A Hiccup in Time Ch. 36
Disclaimer. I do not own anything recognizable in this story, nor am I making a profit from it.
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Previously: "Yeah, it's me tiger. You don't have to cry anymore." Dean soothed as he cradled his baby brother to his chest and held him there until Sammy fell asleep shortly there after from the exhaustion of having cried himself out. Allowing his dad to pick up the sleeping toddler. Dean finally consented to letting the medical technicians wrap his shoulder in a sling for the trip to the hospital, which the park deemed mandatory after the accident.
After arriving at the hospital, Dean was sent for an MRI and X-ray where it was determined that he had an anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Once he had been returned to the treatment room, the doctor said, "Dean, I'm going to have to perform a manual relocation which means I'm going to have to manipulate the joint back into police. So that the pain will be bearable, I'm going to give you an injection of morphine in your hip and then apply a local anesthetic to your shoulder area. Motioning for Dean to roll over onto his side, the doc lowered the top part of his jeans and then administered the pain injection into his derriere.
Once the shot was given, the doctor had Dean sit up and then he applied a local anesthetic to the shoulder area. Next, he had Dean place his arm perpendicular to the ground so that he could start manipulating the joint back into place. Grasping Dean's wrist, he bent the elbow to a ninety degree angle, then rotated the arm and shoulder inward towards the chest so that it basically made an "L" shape. Slowly but steadily, he then began to rotate the arm outward being sure to keep Dean's upper arm stationary. Manipulating the fingers of Dean's hand to make a fist, he began to push slowly, coaxing the shoulder joint back into place.
Grimacing in pain, Dean felt the doctor repeat the process until finally the joint slipped back into place giving him some immediate relief. "Son of a bitch that hurt, even with the morphine injection." He said with a sigh as he cradled the injured appendage with his other arm.
Placing Dean's arm into a sling, the doctor stated, "You need to keep from using your shoulder too much over the next few days or it could pop out of place again. I'm going to write you a prescription for some pain reliever which should take away most of the pain. If it gets too severe, I want you to return and we'll do another x-ray to see if the shoulder has slipped out of joint again."
"Sure doc, thanks." Dean stated as he clutched the prescription in his hand. He knew he most likely wouldn't need it, but they would get it filled for future use anyway.
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Sitting out in the waiting room, John was holding a sleeping Sammy against his chest while Bobby sat beside them as they waited for Dean to be taken care of. Hearing a soft whimper, John rubbed Sammy's back with one hand as he carded his fingers through Sammy's hair with the other. "Shh tiger, I've got you." He whispered as he lightly placed a kiss on Sammy's head. He felt his youngest immediately relax against him and smiled as Sammy snuggled deeper into his hold. He hoped Sammy wouldn't be plagued by nightmares of what he had witnessed at the fun park.
Hearing the sound of a door open, the hunters looked up to see Dean walking into the waiting room, his arm held in a sling. Standing up, they met Dean halfway across the waiting room floor. "Everything okay Ace?" John questioned as he motioned his head towards the arm.
"Yeah, just an anterior dislocation is all, the doc manipulated it back in." Dean answered as he reached out to ruffle Sammy's hair. "Looks like we better get the squirt back home and washed up, it's almost past his bedtime."
"M'not a baby, so stop treating me like one." Sam mumbled as lifted his head from John's chest, surprised to see that they were inside a hospital. Glancing at the other hunters, he gasped upon seeing Dean's arm held tight to his chest by a sling, "What the hell happened to you?" he queried instantly more awake and alert knowing his brother had been injured without his knowledge.
"Shh Sam, you know you're not supposed to talk like that." John chided as he glanced around the E.R. to see if anybody had heard Sam's words. What a time for Sam to make his reappearance, right in the middle of a crowded waiting room of people assuming he was a toddler.
"S'okay tiger, it's nothing that hasn't happened before." Dean retorted trying to quell Sam's anxiety as they walked out the hospital exit doors. I had a little accident is all, nothing for you to worry about munchkin."
"Damn it Dean, stop referring to me like I'm a little kid," Sam grumbled as he started squirming, trying to get out of John's arms.
"Alright you two, that's enough and Sam, stop squirming before I smack your bottom." John admonished as he tightened his grip around his youngest while walking towards the car. No way was he going to let Sam walk to the car himself with so many strangers about.
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Later that evening as they sat around the dinner table, Bobby figured it was time to bring out the little surprise that he had baked earlier in the morning before the boys had woken up. Reaching into the refrigerator, he pulled out small cake decorated with chocolate icing and the words Happy Birthday Sammy" inscribed in white icing. Carrying the cake over to the table, he placed it in the middle of the table and said, "Happy Birthday Sam."
"Bobby, you shouldn't have." Sam said as he felt a lump grow in his throat. The last time he could remember someone baking a cake for him was the last birthday he had spent with Jess.
"Yeah, well I'm glad he did." Dean stated with obvious glee as he picked up the knife and prepared to cut a piece only to have Bobby slap his hand away. "What the hell Bobby?"
"It's Sam's birthday Dean, he gets the first piece ya idjit. Besides we haven't even sang Happy Birthday yet."
"Aww come on, you gotta be kidding me." Dean whined as he looked at the cake longingly.
"Nope, you know you would have done it without complaint if Sam had still been aged regressed so deal with it." Bobby retorted as he began to sing off key. Sam couldn't help but smile as John and Dean joined in, oh how he wished he had a camera or recorder to tape the events for future blackmail.
Once the song was finished, Bobby sliced into the cake and handed over the first piece to Sam. "Eat up kiddo." He said as he sliced another piece and placed it on a plate for Dean. "Knowing that brother of yours, he'll have the whole thing gone before the night is through."
After finishing the cake, the hunters retired to the living room where John walked over towards his duffle bag. Reaching into the bottom, he eventually pulled out two wrapped objects. "I kind of got a couple of things for you tiger since I didn't know which…well ya know." John said as he handed over the two foil wrapped boxes.
"Thanks dad," Sam said with a smile as he proceeded to open the first package. Pulling out a Batman action figure set, Sam gave his dad a quizzical look.
"Well, I didn't know if you were going to be yourself or if little Sammy would be visiting." John explained with a shrug before motioning Sam to open the other gift.
Opening the box, Sam's eyes grew huge as he saw the Winchester Cigar Whittler penknife in perfect mint condition lying in the box. The blades were made of carbon steel and the handle was made of genuine pearl. Removing the knife from the box, he could see the initials SW carved into the handle in meticulous script writing. "Wow dad, I don't know what to say." Sam admitted knowing that the knife had to have cost his dad a small fortune.
"You don't have to say anything tiger." John said as he reached out to ruffle Sam's hair. "I'm just glad you like it."
"Like it? I love it." Sam stated honored that his dad had given him such a wonderful present. He remembered when Dean had gotten his first knife from his dad and how much it had meant to him. He remembered Dean saying that it made him feel like his dad had finally accepted him as a hunter and an equal. Sam got that sense now and it meant even more knowing that he had received such a gift, even though he was still in toddler form.
"Okay, my turn now, it's not much but it comes from the heart." Dean voiced as he handed over a small package that he pulled from the pocket of his blue jeans. Tearing open the paper, Sam eyes teared up as he looked at the leather wrist band with the words Little Brother/Best Friend carved into the band.
"Ya know, I love you too Dean." Sam stated as he glanced up to see Dean's eyes brightly shining. Seeing the size of the band, Sam knew Dean still had faith that he would one day return to normal size and that gave him all the hope in the world.
"Well, now that we've all had our little chick flick moments, it's time that someone gets his bath." John stated giving Sam a pointed look. It was getting late and they all needed to get washed up before going to bed for the night. Walking up the stairs, John started Sam's bath water running. Once the tub was halfway full, he turned off the water and saw his youngest just entering the room with a towel and washcloth clutched in his hands.
"You need any help getting undressed and getting into the tub Sam?" John questioned as he smiled at his youngest child's indignant look.
"No sir, I think I've got this one." Sam said as he waited for his dad to leave.
"Okay kiddo, but I'm going to leave the door opened a bit incase you need something. Just holler if you need me." John replied allowing Sam the dignity of meeting his personal care needs.
Bathing quickly, Sam climbed out of the tub and wrapped the towel around his waist since he had forgotten to bring his night clothes into the bathroom with him. He smirked as he noticed the towel nearly reaching the floor. Walking down the small hallway to the bedroom, his head began to hurt and he became extremely dizzy. Leaning against the wall for support, he shouted "DAD!" as he placed his head in the palm of his hands. A microsecond later, he saw his dad rushing towards him as he was suddenly surrounded by a bright white light.
"Sammy" John yelled with panic as he watched his youngest fall to his knees and cry out in severe pain.
TBC