Hey, Readers!
Thanks so much for your reviews!
They are so encouraging. Hold onto your hat and pay close attention, you are in for a ride of realities. :D
That darn tricky Jargeru...
Jorie stared at her plate, strategically moving the food around to make it look like she'd eaten something. She kept stealing glances at Sam as he chatted congenially with her father; in fact, all three of the adults seemed to be enjoying themselves, talking about old times much to Jorie's frustration. Jorie gave Sam a pleading look. How much longer was he going to make small talk? The scene could change again at any moment. They needed to tell her dad the truth and stop playing along with this dream.
"Sam, why don't you tell us why you came for a visit," piped up Jorie, hoping it would spur Sam to get to business. A hard glare came her way along with a firm kick from under the table.
"Ow," she blurted out, returning the glare.
Mac looked up from his plate. "Something wrong, Jorie?"
"Ummm, no," Jorie said, reaching down to rub her calf. "Just a cramp."
Jenna rose to clear some dishes and returned with a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. She set them on the table and then brought in a pound cake.
"I just love June," she commented as she sliced the cake and distributed the generous pieces. "The strawberries are so plentiful this time of year."
Jorie forced a smile when Jenna offered her a piece. "No thanks, uh, Mom…"
Jenna lifted a brow. "You feeling okay, sweetie? You love strawberries and pound cake.
Jorie worried her bottom lip. In truth, she did love pound cake but definitely not strawberries. She was highly allergic; the lips turning blue, throat closing, and lack of oxygen until she died kind of allergic.
"Uh, yah, I'm just not very hungry," she explained, pushing her dinner aside.
Mac pushed it back in her direction. "Eat a few bites anyway. Your mother worked hard to make this delicious meal."
Jorie looked up at Sam and he nodded his encouragement so Jorie obliged by forcing herself to eat a few bites of the lunch casserole. Normally, she would have loved it but she was still full from the food her father had made for her not more than 45 minutes ago in the other reality.
"So, Sam, how is Dean doing? Staying out of trouble?" Mac said dishing up some strawberries and cream and passing the bowl to Sam.
Sam scoffed. "Dean and trouble just seem to go hand in hand."
Mac chuckled. "I remember."
"Well, as far as I remember it, trouble seemed to find you as well," Sam pointed out, dishing up his strawberries and taking a large bite.
Jenna laughed. "That's the truth of it. I'll never forget Principal Tapper's face when you hung some underwear off the flagpole…"
Jorie rearranged the food on her plate some more as she listened to the three adults reminisce. Under normal circumstances, she would have enjoyed hearing about all the escapades her father and Dean got into as teenagers but she was too busy being worried. At this rate, they were never going to wake up her father. Maybe they'd be stuck in his dream forever.
Jorie looked up at her dad and despite her promise to Sam, she concentrated on willing her dad to wake up. Daddy, this is all a dream. The Jargeru is keeping you asleep. You have to wake up. Jorie felt someone kick her under the table. Her eyes flew to Sam who frowned at her. Jorie swallowed hard. Sam seemed to be in tune with her and able to tell when she was compelling someone. That would make it hard to get away with it. Jorie looked back to her dad who looked momentarily confused but then went back to eating his dessert.
"Eat a few strawberries, honey. They are really sweet this year." encouraged Jenna, handing her the bowl.
Jorie shook her head politely. "I'm full."
Mac frowned. "Nonsense, Jorie. You've hardly eaten anything. Is something bothering you?"
Yes! You're trapped in a dream and a supernatural creature is controlling you and trying to steal your soul!
Sam kicked her again and when Jorie stared in his direction, the look in his eyes was unmistakable. Sam couldn't put thoughts in her head but she could read 'knock it off' loud and clear.
"N-no," she stammered, dropping her eyes away from Sam's.
"Then take some strawberries." Mac rubbed his head appearing to look like he might be fighting a headache. The pained look on his face made Jorie feel a little guilty. Her probing in his head was causing him pain in the dream world too.
Jorie sighed and scooped some of the red luscious berries onto her plate. Did she dare risk trying to eat any? The last time she'd eaten a berry she'd been about 8 years old. It had been a terrifying experience. The berry had been hidden in a muffin and she'd had no idea it was there. Her lips turned blue and her throat swelled up so fast; she'd felt like she'd suffocate before her father could administer the didn't know what to do. Would her allergy carry through into the dream? She had no way to tell. Everything was confusing.
"Umm…I'm reading a book about a girl who is allergic to strawberries," Jorie said looking at Sam while stirring the berries and cream in her bowl. "She wondered if her allergies would be the same in her dreams. She thought it would be fun to dream about eating them. Do you think she'd be allergic in her dreams, Sam?"
Jenna looked at Jorie while taking a bite of her cake. "That's an interesting thought. What's the book called?"
"Strawberry Girl," improvised Jorie. She remembered seeing a book like that at the library once time and it seemed appropriate.
"Is it a school book, honey?" asked her father, taking a sip of his coffee.
Before Jorie could answer, Sam came to her rescue. "It's highly probable, actually. In fact, Stanford has been doing some dream analysis and research as of late and some of the results have been fascinating. May I have some more coffee, Jenna? It's so delicious."
Sam offered his mug and Jenna refilled it with a smile.
"How are your studies going, Sam?" asked Jenna with renewed interest.
Sam brought the mug to his lips and took a slow sip before setting it on the edge of the table. For a brief moment, Sam and Jorie made eye contact. Jorie shook her head, tears burning the back of her eyes. If that coffee spilled, Sam could very possibly be severely injured. Sam nodded very subtly, very insistently, his meaning clear.
"Very well actually," Sam said, clearing his throat and beginning a rambling tangent of made-up information giving Jorie some time to think.
Jorie reached out towards the jar of cold water on the table and carefully inched the jar towards Sam. It didn't take long for Jorie to realize that Sam was also pulling the table cloth ever so slightly as he spoke. Jorie inwardly cringed, her heart beating wildly thinking of how likely it was that Sam would be burned if it landed in his lap.
"Jorie, really honey, if you're just going to play with your food, why don't you head up to bed," Jenna said suddenly, irritation in her voice.
Jorie jumped and turned to look at Jenna, her face turning colour.
Mac looked at Jorie in exasperation. "Eat your strawberries…"
Just then Sam's coffee mug went off the table and Sam stood quickly trying to avoid the hot liquid from splashing on him. "Oh no!" he exclaimed. "I'm terribly sorry. How clumsy of me."
"Sammy!" Jorie cried out, tears welling in her eyes. She stood to her feet frozen and not knowing what to do.
Mac quickly retrieved the cup and Jenna helped Sam sop up the coffee from his clothing. Sam quickly pulled the soiled shirt away from his skin, his face not being able to hide his pain.
"Are you alright, Sam? That must have scalded you!" Jenna's face wore a mask of concern.
Jorie came to her senses and took the opportunity to dump the strawberries back into the serving bowl and cover her plate with her napkin. "I can get him some dry pants from dad's room," she offered, her hands trembling a little.
"Better make that a shirt too," commented Jenna, stepping back to survey the mess that was Sam. He'd managed to upset his plate of strawberries as well.
"Uh, do you mind if I follow Jorie to get changed?" Sam asked, still holding his t-shirt away from his front.
"Did it burn you, Sam?" asked Mac, looking concerned.
Sam shook his head with a congenial smile. "It's a little warm but I managed to stave off the worst of it."
Jenna turned to Jorie. "Show Sam to the washroom upstairs, honey, and get him a change of clothes from dad's closet. There's some first aid cream in the bathroom if you need it. It's for minor burns."
Sam thanked her and followed Jorie out of the room and up the stairs.
XxXx
As soon as they reached the top of the steps, Sam gently took Jorie by the forearm, spinning her to face him. Her eyes were wide with tears as Sam looked at her with compassion.
"Are you okay? You didn't eat any berries, did you?" Sam's voice was soft and full of concern. He seemed to be surveying her up and down to see if she was okay.
She shook her head. "I'm fine; I didn't touch any with my skin. Do you think they would have made me sick?" The smell made her feel queasy enough; she couldn't imagine ingesting any.
Sam pulled her into a hug. She could feel his pulse racing in his hand when he placed it on the back of her head. "Nothing is 100%, Jorie. This is a dream. It's not real but if something kills you here, it will kill you there." He pushed her away and took a long look at her. "You sure you're okay?" She nodded again. "Why didn't you tell us you were allergic to strawberries? Just how allergic are you?"
"I have an Epipen…" she started to explain. There was no reason to explain how allergic she was; it wasn't going to do anything but worry him further.
"Where? I haven't seen it."
Jorie shrugged. "I sorta forgot about it. It's in my dad's glove box in the car."
Sam puffed out his cheeks and took a step back. "Kiddo, we need to have a chat about your health and medical background. You can't spring stuff on me like this." He continued to stare at her as the colour returned to his cheeks. "Anything else immediate I need to know? You gonna keel over on me from anything else."
Jorie rolled her eyes with a small smirk playing on her lips. "I'm not gonna keel over, Sammy."
Sam returned the smirk. "Okay." He squeezed her shoulder gently and began to look around the upstairs of the house. "Do you recognize this house?"
Jorie relaxed a little and began to explore, opening doors and peering into rooms. She had no clue where they were. Her dad and she had never lived in this house that she remembered.
"I don't recognize it at all."
"Have you always been on the road, even when your mom was alive?" asked Sam opening the door to what he discovered must be the master bedroom. He waved at Jorie to follow him into the room. Together they began to search around the closets.
"Found my dad's closet," she said, opening one of the small doors on one side of the room.
Sam walked over to the walk-in closet and looked around. "Jorie?"
"What?"
"Have you ever lived in any house?" Sam said turning to face her.
Jorie shrugged. "As long as I can remember, we've been on the road. I don't remember my mom much…" her voice trailed off not wanting to open herself to old emotions.
Sam didn't push for more information but nodded turning to pull a t-shirt and pair of jeans off hangers. "This ought to do it."
"I'll look around while you change…"
"No," Sam said firmly, grabbing Jorie by the hand as she went to leave the closet. "I don't want you to leave my sight. We need to stay together no matter what, Jorie. I mean it! We don't know when or how the scene will change."
Jorie pulled her hand away and considered his words.
"Turn around."
"What?" She looked at him with a frown.
"Turn around while I change."
"Oh, yah, okay, sure." Jorie spun around and faced the wall. She reached up and began to spin a lock of hair around her finger. "So, what's the plan now?" She listened as she heard Sam undress behind her.
"The plan is you're going to let me handle it." Sam pulled on some dry jeans and fastened the button, reaching down to yank his belt out of the loops of his soiled jeans.
She groaned. She'd already endured a long meal while Sam had done nothing but reminisce. "Sammy…" she whined out.
A strong arm spun her around until she was face to face with a much sterner-looking and shirtless Sam, his belt still in one hand. "Let's get something straight here, Jorie. I am not happy with your interference so far. I told you that I didn't want you using your abilities, yet you were merrily doing it…"
"But…"
Sam put a finger to her lips. "I'm not finished." He took a step back to finish threading his belt through the loops and fastening it before reaching for the teal green t-shirt he set on the closet shelf. "You think you're helping me but you're not. I can't have you messing with the reality when it's already so unstable. Stay out of people's minds! I mean it!" Sam grimaced this time when he lifted his arms to pull on the clean shirt.
Jorie gasped audibly when she saw the bright red blistering spot on his stomach.
"You're hurt! That coffee did burn you!" she blurted out, tears flooding her eyes, raw panic washing over her causing the colour to drain from her face.
Sam quickly pulled on the shirt and dropped to his knees in front of her, drawing her into an embrace. "Hey, Hey, Hey. I'm okay. This is a dream, Jorie. Remember? I'm safe at home lying on the bed in Bobby's study. You saw Dean and me, right? Before you came, you saw me; what did I look like?"
Jorie forced herself to breathe deeply and remember the serene expression on Sam's face while he slept.
"Tell me what I looked like, honey," Sam said again, rubbing his hand up and down her back to help calm her down.
Jorie blinked back tears as she leaned into Sam's safety. "You looked peaceful."
Sam nodded. "Exactly. I'm fine. I'm not burned in real life. Okay?" he pulled away and cupped her cheek. "This is all just a dream, okay? Not real."
Jorie hiccupped and placed a shaky hand on his stomach. "Does it hurt a lot?"
Sam rose to his feet and winked at her. "Just a little but I'll be fine." Sam took her hand and led her over to the King size bed in the room. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. "Okay, so listen up Miss Jorie Spencer."
Jorie's eyes were still blurry with tears.
"We're going to go back downstairs and you're going to play along as Jorie, Mac's daughter in this dream reality. You are a 10-year-old little girl. You will stay out of your dad's head. Got me?"
"But maybe I can convince him that this is a dream."
Sam shook his head. "No! I don't care if you can. We do this my way. We stay together. You follow my lead. You play along and back me up even if what I say makes no sense. Whatever you do, you do not leave my sight for any reason."
"What if my dad wants me to do something out of your sight?"
"Then you have my permission to do something to make it so you don't have to leave, and I will back you up. Kinda like what you did downstairs…I'm proud of your quick thinking." Sam smiled showing the deep dimples in his cheeks. "Even if you have to have a temper tantrum or directly disobey your dad, you do whatever you can think of to stay with me. I will handle the rest. That includes every time we switch scenes or realities…you stay with me or Dean. Just make sure you're with one of the real us's and not some dream version because that could happen too."
Jorie leaned into Sam feeling faint. The whole thing was getting more than a little complicated. If there could be dream versions of Sam and Dean, how was she to know if they were real or the dream version? "How will I know you are you and not a dream?"
Sam tightened the embrace and sighed. He was quiet for a moment. "Let's make up a password that only you and I know…if we can find Dean, we'll tell him too but let me be the one to tell him. I want to be sure he's the real deal and not some altered reality one. I know it's super confusing, so you're going to have to rely on me to make all the decisions."
Jorie nodded. She felt very confused and unsettled and was beginning to see why she needed to trust Sam's judgement. But she still wasn't going to stop trying to convince her dad that he was dreaming. Sammy would just have to deal with her doing that. She might not be able to get into his mind but she could compel Dean and everyone else in this dream world.
"Okay, so here's the deal. If you get confused or are not sure I am who you think I am, I want you to say strawberries. If it's me, I'll know you need some help navigating things."
Jorie nodded again.
Sam stood setting Jorie's feet to the ground once again. Jorie began to walk towards the door when she felt a sharp sting on her backside. Her hand flew back to cover her butt as she spun to face Sam with a shocked expression flooding her face.
Sam's face was stern. "That didn't really happen because this is a dream but if I catch you messing around in anyone else's head, it will be real when we wake up. Catch my drift?"
"It still hurt," she countered, rubbing out the sting but then she nodded quickly when Sam took another step towards her. "Okay, I won't mess around in people's heads." Jorie sighed. She already knew things hurt here remembering her run-in with her father in another dream reality; she didn't need Sam to remind her. Only, Sam didn't know that.
"Things will still hurt you here, Jorie. Let that swat be a reminder of that."
Jorie raised a hand in defeat. "Okay, okay. I get it." Maybe she would just let Sam handle it. He knowing and feeling what she did made it almost impossible to sneak around him anyway.
Dean, on the other hand…
XxXx
Jorie and Sam went down the steps hand in hand but as they descended, they quickly noticed the scene altering again. At the top of the steps they had still been in the unfamiliar house but as they travelled down the staircase, it changed into Bobby's house once again, only this time the staircase looked cleaner and less worn.
"Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore…" mumbled Sam.
Jorie rolled her eyes thinking that that was a stupid expression now and she never planned to use it ever again.
Sam's hand tightened around hers as they reached the bottom floor and looked around.
"Wow! Did Bobby's house ever look this nice?"
Sam shrugged his shoulders. "Uh, maybe when his wife was alive?"
"He had a wife?"
Both Sam and Jorie jumped when the door to the kitchen flung open and Dean came stomping down the hallway, looking more than a little pissed.
"Stay out of the kitchen, Sammy. Dad's on the rampage." Dean disappeared up the stairs.
"Dean," Sam called after him. "What's going on?"
"Is that the real Dean or some kind of dream version?" asked Jorie clutching a little tighter to Sam's hand.
Sam patted her hand gently. "Remember, kiddo, dream world. Not real."
Jorie nodded but chewed her lower lip. Dreamworld or not, everything looked and felt real enough, and she was frightened.
"Dean! Get your ass back here!" shouted John Winchester as he came out of the kitchen and stopped short when he saw Sammy and Jorie.
"Who's the kid?" John asked.
Jorie's heart went to her throat and she began to tremble again. She felt Sam's hand squeeze hers reassuringly.
"Uh, hi, Dad, what's going on?"
John narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "I should ask you the same thing. Just where the hell were you? Bobby said he hasn't seen hide nor hair of you kids all week. He's been worried sick. Where have you been?"
"Uh, well, Dean and I have been out on a hunt…" improvised Sam, slightly pulling Jorie behind him.
It didn't work. John narrowed in on Jorie anyway. "She have something to do with it?"
Sam nodded. "Sort of."
Just then the front door of the house opened and a woman walked in with her arms full of groceries. Dean came down the stairs looking a little less combative and grabbed the bags from her arms.
"Awe, Dean, thanks so much. You boys are always so helpful," said the woman, taking off her jacket and hanging it up on a nearby hook. "Why, as I live and breathe, John Winchester. Bobby didn't tell me you were in town. Boys, did you know your father was coming?" The woman smiled at John but then her eyes found Jorie and they lit up with warmth. She took a few steps forward and smiled at Jorie and Sam. "Who is this precious little one?"
Dean carried the groceries past Sam. "Bring home another stray, Sammy?"
Sam puffed out his cheeks, annoyance clouding his features.
"Dream Dean," Jorie mumbled and Sam elbowed her. She shut her mouth quickly.
"Hi, Karen," John said, reaching out to shake the woman's hand. "You're looking as beautiful as ever. My boys give you any trouble?"
Karen grinned. "John, those boys never give me any trouble. All I have to do is threaten not to make pie for dessert and they're as good as gold, right Samuel?"
Sam chuckled and shrugged. "That would definitely work for Dean."
"I'll say," mumbled Jorie again only to receive another elbow bump in her side.
"Now, Sam who is this little girl?" Karen asked, turning her attention to Jorie once more.
"Uh, ma'am, this is my friend's daughter. I said I'd watch her for a few days while he's away…"
John glared at Sam. "A few days?"
"Yes, sir," Sam said, looking a little sheepish under his father's scrutiny.
"Son, I think you and I need to have a little chat."
Sam squirmed and Jorie could feel his palm begin to sweat.
Tears sprung to Jorie's eyes and she clutched Sam's hand tighter. "Don't leave me alone, Sammy, please!" she pleaded, tears spilling over her lids and down her cheeks. Dreamworld or not, Jorie was scared. Sam promised not to leave her and told her not to leave his sight. Had Sam thought about what he would do if his father pressed matters? It wasn't just her dad that could get angry. From the intimating presence in front of her, John Winchester wasn't a man to be trifled with either.
"Uh, dad, can't it wait until later? Jorie doesn't know anyone but me and she'd scared," Sam explained, again squeezing her hand in comfort.
"Oh, John, stop acting so sinister. Sam can invite friends over any time he likes. He's not a kid anymore that needs to ask for permission for every little thing. I think it's a very kind gesture to offer to watch his friend's daughter. Very grown-up and responsible, and good practice for when you're a dad someday."
Dean came out into the hallway again and smacked Sam on the back of the head. "Fat chance of that happening. Who'd marry that ugly thing?"
Sam glared at Dean and used his free hand to rub his head. "Jerk," he muttered.
Dean lifted a brow and mouthed 'bitch' with a smirk on his face.
John sighed and dropped his hands to his side. He looked at Jorie again and then a smile formed on his lips. He held out his hand towards Jorie. "My name is John, honey."
Jorie peeked out from behind Sam and shook her head. She wasn't shaking the man's hand. She didn't like him or trust him. For all she knew, he was the Jargeru impersonating the dead man. Touching him might send her to a different reality and there was no way she wanted that to happen without Dean or Sam being with her. This dream world was confusing enough. She took a step further behind Sam. Sam pulled her out in front of him and placed his hand on top of her head.
"Dad, Dean, Aunt Karen, this spunky girl is Jorie Spencer. She's Mac Spencer's daughter."
Jorie's mouth dropped open and she looked up at Sam. Why would he introduce her as herself?
"Mac Spencer," John repeated. "Our Mackenzie?"
Sam nodded.
Just then Bobby came out of the kitchen holding a basket of fresh strawberries. He smiled when he saw his wife just beaming with joy at the fact that a little girl was in her presence. He handed the berries to Karen and reached out to smack both boys on the back of the head. "Damn Idjits. Where ya been anyhow? I thought ya both got your heads blown off or something. You need to call me once and a while or your daddy here is gonna get a call every time!"
Sam puffed out his cheeks and rubbed at his head again. Jorie could tell Sam was getting irritated with getting smacked by everyone. Jorie reminded herself again that it was a dream world and not real. Sam wasn't getting hit for real. He was safe in Bobby's study, sleeping beside Dean. She would keep reminding herself of that as often as possible.
"Sorry, Bobby, we'll call next time, I promise," Sam said, his voice low.
Jorie saw Dean mouth words in Sam's direction. This time she swore he called Sam a wimp.
"You damn well better, son," Bobby snapped, his hands finding his hips in irritation.
"Okay Bobby, that's enough scolding these boys. I'm going to make some strawberry pie with these berries. You boys can come in and help hull the berries so I can get to know sweet little Jorie. Why don't you take John outside, Bobby and sort some car parts or something. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
With those words, Karen carried the basket of berries into the kitchen leaving Sam and Jorie with Dean, John and Bobby.
"You boys best do what Karen says. We'll talk later once the kid is in bed." John said and walked towards the front entrance of the house.
Bobby shrugged and followed suit.
Dean puffed out his cheeks and whistled once both men left the house. He glared at Sam and walked towards the staircase. "I'm going to get some sleep."
"Dean," Sam protested. "What about helping Karen?"
"That's woman's work, Sammy and you're more girl than me." Dean smirked and disappeared up the stairs.
Jorie smirked a little and looked at Sam. "Dream Dean is just as much of a jerk as the real Dean, huh."
Sammy chuckled. "Pretty much. C'mon, you stay away from the berries and let me do the hulling. Just be cute or something. Karen ought to eat that up."
"What's the deal with the strawberries all of sudden? This is the second time berries have come into play." Jorie asked walking towards the swinging door into the kitchen. "If this is my dad's dream, wouldn't he know I'm allergic?"
"I don't know, honey. We have no idea how much of this is in your dad's control. This might all be on the Jargeru."
Sam grabbed her hand and encouraged her to walk through the door. Jorie stepped through the doorway only to lose her grip on Sam's hand. She turned and waited for him to come in behind her but he didn't.
"Sam?" She said pushing the door back open to see an empty hallway. "Sammy!" She cried, terror flooding over her. Where was Sam?