Sorry about the long wait - unfortunately life has a way of creeping up on and taking control - Damn reality lol
CHAPTER 5
He's seizing?
He's seizing!
Sam withdrew his grasp from Dean as if the mere touch burned him. He should have known better, hell, he did know better. John had drilled first aid knowledge into his boys from the very beginning constantly telling them the importance of knowing what to do in every type of emergency and Sam knew that holding someone down when they were fitting was a major no, no.
Stupid Sam, stupid, he mentally berated himself as his sudden retaliation from his brother earned him a confused look from the nurse who barged past him making her way to her fitting patient.
"Dr Burrows is on his way," the second nurse announced as she re-entered the room and rushed to Dean's bedside.
Working together the two nurses quickly and efficiently began removing all items that could injure Dean's convulsing form as he continued to buck as the seizure took full control, it was the sudden gurgling noise from Dean that caused the first nurse to draw her attention back to her patient and not the items that needed moving.
"Help me turn him, his vomiting," she called as the two worked together among the flailing limbs and rolled Dean to his side letting bile drain from his mouth.
Sam watched on in frozen silence as Dean continued to shake out of control and is wasn't until he heard the booming voice of Dr Burrows before he was broken from his trance.
"What do we have here?" Burrows demanded entering the room.
"Patient seizing doctor, he…."
"Is he going to be OK?" Sam broke in finally finding his voice. "What's going on……. is he alright?" the questions asked with trembling fear.
The doctor ignoring Sam's frantic pleas gave one of the nurses a quick nod toward Sam before focusing back on the problem at hand.
"Nurse I need 2mg Diazepam now," he ordered as he reached his patient's bedside.
Unable to do anything else Sam watched as the nurse went about her duty before the feeling of two firm hands on his arms brought his attention away, "Sir, we need you to step outside."
He looked down to see the nurse whom the doctor had nodded to.
"What? No, no way." He shouted breaking the nurse's grip from him and stepping away.
"I can't leave him. I want to know…….." he was cut mid sentence as the nurse once again took hold of him and steered him gently but forcefully from the room, clearly she had done this before.
"Please sir, just wait here." she told him before giving him a momentarily sympathetic glance and heading back into the ICU room.
Sam couldn't believe it, he had just been removed from his brother again and was just about to follow her back in, consequences be damned, when the call of his name stopped him in his tracks.
"Sam."
He turned to see the kindly officer from before quickly making his way toward him.
"Bruce?" he asked confused by the man's sudden presence, "What, what are you still doing here?"
"I ah, I had to fill out a few forms you know, paperwork and I thought that I would check in to see how that brother of yours was doing?"
Bruce saw Sam pale out the mention of his brother and worry spiked through him, " Sam, Sam what's the matter, what happened?" he asked placing a firm hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"I don't know," Sam replied shaking his head and glancing towards his brother's room, "one minute I was there just talking with him and and then the next he, he is…….and I……and…." Sam stopped as he blinked back the sudden onslaught of tear and swallowed back the fear that enclosed his throat.
"Okay Sam, just take it easy," Bruce soothed removing his hand from Sam's shoulder and placing on his back, "How bout we just take a seat over here until they're done in there okay?" he asked as he guided the quivering man to the nearest seats.
Sam practically collapsed into the chair taking his head into his hands. Bruce watched the younger man's body tremble with worry before excusing himself to grab them coffee and was back only minutes later with two steaming cups.
"Thanks Bruce," came Sam's soft words as he took the offering clearly having calmed himself down in the time that Bruce had been away.
"I just spoke with one of the nurses at the desk she told me what just happened….I'm sure he'll be just fine." Bruce offered hoping not to give away the uncertainty in which he felt.
"He will, it's Dean" Sam stated, his clear and undeterred eyes fixed upon the ICU door as he sipped from his cup.
Bruce let the silence surround them for the moment as he thought of a way to approach Sam with the information he had recently come across about the Winchesters, especially Dean.
"You got through to your wife alright?" he began unsure of how to start.
" Ah, yea," Sam nodded before offering the man a smile, "Thanks for that, she's on her way with the kids, I don't think any of us will be letting him out of our sight for awhile."
Bruce nodded with understanding, "Ummm, you know, you never said how it was that your brother got himself hurt."
A look of what seemed as uncertainty flickered across Sam's face but quickly disappeared leaving Bruce to wonder if he had really seen anything at all "He was out camping, got attacked - a bear maybe. He got himself back to his car and called me."
Slightly surprised he asked, "He called you instead of an ambulance?"
"Yes." Sam simply said as if that should have been Dean's first reaction and Bruce chose to leave it at that.
"He was very lucky, we've had a few hikers, campers go missing recently, haven't been able to find them."
Sam looked at him pausing before retuning a "Yea lucky." The words that he spoke were even and clear and while his gaze revealed nothing Bruce could hear the warning in his tone don't push.
Closing his eyes and taking a drink from his cup Bruce debated if now was the time to get into this with Sam. He liked the man, he really did and he didn't want to cause him any further grief. His brother could be at death's door for all he knew but the information that he had just learnt, and if he was on the right track, could possibly save lives.
Focusing his eyes back on Sam he took the plunge, "You know when you spoke of Dean before, the name Winchester just sounded familiar to me somehow, as if I had heard it before." Bruce said choosing his words carefully and watching Sam for any reaction.
Sam, who had gone back to watching the ICU door glanced to him, "It's not all that uncommon I guess," he offered before returning his eyes to the door.
"Yes, I guess not but still, the name Dean Winchester, there was just something niggling at the back of my mind………so I had someone look into it." The last part of his sentence was rushed but it got the desired effect, Sam's full attention.
"I thought you said you were still here cause you had paperwork to do?"
"I never said what kind," he offered with a weak smile before quickly continuing knowing he was skating on thin ice, "It would seem some 8-9 years back a certain Dean Winchester had some trouble with the law, wanted for murder and what not."
Sam's face remained neutral, his voice was cold, "Yea he did, we did, but that was cleared up many years ago."
Bruce nodded aware of the facts and continued, "So I got to thinking. St Louis people being murdered - your bother supposedly killed then the attacks stop. Baltimore double murder your brother arrested then escaped - attacks stop. Milwaukee, robberies, murders you and your brother suddenly there then attacks just stop." Bruce paused waiting to see if Sam had anything to give but he remained emotionless staring blankly at the older man, "and there have been other times, incidents, attacks, murders, strange happenings, your brother and at times your named mentioned then suddenly it all stops and you two just disappear."
"Like I said Officer Harrison," Sam's voice was restrained and low with danger, "all that was cleared up, Dean was cleared."
"I know Sam," Bruce said gently like a peace offering trying to keep Sam with him, "and now your brother is severely injured, been attacked if you will, in the very same place where several people have gone missing in recent weeks."
"What is it that you are trying to say Officer Harrison?"
Bruce paused for a moment contemplating his next line, "Can I safely assume then that as of this point there will be no more people going missing?"
Sam's breath caught as he tried to read the implication that the man next to him was saying.
"Like you said your brother is out there saving lives, putting himself in danger for others, is it safe out in the forest now?" he asked again staring into the younger man's eyes.
Barely believing what it was that Bruce was asking all Sam could manage was a soft, "Yes."
Now feeling safe to move toward the younger man Bruce placed a hand on Sam's shoulder "Is there any chance of finding survivors?"
Taking a moment, attempting to get his head around the turn of events, Sam finally nodded, "Ah maybe…..maybe somewhere dark, somewhere secluded."
Bruce smiled gratefully and took a small notepad from his pocket, "Where was it that you found your brother"
"Not far from Friendship turnoff on Route 125, it was the second dirt road on the left after the turnoff," Sam told him watching the man scribble the information on the paper, "my car is still there."
Finishing writing he closed his notebook and looked warmly at the still slightly shocked man next to him, "I do believe that another search party is required."
"I can't believe that….."
"That I'm accepting something like this?" Bruce offered with a cheeky grin.
Shrugging Sam agreed, "Well yea,"
"Look think of it like this, it's not like I'm accepting much out of the ordinary. I'm just putting two and two together. There is trouble, then Dean is there and then the trouble goes away." he explained before swallowing the last dregs in his cup.
"But the odd ah, circumstances, don't bother you…..at all?"
Contemplating the thought for a moment Bruce placed a gentle hand on Sam's shoulder, "Well let's just say I've learnt to keep an open mind about things."
Sam gave him a questioning look but before he could ask Bruce what he meant Dean's ICU room door opened as Dr Burrows stepped out.
"What happened is he Ok?" Sam asked leaping from his seat rushing the meet the man.
The doctor smiled and gave him a reassuring look, "Yes Sam, you're brother is doing just fine."
Sam scrunched his brows with confusion, "But he…."
"That was what we call a fever seizure." Burrows explained, "It's the body's reaction to the fever being so high. The Diazepam was able to stop the seizure and I have ordered the acetaminophen to be increased to continue to get his fever down and we are thankfully already seeing an improvement from the antibiotics. Like I've said before your brother is a fighter, and he is giving it all his got."
At hearing this Sam let out a bottled up sigh of relief and couldn't help but to stagger back a bit.
"Whoa easy there young fella," Bruce said as he reached to steady the swaying Sam.
"Maybe you should get some rest yourself," Burrows suggested frowning with concern.
"No," Sam shook his head releasing Bruce's hold from him and standing at his full height to show he was fine, "No, I'm not leaving my brother."
"Well we don't normally allow people to stay in the ICU rooms for extended periods so……"
"Well perhaps Dr Borrows" Bruce interrupted causing the doctor to turn to him, "You could make an allowance. I'm sure Sam wouldn't be a hindrance."
The doctor looked Bruce over before turning his gaze back to the pleading look in Sam's face. Sighing in defeat he relented, "No I doubt he would be, but Mr Winchester," he warned, "you do cause any problems and it's back to visiting hours only for you."
Sam reached out and shook the doctor's hand, "Thankyou. I won't be you have my word."
Nodding Burrows smiled to him, "I'm sure I do. You can go back in there as soon as the nurses have finished, I'll let them and the Doctor on duty know that you'll be staying. I'm off duty for now but I'll be back on later tonight to check on how his doing. Gotta love the midnight shift." he finished as he turned from the two men and walked away.
Sighing with relief and exhaustion Sam turned back to Bruce, "Thanks Bruce, for everything I have no idea why you're….."
"Hey," he said raising a hand stoping Sam, "I'm glad I can help, from what I can tell you both deserve a bit of a break."
Sam couldn't help but smirk at the understatement.
"I'll let you get back to that brother of yours." he said noting the nurses finally coming from Dean's room, "and I have some calls to make."
Sam fidgeted a little before cocking his head toward Bruce, "What are you gonna say?"
"That I have a lead where some missing hikers might be. I'm sure I can figure something out." he answered giving Sam a confident smile and a gentle pat on the back, "and don't worry bout your car, I'll have someone bring it in for you."
Sam smiled back at Bruce and watched him start walking away before he suddenly called him back, "Bruce."
The older man turned to see Sam walking a couple of steps toward him "Thanks again, really, for everything."
Bruce shook his head and gave Sam a warm smile "Don't mention it, just take care of that brother of yours, I have a feeling that a lot of people owe him, owe you both."
Sam watched Bruce retreat toward the elevators before finally making his way back into the ICU room thinking to himself more than you'll ever know.
"Excuse me." the words startled the receptionist at the hospital's front desk. "I'm looking for Winchester, Dean Winchester."
Looking up from her papers the receptionist noted that it was just past midnight as she took in the woman and two small children in front of her. There was a sleeping toddler resting on the weary looking woman's shoulder and a young girl by her side desperately clinging to her other hand.
"I need to know the room number for Dean Winchester." the black haired woman stated again clearly unamused by the slow reaction she was receiving.
"Today lady," apparently so had the little girl by her side.
"Katelyn."
"What?" the young girl asked before taking in her mother's warning glare and offering a small apology, "Sorry."
"You are family of Mr Winchester?" the receptionist inquired slightly amused by Katelyn's upfront attitude.
"Yes, he is my husband's brother."
The woman at the desk nodded and checked on the computer.
"Mr Winchester, is in the ICU on the third floor."
"Thankyou," Sarah said trying to not let the fear show at hearing ICU as she quickly ushered Katelyn toward the elevators.
"ICU? Isn't that bad mommy?" Katelyn asked as the doors closed and Sarah pushed the button to the third floor.
"No honey," she said squeezing her daughter's hand, "it just means they're taking extra special care of him." Katelyn nodded at this, nothing but the best care would be suitable for her Uncle.
Getting Dean's room number was unfortunately much harder than finding what floor he was on.
"I'm sorry Ma'am but I cannot tell you that. Perhaps if you wait for the doctor on duty……….."
"Tell us now or I'll find it myself." came Katelyn's demand evoking every part of Dean in her she had. The man at the counter was refusing to divulge the information and Katie had had enough. She wanted to see her Deanie and she wanted to see him now.
The man at the desk simply looked stunned at the young girl's outburst and turned to Sarah clearly waiting for her to reprimand her daughter.
Sarah quickly shook the momentary shock of hearing Dean so clearly in her child's voice before returning the man's glare, "I'd do as she says, nothing gets between her and her Uncle." she said battling to keep the grin from her face.
The man glanced between the two, weighing up his options before nodding defeat and saying, "Room 316"
A quick nod of thanks Sarah shifted the sleeping Jayden before leading Katelyn to Dean's room and bending down to her, "Remember what mommy said? Deanie had an accident and he isn't going to be feeling well for awhile so we have to be quiet ok honey."
"Ok Mommy," Katie complied and waited for Sarah to open the door.
Opening it Sarah peeked her head around to see her sleeping husband, head tilted back, mouth slightly open, softly snoring. One arm was stretched out resting on the unconscious Dean's arm. Several wires that were attached to the monitors beeping by his bedside could be seen protruding from under the white blankets covering Dean .
It was Katelyn's small gasp that brought Sarah back from her trance, the little girl had snuck past her mother and into the room, "It's ok honey," she whispered leading her daughter further in. Katelyn followed her mother to her Uncle's bedside where she stood transfixed taking in his stillness and the many attachments.
"Sam, Sammy," Sarah softly cooed lightly touching her husband's shoulder in attempt to rouse him.
"Grphm," came the inaudible response as Sam slowly shifted from the land of nod.
"Sarah?" he asked clearly confused by her sudden presence wiping the sleep from his eyes.
"Yea sweetie, we just got here," she smiled at him shifting Jayden from one side to the other, "How is he?" she asked turning her head toward Dean.
Sam's eyes went to his brother but before he could answer the door opened and Dr Burrows entered.
"Ah yes, I heard we had more guests," he said smiling at the new trio before making his way to Dean's charts at his bed.
As he read the information silence cloaked the room causing him to look up to see three anxious faces peering at him intently.
"Is, is he gonna be alright?"
The question came from the small girl who stood unmoving from beside the bed, her eyes never wavering from her Uncle.
"And you must be the little one that I've already heard so much about," he said raising his eyebrows with amusement, "putting Tony in his place like that, I would've paid good money to have been there."
The compliment paid no heed to Katelyn and she turned to face the doctor with an expectant look upon her face.
"I can assure you young lady that Dean here will be just fine." Burrows said and smiled as her stance relaxed, her eyes going back to the bed.
Turning his attention back to the adults in the room he saw that Sam had now stood letting his wife sit in the recently vacated chair. Jayden maybe only two but the little blighter was getting heavier by the day.
"It seems the higher dosage of acetaminophen, has been able to bring his fever down, not to where we would like it, but it's getting there."
Attaching the charts back to the bed he moved around to Dean's injured side lifting the sheets and checking the wounds. Burrows nodded with approval ,"no signs of the infection worsening, some of the inflammation has even already subsided."
Adjusting the sheets back down he gave Sam and Sarah an encouraging look, "Under the circumstances he is improving very well."
The two adults let out exhausted sighs, relief evident in their bodies.
"If he continues to improve like this, I don't see why we won't be able to move him out of the ICU when he wakes, where you will all be more comfortable." he said silently underlining the fact that they all couldn't stay here for much longer. Having Sam there was one thing, but the whole family, he couldn't allow that.
Sam gave him a smile of understanding and Burrows made his way to the door, "I'll be in to check on him in another couple of hours." he said as he disappeared shutting the door behind him.
"Deanie's gonna wake up soon right?"
Katelyn had listened to every word the doctor had said, she knew the words he was saying all pointed to Dean getting better, he had mentioned Dean waking up but had seemed to bypass the part where he mentioned when Dean would wake up.
Sam walked around the bed to where his daughter stood and gathered her frightened form into his arms where she wrapped herself around him holding on tightly, "Yea baby of course he is," he confirmed gently rocking her, "it's just that his body is very tired right now it's, it's been through a lot."
"And now it needs to rest to get better?"
Sam smiled at the innocence on her face, "Yea Katie, but before you know it, Dean will be up and around in no time."
Katie turned her face away from her father and looked down upon Dean, "I don't like it when he goes away." the statement was whispered and loaded saying so much more.
"No baby, neither do I."
A sudden yawn forced it's way from Katelyn's tired little face.
"Do you wanna take them to the motel?" Sam asked his wife who shifted her sleeping babe and raised herself from the chair in answer.
"No…. I wanna stay." Katie pouted before being overtaken by another yawn.
"Katie, we will be back in the morning I promise sweetie," Sarah told her, "Uncle Deanie would be wanting you to get your rest too. Plus," she added looking down as Jayden sighed in his sleep, "we have Jayden's birthday to celebrate."
Katie stared at her mother for a moment before giving a reluctant nod, "Do you think Deanie will wake up for it?"
Squeezing his daughter Sam walked toward the door, "Cause he will Katie, he wouldn't miss it for anything."
"No, cause Dean always keep his promises." Katie agreed resting her head on her father's shoulders and closing her heavy eyes.
"I'll walk you out." Sam said as he held the door open for his wife to pass through.
"You need your rest too Sam."
"I…."
"Some proper rest." she insisted and they stopped at the elevator doors waiting.
"and I will I just need to…"
The doors pinged open, "I know honey."
They walked out of the hospital in silence, each carrying a sleeping child. Walking through the car park Sam noticed Sarah had parked next to the Impala.
Looking around Sarah realised Sam's SUV was no where in sight.
"Ah honey, where's your car?"
Gently placing a half asleep Katie into the backseat of Sarah's car he replied, "I left it out in the forest but.." he paused as he clicked the restraint into place, "Bruce is gonna get someone to bring it in for me."
"Bruce?" Sarah questioned from the other side of the backseat as she placed Jayden into his seat who woke only momentarily before drifting back off.
"Ah yea, Officer Bruce Harrison."
Sarah gave her husband a questioning look as she buckled their son in and softly shut the car door.
"Long story I'll tell you later," he answered closing the other and watching Katie battle to keep her eyes open through the window.
"Are you gonna be ok with getting them both into the room?"
"I got them Sam." Sarah replied moving around to her husband and wrapping her arms him. She felt him tremble slightly as he rested his chin on her head and she breathed in his scent.
"It's ok Sam, we got him back."
"I know it's just…..it was so close this time Sar, if I hadn't……." his voice broke off and he closed his eyes fighting back the burn from unshed tears.
"Shh baby, I know, I know," Sarah soothed gently swaying them both from side to side and rubbing his back.
They stood like that for a few minutes both taking in the other's presence, both drawing in the support the other was giving.
It was Sarah's shiver that caused Sam to finally pull them apart, "You better go," he said kissing his wife's lips and opening the driver's door for her.
"We will be back in the morning, and you better get some sleep too."
"I will," he promised closing the door and watching as she reversed from the space and made her way out of the lot.
Making his way back to his brother's room he caught a nurse just making her way back out.
"He's doing fine," she smiled at him as she held the door open for Sam.
He said a quick "thanks," and shut the door behind him before settling back into the chair beside the bed.
Sam was exhausted. He had slept on and off through the entire day, waking when the nurses or doctor would be in to check to on Dean but his body was still ached with tiredness.
Watching the slow rise and descent of his brother's chest his eye's once again drew heavy and as exhaustion once again took hold he rested his head on the bed near his brother and finally let sleep blanket him with the thoughts of Dean getting better and them all being able to celebrate Jayden's birthday together.
TBC
Ha, I know no cliffhanger - but will you still come back for more? Please keep the reviews coming I love each and everyone of them - they help motivate me like you wouldn't believe. (",)