Hi, me again. I hope you guys are enjoying this. My intention was to have this story finished (completely) by last night's episode (Nightmare). It's done on some level, but I am making adjustments to it here and there. I'll keep sending up chapters. Please let me know what you think or if anything is confusing. I am open to interpretation and have made some changes based on your comments.

You guys rock!

Caroline

Chapter 22

The figure leaned into Sam who was helpless to fight back. He struggled within himself to get away, but he was glued to the floor. "I certainly had no idea when I left you that night that you and your family would become the tyrants that you are. You decide what is evil and you destroy it. WHO ARE YOU!" The voice boomed through the endless room. "You do not know what is right and wrong," Sam heard the evil smile through the voice. He shuddered. " I will show you. You will embrace it as the truth." Sam tried to find the strength in himself to fight. The creature laughed at him. He placed his hand on Sam's forehead. "Why do you bother to struggle? You will be mine, and once you do my bidding, your first task will be to kill your brother."

"NO…….."

………………………………………………………………………………………

The monitor spiked higher than Dean had seen it. He officially kicked into high panic mode. What the hell is going on? "Doc, is there any way to get him awake quicker?" He realized that he sounded like a crazy man. He took a breath and tried to calm himself down. Time for a Zen moment. He smiled at the nurses and staff that were currently looking at him like he needed a straight jacket. "I mean, I just want to make sure he's ok, you know?"

The monitor continued to show irregular brain waves. Dean knew it wasn't good. Sam needed him. He had to protect him. He had to compose himself and think this through. If he could get him back to the room, perhaps the protection would help him.

The doctor tried to ease his concerns. "This is good news! If he is having dreams, then he is coming out of the coma. I'm sure he is fighting with all the oddities in his head." He placed his hand on Dean's shoulder. If you only knew! "He has been unconscious for a few days, so his body is trying to acclimate itself. Don't worry, he'll be fine."

He needed another approach. "You know, you're right! He's my little brother, doc! I have to look out for him." Here goes. "What I think would make him even more comfortable would be to go back to the room so he can feel all his friends around him," he looked to the doctor with the best smile he could muster. "Since it's just a dream, that should be ok, right?"

The doctors and nurses looked to each other for affirmation of Dean's suggestion. A few shrugged in response. Ultimately the doctor had the final say. "I don't see why that would be a problem." If there is a God, THANK you! "He should be waking up soon. Give us a few minutes and we'll send him back. Does that sound ok?" The doctor checked Dean's reaction. He was elated.

"That's great doc! Thanks so much!" He wheeled himself around and started out the door. "I'm going to tell my friends the news." Dean didn't think he could go any faster than he was going. He was shaking like a leaf. "Thanks doc! We'll be looking for him in a few minutes!"

The doctor waved at Dean's back. He looked at the remaining staff in the room and shook his head.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

Sam lay on the ground unable to fight the grip of the demon. This can't be happening. Images went through his head of destruction, chaos, disorder. He couldn't get away. It was everywhere. They kept coming one after another like a torture chamber. He screamed with an empty voice. There were bodies strewn from disasters, murder victims, fire, flood, famine. It didn't stop.

"This is the natural balance and order. It was so from the beginning. This is why we exist. We make the world right for those who deserve to inhabit it. WE are the heroes, not the villains." The symbols continued to flash, faster and faster. Sam fought the feelings of despair within him. How can this be right? No…

"It IS right. WE are right." The words resounded in Sam's head along with the images. "The anger and power to stop those who are wrong is within you," the voice pause for effect. "It IS you. You embraced it right here moments ago and that is where your power is." The demon leaned into Sam and was close to his ear. "You felt it. You loved it. You wanted more, didn't you?" The voice was unrelenting. "YOU can destroy those who seek to purify. YOU have the power to make things right." The figure was winning the battle with Sam. "It has always been you." He continued to struggle. Have I been wrong?….

no…

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The doors sprung open and Dean burst into the room. Another couple looked on startled as he made his dramatic entry.

"My Lord boy, what are you doing," scolded Missouri. She then got his panicked energy and went to him.

Dean went right to action ignoring Missouri's comments. "Johnny. I need you." He didn't care who heard him or what they thought. "You have to go into his dreams. Right now!" Dean was trying his best to hold his composure in front of the others but it wasn't working. "He's losing, I can tell. I don't know what's happening, but you have to reach him." Dean was out of breath. Missouri took the lead and they huddled.

"Honey, what do you need for Sam, other than the spoon," she began. "Do you need images, pictures? Tell us so we can prepare," Missouri asked as they started the forthcoming battle.

Johnny was taken aback. He remembered Missouri asking about doing this, but he wasn't really ready. The idea of saving Sam filled him with hope. "They showed me pictures, but if you tell me what you want to say to him, I can just do that. That will be quicker."

Dean rolled closer to him. "Johnny, when you go into the dream, do you have any interaction? Will you be able to see what is going on?" He grabbed his arm, pleading with his eyes. "I need to know what is happening," he said desperately. Beads of sweat started to drip from his brow. He could feel his heart racing and he felt like he was going to throw up.

Johnny looked at him sadly. "No, I just send the message and the pictures. I couldn't tell what else was going on. It's like a recording." Dean looked dejected. "I'm sorry Dean, I don't know how."

"Can you take us with you," asked Missouri suddenly with new resolve. "If I can go with you, I can see what's going on and get a feel for the situation."

Jana was taking all this in, not having a clue how to respond. "Is this going to be dangerous? I'm not sure that I want…"

Missouri touched Jana's face with a kindness she had never felt before. "I know baby. This is so hard for you. You want to make the right decisions, but everything that has happened is making you question." She looked at Johnny and smiled. "He is so special. Right now, he is probably our only hope for Sam," she said with concern in her voice. "If Dean is right, and I think he is, and Sam is losing this internal battle, we have no idea what Sam will be when he awakens." Missouri peered at Dean's expressions and felt his worry. "This is the test. It is evil; that I know. I can feel it from here." Missouri took Jana's hands in her own. "I need to know what Sam is facing so I can help him. So we can help him."

Johnny came to Missouri. "I don't know if I can take you, but I will try." He looked to Jana for approval. Tears ran down her face as her heart was breaking. She nodded.

"We have to go prepare the room," said Dean in a fury. "If he is going back to the room, we need to give him the extra edge. We have to hurry." Dean flew out of the room before they were able to agree with him.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

His head was overwhelmed with information. Sam tried to get a last grip on what was happening. He struggled for sanity. Where am I? How did I get here? He attempted to block the barrage of things being thrown at him by diverting his attention. Displacement. I remember from, what class was that? The demon felt him trying to fight and the images became bolder and more vivid in response to his efforts. He tried to scream again. Happiness. Love. I need love…Dean…Jessica…….

The creature retorted by showing him the image of Jessica engulfed in flames on the ceiling. "She deserved to die Sam Winchester. She was not meant for you. None of them are meant for you"

Jess…

………………………………………………………………………………………..

They got back to the room and found the bag hidden under the bed. Dean was afraid someone would come in and take it. Everything was still there, including their father's journal. They quickly worked the room. The first thing they did was put a salt perimeter under Sam's bed. Jana also found a pentagram in the sack and they decided to put it under the mattress for additional aid. Dean was not much help, but Jana proved her bench press ability easily.

Across the hall, Johnny and Missouri set up shop. They figured it would be easier to put an 'out of order' sign on the bathroom and have peace. They grabbed a few things that they wanted to show Sam, including pictures of his family and Jessica, along with the spoon. Johnny was doing his best to settle himself down to do this task. He would have to send a picture of calm to Sam. And hopefully he could take Missouri along to assist with his test.

Chatter was heard in the hallway, along with the sound of a rolling cart. Sam was on his way back. Dean and Jana looked around the room for anything else they could find to help out. She grabbed the bag and hid it back in the closet. They threw some holy water over the entrance and tried to settle naturally into their positions.

The door opened wider and the nurses had Sam. They were talking as if everything was a sunny day, not having any idea the battle that was occurring. They brought Sam in and proceeded with their normal routine. Sam still looked pale and exhausted. Dean's heart sank as he could feel the angst in his brother. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it would burst out of his chest. One of the nurses got a page and ran from the room. The others looked to each other and decided to wait for his return. Jana and Dean exchanged glances. Shit! This is taking too much time. They hoped at least, that Johnny was ready to go.

Johnny used a small candle to focus his thoughts. He had carefully looked over the pictures and stored them in his memory. He wanted to make sure that he did everything right. This was for Sam. Missouri had schooled him on keeping his concentration. They had worked out a time when she would attempt to make contact through him. She nodded to him. It was showtime.