Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!

When Reality Bites

Chapter 5 – Mysterious Deaths

Sam continued to look at the ground, unable to meet his brother's eyes. He wasn't sure why he had the nightmare…it wasn't like any of the visions or other nightmares…and it scared him.

Dean watched as his brother struggled with himself. Whatever had happened in the dream, must have been pretty bad to have this effect on Sam. "Sammy…you need to tell me what's going on…I can't help you if you don't let me."

Sam took a deep breath and looked up into the concerned eyes of his big brother. Slowly at first, Sam told Dean what had happened. When he got to the part where he learned of his brother's death…Sam stopped. The wound created by the image was still strong. "Look Dean…in my dream, I saw you and Dad gone…I thought, I really thought the demon had gotten to both of you. I just…well I just had a hard time handling it" Sam's eyes welled up once again with tears as he felt the desolation of his nightmare pulling at him again.

"Sam…listen to me" Dean said quietly as he sat beside his brother, willing him to look at him. He sighed at the pain and misery he saw in his brother's eyes. "You don't think that I have had the same nightmare many times…only in my nightmare, it was you that was killed. Every time you are injured…I live my nightmare…let's face it, we both have good reason to fear being the one left behind. But I want you to know…if something happens to me, you have to promise me that you will go on…you will never be alone Sammy…there are people out there who will help you. Bobby, Missouri…hell even Sarah would be there for you if you let them."

"But Dean…how can I…I mean, you know what we face each day…how can I put them in danger?" Sam asked, almost pleading for an answer he could live with…anything to fill the hole that he knew would exist if his brother was gone.

"Sam…evil will be out there and there is no guarantee that your staying away from them will keep them safe. Bobby and Missouri, they already know what's out there. In their own ways, they are fighting the same battle we are. And there are others out there like us, Dad has mentioned a few that he has met along the way. Even Sarah now knows that evil exists…and yet she didn't run from it…she was there right along with us…even though she was scared."

"Dean…I know what you are saying is true…but it doesn't stop me from worrying…I just wish I could be more like you and Dad!" Sam sighed as he stood to walk over to the window.

"Sam…you are more like us than you think. You just need to learn to accept the simple truth…some things in life you can change and some things you can't…you need to focus on the things you can change…remember those you have helped…you once told me we can't save everyone and you are right…listen to your own advice."

Dean walked over to the computer and turned it on. "Besides, if you do anything stupid because I get killed…I swear to God, I'll come back and haunt your ass! Now come here and let me show you what I found out about these strange deaths in the area."

Sam smiled, he could always count on his brother to bring him back to the present. Sam walked over to the computer and listened as Dean filled him in on what he had found out so far.

"Wow man, I'm impressed, you actually got quite a bit of information on your own…you must have really been bored!" Sam cracked as he pushed Dean aside to do a little more research.

"Well, it certainly beat watching you snore…so what do you think?" Dean asked as he pulled out his father's journal, looking to see if his father had made mention of the area.

Sam spent a few moments reviewing the information that Dean had found and made a few inquiries. "Hmmm…first of all…I don't snore…that's your department and second as far as I can tell, other than location, there is no obvious link between the victims. It's also strange that some of the victims appeared to survive…that's not something our usual playmates allow to happen. I think we should go and talk to one of the survivors…it says that she lives not far from here."

"Sounds like a plan…are you sure you're up to this?" Dean was glad that they might actually get to do something…he hated waiting, but he would wait if Sam needed more rest.

"Dude…I've had 8 hours sleep and have a full stomach…that's more than I usually have when we start one of these cases!" Sam rolled his eyes as he closed his computer. "Let's go!"

About 45 minutes later, Dean's car pulled into the driveway of a modest home. The neighborhood was quiet and well kept up. It was hard to believe that anything could go wrong in this setting. Sam and Dean knocked on the door and were surprised when a young girl of 18 answered the door. She was very pretty with long blond hair and amazing blue eyes that seemed to look right through you. "I've been expecting you Sam" was all she said as she opened the door wider inviting them to enter.

Sam looked at Dean who shook his head and followed the girl into the living room of the home. The furniture was pretty worn, but the house appeared well maintained. "I'm sure you two are wondering how I knew you were coming…let me introduce myself. My name is Theresa."

Sam and Dean sat side by side on the sofa while Theresa took a chair opposite them. "You're a psychic aren't you" Sam asked. He wasn't concerned, just curious. He didn't sense any evil, in fact, he felt comfortable around the girl…kind of like the way he felt when he was around Missouri. Dean on the other hand, began to fidget almost immediately…while he loved Missouri, he always wondered just how deep the woman could get into his mind. He didn't like the thought that someone could poke around in there without his permission.

"Don't worry Dean…I would never do a reading unless someone asked me to…I can sense your discomfort and guess at the cause, but I don't need to read you to know that you aren't comfortable with my abilities." Theresa smiled, sitting back into the chair, waiting for the boys to tell her what they wanted…she knew they would be more comfortable that way.

Sam looked at Dean and decided to continue. "We are investigating the mysterious deaths that have happened in this town and the towns around here. According to the news reports, you were found unconscious in your home and were in a coma for a few months before waking up. Do you remember anything that happened?"

Theresa took a deep breath and met Sam's gaze. "I'm not really sure what happened. I know that most people think that psychics should know everything…but we don't. In fact, just before it happened…well lets just say, that I misread a person's intent…I should have known…" Theresa let a small sob escape her as the pain of the event was clear in her eyes.

Sam reached across and held her hand, hoping the contact would ease her pain. Instead, Theresa's eyes snapped open and she withdrew her hand as if it was burned. "Sam…oh, Sam, I'm so sorry."

Dean had been letting his mind wander until he saw her reaction to his brother. Sam immediately pulled his hand back, trying to hide his discomfort. Dean wondered what Theresa had seen in his brother. But before he could ask, Sam continued the conversation. "Theresa, I know it may be painful…but we need to know what happened...it could be important."

Theresa took a deep breath and continued, seeing the understanding in Sam's eyes. "Well, there was a young boy…he was only 16. He came by one day on a dare from one of his friends." Theresa smiled as she remembered the boy's fear when he knocked on her door. "Normally, I would have just sent him on his way…but something about him called to me. So, I agreed to do the reading. I felt a darkness in him…a deep despair that had taken root. I didn't want to pry further, so I just told him some bull about how he would meet a nice young girl and have 3 children by the time he was 25 years old."

Sam waited for her to continue. He could tell that whatever had happened had affected her. "A month later, I was reading the newspaper and there he was on the front page…the headlines indicated that he had committed suicide." The tears were falling from her eyes as she felt the sadness and guilt once again.

"Theresa…you couldn't have known what he would do…Missouri told me that she could see possibilities, but she could not foretell the future. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it from happening."

"Thanks Sam" Theresa wiped her eyes with a tissue and continued. "I don't remember everything that happened. I know that for months before I got sick, I kept having these weird nightmares…I was almost afraid to go to sleep. I figured that I passed out from lack of sleep and eating properly. On the day it happened though I thought I felt something…something I couldn't put my finger on, almost like a presence. The next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital and it was two months later. The weird thing is, I never really felt like I had gone…I mean, I felt like I had lived during those two months and believe me, it was two months I was glad really didn't happen."

"What do you mean Theresa" Dean asked, feeling like they were finally getting somewhere.

"Well, its hard to explain. I felt like I was in my house, doing the things I normally do each day. But rather than my normal clientele, I did readings on a number of people who were suffering from some form of depression or guilt. Every time I tried to warn them…they ignored the warning and ended up committing suicide. I never felt more helpless in my life. Of course, I also never felt more angry either…I kept thinking what good was my ability if it couldn't help these people…I remember feeling extremely angry on the day I woke up…I um…well I actually punched the nurse who was trying to help me" Theresa blushed as she recalled how embarrassed she had been when she discovered what she had done to the poor woman.

"What did the doctors say?" Sam asked, as a chill ran down his spine…the similarity between her dreams and his was too close to disregard.

"They told me that the dreams were most likely being fed by my depression and guilt over what had happened to the young man. They are probably right…obviously what happened in my dreams did not occur…I know because I contacted some of the people from my dream and found out that they were alive and well. All I know is that when I woke up, it had felt real…I had trouble for a little while afterwards trying to distinguish if something that I remembered happening had actually happened or was just a part of the dream. I'm fully recovered, but it took a long time..."

Dean rose and placed his hand on Theresa's shoulder. "Thanks Theresa…you've been a big help. I'll leave my cell phone number with you. If you think of anything else…just give me a call." Theresa smiled and rose to show the two boys to the door. "You boys take care now!"

Sam got into the passenger seat of the car and was surprised when Dean didn't get in immediately. Sam watched as Dean headed back to the house and knocked on the door.

Theresa opened the door at almost the same time as Dean knocked. "Dean…I know you are worried about your brother, but I can't give you the answer you are seeking. All I can tell you is, be patient and watch him closely…I get a sense that he is going to need you before this is over."

"Thanks Theresa…hey look, this could be out of line, but I'm guessing you haven't been giving out readings since this thing happened…right?"

"I can't Dean…I lost faith in my abilities some where along the line…I just don't think I can go through what I went through…in real life or in my dreams…I just…"

"I understand…but, if you want to talk to someone, I mean…well…let me give you a number for our friend Missouri…she might be able to help you put things into perspective…ok?"

"Thanks Dean…and I mean it…you need to watch your brother closely, he won't ask you for help, but you will know what do when the time comes!"

As Dean climbed into the driver's seat, he gave Sam a quick look. He knew that there was more going on with his brother than he let on…but he also understood his need to keep some things private. He just hoped that when the time came, he'd be able to give Sam what he needed.

"So, Dean…what was that all about?" Sam asked…curious as to what Dean and Theresa talked about.

"No big deal…I just felt sorry for the kid…so I gave her Missouri's number…remind me to call her later to warn her"

Sam laughed softly "Dean…I'm sure she already knows…you sure are a big softy!"

"Shut up!" Dean grinned as he put the car into drive and headed back to the hotel.

TBC

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Raven524: Sorry, this one ran a bit long, I thought about breaking it up…but then it would have been two short chapters…so, you're getting two for the price of one tonight!…thanks again for all the wonderful reviews…keep them coming!