Two Brothers 11/?
Chapter 11
"Alright, Mr. Carter." Nancy said on her way out of Sam's room. "Dr. Waiden should be here shortly."
She was on first name basis with Dean so she must be speaking to Sam and that alone made me speed up my last steps towards her.
"He's awake." She told me when she noticed me. "Aware of his surroundings and coherent."
She gave me a big smile and patted my shoulder before she left. With my eyes I followed her until she disappeared in the nurse station and in my mind I wondered if flowers or chocolate would be the better "Thank you" gift. I didn't know how I would have dealt with the past few days without her and for sure Dean would have collapsed from exhaustion by now if it wasn't for her taking care of him.
Standing there and holding the door ajar with one hand I couldn't help but overhearing the conversation going on inside Sam's room. For the first time I really heard my friend's voice. It was raspy and weak but his annoyance was clear.
"Sam Carter?" He asked in a tone that made me smile. "Thought you wanted to throw that one out."
"And I thought it was a good idea to have an insurance card ready that says Sam." I didn't need to see him shrug. "You tend to blur out your real name when you're drugged."
"Sam Carter was a woman." Sam pointed out but his voice was too weak to fully get his irritation across.
"At least you have that hot chick from Stargate." Okay, that was what they were talking about. "I'm stuck with that lanky guy from Gilmore Girls. I look nothing like him." There was a pause and I opened the door just enough to see Dean squinting at Sam. "His name should have been Sam. He looks like a Sam."
"Dude, how do you even know Gilmore Girls?"
I chose that moment to stroll into the room and I pretended to not notice the sigh of relief from Dean when Sam's attention switched to me.
"You are coherent enough to complain about your fake name so I think we can skip the twenty questions." I approached the bed and took in the sight of Sam. He had some color in his face but it drained out of it and his eyes went big. "Good to see you awake."
"I … ehm … I …" He gaped at me and then turned to his brother who gave him an assuring nod.
"It's cool, Sam." Dean padded his hand and Sam visibly relaxed. There was still no recognition in his eyes but apparently he trusted his brother's judgment.
"Maybe you should check his mental state, Luis." Dean gave me a grin. "If he doesn't recognizes his own buddies."
"My what?" Sam first stared at Dean but when his brother didn't give him a hint, he turned towards me. It took him a few seconds, c'mon he had a concussion and not long ago I had to open his skull to release the pressure on his brain, but finally his eyes widened in surprise.
"Luis?" Now his mouth fell open for real and his gaze flickered to Dean who confirmed it with a nod.
"The one and only." I spread my arms in a here-I-am manner. "I'm your doctor for the day."
"Luis?" Sam asked again. "But how?"
"Changed to medicine after you left Stanford." I left out the exact circumstances, Sam wasn't really awake enough for the life changing experiences I've been through.
"You are a doctor." Sam repeated dumbfounded.
"Yep." I clicked my tongue. "And right now the doctor would like to do some tests."
I gave him an update on his medical status, he was fading fast so I made it quick, and then I asked Dean to leave so I could perform the tests. Instantly Sam's eyes flickered to Dean who already was half-way out of his chair.
"You want me to stay?" Dean asked and the tiny hint of a nod from Sam was all he needed.
"Alright. Doc, do your thing." He stepped out of the way but kept himself in Sam's line of sight. He didn't bother with asking me if that was alright and so I just started the tests.
I made it as quick as possible, Sam's eyes were already dropping and his answers became more slurred by the second and when I tucked the blanket back around his feet he already had dozed off again.
"That's good, isn't it?" Dean had seen Sam moving his fingers and toes, even lifting his legs and arms with some assistance. He'd heard Sam confirming that he felt every part of his body and that he could tell which of his toes I was tapping with my pen. And still, Dean needed me to assure him that his brother would be fine.
"He's still weak and needs time to heal but yes, this is very good." I let out a relieved breath of my own. "We'll have to do some more tests but so far it looks like he's going to make a full recovery." Usually I was very careful with words like that because you can never know for sure but back then I needed to give Dean that hope. And I was regarded instantly with a heart-warming smile.
"He's on the mend and just needs to rest right now." I had a closer look at Dean who was running on fumes for days now. "And you could use a good night's sleep as well. Like I said, I've lots of space and I am the first person they call if something is happening here."
Dean chewed his bottom lip for a second and then opened his mouth to refuse my offer, however, he was beaten to that by his brother.
"You should sleep in a real bed for once." Sam said and shifted in his bed until he was lying half on his side, facing his brother. "You look worse than I feel."
"Wow, you must be on the really good stuff if you're feeling that awesome." Dean joked and once again stepped closer to the bed with the clear intention to park his ass in that chair for another uncomfortable night.
"Dean." It was only one word but there was so much behind it that I suddenly felt like an intruder. "I'll be fine."
And that's how I ended up with Dean Winchester in my guest room.
continue to chapter 12
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