Thanks for the encouraging reviews. I've planned for this to be the last chapter, unless of course, there is an outcry for just one more. I hope you like it!

Ch10 – Confrontations

Bobby reached over to grab Sam. The shaking under his hands was terrifying, and all he could think of was John Winchester. 'Keep an eye on my boys, Bobby. They're going to need you.' Those were John's last words to him when he tried to relate the impossible state of the Impala. It was as if John knew he was going to die. If Sam died because of Bobby... He didn't even want to think of the typical Winchester response. He knew he would be lucky if Dean just killed him.

"Sam! Sam, wake up!" Bobby tried to shake the boy, but he doubted Sam could feel it during the convulsions. "Sam! It's Dean!" Okay, dirty pool, but did he really have a choice? "They're killing him!"

The shaking subsided and Sam's eyes opened. They were distant and unfocused, but at least they were open.

"Sam?" he asked tentatively.

"Not yet," Sam replied, his voice soft. He was no doubt drained by his most recent 'episode.' He blinked those big, brown eyes before looking at Bobby. "Soon. They want to draw me out."

"So you're gonna just walk right into it? That's pretty stupid, Sam." Bobby glared at him. One of John's boys should know better!

Sam shook his head slowly, wincing slightly. "It's the only way," he breathed. "Only way to save them both."

"And what about you?" Bobby asked. Forget Dean! John was going to haunt him for the rest of his life.

Sam's eye focused on him. "Dean has a plan. All I have to do is back him up."

Bobby felt his eyes widen. Well, that was news to him! "What plan? How do you know?" His pulse quickened as Sam's smile resembled Dean's have-I-got-a-plan-for-you grin. Even if they managed to survive this, Bobby figured John was going to haunt him.

------------

Dean whispered in Rae's ear, "Got it? Think you can do it?"

She looked thoughtful, so Dean waited. Finally she nodded at him, though her eyes said she was scared to death.

"I'll make sure they hurt me before they ever hurt you," he promised. At his words, a waterfall issued from her eyes. What the hell? "Rae, what's wrong? What happened?"

Rae plastered herself against him, bawling her eyes out. Shit! What did he say? All he said was they would hurt him before they would hurt… Oh. Damn it. That's what happened with her parents, wasn't it? Shit!

Dean held her close, rocking her gently. "Ssshhh. It's okay," he murmured softly. I am a complete idiot. "We're going to be fine. This is going to work." He rubbed her back, trying to be reassuring, however desperate he actually felt. This kind of thing was easier with Sam, because he always saw through Dean's bullshit and was usually content with the sentiment. Rae really needed to believe it.

Finally, she dried her eyes on Dean's shirt. Sniffling, she nodded at him. "I can do it," she whispered. "But I escaped from the bathroom before, do you really think they'll let me use it again?"

Dean grinned at her, wiping her cheeks dry with his hands. "I'll make sure of it. It'll work even better this way." He winked at her. "Trust me?"

She nodded. "I'm ready." Rae clutched his hand tight as Dean knocked on the door. He stood back, in case it flew open with the force that moved cars.

The door creaked as it opened normally. The guy Rae called Scary Man, Ronnie, stood just outside. He felt Rae squeeze his hand tighter.

"She needs to go to the bathroom," Dean explained, moving to lead her across the hall.

"Just her. Not you," Ronnie snapped. "And since she escaped last time, I'll have to watch her."

"Over your dead body," Dean ground out. "No pervert is watching my kid use the bathroom. Call that bitch back in here. She can keep an eye on Rae." He felt Rae's arm snake around his leg, holding tight. His hand was rubbing the top of her head.

Ronnie regarded him for a moment. "You know I can force you to submit."

Dean glared back. "You can beat the shit of me. You can't make me submit."

"Luce!" Ronnie shouted, his eyes not leaving Dean for an instant. "Come here!"

"Yeah?" She appeared in the hall. "What now?"

"Take the kid to the bathroom," Ronnie told her, not breaking eye contact with Dean.

"Why me?"

"Why not?" Ronnie snapped.

"Fine." She pushed by Ronnie, reached out for Rae's arm. "Come on."

Dean grabbed her arm as she reached for Rae, his left fist flying at the woman's face. She crumpled under the blow. "Run!" he shouted, throwing himself into Ronnie. "Run!" Out of the corner of his eye, Dean could see Rae running for the front door.

---------

Sam stared at the little rent house, anxiously waiting for a sign, any sign, that Dean was inside. He had no idea what Dean's plan was, only that it was going to get his brother killed. Sam was not going to allow that.

The front door flew open and Rae ran out of the house. "Now, Bobby!" Sam shouted with far more energy than he felt. They ran toward the house. Rae was running toward him, but he saw Bobby scoop her up and dash out of the way.

Sam charged for the house, one of Bobby's extra guns in hand. He burst through the front door as Dean's body sailed past and crashed into the far wall. With a scream of rage Sam lifted the gun, intent to kill the man from his vision. He felt the gun wrenched out of his hand. Helpless, Sam watched it fly away out of sight.

"Sam Winchester. So nice to finally meet you," the man smiled as he spoke. "Took you long enough to get here."

He heard another crash. Sam spun around. Dean's body was slammed repeatedly against the wall. His brother's eyes were closed and Sam guessed he wasn't breathing too well either.

"Stop it!" Sam shouted, verging on panic.

"I think you know what will stop it." The man grinned. He looked like a poke player who knew he was holding the winning hand, but Sam knew a few things about cards, too.

"Yeah. I do." Sam stepped forward, holding out his hand.

The man laughed as he took Sam's hand. His laugh changed to a grunt as Sam bore down, squeezing for all his was worth. Even in his present state, Sam knew he might be able to break a hand bone or two. The man gasped. He looked around wildly until his eyes settled on something. Sam hoped his theory was right, that this would work, for all their sakes.

He noticed movement from the corner of his eye. It was a table lamp hurtling through the air, right at his head. Sam choose to look the man in the eye, the man who was nearly his exact age and possessed abilities for the war that was to come, and who had chosen the wrong side. Sam held this man's gaze, mentally calculating when the lamp should impact. It never came.

The man's eyes widened. He broke eye contact with Sam to look away. Sam followed his gaze. The lamp hovered in midair inches away from Sam's head. Sam could not suppress his smile. Apparently he was right!

"Sammy," Dean's voice croaked from where his body lay against the far wall. Sam's heart tightened, but he chanced a look at his brother. Dean's hand was pointing. "Watch out!"

The woman staggered into the room. She was heading for Sam until she noticed Dean was still alive. Pure anger and hatred passed over her face as she headed for Dean. Sam shifted to hang onto the man with his other hand so he could grab the woman. His skin tingled when he touched her. It was distinctly unpleasant, but there was no pain.

"Dean! Get out of here!" Sam shouted, unsure how long he could hang on to them both.

Dean scrambled to his feet. Sam winced at how long it took Dean to stand, and how unsteady his brother looked. Dean moved halfway between them and the door. Sam felt his brother's hand on his shoulder.

"Not without you," Dean's said sharply.

"No!" Sam shouted. "If I let go, their abilities will work again!"

He heard Dean's boots shuffle toward the kitchen. When he came back, Dean was holding Bobby's extra gun. He pressed it against the man's skull. "Not if they're dead," Dean said simply. Sam watched in horror as Dean applied pressure to the trigger.

"Wait!" Sam shouted. He wasn't sure if he could live with Dean killing them on his conscience, and he knew Dean couldn't. After Riverdale Dean had been plagued with nightmares for weeks, though he could never admit to it. Dean met Sam's eyes; they had come to the same conclusion. Dean twisted the handgun around, raising his hand high above his head. The butt of the gun came down with a sharp crack across the back of the man's head.

The woman reached out her free hand to Dean, but Sam caught it. "Hurry," he whispered, the room starting to spin around them. A second crack and the woman's arms were limp. Sam let go, unable to hold himself up any longer. He felt her hands slip from his.

"Sammy?" Dean's voice was so welcome and comforting. Sam felt himself slipping, slipping.

"Sammy?"

------------

"Sammy?" Dean's voice filtered through the darkness. Sam fought to open his eyes, but they were not cooperating. "Sammy?"

The light was way too bright, he told himself. Maybe he would wait until they turned down the lights. He tried to answer his brother instead. "Dean?" He felt like he was shouting, but his ears only heard a whisper.

"Uncle Sam!" A girl's squeal pierced his ears. Sam forced his eyes to open. Rae stood by his bed, jumping up and down with excitement.

"Rae? You okay?" She looked okay, but where were they?

"Hey sleeping beauty," Dean's voice again. Sam tried to turn his head, but it hurt too much. It was easier to roll toward the voice. Dean was sitting up in a hospital bed, grinning at him. "I don't think it helped," Dean was telling him, "you still look the same."

Sam was so relieved at the sight of his brother, alive and poking fun at him, he did not try to think of a retort. "How are you?"

Dean shrugged. "The usual. But Rae has been driving poor Bobby crazy." Dean's lop-sided grin covered most of his face. "I think Bobby has been rethinking the whole 'why don't I have grandkids' thing."

Sam chuckled, but the act burned deep in his chest.

"Dude, you don't look so good," Dean's hand was on the nurses' buzzer. "Maybe you should lie back down." That crease between Dean's eyes deepened. Sam took that as a signal to do just what Dean said, before his brother tried to get out of bed and force him to comply.

Sam took several deep breaths as Dean responded to the static-filled voice of the nurse. Dean wanted someone in here to check on Sam. He shook his head. Same old Dean. Thank God. Although Sam never wanted to admit it out loud, he liked Dean being protective and looking out for him. It was safe. It was…home.

"Well, well, look who's awake!" Bobby burst into their room. He tossed a white paper sack at Dean, who caught it with a wince. "Nothing for you," Bobby shook a finger at Sam, "you're just lucky to be alive."

"Oh, come on, Bobby." Dean dug into the white sack while Rae crawled up on the bed side him. "It wasn't that bad." He handed her a package of fries.

Bobby shoved his filthy ballcap back. "Are you kidding me? I fully expect to get home and find John there, ready to haunt me for the rest of my life over this little fiasco."

Sam tried to laugh, but his chest hurt too much. "So what's wrong with you, Dean? Why are you in here?" He forced his head to turn so he could look at his brother.

Rae piped up. "Daddy's ribs are broke and his lung got bruise-ed."

Dean scowled as he gave her a gentle shove. "Tattle-tale!" She laughed at him, shoving fries into her mouth.

"Sorry," Sam breathed.

"Not your fault," Dean said casually. "Although I'd really like to know how you stopped them from being able to, you know."

Sam had as much trouble avoiding The Dean Stare as Dean did with his puppy-dog-look. Sam sighed. "I think I'm immune."

"To?" Bobby prompted, settling in a chair between the beds.

"Other abilities. Remember Andy and his twin? Their ability didn't work on me at all. Max tried to lock me in a closet using his, that didn't work. So I figured," after a particularly disturbing vision I have no intention of ever telling either of you, "that I was developing an immunity."

"And that's it?" Dean asked skeptically. Sam didn't blame his brother for being skeptical this time, after all, he was lying.

"Yep," Sam closed his eyes. "That's it."

"I understand our patient is awake?" It was Sam's doctor. Sam was starting to hate that man.

The End

(Unless, of course, you think it needs another chapter? If so, I need some suggestions on what to include.)