Chapter 4 Not so hard, not so easy

Vivian was a tyrant; she bullied and harassed him into believing his gift was real. He had tested her patience as she tested his resolve. It had been four weeks of grueling, mind breaking work.

She didn't waste time, first teaching him how to protect himself. "Sit and close your eyes," she murmured quietly. "Build a wall, high and wide," she instructed. Giving him a few seconds to complete the task Vivian closed her eyes. Her gift was not nearly as strong as his, but Vivian launched a mental dart into Sam's mind. The wall shattered.

Sam hissed in pain and fell back as the dart, only a bright ball of light exploded in his mind. He winced pressing both hands to his forehead. The pain didn't last long but it was a precursor of what was to come.

"You didn't hold your defenses," she scolded him. "Hold the wall up, secure it somehow. Lock it, bolt it, I don't care how, but you have to keep it in place."

"Ready," she whispered.

Closing his eyes he built the wall again wrapping it around him and doing his best to anchor it. Sam nodded and mumbled in the affirmative.

Vivian fired the mental dart again. It was harder to penetrate this time. The wall held, longer and stronger, but again it fell and Sam rubbed at his temples a second time.

Vivian growled at him, "Think Sam." She wasn't going to give him the answer; it was something he needed to learn for himself. "What can you do to protect yourself?"

Sam mumbled beneath his breath. "Think," he whispered to himself. Yes, he'd learned something new with each attack, but avoiding or repelling the attack was what he needed to do. He couldn't stay on the defensive. He had to plan an attack of his own. Sam growled in frustration. His head was pounding, but he was finally beginning to see what he was doing wrong.

He took a deep breath waiting. A window opened in his mind, he saw the dart coming. A puff of air escaped his chest as the dart hit his shields. He pushed, hard and fast he sent the dart flying back the way it came.

Vivian had erected her shields but she hadn't been truly prepared for the attack. A cry of pain escaped her.

Sam's eyes flew open, the attack faded before the dart could do any real damage. He saw tears streaking down Vivian's face but it wasn't pain he saw reflected in her eyes it was joy.

"Wonderful," she cried with a sharp clap of her hands, "Absolutely wonderful. You are everything I dreamed you could be."

"But you must never, never let down your guard," she warned him. "She retaliated immediately catching him off guard his shields down."

Sam groaned as a fireball of light exploded in his head. He raised his shields a second too late.

"You must be prepared at all times."

Long hours and pounding headaches later, Sam grinned foolishly. He'd done it - bent the spoon! Ok, bent was too simple a word, flattened it like a pancake would be a better description. It was silly to feel so elated, it was only a spoon and he had felt his control slipping, hence the flattening.

Vivian was near bursting with pride at his accomplishment. "You learn quickly grasshopper, but do not loose control," she warned. "Next time you bring your own spoons," she laughed.

Sam was happy, finally understanding what lay inside him. It would be a long haul mastering the power that lay inside him, but he could do it now. He wasn't afraid! He just needed time, and time was something he was quickly running out of. Dean was healing and would not be restrained for long. Soon the doctor would give him a clean bill of health and they would be back on the road. He had to convince Dean to stay.

oooOOOooo

Vivian knew their time together was short. She smiled fondly as she watched him concentrate on moving another of her flattened spoons across the table. His progress had been slow and sometimes tedious but he worked hard.

Sucking in a deep breath both hands went to her chest. A sharp sliver of pain coursed through her. It was time to go!

Vivian sat quietly waiting until Sam looked up a wide smile on his face.

"I am proud of you," she whispered.

Sam saw the pain in her eyes and rushed across the room to kneel beside her. Something was wrong. "Vivian," he whispered?

Her right hand came up to caress his cheek. "I have given you the tools Sam, now you must hone them, sharpen them. Never forget who you are. What you are lies in here," she whispered, placing her left hand over his heart. "Don't let anyone tell you different; don't let anyone take that away from you. They will try dear boy, but you must resist."

"Vivian," Sam whispered again.

"I'm fine dear boy, just a little tired."

She stood at the door watching him go, her hand coming up to wave goodbye. Saddened by the thought she sighed knowing it was the last time she would see him face to face. Deth had come for her at last.

Sam arrived early the next morning only to find an ambulance outside the house. "Vivian," he nearly shouted running the last few steps into the house.

An older woman stood in the center of the room tears streaking down her face. "Miss Kate," Sam asked gently. He'd met Kate weeks ago; she was Vivian's housekeeper and companion. She was Irish and when she was emotional it was more difficult to understand her, but he knew in an instant Vivian was gone.

"Oh Master Samuel, she's gone," her voice was filled with sorrow.

Sam reached out and squeezed her hands.

"I found her this morning in her bed. She died in her sleep; the angels came for her in the night." Kate's voice was choked with sorrow, each word spoken with a heart wrenching cry.

"She's with her family now. Finally she can rest," Kate whispered.

He was shocked to say the least. Sorrow shook him. He stood watching, his arm around Kate's shoulders as the Coroner took Vivian's body away. He felt lost, she had been there for him, helped him see what he could not see by himself. It was too soon his mind cried, I'm not ready.

"Be true to yourself," a voice whispered in his mind. "You are ready Sam."

"Safe journey Vivian," he whispered into the wind.