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 8 – Enemy Identified
Dean gently helped his brother to his feet, concerned when he felt his brother still trembling and saw his too pale face. "Come on Sam…let's get you to where you can be more comfortable…then you can tell me what happened."
Sam took a shuddered breath as Dean helped him back into the bed. Sam groaned, his hand was really starting to bother him. Dean noticing Sam's discomfort, went to get the pain pills and a bottle of water for Sam.
"Here you go Sam…you must have tried to use your hand…these should help"
"No…Dean…really…I'm Good, just give me the water" Sam didn't want to fall asleep again anytime soon.
Dean could tell that Sam was in quite a bit of pain. But he also understood Sam's reluctance to take the sleeping pills…when he got his hands on the bastard responsible for this…he would make him pay.
"Look, Sam, you need to take something…how about a couple of ibuprophen? Then I want you to eat something before we have our little talk"
Sam took the pills Dean offered and tried to stand to go to the table where Dean was setting up the food. Sam took a few steps and would have fallen if Dean hadn't been there to catch him. Without a word, Dean guided Sam over to the table. Sam felt like he hadn't slept at all…he was totally exhausted both physically and mentally. He kept taking a look at Dean as he ate, to assure himself that this wasn't a dream. The last dream had seemed too real…he could still feel the flames as he had to…
Dean watched the emotions flowing over Sam's face, he tried to ignore the furtive looks that Sam kept sending his way. Even though he knew that Sam was strong, he could see the toll these nightmares were taking on his little brother. Sam had been pushing the food around on his plate for the last 20 minutes, when he sighed and put down his fork. Dean figured now was as good a time as any to start the conversation they both had been avoiding.
"So Sammy…you want to tell me why I found you on the floor with a shotgun in your lap…and don't try to tell me it was nothing" Dean fixed Sam with his best no nonsense glare.
Sam squirmed on the chair…he didn't know if he could go through it again…his sad eyes locked with Dean's calm ones. "Dean…I don't think I can…I mean…Oh God" Sam ran an unsteady hand through his hair as his eyes began to well with tears.
"Sammy…look at me…you know that if you talk about it, you'll feel better. Besides, we need to figure out what this thing is and kill it…I can only help you if you will let me" Dean said in the gentle tone he used when Sam was younger.
Sam sighed and began telling Dean about the dream…how Jessica had come to him in this room…how she had blamed him for not telling her their family secret…how she had asked him to be with her. "It was so real Dean…I kept telling myself it was a dream…it had to be a dream…but I could feel the heat from the flames…I felt her nails scratch my skin…I mean we know that Mom came back…couldn't Jess have done the same thing?"
Dean watched the tears falling from his brother's face and saw the raw emotions and confusion. "Sam…believe me it was just a dream…you know Jess, would she have asked you to give up your life? I didn't know her, but don't you think that maybe…she would have understood if you had told her our secret? From what you have told me about her…I can't believe that she would blame you much less become a vengeful spirit." Dean reached across the table and gently grabbed Sam's uninjured wrist. "Sam…you are now fully awake and I can guarantee you that I am not a dream…I need you to help me here little brother."
"Can you prove it Dean?" Sam asked, trying to hide the grin that was threatening to form.
"Can I prove it?…why you idiot...I'll prove it to you right now!" Dean jumped up and gently grabbing Sam's head in a choke hold, he proceeded to give Sam a nuggie.
"Ow…hey, stop it that hurts!" Sam laughed and suddenly he felt better.
"So, what took you so long Dean?" Sam said as he ducked to get away from his brother.
"Well…I met up with a couple of your playmates…let's just say they shouldn't be bothering you anymore." At Sam's look, Dean quickly added "But I also got us a lead on who or what might be doing this to you. Apparently the men were hired by a mysterious stranger to hurt you, but not kill you. Do you remember seeing any other strangers around here?"
Sam thought back to the first night. Even though he had sensed someone, he never actually saw him. "No…but, I bet he needed those idiots to get to me…apparently it knows that I can sense it's presence. But why injure me? Why didn't he have the men just grab me and take me somewhere?"
Dean shook his head "I don't know Sammy…maybe we should just let this one go for now…I mean, he hasn't grabbed you so far…that doesn't mean he won't try it. Until we know what we are facing, maybe we should just…"
"No way! This bastard is going down…who knows how many people he has done this to. We have to stop him Dean!" The anger in Sam's eyes brooked no argument. Dean shrugged and went to get his father's journal.
"Well then I guess we better see if we can't find out what this thing is before you get sleepy again!"
ooooooooo
A few hours later, Sam stretched as he reached once more for the book that Bobby had given him on demons. Dean had been calling some of his father's contacts to see if anyone had run across something like this before. Sam's ears perked up as he heard the excitement in Dean's voice.
"Thanks Joshua, you don't know how much this helps!" Dean disconnected the phone and stood to stretch his tired muscles. "Home run Sammy…Joshua thinks it is a dream demon."
Sam reached for the computer and began to see what he could find. A few moments later, he found what he was looking for. "Ok Dean…here it is. It looks like the dream demon is one of the lower order demons. It takes on a physical shape at night when it appears to feed. Once the sun rises, the demon goes ghost. It appears that it feeds on the nightmares of people…most importantly it feeds on negative emotions like fear, despair, guilt…eventually it's victims fall into a coma and die."
"Ok…cliff note version here Sammy…how do we kill it?"
"Hmmm…it doesn't say anything here…how about Dad's friend Joshua?"
"Sorry Sammy…he said as far as he knew, no one had managed to kill one of these things…most people who have been affected…assuming they live…never knew that they had been attacked...the others…well I guess we'll never know since they died from the attacks."
"I wonder why some people live and some people die…Theresa went into a coma, but she survived…who knows how many other survivors there are out there that never knew the demon had been there…Dean, in my last dream…I sensed that something wasn't right…I mean…I wonder if the only way to get rid of this thing is to kill it in the dream?"
"Whoa there Sammy…if you think I'm going to let you take this thing on by yourself…forget it." Dean paused as something clicked. "Sammy…this thing takes on a physical form at night right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So…all we have to do is keep you awake until we can find the bastard in its physical form, then we can kill it and perform a banishing rite."
Sam yawned as he sat back in the chair. God, he was tired and his hand was starting to hurt again. Dean noticed his brother grimace, it was time to get Sam a couple more pills and maybe another cup of coffee. "Hey bro'…how about I make us a pot of coffee and you take something to help with the pain?"
Sam yawned again and nodded his head. "Sure, sounds good…Dean."
"Ok…I'm just going into the bathroom to fill the coffee maker and get you some more pills. Don't go anywhere without me yah hear?"
"Like I can go anywhere…Dude, I can't remember being this sore and tired for a long time…better make the coffee extra strong!"
Dean laughed as he entered the bathroom. He was worried, if Sam was admitting he was tired and sore, he must really be in bad shape…the kid never admitted to anything unless Dean pressured him into it. Looking at the clock, he figured they only had to get through a few more hours until daylight…then he intended to figure out a way so that Sam could get a little uninterrupted sleep.
"So…Sammy, do you think since this demon only feeds at night…maybe we just need to reverse your sleep cycle and have you sleep during the day…I mean after the first attack you were able to sleep a good 8 hours without any problems right? I mean, do you remember about how long the dream actually lasted?...Sammy?" Dean realized that he hadn't heard anything from his brother for the last couple of minutes. He stepped out into the room, searching for his brother.
"Aw…Sammy…no!"
Sam's head was laying on the table next to the computer…Sam had fallen asleep.
TBC
Raven524: Sorry about the lag…I was having trouble getting the story to load...will try to get the next chapter out soon. Thanks for all the reviews…let me know if you like where this is going…or not…all reviews are welcome!
