"Nora!" Will's booming voice jerked them both awake. Sam was painfully aware of three things: He and Nora were both naked, Will was glaring at them like he wanted to kill them both, and the rest of the gang was hanging back, humor and shock warring for dominance on their faces. Sam glanced over at Nora, barely recognizing her now-hardened features. Her cold tone was that of a stranger: "Before you start flying off the handle, Will, at least allow us both a chance to get dressed."
The others had the common sense to leave, dragging Will with them. But outside the door, he could be heard muttering darkly. The temperature on his side of the door was noticeably colder, but Nora's features softened when she saw Sam was having trouble getting his arm into the sleeve of his flannel shirt. She guided his arm through, gently caressing down the length of his arm as she did so.
Will glared at Sam as they passed each other in the doorway. Sam hated leaving Nora alone to her brother's wrath, but he realized this was her battle to wage—he just hoped the damage would not be permanent. As soon as the door clicked shut, the words between the two siblings grew heated.
"Sam? SAM?! Of all the stupid, irresponsible…"
"What's wrong with Sam? He's smart—funny. We like the same music. We both love musty old bookstores. He's a hunter, like us, so he knows the job like we do. And he's one of your oldest friends. You have no right to tell me who I can and can't have sex with. And you calling me irresponsible—that's laughable!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Sam would have never risked my life the way you have on these jobs. It seems every time you are in charge of these things, I end up as the stripper or the prostitute! I am the who is grinding in some vampire lord's lap—no crosses, no holy water—not so much as a wooden stake to defend myself—PRAYING y'all will get there and do your job!"
"You never complained before!"
"Of course not! I was always the good little soldier, able and willing to blindly follow your orders! But get this through your thick, Neanderthal skull. You. Don't. Own. Me. Sam is the first good thing to happen to me since, well, let me think—EVER! And by the way, the sex was fantastic!"
"I don't wanna hear this!"
"Well you're gonna hear it, Sunshine! I've been wearing those big girl pants for quite some time now!" One of the guys snickered softly at that, but was silenced by Nora swinging the door open. She squared her shoulders and pushed past her brother, storming into her room—slamming the door behind her. Sam followed, and watched with growing incredulity as she packed her army surplus backpack—mostly with books and weapons. She came to a jerking halt when she saw him there, and sat down heavily on the bed, patting the empty space beside her. Nora sat staring off into space for a few moments, and Sam allowed her that silence.
She began to twist the Brotherhood ring around and around on her finger, letting the sunlight gleam off its surface at each pass. A sigh passed her lips. Her blue eyes which usually gleamed with mischief now glistened with tears she fought hard not to shed. Sam touched her cheek, and she allowed herself to lean into his touch. Nora pulled him close, kissing him full on the mouth. At the same time, he felt her press something into his hand. When she pulled away, he looked down, and saw her ring now in his hand. His blue-green eyes widened. "Sam. I do love you. I just need to get away for a while. Away from the Brotherhood. Away from hunting. And yes, even away from y-you."
Nora's voice faltered at that last statement, and Sam took her in his arms, the tears finally spilling out of his own eyes. "I will come back to you, Sam. That I promise you…"
The memory began to fade, and he found himself in a clearing surrounded by giant cedar and pine. He felt a tugging on his pant leg. Looking down, he saw a little boy who bore a striking resemblance to himself at age 5 years—except he had Nora's bright blue eyes. Hunkering down, he laid a hand on one of the boy's tiny shoulders.
"Help her. Help them. " The boy's eyes changed from bright blue to an emerald green, then back again. The forest around them began to take on a nightmarish quality, and the boy looked around fearfully. "I have to go before he finds me. He'll do bad things to us." Before Sam could ask him what he meant, the dream split apart, and he felt a psychic blast pushing him away from this uncanny child.
"Sam! Wake up!" Dean's voice pulled him out of the nightmare. Sam's eyes opened, his entire body drenched in sweat. At first he stared incoherently at Dean. It was still dark, the full moon shining into his room, bathing them both in an eerie blue light. Sam reached frantically for Dean, stumbling against him like a drunken man. His head was pounding. He muttered only two words before collapsing back onto the mattress: "Bad mojo."