Chapter 6

It was around eight am when Dominick rolled over and looked at the sunlight filtering in the room around the curtains. He lay there a minute letting himself wake up before getting up and heading for the bathroom to shower. He was usually up sooner than this, but when he could, he would allow himself the luxury of sleeping later. Since the brothers had not got him up sooner, he figured they were still sleeping. He started the shower and stripped off the rest of his clothes before adjusting the water and stepping under the hot spray. He kept his eyes closed and rubbed is face with the wetness before running his hands down his wet hair. Once it was soaked, he shampooed and rinsed it before continuing with his body, soaping it down before rinsing off. He shut the water off and grabbed a towel to dry his body and then his long hair.

Dominick wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped from the bathroom in a cloud of steam. He went to his duffle and found clean clothes to dress in. After slipping on his boots, he made sure he was armed before stepping from the motel room and walking over to the brother's room. He knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered. He looked up as a weary eyed Sam answered the door yawning widely as he pushed his damp hair behind his ear.

"Mornin'," he said.

"Did you get any sleep?" Dominick asked. He stepped into the room when Sam moved letting him enter.

"Not much," Sam replied trying to suppress a yawn.

"How's your brother?"

"Not happy I woke him every hour. He can be an ass when his sleep gets disturbed," Sam chuckled. "He's showering and should be done soon."

"No hurry," Dominick said. He sat down at the table to wait as Sam sat on his bed to put his boots on.

"Dom, when you said you could train me, what does that entail?" Sam asked cautiously.

"Well, the first thing is to get rid of this force holding your powers at bay."

"How would I do that?" he asked curiosity in his voice.

Before he could answer Dean stepped from the bathroom looking as tired as Sam. The gauze and pad was gone and only the two butterfly bandages remained holding the gash closed. He let his eyes fall on Dominick for a moment before moving to the bed to sit down. He stared to reach for his boots and stopped when he leaned to far over causing a dull ache behind his eyes. He couldn't help the soft moan that escaped before he could stop it. After getting his boots on, he stood up.

"You ready?" he asked.

"I'm driving," Sam stated digging the keys from his jacket pocket.

"I can drive," Dean growled.

"How many fingers?" Sam asked holding up his middle finger.

"Screw you bitch."

"Stop being a jerk and let's go," Sam huffed heading for the door knowing his brother was being a dumb ass.

Dominick stood back and watched the encounter happen as he took it all in. There was definitely some tension going on between the brothers and he wondered what it could be. He remained quiet and followed Dean out of the room to the Impala. He got in the back and Dean got in on the passenger side.

"That diner near the interstate okay?" Sam asked cranking the car and waiting for an answer.

"That's fine," Dean replied.

"I'm good with whatever you guys decide," Dom said from the back.

Sam pulled from the parking lot and headed to the diner without further comment. The inside of the Impala remained quiet on the drive over. Sam found parking and they got out to head inside.

spn

"I say we pack up and head east, find another motel to stop at and try to get some sleep. Being woke up every hour didn't make for much sleeping this morning," Dean suggested as they exited the diner. "Why don't you join us?" he asked Dominick. "I don't think we've finished talking yet," he continued an underlying meaning to the words.

"I'd like to talk some more to you too," Sam offered hoping he would come.

Dominick looked from one brother to the other as he considered the invitation before replying. He could see the earnest look from Sam, but could see a more wary and cautious look from Dean.

"Sure, I've not found anything else yet to check out yet," he shrugged deciding it wouldn't hurt to tag along for a bit with them.

"Good, it's settled. I'm driving," Dean commanded holding out his hand for his keys from his brother.

Sam looked at his hand for a moment and checked his eyes to see they seemed clearer and finally relented. "Fine," he said handing over the keys. He got in the passenger seat and was going to watch his brother closely to be sure he was okay. He was happy that Dean asked Dominick to come with them. Maybe that meant he thinking about what they had talked about earlier and a glimmer of hope sparkled in his weary eyes.

Dean drove back to the motel without any incidents and they went inside to get their things together to leave. Sam went over the room a second time to be sure nothing was left before taking his bags to the Impala and putting them in the trunk. He looked across the parking lot and saw Dominick doing the same thing.

Dominick was going to play it cool for now, and see what Dean wanted to talk about. He cleaned out his room and packed his truck before getting in and pulling around to wait for the brothers. He could tell Sam was curious about what he told him, and was sure he wanted to try to access his powers. Dominick could hear it in his voice when he talked about the powers, but it would be his decision and he wasn't going to press the matter.

He was sure what stood between him doing it was his brother. He wasn't sure how Dean felt about Sam having powers to begin with, so there might be some tension there. Dominick would not come between the brothers he knew that. Whatever was decided, if Sam said no, his powers would not be mentioned again; if he said yes, he would do what he could to help him.

He felt something was off with Dean but wasn't sure what it was. Maybe it had to do with what he heard about him disappearing for over a year and magically coming back. He was going to tread lightly with both brothers before deciding whether he would hang around with them or not. He fell in behind the Impala and followed them out toward the interstate.

spn

"We got rooms with adjoining doors," Sam said through the window to Dean. "Follow me."

Dean cranked the car back up and slowly followed Sam around behind the office down to the end to two rooms. He parked in front of one and Dominick eased in beside him. Sam had the door opened to one of the rooms and came back to grab his bags. Dean stopped him from going in until he gave the room a sweep and nodded it was okay. This was never going to change, Dean always made sure the room was safe before allowing Sam to enter. They went in, Dean dropped his bag on the bed nearest the door and Sam took the other one. A knock came on the door that led to the room beside them and Sam went to open it allowing Dominick access to the room. He leaned against the door jam with his arms crossed waiting to see how this was going to play out.

"Alright," Dean said closing the curtain and double locking their door. "It's one now, let's try to catch four or five hours of sleep and we'll get some dinner and talk."

"Fine with me. Wouldn't hurt to get a couple more hours of sleep," Dominick replied. "I'll see you guys later." He pushed off from the jam and headed back into his room, closing the door but not locking it.

"You want the bathroom first?" Sam asked as he pulled some cotton pants out to change into. He sat on the bed and waited his turn as his eye drooped and his shoulders slumped. Dean was not the easiest person to deal with and an even worse one when he was injured. Every time he had to wake him up during the morning hours, it was like waking up a wild animal. He made sure to stay out of his reach each time he rousted him.

"Yeah," Dean mumbled opening his duffle to dig around for some sleep pants and bathroom bag before heading into the bathroom and closing the door and leaning back against it. He was running on empty and the dull ache had not let up all day. He moved to the sink to start his routine and then change clothes so he could hopefully get some much needed sleep.

Sam looked up when Dean stepped from the bathroom and shook himself slightly to get his body woke up enough to get up and shuffle to the bathroom. When he came out, Dean was already in bed and almost asleep. He watched him bury under the covers and pulled the blanket at his feet up over his body letting it settle there.

"Good night Dean," Sam whispered softly before going to his own bed and turning back the covers to crawl in and settled with a sigh as his body sank into the mattress.

spn

Mumbling voices could be heard through the door but Dominick didn't focus on them as he found sleep clothes and went into the bathroom to change. He could have listened to what they were saying, but didn't think that would be wise. He came out and pulled the covers down before lying down and pulling the blanket up over his body. He had slept early this morning and wasn't as tired as the brothers. Dominick cleared his mind and went deep into meditation, slowing his breathing and heart beat. He let his spirit travel to the place between worlds in search of his grandfather. Ever since his grandfather's murder, he had been seeking him out for advice and to see if he had any information to help track down this creature so it could be killed.

"Gramps are you here?" Dominick asked looking around until he spotted someone walking toward him.

"Grandson, it's been a while," his grandfather's spirit finally spoke.

"I know, I have left Europe, It's moved to the states now and I followed."

"You were getting too close; you have to be careful It will not like being cornered. You know how dangerous It can be."

"I have found some other hunters here that might be able to help."

"That is good, but do be careful, make sure they can be trusted."

"I know Gramps, but I have a connection with one of them. He's like me. He and his brother are some of the best hunters there are here. I think their help would be valuable, if they agree to work with me."

"It would be good for you to have backup." he started and saw Dominick roll his eyes. "I know you like to work alone grandson, but sometimes it is not safe, especially with this creature. You've seen first had what It can do."

"I know Gramps, I know," he said sadly as images flashed through his mind of when he found the bodies.

"None of that now, how's my love doing?"

"She misses you very much, but is trying to keep herself busy with the clan business."

"Will you give her my love and let her know I miss her too and that I will always be with her in spirit."

"I will Gramps, I love you," Dominick said.

"And I you grandson."

"I should get back, good-bye Gramps."

Dominick drew in a slow breath as his spirit came back into his body. He let his eyes roam the room for a moment before as his spirit and body merged completely. Deciding he might as well try to get some more sleep, he turned to his side away from the window and got comfortable. Dominick let his mind settle as he let himself drift to sleep.

spn

A soft knock woke Sam and he looked around and saw Dean still asleep in the bed beside him. He got untangled from the blanket and sheet and hurried to the door before Dominick knocked again.

"Hey," Dominick greeted him.

"Hi, Dean's still sleeping," he whispered looking back at the bed.

"I wanted to see if take out would be okay and we could eat in the room instead of getting ready and going out."

"Let me change and I'll go with you. We can wake Dean when we get back. Give me five minutes."

"That's fine, just come on in when you're ready."

"Okay," Sam said closing the door and quietly going to his duffle to dig out clean clothes. He went into the bathroom to change and wash his face. When he came out, Sam found a piece of paper and scribbled a note in case Dean woke before they got back. After slipping on his boots and jacket, Sam let himself into Dominick's room to find him sitting on the bed waiting for him.

"Shall we go to that steakhouse down the road? I'll drive," he offered.

"Fine with me. Dean would probably like a good steak for dinner," he replied. Sam followed Dominick out to the parking lot and waited for him to unlock his truck so he could get in. After he pulled out, Sam decided to continue their conversation from earlier. "If I was to agree to let you train me, how would you do it?"

"Well, first I would guide you through the steps to remove the force so you could access your powers again and then train you on how to use them. You may have ones you don't even know about."

"Do you think it would take long?"

"I can't say. We'd have to see how long and hard it is to remove the barrier and then you would have to re-learn how to access your powers again. Are you interested in doing it?"

"I want to..." Sam started but stopped.

"But you don't know if your brother will want you to?" Dominick finished for him.

"Yes, Dean wasn't all that happy when he found out I had abilities. To be honest, I think they scared him. I didn't handle them well and made some horrible choices in my life. I let them come between us," Sam admitted. "There were a lot of hunters back then who distrusted psychics, and some would even kill them."

"Yeah, some are like that. They'd rather lash out than trying to understand us."

"It didn't help that some hunters learned from demons about the special children and what the Yellowed Eyed Demon wanted us for. They thought we were going to fight on the demon's side against humanity. They thought we were all evil and should be killed."

"I take it that included you?" Dominick inquired glancing over at Sam.

"Yeah, one became obsessed with killing me, even broke out of prison to hunt me down and kidnapped Dean to lure me out."

"Doesn't sound like a pleasant chap."

"He wasn't; I had to kill him when he got turned by a vampire and tried to kill me."

"It seems you and your brother have some rather...Interesting stories about your life."

"I guess," Sam mused not really seeing it like that. They had been dealt a shitty life as far as he was concerned.

"I sense some tension between you and your brother," he noted seeing Sam stiffen slightly with the remark.

"Well, that's a long story too," Sam replied not explaining any further as he looked away.

"Shall we go get something to eat?" Dominick asked as he found a place to park at the steakhouse.

"Yeah, Dean is in a better mood when he has a full stomach," Sam said getting out of the truck and heading for the entrance with Dominick close behind him.


A/N: Thanks for the reviews and reading the story. I do like to know your thoughts. NC