Echos in the Dark

Chapter 20

"Deans she's going to be fine." Sam assured his older brother.

"I can't lose her Sammy. We can't loose her."

"If worse comes to worst, Cass will be here." Sam said. Dean nodded knowing this. The door to the room opened again and Hershel came out.

"She's out of danger for the moment. But I need to remove those remaining fragments."

"How? You saw what happened." Dean said.

"I know, and the was the shallowest one. I need to go deeper to get the others." Fear filled their faces.

"Shit..." Sam cursed.

"There's more."

"Tell me." Hershel sighed.

"Her belly's distend, her pressure is dropping slowly, which mean's there's internal bleeding. A fragment must had nicked one of the blood vessels." Dean closed his eyes trying not to imagine how much pain his littler sister could be in. He looked at the old man again.

"I have to open her up, find the bleeder and stitch it. And she cannot move while I'm in there- and I'm mean, at all. If she reacts the same or possibly more, I can sever an artery and she'll be dead in minutes." Sam looked at Cass.

"If I heal her, those fragments could still be inside of her, if she moves, she'll die. But I can help with putting her to sleep." He whispered as he understood what the old man meant. Sam sighed and nodded.

"To even try this, I have to put her under. But if I do, she won't be able to breath on her own. Same bad results."

"What it'll take?" Dean asked.

"You need a respirator." Otis walked up to him.

"What else?" Dean asked.

"The tube that goes with it, extra surgical supplies, drapes, sutures."

"So- so if you have all that. You could save her?"

"If I had all that I could try."

"Nearest hospital went up in flames a month ago." Otis spoke, thinking, then gasped. "The high school." Otis whispered.

"That's what I was thinking. They set up a FEMA shelter there. They would have everything we need."

"Place was overrun last time I saw it. You couldn't get near it. Maybe it's better now."

"I'll go. I said I'll do anything." Rick spoke up.

"No man, you need to stay with your kid. I'll go." Shane offered.

"I'll go too."

"No, Sammy, you need to stay with Ace. Cass needs to be here in case something happens to Daph." They nodded much to their dismay. Rick and Shane argued before agreeing to let Shane go.

"Doc, why don't you do me a list and draw me a map?"

"You won't need a map. I'll take you there. Ain't but five miles."

"Otis, no."

"Honey, we don't have time to guesswork and I'm responsible. I ain't gunna sit here while this fella takes this on alone...I'll be all right."

"You sure about this?" Shane asked.

"Do you know what any of the stuff he's talking about looks like?"

"Come to think, no."

"I've been a volunteer E.M.T. I do. We can talk about this till next Sunday or we could just go do it real quick."

"I'll take right quick." Shane said.

"We should thank you." Sam said.

"Wait till your sister is up and around. Then we'll talk. I'll gather some things." They nodded and he left. Sam looked at his brother then at the room, he was worried. What his sister was doing was obviously risky.

"Where are they? Your group?" Maggie asked Rick.

Castiel was worried for Daph, he obviously still cared very much for her, Sam and Dean could see it in his eyes. Castiel looked at Dean.

"Dean are you alright?" He asked. Dean inhaled air before looking up at the Angel with tired eyes.

"I'm fine." Castiel furrowed his brows and placed a finger on Dean's forehead before healing him. Dean looked less paper than he did and less tired.

"Thanks, Cass." He nodded. Sam was next to his brother near the room. Sure they survived a hell of a lot but, this time was very risky.

"I'm ready to go." Said Otis walking with a pack, Shane nodded and walked outside with Rick and Hershel. Castiel walked to the window and looked outside to see Shane and Otis going into the truck and driving away. Otis' wife came in with tears in her eyes while the other men followed.

"Let's check on your sister." He said. They nodded and stood up.