Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 9 Up

With instructions to the nursing staff to call for anything and giving Dean his cell phone back so that he could call him if he needed him, Sam spent eight hours lying in a real bed sleeping out the kinks and knots from sleeping next to Dean's bed for so long. Dean had told him if he showed up in his room before eight am he would be in the bad books so he had breakfast from the breakfast bar in the motel room and the longest shower he had had in a long time. He actually stayed in until the water started to go cold. He dressed in clean clothes and packed some sweats and clean T shirts in a bag for Dean thinking he may want to wear them instead of the hospital clothes he was wearing. Though the white T shirt and blue scrub like pants Dean had been wearing weren't too bad, at least it wasn't a gown with a slit up the back, they weren't Deans own clothes.

Sam stopped at the diner two doors up from the motel and got himself a decent coffee and as a treat a vanilla milkshake for Dean. As he walked back to the hospital he couldn't believe how much better a few hours sleep made him feel. Dean was right. He felt ready to help Dean with his therapy now whereas last night it felt like an endless road. He wasn't about to tell his brother how right he had been though, that would give him rights to win every argument purely because he was the older one and always knew what's best. Even if it was true most of the time.

When he entered Dean's room he had to laugh out loud at Dean's expression as he tried to push down his breakfast of annoying slop, as he called it. Dean scowled over his tray at Sam but the scowl didn't stay in place for too long as he took in Sam's improved appearance. He smiled and dropped his spoon back on his tray.
"See I was right, you look much better."

That morning a physical therapist came and did some exercises with Dean and showed Sam how to do them. It was mainly massaging and moving the legs so that Dean's body would realize they were still there waiting to be used. The exercise that Dean wanted to do the most was one where the therapist pushed Dean's toes towards his body. This exercise hurt the bottom of his feet slightly but he liked the pain as it meant he was feeling something at last. He could also use this exercise to concentrate on his toes and try to get them to move. The only problem was getting Sam to do the exercise long enough to get his toes to move. Dean broke out in a sweat every time he tried concentrating hard on his toes but Sam took it as a sign of pain and would stop every time. Dean tried to reassure Sam that there was not much pain but it was good pain as he could feel his feet better every time but Sam was having none of it and was reluctant to cause his brother pain.

The therapy sessions continued over the next few days with them doing the exercises several times a day. The sessions caused quite a few 'chick flick' moments between the boys because Sam was so proud of the way Dean was progressing with his therapy. He couldn't help but wrap his brother in a well deserved hug every time Dean's mobility increased a bit more during each session.

The worst chick flick moment for Dean happened however when Dean asked Sam where his personal belongings were. After a session of exercises Sam looked at his watch and said to Dean.
"We can do more in an hour if you like."
"Speaking of watches." Dean said pointing at Sam's. "I can't find my stuff and the nurses say there's nothing of mine being held."
"Oh, I've got your things. I took them off before we bought you in just in case they went missing." Sam put his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out Dean's watch, amulet necklace and his bead bracelet. "Your wallet is in my jacket pocket if you want it."

Dean took his things from Sam and looked at them, quietly rubbing the amulet between his fingers. He'd been feeling naked with out it. He was only ever without it when he was in hospital. There was blood on the amulet so he took a tissue from the bedside table and dipped it into his water cup and cleaned it up. He placed his watch on the nightstand, and looked over at Sam who had been watching him quietly.
"Come here, Sammy." Dean patted the bed next to him.
Sam stood then sat on the bed facing Dean.
"I want you to look after this for me."
He placed the bracelet over Sam's right hand onto his wrist where it sat with a string bracelet Dean had given Sam some months before. Sam nodded his head, eyes tearing up. Damn things, he looked down to hide them from Dean.

Dean opened the string of the necklace wide and placed it over Sam's head. Sam flinched as if it was hot and put his hand up to remove it. As he tired to pull it off Dean put his hand up to stop him. "Sammy, please."
"Dean I can't wear this, it's yours, it's for you."
"I know its mine. I just want to keep it safe and you've done a great job so far. So can you keep it safe for me, please?"
"I can keep it safe but I can't wear it Dean it's yours to wear."
"I know Sam but I want you to wear it for me. I will feel better if you do." Dean tucked the amulet under Sam's T shirt so only a small lump showed.
"Are you sure Dean?"
"I'm sure, Sammy. You are the only one I would trust with it."
"Okay Dean, I will look after it." Sam's eyes shone with tears and he leaned forward and hugged his brother, again.

Dean's mood had improved with the therapy, his throat was almost better and he finally progressed to solid foods. Because of his more upbeat moods he let Sam hug him as often as he needed, he knew this was Sam's way of getting better, his medicine.

Sam was also going over to the motel every night to sleep, firstly because Dean insisted and secondly because he was getting quite tired every day helping Dean with his therapy. Deans IVs were all taken off and his stitches taken out and all that remaining was getting up and walking and using the toilet and he was a free man. With the finish line in sight Dean was working extra hard to get up on his feet. He wasn't allowed to try walking until checked out by Doctor Jenkins and then with a therapist present.

The first day he stared walking again Dean felt nervous knowing he could set himself up for failure if he asked for too much straight away. He had to remind himself he had been in a hospital bed for more than three weeks now and to try to take it easy. The therapist helped Sam lower Dean into a wheelchair even though Dean felt he could do this bit himself, thanks very much. They wheeled him down to a physical therapy area where they would have more room. Thankfully the room was empty because Dean didn't want to fall on his ass with an audience. Dean felt shaky when he stood up for the first time and just stood for a few minutes with Sam holding onto his elbow like he was frekin' four or somethin.

As soon as he felt ready Dean took a shuffling step. Lucky for him he had no shoes on because he really did shuffle. He took two more shuffling steps a then thought, 'The hell with this Sammy can pick me up if I fall', and raised his leg up higher so that he was taking exaggerated steps like a puppet. By the time he made it across the room his back and face had broken out in sweat. The best thing was his legs felt fine, a little weak and shaky but fine. 'Ha, I can't believe it took me this long to do this,' he thought to himself. He got to the end of the room and did a shuffling turn. Wendy, the therapist released the brake of the chair and went to wheel it to him.

Dean held his good arm up. "I'm okay. I can make it back." He started to walk in less of a puppet fashion toward the chair.
"Don't overdo it, Dean." Pleaded Sam's voice from his elbow.
"I'm okay Sammy, I swear."
Dean got back to the chair without any problems. But instead of getting into the chair he stood took a couple of deep breaths and looked over to Wendy.
"Can I go again?"
"How does your back feel?" Wendy asked.
"A little stiff but okay."
"What about your side?" She came over and moved her hand over his left side.
"A little sore where the broken ribs are and the shoulder." He had a nasty scar on his left shoulder from the harpies claws.
"You should be fine."

Dean walked back to the other end of the room slowly and back again twice before Sam stopped him by holding onto his elbow.
"Don't you think that's enough for one day Dean?"
"I'm okay Sam. I feel fine." He felt somewhat shaky but happy to be up.
"Well you're soaked through. You better get changed before you catch a cold."
"Once more up and back." Deans turn to plead.
"Okay once more." smiled Sam.
"I don't suppose I can walk back to the room can I?" Dean tried his biggest smile on Wendy and Sam.
"No" they both said at once. Dean knew he would lose that one and let Sam help him into the chair. Once he was sitting in the chair Dean noticed how fast his heart was racing and the fact that he was panting a bit. Man he was going back into training as soon as he got out of here.

Back in his room Dean refused to get back in bed until he had a shower. Sam argued that he was still too weak and had an arm in a cast. Dean wanted to wrap the cast and even allowed that he would let Sam help him dress after.
"Come on Sammy. You bought these clean clothes over. I just wanna clean up properly before I put them on."
"You could have a sponge bath."
"I'm sick to death of sponge baths, Sam. Come on you know how I feel. I just want a shower, not a ticket out of here."
"Not yet."
"No not yet, but soon." Dean grinned.

Dean drank two glasses of water while Sam talked to the nurse about Dean having a shower. She supplied a plastic cover for Deans cast, soap, shampoo and conditioner, towels and a chair for him to sit on if he needed it. Dean walked the few steps to bathroom once Sam put all of Dean's things in the room. He stood still while Sam helped him pull the T shirt over his head and then wrapped the cast up in the plastic cover.
"You okay now?" said Sam as he walked towards the door to give his brother some privacy.
"Yeah. Hey, have you got any shaving stuff?"
"Yeah I bought yours just in case."
"Thanks. I'll shave when I'm done in the shower, cause I might need some help."
Sam frowned at Dean.
"One hand ring any bells?"
"Oh, yeah of course. I'll be here when you need me. I'll leave the door open a little bit just in case."
"Okay, thanks."

Sam wedged a magazine in the bathroom door holding it open a few inches and moved away a short distance to sit in a chair with his back to the door. He would hear Dean if he need him. Dean pulled off his pants with relative ease and turned the water on. When he deemed it warm enough stepped in. He held his left arm as far away from his body as he could and then spotted the soap holder to his left. He took the soap out and rested his plastic covered cast on that. Perfect, it wouldn't get wet there. He pushed the chair as far away from him as he could with his foot. Stupid thing he wasn't going to use a chair in the shower, that was insane. Showers are meant for standing up everyone knows that.

Dean used the soap and gave himself a good clean. Fantastic! Now he felt better. He carefully cleaned the area where there had been stiches as they were a little tender. The bruised areas were now yellow and almost faded away. His left side was sore over his mending ribs and his left shoulder wouldn't allow him to lift his arm far before giving him shooting pains. He snatched up the shampoo from the small shelf in the alcove and cleaned his hair after managing to open the bottle with one hand and pouring it directly onto his hair. After conditioning and a rinsing off Dean stepped carefully out of the stall almost slipping on the wet surface but regaining his balance. He dried himself and then his hair one handed. He shook the plastic cover off his cast and hung it in the shower to dry then dressed his lower half in boxers and black sweat pants. He didn't bother with the top just took his shaving gear to the sink and had a go at one handed shaving.

Dean felt he reasonable job starting with the shaving but Sam came in half way through and had a chuckle at him before he stepped up and finished him off. Sam grabbed a towel while Dean rinsed the last of the shaving cream off his face. As soon as he stood up Sam attacked his hair with the towel feeling it wasnt dry enough.
"Okay shirt," said Sam when he had finished.
Dean turned to pick up the shirt from the small table next to the sink. As he turned Sam got a look at Deans back and was shocked and surprised how bruised Deans back still was. And skinny! Sam could see Dean's backbone and ribs with ease. Sam knew Dean never carried much in the way of fat around but this was upsetting.

Sam had thought Dean was doing okay but maybe he had been to close to Dean to see what was going on. The old saying abound you cant see the forest for the trees. When Dean turned with his shirt Sam got a look at Dean's front and wasn't surprised to see it looked the same. Dean's ribs stuck out a lot and Sam could tell Dean had lost a lot of the muscle that normally kept them hidden. Sam decided when Dean got out of here he would be getting double helpings of everything. No exceptions. Sam helped Dean on with his T Shirt and noticed how baggy it looked on Dean. Even Dean noticed.
"Hey is this your shirt dude? It's kind of swimming on me here."
"No it's yours Dean. You've lost a bit of weight while you've been here."
TBC