Chapter Fourteen

"Yeah."

Dean answered the phone expecting it was Dad checking in. Dad had stayed close by for almost ten days but a new hunt had finally dragged him away from his sons early that morning. Dean was unsettled by the quiet, deliberate voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello Dean. It's been a long time, have you had any interesting dreams lately?"

"Who is this?"

The monotone voice on the other end of the phone was sinister and disturbing.

"I think you know." The voice paused before whispering. "It's your dream buddy. I've missed you."

"What are you talking about? Who is this?" Dean's voice was noticeably agitated.

"Dean, don't be that way. You know who this is." The voice calmly replied.

Dean felt a growing knot roiling in his stomach. He knew his nightmare was starting all over again. How could this be? How could Dad be so wrong? Jim killed the evil son of a bitch!

"You're dead." Dean coldly stated.

"Hmm, I don't feel dead. Maybe you have me mixed up with someone else. Are you going to come play with me?"

Dean's voice betrayed his emotions as his anger and terror caused his voice to rise in volume and contrast even more sharply with the cold, methodical, evil voice on the phone.

"You're a freakin' Looney Toon if you think I would ever let you into my dreams again!"

"Now Dean, it wasn't that bad. I though we had quite a good time. I know I did."

"Why are you doing this you freak? Why me?"

"Dean, why settle for fish sticks when you can have caviar?"

"You're crazy if you think I would let you back into my dreams. You tried to make me kill myself. I would never let you do that again."

"Dean that was a mistake. My protégé got a little carried away with himself. I don't want you to die, that would end my fun. I only want you to suffer. Do you know how delectable your anguish is? I've been at this a very long time and I've never been so satisfied. You are quite amazing. You've lived a very stimulating life for one so young."

"Gee thanks Hannibal, but I think I'll pass on the dinner invite."

"Well Dean, we have two options here. One - you take off that silly necklace and let me in or two – I see what dreams may come with Sammy. I'm sure he has some interesting dreams to host for me. Somehow I don't think they're quite the caliber of yours but considering your family business I'm sure they're more interesting than the rest of this hick town."

How Dean wished his dad had not left on yet another hunting trip. How could this all be starting again? He briefly considered his options, but he knew immediately he only had one. He had spent his life protecting Sammy, he would be damned if he would ever let this evil being near his brother.

"How do I know you won't try to kill me? Why would I trust you?"

"Think back Dean. You know there were two voices in your head. Stevens was urging you to kill yourself. I was the calming, reassuring voice that pulled you back from the edge. Do you really think you overcame your urge to kill yourself on your own? I saved you Dean. You owe me."

"Oh, well, let me get out my checkbook. How much do ya think will cover it?"

"Dean, I find you so entertaining. You face all this adversity and yet you still have humor. You still go on. Where do you find the strength? Do you realize how many men would have blown their brains out by now?"

"Damn, you sure know how to flatter a guy, but tell me, has anyone ever told you that you are one seriously sick puppy?"

"Enough of this banter Dean. I'm going to give you fifteen minuets to go to sleep and let me into your dreams. If I can't have you, I will have your brother. It's your choice."

"I can't go to sleep in fifteen minutes. You've got to give me more time."

"Dean, stop trying to stall. I don't really need you to dream before I enter your mind. I know my way around your mind by now. Just remove the amulet, I'll do the rest."

"If I do this then you'll leave my brother alone?"

"Dean, I'm a man of my word. You know I want you. Give me what I want and your brother will be spared."

Dean was hanging up the phone as Sammy walked into the room.

"Dean, was that Dad?" Sam paused, waiting for Dean's response but all he got was silence. "Dean? Hello, earth to Dean?"

Dean was lost in his thoughts; desperately hoping for a bolt of inspiration that would save him from what he knew was inevitable. If Dad was here they could make a plan, together they could overcome this evil, but Dad wasn't here. He was on his own and he couldn't be the bait and catch the bad guy at the same time.

He had to protect his brother, any other objective was secondary. He would die for his brother, why should he hesitate to revisit his nightmare for him? The only sure way to protect Sam was to give him the amulet and that would leave Dean vulnerable to this evil.

"Sammy, we have a problem and I need you to follow my orders. You're going to lock me in the spare room in the basement and you will not let me out until Dad comes home. Do you understand me?"

"No. I don't understand. What's going on?" Sam was in one of his rebellious, questioning moods.

"Sammy, I'll be OK but you can't let me out of that room no matter what. I know what's best. You need to follow my orders." Dean was insistent.

"Dean, you better start explaining yourself cause I don't have to follow your orders. I'm not your puppet."

Dean knew the obvious intent in Sam's words and the implication hurt more than he would ever admit: his brother thought he was Dad's puppet. Sammy always questioned everything and he thought his older brother was too obedient. He never considered what Dean went through when the vampires snatched his kid brother. How Dean felt responsible for him and the depth of the anguish he felt at failing his brother and disappointing his dad.

If Dean wanted Sam to understand all he need do was let this evil immerse his brother into his nightmares. Isn't that what they say, "walk a mile in my shoes"? Maybe then Sam would appreciate his brother's actions; maybe then he would grasp how his brother's life had been irrevocably shaped by his mom's death and his dad's quest for vengeance, but Dean couldn't stand the thought of that.

He still needed to protect Sam from that anguish and he never wanted his brother to see how vulnerable and scared he sometimes felt. He never wanted his brother to know his pain, let alone feel it as Stacy had. He wanted Sam's respect and he couldn't bear the thought of receiving his pity.

"Sam, we don't have time for this. The dreamwalker is still alive. He wants back into my dreams. I have to let him in or he will do terrible things to others. Dad's not here, there's no other way to stop him. I have to do this."

"No Dean. He tried to get you to kill yourself. You can't let him in. I can't watch you die." Sam suddenly realized the severity of their predicament.

"Sammy, I'm not going to die. He doesn't want to kill me. He wants to feed off of my torment. Stevens was the one who tried to get me to kill myself. I'll be safe. There aren't any weapons in that room anyway. That's why you have to lock me in and leave me there."

Dean started down the stairs. He couldn't risk not complying with this evil son of a bitch. Once he gave Sammy the protection charm he needed to be securely locked in the spare room to ensure he couldn't hurt himself or his brother. Sam reluctantly followed his brother down the stairs. As they got to the doorway, Dean gave Sam one of his trademark smirks as he tousled his brother's hair before squeezing the back of his neck and shoulders in one last, affectionate grasp.

"OK Sammy, let's do this." Dean turned to enter the room.

"Dean, I don't know about this. Isn't there another way?"

"Believe me Sammy, if there was another way I'd be the first to take it. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Dean reached around his neck and pulled the amulet over his head. He placed it around Sammy's neck.

"You keep that on. Don't take it off for anything. Sam, don't worry, I'll be OK. Just don't open this door."

Dean walked inside the sparsely furnished room while Sam closed and locked the door. Dean lay down on the cot. It wasn't very comfortable and he wasn't ready to sleep but he had no other choice but to close his eyes and welcome it, along with his torment.