"Sam. You're not playing fair." The Sandman towered gloatingly over Sam's unconscious form

The powerless Sam lay at the Sandman's feet. Not contented that Sam was out of his way for the moment, the Sandman clobbered multiple kicks to Sam's torso. His twisted satisfaction increased each time a blow connected with Sam's unmoving form.

The Sandman's face lit up in a devilish grin, which became a self-satisfying laugh. That gloating expression soon changed as it met the crash of a broken table leg. The wood smashed with enough force to knock the Sandman off guard. Having no time to turn himself intangible, the Sandman thudded to the floor.

"Leave my brother alone!" Blood dripped from the broken table leg in Dean's hand. "hmmp...how do you like to bleed, you son of a bitch." Dean didn't wait for the Sandman to regain the upper hand, but smashed at him again. The Sandman had rose to his knees, when Dean's blow uppercut the Sandman's jaw. Again, the Sandman's reeled back to the floor, but this time he managed to turn himself to dust before he impacted again.

Dean stood in the center of Sam's wooden circle in a defensive stance. He waivered slightly, but held fast in his protection of Sam. The delay in the Sandman turning back to bodily form caused Dean to rotate in circles to protect himself and Sam from any angle.

Dean screamed, "Come on... you bastard. Show yourself!"

Dean knew that eventually the Sandman would attack and he desperately tried to anticipate the next plan of attack and defense.

Reconstructing into tangible form, the Sandman appeared to Dean's left. Dean whirled to make contact, but the Sandman caught his arm. Dean swung his free arm to the Sandman's abdomen. Catching this arm as well, the Sandman twisted the appendage into an odd angle. Dean's shoulder re-dislocated and sent him crashing to his knees in pain. The Sandman released Dean's injured arm. Placing a hand upon Dean's head, the Sandman re-entered Dean's mind with more force than any of the other visions.

"I'm tired of playing with you Dean." the Sandman shrieked. "It's time you faced the coward you are. It's time for you to make amends for being guilty of your mother's death."

"Welcome home, Dean." The Sandman jabbed.

The modest home of John and Mary Winchester flooded back to Dean. Standing in the haven hallway of Dean's childhood abode, a pang of longing shot through him. This had been his favorite place to play until that fateful night years ago. He stood outside his bedroom watching his father tuck his childhood self into the diminutive bed.

"Alright, kiddo, time for bed."

"But Dad, I forgot to show Sammy my new car! It's the Impaya like yours." Dean small fingers held a matchbox car out in hopeful expectation.

"You can show him tomorrow." John chuckled. "And if you go to bed, you can help me under the real Impala tomorrow."

The adult Dean leaned heavily upon his former bedroom door. A wetness flashed over his tired green eyes. He couldn't believe how happy he had been then- how wonderful the world seemed in his childlike heart- how wonderful it seemed to him now. This was the family Dean had tried to get back to all his life. A tear of longing, regret, and pain rolled down his cheek. He knew this world could never be again, no matter how much he wanted it. His thoughts were interrupted as an image of his mother drifted by him. He reached out to touch her, but found only air. All he could do was observe this world and watch it be destroyed all over again.

"Okay, you two grease monkeys! Stop talking cars. One of you should already be in bed." She waved her finger at both of them. John smiled innocently. Winking, she bent down and gave Dean's forehead a gentle kiss.

"Uh-oh, Dean. I think she means you. We better do what she says or we're both going to be in trouble." John poked Dean's abdomen, which caused a giggle.

"I forgot he use to do that," the grown Dean spouted in heartbreak to himself as he touched his abdomen. The memory had been trapped in his head all these years. The loss of his father stung all the more.

The Sandman drew in Dean's despair and it fortified the Sandman with more strength. However, Dean ignored the Sandman's presence. He was only able to fixate on the isolation he felt and the yearning to grasp and change this moment.

Staggering in regret, Dean stood above the image of his father. As if his words could change anything, he spoke to the image. "Dad, I...I'm sorry...I wish... I had died instead of you...or Mom..." His eyes were still wet and he tried to hold back the flood of tears that screamed to be released.

His mother tenderly kissed his child form one more time. "Goodnight, sweetie. Just close those peepers and go to sleep. Sleep soundly my dear heart, Angels are watching over us."

She kissed the boy a third time as he nested into his pillow. John grasped Mary's hand as they walked away from the bed. Turning one last time before they both left, Mary smiled at her precious son.

The adult Dean let the regret of what he had lost spread through him. Staring at the boy he had been, he begged himself. "Just stay here. Don't leave this bed!"