Untitled project part 7 !
Well here's to my lovely readers ...
you know I love you all for reading my story and leaving me such wonderful comments.
This one's a little shorter than the last chapter but I wanted to post it still today ;o)
Not much action though, I'll keep that for the next chapter ...
Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 7
The next time Jensen tried to surface from a deep but restless sleep, he was aware of a couple of different voices talking to each other in low whispers.
His vision was still blurry and he blinked to get rid of the fog but by the time he was able to see clearly, the voices were gone and he was greeted by the familiar figure of Jared, sitting next to his bed.
“Welcome back!” a warm smile crossed the young actors face. “Want some water?”
Before Jensen was even able to nod, a glass of water appeared in front of his face.
He lifted his arm a little to take it, but the movement released a sharp pain in his midsection.
“Ouch!” he drew in a shaky breath and closed his eyes to ride out the wave of pain that seemed to course through his entire body.
“Wait, I’ll help you,” Jared gently placed the glass to his dry lips and Jensen savored the cool liquid with a thankful groan.
“Thanks man,” he croaked.
“I get the nurse so she can give you something for the pain,” the young man reached for the call button.
“Don’t … need …” the older actor shook his head.
Jared cocked his eyebrows. “Oh come on, don’t be stupid, I can see that you are in pain.”
“M’not …” Jensen weakly tried but was cut off immediately by his friend.
“Don’t you gimme that macho crap, man!”
“ … stupid!” Jensen finished his sentence with a small grin, then tiredly rubbed his eyes.
“What happened?” he asked while he carefully lifted the bedcover to take a curious look at his bandaged stomach.
“Well, your stomach bug turned out to be an acute case of appendicitis and on top of that, your appendix already ruptured.”
“Seriously?”
“Not serious enough yet. You have a nasty infection and you were running a pretty high fever,” Jared swallowed hard at the memories of the last 24 hours. “But the fever finally broke a couple of hours ago and the doctor said you’re gonna be fine. Your parents are talking to Dr.Hatch right now.”
“My parents?” Jensen gave him a confused look. “How long have I been here?”
“About 1 ½ days now,” Jared answered.
“That’s weird, I don’t even remember the ride in the ambulance,” the older actor frowned.
“There was no time to wait for the ambulance, so Clif drove you, along with Jim and the hotel doctor,” Jared’s voice turned serious.
“That was pretty touch and go, Jen. I nearly freaked out when Misha came on stage and told me what had happened to you.”
“M’sorry Jay, I had no clue that it was that serious,” Jensen gently patted his friends arm. “How are you doing?”
Jared’s brows shot up in disbelieve. “I’m fine! I’m not the one lying in a hospital bed after having an emergency surgery!”
“Well no, but you fainted, so I thought …”
“I did not! Who said that?” Jared vehemently interrupted his friend.
“Hm, I’m not sure, but I think it was Jim and he knew you would deny it,” he answered with a chuckle.
Jared saw that Jensen struggled to keep his open. Suddenly realizing how much effort it probably took his friend to keep their conversation going, he said: “You know, I’m pretty tired, maybe we can finish our little chat later?”
“Mhmm, you look worse than me,” came the mumbled reply while Jensen’s eyes searched the room. “S’that your cot over there?”
Jared nodded: “Yeah, the nurse thought it might be better than the plastic chair.”
“Good, those hospital chairs have always been too small for Sammy.” Jensen shifted on the bed and squinched his eyes shut as another stab of pain made itself known along with the movement.
“Get some sleep!” both men said unisono and started laughing.
“Ow, stop making me laugh,” the older one hissed through gritted teeth and closed his eyes again.
His friend watched him closely until his breathing was even again and the pain lines on his face eased up.
After Jared was sure that Jensen had drifted back to sleep, he slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes as well.
Just a split second later the door opened and Alan and Donna Ackles walked in.
Jared’s eyes flew open and Jensen also slowly opened his eyes.
“Jensen!” Donna was her son’s side immediately, Alan right behind her. “Hey son!”
“Mum, Dad,” Jensen smiled at his parents.
His mother gently kissed him on the forehead. “How are you feeling, honey? You gave us quite a scare.”
“Sorry Mum, I really thought it was only a stomach bug.”
“You had your mother pretty worried,” Alan added and tousled his son’s hair.
Jared cleared his throat:”I think I’ll go get some coffee, anybody else want some?” he pushed his tall form out of the chair.
Jensen’s parents nodded thankfully. “That would be great, Jared, thanks.”
“I take one, too!” his friend shouted as Jared headed out the door.
“Yeah, sure man, I’ll get you some more water,” the young actor laughed.
“Bitch!”
“Jerk!”
Mr. and Mrs. Ackles looked at each other and started laughing, too.
Jared wandered the lonely hospital floors on his search for a coffee machine. He turned around the next corner and nearly bumped into Jim and Misha.
“Hey easy man! Who are you running from?” Jim put a hand on the tall man’s chest.
“I’m on the hunt for some caffeine,” Jared explained.
“Well you definitely look like you need it,” Misha grinned and added, “Tough night, hm?”
Jared rolled his eyes: “You bet man!”
“How’s our buddy?”
“He’s awake and his parents are with him right now.”
A loud rumble from Jared’s stomach had the three men looking at each other and bursting into laughter.
“Oh boy, when was the last time you ate something?” Jim wanted to know.
“Yesterday at the convention,” Jared admitted.
“Ok, then let’s go down to the cafeteria, I think they are open around the clock and get you something to eat. You can tell us about Jensen’s condition while you are eating.”
With that both men guided their young friend down to the main hall’s small restaurant.
By the time Jared returned to Jensen’s room, with two cups of steaming coffee, he found Donna and Alan sitting on each side of their son’s bed and his friend sound asleep.
“Sorry it took so long,” he whispered “but I met Jim and Misha in the hallway.”
“No problem, Jared. Jensen fell asleep a couple of minutes ago. He’s pretty exhausted,” Donna explained.
“Yeah, he had a rough night,” Jared handed them their coffees and looked at the pale but peaceful face of his friend.
“Dr.Hatch told us about it. I’m sorry we couldn’t get here earlier,” Donna continued. “We’re very grateful that you stayed with Jensen the whole time, Jared. The doctor told us that you didn’t budge until the fever finally broke.”
“Thank you, son!” Alan Ackles pulled the young man into a quick fatherly hug.
For a moment Jared was at loss for words, then he smiled and said: “I’m glad I was here.”
Donna smiled back at him. “You should go and get some rest, too, honey. I’ll stay here with Jensen and Alan’s gonna get us a hotel room nearby.”
“You can stay at the house,” Jared offered immediately.
“Thanks dear, but we would rather like to stay close by.
"The young man nodded. “Sure … I, uhm … I’ll be back later then.”
Jared hesitated for a moment, as he didn’t feel comfortable leaving his friends side now, but he knew Jensen wouldn’t be alone and the thought of his dogs and his own bed back home was very appealing.
“See you in a bit, Jen,” he turned around and saw Alan waiting at the door.
“Shall we share a cab?” the older man asked.
Jared smiled. “Yeah, let’s go Papa Ackles.”
Alan blew his wife a kiss and said: “You keep an eye on our boy and I’ll be back in no time. And you …” he spoke to his sleeping son “you don’t do anything stupid for a change, you hear me young man?”
With a last look at Jensen’s sleeping form they both left the room and for the first time since Misha had come onto the stage and had told him that Jensen had collapsed, Jared had the feeling that everything was going to be alright now.
If only he knew ...
tbc