Living on a Prayer Ch. 7
Disclaimer: I don't anything recognizable in this story, nor am I making any profit from it.
Author's Note: Please remember I have no medical knowledge whatsoever, so forgive me if there is any glaring errors in treatment. Also, this chapter has not been beta'ed, so all mistakes are mine.
Previously: "Sammy, can you hear me kiddo?" Dean asked with baited breath, eyes gazing intently at his sibling as he waited for Sam to open his eyes.
"Come on Kiddo, open those puppy dog eyes of yours for me," Dean pleaded as he reached up to brush away the bangs from his sibling's eyes.
Watching intently, Dean was rewarded just a few moments later as Sam blinked a few times, and then opened his eyes to half-mast.
"Hey there Squirt, it's about time you woke up from your sleeping beauty routine," Dean voiced with a smile as sat down on the edge of the bed. That smile soon vanished however as he watched a sheer look of terror cross his baby brother's face.
Slowly awakening, the first thing Sammy sensed was the presence of his brother as head Dean calling out to him. Forcing his eyes slightly open, he was suddenly away of something clogging his throat and obstructing his ability to breathe and it terrified him.
"Sammy?" Dean questioned anxiously as he saw the look of terror cross his brother's face and then watched as Sam feebly attempted to lift his hands towards his face, while making choking sounds at the same time.
"Sammy, listen to me, it's okay Tiger," John voiced firmly as he grasped Sam's chin and forced his youngest to look at him instead. He knew without a doubt what was wrong. "You're on a ventilator. It's there to help you breathe. Just relax."
"Dad's right, Sammy, you've got to relax," Dean stated, grabbing both of Sam's hands and holding them tightly as one of the medical machines attached to his brother began to blare a loud warning signal. "I'm right here Kiddo, its okay."
Responding to the comforting tones, Sammy started to relax as his doctor came striding quickly into the room.
"Hey there Sam, it's good to see you awake," Dr. Brad Folsom stated as he approached the head of the bed. "What do you say we get the intubation tube out, huh?"
Nodding his head affirmatively, Sam glanced at Dean with tears in his eyes.
"I'm staying, Kiddo," Dean soothed, knowing right away that Sam was scared.
"Okay Sam, on the count of three, I want you to cough forcefully for me while I extract the tube. Can you do that for me?"
Nodding once again, Sam listened to the doctor count and then coughed as directed, gagging loudly as the tube was pulled from his throat.
"S'okay, Sammy, I got ya," Dean voiced as he squeezed Sammy's hand with his right hand while carding his fingers through Sam's hair comfortingly with his left. "Just breathe now, Squirt. You're fine."
"Wh..," Sammy started to question with a raspy voice before he broke off as a harsh coughing fit it him.
"Here Sammy, try some of this. It will soothe your throat," John informed his son as he spooned up some ice and held it to Sammy's mouth.
"Th-hanks Dad," Sam stated with a hoarse voice.
"You're welcome, Son. How are you feeling?" John inquired as he noticed the pained expression on Sam's face.
"M'okay, I guess," Sam answered with a wince as he tried to reposition himself on the bed.
"Yeah, I can see that," Dean said as he reached over and pushed the button that would inject some pain medication into his brother's system.
"De'n, wha' happened?" Sam asked, the pain lines on his face smoothing out as the Demerol took effect.
"You were attacked by a wild animal while we were camping," Dean answered, knowing they had to keep the truth of what really happened from the doctor. "But you don't need to worry about that right now. Just get some rest."
You 'kay?" Sam queried with a jaw popping yawn as he noticed the bandage on his brother's hand.
"I'm fine. No need to worry about me," Dean replied, as he continued the soothing motion of carding his fingers through Sam's chestnut colored hair until the youngest Winchester closed his eyes and they did not open again.
"You're really good with him, ya know?" Brad said as he watched Sam fade off to sleep, a look of pure contentment on his young patient's face.
"I ought to be, I practically raised the kid since he was born," Dean murmured with affection for his sleeping sibling.
"He means that with my job having me away at odd hours all the time, Dean has had to take care of Sam's needs on a daily basis," John informed the doctor with a shrug.
"Well, it's obviously built an unbreakable bond between the two," Brad surmised wistfully as he thought about the growing rift between himself and his own brother.
"That it has," John replied as he once again took his place at Sam's side. And he couldn't have been more grateful for it.
~~Approximately One Week Later~~
"So when can we get out of here?" Sam asked impatiently as he sat on the side of his bed, waiting for an orderly to return to the room with a wheel chair. He was sick of being stuck in the hospital and couldn't wait to get outside where he could breathe in some fresh air instead of the antiseptic smell that had been assaulting his nose continuously over the past week.
"Just as soon as the doctor brings in your release papers," John answered with a sigh as he glanced at his watch. He was more than ready to hit the road for the few days' drive it would take them to get to Bobby's place. Sammy was not yet up to par, and Bobby had invited them to spend a few weeks, giving them a place to stay where John would have to use one of their fake credit cards.
"Speak of the devil," Dean whispered to his brother with a nudge of the shoulder as the physician walked into the room carrying the papers that John would have to sign.
Handing over the papers to the eldest Winchester, Brad looked at his young patient. "You're all clear to go Sam. However, I want you to take it easy. No strenuous exercise and be careful of the stitches in your side until your father brings you back in a week or so to get them out," Brad warned with a smile.
'Yes Sir," Sam answered, though he knew full well that once they left the doctor wouldn't be seeing him again.
"I'm counting on you to make sure he follows all the instructions I have written down in his release papers," Brad stated, knowing how protective the big brother was after witnessing Dean's mother henning ways over the past week.
"No worries Doc, he little bitch is safe with me," Dean said with a laugh, noting the way the doctor raised his right eyebrow at the use of the term.
"Dean, you're such a Jerk," Sam complained as he elbowed his brother in the side.
"What can I say, their teenage boys," John explained with a shrug of his shoulders as he signed the release papers and handed the top form back over to the doctor. "I can't thank you enough for saving my boy's life.
"No thanks needed. I'm just glad I was able to help," Brad stated, before patting young Sam on the shoulder. "Take care, Sam."
"You too, Doc," Sam and Dean stated in unison, both then giggling at realizing they had done so.
"Marco, would you please escort those two rascals to the door," Brad enunciated with affection as he turned to the orderly who was patiently standing by with a wheelchair.
'Sure Doc," Marco answered as he eased Sam into the wheeled chariot, careful to not touch his injured side.
""it's been a pleasure Doc, but please don't take offence when I say I hope we never see you again." John said as he reached out to shake the physician's hand.
"None taken," Dr. Folsom added with a smile. He was sure going to miss those two boys.
Escorting the family of three out to the midnight black Impala, Marco helped his ex-patient into the vehicle and then waved as the family drove away.
THE END! I must now tell you that I plan to take an extended break from posting my stories on FanFiction. The drastic drop in reviews suggests to me that readers have become bored with my writing. Maybe an extended break will help to inspire me to write better stories. Thank you so much for all the support you have given me. I have truly enjoyed reading each and every review from the first story to the last.