Chapter 2
With shaking hands, Sam opened the small package. He fumbled with the wrapping and a heavy stone fell out and clattered to the floor, leaving him holding a small object wrapped in another layer of paper. Sam suddenly felt like he was moving under water, his desire to know what was inside the package hampered by an even greater fear of discovering what his intuition had already told him. He took a deep breath and unwrapped the item, his heart in his throat as he let the paper fall to the ground while he clutched the item in his hand: Dean's protective amulet. He swallowed convulsively. It was true. Someone had his brother; and if they were able to get this amulet from him . . . Sam didn't want to complete the thought, images of Dean being hurt, or worse, were paralyzing him. Come on Sam, get it together. Dean needs you now.
It had only been a couple of days since Dean had told him of the secret their father had been keeping from them, and that Dean had promised his father he wouldn't reveal. Sam had been angry with his brother for keeping it from him at first, but had realized how much it had been eating at Dean to carry the burden of the secret. But Sam had to admit he already suspected the truth about himself. Still, the words weren't easy to hear.
"Dean, what did Dad tell you?" Sam's hazel eyes beseeched his brother. Dean looked directly at him, his olive green eyes moistening and his jaw muscles clenching. Sam could almost hear him: 'Sammy, don't make me do this. I promised Dad.' But instead, Dean cleared his throat and spoke softly and slowly. "Sam – Sammy, first of all, I know Dad kept this from you because he was trying to protect you. He knew he was about to die, so he told me. He told me so I could continue to protect you."
Sam was shaking as he listened to his brother's disclaimer. His building anger was suddenly released at Dean. "Protect me? Protect me from what? My own family has been lying to me, and that's supposed to make me feel all warm and safe? God, Dean I thought if I couldn't trust anyone else, that at least you were the one person who was always straight with me."
Dean flinched almost imperceptibly at Sam's words and looked away from his brother. "I'm sorry, Sam. I've been carrying this with me since Dad's death and I can't do it anymore. I wish I hadn't promised him and I wish to hell he hadn't kept it a secret. But I know why he did."
Sam stared at his brother and tried to get his breathing under control. He was so angry that he dare not say anything else. So, he made one demand. "Tell me."
Dean nodded. "Dad told me that you," the older Winchester paused, faltering on the words, and watching his younger brother's face, "that in 1983 there were 700 children who were given gifts at birth. Some, like Andy and Max have powerful telekinetic abilities, some have healing powers. We now know that you may have both psychic visions as well as telekinetic abilities, maybe even other powers."
"Dean, that's not a news flash. I've already gathered all this from what the demon said back at the cabin. What does it mean?"
Sam watched Dean carefully as his brother scrubbed a hand over his face, again reluctant to disclose something. "The gifts Sam, they were given by the demon. You all have a connection to the demon and it's slowly awakening in each of the children. Soon, he will have a direct connection to those gifts and the children who have them."
"How? Dean, how did the demon bestow these gifts?"
Dean blanched at the question and his tear-filled eyes cut straight to his brother's heart. "I-I don't know that, Sammy."
Sam hadn't believed Dean then. He knew his brother was still withholding something from him, but he chose not to pursue the subject because the older hunter was obviously shaken; Sam had only seen that side of Dean a few times and it wrenched at his very soul. He would ask Dean again; when he found him.