Hot to Cold, Dream Scream, TTM and Sepsis, I Have To Go, I'm Sorry, Fever Seizure & Scott's Single Purpose
Remote Mountain Cabin – Sam's and Spike's Room
Sam was having trouble sleeping even though he still felt tired as hell. According to his watch he had been tossing and turning for the past two hours. It was near six thirty am but still completely dark outside due to the storm.
He could not get comfortable. The room was cold and he was shivering so he pulled the covers tight around him and over his head. His shoulder, back, jaw and neck ached. His leg was on fire and his head was pounding out a rhythm with each heartbeat.
It felt like it was approaching a migraine. He hadn't had a migraine since shortly after joining SRU. That had been a disastrous day for sure.
So much had changed in the last year or so. Back then he was all alone and had no one to count as friend or brother. Now he had family galore and he loved it.
Sam rolled over pulled the covers off his head and looked at Spike. He thought things had really changed with him. He never held a grudge against Ed or Spike for yelling at him or Jules for taking him down that day. He had shot Lou after all. They were protective like him and he had hurt one of them.
He thought about Spike's Cheshire grin yesterday morning and Spike's desire for him to be honest with him about how he was feeling. He had come a long way with the team but he wasn't sure he was ready to trust them like that. He had come close to trusting Jules like that and she stomped on his heart. It was so hard to trust people. He had been hurt too many times and had to protect himself.
Sam threw off the covers again. His covers had been on and off so many times as his body cycled from hot to cold. He was back to hot.
Swiping at his forehead again to get rid of the beads of sweat Sam wished he had thought to check the backpack to make sure his pills were in it before they hiked to the cabin. He knew his body and he knew he was in trouble. Infection had set in and was rampaging through him. Without antibiotics or pain meds he was gonna be in some serious trouble if they were stuck here for much longer.
He started shivering again and pulled the covers back on. He moaned softly in pain. Sam felt miserable. He would gladly take being sedated right about now. He shifted on the bed again and pain radiated from his leg. A sickening thought entered his head.
What if he lost his leg because of the infection? Seth had nearly lost his arm and it didn't look as bad as his leg did earlier. Sam forcefully pushed the thought away.
Thirst was getting the better of him and Sam was back to hot again. He threw off the covers and sat up.
Sam looked at the floor knowing it was gonna hurt like hell to walk to the kitchen. He should ask Spike for a glass of water but Sam decided not to wake him. Sam figured he should be able to make it to the kitchen on his own for some water.
Pushing up and putting all the weight on his good leg he stood still a moment when his vision swam as his head struck up a disorganized symphony of clangs and bangs. Tentatively putting a small amount of weight on his bad leg Sam shuffled a step.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Main Room
Sweat trickled down Sam's face as he made it only as far as the main room. The kitchen was only ten or so more paces but he was in agony.
He ground his teeth together to keep from crying out. Shit he had deteriorated faster than he thought. Holding onto the back of the couch to remain standing Sam waited for the pain in his skull to subside enough for him to make it to the kitchen.
The ever present throbbing in his skull made him think it was gonna split wide open. Every heartbeat sent a stab of pain reverberating in his head. Sam took his hand off the back of the couch to clutch at his head.
In his attempt to stem the pain in his head Sam put his foot down unthinkingly and shifted his weight to his injured leg.
Sam stumbled and crashed to the floor onto his already sore shoulder. He heard the sickening pop as his shoulder dislocated.
A scream of pain was ripped from him as he curled into a ball and pulses of pain from his head, shoulder and shin radiated throughout his body.
His world dimmed as he fought to remain conscious.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Sam's and Spike's Room
Spike sat up at the scream.
He had been dreaming Sasquatch or more correctly the Abominable Snowman was chasing him through waist deep snow in the woods. It had caught up to him and was about to bite into him because he smelled like garlic.
Spike wondered if the scream was him.
He looked over to Sam's bed hoping he hadn't woken him. It was empty.
Recognition dawned. He hadn't screamed. Sam had.
Spike threw off his covers and raced out of the room.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Scott's Room
Scott was torn from a dream about his babies crying to be changed. That was his job at night. Change them before Laura fed them then rock the first one done.
It was always sweet little Anna done first. Jerrell was a voracious little eater.
His mind was muddled as he realized it had been a real scream that rent the air.
Sleep foggy Scott listened for another cry thinking it might be a mountain lion crying out after making a kill.
He heard a noise from the other bedroom.
It was shortly followed by Spike's stressed voice yelling "Scott get out here now!"
Hurtling himself out of bed Scott ran to the main room.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Main Room
Spike was on his knees next to a withering Sam who was curled in a ball clutching his head clearly suffering and in a great deal of pain. Dropping to his knees on the other side Scott looked to Spike "What's going on?"
"Don't know I was sleeping then woke from a bad dream thinking I screamed when the Abominable Snowman tried to eat me. I didn't. It was Sam. I can't get him to respond" Spike spilled out swiftly.
Scott looked at Sam and saw his shoulder. "Sam's dislocated his shoulder. We need to get him up Spike." Leaning in close to Sam's face he said "Sam we are going to move you to a chair to put your shoulder back."
Sam heard a familiar buzzing. Voices he knew. He concentrated on them and finally heard "to a chair to put you shoulder back." Eye squeezed shut tightly against the onslaught of pain Sam whispered "Screwed up."
"Yeah I screwed up" Scott said still kicking himself for rolling the SUV.
"Not you, me. Should've made sure meds in there" Sam whispered but each syllable sounded like a siren in his head.
Spike said "He's burning up with fever Scott."
Sam painfully slurred out "Infection bad. Skull splitting migraine."
Scott gently touched Sam's heated face "I know it hurts. Let us stop some of the pain by getting your shoulder back in joint. Gonna lift you into a chair." Looking at Spike he said "Get a chair please."
Spike grabbed one of the kitchen chairs and then the two lifted Sam and sat him in it. Spike held him sitting up a as Scott worked Sam's arm into the right position. Sam screamed and nearly passed out as Scott popped it back in. He would have fallen out of the chair if Spike was not holding him so tightly.
Scott headed to his room and returned with a clean pair of long thermal underwear. He fashioned a sling out of it and secured Sam's arm close to his chest so he could not move it. When he finished he knelt down so he was eye level with Sam who was licking at his lips and his eyes closed. "Why didn't you ask for help?"
Half opening his eyes Sam said "Thirsty. Needed water. Just going to kitchen. Thought I could make it. Migraine hit harder than expected."
"Let's get you back to bed" Scott stated.
"No here. Water" Sam got out as he pointed to the couch. He couldn't imagine moving more than the two feet to the couch as his world swam around him.
Spike said "It would probably be better here closer to the fire."
Scott agreed and the two did all the work getting Sam situated on the couch. Scott went to get the water as Spike went to grab Sam's blanket and pillow off his bed. Sam was finishing a sip of water when Spike reentered and began to tuck the blanket around Sam.
Sam pushed Spike's hands away "No hot."
Putting the blanket on the back of the couch Spike settled for placing the pillow behind Sam's head. Sam laid back on the pillow and Spike heard a soft hiss followed by a sigh. Seeing the pain lines etched deeply in Sam's face Spike wished they had the pain meds or there was something more he could do to help.
Looking around Spike saw the fire very low. He checked the outside temperature gauge that was on the wall. Whoa the temperature had dropped another ten degrees and was now minus nine degrees Fahrenheit. Sam may be hot but it was damned cold in the room so he went to put another log on the fire. They needed to keep it warm in here.
Scott went to get one of the wash rags they used earlier and a bowl of water. He returned and started to bathe Sam's face with the cool cloth. He rinsed it and wrung it out then folded it and laid it across Sam's forehead.
Sam opened his eyes part way. They were glassy and feverish. Sam started to shiver. Scott rinsed the cloth again as Spike hovered nearby wondering what else he could do. There wasn't much he could do. He felt helpless to help Sam. He opted to pull two chairs near the couch so Scott and he could sit.
Scott softly asked "You get migraines often?"
"No. Last TTM when I shot Lou" Sam whispered and closed his eyes again. Even the fire light which was the only light increased the pain.
Scott looked at Spike "Delusional?"
Spike shook his head "No he shot Lou. Wasn't his fault. Lou moved and it was the only way to save the hostages, Sarge, Wordy and Lou from being blasted by grenades. I was a bastard to him afterwards. Still ashamed of my actions."
Not opening his eyes Sam whispered "Don't be."
"Don't be what Sam?" Spike asked quietly taking the cue that speaking above a whisper hurt Sam because he winced with every sound.
"Ashamed. S' ok. Protective of family. Water under bridge now" Sam responded slowly between breaths.
Scott asked "Sam what is a TTM?"
Spike answered for him "Trauma triggered migraine. They can come on seconds or hours after a trauma. I suspect using his skull as a battering ram on that Spruce tree ot hitting the hearth triggered it."
"What can we do for you Sam?" Scott asked.
"Quiet, dark" Sam answered trying to slow his breathing without success.
Spike looked around the dim room lit only by firelight. He headed to the bedroom and rummaged in his belongings. He found the dark blue rag he had and brought it out. Spike dipped it in the cool water and squeezed it out. He laid it over Sam's eyes "Does that help with the light?" Spike whispered.
Scott took Sam's pulse when he noticed his respiration rate was fairly fast. It was more than twenty breaths per minute. Scott counted out the pulse rate watching his watch. Sam's normal low beat rate was way too high for him. It was skipping away at ninety six beats a minute. He scooted the chair down to the end of the couch "Gonna check your wound Sam."
Sam did not acknowledge either Spike or Scott.
Scott carefully lifted Sam's leg to slowly push up the sweat pants leg. Sam hissed in pain at the soft touch. Gently lowering Sam's leg but leaving the pants leg pushed up to the knee Scott removed the bandage.
Spike and Scott stared at the wound and then each other. They clearly saw two red streaks spreading out from the abscessed wound. It was worse than last night even though they had cleaned it thoroughly in the afternoon. There was dried crusted pus and seeping pus and blood too. It smelled putrid. How did it get so bad so quick?
Motioning for Spike to follow him Scott stood and headed for the kitchen.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Kitchen
In the kitchen Scott whispered "We can't wait any longer. Sam is showing signs of sepsis. His pulse and breathing rates are both too fast. We know he has a fever and it seems high given how hot he is to the touch. It looks like the infection in his shin abscessed and entered his blood stream. I need to prepare to head out as soon as possible."
Spike looked disbelievingly at Scott "That's suicide. It's minus nine degree Fahrenheit and that doesn't factor in the wind chill."
"If I don't go Sam will die. I refuse to let that happen. It's my damned fault for not watching the road more carefully and almost hitting the stag. We would not have slid off the road and rolled" Scott ground out.
"You don't know that. The stag was a random thing. No one could have predicted it. And what am I supposed to tell Sam when you die out there. Hell what would you want me to tell your wife and children Scott" Spike angrily bit out in a low growl.
Scott paced running his hands through his hair. He stopped and looked at Spike "I've been cold weather trained in the Navy. I can cross country ski. It will be a hell of a lot faster than when we slogged here on foot wading through the drifts."
Spike challenged "It's fifteen miles to the store. And that is hoping the phone lines are not down. Another five to the lodge if they are down."
"I have to do this. I can do this" Scott reiterated.
Spike collapsed in a chair. Their options were limited. He said "I don't want Sam to die but I don't want you to die either. You have a family. I'll go. I don't have any kids or a wife waiting for me to come home."
Rage of a different sort welled in Scott "Spike dammit you are just as important. You have a family that would miss you as much as me or Sam. Yeah you might not have kids. Yet."
Spike just stared at Scott. He couldn't think of a single retort.
Scott saw reluctant acceptance start to dawn in Spike's eyes.
He softened his voice and assured Spike "You are not trained for this. I am. I've camped my whole life, spring, summer, fall and winter. I'm not professional cross country skier that can do fifteen miles an hour but I'm not bad. And like I said I'm trained for this. Before I went on maneuvers in the Northwestern Passages and Artic Ocean I took specialized training to deal with the extreme cold weather. I know how to survive out there. It's Sam's only chance. I have to go."
"How can I help you get ready?" Spike said in a deflated tone.
He hated what Scott was about to do but he didn't see any alternative. Sam needed aggressive treatment if he was going to survive. He would help Scott prepare to give him the best possible chance of making it.
Damn he hated the woods. Nothing good ever happened to him in them.
Jules's Home
Jules woke with a start. Her heart was beating rapidly. She breathed out "Sam." Throwing the covers off Jules went to her computer. Pulling up the weather report she searched for the Blue Mountains.
Scanning the page for the current weather she read the report. Still snowing, minus ten degrees with winds at forty miles per hour. When wind chill was factored in that was minus forty three degrees.
She sat back in her chair. She had a sense that something was wrong. Very wrong. What was wrong she had no clue but it was there in her heart. It ached.
Jules had been dreaming.
She had been surrounded by white and felt cold. She thought about that and determined it was the snow and frigid temperatures. But then it turned yellowish and she felt hot, so very hot and in pain. She had no idea what that meant.
But then Sam's face flashed before her. His blue eyes looked at her longingly and he said two words "I'm Sorry."
That's when she woke up. Jules was completely unsettled. What did it mean and why was Sam sorry?
Remote Mountain Cabin – Main Room
Scott and Spike readied the gear for Scott's trek. It had taken longer than expected to get him ready because Scott had to help Spike with Sam first.
Sam's temperature had spiked and he had started to have a seizure. They needed to cool him down quickly. Without a tub to put Sam in they had to improvise.
Both knew it wasn't the best way to cool him down and they could risk putting him in shock but they had to do something and fast to drop his temperature or Sam could suffer brain damage or death.
Spike laid out the tarp on the floor near the door then put a blanket on it. Scott stripped Sam to his boxers. Together they carried Sam to the tarp and laid him on the blanket. Spike covered him with another blanket.
Scott had opened the door and found the snow had drifted so it blocked three quarters of the door opening. He found a shovel in one of the rooms and two large buckets. He shoveled a small bit of snow on the blanket. Sam was so hot it melted almost instantly. Scott did it twice more and the blanket was soaked.
They then lifted Sam in the tarp and moved him in front of the fire. Scott stayed with Sam and kept wiping him down trying to cool him.
Spike went back to the door and shoveled out the drift into the buckets and dumped the snow into the shower. When Spike had the opening large enough to Scott to get out of he closed the door and kept one of the buckets of snow putting it near Sam for later use.
Without a way to actually measure Sam's temperature they had no way of knowing how much it had brought it down. However to the touch it seemed to bring it down a little and he was no longer seizing. Both agreed Sam's temperature was still dangerously high.
Then Spike insisted that Scott eat a hearty and hot breakfast. He would need it going out in that weather. While Spike cooked breakfast Scott had checked in Sam's gear. He was not disappointed.
He found a map and compass, a pair of polarized sunglasses, a headlamp, a pocket knife, a waterproof bag big enough for a full change of clothes, waterproof matches and fire starter. Scott also found instant hand warmers, a neon orange sol emergency blanket, a one man emergency tent, an avalanche beacon and a stash of power bars.
The most surprising find though was the Army issued expedition-weight long underwear tops and bottoms, a lightweight gortex full body suit and a professional grade full face mask that created humidified air which protected his lungs against the frigid air.
This was probably the gear Sam used for Special Forces artic training. They looked brand new, probably because Sam never got a chance to use them in the field seeing that he was stationed in Kandahar for both tours. It was a good thing they were the same size.
Scott dressed in them and then in his waterproof ski suit. He packed the gear carefully in Sam's backpack which was larger than his. He still had room for several water bottles and a thermos that Spike had brought.
Spike was currently heating up broth to fill it with. Scott had wanted to fill it with coffee but Spike insisted on filling it with something more nutritious.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Kitchen
From the kitchen Spike called out "Scott breakfast is ready."
Scott sat down "Wow where did you learn to cook Spike?" He dug into the stack of pancakes. There were also eggs scrambled with chunks of ham, potatoes, onion and peppers topped with cheese.
Spike said "Ma loves to cook and wanted to teach me what she called practical things when I was growing up. It was a tradeoff. I got the techie stuff I wanted if I spent time on Sundays with Ma in the kitchen."
Laughing Scott said "If I weren't already married I might consider asking you. Laura is a fair cook and has some special dishes but this. This I could get used to."
Spike set down a large mug of coffee for himself and Scott and said seriously "You make it there and back alive and I promise to make you my Ma's lasagna. It's heaven in a pan."
Scott nodded "Deal." He finished eating as Spike just picked at his plate of food.
As Scott stood and put on his jacket Spike poured the boiling broth into the thermos. He tucked it into the backpack and saw all the gear Sam had brought. Zipping it up he turned to Scott "With all this gear Sam forgets to bring a first aid kit?"
"Go figure. Guess he thinks he's invincible. Maybe superman even. But I can't really say anything, I didn't bring one either" Scott exclaimed.
Spike sat down "Well he is Samtastic. To be fair he did bring his antibiotics and bandages and such. And although I brought a first aid kit my focus was on the food at the SUV. I shouldn't have forgotten it."
"We were all a shook up and in a hurry. And you were covered in banana cream pie to boot" Scott said with a lopsided grin.
Spike thought that grin was exactly like Sam's. He rose and went to check on Sam.
Remote Mountain Cabin – Main Room
Kneeling down he put a pillow beneath Sam's head, rinsed the rag in cold water again and replaced it over Sam's forehead then sprinkled more snow around him. Softly Spike said "Buddy you have to hang on. Scott is going for help."
Sam's eyes opened. They were glassy with fever and unfocused and his voice faraway as he said "Thirsty. Cold, so cold."
Scott brought over a cup of water. He lifted Sam's head and dribbled a small amount into his mouth. He said "Doppelganger you be good for Spike. Do everything he tells you. Be honest with him like you are with me. I won't be gone long. I expect you to be dancing a jig when I get back you hear me."
Sam tried to focus on Scott "Jig. Got it." His eyes rolled back and he slipped unconscious again.
Leaning down Scott kissed Sam's forehead then gently laid his head back on the soft pillow. Sam was radiating heat while surrounded by snow.
With a hitch in his voice Scott said "You stay here you hear me. You better not go anywhere or I'll hang you off the edge of the cabinets again. We have too much time to make up for cuz. Too many fun things to do together. I'm looking forward to you teaching Jerrell how to shoot and Anna too if she wants. I love ya cuz. Be back as soon as I can."
Clearing his throat and swiping at his eyes Scott looked to Spike "You have the tougher job than me Spike. I know Sam is in good hands and you will do all you can. Please remember that no matter what happens."
Spike wiped his eyes. Tears had sprouted as he was privy to view the special bond between twin cousins. "I'll take care of him. You take care of you because I know Sam feels the same about you."
Scott headed to the table and slung the pack on his back. He pulled the full face mask on and tucked it into his jacket. He settled his goggles over his eyes then pulled on his gloves. Scott headed for the door, grabbed his skis and poles then said "Ready?"
Spike headed over to the door and prepared to open and then close it. He said a prayer for Scott to make it safely to the store and be able to send back help for Sam. He stuck out his hand to shake Scott's.
Scott leaned the skis and poles on the wall by the door, grabbed Spike's hand, shook it once then pulled him into a quick hug. He whispered "If I don't make it tell Laura and my kids I was thinking of them and I love them so much."
He released Spike and grabbed his skis, opened the door and headed out into the snowstorm of the century.
Scott had a single purpose: SAVE SAM.