A Hard Road Ch. 31
Disclaimer. Still don't own them and still not making a profit from my stories.
Warning: Language as usual
Author's Note: My sisters are visiting from Pennsylvania. It might be a few days before I am able to post a chapter to any of my stories!
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Previously: "Joshua, we've got to get Dean to a hospital." John stated worried that his oldest could slip into shock from his injuries. He quickly opened the package holding a thermal blanket and wrapped it securely around Dean as he heard Joshua start the engine and turn them back towards the shore of the lake.
As John pulled Dean close to his chest to keep pressure on his head wound to curtail the bleeding, he felt bad not being able to comfort his youngest who was still cuddled to Bobby's chest and softly sobbing for his big brother. He wanted to pull him close and let him know that everything would be okay, but he had to take care of Dean first. He knew if Dean were awake that his oldest would be giving him hell for not taking care of Sammy first, but he would just have to understand that his injuries came first.
Letting out a deep sigh, he wished Dean would wake up. He knew head injuries were dangerous any way you looked at them, but one bad enough to cause unconsciousness could lead to disastrous problems, one's he wasn't ready for Dean to face at such a young age. "Please be okay sport.' He whispered as he hugged Dean just a little bit tighter. Closing his eyes for just a second, he wondered how their day had gone to hell so quickly. They had been having so much fun and his sons were fully enjoying themselves. Why did those hoodlums have to go and mess everything up?
Hearing the sound of the engine throttling down, John opened his eyes to see they were nearing the dock and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Dean would soon get the medical attention he needed. As Joshua maneuvered the boat next to the dock, John cradled Dean in his arms and assessed his child's state of alertness once more. "Dean, can you hear me kiddo?" He queried as he lightly patted his oldest child on the cheek. He was rewarded when Dean groaned and moved his head slightly though he didn't fully awaken. Once the boat had come to a stop, John handed Dean over to Caleb's waiting arms so that he could climb out of the boat himself. Once his feet were firmly planted on the dock, he reached out his arms to take his son back. He didn't bother to wait for the others knowing they would be right behind him and started walking towards the Impala.
Climbing into the back seat, he positioned Dean in his lap and waited for Bobby to place Sammy beside him too. Once they were situated and John had a firm arm around each of his boys, Bobby climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine, setting a course for the nearest hospital with Caleb and Joshua following closely behind in Joshua's truck.
Approximately half way to the hospital, Dean started showing signs of coming around. "Dean, can you hear me son?" John questioned as he felt Dean shift a little against him before tensing up as though in pain. "Dean?'
"Da'ad, what 'appened?" Dean groaned as he opened his eyes only to immediately close them due to the throbbing pain from the sunlight assaulting his eyes.
"You fell and hit your head Ace." John answered as he kept Dean's head supported against his broad chest. "We're taking you to the hospital to get you checked out. You were out cold son."
"Wha' about Sammy?" Dean questioned breathlessly as he gazed up at his dad.
"He's alright Dean. He cried himself to sleep after you got hurt. He's lying here on the seat beside me." John informed his oldest as he ran his fingers tenderly through Sammy's hair. He wasn't about to tell Dean that Sammy had cried out for his Deanie the whole time since the accident happened knowing that Dean would have felt guilty, even though he was unconscious at the time.
"Kay" Dean replied as he snuggled into his father's chest knowing that Sammy was safe and he didn't have to worry about him. "Dad, my heard hurts. What happened?"
John sighed before answering the question once again. He knew Dean most likely had a concussion which was causing him short term memory lost. He just hoped things weren't worse than he thought. He knew the kind of complications that could result from head injuries such as brain swelling and it scared the hell out of him to think Dean could suffer some form of brain damage. He was drawn out of his musings as he noticed Bobby slowing down the car. He looked up to see Bobby stopping just in front of the Emergency Entrance.
Once Bobby opened the back door and picked up the still sleeping Sammy, John opened his own door and climbed out, pulling Dean into his arms. "Here we go sport" he said as he started walking towards the hospital. As soon as he walked in through the sliding doors, he called out for help upon seeing two doctors standing by the nurses desk.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Dr. Jared Michaels and Dr. Jensen Daniels stood by the nurses desks flirting with Janice and Jess as they tried to talk them into going out on a double date. Janice and Jess were the two hot young nurses that had recently joined the staff and they had already shot down nearly every doctor on the premises. Jensen had just made his big spiel about how they would wine and dine the young nurses at the finest of restaurants when he noticed a rugged looking man come walking into the ER carrying a young limp boy in his arms.
"Jared" he said as he nodded his head in the direction of their newest patient and started that way. Meeting the man half way, Dr. Daniels said, "Follow me as he led them into treatment room five. As John followed the doctor, Bobby called out that he would wait with Sammy in the waiting room and then watched John and Dean disappear behind the treatment room doors.
Once John placed Dean on the small bed, Dr. Michaels began examining the young patient. "What's his name, how old is he, and exactly what happened?" Jared asked as he took out his stethoscope and listened to Dean's heart and lung sounds.
"He's my oldest son Dean. We were out on a fishing trip when there was an accident. Dean fell and hit his head on the boat before falling into the water." John answered as he stood on Dean's other side lightly rubbing his arm.
"His heart rate and pulse seem to be fine." Jared said happy to see his young patient starting to come around. The sooner the kid regained consciousness the better it would be. "Dean, how are you feeling?" Jensen questioned as he motioned for John to step aside so he could help with Dean's assessment.
"My head hurts and I'm a little dizzy." Dean answered as he glanced around until he finally saw his dad standing off to the side of the bed.
"I'm sure you are kiddo, that's one heck of a bump you got there on your noggin." Jared said as he took out a small penlight and shined it into Dean's eyes causing him to moan in pain. Jared apologized to Dean for causing him pain before turning his attention to Jensen. "His pupils are dilated and unequal." Jared informed Jensen since he had started a neurological check evaluating Dean's memory, concentration, vision, coordination, balance and reflexes. Upon finishing his exam, he turned to John and said, "Looks like Dean is suffering from a mild to moderate concussion. I would like to do a CT scan to see just how bad the injury is."
"Sure doc, whatever you think is necessary." John answered as he watched Dean close his eyes and fade off to sleep once again. He knew that drowsiness was also one of the side effects when suffering from a concussion.
SNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSNSN
Once the scan had been completed and the doctors had decided to admit Dean for a twenty four hour observation period, John walked out into the waiting room to tell the others what the doctors had said and to see Sammy for a little while. He was worried about how Sammy would take the news that Dean had to stay in the hospital. He and Dean had never been separated form each other before and he knew that Sammy wasn't going to be happy when he found out.
Walking into the waiting room, he immediately knew that his youngest was awake by the sound of his child wailing for his older brother. Rounding the corner, he called out to Sammy and Bobby put the little one down so he could go to his father. John took a few steps towards Sammy and then scooped him up into his arms as he began to rub his back in a soothing motion. "Shhh Sammy, don't cry, Deanie's going to be okay." He said as he cradled Sammy to his chest. "What do you say we go see Dean just as soon as I talk to your uncles?"
Sniffling, Sammy nodded his head in an affirmative manner before laying it down on John's shoulder and putting his thumb in his mouth. He could wait a few minutes since he was finally going to get to see his Deanie.
"So John, what did the doctor say?" Joshua questioned as he stood up with the others to hear the news John had to say. He had been feeling guilty ever since the accident happened and hoped things weren't too bad.
"He said Dean is going to be okay. He's got a mild to moderate concussion from hitting his head and they want to keep him here for at least the next twenty four hours for observation just to make sure he is okay." John answered as he rubbed a hand up and down Sammy's back. "I'm about to go to his room now if you all want to see him." John said as he turned towards the elevators.
A few minutes later, John and the others entered the room to see Dean lying in the bed asleep. His forehead was swathed in bandages and his face looked a little pale. Walking over towards the bed, John reached out to ruffle the hair that wasn't hidden by the bandages. He felt Sammy trying to push away from him and placed his youngest down on the edge of the bed so he could find some comfort being close to his brother.
"Deanie" Sammy whispered as he tried to crawl up to his brother only to be halted by John. "No daddy, want Deanie." Sammy said with a pouting expression on his face as he began to whimper again.
Hearing his little brother's distress, Dean opened his weary eyes and reached his arms out. In no time at all, Sammy crawled his way up the bed and snuggled into his brother's hold. "S'okay Sammy, I got ya." Dean stated through a yawn as he wrapped an arm around his baby brother. Closing his eyes once again, he felt Sammy lay his head upon his chest and then allowed himself to drift off into a deep slumber once again.
"Aw, now that's a picture worth a thousand words." Caleb said as his heart melted at the sight of the two youngest Winchesters sleeping side by side and taking comfort in each other.
"Looks like Sammy will be spending the night here with me and Dean." John stated as he smiled at the tender sight before him. Those boys were so wrapped up in each other that he couldn't bear the thought of separating them tonight. No, he would just make sure that Sammy didn't disturb Dean during the night. If his youngest awoke, he would hold him until he went to sleep again.
Knowing the boys needed their rest, the hunters said their goodbyes and promised to be back in the morning when visiting hours started. Once the others left, John pulled a chair up beside Dean's bed to keep watch over his boys for the night. "We're gonna be okay boys." He said knowing that as long as he had the two of them, that he could face anything that life threw at him from here on out.
TBC This chapter seemed a little stilted to me, but I posted anyway since I knew it would be a little while before I had the chance to pot again with my sister's visiting from out of state.