Johnny Angel Ch. 16

Disclaimer: See chapter one

Previously: Watching as Sam slept, Dean wondered how much of a fight Sam would put up when he tried to give him his first bath tonight.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Dean couldn't help but smile as he watched his baby brother who was still firmly ensconced within the clutches of sleep. He had been worried after the earlier nightmare, that Sam's dreams would be riddled with memories of hell, something which he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy since he knew just how bad those images could be. Luckily, he had been proven wrong, as was evident by the serene look on Sammy's face as he slept.

"What's got you smiling so big?" Bobby queried as he walked into the room, feeling refreshed after having showered and washed his grungy hair. He had left earlier that afternoon once Sam had fallen asleep to get a motel room for the week so that he and Dean could use it for catnaps and taking a bath as they saw fit.

Startling at the sound of Bobby's voice, Dean blushed slightly at having been caught unawares. "Sorry Bobby, I didn't hear you come in,' he stated as he looked up at the hunter unabashedly.

"S'okay, now answer my question ya danged idjit," Bobby retorted, walking over to Sam's bed and brushing a hand through the youngest Winchester's disheveled chestnut colored hair before sitting down in the seat beside Dean.

"Nothing, it's just, I'm happy to see him resting so peacefully after everything he's been through," Dean replied just before the sound of soft shoes were heard scuffling outside the door of Sam's room. Glancing up, he saw Dr. Alison Thomas strolling into the room with a young nurse who was carrying some medical supplies walking by her side.

"Good evening gentlemen. I hope I'm not disturbing anything," Ali stated as she made her way over to Sam's bedside. Grasping his wrist, she wrapped her fingers around it and took his radial pulse before checking his blood pressure also.

"Nah, you didn't interrupt anything major. How's he doing Doc?" Bobby asked, as he watched the doctor perform her assessment of Sam's condition.

"He's doing as well as can be expected," Alison answered with a grin as she noticed her patient's eyes opening. "Actually, he's doing well enough that I think we can get rid of that catheter. What do you say Sam, you ready for it to come out?"

"Huh,?" Sam questioned incoherently, not yet having fully awakened from the three hour nap. Raising his hands slowly, he struggled to get them high enough to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"The doc says it's time for the catheter to come out kiddo," Dean informed his brother as he grasped the washcloth from the side of the bed and dipped it into the small basin of water before using it to wipe Sam's face off and to wipe the sleep from his eyes.

"Sounds good," Sam whispered, grateful that his older brother knew exactly what he needed.

"Then, let's see about getting rid of it now," the doctor stated as she walked over to the sink and washed her hands , before pulling on a pair of sterile gloves while the young nurse who came in with her drained the urine bag attached to the catheter for her to be able to commence the removal process. Once the drainage was finished, she pulled the privacy curtain around Sam's bed to protect her young patient's dignity.

"Okay Sam, the first thing you need to know that is you might feel a little bit of pressure during the removal but that is normal," Alison stated as she pushed the button to raise the bed. Next, she informed Sam that she was going to pull his covers down a little bit and then place a blue absorbent pad under him to keep the bed dry just in case there was any leakage during the removal process. Reaching over to grasp the ten milliliter syringe from the small table where it had been placed once that was done, she inserted the needle of the syringe into the balloon port of the catheter to deflate the balloon part that held the catheter in place for removal. Making sure to drain all of the sterile water used to inflate the balloon, she then gently pulled the tubing out. Checking the area for signs of inflammation, she quickly cleaned the area.

"All finished Sam," she told her patient as she pulled the blankets back up over him to mid-chest level and tucked them in around him.

"Th-thanks Doc," Sam murmured, his cheeks flushing a light pink hue with embarrassment.

"You are more than welcome Sweetie," Alison voiced, before turning her attention to her patient's older brother. "We need to monitor Sam's output, so I am going to leave a hand held urinal for the next time Sam voids his bladder. If he is unable to void within the next eight hours, I'll have to insert a Foley catheter once again."

"Believe me doc, I'll make sure he uses it when he has to go," Dean voiced, unconsciously squeezing his legs together at just the thought of a second catheter insertion.

"I don't doubt that for a minute," Alison returned with a smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have a nurse gather things you'll need to give Sam his bath."

"Wha-what did you say?" Sam stammered, his voice raising an octave or two.

"She said I'm going to be giving you your bath tonight Sammy," Dean answered succinctly as Alison quickly left the room to give the brothers some privacy for the discussion.

"No way in hell, you are so NOT giving me a bath big brother," Sam rebutted instantly.

"What's the big deal Sam? It isn't like I haven't given you a bath before," Dean stated with exasperation evident in his tone.

"Yeah, when I was a four years old Dean. I'm not a kid anymore."

"I never said you was Sammy. Listen dude, it isn't like you've got anything I haven't got and I've seen you naked before, so what's the problem?" Dean asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest and glaring at his younger brother.

"Deeeean," Sam whined, his bottom lip pouting out, "bathing is supposed to be a private experience."

"Listen Tiger, it's either me or one of the nurses. So who's it going to be Dude?" Dean queried, giving his brother the option of making the choice. He wanted Sam to have as much say so as he could during the recovery process, knowing how much Sam valued his independence.

"You," Sam mumbled as he hung his head towards his chest. It would be too damn embarrassing having someone he didn't even know bathing him, and with his luck, the nurse probably would have been a man.

"Relax Dude, it will be over before you know it," Dean told his brother as a nurse walked in the room carrying the supplies he would need. Taking the offered materials, he placed them on the portable end table as the nurse exited the room once again.

"Uh, I think I'll go to the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee, while you, uh, take care of the situation here," Bobby stuttered, feeling a little awkward himself and knowing how awkward Sam would feel also with having him around during an uncomfortable moment.

"Ya big chicken," Dean laughed, relieving some of the tension that had built up in the room as he watched Bobby stride quickly out of the room. Turning his attention back to Sam, he said, "Okay kiddo, let's get you out of this hospital gown."

Removing the gown, he placed the hospital bath blanket over Sam's nude midsection to help retain his modesty and then set about to giving Sam his bath. Carefully washing Sam's face and extremities first, he made sure to do some of the exercises Brian had shown him to give Sam's limbs a small workout during bath time. Once finishing with the washing of Sam's arms and legs, he then rolled his brother on his back where he could get to Sam's back and buttocks making sure to keep up a running conversation to keep his baby brother's mind off of what was happening. Finishing up a moment later with bathing the 'private' region, Dean carefully dried his brother off and then applied some talcum powder to help keep Sam's skin from chafing.

"See, now that wasn't too bad was it?" Dean voiced as he reached over to grab the hospital issue scrubs from the portable table that had been left for him to dress Sam in.

"Says you," Sam retorted, happy to have the disconcerting moment over with.

"Okay kiddo, now that bath time is over, do you need to, uh, well ya know," Dean voiced, nodding his head towards the portable spill proof urinal that had been left in the room, "before we get you dressed."

"Um, yeah," Sam replied, his face immediately turning a bright shade of red as Dean picked up the urinal and held it in place so that Sam could take care of business.

Once Sam finished and he helped his brother into the scrubs, Dean decided it was the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with his brother while also performing a little more physical therapy.

"Hey Sammy, do you remember that time that Dad took us to Six Flags Over Georgia after we finished the hunt for that skin walker in the mountains of Atlanta? Man, I can't remember ever having a better time," Dean voiced as he lifted Sam's leg and bent it at the knee, pushing it back towards the chest. "You were laughing so hard when Dad got physically sick on that twisty rollercoaster and turned that wicked shade of green."

"That's cause he reminded me of the Incredible Hulk, Dean. I was only ten years old at the time ya know." Sam admonished, the distant memory bringing a smile to his face. "But really, Dad was awesome that day wasn't he? I mean, even after he puked his guts out once we got off the rollercoaster, he was still willing to ride some more rides with us."

"That's because he saw how happy it made you kiddo," Dean replied as he finished the repetitions with the other leg and then sat down on his brother's bed and wrapped an arm around Sam's shoulders. "He knew you were having a rough time with the life we were leading and wanted you to do something normal for a change, something that would make you happy."

"Wh-what?" Sam questioned as he looked up towards Dean.

"He talked with me about it later that night on the way back to the motel while you were sleeping in the car." Dean informed his brother as he brushed the too long bangs away that fell into his brother's eyes. "He loved you so much Sammy. He just had a hard time showing it at times."

"Yeah, I know that now, Sam replied with a yawn, the night's events exhausting him once again.

"Get some sleep Sport, I'll still be here when you wake up," Dean encouraged as he leaned back against the inclined bed and closed his eyes, relishing in the memory of that day so long ago.

And that is how Bobby found the boys later that night, with both brothers sleeping soundly on Sam's hospital bed.

TBC