So there may be a few typos because I didn't actually proof read this time which isn't really like me...Sorry. I hope you can enjoy it anyway! Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and followings. I appreciate them all! Please enjoy.
Bobby nodded and began leading her toward the front door, "We'll make sure of that; you can be sure."
The next few days passed without too much of an issue. They stayed on top of Dean's medicine to ensure that he never lapsed into the intense pain that he had been battling since getting the injury. Dean seemed to be content where he was which let Sam know just how bad the pain must have been. True to Sandi's word she stopped by four days after her initial visit glad to see that Dean had taken her suggestion about rest seriously. After checking over her patient thoroughly she was happy to reintroduce the idea of walking which Dean eagerly jumped on until he saw the way in which she was planning on reintroducing it; a walker.
"What? No. I'm not using a walker." Dean stated strongly his voice rising slightly, bringing both Bobby and Sam into the living from their activities.
"You have the use the walker." Sandi stated matter of factly, her blue eyes flashing with determination. "The walker allows you to place a small amount of weight on your leg in a stabilized and safe environment. Besides that it will also reduce your risk of a blood clot and is a required part of your recovery."
"I'll use crutches." Dean stated adamantly.
"You'll use the walker and you're starting today. Get up."
"No."
"Fine, next time I come I'll bring a wheelchair since that's as far as your recovery will get." Sandi stated turning on her heel causing her brunette ponytail to swing wildly.
She had just made it to the kitchen when Dean spoke up, "Fine. I'll do it." Sandi spun back around still looking as determined as ever. "Excellent."
Getting Dean up and ready to walk proved to be exhausting and painful for everyone involved. Dean could put barely any pressure on his leg and quickly got frustrated with the process. Sandi made him continue until he had taken three decent sized steps but then allowed him to return to the couch where he immediately shut down closing himself off to the world.
Sandi looked at the concerned faces of Bobby and Sam, "I'll be back tomorrow Dean and we will be walking around the living room."
Bobby and Sam followed Sandi out into the kitchen concern still coloring both of their faces, "This is to be expected. The recovery process is going to be long and painful but Dean is already doing much better than many of the patients that I have seen. Give him an extra Tylenol though; he'll need it to sleep tonight."
The following day Sandi got to Bobby's by ten and walked Dean around the living room helping twice when he looked like he was going to fall. She left Dean exhausted on the couch and instructions with Bobby and Sam to get him to do it at least one more time before that evening. That night Dean woke and had to call to Sam for more pain killers.
The following day Sandi showed up early once again, insisting that Dean make it from the living room to the kitchen and all the way back which he did while gritting his teeth against the pain. Once again Dean repeated this walk in the afternoon with Sam and insisted that Sammy leave the bottle of pain pills within his reach when they turned in for the night.
This type of schedule continued for the next week but as the week went on the walking became easier and Dean began to look forward to his twice a day jaunts. On his eleventh night at Bobby's Dean had laid awake for quite a while. He needed to pee but didn't want to wake his brother or Bobby for something that he should've been able to do himself. Grabbing his walker he situated himself on the edge of the couch preparing himself for the tinge that he always felt when first putting weight on his bad leg. After pulling himself up and situating himself between the arms of the walker he began his longest walk yet, through the living room, into the study, down the hall, and into the bathroom. It was slow going, his leg began to become really achy once he had reached the hallway but Dean needed this; this feeling of independence so he pressed on.
Sam walked down the stairs slowly trying not to wake his already sleeping brother. He realized that he had forgotten to leave the pain pills on the table beside the couch and wanted to ensure that Dean was fully set up for the night. He walked directly to the kitchen grabbing the small bottle off the counter before tiptoeing back into the living room. It took Sam a moment to realize what he was seeing but when he did he quickly began to panic. He began calling out Dean's name and waking Bobby from his sleep in the room next to the living room. "What is it boy. It's 2 o'clock in the morning!" Bobby grumbled.
"Dean's gone!" Sam stated urgently looking at the father figure in front of him.
"What do you mean, gone?"
"I mean he's not here…I don't understand what happened. Something must have taken him. We've got to find whatever or whoever did this!"
"Sam?" Dean's voice broke his brothers' panic causing both Bobby and Sam to turn toward the figure emerging from the other side of the house.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked rushing toward his brother.
"Going to the bathroom…that's still allowed right?" Dean asked sarcastically smirking slightly at the shocked faces in front of him.
"How's the leg feeling?" Bobby asked standing by the couch.
"Pretty good, little sore but nothing an advil can't take care of." Dean replied to Bobby before turning his attention back to his now calm little brother, "little on edge, a' Sammy?"
"Shut up, jerk."
The next day Dean woke in pain. He groaned as he sat up on the couch being careful to keep his leg straight to reduce the pressure on it.
"So your little adventure was probably not the best idea, huh?" Sam questioned sitting on the recliner across from the couch.
Dean winced, "I don't know your panicked expression probably made it worth it." Sam rolled his eyes tossing his brother a bottle a vicodin. "Bobby's makin' breakfast." Dean nodded catching the bottle, "Hey bring me some water will ya?"
Dean was sleeping when Sandi came by that day but Bobby was waiting in the kitchen and informed her of Dean's movement last night. "He made it all the way to the bathroom and back. I have to give it to him, he is a stubborn thing."
Bobby chuckled, "You have no idea."
"Well let's let him sleep, give his leg a day to rest but I do want you to give him these strengthening exercises. They'll help speed his recovery." Sandi said handing Bobby a small stack of papers.
"How long is this recovery going to take?" Bobby questioned plainly, so far Dean was doing okay with being restrained to the couch, which was a miracle in itself but he couldn't imagine that he would take sitting around for much longer.
"It depends. I've seen people return to manual labor within 6 months but I've also seen people never recover fully. It all depends on the person and on the injury."
Bobby nodded, the next 6 months were going to be interesting.
Alright guys! I think the story has just about come to an end...maybe one more chapter to tie up loose ends. Let me know what you think and what loose ends you want tied up by reviewing! Thanks!