Chapter 6
Heavy.
Weighed down.
Throbbing.
Dean's mind woke well before his body was ready to function. Through the blanket of dense haze that seemed to cloak his entire soul random thoughts and memories slowly shifted through his mind, jumbled together, blurred into one.
Flashes of the past, blurs of events and whirls of familiar faces appeared before him like some sort of tripped out slideshow swimming in and out of vision taunting him with there familiarity before disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
And then, there they were, his family, just out of reach, calling to him, smiling at him, laughing joyfully while waving him over to join them. He goes to move but before he can he feels the black abyss begin to settle over him, once more pulling them away from him. Though he tries to reach them, begging them not to leave, pleading them to hold on for him, the distance grows greater, his outstretched hands grasp nothing but air and finally the nothingness surrounds him and he is there no more.
The second time the older Winchester woke his senses were more gathered, his mind was more alert and though he was unsure of where he was or how he came to be there he had a feeling of being safe and that for now was enough at least until he could figure out his current predicament.
Struggling with all he had, which admittedly wasn't much, he tried to open his eyes but they determinedly remained closed as if each were being weighed down with mini weights. The effort that he had used only led to his head that already felt thick and heavy with hurt to begin building with affliction. Wincing slightly at the increasing roar that was making itself known Dean went to other means to find out where he was.
Instinctively relaxing he trained his keen hunter ears on the sounds that buzzed around. In the distance he could here the murmurs of people bustling around and the clatter of things being dropped or placed down. Somewhere public, ok.
Focusing now on the sounds closer to him he could hear a steady beep, and the hushed whirring noises of machines that matched with the steady breathing of someone close by, he pin-pointed his location - Hospital. Damn.
The exertion of his tasks where already depleting his lacking energy and he could feel the beginnings of the luring darkness once again calling him to it but just because he knew where he was he didn't know why or with whom.
It was time to do the checklist, he didn't need eyes to figure this problem and surely there wouldn't be to much effort to be used.
Toes - check slight wiggle good start
Feet - check obviously, they're attached to the toes der Dean
Legs - check aching like a bitch feel like I've run a marathon huh.
Right on we go
Finger/Hands - check slight wiggle
Arms - check one feels slightly pinned huh maybe a pretty girl is attached, nice Dean
Torso - check very very check
A groan escaped his closed lips as the slight movement he had made sent a searing tear through his left side stealing his breath from him and suddenly the weight that was seemingly pinning his arm was abruptly removed.
"Dean?" no not pretty girl.
The only answer he could give was another low moan as the intensity shifted into high gear awakening every ache and every bruise on his very battered body checklist bad idea, very, very bad.
"Dean, man it's ok, just hang on alright?"
Dean struggled to hold onto the words of his brother but the burning torture that was being inflicted on his body was blurring all his senses and then suddenly the feeling of warmth and sweet relief washed over him and this time he gratefully accepted the darkness when it came.
"Come on Mommy, hurry!" Katelyn cried over her shoulder as she raced ahead of her mother and baby brother who were tottering at Jayden's pace behind.
Seeing her daughter reach Dean's ICU room she called out a quick, "Katie wait," before being turned around by the hearing of her own name.
"Mrs Winchester, please hold up!"
"Doctor Burrows,' Sarah began but was immediately silenced when she heard the terror filled scream of her little girl.
"Mommy!"
Snatching Jayden up into her arms Sarah bolted to the open door of the room and halted at the sight before her.
Empty.
The room was empty.
No Sam.
No Dean.
Just the sterile white bed and the silence of the unattached machines surrounding it.
"Mommy where are they, where is Daddy and Deanie?"
"I… I don't…." Sarah faltered eyes still roving the now barren room her mind racing. No, no if something went wrong, if something happened Sam would of called he would of……
"Mrs Winchester, I'm sorry I tried to tell you before," the voice of Doctor Burrows brought her around and her face drained of colour at his spoken words. She clutched Jayden tighter to her and felt the weight of Katelyn press into her leg as her daughter clung on.
"Oh God."
Burrows saw the woman in front of him turn pale and grabbed a steading hold on her as she staggered back a gasp leaving her lips, only then did he realise his poor choice of words.
"Oh no, no Mrs Winchester, Dean is fine, we just moved him is all."
"You moved him? Moved him when, why, where is he?" the questions flooded from her, unable to keep the tremor from her voice.
"We've moved him down to the second floor," he began to explain as he steered the trio back toward the elevators, "He started regaining consciousness during the night and although we had to give him a sedative and some morphine for the pain, we felt safe in moving him from the ICU wing. Just follow me and I'll take you to him."
Katie and her mother fell into line as they followed his path and he could of sworn he heard the little girl tell her mother, "could have mentioned that before scaring the crap outta us," and was damn sure he heard the mother mutter an, "Uh-huh," in agreement.
He was dreaming, he had to be dreaming.
It was pink.
No, it was fluoro friggin' pink!
What the hell!!
"What, don't you like it Deanie?"
The sudden familiar voice had Dean spinning around on the spot and coming to face with his little niece, "Katelyn?"
"Who'd you think it was Deanie, got another niece I don't know about?"
He frowned, uncertain of her tone.
"I like it," she said, ignoring her Uncle's look of concern and ran a hand along the bonnet, "It's pretty."
Dean gave her a look of horror, "It's pink Katie."
Raising an eyebrow his way she grinned at him, "Observant, I like that."
Dean gave her a confused look, it looked like Katie, had her voice but something wasn't right, something wasn't quite……Katie.
"Katie what…."
"You were late Deanie," the little girl interrupted, "So this is your punishment."
"Katie?"
"Two days Deanie, you got two days."
Before he could say anything the young girl in front of him suddenly stepped back and morphed into a slender black haired woman.
"Sarah? What…I don't….."
"Shh, now Dean." she said walking toward him and silencing him with a finger pressed to his lips, her soft features turning into a look of sheer disappointment, "I'd never thought you'd do it, I'd never thought you would let us down."
"Sarah I…."
"You had responsibilities, obligations Dean, you made promises. How could you forget?"
"Sarah, I'm sorry I tried."
"You didn't try hard enough." the statement had Dean spinning around to see Sam standing there with Sarah by his side, glancing back the other Sarah had disappeared. Something was seriously screwing with him.
"Sammy, what's going on?"
The Sam smiled at him, "We are waiting for you Dean." he simply told him before turning himself and Sarah around and vanishing from sight as the day suddenly tuned into night.
Dean spun around to see where they were but found nothing but a darkened tree sprawled dirt trail.
"Sam, Sarah!" he shouted receiving no response.
Cautiously he began to walk along the path before him. It seemed so familiar somehow, like he had seen it before, been there before. His foot caught on something on the ground and he fell forward before catching himself on a tree suddenly feeling a wet, sticky sensation on his left side. Pulling back he looked down to see blood soaking through his shirt and it all came back to him. The hunt, the Wendigo, getting home, Sam!
Stumbling back onto the path he looked up to see Katie just ahead of him, waving him on urgently.
"Two days Deanie, you got to days." she called before turning and racing in the other direction.
"Katie wait," Dean cried taking off behind but failing to keep up, how in the hell can she run so fast, "Katie!"
"You got two days."
"Open your eyes Dean." Sam?
"Responsibilities, Obligations."
Dean tripped and tumbled to the ground landing hard on his back sending the breath from his lungs out in a sharp burst.
"Come on man, open your eyes."
Sam. He could hear Sam and the voice was begging him, pleading even, "Sammy?"
Sam and been startled awake by the murmuring coming from Dean and he slowly rose from the chair beside the bed to see Dean restlessly moving his head and his eyes racing behind closed lids.
"Open your eyes Dean." he whispered stroking a hand through his brothers short hair. The only response he received was a light gasp of air from Dean's mouth, his brother was frightening him.
"Come on man, open your eyes." He begged grasping Dean's right hand hoping for something, anything in return and he was finally rewarded.
"Sam….my?" it was a soft stuttered whisper and the best thing Sam had ever heard.
"Yea Dean it's me," Sam said gently squeezing his brother's hand, "Can you open your eyes for me?"
Sam watched as his brother struggled with the huge task of opening his unwilling eyes and only released his breath when two green slits opened before him.
"Hey there man," Sam choked out through a smile and tears that had suddenly sprung from his own eyes.
Sam saw Dean lick his dry lips as his eyes slowly fluttered adjusting to the light.
"You thirsty?" he asked and filled the empty cup by Dean's bed when he received a tired nod.
Helping Dean tilt his head up, he rested the cup at Dean's lip letting the water pour slowly into his brother's parched mouth, letting him take slow sips.
"Better?" he asked when he sat the cup back down and turned back to the bed to see his brother watching him through hazy eyes.
"Did I make it in time?" Dean slowly breathed out.
"What?"
"Jay's birthday," he managed before closing his eyes an able to keep them open, "made promise."
Sam smiled sadly, "No man, you didn't miss it. It's today."
"Today but…."
"It's ok Dean, just rest." Sam told him placing a hand on his shoulder, "I'll wake you when they get here." he promised and watched as his brother's body relaxed back into a peaceful sleep.
Sam had been watching Dean sleep for a good half hour before he realised that maybe he should get someone to tell the doctor that Dean had finally fully woken. Getting up from his chair he went to press the call button when the door to the room swung open.
"Daddy."
The call had Sam swirling around as a suddenly blur attached itself to his leg.
"Hey baby," he said picking up his little girl and hugging her before walking back to his wife and kissing her a hello. Putting Katie down he turned his attention to the little man in his wife's arm before taking him from her and kissing him on the cheek, "Happy Birthday Jay." he said before smothering his son in kisses causing him to squirm and giggle.
A clearing of a throat finally got Sam's attention.
"Oh, Doctor Burrows I was just about to get someone to find you. Dean came too just a little while."
"That's excellent news Sam," Burrows said striding over to Dean and checking his patient's temperature and pulse before addressing the other's again, "Temp is still up but nothing to be too concerned about. How coherent was he when he woke?"
"Ah he knew where he was, who he was."
"Good, good all very good signs. Any signs pain or distress?"
"A little, but nothing like before."
Before had scared the absolute hell out of Sam, one minute he was sound asleep and the next Dean had woken him, crying out as pain coursed through his body. He had been able to do little more than usher whispered words of comfort until help finally arrived.
Burrows nodded, "Good, I'll have a nurse come in to check on him soon and adjust his IV and pain meds accordingly but with all things considered I think he is doing remarkably well."
"That's our Dean for you." Sarah stated walking up to Dean and running a hand through his hair.
"Will Deanie wake up again soon?"
The Doctor bent down to address the little girl, "Your Uncle is doing much better, but he is gonna be very tired for awhile."
"While his body gets better?"
"Yep, so I don't want you to worry if he comes around but doesn't seem quite himself, he is gonna needs lots of loving and care."
Katie beamed at this, "No worries Doc, we got it covered."
Burrows couldn't help but laugh at this statement, "You know I have no doubts about that at all." he said before raising himself back from his crouching.
"I'll be back in before the end of my shift." he announced to the others before leaving the room.
The room remained motionless for a moment as each occupant silently had their thoughts on Dean until the youngest spoke up "Presents?"
"Oh God I completely for…."
"No you didn't Sammy," Sarah stopped him before he could damage their child in anyway, "Why don't you go down to the car and get a few things from the trunk, while me and the kids keep an eye on this one."
Sighing in relief at his wife's ability to think ahead he handed Jay back to his mother and quickly left the room. His family were together and while some were beat to hell, a birthday was to be celebrated.
Arriving a short while later with an arm load of presents Sam was greeted into the room with "….and then Deanie said that Daddy still means everything to him."
He heard a groan from his brother but it wasn't one of pain more dire embarrassment, "Katie honey….. give your uncle a break….. I need to keep my rep….. intact."
"Oh Mr. Winchester I think your rep is doing just fine" the nurse said winking at her patient before leaving the room.
Apparently while he had been out Dean had decided to wake and had now been moved into a semi-sitting position thanks to the bed. He still looked beat to hell and exhausted but clearly was more alert then the last time.
"Barely conscious and still able to pick up the women how do you do it."
"Trade secrets Sammy……. I'll tell you when your……. old enough." closing his eyes as he breathed through the protesting his ribs and side had made when he shifted slightly.
"Dean, do you need the nurse back."
Dean just shook his head.
"The nurse just adjusted his meds, she said it should take affect soon."
Dean re-opened his eyes to see all four faces peering at him with worry and concern masked on them all. Time to defer attention.
"So are you gonna…… let the little guy open….. his goodies or are you just gonna….. taunt him."
Jayden looked between the two men only bursting into a grin when his Uncle gave him a reassuring wink.
"Pop him up here Sam,"
"Dean man, don't go….."
"Sammy." It was soft but Sam could hear the warning that lay behind it. Dean had very little energy and none to spare on arguing.
Backing down he lifted Jay up and place him on the end of the bed by Dean's feet.
Sarah also picked up Katie and placed her near Dean's right side whispering, "Gentle with him."
Katie just gave her mother a look of clear disgust at having been told something she was already well aware of before sidling closer and taking her Uncle's hand in hers and focusing her attention back on her little brother who was anxiously waiting for his presents.
Picking up the first one from where Sam had deposited them on the chair she put it in front of her son, "Ok baby, let's get into them."
It was early afternoon when Sam sat back in his chair by Dean's bed and contently listening to the excited blabbering of his son and Katie's hushed playful whispers as the two sat on the floor of the hospital room with their mother getting acquainted with Jayden's new toys.
The morning had been a blur for Sam. While he joined his family in celebrating his baby's birthday as best as the circumstances allowed he also kept a watchful eye over his brother, drinking in his presence and monitoring him for any signs of distress.
Dean, for his part, didn't fight the constant glances but merely accepted the fact it was what Sam needed for now.
Sam broke his gaze away from his wife and children and looked back to his brother who and once again fallen into a much needed sleep. Try as he had to stay awake the fact was that his body demanded rest and that coupled with the effect of the pain relief that was pumping into him, even the mighty Dean Winchester had succumbed to the inevitable.
Sam watched the steady and slow movements of his sibling's chest rise and fall completely mesmerized and slowly the sound of his children's play droned out.
Sam couldn't help but to think back to the utter terror that had drove him through the past two days.
There had been the uneasy feeling that had settled over him from the very beginning that grew into nail biting worry when Dean had yet to call either Ellen or him. This deepened as each call he had made to his missing brother went unanswered.
Relief had been short-lived, while he knew Dean was hurt he had finally been able to contact him but the life line didn't last and the panic that locked onto him when their connection was severed still sent shivers down his spine now.
But the worst feeling of all was the strangling fear that latched onto him when he hadn't been able to wake Dean. No matter the begging or the pleading for Dean just to open his eyes for him, his brother had remained motionless and limp in his arms.
Sam closed his eyes as the horrific though of losing Dean assaulted him and a single tear slid down his cheek before an instant later warmth clambered itself onto his lap.
Unaware to him Katie and pulled away from her mother and brother and had watched the passing emotions rage across her father's sorrowed face. She had seen the tear building and the moment of its release she found her way in into his embrace.
"It's ok now Daddy," she whispered to him placing her small hand on his tear stained cheek, "We have him back now, that's all that matters."
Sam gazed down into his daughter's face amazed at how well she could read him, just like Dean, he thought as he hugged her close and nodded softly in agreement. He looked down to where Sarah sat with Jayden and she shared a knowing smile with him before returning her attention back to their son.
Katelyn twisted herself back around and together they silently watched their sleeping Dean. Although his cheeks were slightly flushed with the fever, his face was still too pale and the freckles that sprinkled across his nose stood out more than usual.
Sam could remember being little, snuggled in bed with his older brother, and counting each and every freckle while he listened to the comforting snores of his brother sleeping and the feeling of being safe, protected and loved.
He smiled to himself as he realised that those feelings never went away, and while Dean may not have shown them in the same ways as he did when they were little, there were always the subtle hints that he left most likely unaware that he did, that would often remind Sam that he would be forever protected and loved.
Dean was his safety net, always there to catch him when he thought he would fall. Dean was his true home.
And he knew that Katie was right. Dean was here now, maybe beaten and battered but still with them, with him, and that was all that mattered.
The nurse on duty that afternoon made her way into the quiet Winchester room and the sight before her warmed her heart. There was her patient soundly sleeping surrounded by his loving family. His brother was on his right side, fast asleep, with a small girl nestled in his lap, heading resting on his chest softly snoring and to his right was the birthday boy she had heard all about tuckered out resting peacefully in his mother's arms who smiled welcomingly at the nurse before returning her vigilant watch of those that mattered most, her family.
TBC
I know, it's been a long time since the last update but I've had major issues with this Chapter. I hope it worked out alright.
I love your reviews - they keep me going so please keep them coming.
Thanks, Storm.