TANYA
She connects the brothers - one needle into Dean's radial artery, second one into Sam's basilic vein, and the blood flow starts. Silence falls, nobody says anything. Tanya looks at her watch - 10 minutes should be enough to transfuse 15 oz of blood, the typical unit when donating blood.
„Okay, that's it." She announces when the time runs out, and takes a step towards the older brother.
„Not yet." Dean protests.
„Dean…" this time Mary tries to say something, but one look from Dean makes her fall silent.
„He needs more."
„This isn't safe." Tanya argues. „I advise strongly against it."
„I'll be fine." Dean snaps, looking into her eyes tentatively. „We continue until I say so."
„I'm the doctor here and that's my decision to make." Tanya tries to be authoritative, but it doesn't seem to work on Dean. He doesn't even glance at her, being completely focused on his injured brother, seeking for any sign that Sam's condition is improving. She turns her eyes to Mary for support, but the older woman just shakes her head. The case is lost and she knows it.
Few more minutes and Dean lets her disconnect him.
„Keep pressure on that." She orders, gesturing at the needle mark on his arm while taking care of Sam's incision. „And drink some water."
„Is he better?" Dean pants between the sips of water, not really interested in his own condition.
„His pulse is stronger, as expected." She confirms. „If he wakes up, make sure he drinks something. Monitor him for fever and urine production. If he pees, it will be a good sign."
„You hear that, Sammy?" Dean smiles to his brother protectively. „You got a VIP pass and I won't even be mad that I have to change your sheets again, okay?" He strokes his brothers hair affectionately.
„Find me if anything happens." Tanya instructs them. „I'll check on him later" she promises while leaving the cabin.
Stress leaves her slowly when she gets outside, but helplessness doesn't. In other time, other place she would have a chance to save the man. Of course even the best doctor can't save everyone, but she studied medicine for this little miracles that used to happen every day in her line of work. Now all she can give her patients is a swig of bourbon and bad news.
She sighs and walks away.
DEAN
Dean sits by Sam's side for a moment, taking comfort in observing his brother's chest rise and falling. He doesn't feel dizzy or tired. Why Mary keeps asking him that? It's Sammy we're talking about, nothing else matters.
„Will you take care of him?" He asks his mother, knowing that he has to go, figure out a way to get everyone to the rift. „Make sure that there is someone with him all the time?" He's shattered, he's not used to leaving a wounded Sammy with anyone but himself.
„Of course." Mary assures him warmly, taking his place at Sam's side. „He'll be monitored. If anything changes, I'll send someone to let you know."
Dean nods. „Me first, then the doc." He reminds her, taking his jacket and putting it on. „And I mean anything. Even if he whimpers wrong."
„Noted. Go."
One last painful look at his brother's bloody form and Dean steps outside.
MARY
Mary asked Maggie to keep her and Sam company. Well, none of them really needed that, but she figured that it would be good to have an additional pair of hands at bay. And a pair of legs to run for Dean, for that matter - the thought is excruciating, but realistic. For what it's worth, she always was a realist.
They sit in silence. She should be talking to Sam, remembering some good times and funny stories from his upbringing, but… she doesn't have that stories. She wasn't there.
She senses Maggie's unease, her wish to start a conversation, but at the same time being afraid to. Mary frees her from her discomfort, asks her polite, beside-the-point questions just to keep the talk going, hoping that hearing familiar and friendly voices will somehow help Sam. She checks Sam's blood soaked dressings, but he barely reacts to the pain, and it worries her. She has seen enough wounds and deaths to know what all of that means.
DEAN
„Hey Bobby? Tell me about that bus."
MARY
It's late. Middle-of-the-night late, and Maggie is dozing off on the nearby chair. Mary get used to sleepless nights long, long ago.
In the trembling light of a candle she notices drops of sweat on her son's forehead.
She checks his temperature with her hand, and anxiety sinks like a rock in her stomach.
Sam developed a fever, just like Tanya predicted.
She discreetly lifts the covers and checks Sam's groin for wetness, but finds none. So that's it for the good signs.
„Maggie." Mary touches her arm gently, waking her up. „You have to find Dean and tell him that Sam has a fever. Also bring Tanya."
Maggie nods and rises from the chair, leaving.
MAGGIE
Finding Dean isn't hard. The beam of his flashlight is pretty much the only light in the colony at this hour.
He and this older man, Bobby, are leaning over the open hood of an old schoolbus, fixing something.
Dean's face becomes visibly whiter, his lips are just a thin line. He is frightened, seeing her. „Maggie?" He asks shakily. „What are you doing here?"
Bobby also stops his movements with repair, looking at her.
„Mary sended me to tell you that Sam got a fever." She utters.
Dean's face twists in a grimace of pain and fear. He looks like he got kicked in the stomach.
„Find the doc, bring her to him." He orders. „Bobby, I'll go check on him, then come back. Keep trying to get this thing goin'."
Older hunter just waves his hand and returns to regulating something in the engine.
Dean quickly passes her by on his way to the cabin, like she wasn't even there. Must be nice to be loved that much - Maggie contemplated, thinking about the injured man in the cabin and his brother.
DEAN
Sam looks worse than during the third trial. He looks dead.
Sweaty and dirty hair, pale skin, sunken eyes. His cheeks are the only living-looking part of his body, because they're flushed with fever. His breathing is quick and short, labored. Dean is close to panicking, but he is doing his best to keep himself together. He has to. For Sam.
He crouches next to Sam's head, attentively strokes his head and cheeks, saying:
„Hey, man. Heard you got a fever. Don't worry, doc is coming. She'll fix you right up, okay?" He lies, not knowing what else to say.
Dean's voice makes Sam wake up. He looks at his brother with glassy, half open eyes, and mumbles:
„It's getting… darker."
Dean freezes. He knows what that means, knows that all too well, but he tries to make a joke out of it because the alternative is so, so much worse and he refuses to accept it. Sammy is not dying. He's not.
„Yeah cause it's nighttime, genius." He teases with his brother, but Sam doesn't answer to that. Dean isn't even sure if he understood what was said to him.
Maggie comes back with Tanya. Doctor examines Sam briefly and steps back from the bed.
„He's dehydrated. Did he drink anything?" She inquires.
„I tried to give him water, but he immediately threw it up." Mary explains.
„Pee?"
Mary shakes her head. Tanya sighs resignated, gathers her stethoscope and pressure cuff, preparing to leave.
„You're not gonna do anything?" Dean frantically queries her, dread rising in his throat uncontrollably.
„I'm very sorry, but your brother's life should be measured in hours, not days." There is a sincere sadness in Tanya's voice. „There is nothing I can do."
No. No no no…
„Another transfusion." Dean proposes. „We can do another transfusion…"
„Dean." Tanya stops him. „I won't change anything. Infection sets in, progressing into sepsis. He has oliguria, which means kidney failure. Other organs will follow. I'm sorry, but there is nothing in this world that can save him."
No. Not Sammy. Not him.
„What…" Dean clears his tight throat. „…What am I supposed to do?" He is whispering like a terrified child, but he doesn't care.
„Make him drink something." Tanya stoically suggests. „That will ease his suffering at least."
Then she walks out from the cabin, leaving the three Winchesters by themselves. To grieve, Dean thinks, getting angry. I'm not grieving yet. And there is something in this world that can save him. I am.
„Help me sit him up." He instructs his mother. Mary doesn't question, doesn't cast a doubt, just helps him raise Sam's upper body so Dean can sit behind him, supporting his brother in a semi-upright position. He embraces his brother, puts his head onto a crook of his collarbone, and starts talking gently into his ear.
„Sammy, it's me." His monologue starts. „I know it's bad but you have to keep fighting. I have a plan, a solid one. We'll leave his crappy place at dawn, okay? I'll take you to some fancy hospital with hot nurses and they will give you all of the best stuff, I mean really awesome stuff, and you'll be just fine. You just have to hold on."
Sam surprisingly nods lightly, apparently awake and listening to his big brother's words.
„You can't do this to me, Sammy." Dean continues. „Just keep fighting, that's all I need. I'll take care of the rest, I promise." A single tear starts to roll down Dean's cheek, but he wipes it away momentarily. „Now, let's get you something to drink."
Mary hands him a glass of water, and he brings it to Sam's lips, tilting it slightly.
„C'mon Sammy, try." Dean encourages his brother, holding him tightly for safety, but rousing him a little to focus him. „I know you can do it. It'll make you feel better."
Sam takes a hesitant sip, but starts to choke and gag almost instantly.
„C'mon man, c'mon." Dean pleas. „It's okay, just try. You've got this."
The whole process repeats again and again. Dean is acting like he is calm, but inside… inside him is a whole different world.
„Shhh, it's okay. Please try, Sammy. For me, please."
Sam chokes again. He is getting weaker every passing attempt.
„Dean, try with this." Mary suggests, giving him a teaspoon. „Try to spoon-feed him water."
Dean scoops water onto a spoon and puts it into his brother's mouth.
It works. Sam swallows that tiny amount of liquid and doesn't choke.
„That's it, Sammy." Dean praises. „You are doing great."
He countinues the feeding and a lithany of applauding, until almost a whole glass of water is gone and Sam turns his head away, refusing.
„Good job, Sammy." Dean smiles to him. „We'll try again later, allright? Now rest. Oh, and do everyone a favor and pee, is that clear?"
He carefully lowers Sam back onto the mattress and stands up. He just gives Mary a head and quickly gets out.
He has to be quick, return to Bobby and the bus.
He also can't hold emotions at bay any longer.