Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

up on the screen, even if it’s something we haven’t run across before, because the tests look for the type of substance rather than the particular drug.” Jack stood, joints cracking. “If you think of anything, please let one of the nurses know, and they’ll pass it on to me. In the meantime, we’ll have to be very cautious in what medications we give Bo, until we find out what, if anything, he’s been taking. I’ll talk with him about that later today, once he’s awake.”
“Okay.” Rising to his feet, Dean held out his hand. “Thank you, Jack.”
“Sure.” The surgeon shook Dean’s hand, then Sam’s. “Bo’s in recovery right now. They’ll be taking him to a room shortly. Someone will be out in a few minutes to let you know where he’s going.”
With that, Jack turned and strode off. Dean plopped back into his chair, shaking his head. “Okay, that was weird.”
“Bo was telling the truth.” Sam turned a pleading look to Dean. “I know he wasn’t lying. I can tell. So what the hell could possibly be in his system?”
“I have no fucking clue.” Sighing, Dean leaned back in the chair and rubbed both hands over his face. “None of it makes any damn sense. I mean, even Bo taking the prescription this long seemed pretty far-fetched to me, it was just the only reason I could come up with for him acting so weird. I can’t believe Bo would even know about any drug so new and different it wouldn’t show up on a tox screen, never mind actually be taking it. Hell, I can’t see him taking any drugs at all, ever.”
Sam was inclined to agree. Getting Bo to take his pain pills in the days after his surgery in November had been a never-ending struggle, in spite of all the sleep Bo lost because he was hurting. It was impossible for Sam to wrap his head around the thought of Bo being addicted to any drug.
It was only a few minutes until the nurse they’d talked to before came bustling up to them. “They’re taking Bo to his room now. He’s going to the general surgery floor, room 412. Just go down that hallway to the right of the triage desk”—she pointed in the right direction—“and take the visitor’s elevators to the fourth floor. When you get off the elevators, the nurse’s station will be right in front of you. Turn to the right, Bo’s room is at the end of the hall.”
Pushing to his feet, Sam smiled at her. “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled back and patted Sam’s shoulder. “I hope Bo recovers well.”
She hurried away again, and Sam and Dean set off to find Bo’s room. They arrived just as two nurses were helping Bo off the stretcher and into bed. After a few minutes’ wait while the staff got Bo settled, Sam and Dean were ushered into the cramped little room.
Sam heard the nurse telling them Bo would be groggy for a while and that someone would be coming to check his vital signs every half hour, but he barely listened. All his attention was focused on Bo, curled on his side beneath a white sheet and a thin blue blanket. His hair was in knots, his lips were uncharacteristically pale and he still had the green plastic prongs feeding oxygen into his nose, but overall he looked better than he had before. Sam felt some of the tightness ease from his shoulders and neck.
Moving closer, Sam perched on the edge of the recliner beside the bed, reached through the rails and touched Bo’s hand. “Hi, Bo. How are you feeling?”
Bo’s eyelids opened. He looked confused for a second, then his eyes focused on Sam. A faint smile curved his lips. “Like shit. But better now you’re here.” His cold fingers curled around Sam’s, squeezing.
A warm glow pulsed in Sam’s chest. He bent and pressed a kiss to Bo’s hand, not caring if anyone saw.
Bo’s smile faded into a solemn look. “We have to talk. About what happened tonight. I think I know…”
Sam glanced toward the door. The nurse was tapping on the keyboard of the computer in the corner. Dean was leaning against the doorframe, talking on his cell phone. “Later, okay? You’ve been through a lot, I know you’re exhausted, and you need to rest.” He bent closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I don’t think a portal’s going to open here. I kept my senses wide open while you were in surgery. I didn’t feel anything. It’s okay for you to sleep now. We’ll figure all this out later.”
A soft sigh escaped Bo’s lips. “Good.” He blinked, the movement so slow and languid it made Sam