A/N: Thank you for the comments and reviews. I really hope ya'll are liking the story! Now let's get to it!
A couple more days have passed since Dean starting making some noise as Roman was making the tea and soup. This time, he put the soup in an icebox he made to keep it from spoiling it. He didn't want to waste anymore of the stuff he got so he decided to heat it up from the fire pit once Dean woke up. But the apple blossom tea seems to be helping Dean with his fever and throat. It was also keeping him hydrated more so he wasn't shivering as much.
This time, Dean was trying to open his eyes, but it wasn't working at the moment.
"Hmmm….." Dean was stirring a bit more which either kept Roman by his side or at least a couple of feet away from him. "Uhhhhhhh" he continued as he starts to move his head side to side.
"Hey, easy there Dean" Roman said as he sat by his side taking the rag off his head, which is now looking better since the salve was working better. It will leave a scar, but at least it is not infected again. He dips the rag in cold water before rinsing it out and gently wiping Dean's face to keep him cool and sated. "It's okay, I got you Dean".
"Uhhh….wa….water….please…." came a croacky voice. "Puu….please…." he whispers as he still trying to open his eyes.
"Okay, I'll get you some tea to help, the water isn't good for you at the moment." Roman said softly as he reached for the cup with lukewarm tea. He then puts it up to Dean's mouth as he held his head up a bit. "Here, slowly sip on this. This will help you." He says as he gently and slowly tips the cup to help Dean drink it. "That's it, slowly, but that's good…." He whispers as he softly holds Dean as he continues to drink the drink he specially made for him.
Dean then tips his head back as if he had enough for a moment, so Roman took that as a hint to take the cup from his mouth and set it down beside him. He then gently laid his head back down on the pillow he made out of his clothes he found on the wrecked boat.
"Welcome back stranger, you were touch and go there for a bit. How are you feeling?" Roman asked as he takes the blanket off of Dean to check on his arms and torso to make sure that the color was slowly coming back. Never mind the thoughts of him invading his mind in the process. Stop it, no time to be thinking thoughts about a man that has no idea where hes at. Get your head out of the gutter" his inner voice says. Roman then laid the blanket back over Dean to keep his warm.
Dean is still somewhat struggling to talk, coughs a bit to clear his throat, but still kept his eyes close, responded, "Feel….feel like shit….I….my head hurts…and….and I can't open my eyes…." He struggles with every word he tries to say, but Roman, being patient, listens with intent and tries to listen to what he is saying.
"Take your time, you been out for over a week now, so it will take a bit to get you back to normal. You hit your head on the side of the boat when you were tied up there. It was a bad enough gash that I didn't think you were gonna make it. It was touch and go for a while there." Roman knows that Dean is in and out at the moment, but he is happy that Dean is somewhat talking.
"A…A week?" he asked meekly. Trying hard to find his voice again. "It…it can't be that long…." He says in a gruff voice.
Roman places his hand gently on Dean's head where the gash is healing. He softly caresses it, trying to keep Dean calm. "It's been about 8-9 days. I wasn't sure you were gonna pull through after the first 5. You really had me worried that your gash was never gonna heal. Glad that the worse is over with. As for your eyes, just slowly open them when you are ready. You still need rest."
"but…I got to get….get…going…" he struggles as he tries to move.
Roman then holds him down a bit before Dean stops. "You are in no shape to even get up, much less move. Please, just rest. I even made soup if you are hungry. But you need to rest more so you can heal more. This soup will help."
Dean stuggles and continues to struggle to move his head up before Roman puts his hand behind him to make him more comfortable. "You want to try and sit up a bit so you can eat?" Roman asked hesitantly waiting for Dean to answer.
"Pu…Please…" he croaked out as Roman leans in a bit and helps Dean move up gently against the headboard with the pillow behind him to make him more comfortable. Roman knows that Dean is hungry and knows that once he opens those eyes, he may freak out. He has got to ready for the freak out once that comes about. But for now, he is content with just letting Dean help him get more situated.
"th…thank…thank you….umm….."
"Roman, my name is Roman and you don't need to thank me, I am just happy that you're doing better Dean.." he says as he gets up and gets the soup out of the ice box to heat up.
"How do you know my name?" Dean asked in confusion.
"I looked at your wallet you had in bag as well as your name tag. I hope you don't mind though, cause I wanted to know what your name was."
"Ohh…..I…I hope I wasn't a problem, I am sorry for imposing you like this…" Dean was trying to straighten up more but still trying to open his eyes.
Roman walked over as he finished heating up the soup to where it was warm to eat and sat beside Dean with a clean rag to wipe his mouth with. "Dean, you weren't a problem, I was happy that you are okay. And blame the storm since that is what brought you here." Roman then dips the spoon in the soup and holds it up to Dean's mouth, which opens it almost instantly. "I know its not what you are use to, but hope this soup helps your stomach, I know you have to be starving." He says as he slowly slides the spoon in his mouth for Dean to swallow.
After that first spoon, Dean spoke up, "Thank you for your help Roman. I am forever indebted to you" he says much more clearly.
"Don't thank me, I am just glad you are okay, now here, no more talking until you finish this soup, okay?"
Dean nods slowly as he opens his mouth again for another spoonful of soup that Roman was graciously feeding him.
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A couple of hours after eating, Dean ended up going back to sleep, much to Roman's happiness. He knew he needed sleep in order to help get better. Even though Dean couldn't quite open his eyes yet, (he thinks it is due to the bright lights outside as it was daylight still), he seemed grateful to be alive. That made Roman feel a bit better. But he still needed to be on guard when he does open them eyes.
As Dean sleeps, Roman decided to go outside a bit and get some fresh air. He knows that Dean is right there, so a few steps onto the branch will do him a world of good.
As he sits on the branch, he contemplates what to do next, how to be ready for what is next.
Moments later, Mimi shows up.
"Hey Mimi, sorry I haven't been talking much, but it seems Dean finally woke up today."
Mimi then claps happily as Roman starts to chuckle, "Yes, it was pretty good feeling to know that he is feeling a bit better. He even ate the flower soup I made him with no problems, as well as the tea. He seems to be on his way to recovery, but he still hasn't opened his eyes yet." He sighs sadly.
Mimi sighs 'why'
"Think it was because of the brightness out here. I know bright lights can hurt your eyes after being in the dark for a bit. I think, or should I say, I hope he opens them this evening when the sun starts to set."
Mimi signs to remain positive and that she is happy that Dean is doing better.
"Thank you Mimi, means a lot. He does seem a bit scared, but I can't say I blame him either. He doesn't know where he is at yet, but then again, he hadn't ask either."
Mimi hugs Roman before place a kiss on his forehead. She then signs that if he needed anything, let her know.
"I will, right now, I am just letting him sleep after eating. This is also for me to have a bit of peace and quiet as well out here. Kind of on a thinking mode if you will."
Mimi shakes her head as if she agrees with him. She signs that she will see him later on but to be careful and just let things flow.
"I will Mimi…thanks again" he says with a smile as she turns and swings onto another tree, leaving Roman alone with his thoughts.
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Dean finally stirs awake after sleeping a few more hours. This time, he is actually able to slowly open his eyes up. It's all a blur at the moment, his eyes trying to focus on what is around him. After a few moments of moving his hand a bit to rub, the view becomes a bit clear. He is sore, no doubt, from his muscles not moving for a while, he vaguely remembers eating and drinking something to keep him feeling better, but at the same time, he thinks it's a dream.
"Where am I?" he says but more for himself. He looks around and sees what looks to be some kind of tree house that is furnished to make it look homey. He then looks at where he is laying down and sees that it's a makeshift bed. "Where am I?" he asked again, just a bit louder.
"You are in my humble adobe Dean…" Roman answered as he comes through the opening of what he thinks is the doorway.
By then, Dean freezes at the sight in front of him. Hoooooooooly… he thinks as he tries to comprehend the man in front of him in nothing but a loincloth and makeshift shoes. And that fucking awesome tattoo he has on the side of his body. He is gonna have to ask him about that sometime.
"How are you feeling Dean? You feeling a bit better now that you can open your eyes?" he asked softly but with a bit of hesitant in his voice.
"Hooooooolllllllly…" was all that came out of Dean's mouth as he struggles to find words to describe the man in front of him. No way was he real in Dean's mind. He has to be imagining things, or people or something.
"Ummm…." Roman chuckles nervously, not knowing what to expect. "I'm not sure if you remember or not from a few hours ago, but my name is Roman."
Dean blinks a bit more before looking at Roman again, who stood there nervously, catiously, not sure of what to expect at the moment. "So I wasn't dreaming earlier…" he whispers, "You are real…"
Roman chuckles as he rubs his hands on the back of his neck as Dean continues to stare at him in awe. "Yeah, I'm real. I actually fed you some soup and gave you some tea to help you heal more. You were kinda out of it after being sick for a over a week."
"I've been out for over a week?" he asked as he gently touched his face and felt something on his forehead.
"Don't touch the salve on your forehead, it is what is keeping that gash from being infected. It almost killed you once so I made some home remedy and that is what kept it from opening back up. It is almost completely healed, but it took a lot out of you. I wasn't sure you were even gonna make it there. And yes, been out almost 10 days. Was really touch and go with you."
Dean was shocked that this man, fucking beautiful man no less, he thinks, actually saved him from dying. "I don't know what to say Roman," he said as he continues to look at Roman.
"Don't need to say anything Dean, I am just happy that you are alive and healing." He smiles softly, which radiates off of his face which Dean sees more clearly. "And before you asked again," he laughs, "I know you name from your name tag and wallet. I am so sorry about your parents."
His parents. Now it was all making sense. The dream he had with his mother, or was it a dream?
Dean smiles sadly, "It's okay, I know they are watching over me, I do miss them, but I know I am not alone."
Roman nods, leaving the topic where its at, before he turns, "Are you hungry again, I have enough soup made for the both of us if you like. I also know that you have other food from your boat that I have as well. But I know soup would be better at the moment."
"Yeah, soup is okay. I'm still not feeling too good at the moment, so something light will help." He said in appreciation as Roman nods and turns back around and starts the firepit to heat up the remaining soup he made.
"Okay, it's being heated up, so if you want, please, close your eyes until its ready. I'll wake you up once its ready to go."
Dean nods while still staring at the backside as he slides down on his back. He smiles secretly as Roman fixes what looks like the tea as he closes his eyes again.
Thank you mother…you always knew me well.
A/N: okay, let me know what you think!
