A Lavish Prison
Title: A Lavish Prison
Author: bahama_breeze77
Rating: NC17ish
Pairing: J2, Jared/Josh Duhamel, Chris/Steve
Warning: Violence, Abuse, Sort of non-con, Bad language
Summary: Jared’s life is hell; he has one friend, a horrible boyfriend, and his future being decided for him. But that all starts to change when a gorgeous green eyed photographer moves into the next door apartment.
A/N: I have very little knowledge of medical related things, so forgive my ignorance when it comes to medications and such. Just go with the flow!!
Previous Chapters
A/N: Sorry, writers block is kicking my ass!!!
Ch. 22
It was nearing late morning when all four men were once again surrounded around Jared’s bed after taking turns running to get breakfast. Jensen had his chair pushed close to Jared’s bed and was currently running his fingers gently over a sleeping Jared’s warm forehead.
“So are you going to tell us now?” Chad asked quietly to Steve. “What did Ben say?”
Steve cleared his throat and smiled as all eyes turned toward him, “It’s good news; Josh is going away for a long time. Ben says he would be surprised if it’s anything less than twenty five years.”
“Is there going to be a trial?” Chris asked from his spot where he was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
Steve shrugged, “Just a formality, but not even the best lawyer could get him out of this one. Ben says that Josh bought his own prison cell by keeping all those records around.”
“Good, I hope that bastard rots in prison.” Jensen growled. “What about Diane?”
Steve mentally cringed. “Uh…nothing.”
“What?” Chad exploded out of his seat in surprise. “What do you mean nothing?”
“Apparently there was no evidence against her.” Steve sighed.
“Fuck!” Chad hit the wall with his hand. “Diane Padalecki deserves to be in the prison cell next to Josh!”
“Why?” A scratchy, weak voice asked.
Silence reigned in the room as all four men experienced a few seconds of confusion as to who asked that and why. Jensen quickly turned around in his seat to look at Jared, awake now apparently, who had a confused sleepy expression on his face.
“Jay!” Chad smiled as he rushed forward and gently pulled his friend up into his arms for a hug. “Oh god man! I’m so happy to see you awake.” Chad had to blink back tears as he hugged his friend; he was so overwhelmed with emotion; the last time he had seen his friend talk was when he was dying in Jensen’s arms.
Jared smiled as he rested against Chad. “Good to see you too.” He rasped out. Then the earlier conversation filtered back into his mind. “What about my mom?”
“Uhh…” Chad looked around quickly to the other men in the room.
“What’s going on?” Jared asked sending a confused look toward Jensen.
Jensen leaned over Jared and brushed his sweaty hair off his forehead with a smile. “A lot has gone down since you got hurt, I’ll answer all your questions later, but for now I just want you to concentrate on getting better, okay?”
Jensen felt relief shoot through him when Jared nodded sleepily and his eyes fell shut.
“We’re going to clear out for a bit.” Steve’s soft spoken voice brought Jensen’s attention from Jared.
“Sure.” Jensen watched as Chris and Steve left before turning his attention back to Chad who was holding Jared’s hand across from him.
“Do you think it’s good that he’s sleeping so much?” Chad asked quietly.
Jensen sighed. “I wish I knew.”
*******~~~*******
The next few hours were hell for Jensen as he watched Jared’s health slowly deteriorate in front of him. His temperature was hanging steady at 103.6 degrees and Jensen could feel the skin of Jared’s hand become hotter and drier; like all the heat in Jared’s body was slowly sucking up all the moisture in his skin.
The doctor and nurses, concerned by Jared’s rapid and shallow breathing, were now coming in every twenty minutes to check on Jared’s vital signs. Jensen and Chad could do nothing but sit there and watch them work.
Jensen was currently resting his head on the bed near Jared’s hip praying that Jared would be okay. He hadn’t woken up again since Chris and Steve had left and Jensen wondered with quilt if he would ever get to talk to him again. The thought sent a tear down his cheek and he quickly rubbed his face against the mattress to remove it.
The sound of the door opening had him looking up quickly to see Dr. Schols entering. Sighing, he let his head slump back down on the bed until he realized that a nurse had been in about seven minutes ago…it wasn’t time for another check up yet.
His heart sank as he looked up to see the doctor moving a chair closer to the bed and sitting down near him. “What’s wrong?” he asked shakily as he saw Chad lean forward on the couch to hear better.
“Jared doesn’t seem to be responding to any of the antibiotics that we’ve given him so far. And even though his temperature isn’t changing; it’s a very dangerous number; it’s too high for the body to sustain for long periods of time.” The doctor pointed out gently.
Jensen nodded, not able to speak around the lump in his throat.
“What’s that mean?” Chad asked.
“Jared’s not responding to any of these antibiotics because the infection is stronger than the antibiotics. Like I said earlier in the week, we have another antibiotic, a much more rigorous one that could possibly be strong enough to kill the infection…” The doctor began.
Jensen cut him off. “But you said Jared’s body was too weak to handle that kind of antibiotic.”
The doctor nodded. “This antibiotic is one of the strongest and it’s very rough on the body. It’s true that Jared in his weak condition may not survive it.”
Chad rubbed a hand threw his hair in distress. “Do we really have much of a choice?”
The doctor paused for a few seconds. “There might be another way, but it’s no less dangerous.”
“What?” Jensen asked desperately.
“We could see if Jared’s body could fight the infection off itself by inducing a fever…”
“What?” Chad asked surprised. “He already has a fever! And you said that was dangerous already!”
“I said staying at that temperature for a long period of time is dangerous. I was saying that we could induce a higher fever and that could kill off the infection.” Dr. Schols saw the confused expressions directed his way and went to clarify. “Okay, understand that a fever is a symptom of infection. Normally fever is a good thing because it helps the body fight infections by making the body's defense systems work more efficiently. Bacteria and viruses cannot live at higher temperatures and are killed by fever. Infections that aren’t too serious cause small fevers because those slightly raised temperatures are enough to kill them. In Jared’s case it’s a very serious, strong infection, so his body is trying to work up a fever strong enough to kill the infection. The only problem is Jared’s body isn’t doing it fast enough; this prolonged time at these high temperatures isn’t good for a weak body such as his.”
Jensen tried to wrap his mind around that. “So you’re going to give him an even higher temperature?”
“Couldn’t that kill him?” Chad asked.
Dr. Schols nodded hesitantly. “It could, but if we raise his temperature and that kills the infection quick enough we could lower his temperature back down before his body takes serious damage from it.” He shrugged. “It’s a second option.”
Jensen looked at Jared as he considered both options. Both were dangerous and could end in Jared’s death. He looked back at the doctor. “What would you do?”
“Both options have their risks, but with inducing a temperature we have more control over Jared’s body and consequently the outcome of it.” Dr. Schols looked closely at him. “It’s your decision.”
Jensen looked over to Chad, who shrugged at him. He then looked to Jared again for a few seconds in silence before turning to the doctor. “Okay.” He nodded. “So how do we do this?”
*******~~~*******
Jared had been moved to a different room; a sterile room for the procedure that was about to take place. Jensen sat next to his bed on a hard steel stool. He wasn’t even supposed to be here during the procedure but he had begged the doctor to let him be near Jared until the doctor had caved. He had undergone serious scrubbing and had to put on sterile scrubs, booties and a hat before he was allowed to enter the room. Chris, Steve and Chad were currently down the hall in the waiting room.
Jensen sat watching two nurses busing themselves around Jared with machines that his love was hooked up to. Doctor Schols was filling some vials with some kind of liquid and getting various other instruments onto the metal tray near Jared’s bed. Jensen had no clue what any of those things were for but he did recognize the crash cart behind the doctor. He shivered slightly and quickly prayed that they wouldn’t have to use that.
“It’s just precaution.” Dr. Schol’s calm voice dragged his gaze away from the crash cart.
Jensen nodded. “What’s that?” he asked nervously.
“This is lab created pyrogens. A pyrogen is a substance that induces fever.” The doctor explained. “What we’re about to do is called Pyrogenicity, inducing a fever, these are bacterial pyrogens known as superantigens, they cause rapid fevers. The other vial has a liquid in it that we use for Depyrogenation. This will inactivate the pyrogens and let the body temperature fall.”
“Huh.” Was the only reply that Jensen could think of saying at that moment. Jensen watched as the doctor injected the first liquid into a port in one of Jared’s IV’s. “How long will this take?”
Dr. Schols shrugged. “That really depends on Jared’s body. The fever should reach maximum high within the first 30 to 40 minutes. Hopefully it will kill off the infection quick enough after that…no one can last more than a few hours at that temperature.”
Jensen’s stomach swirled and he quickly hoped that he wouldn’t get sick; they definitely wouldn’t let him stay with Jared if he kept contaminating the room by puking. Shaking those thoughts from his head he gripped the bar on Jared’s bed and squeezed tightly.
“Mary, keep me updated on his O2 stats and heart monitor. Jane, you’re assigned to his temperature, what’s it now?” Doctor Schols asked.
Jensen watched as an older nurse sat down in a chair by some of the machines and a young dark haired nurse went to stand in front of a monitor.
“It’s at 103.7 degrees.” The young nurse said.
Dr. Schols nodded before looking back at Jensen and pointing to a young Asian man seated by a counter with lots of equipment on it. “This is Li, he will be keeping track of Jared’s blood.” He turned to the young man. “I’m thinking every 15 minutes.”
Li nodded and turned back around to his supplies on the counter as Jensen turned back around to watch Jared. He frowned to see Jared’s brow creased with discomfort. “Is this hurting him?” he asked the doctor quickly.
“No, there’s no pain, but fevers are very uncomfortable.” Dr. Schols explained.
Jensen sat through the next 10 minutes alternately watching the clock and Jared. Jared seemed to be getting more restless as time passed. Jensen reached out and rubbed Jared’s arm. “It’s okay Jared. Shhhh.”
Jared’s eyes fluttered open as he groaned and his head moved sideways on the pillow as if trying to escape his body’s discomfort. “Jen…” he moaned.
Jensen smiled. “Hey baby.” He leaned foreword over Jared as much as the rail on the bed would let him to look into his fever glazed eyes. “I’m here. It’s okay.”
“W…where…?” Jared’s eyes traveled around the room confused.
“You’re with the doctor right now. He’s going to take care of that infection of yours so you can get better.” Jensen said when Jared’s eyes finally settled back on him.
“Don’t f…feel good.” Jared stuttered out. “It’s c…cold.”
Before Jensen could reply he heard the doctor ask, “Mary, Jane, how’s it looking?”
“His stats are stable.”
“Temperature is 104.4 degrees.”
“Li, lets go ahead and start blood samples.”
“I know. But we’ll get you warmed up soon.” Jensen replied as he watched Li quickly take some of Jared’s blood from a port in his elbow before disappearing from view back to his counter. Jensen could see Jared’s body shivering under the thin sheet that covered him.
“Try to keep him taking and awake for as long as you can.” Dr. Schols stated from beside him.
Jensen nodded. “Chad has been going crazy not being able to talk to you. Right now he’s waiting with Steve and Chris in the waiting room…” Jensen continued to talk to Jared for 15 more minutes until Jared’s responses were limited to just nods and shakes of the head. He could tell that Jared was close to sleep again.
Jensen grabbed Jared’s trembling hand in his and leaned his face close; looking into Jared’s slowly blinking eyes. “I love you.”
Jared smiled slightly. “Sorry.” was whispered out after that.
Jensen frowned. “What for baby?”
“Marry…Josh…don’t l…love him.” Jared quavered.
“I know.” Jensen said slightly confused. “You didn’t marry him, remember?”
Jared shivered and closed his eyes. “Jus…want…Jen…sen.”
“I’m here.” Jensen soothed as he rubbed a hand over Jared’s red, sweaty forehead and then looked to the doctor in concern.
“This is taking a lot out of his body. He’s confused and slightly delirious from the fever.” Dr. Schols claimed. “How’s his stats?” he directed toward his personnel.
“Stats are lower than before, but the pulse is rapid.”
“105.7 degrees.”
The doctor nodded. “Li?”
Li turned from his microscope, “The infection is still present in his blood.”
Jensen sighed and turned to look at the clock. It had been just over 30 minutes since it began. Jensen began to rub Jared’s arm again as his sleep became restless.
Over the next ten minutes Jensen watched as Jared became even more active. He tried to roll from side to side; sometimes his whole body or sometimes just his head. He was weakly moaning from time to time but what really scared Jensen were the words that Jared would sometimes call out in his delirium in the short moments he was awake.
“Josh…no…” Jared weakly cried out. “Jen…”
“Shh, baby. I’m here, just rest.” He repeatedly tried to sooth his love. He looked at the doctor who stood on the other side of the bed holding Jared’s arm still while Li got yet another blood sample to test.
One hour into the procedure and Jensen almost wished that Jared was still calling out in his delirium and being restless because that would have been better than this Jared who was lying still and silent. Jensen would almost believe he was dead if it wasn’t for his rapid breathing and the sweat that was covering his body.
“Is he…will he…” Jensen was too distressed to really form his question after he received yet another answer that the infection was still present; he could only stand there and hold tightly to Jared’s hand.
“He won’t wake up again until his fever is lowered.” Dr. Schols gently disclosed. “He’s slipped into a coma. It’s his body’s way to cope with what he’s going through.
Jensen nodded as a tear slipped down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away. He looked down at Jared in dismay. “This isn’t going to work is it?”
His question hadn’t really been directed at the doctor, more to himself, but Dr. Schols answered anyway. “We still have a bit of time. Nothing…”
He was cut off as Jared’s still body suddenly began to convulse under their hands.
“Jared!” Jensen cried out frantically as he helped the doctor roll Jared to the side. He keep his hand against his back so he wouldn’t roll back over as Dr. Schols loosely supported his head and the arm that had the IV’s in it. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Heat seizure.” The doctor said quickly.
Jensen could only watch helplessly as Jared’s body continued to shake for almost two minutes. He gulped in a relieved breath when Jared’s body went slack.
“Stats?” Dr. Schols barked out as he rolled Jared onto his back.
“O2 stats are dropping.”
“106 degrees. He’s entering into hyperpyrexia.”
“What’s that?” Jensen asked fearfully.
“It’s a high temperature, about the highest a human body can withstand.” One of the nurses said from behind Jensen.
“Shit.” Jensen muttered under his breath as he ran his fingers through Jared’s damp hair. “What now?” he asked the doctor.
“Li, take another sample.” Dr. Schols ordered.
Jensen watched as Li hurried over to the bed to get some blood. His heart was pounding so hard he wondered if it might actually pound right out of his chest. Under his hands he could feel Jared start to shake again. “No, no, no.”
“Doctor his stats are dropping fast!” one of the nurses shouted out.
Jensen and the doctor had rolled Jared’s on to his side again as soon as the shaking started. The convulsions weren’t as big this time but they didn’t seem to be stopping.
“Oh god Jared! Please don’t do this! Come on baby!” Jensen pleaded with him as he held tight to Jared’s shaking body.
“He’s not getting enough oxygen.” One of the nurses said suddenly. “His O2 are pretty much non existent.”
Jensen frantically looked into Jared’s face and felt his stomach drop as he took in the blue tinged lips. “Do something!” he screamed at the doctor.
“Li!” Dr. Schols called out as he ripped the oxygen mask off the wall and placed it over Jared’s mouth and nose.
“Ummm…it seems clean to me…” Li hesitated as he frantically retested the blood he had.
Jensen looked up hopefully at the doctor for a few seconds before turning back to mutter soothing words to Jared.
“Li!” The doctor shouted impatiently.
“It’s clear!” Li reassured.
Dr. Schols grabbed the second syringe and quickly injected it into Jared’s IV. A few seconds later his convulsions died down and Jensen gently rolled him onto his back again. “It’s gone? The infection, right?” he asked hopefully.
Dr. Schols nodded, “It seems to be, we will have to keep checking, but right now we need to get Jared’s fever down.” He walked over to the side of the room and flipped a switch.
Jensen could feel cool air being pumped into the room. “What about his breathing, his oxygen?” he asked in concern as he could feel Jared’s weak, shuttering breaths beneath his hands.
“Mary?” the doctor turned to one of his nurses.
“His O2 is slowly rising up again, but it’s still low right now.” Mary reported.
“His temperature is at 105.8 degrees.” Jane stated as she brought over a blanket and spread it over Jared.
The doctor nodded and turned back to Jensen. “As his fever lowers his stats should rise and level out.” He pointed to the blanket now covering Jared. “This is a cooling blanket; it should help lower the fever faster.”
“So he’ll be okay now?” Jensen asked, his voice breaking at the end.
Dr. Schols smiled. “As long as his fever keeps decreasing, then I expect he’ll be just fine.”
Jensen slumped back onto the stool in relief as tears fell from his eyes. “Thank you.” He choked out as he ran his hands over his face. Jensen could barely keep himself from sobbing; so many emotions were running through his mind.
The doctor nodded. “I’ll go update your friends on Jared’s condition and check back in a bit.” He told Jensen before turning to Li. “I want you to get a fresh sample and take it down to the lab for testing.” He said as he headed for the door.
Li smiled at Jensen as he took some more blood from Jared. “He’s a lucky guy.”
Jensen smiled back. “Yeah, it’s about time he got some luck.” He wiped his eyes dry with his sleeves as he watched Li walk from the room. He smiled down at Jared and clasped his hot hand bringing it up to his lips to kiss it. “Everything is going to be okay now baby.”
He turned to the two nurses still in the room and asked, “Is he still okay?”
The older nurse smiled at him and nodded from her chair in front of some monitors. “His stats are still rising and his temperature is 105.2 degrees.”
Jensen felt his body relax even more with those words and he turned back to watch Jared sleep.
TBC
Author: bahama_breeze77
Rating: NC17ish
Pairing: J2, Jared/Josh Duhamel, Chris/Steve
Warning: Violence, Abuse, Sort of non-con, Bad language
Summary: Jared’s life is hell; he has one friend, a horrible boyfriend, and his future being decided for him. But that all starts to change when a gorgeous green eyed photographer moves into the next door apartment.
A/N: I have very little knowledge of medical related things, so forgive my ignorance when it comes to medications and such. Just go with the flow!!
Previous Chapters
A/N: Sorry, writers block is kicking my ass!!!
Ch. 22
It was nearing late morning when all four men were once again surrounded around Jared’s bed after taking turns running to get breakfast. Jensen had his chair pushed close to Jared’s bed and was currently running his fingers gently over a sleeping Jared’s warm forehead.
“So are you going to tell us now?” Chad asked quietly to Steve. “What did Ben say?”
Steve cleared his throat and smiled as all eyes turned toward him, “It’s good news; Josh is going away for a long time. Ben says he would be surprised if it’s anything less than twenty five years.”
“Is there going to be a trial?” Chris asked from his spot where he was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
Steve shrugged, “Just a formality, but not even the best lawyer could get him out of this one. Ben says that Josh bought his own prison cell by keeping all those records around.”
“Good, I hope that bastard rots in prison.” Jensen growled. “What about Diane?”
Steve mentally cringed. “Uh…nothing.”
“What?” Chad exploded out of his seat in surprise. “What do you mean nothing?”
“Apparently there was no evidence against her.” Steve sighed.
“Fuck!” Chad hit the wall with his hand. “Diane Padalecki deserves to be in the prison cell next to Josh!”
“Why?” A scratchy, weak voice asked.
Silence reigned in the room as all four men experienced a few seconds of confusion as to who asked that and why. Jensen quickly turned around in his seat to look at Jared, awake now apparently, who had a confused sleepy expression on his face.
“Jay!” Chad smiled as he rushed forward and gently pulled his friend up into his arms for a hug. “Oh god man! I’m so happy to see you awake.” Chad had to blink back tears as he hugged his friend; he was so overwhelmed with emotion; the last time he had seen his friend talk was when he was dying in Jensen’s arms.
Jared smiled as he rested against Chad. “Good to see you too.” He rasped out. Then the earlier conversation filtered back into his mind. “What about my mom?”
“Uhh…” Chad looked around quickly to the other men in the room.
“What’s going on?” Jared asked sending a confused look toward Jensen.
Jensen leaned over Jared and brushed his sweaty hair off his forehead with a smile. “A lot has gone down since you got hurt, I’ll answer all your questions later, but for now I just want you to concentrate on getting better, okay?”
Jensen felt relief shoot through him when Jared nodded sleepily and his eyes fell shut.
“We’re going to clear out for a bit.” Steve’s soft spoken voice brought Jensen’s attention from Jared.
“Sure.” Jensen watched as Chris and Steve left before turning his attention back to Chad who was holding Jared’s hand across from him.
“Do you think it’s good that he’s sleeping so much?” Chad asked quietly.
Jensen sighed. “I wish I knew.”
*******~~~*******
The next few hours were hell for Jensen as he watched Jared’s health slowly deteriorate in front of him. His temperature was hanging steady at 103.6 degrees and Jensen could feel the skin of Jared’s hand become hotter and drier; like all the heat in Jared’s body was slowly sucking up all the moisture in his skin.
The doctor and nurses, concerned by Jared’s rapid and shallow breathing, were now coming in every twenty minutes to check on Jared’s vital signs. Jensen and Chad could do nothing but sit there and watch them work.
Jensen was currently resting his head on the bed near Jared’s hip praying that Jared would be okay. He hadn’t woken up again since Chris and Steve had left and Jensen wondered with quilt if he would ever get to talk to him again. The thought sent a tear down his cheek and he quickly rubbed his face against the mattress to remove it.
The sound of the door opening had him looking up quickly to see Dr. Schols entering. Sighing, he let his head slump back down on the bed until he realized that a nurse had been in about seven minutes ago…it wasn’t time for another check up yet.
His heart sank as he looked up to see the doctor moving a chair closer to the bed and sitting down near him. “What’s wrong?” he asked shakily as he saw Chad lean forward on the couch to hear better.
“Jared doesn’t seem to be responding to any of the antibiotics that we’ve given him so far. And even though his temperature isn’t changing; it’s a very dangerous number; it’s too high for the body to sustain for long periods of time.” The doctor pointed out gently.
Jensen nodded, not able to speak around the lump in his throat.
“What’s that mean?” Chad asked.
“Jared’s not responding to any of these antibiotics because the infection is stronger than the antibiotics. Like I said earlier in the week, we have another antibiotic, a much more rigorous one that could possibly be strong enough to kill the infection…” The doctor began.
Jensen cut him off. “But you said Jared’s body was too weak to handle that kind of antibiotic.”
The doctor nodded. “This antibiotic is one of the strongest and it’s very rough on the body. It’s true that Jared in his weak condition may not survive it.”
Chad rubbed a hand threw his hair in distress. “Do we really have much of a choice?”
The doctor paused for a few seconds. “There might be another way, but it’s no less dangerous.”
“What?” Jensen asked desperately.
“We could see if Jared’s body could fight the infection off itself by inducing a fever…”
“What?” Chad asked surprised. “He already has a fever! And you said that was dangerous already!”
“I said staying at that temperature for a long period of time is dangerous. I was saying that we could induce a higher fever and that could kill off the infection.” Dr. Schols saw the confused expressions directed his way and went to clarify. “Okay, understand that a fever is a symptom of infection. Normally fever is a good thing because it helps the body fight infections by making the body's defense systems work more efficiently. Bacteria and viruses cannot live at higher temperatures and are killed by fever. Infections that aren’t too serious cause small fevers because those slightly raised temperatures are enough to kill them. In Jared’s case it’s a very serious, strong infection, so his body is trying to work up a fever strong enough to kill the infection. The only problem is Jared’s body isn’t doing it fast enough; this prolonged time at these high temperatures isn’t good for a weak body such as his.”
Jensen tried to wrap his mind around that. “So you’re going to give him an even higher temperature?”
“Couldn’t that kill him?” Chad asked.
Dr. Schols nodded hesitantly. “It could, but if we raise his temperature and that kills the infection quick enough we could lower his temperature back down before his body takes serious damage from it.” He shrugged. “It’s a second option.”
Jensen looked at Jared as he considered both options. Both were dangerous and could end in Jared’s death. He looked back at the doctor. “What would you do?”
“Both options have their risks, but with inducing a temperature we have more control over Jared’s body and consequently the outcome of it.” Dr. Schols looked closely at him. “It’s your decision.”
Jensen looked over to Chad, who shrugged at him. He then looked to Jared again for a few seconds in silence before turning to the doctor. “Okay.” He nodded. “So how do we do this?”
*******~~~*******
Jared had been moved to a different room; a sterile room for the procedure that was about to take place. Jensen sat next to his bed on a hard steel stool. He wasn’t even supposed to be here during the procedure but he had begged the doctor to let him be near Jared until the doctor had caved. He had undergone serious scrubbing and had to put on sterile scrubs, booties and a hat before he was allowed to enter the room. Chris, Steve and Chad were currently down the hall in the waiting room.
Jensen sat watching two nurses busing themselves around Jared with machines that his love was hooked up to. Doctor Schols was filling some vials with some kind of liquid and getting various other instruments onto the metal tray near Jared’s bed. Jensen had no clue what any of those things were for but he did recognize the crash cart behind the doctor. He shivered slightly and quickly prayed that they wouldn’t have to use that.
“It’s just precaution.” Dr. Schol’s calm voice dragged his gaze away from the crash cart.
Jensen nodded. “What’s that?” he asked nervously.
“This is lab created pyrogens. A pyrogen is a substance that induces fever.” The doctor explained. “What we’re about to do is called Pyrogenicity, inducing a fever, these are bacterial pyrogens known as superantigens, they cause rapid fevers. The other vial has a liquid in it that we use for Depyrogenation. This will inactivate the pyrogens and let the body temperature fall.”
“Huh.” Was the only reply that Jensen could think of saying at that moment. Jensen watched as the doctor injected the first liquid into a port in one of Jared’s IV’s. “How long will this take?”
Dr. Schols shrugged. “That really depends on Jared’s body. The fever should reach maximum high within the first 30 to 40 minutes. Hopefully it will kill off the infection quick enough after that…no one can last more than a few hours at that temperature.”
Jensen’s stomach swirled and he quickly hoped that he wouldn’t get sick; they definitely wouldn’t let him stay with Jared if he kept contaminating the room by puking. Shaking those thoughts from his head he gripped the bar on Jared’s bed and squeezed tightly.
“Mary, keep me updated on his O2 stats and heart monitor. Jane, you’re assigned to his temperature, what’s it now?” Doctor Schols asked.
Jensen watched as an older nurse sat down in a chair by some of the machines and a young dark haired nurse went to stand in front of a monitor.
“It’s at 103.7 degrees.” The young nurse said.
Dr. Schols nodded before looking back at Jensen and pointing to a young Asian man seated by a counter with lots of equipment on it. “This is Li, he will be keeping track of Jared’s blood.” He turned to the young man. “I’m thinking every 15 minutes.”
Li nodded and turned back around to his supplies on the counter as Jensen turned back around to watch Jared. He frowned to see Jared’s brow creased with discomfort. “Is this hurting him?” he asked the doctor quickly.
“No, there’s no pain, but fevers are very uncomfortable.” Dr. Schols explained.
Jensen sat through the next 10 minutes alternately watching the clock and Jared. Jared seemed to be getting more restless as time passed. Jensen reached out and rubbed Jared’s arm. “It’s okay Jared. Shhhh.”
Jared’s eyes fluttered open as he groaned and his head moved sideways on the pillow as if trying to escape his body’s discomfort. “Jen…” he moaned.
Jensen smiled. “Hey baby.” He leaned foreword over Jared as much as the rail on the bed would let him to look into his fever glazed eyes. “I’m here. It’s okay.”
“W…where…?” Jared’s eyes traveled around the room confused.
“You’re with the doctor right now. He’s going to take care of that infection of yours so you can get better.” Jensen said when Jared’s eyes finally settled back on him.
“Don’t f…feel good.” Jared stuttered out. “It’s c…cold.”
Before Jensen could reply he heard the doctor ask, “Mary, Jane, how’s it looking?”
“His stats are stable.”
“Temperature is 104.4 degrees.”
“Li, lets go ahead and start blood samples.”
“I know. But we’ll get you warmed up soon.” Jensen replied as he watched Li quickly take some of Jared’s blood from a port in his elbow before disappearing from view back to his counter. Jensen could see Jared’s body shivering under the thin sheet that covered him.
“Try to keep him taking and awake for as long as you can.” Dr. Schols stated from beside him.
Jensen nodded. “Chad has been going crazy not being able to talk to you. Right now he’s waiting with Steve and Chris in the waiting room…” Jensen continued to talk to Jared for 15 more minutes until Jared’s responses were limited to just nods and shakes of the head. He could tell that Jared was close to sleep again.
Jensen grabbed Jared’s trembling hand in his and leaned his face close; looking into Jared’s slowly blinking eyes. “I love you.”
Jared smiled slightly. “Sorry.” was whispered out after that.
Jensen frowned. “What for baby?”
“Marry…Josh…don’t l…love him.” Jared quavered.
“I know.” Jensen said slightly confused. “You didn’t marry him, remember?”
Jared shivered and closed his eyes. “Jus…want…Jen…sen.”
“I’m here.” Jensen soothed as he rubbed a hand over Jared’s red, sweaty forehead and then looked to the doctor in concern.
“This is taking a lot out of his body. He’s confused and slightly delirious from the fever.” Dr. Schols claimed. “How’s his stats?” he directed toward his personnel.
“Stats are lower than before, but the pulse is rapid.”
“105.7 degrees.”
The doctor nodded. “Li?”
Li turned from his microscope, “The infection is still present in his blood.”
Jensen sighed and turned to look at the clock. It had been just over 30 minutes since it began. Jensen began to rub Jared’s arm again as his sleep became restless.
Over the next ten minutes Jensen watched as Jared became even more active. He tried to roll from side to side; sometimes his whole body or sometimes just his head. He was weakly moaning from time to time but what really scared Jensen were the words that Jared would sometimes call out in his delirium in the short moments he was awake.
“Josh…no…” Jared weakly cried out. “Jen…”
“Shh, baby. I’m here, just rest.” He repeatedly tried to sooth his love. He looked at the doctor who stood on the other side of the bed holding Jared’s arm still while Li got yet another blood sample to test.
One hour into the procedure and Jensen almost wished that Jared was still calling out in his delirium and being restless because that would have been better than this Jared who was lying still and silent. Jensen would almost believe he was dead if it wasn’t for his rapid breathing and the sweat that was covering his body.
“Is he…will he…” Jensen was too distressed to really form his question after he received yet another answer that the infection was still present; he could only stand there and hold tightly to Jared’s hand.
“He won’t wake up again until his fever is lowered.” Dr. Schols gently disclosed. “He’s slipped into a coma. It’s his body’s way to cope with what he’s going through.
Jensen nodded as a tear slipped down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away. He looked down at Jared in dismay. “This isn’t going to work is it?”
His question hadn’t really been directed at the doctor, more to himself, but Dr. Schols answered anyway. “We still have a bit of time. Nothing…”
He was cut off as Jared’s still body suddenly began to convulse under their hands.
“Jared!” Jensen cried out frantically as he helped the doctor roll Jared to the side. He keep his hand against his back so he wouldn’t roll back over as Dr. Schols loosely supported his head and the arm that had the IV’s in it. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Heat seizure.” The doctor said quickly.
Jensen could only watch helplessly as Jared’s body continued to shake for almost two minutes. He gulped in a relieved breath when Jared’s body went slack.
“Stats?” Dr. Schols barked out as he rolled Jared onto his back.
“O2 stats are dropping.”
“106 degrees. He’s entering into hyperpyrexia.”
“What’s that?” Jensen asked fearfully.
“It’s a high temperature, about the highest a human body can withstand.” One of the nurses said from behind Jensen.
“Shit.” Jensen muttered under his breath as he ran his fingers through Jared’s damp hair. “What now?” he asked the doctor.
“Li, take another sample.” Dr. Schols ordered.
Jensen watched as Li hurried over to the bed to get some blood. His heart was pounding so hard he wondered if it might actually pound right out of his chest. Under his hands he could feel Jared start to shake again. “No, no, no.”
“Doctor his stats are dropping fast!” one of the nurses shouted out.
Jensen and the doctor had rolled Jared’s on to his side again as soon as the shaking started. The convulsions weren’t as big this time but they didn’t seem to be stopping.
“Oh god Jared! Please don’t do this! Come on baby!” Jensen pleaded with him as he held tight to Jared’s shaking body.
“He’s not getting enough oxygen.” One of the nurses said suddenly. “His O2 are pretty much non existent.”
Jensen frantically looked into Jared’s face and felt his stomach drop as he took in the blue tinged lips. “Do something!” he screamed at the doctor.
“Li!” Dr. Schols called out as he ripped the oxygen mask off the wall and placed it over Jared’s mouth and nose.
“Ummm…it seems clean to me…” Li hesitated as he frantically retested the blood he had.
Jensen looked up hopefully at the doctor for a few seconds before turning back to mutter soothing words to Jared.
“Li!” The doctor shouted impatiently.
“It’s clear!” Li reassured.
Dr. Schols grabbed the second syringe and quickly injected it into Jared’s IV. A few seconds later his convulsions died down and Jensen gently rolled him onto his back again. “It’s gone? The infection, right?” he asked hopefully.
Dr. Schols nodded, “It seems to be, we will have to keep checking, but right now we need to get Jared’s fever down.” He walked over to the side of the room and flipped a switch.
Jensen could feel cool air being pumped into the room. “What about his breathing, his oxygen?” he asked in concern as he could feel Jared’s weak, shuttering breaths beneath his hands.
“Mary?” the doctor turned to one of his nurses.
“His O2 is slowly rising up again, but it’s still low right now.” Mary reported.
“His temperature is at 105.8 degrees.” Jane stated as she brought over a blanket and spread it over Jared.
The doctor nodded and turned back to Jensen. “As his fever lowers his stats should rise and level out.” He pointed to the blanket now covering Jared. “This is a cooling blanket; it should help lower the fever faster.”
“So he’ll be okay now?” Jensen asked, his voice breaking at the end.
Dr. Schols smiled. “As long as his fever keeps decreasing, then I expect he’ll be just fine.”
Jensen slumped back onto the stool in relief as tears fell from his eyes. “Thank you.” He choked out as he ran his hands over his face. Jensen could barely keep himself from sobbing; so many emotions were running through his mind.
The doctor nodded. “I’ll go update your friends on Jared’s condition and check back in a bit.” He told Jensen before turning to Li. “I want you to get a fresh sample and take it down to the lab for testing.” He said as he headed for the door.
Li smiled at Jensen as he took some more blood from Jared. “He’s a lucky guy.”
Jensen smiled back. “Yeah, it’s about time he got some luck.” He wiped his eyes dry with his sleeves as he watched Li walk from the room. He smiled down at Jared and clasped his hot hand bringing it up to his lips to kiss it. “Everything is going to be okay now baby.”
He turned to the two nurses still in the room and asked, “Is he still okay?”
The older nurse smiled at him and nodded from her chair in front of some monitors. “His stats are still rising and his temperature is 105.2 degrees.”
Jensen felt his body relax even more with those words and he turned back to watch Jared sleep.
TBC