larger hand. Despite the equipment surrounding him telling the doctor all he needed to know about John's health Mac still like to check the old fashioned way
"Dad?" Sam questioned, hovering.
"John, can you hear me?" Mackland asked leaning over his friend and stopping him from automatically reaching up and removing the annoying oxygen mask.
"John, open your eyes." Mac demanded.
John's eyelids felt heavy but now more than ever he needed to see his boys. That was incentive enough for the hunter causing his eyes to flutter before slowly opening to a mere slit. It was enough to make the two faces looking down on him smile. The early sunrise peaked though the blinds.
"That's it." Mac encouraged.
John looked briefly at his friend before his eyes sort out his son. Sam was pressed close to Mac's side trying to get a close look at his father. "Sammy," he whispered, the relief at seeing his son was clearly written on his bruised face.
John's whispered voice was muffled by the oxygen mask but it was the best thing Sam had heard since this whole mess had started. His smile widened. He was beyond relieved to see his father awake. Holding John's bleeding and beaten form during the ride to the hospital had scared the hell out of him and then that fear had grown ten-fold when the hunter had lost consciousness.
"Dad, you're going to be fine," Sam glanced up at the doctor. "Right Mac?"
"Yes, Sam's right, you're going to be fine." Mac knew he was reassuring Sam more than his father.
John reached up with the arm not pinned to his chest and grabbed Sam's arm, giving it a slight squeeze to let him know that everything was alright. Sam caught his father's hand. It felt strange being so affectionate with the man but it also felt good to be able to.
"John, how do you feel?"
John looked back at the other hunter and rolled his eyes. Why did doctors always persist in asking that question when you woke up in a hospital bed? He extracted his hand from Sam's grasp and reached up, managing to pull the oxygen mask down and away from his face.
"You're the Doc." John croaked, surprised by how weak his voice sounded. "You tell me."
"Jonathan." Mac sighed.
John smirked. He wasn't awake for five minutes and Mac was already getting impatient. He decided to give his friend a break and play nice although he thought that was more because he really couldn't be bothered. "Like I was held … captive in a basement and … had the shit beaten out of Me."
"Well I can see you have no permanent damage, you're still a smart ass." Mac joked, relaxing a bit.
John's face became serious. "What happened with Carlson? Did you find his remains? Mike could still be in danger."
"Whoa slow down, one question at a time." Mac reached for the mask and placed it back over his friends face earning him an annoyed look. Mac shook his head. Smart ass and temperamental, John was definitely on the mend." And for God sake keep the mask on or tie it to your head. Your body has been through a lot and could use the extra help."
"What … are you doing here anyway?" John asked the question that had been plaguing his mind since he woke up.
"Nice to see you too," Mac answered with a chuckle. "I'm here because I was called."
John groaned. "I'm going to kill Caleb." He grunted as he tried to sit up.
Mac placed a hand on John's chest to halt his movement. "Stay put and I'll raise the bed head a little and it wasn't Caleb who called … but that's a long story." He explained.
"Okay." John could feel his body tiring and the pain from his injuries was getting worse. "What happened? Did you take care of Carlson's spirit?" his voice was muffled by the oxygen mask and his jaw tightened as pain raced up his leg.
"It wasn't a spirit Dad," Sam told him. It hadn't even occurred to him that his father might not know what it was he had been dealing with. "It was a doppelganger."
"A Doppelganger?" John frowned part in confusion and part in pain.
"We'll explain it all later John, you need your rest." He gave John's arm a pat and then looked down next to him at Sam. "I'll go get his doctor." His gaze went back to John. "We'll get you something for the pain that you are no doubtably in while we're at it."
Mac turned headed off in search of John's doctor. He was just reaching for the door handle when the door was pushed open, just missing connecting with his head. Caleb's head poked around the corner as he noticed that something on the other side of the door had been blocking his entry. He realized quickly that Mac had been that something. "Sorry." He apologized sheepishly as he entered the rest of the way holding two cups of coffee.
"Caleb, Dad's awake." Sam couldn't contain his excitement and cut off Mac's reply.
"John." Caleb immediately looked towards the figure in the bed. The bed head was raised slightly and John's eyes were open.
John reached up and removed the oxygen mask again. "You look like crap junior." he commented taking in the younger hunters dishevelled appearance.
"Say's the man in the hospital bed." Caleb smiled as he absentmindedly handed one coffee to his father as he made his way to John's bedside opposite Sam.
Mackland rolled his eyes and exited the room intent on finding John's doctor.
"Did you h-handle the ah … the doppelganger?" John asked, wincing.
Caleb glanced across at Sam before looking back down at John. "It's gone."
"Good." John breathed. "That's good."
"Missouri is on the war path." Caleb smirked. "We have been ordered back to her place once you're allowed to leave here."
John frowned.
"It's not that bad Dad."
John shook his head. Sam had misinterpreted his frown. "Where's Dean?" He looked at Caleb and then at Sam when neither gave him an answer. "Sam … Caleb?"
The door to the room opened and a doctor walked in followed by Mac. "Ahh Mr. Young, good to see you awake."
John's mood was getting worse. The pain of his injuries was making itself known, Dean was conspicuously nowhere to be seen and now some doctor was interrupting in his interrogation.
"John, this is Doctor Hutchinson." Mac introduced. John's change in mood had not gone unnoticed.
"Well Mr. Young how are you feeling?" John rolled his eyes. Freakin doctors. "I'd feel a lot better if someone will tell me where the hell my son is." he growled.
"Your son? I believe Dr. Ames was handling his care." Hutchinson looked back at Mac who came forward.
"His care?"
"John …"
"Where is my son Mackland?"
"Mr. Young …"
"Mackland!"
"Multiple head injuries caused a bleed on the brain. We operated and he's in recovery. In fact he should be here any minute." Mac explained all in one breath.
"What?" John's voice took on a panicked edge. Had Carlson gotten to his son like he had feared?
"He's fine John."
"Multiple head injuries?" John's head was starting to feel fuzzy. He could feel the pull of sleep and he turned a menacing gaze at the doctor who was pulling a syringe out of his IV port. He didn't want to sleep until he found out in detail what was wrong with Dean but it didn't look like he had a choice in the matter.
"Dean will be here when you wake up." Mackland's words were the last words he heard before the pull of sleep was too strong and he fell into a blissful, pain free sleep.
"What did you give him?" Sam asked from the other side of his father.
Hutchinson looked across at the young teen. "Just a light sedative. I didn't want him getting himself worked up and hurting himself. His body needs time to heal."
"Shouldn't that have been his decision?" Caleb retorted from his position at the foot of John's bed.
"Normally, but as I said we couldn't have him getting worked up."
"He's gonna be pissed when he wakes up."
"We'll deal with that then." Mac stated.
Dr. Hutchinson went about checking John's vitals and replacing the oxygen mask. "We'll leave the oxygen mask on for now. If he wants it off when he wakes up, that should be okay."
"Is he okay?" Sam asked, hands still clutching the side rails.
Hutchinson nodded. "He took a hell of a beating but we caught the infection in his leg and with rest everything will heal nicely. He'll be fine. The oxygen is just a precaution because of his ribs."
"Thank you Dr. Hutchinson." Mackland politely excused the doctor.
All three waited for the doctor to leave before speaking another word. Mac turned back to look at his friend before looking back up at the boys. "I'm going to see about getting Dean moved into here. I want you …" he pointed at Caleb. "To take Sam to get some early breakfast."
"But …" both Sam and Caleb tried to protest.
"Dean will be here by the time you get back and breakfast was not a suggestion." It was too early in the morning and Mac was not willing to argue with either boy about this. If Caleb wasn't going to sleep then he could at least be doing something productive like feeding himself and Sam.
"Fine." Caleb conceded. He grabbed Sam by the arm and then pushed the boy towards the door. "We'll be back."
"Make sure both of you eat Son." Mac ordered at the last minute for good measure.
"Yes Dad!" Caleb groused exasperatedly from the other side of the door.
xXx
Caleb and Sam were both in agreement that breakfast should be a quick event. Both wanted to get back to the hospital room and see Dean. Both were still stressed over the implications of his injuries and the fact that he'd had to have surgery.
Sam chose a table and sat down with his bowl of cereal and white disposable cup of hot chocolate. Caleb sat opposite him with a bagel and a hot cup of coffee. The beverage wasn't exactly the best coffee he had tasted but it was better than what he had been getting from the vending machines. Maybe it was worth walking the extra little bit to the cafeteria to buy a proper cup of coffee.
"What are you thinking?" Sam asked around a mouthful of cereal.
"I'm thinking that I never want to drink vending machine coffee … ever again." he answered truthfully. It had been what he had been thinking but he knew that wasn't what the kid was asking.
"You know what I mean moron." Sam rolled his eyes in humour.
Caleb picked at his bagel and sighed. "I think that we shouldn't worry. Mac knows his stuff."
Sam frowned. "Then why do u look like u haven't slept in a week?"
"I'm a control freak."
"Right."
"Eat up Runt." Caleb took a bite out of his own breakfast.
Footsteps could be heard. "Sam, I'm glad I caught you." both boys looked up to see Leda come to a stop at their table. "Morning Caleb." she smiled at the psychic before looking back at the boy.
Caleb gave her an easy smile. "Morning Leda." he sat up straighter in his chair and gestured to the chair next to him. "Join us?"
Leda shook her head. "I cant." she seemed disappointed. "I just wanted to give these to Sam." she pulled out some pamphlets out of the satchel hanging off her shoulder.
"Wow … thanks Leda." Sam looked through the pamphlets and then looked up and smiled his thanks.
"What have ya got there Sammy?" Caleb leaned forward so he could see.
"Sam asked me if I'd get him some information on head trauma." Leda supplied. "I'll be back tonight. I'll check in on you guys and say hello."
"Great Sammy has more reading material." Caleb quipped.
"Thanks for all your help Leda." Sam thanked her sincerely and kicked Caleb under the table when he remained silent. Caleb woke up from his daydreaming and smiled back at the nurse. "Yeah thanks, you've been great."
"It's my pleasure, really." she reached over and squeezed Sam's shoulder. She smiled again at Caleb. God even when he looked dead on his feet he was still gorgeous. "See you tonight boys."
"Seeya then."
Caleb and Sam watched as Leda left. Sam smiled across at Caleb. "She likes you ya know."
"Of course she does, I'm a master with women." Caleb smirked.
"Gee I wonder where Dean gets his modestly from."
Sam's sarcasm made Caleb smirk "I have no idea what you're talking about." he brought the coffee to his mouth and took a long drink. "Hurry up and eat so we can get back to those pain in the asses you call a father and a brother."
"Okay." Sam agreed. Caleb wasn't the only one anxious to get back.
TBC ...
Well there it is folks ... we're getting there. I promise you Dean will get the birthday he deserves:D i wouldnt have it any other way :D I'll see you as soon as i can. Again im sorry for posting to late lately :( thanks for all ur support!!
Tara x0x