Thank you again to everyone reviewing this story. I am blown away by all the reviews. Thank you so much! :)
Now for the update!
***
Bobby and Caleb found themselves momentarily speechless at the sight of the enraged eldest Winchester.
"I said...where...the...HELL...are my BOYS!" John yelled.
Bobby and Caleb were saved from answering when Dr. Thatcher ran into the room and escorted John out into the hallway.
John sent a glare in the other two men's direction before exiting the room.
***
"What the hell happened to my boys? They were both fine a few hours ago."
"John, I can't say much about Dean's condition. All I know is that his surgical incisions have become infected and he has a very high temperature. They took him up to the suture room to disinfect and stitch him up again. Then they are going to take him up to the ICU at least for the next day. Sorry that's all I know about Dean."
Dr. Thatcher could see the grief slowly return to the father's eyes as tears pooled in his eyes.
"What...about Sam?" John asked quietly.
"From what your brother said and what I saw...it looks like Sam had a severe nightmare. He was panicking and screaming for his brother. We sedated him, but I noticed a pool of blood by his back. It looks like Sam popped his stitches. I have him being prepped right now. I'm sorry John but Sam needs surgery again."
John swallowed the lump in his throat. "I-I-I understand...just...do what you can for Sammy."
Dr. Thatcher gave John a sympathetic glance before responding. "I will do everything I can for my son. Someone will let you know what's going on in the surgical waiting room."
With that Dr. Thatcher hurried down the hall to the elevator where she would travel up to the surgical floor.
***
Bobby and Caleb felt their stomachs flip when they saw John's grieving facial expression as he returned to his boys' old room.
"They are going to give us news in the surgical waiting room," John whispered.
John then sat down in the plastic chair by Dean's bed. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. Neither of the other two made a noise as they saw the lone tear trail down John's face.
"How did this happen? We were just laughing about Sam on morphine...it's not fair..."
Bobby walked over and put a hand on John's shoulder. "It isn't fair...but luckily Sammy and Dean are fighters. They are going to be fine John."
"I just don't know anymore Bobby...they've both been through so much..."
Caleb then made his way over to John. "You can't say that Johnny. Your boys are stronger than anyone I've ever met...You have to believe that they will fight for everything they have...they just need you to believe in them."
John looked at Caleb and Bobby. "You're right...I have to believe in my boys...you guys should head up to the waiting room...I'll be there in a little..."
Bobby and Caleb nodded as the three left the room. Bobby and Caleb saw John head to the stairwell, both knowing that the broken father was heading back to the chapel.
***
One hour later, Bobby and Caleb saw John enter the waiting room with three coffees in hand. He silently handed one to each of the men before sitting down without a word.
John took a sip of his coffee before hesitantly asking, "Did anyone say anything yet?"
Bobby had opened his mouth to speak, but before he even got a word out a nurse came into the waiting room announcing, "Family of Sam and Dean Winchester."
The three silently stood up and followed the nurse into a hallway and to a conference room where both Dr. Thatcher and Dr. Stilm were sitting.
Once everyone was seated Dr. Stilm spoke up. "We thought it would be easier to just explain Sam and Dean's conditions at the same time."
Dr. Thatcher then spoke. "We managed to fix the sutures Sam had popped. What has me worried though is that Sam lost quite a bit of blood before we managed to fix him up. I'm sorry but his blood pressure has significantly dropped again. I'm giving him another blood transfusion right now, but it won't be nearly as much as last time. I do believe though that if Sam avoids another infection he should make a full recovery, but it will take much longer than originally thought. I will discuss that with you later."
Dr. Stilm and Dr. Thatcher felt horrible. The three men sitting in front of them looked like their whole world had been destroyed. It was clear how important the two Winchester boys were to the men.
John was barely suppressing the tears threatening to stream down his cheeks. He nodded to what Dr. Thatcher said and then turned his attention to Dr. Stilm.
"Dean's incisions have been disinfected and he was stitched up again. However, his fever is still up. We are trying everything we can, but my theory is that his body has just been so weak that the infection took a lot out of him. He is in the ICU where we are trying to get control of his temperature. Now it's just a wait and see game."
John swallowed the lump in his throat and then choked out one simple question. "Are my boys gonna be okay?"
The doctors shared a look before answering in unison. "We hope so."
***
It had been a day since the disastrous turn in events for the Winchester boys. John was sitting with Sam while Bobby and Caleb sat with Dean.
Dean's temperature had remained high through the night. Dean had been mumbling incoherently through the night and despite the ice packs had been sweating uncontrollably.
Sam wasn't faring much better. He had developed a slight fever and his blood pressure had remained low through the night. Despite the fact that the blood transfusion was complete his blood pressure was still low. Dr. Thatcher had explained to John when he went to sit with Sam that it would take Sam's body some time to readjust itself. However, the low blood pressure was not what had John terrified. Sam had woken up in the middle of the night the previous night screaming Dean's name. Since then the doctors kept Sam sedated fearing that if the nightmares continued, Sam would pop his stitches again.
When Sam woke up in the middle of the night John discovered though what Sam's nightmares have been about. Sam had woken up screaming Dean's name. But it's what he said right before the sedation was given that tore at John's heart. Sam had shouted, "Dean's dead...my fault...Nooooo Dean!"
John was beside himself. He had no idea how to get through to his boys. He knew Sam needed his brother to get past the nightmares, but at the moment Dean was inaccessible.
John gently grabbed Sam's hand. "Sammy, I'm gonna get Dean back for you. I promise...just stay strong until then kiddo."
With a look of determination, John explained to a nurse outside of Sam's room that he was going up to the ICU to switch with his 'brothers.'
John then took the elevator upstairs. He had to get through to Dean if he wanted the survival of both of his boys.
***
Ten minutes later Bobby and Caleb were sitting with the youngest Winchester. They could tell the sedative was slowly wearing off as Sam began mumbling more and more about his brother. The nightmares the youngest were experiencing were truly killing him. Dr. Thatcher had told the two men that Sam's vitals were steadily declining. It was as if Sam had lost the will to fight.
A nurse came in to administer another sedative to Sam. Both Bobby and Caleb took a silent sigh of relief when Sam's body relaxed and the mumbling ceased. The last thing either wanted to see was the sight of the blood pooling next to Sam ever again.
Bobby and Caleb both prayed that John would get through to Dean.
***
John hated seeing his oldest son look so fragile. Dean was pale with rosy cheeks. He was sweating and had an oxygen mask fitted to his face. John noticed Dean's temperature had dropped some, but it was still high. Dr. Stilm had informed John that Dean's temperature had begun to steadily decline and the doctor had hope that Dean would beat the infection if he received encouragement.
That's what John had been doing for the last hour. He had spoken encouraging words hoping to bring Dean out of his feverish state.
John looked at the clock and noticed that it was eleven o'clock at night. He looked at his ill son and knew that now was the time to pull the Sammy card.
John leaned in to Dean's face. "Dean, I know you are tired. I know you just want to lay here, but son I need you. Sammy is not doing too good. He keeps having nightmares about you and the doc thinks he lost the will to fight. Dean...I know I'm his father, but you are the one he loves more than anything. He's sick and confused...he must think the nightmares are real...and they are killing him Dean. He needs you Dean..." John exhaled as tears spilled from his eyes. "Dean...I'm sorry son...you need to rest too and I hate to ask you this but I really need you to beat this...Sam needs you...Dean-o I need you...I can't lose my boys...I need you to pull through and I need you to help pull Sammy through...Dean I can't lose you...I love you Dean."
John then kissed Dean's warm hand before laying his head down on Dean's bed next to Dean's arm. John softly cried himself to sleep.
***
John woke up a few hours later to something touching his head. He quickly sat up, his hunter instincts kicking in. What he saw almost brought more tears to his eyes. Dean sans oxygen mask was looking at his dad with a small smile on his face.
"'Bout time sleeping beauty," Dean croaked.
"Dean? How long have you been awake son? How do you feel?"
"Not long...okay," Dean saw his father's look of disbelief which caused him to quickly change his response. He croaked out, "Crappy, but dad...you have to take me to Sammy now."
John could barely believe Dean was awake. "Not so fast Dean...I need you checked out by the doctor...I mean I almost lost you Dean."
Dean saw the pained expression in his father's eyes. Dean realized that he must have been really sick. Dr. Stilm had only told him he had developed an infection, but he never gave details about how bad it got.
At that moment Dr. Stilm entered the room. "I already checked him out John. Incisions look good. We are going to recast him tomorrow. Vitals are good. John, I just talked to Dr. Thatcher. Sam's vitals are still declining. We both think Dean needs to go to Sam. We are moving the boys back to the same room...now."
***
Well at least Dean's on the mend right...Please review:)