CHAPTER ONE
The clock on the bottom right hand side of the computer read 2:45 am. Sam looked up from his computer and watched as his brother tossed and turned mumbling in his sleep. It looked as though he was having another nightmare. It was the third nightmare Dean had had this week. Sam set his computer down and started towards his brother he reached out and touched him. Sam instantly regretted it as Dean still locked in sleep, took a swing at him barley missing his head. Sam quickly pinned Dean's arms down and held him to the bed, pleading with his brother "Dean! Wake up." The only response he received was Dean struggling harder against his grip before Sam could say another word Dean talked in his sleep the anguish in his voice tearing at Sam like razor sharp claws. "It can't be…..Not true….." Sam shook Dean and just before he could repeat his request for his brother to wake up the top half of Dean shot up from the bed as his arms slipped free from Sam's grip his head missing Sam's by millimeters he let out a gasp and watched as Sam backed up to give him room to move around.
Dean slid his legs over the edge of the bed and rubbed his face with his hands. The clock on the bedside table read 3:00 am the witching hour. He heard Sam shift and clear his throat. Dean dropped his hands and looked at his brother when he heard his brother hesitantly ask "You wanna talk about it?" Dean shook his head "It was nothing. Just a stupid dream." Sam shook his head "Not from where I was sitting….you were thrashing around talking and yelling in your sleep." Dean cut him off "I said it was nothing just drop it alright." He replied his voice filled with irritation. Sam looked thoughtful for a second before hesitantly adding "Its just you haven't had a nightmare since….." he trailed off as a thought hit him. "That's it isn't it? Your nightmares started after we dealt with the trickster. You were dreaming about…" Dean cut him off again. "It doesn't matter when it started. We aren't going to discuss it I said to drop it and I meant it." He growled warningly at his brother. Then more gently he added "Look you weren't there…..you don't know what happened. And that's the last I have to say on the topic." Dean watched Sam nod his head as he stood up and headed for the bathroom.
Dean turned on the bathroom light and flinched slightly at the brightness of the light, the light that reminded him of…he pushed the thought from his head as he closed the bathroom door. It only took a few moments to strip out of the sweat soaked clothes he wore and turned on the shower. He bumped up the hot water and stood under the spray. The gushing water stung and burned but he didn't bother to adjust the temperature, instead he let it replace the dream and memories better left forgotten. He had failed then, but that was the past and he couldn't change that, nor could he change what had happened to his dad. He could only affect the here and now, and that meant protecting Sammy getting him ready for when he would be gone.