No Ordinary Boys ~ Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Two weeks later and the Winchester household was beginning to settle into a routine. It was by no means a completely stable and trouble free routine, but both boys were starting to seem more relaxed and less on edge all the time.
After Dean's panic attack over the camera, it was decided to wait another few days before attempting to photograph his injuries again. John had assured Dean that if he wanted to, he could stop at anytime, all he had to do was say the word, but despite being tense and withdrawn Dean had managed to remain calm.
The physicals were the next hurdle to overcome and unfortunately they didn't go as smoothly. While Sam had sat through the standard tests, pulse, blood pressure etc, he had panicked when the doctors had suggested an MRI scan to see if they could determine what was causing his seizures. Sam took one look at the MRI machine and refused point blank to have anything to do with it. The doctors had tried to convince him otherwise and John could practically see the protective hackles rising on Dean, so he had interjected, saying he thought it was probably best that they leave it for another day.
Dean had agreed to have a full medical exam but he refused to have any in room with him other than the doctor and nurse who had to be there. The look of pain and devastation on Dean's face when he came out of the exam is one that John's sure will remain etched on his mind forever. Dean wasn't just pale, his skin had turned a sickly, grey colour and he was shaking badly. One of the nurses had taken Dean and Sam to a waiting room while the doctor spoke to John, Mary and the social workers about Dean's exam. It was not a pleasant conversation to listen too. Dean's injuries were extensive and there were signs of prolonged sexual assault. The doctor assured the social workers that he would send them a full report as soon as possible, and he handed John and Mary prescriptions for both pain relief and antibiotics, to fight off any infections Dean may have picked up.
The drive back home from the hospital was filled with tension. Dean kept Sam wrapped protectively in his arms, his hand rhythmically stroking Sam's hair, although John thought that action might be soothing Dean more than it was Sam. The boys then spent the next two days hiding out in their bedroom, only leaving at mealtimes or to use the bathroom.
Thankfully, shortly afterwards things began to improve. The boys started to spend more time downstairs and even though neither of them ever went out their way to start a conversation, they seemed to be talking to John and Mary more. Dean had joined John on a few more occasions to help with repairs to the Impala, and each time John could practically see the tension drain out of him. Sam had also come out to the help but after the initial excitement of seeing the Impala wore off, he had gotten bored and wandered off back inside. An interest in cars was obviously just his big brother thing, but Sam did show an interest in food, watching Mary with fascination as she prepared meals.
Dean's eating was improving too. He still didn't eat as much as John and Mary would have liked, but he no longer just ignored the food when it was placed down in front of him. Although, if something stressed him out or upset him then he would revert back to not eating. John had tried to talk to him about his issues with food but Dean hadn't reacted well, so John had backed off for now.
It was just coming up to two weeks since the hospital visit when John realised that apart from that trip to the clinic, the boys hadn't really left the house. Something which John decided was time to rectify.
"So, what do you think boys? Sound like a plan?"
After breakfast, John had informed Sam and Dean that as the Impala was now ready, he thought it would be a good time to take it on a family test drive and that afterwards they could go shopping, maybe hit the park before going out to dinner.
"That's okay. We don't need to go anywhere. We're fine staying here," Dean answered and John couldn't help but notice the way he had tensed up.
"Come on, Dean." John gave him an encouraging smile. "You spent all that time helping me fix up the Impala, don't you want to feel how she drives?"
"No, it's fine. Sam and I want to stay here."
John sighed. "Look, it's not healthy to stay cooped up in the house all the time."
"Well then you and Mary go out. No one's stopping you. Sam and I don't need to be babysat 24/7," Dean snapped.
"That's not the point, Dean," John said, trying to keep any irritation out of his voice. "We want you and Sam to come with us."
"Why?" Dean asked, suspiciously.
"Because it will do you both good to get some fresh air," John replied. "You can toss the football around, have some fun."
Dean just glared at him. "We don't have a football."
"Well then we'll buy you one at the store."
Dean scowled. "We don't like football."
"Look Dean, you and Sam both need some time out the house so you are going to come out with me and Mary, alright?"
"Doesn't look like we have much choice, does it?" Dean shot back, crossing his arms across his chest.
"I promise, it's gonna be fine."
"Whatever," Dean huffed.
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Shopping though slightly uncomfortable passed without serious incident. Sam hands remained clutched in his brother's jacket at all times and both boys were skittish, but they had followed John and Mary around without complaint, and as well as a new football they picked up some more clothes, comics and a few other things that the boys needed. Dean and Sam never asked for anything but after some encouragement they would point to the comics or books they liked the look of.
The park went better than John could have expected and despite Dean's earlier protests of not liking football both he and Sam were soon tossing the ball back and forth, and running around after one another. For a moment they looked just like any other boys their age, happy and carefree, and it saddened John to think that these kind of moments had been pretty much non-existent in their lives. That instead of playing football at the park and hanging out with friends, they had been trapped in world of pain and terror.
After the park, they had driven to local family restaurant for dinner. From the second they stepped into the restaurant, Dean and Sam's moods drastically changed. The boys withdrew into themselves. Sam didn't just sit next to Dean, he sat on Dean's lap, and Dean was constantly glancing around the room, hyper aware of every sound and movement.
"Sam, honey, why don't you sit on your own chair?" Mary smiled, patting said chair. "There's nothing to be scared of, I promise."
"Leave him alone," Dean snapped. "If he wants to sit with me then he can."
Dean ran his hands up and down Sam's arms, trying to soothe the trembling he could feel starting. "Its okay, Sammy. You're fine."
"I don't like it here, De," Sam murmured. "Too many people."
Dean rested his chin on top of his brother's head. "Shhh, Sammy, it's alright." Dean tried to keep his voice steady but the truth was he knew exactly how Sam was feeling. He didn't like it here either. There were too many people and they were too close. He didn't know them and he didn't know what they might do. It was terrifying.
"John, maybe this isn't such a good idea?" Mary whispered to her husband as she watched the boys in concern.
John had to admit he was having second thoughts himself. He hated seeing the boys looking so tense and afraid, but he knew this was something they had to get used to. They had to learn that not everyone in the world was out to hurt them. John decided that if either of them got anymore worked up then they would leave but for now they were staying. "They'll be okay, Mare. I'm sure they'll relax in a minute."
The concerned look didn't leave Mary's face but she nodded.
As it turned out, they did end up having to cut dinner short. Despite John's hopes, neither boy relaxed and Sam's shaking only increased the longer they stayed, when John saw that Dean was starting to break out in a sweat, he decided that this was too much too soon and he had quickly paid the bill before ushering everyone back out to the car.
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Dean was thankful that when they got home, he and Sam were allowed back up to their room. The whole day had been overwhelming and his head had been aching since they walked into the restaurant, and now his throat was beginning to hurt as well. He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep.
It seemed Sam had the same idea, as his brother had quickly gotten into his pyjama's, clambered into bed and was now tugging Dean down to lay with him.
Dean sighed as his head hit the pillow, the coolness of it soothing the pounding in his head a little.
Sam frowned when he saw the lines of pain across Dean's forehead. "Dean, you okay?"
Dean attempted a smile but the pain in his throat made it look more like a grimace. "M'fine, Sammy, just a little tired."
Sam reached out to feel his forehead, pulling his hand back in concern at the heat he felt radiating from his brother. "You feel really hot? Are you sick?"
Dean shook his head, immediately regretting it when the pounding started up again. "Don't worry, kiddo. It's just a headache. I'll be fine after some sleep."
Sam didn't look convinced. "Maybe we should tell Mary? She might be able to give you some medicine."
"No," Dean said quickly. The last thing he wanted was for John and Mary to know he was sick. If they knew he wasn't well then they might think he was too weak to protect Sam and try to hurt him. Even though neither of them had laid a hand on either of them, Dean wasn't willing to risk it, not when Sam's safety was at stake.
"But..."
"Sam, honestly it's just a headache. I just wanna get some sleep, okay?"
Sam chewed on his lip worriedly for a moment before nodding. "You sure? Do you promise to wake me up if you start to feel worse?"
"I promise, Sammy." Dean smiled, pulling his little brother into his arms and running his hands gently through Sam's hair until they both fall to sleep.
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Scratch what he said earlier, he wasn't fine, he was dying. It was like there was a jack hammer in his head and his throat hurt so much that it felt like he had been swallowing razor blades.
"Ugh." Dean turned over in the bed, and the nausea hit him so hard and fast that it made the room spin. He needed to get to the bathroom and quick.
He stumbled out of the bed, closing his eyes against the dizziness that assaulted him. He could do this. He could make to the bathroom and back, and if he moved really quietly and carefully, he could hopefully do it without waking Sammy up.
That plan went out the window the second he tried to take a few steps and ended up in a heap on the floor.
"Dean?"
Sam's sleeply voice was quickly followed by a sound of alarm and then his brother was by his side. "Dean?" Sam's hands hovered anxiously, not sure weather he should touch. "Dean, what's wrong?"
Dean groaned, another bout of nausea causing his stomach to roll unpleasantly. "Bathroom. Sick," he managed to croak.
Sam nodded, instantly pulling one of Dean's arms over his shoulders and helping him stumble to the bathroom. Dean curled around the toilet, moaning pathetically as he heaved over and over. His stomach clenched painfully and violent shivers racked his body.
"Jesus Christ, Dean. You're burning up!" Sam cried, his hand resting on the nape of his brother's neck. "I'm gonna go get Mary and John."
"No," Dean protested weakly, his teeth chattering so badly that it made his jaw ache. God, how could he be shivering so much when it felt like his whole body was on fire?
"Dean, please," Sam begged, rubbing Dean's back in an attempt to comfort him. "I gotta do something."
"M'okay, m'okay." Dean whimpered and began retching again.
Sam watched helplessly as Dean shivered and moaned. The vomiting became so violent that Dean began to struggle to breathe. "Dean, please. I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do. Please."
Dean could hear the distress and fear in Sam's voice and he wanted to tell him that he's fine, that it's all going to be okay but he just couldn't find the breath, "I'm sorry," is all he could manage to croak out.
Sam couldn't just stand by and watch anymore. He had to do something. "I'm gonna get you help, Dean."
"Sam," Dean called out but his brother was already gone. He tried to crawl after him but his body just slid to the floor, too weak to move. He curled into a ball, whimpering as tears fell down his face. He was gonna die here all alone and then there would be no one to protect Sam. He'd failed. He didn't do his job and now Sam was going to suffer because of him.
"I'm sorry, Sammy," Dean whispered, his voice broken as he gave into the darkness.
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John shot bolt upright in the bed at the sound of his bedroom door slamming open, his body instinctively moving to place himself in front of Mary. He's not sure what he expected to find when his eyes finally blinked awake but it wasn't Sam stood at the foot of the bed, sobbing desperately.
"Sam?" John quickly clambered out of bed, moving over to him. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"De...Dean's...sick..." Sam finally chocked out, his breath hitching from the force of his sobs. "Ple..Please...help..."
Mary who by now was also awake, quickly made her way into the bathroom, followed closely by John and Sam. The scent of sickness and sweat hit her immediately and she rushed to kneel down beside Dean who was curled up on the floor.
"Oh, Dean." She could feel the heat coming off him in waves and he let out a pitiful moan when her hand touched his forehead. "Shhh, it's okay."
Dean's eyes blinked open but they were glassy and unfocused and after mumbling a weak apology they slipped closed again.
Mary looked up at John, her concern obvious. "He's running a fever. We need to get him back to bed."
John nodded and he carefully gathered Dean into his arms, lifting him up. Dean groaned weakly at the movement, his eyes once more flickering open and he squinted in confusion. "John?"
"Yeah, buddy, it's just me." John smiled, trying to keep any worry out of his voice. "Let's get you back to bed, okay?"
"Sammy?"
"I'm here, Dean. I'm right here." Sam reached up, grabbing a hold of Dean's hand and holding it tightly as John carried him back to the bedroom.
No sooner than John had laid Dean carefully back in bed, Mary was there, gently placing a thermometer in his ear. Dean grumbled unhappily, trying to turn his head away from the intrusion. "Shhh, Dean. It's alright," Mary soothed. The thermometer beeped and Mary winced at the read out. "John, get a bowl of cool water and some flannels then call Dr. Saunders and let him know we're going to need a house call."
"What's wrong with him?" Sam asked, his voice shaky with fear and he wrung his hands together anxiously. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"He's going to be fine, Sam." Mary smiled gently. "He's just running a bit of a temperature, that's all."
John placed the items Mary had asked for down on the bedside table before leaving again to call Dr. Saunders.
Dean whimpered when Mary ran the first cloth softly over his face. "Shhh, you're alright, Dean. It's okay."
"Hurts," he whispered.
"I know, baby, but you'll feel better soon, I promise. Just try and relax, sweetie."
"Dr. Saunders says we should put him a cool bath to try and being his temperature down. He's concerned that if it gets much higher, Dean could have a seizure," John said as he returned to the room, phone still clutched in his hand.
Mary nodded, her hands pressing yet another cool cloth to Dean's forehead. "Okay, if you go get one ready, I'll start getting him undressed."
Sam's eyes widened at the mention of a bath and he frantically shook his head. "No, No. Dean didn't do anything wrong. It's not his fault he's sick. It's not."
"Sam?" John raised his eyebrows in concern at Sam's increased distress. "It's okay, buddy."
Sam didn't calm and he grabbed a hold of John's arm in desperation. "Please don't punish him. Please don't..."
"Hey, hey, Shhh, it's alright, Sam." John reassured gently. "No one's going to punish Dean. His fever's too high and we need to try and bring it down. I promise, no one is going to hurt him."
"Dean wouldn't want you giving him a bath. He wouldn't." Sam choked back a sob, tears falling freely down his face. Sam remembered when how his father would hold Dean in the bath, laughing as Dean thrashed about in the freezing cold water.
"I know but it's dangerous for his temperature to stay this high so we have to help him, alright?"
Sam sniffled but finally nodded.
"Dean's gonna be okay, kiddo." John gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before leaving to run the bath.
Dean's eyes flew open in alarm when he felt his jeans being tugged over his hips. "No," he moaned, lifting one of his hands weakly to try and push Mary away. "Please...don't."
His eyes were glazed over from the fever and he looked up at Mary with undisguised terror. "Please...Mick...I'm sorry...don't..."
"Shhh, Dean," Mary soothed. "It's okay. Mick's not here, baby. It's just me. I'm just trying to bring your fever down."
"Please, Mick," Dean begged, tears of distress rolling down his face. "I don't want to...please...I'm sorry...stop..."
"Hush Dean, You're alright. You're safe here." Mary caressed his face, trying to get him to connect with her and bring him back from the nightmare he seemed to be trapped in. Dean made a frightened keening sound, tossing his head from side to side to escape from her touch.
Sam clambered up onto the bed, lying down beside his brother, his forehead resting against Dean's despite the heat. "Dean, it's me," he whispered. "Dean, can you hear me?"
Dean's movements stilled and fevered eyes tried desperately to focus. "Sammy?"
"Yeah Dean, it's me, it's me."
"What's going on? You okay?" Dean mumbled.
"I'm fine, Dean. But you're sick and you need to let Mary help you, okay?"
"It's too hot, Sammy."
"I know and that's why you gotta let Mary help you, okay?"
"Kay, Sammy," Dean whispered as his eyes slipped closed again.
Mary made quick work of the rest of his clothes, leaving him clad only in his boxers just as John returned to announce the bath was ready.
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"Lower him carefully, John. The cold water is going to be a shock to his system."
Cold water? Some of the fog lifted from Dean's head at those words and he forced his heavy lids open to try and take in what was going on. He saw the bath full of water, and fear immediately flooded through him. No. He was going to be punished. John was going to hold him in the freezing water until he couldn't breathe. He began to struggle in John's arms. "No...please...no..."
"Dean? Dean, it's okay, just relax, buddy."
Dean fisted his hand weakly into John's shirt. "Please...you said you wouldn't hurt me...you promised...please."
John felt a pang in his chest at the sound of Dean's desperate pleading. "Dean, I'm not trying to hurt you, kiddo. You have a fever and it's really important we get your temperature down, okay? Dean, can you hear me? "
"I don't feel good." Dean groaned, his head falling heavily against John's shoulder. "I think I'm on fire, John."
"Alright buddy, it's gonna be okay." John gently lowered him into the water and Dean gasped in shock, his body thrashing around wildly.
"No, Dad, no. Please, I'm sorry." Dean struggled in blind panic. He was being held in the water. That only meant one thing, he was being punished. He must have done something wrong but he just couldn't remember what it was. "Dad, I'm sorry. I won't do it again, I promise. Please."
"Shhh, Dean. It's okay. You're alright," John soothed and he felt Dean's body flail a few more times before he slumped in exhaustion. "That's it, kiddo. Just relax. No one is gonna hurt you. You're safe."
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By the time Dr. Saunders arrived, Dean was back resting in bed and the doctor was pleased that his temperature was down to 101, not perfect but definitely better than where it had been before the bath. Dean had been given something to help keep his temperature down and then something else to help with the nausea. Dr. Saunders had told them to keep Dean cool and well hydrated, and that he would be back to check to him tomorrow but to call him if they had any problems before then.
"Sam, honey, I know you usually sleep in the bed with Dean but it's important that he stays as cool as possible, so do you think you can sleep in your own bed for tonight?" Mary reached out to gently smooth a hand over Sam's hair. Sam had been sat by his brother's side since Dean had been put back in bed but Mary could see Sam was tiring, his eyes starting to droop.
Sam looked uncertain about leaving Dean but he nodded sleepily. "Night De, I won't be far." Sam kissed his brother's forehead softly before reluctantly moving over to the other bed.
Mary adjusted the fan John had brought up so that it was directed at Dean and she carefully tucked the covers around him. "Sleep well, Dean."
Dean blinked confusedly up at the blurry image in front of him. He had no idea what was going on. His head felt fuzzy and his whole body ached. He could just about make out the long blonde hair of the person leaning over him and one thought floated through the haze. "Mom?"
Mary felt her heart twist in sympathy at that one word. How lost and hurt must Dean be feeling if he was calling out for his mom? "No, Dean," she whispered, softly stroking his cheek. "It's Mary, honey."
Dean squinted, trying to see the person more clearly and he felt sadness flood through him when he realised it wasn't his mom. He choked back a sob. "I want my mom."
"Shhh, Dean," Mary soothed. "Just go to sleep, baby. You'll feel better soon, I promise."
Dean murmured a few more times before drifting back off to sleep.
"Is he okay?" Sam asked, his voice small and unsure.
Mary smiled, making her way over to him. "He's fine, Sam. What about you? You alright?"
Sam looked down at his bed covers. "I'm not used to sleeping without Dean. It doesn't feel right."
Mary nodded in understanding. "How about I read to you for a little while? Maybe it will help you fall asleep."
Sam chewed his lip thoughtfully for a moment before he agreed with a quiet, "Okay."
Mary smiled and picked up 'Escape to Witch Mountain', one of the books they had brought earlier at store. Sam scooted across on the bed so there was room for Mary to sit and once they were both settled comfortably she began reading.
It didn't take long until Sam was sound asleep, snoring softly.
Chapter 9