Chapter 23
Sam was losing his identity. The emptiness was swallowing him. The anger was seeding itself in his soul. It was so hard to resist. He tried to distract his brain by thinking about other things, but the demon followed the path and doubled the efforts. He wished he would just die, so no one would be hurt by him. "Please let me die"
"The old Sam Winchester will soon be dead," interjected the voice reading his every thought. "Fear not, for the new Winchester will grow strong and vanquish those who do not succumb to our ways." The images cultivated levels of intensity and Sam could resist no longer. He was shaking with fear and frustration. Sam was exhausted. He knew his face was wet with a combination of sweat and tears, and possibly blood. I'm sorry Dean…
From a corner in the room, a light flickered. Is there really something there? Sam was able to steal a glance in his last moments. It was a figure, a figure of a small boy, and he was approaching Sam. "Johnny?"
The weak light shone suddenly into a large image. The picture was of Sam and Dean with their father as children. "Sam. You have to listen to me. Concentrate on these pictures," said Johnny from far away.
"NO! You will not have him," screamed the demon as he rushed toward Johnny and floated through him. The child was merely an image and could not be touched. The creature glared at Sam who seemed to be coming back around. "NO!"
"Johnny, is that you," cried Sam focusing on the image. "Johnny?" The boy did not answer.
Another picture of Jessica appeared before him. "Sam. Whatever is happening you have to fight it," Johnny appealed to him. "Help is coming Sam. Hold on. Concentrate."
Sam did as he was told and fought against the demon. He shook away his fear and tried to rise to one knee for a show of strength. The devil continued to bombard him with feelings of anger and images of chaos. "This child is nothing anymore. He served his purpose. You must destroy him," the voice demanded. "You WILL destroy him."
Johnny continued on as he was told to do, like a little video recording. He persisted with encouraging comments to Sam and talked about the evil he and his brother had destroyed. Sam watched him, praying it was true and right. Then next to him appeared Missouri.
Sam's heart jumped. Is she really here, or is this part of the treachery. "Missouri," Sam called weakly. "Is that really you? Please, help me… I …can't." He fell back to the floor.
She took a moment to survey what was going on. Lord have mercy. The evil was almost impenetrable. Missouri noticed that the demon left the boy alone, understanding that he was a vision only. Internally, she took a breath. That was her angle, make him believe the same. "Sam, I know you can hear me. We are here to help." She tried with all her might to not sound afraid or her cover would be blown.
"Not another," the demon snorted. He looked at her and had recognition. "I remember you," it said, directing its comments toward Missouri. "You were in the house after the woman was consumed. This is YOUR fault."
Missouri began to shake and kept talking to Sam. "Sam I know you are here," she continued as she walked to him. She feigned that she had no direction. "Baby, you must come back to us. I felt you earlier. I felt your love for your brother. Hold on to that."
"Dean," said Sam weakly. He tried to get back up but the forces continued on him as the demon continued with its rage. "Missouri, help me." The creature pondered the situation and slowly made its way toward Sam.
It was on to her. She knew she only had limited time left. "Sam. Your mother. Think of your mother and her love for you." She reached into her pocket as she got close to Sam. "She died for you, to protect you. You cannot leave the world like this. This is not who you are." She ran to his side and grabbed his hand. She put a necklace in it and closed his hand around it. Her timing had to be perfect. "This was your mothers. Use it now!" The demon made lightning speed to Sam's side as it understood the plan.
She was really there! A surge of energy came to Sam. He used the necklace as added strength. The demon's power came at Missouri to stop her attempts at rescue. Sam sent his shield up to protect her. He was weak but had new resolve.
The demon laughed maniacally. "Stupid boy. Do you think you can stop me with a shield?" He mocked Sam and continued forward. "You will be mine or you will die, here and now. Make your choice."
Sam's force tripled and he stood upright. He threw his arms wide. Sam shot a green energy from his body that enveloped the room. It gave him even further strength the surprised and scared him. The demon stumbled backwards, wondering what was happening. "I think I just did." The power shot back around and consumed the demon. It could not fight back with the added support Sam had from Missouri. A piercing shriek went through the space and Missouri covered her ears. Sam took the pain and continued to extinguish the beast. The last of the howl faded and darkness took the room again.
Sam fell exhausted to the floor, not knowing what to do with the strength that had now left his body. Johnny continued to talk away as if nothing had occurred. Missouri reached for Sam in the darkness. He was trembling from fatigue, relief and every other emotion that just blew through his person. She found his wet face and brushed her hand through the hair that was always in his eyes out of the way. "You are amazing Sam Winchester."
He felt for her hand and kissed it. Her warmth comforted him immediately. "I wouldn't have made it without you," he trailed thinking how close he had come to betraying all of them. He began to sob uncontrollably in her arms. "You saved me. You both did. I was almost…"
"It's ok baby. That is what family is for." She continued to hold him and let him recover. It was so close, we almost lost him. She touched his head and caressed him. She didn't know what else to say. As she stroked his hair, she remembered the terrible truth that awaited him when he woke up. "Speaking of family, you will want a word with your brother about your hair."
"My hair? What about it," inquired Sam, beginning to wonder what had actually gone on over the period of time that was missing from his memory. "What else did he do?"
Missouri rose and took Sam's hand. "It's time to go baby. I have my way, you have yours." She squeezed tight. "It's time to wake up now." Missouri's touch was gone, as was Johnny. Sam was alone in the dark.
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Dean hovered anxiously over his brother. The EEG monitor went from erratic to static in no time flat. Dean's heart sank. He was beginning to panic that they were too late. "We should have just put him in the bed ourselves. He needed the salt protection." Jana came to Dean's side and put her hand on his shoulder. In a surprise move, Dean took a hold of it.
The door opened and Missouri walked in with Johnny. Dean's glance shot back around to her. "Well, is he up yet," she inquired. Dean looked at Missouri and saw that she was worn down. If she looks that bad….
"My God, what happened to you," Jana ran to Missouri and helped her sit on Dean's bed. She gave her a glass of water and went to Johnny, who looked like he just got up from a nap.
"I think she saved my life," came a barely audible voice. "And Johnny too."
"SAM!" Dean was so overcome he jumped from bed and tried to hug him. He realized immediately that he was in way too much pain to continue the move, and it was a little too much of a chick flick moment. He stopped himself short and looked at his baby brother. "Welcome back bro," he said with a tear in his eye and a slap to the shoulder. "I wasn't sure about this one. You gave us quite a scare."
Instinctively, Sam raised his left hand to his head. "Missouri said you did something to my hair…" His hand got to its destination and he felt the stubbles. Sam's already pale face dropped in shock. "DEAN!" The room burst out in laughter. Sam weakly went to grab Dean with his other hand when a necklace fell to the floor. Dean watched it fall with a look of puzzlement on his face. Sam looked to Missouri and she smiled.