Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 8 Legs

Later that day Dean was moved downstairs and Sam was overjoyed to find he was in a room of his own. It looked like the insurance they had used was still working well. Bobby had decided it was time to head home and after seeing Dean to his new room he hugged the boys and made his way out.
"We should get him something for helping us out, he was great helping me get you here." Sam mused watching Bobby leave.
"Got any ideas?" queried Dean softly.
"No, but I'll think on it."

In the afternoon Dean asked the nurse on duty for a permanent black marker and was happy to be given a new pack of five different colors which he gave to Sam who looked at Dean with his eyebrows raised.
"Come round here." Dean pointed to the left side of the bed and Sam walked around not sure what Dean had in mind.
Dean pointed to the chair on that side of the bed and Sam pulled it over and sat down. Dean pulled the blankets off his left arm.
"Go to it, Michelangelo."
"What Dean …..you want me to write on your cast?"
The cast was still white and clean from being under blankets most of the time.
"Actually I though you might draw me a nice picture, but no nudes thanks." Dean tried his best at an eyebrow wiggle that didn't quite come off.

Sam spent the next couple of days drawing on Deans cast with Dean encouraging him all the way. It was a true brotherly bonding moment except that they were in hospital. Dean stayed awake longer watching TV with Sam and generally feeling better. His upper mobility was getting much better but Dean didn't seem to want to get out of bed yet which surprised Sam a little that Dean was being so good. He would normally be climbing the walls to escape by now. Maybe Sam mused to himself this accident had been the one that made Dean think, "I could have died this time; I got to be more careful."

One afternoon Sam woke up after another neck stiffening nap at Dean's bedside. When he woke he felt Dean's eyes on him as he stretched the kinks out of his neck and back. While he stretched Dean raised the head of his bed up with the controller so that his back was vertical to his legs. Dean patted the space on the bed next to him, inviting Sam to come sit with him. Sam moved to get up behind Dean and hold Dean up but Dean slipped his arm around behind Sam and put him in front of him so that Sam's back was against the right side of Dean's chest. Dean pulled Sam to him so that Sam's head rested under Dean's chin. Dean for the first time used both his arms to hug Sam being careful not to hurt Sam with his plaster cast.

Sam was also surprised that Dean was using his broken arm. It was the first time he had seen him do it.
"Are you sure you're alright to do that," said Sam touching Deans left arm gently.
"Its okay, Sam," said Dean softly. "My side is feeling better."
Dean just wanted Sam to feel loved and appreciated. He knew his brother hadn't slept in a real bed for weeks and had been keeping a bed side vigil without thinking about his own health at all. Sam leaned back softly into Deans embrace and nuzzled his face into Dean's neck.
"You need to look after your self little brother." Dean spoke softly to Sam. "At least until I'm up and around again."
"I know," sighed Sam.
"Well, you're not doing a very good job buddy," joked Dean.
"Hey, I'm meant to be comforting you. You're the one in hospital and how did you turn that around so quickly?"
"It's my job as a big brother."
"What, to drive your little brother crazy?"
"No, to look after my little brother." Dean pressed a soft kiss on Sam's forehead.
Sam was a little freaked at Deans sudden loving outlook but he would take it when he could get it. He was sure Dean would be back to "normal" soon and calling Sam an emo at any display of affection.

Dean moved his right hand up to Sam's shoulder and gently pushed him forward and rubbed the right trapezium muscle with his right thumb. Sam melted into Dean's touch. Dean always knew Sam's sore spots. He could read him like an open book and the days of sleeping beside Dean's hand had made the muscles in his shoulders knot like a rope. After a few minutes Dean moved his right hand across to Sam's left shoulder and worked Sam's left trapezium. In no time at all minutes Sam's shoulders felt SO much better. His brother defiantly had the magic touch.

Dean moved his hand to the back of Sam's neck and massaged the muscles gently with his fingers. Sam's head hung down and relaxed as Dean worked out the kinks. Sam realized Dean's hands were getting slower and softer.
"Hey Dean? Don't wear yourself out".
"I'm okay, Sammy." Dean murmured.

Sam knew Dean was tiring quickly so he put has head up and grabbed Dean's right hand with his right and threaded his fingers through Deans to stop him wearing himself out more. He turned and nuzzled his face into Dean's neck.
"Thanks Dean. That's so much better."
"No problems Sammy."

Sam looked down and noticed his left hand was resting heavily on Dean's right thigh. However loving Dean was being at the moment he was sure he wouldn't go for that. He pulled his hand away quickly saying a quick, "Sorry" to Dean. Dean looked at Sam's face with a frown.
"What you sorry for Sammy?"
"Eh, my hand on your leg." he said, slightly embarrassed.
Dean looked down confused, "Eh, dude your hands not on my leg," said Dean with slight humor in his voice.
"But it was Dean."

"No big deal, Sammy."
Suddenly the penny dropped for Sam. "Dean, can you feel your legs?"
Dean looked away awkwardly but did not answer Sam's question.
"Dean!" hissed Sam urgently sliding off the bed. "What's going on? Why can't you feel your legs? Did you ask the Doctor about this?" Sam said urgently.
"No. Sammy just calm down okay?"
"Calm down? Dean you can't feel your legs?"
"Look it's not that bad I can feel them a bit."
"What do you mean a bit?"
"They just feel like dead weight."
"We have to see the doctor, Dean. Why didn't someone pick this up?"

Sam was out the door before Dean could tell him to come back. He didn't return for ten minutes and when he did he had Doctor Jenkins with him.
"So Dean. Sam tells me you have some reduced feeling in your legs?" said the doctor.
Dean kept his eyes off Sam on purpose looking everywhere but there. "Yeah, they just feel a bit heavy or blocky I guess. I can't seem to move them much."
"But you can move them?"
"The last few days I have been trying pretty hard and I can get a feeling like I can move them but they just twitch a bit."
"Do you mind if I have a look at them?"
"Okay." Dean sighed.
"Do you want me to wait outside?" Sam asked the doctor.
"That's up to Dean."
"No, I want Sammy to stay." Dean was feeling guilty about not saying something to Sam, not that he should but Sam was able to do that to him.
"If you're sure?" Sam seemed genuinely happy that Dean wanted him to stay.
"Yeah please, Sam." Dean held his right hand out to emphasize the point. Sam walked over and held Deans hand while Dr Jenkins checked Dean's legs and back over.

The doctor did a thorough examination.
"Well, I'm pretty sure the lack of activity in your legs has a fair bit to do with the extensive bruising that you have on your back, Dean. You do have some reflex in your legs which indicates to me they are just taking a break. It will take some time to get the feeling back in them and you will need to do some therapy. Just to be on the safe side I would like to do more X-Rays on your lower spine just to make sure we didn't miss anything on the first ones we did when you first arrived here. I will make arrangements for the tests to be done tomorrow morning okay?"
"Yeah, thanks doc."
"Yeah thanks again," said Sam.

As the doctor left the room Sam turned to face Dean. "Don't you hide anything like that again Dean." Sam huffed.
"Look I'm sorry, alright? I thought they were just taking their time coming back. If I knew it would freak you out like that I would have said something, I promise." He pulled Sam close and gave him another two armed hug just to stop him being angry at him.
Dean knew Sam was a sucker for hugs and after pretending to be annoyed and keeping his back stiff, he melted and hugged back.

"No more secrets okay? I mean it, Dean" Sam pulled back to look at Dean with a slight frown. "About anything. The therapy could be hard and I don't want you hiding pain or any problems from me. You have to let me help you with it. I want to alright? You have to let me be the big brother for a while and help you out, stop being the strong brave one all the time."
Dean saw Sam had tears in his eyes and didn't have the heart to refuse his brother anything when he looked like that.
"Okay Sam," he agreed.
Sam leaned forward and gave Dean another hug. 'This is turning into a sloppy chick flick day,' thought Dean. One way to get over it.
"Bitch."
Sam gave a short hard laugh and smiled at Dean. "Jerk."

The next morning Dean had his back X- rayed and while he was out of the room Sam went for another change of clothes after a shower and shave. When he returned Dean still wasn't back so Sam spent half an hour tidying up Dean's room before sitting down and watching TV. After an hour of TV, Sam was beginning to get worried when Dean was bought back in by the nurses. He seemed somewhat subdued by his trip and Sam could barely wait for the nurses to leave before asking how things went and why it took so long.

Dean explained to Sam that Doctor Jenkins had been down at X-Ray to over see everything and he decided to give Dean's spine an ultra sound just to make sure there was no permanent damage. The X-Rays and ultrasounds confirmed that Dean had deep tissue bruising over a large area of his lower spine and that they felt getting him started on therapy sooner rather than later would help. Dean even told Sam that the therapy was set up for that afternoon. Sam was surprised and proud that Dean had finally learned to share with the class and hoped it would continue with his therapy.

Dean took a large drink of water and snuggled down in the covers, he looked positively rung out.
"You look tired, Dean," said Sam softly.
"Yeah, it's funny how a little trip to X-Ray has tired me out and I didn't even walk!" Sighed his brother.
"Well time for a nap big brother." Sam pushed the bedclothes up to Deans chin and tucked his pillows how he liked them.
"You are going to have to get some sleep soon too you know."
"I'm doing okay here," said Sam lightly, turning off the TV so Dean could have a peaceful sleep.
"That's rot, Sam. The bags under your eyes are to be seen to be believed."
"I'll be all right till you get out, Dean."
"No, you won't." Dean shot back. "Sammy, I meant what I said about you looking after yourself. You need some real sleep, man, you really do. I'm being a good boy like you asked, so I'm gonna ask you to do something for me. Get some sleep, tonight. Go back to the motel while I'm asleep and catch some decent z's. Please?"

Sam marveled that this was the most Dean had said in one conversation since he had woken up. Sure his voice had nearly given out but he had pressed on regardless. This must be important to Dean, part of his big brother caring instinct, or maybe he just looked like crap.
"Are you sure Dean?"
"I'm sure, Sammy. Don't get me wrong I want you here but I want you here if you get my meaning. If you are going to help me with my therapy I might find it hard picking you up, it's going to be the other way around for a bit."

Sam smiled shyly at Dean; wow Dean just admitted he wanted his help with his therapy. It would be worth a few hours across the road sleeping just to help his brother. He knew Dean wouldn't let him help without him getting some sleep first. He had to admit he would be the same in his position.
"Okay, Dean. Tonight."
TBC