Chapter 9

The fogginess clouded Claire's mind as she tried to pull herself back to reality. She started to move but felt the beginning stabs of pain causing her to grimace. She could feel a warm touch to her right and soft words that she focused on trying to make her heavy eyelids open.

"Hey kid how ya feeling?" Dean asked when he saw her barely opening her eyes. "Lay still, you just came out of surgery," he added when she tried to move again and groaned.

Claire tried to swallow to wet her dry, sore throat so she could talk but couldn't work up enough salvia.

"The nurse said you could have some ice chips," Castiel said scooping a few chips out and holding the spoon to her lips.

Claire parted them enough to accept the offering and sighed as they began to melt giving her some relief to the dryness she was experiencing. The cold liquid trickled down her throat as she swallowed several times through the pain. She still couldn't keep her eyes opened long but could hear them talking to her. She was so tired and let herself drift back to sleep.

"I'm goin' to look for Sasha," Sam said once he saw Claire was okay.

"Okay, let us know how she is," Sky told him.

"Is she suppose to sleep again?" Castiel asked concerned for Claire. "Shouldn't she be awake?"

"Yeah, she needs rest; she'll wake up after the anesthesia wears off more," Dean told him.

"It's okay Cas; the doctor said she came through surgery with no problems," Sky assured him patting his arm.

"Look man, I know you want to heal her, but can't be putting us too much in the spotlight with a miracle."

"I understand, but I can after she comes home right?"

"Sure Cas."

spn

Sam looked up and down the hall deciding to head toward the nurse's desk while checking the rooms looking for Sasha. He stopped three doors down and peeked into the open door when he thought he recognized the person in the bed. Sam stepped into the room for a better look realizing he had found her. He moved around to the side of the bed and stood by it looking down at her pale face. Her breathing was slow and steady. He watched the equipment that was monitoring her heart rate, BP and O2 to see how her vitals were.

"Hello," a nurse said startling him. "Are you family?"

"Oh, no, I'm a friend. I found her at the school," Sam answered hoping he would get run out.

"You probably saved her life. Her surgery went well."

"Has her family been notified?"

"It seems she doesn't have any immediate family or any near enough to come," the nurse answered while checking Sasha's vitals. "Shame, to wake up and no one be here."

"Do you mind if I stay?"

"I don't see why not. If you need anything just ring the nurse's station."

"Thank you," Sam said settling down in the chair by the bed. He slipped his phone out and began to text Dean letting him know he was a couple rooms down and was staying with Sasha. He didn't want her to wake up alone and scared. He glanced down at the reply when his phone dinged then slipped it back into his pocket settling back and trying to get comfortable in the chair.

spn

Sam's head bobbed as he fought to stay awake. Sasha had stirred a couple of times, but did not fully wake up. He had moved his chair close enough to the bed to hold her hand so she would know she was not alone. Sky had stuck her head in to check on them but didn't disturb either when she saw both were dozing.

The steady beeping of the monitor brought Sasha back to consciousness. She cracked her eyes trying to figure out where she was. The last thing she remembered was walking down the hall at school to deliver some books to one of the classrooms. She felt someone holding her hand and turned her head so she could see who it was. She blinked hard several times to be sure she wasn't seeing things as Sam's slumped form came into view. She remembered him from the library, he was Claire's brother.

Instinct made Sam jerk his head up and look over at the still body in the bed. He smiled when he saw her eyes were partly open. He squeezed her hand to let her know he was there.

"Hey there," Sam said scooting closer to the bed so she could hear him. "How ya feeling? Do I need to call the nurse?"

"Wh-wh't h'p..." she slurred hoarsely coughing and grimacing in pain.

"Don't try to talk yet," Sam cautioned her grabbing the cup and scooping a few ice chips into the spoon and offering them to her. "There was a shooter at the school and you got in the way. He shot you twice."

Sasha's eyes grew wide when she heard what happened to her. Flashes of a guy and the loud popping noise raced through her mind as memories came back. She accepted another spoon of chips before trying to talk again.

"Any others?" she questioned.

"Three more were wounded and two died," he said sadly seeing the pain cross her face and tears form in her eyes.

"Don't cry," Sam whispered wiping a tear that trailed down her cheek. "It could have been worse."

"How did you know?"

"Claire sent a text to Dean and we headed for the school. We found you first and then the others. Claire tried to stop him and was shot too."

"No! She okay?" Sasha coughed hard and felt the pain race across her chest causing her to moan with the pain.

"She's okay. Take it easy, do you need something for pain?"

Sasha groaned again and nodded her head yes. Sam pushed the button for the nurse as he stroked her arm.

"Yes can I help you?" a female voice asked from the speaker.

"Sasha is awake and in pain."

"I'll check her chart and see what the doctor ordered. It'll only be a moment."

"Thank you," he said looking back with concern at Sasha. "She'll be here in a minute."

Sasha nodded her understanding not trusting her voice as she breathed through the pain. She could feel bandages on her chest and a pulling of her skin. She couldn't believe this had happened at their school. She had seen the news of others schools across the country, but the severity of it didn't really sink in until now.

"Alright," the nurse said stepping into the room. "I'm going to give you something for the pain," she told Sasha as she readied a syringe to inject the medicine into her IV. "Don't worry if you start feeling sleepy, it'll help you rest too. Is there anything else you need?"

"I think we're good," Sam answered for her as he watched her close her eyes and try to relax.

"I'll check in on her later."

"Go on back to sleep, I'll be here," Sam told her getting as comfortable as he could in the chair and taking her hand again. He felt her squeeze his hand and used his thumb to rub small circles across the top of her hand. "You're gonna be okay."

spn

An hour later, Dean slipped quietly into the room to check on Sam and Sasha. Sam looked up hoping nothing was wrong with Claire.

"Sky and me are gonna head home, Cas is staying," he whispered to Sam. "You coming?"

"No, I'm gonna stay here with her, nurse said there was no family coming and I don't want her to be alone."

"Call if ya need anything."

"Want me to bring you some food or something to drink before we go?" Sky asked leaning around Dean to see Sam.

"I don't guess..."

"Nonsense, you need to eat. I'll go grab you something. I'll be right back," Sky insisted heading for the elevator.

"How she doing?" Dean asked while he waited for Sky to return.

"A lot of pain, nurse gave her something," he said softly, adjusting the blanket around her body. "She should sleep for a while."

"You like her don't ya?"

"Yeah, I guess I do," Sam said thoughtfully.

"Good."

It wasn't long before Sky was back with food and drink for Sam. She sat two bags on the tray and pulled out her finds.

"Got you another coffee, couple of waters and they had a decent salad bar too. There's some fruit and a couple of power bars so you better eat understand me?"

"Thanks, I'll get something in a bit."

"I'm holding you to that," Sky said pointing her finger at him to stress her words. "Don't make me go big sister on ya ass."

"Believe me she will too," Dean chuckled at his little brother.

"I promise, I'll eat."

"We'll be back early in the morning; I'll bring ya some fresh coffee."

"Sounds good."

"I told Cas to check with you about helping Sasha."

"Okay, thanks."

"See ya," Sky said quietly giving him a quick hug and peck on the cheek before going with Dean.

spn

Sam looked up as Castiel slipped into the room. He sat up from the recliner to see what he needed.

"Sam, how is she?"

"She woke up but was in a lot of pain. The nurse gave her something."

"Maybe I can help," he told him stepping to the bed and laying a hand on her head.

Sasha could hear voices talking around her, one familiar, the other she didn't recognize. She tried to open her eyes but didn't have the strength when a warm hand rested on her forehead. Calming warmth began to spread through her body relieving the pain she was feeling. She let the warmth relax her and send her into a peaceful sleep.

"She will rest easier now."

"Thanks Cas. How's Claire?"

"Resting now, Dean said I couldn't do too much until she was released. Dean didn't want to draw attention to her."

"He's right."

"I'm going to go back and sit with Claire."

"If you need me, come get me," Sam told him as he settled back in the recliner reaching for Sasha's hand again and clasping it in his.

"We should be fine," Cas replied. "I won't leaver her."

"I know you won't," Sam smiled at him knowing he would take care of Claire.

A/N: Reviews are great. NC