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 12 – Making Plans

Dean looked at Missouri as they tried to get Sam to listen to them. Theresa had been quiet up to this point, unwilling to interrupt. But she realized that Sam was having the same problem she had after she woke up from her coma. She had trouble telling what was real and what had happened in her dreams.

"Let me try" She said softly as she reached over to smooth the hair out of Sam's eyes. "I think I know what he is going through…I might be able to help."

Dean shrugged as he stepped back from Sam's bed while Missouri gave the young girl and encouraging nod. "Go for it honey…you may just be what the doctor ordered!"

Theresa could see the panic in Sam's eyes as his brother backed away from the bed. "Dean, why don't you sit on the other side and just hold his hand…Sam needs to know that you are still here for him." Dean did as the young girl asked, he felt Sam returning the grip on his hand.

"Sam…it's Theresa…do you remember me?"

Sam tried to focus on the new person who had appeared in his line of vision. "Ummm…kind of…you were the psychic who escaped from the demon"

"Yes, Sam that's right…remember I told you I had some problems afterwards telling the difference between my dream and what was real?" Sam nodded his head.

"Well, you're having the same problem now. You need to try to focus on the present…use your feelings…they won't lie to you…now I have a couple of pills here that I need for you to take. They will help with the pain and also help with the fever."

Sam started to shake his head "No…I'm afraid…what if I don't wake up?"

"That's simple Sam…you don't need to do this alone anymore…with your permission, I can join you in the dream world…I can act as your guide…will you trust me?"

Dean held his breath as he saw his brother struggle with the decision. Sam looked at Dean and said in a tired voice "Do you trust her Dean?"

"Yes, Sam…I do…all of us here are just trying to help…won't you let us?" Dean gripped Sam's shoulder lightly, hoping Sam would sense that he was really here."

Sam took the pills that Theresa offered him and drank most of the water. Dean helped Sam get more comfortable in the bed, adding the blankets from his own bed to get his brother warm. Missouri brought over some of the food and coaxed Sam to eat a little of it. Sam started to feel himself drifting off…before he closed his eyes he grabbed Dean's hand one more time. "You'll be here when I wake up?"

"I'm not going anywhere little brother…get some sleep, I'll keep watch" Dean pulled the covers up as he saw his brother drift off to sleep.

"Ok Missouri…any idea on how we can get rid of this bastard!" Dean asked as he joined the women at the table. They all started to eat the breakfast that was by now cold.

"Well sugar, why don't you tell me what you know about this demon so far and between the three of us, we should be able to come up with a plan. One thing though, we need to be careful, remember the demon can sense what Sam knows. As much as I hate to say this, we may need to keep Sam a little in the dark as to what we will be doing."

Dean nodded as he looked at his brother sleeping peacefully a few feet away. He knew Sam would be mad…but he also knew that he would eventually understand. Dean quickly related what they had learned so far including the details of the two dreams that Sam had told him about.

"He knows that it is a dream…he told me he senses something is off…but he couldn't explain to me what it was. All I know is that the demon is making things seem realistic enough to confuse Sam." Dean yawned as he stood up to get another cup of coffee. He realized that he too had been going without much sleep.

Missouri looked at Theresa, "What do you recall about the dreams that you experienced?"

Theresa paused, not really wanting to relive what she had gone through…but a quick look at Sam's figure on the bed reminded her that she could make a difference this time. "All I remember is that it seemed so real…I mean…I actually felt as if I was experiencing what was happening in the dream. There were a few times, when some things didn't make sense or didn't seem to fit, but then something else would happen and I would move on…I just remembered that before I woke up I was really angry with myself and at the situation"

"Hmmm…did Sam mention about being angry at all during the dreams he described to you Dean?"

"No…but if I know Sammy…he was probably angry at some point…he kind of takes after Dad in that way" Dean smiled as he remembered some of the fights between his Father and brother.

Missouri looked at Sam and frowned. "Dean…I normally wouldn't suggest this, but I don't think that Sam will be up to telling us what we need to know about his dreams…I can go into his mind and get what we need…but…well, I've never done it without the person's approval."

Dean looked as Missouri and then looked at his brother. Normally, he would have been against the idea, but then he remembered how upset Sam had been when he related the other two nightmares. He wasn't sure that Sam could go through that again. "Would he know that you are there…would he have to relive the dreams for you to see them?"

"No, I can shield him so that he won't have to experience the dreams again…I would just be accessing his memories. He may sense me there, but I'm not sure that he will know it was me. Believe me Dean, I'm only going to go in for what we need and then come back out…I will not invade Sam's privacy any more than I have to…it's the only way we can get the information we need to beat this thing."

Theresa place a hand on Dean's arm. "Remember, I told you that we can choose how deeply we go into a person's mind…if you trust her, why not let her try?"

Dean went over to stand by Sam. "Well bro' I really wish you could help me on this one. I know that you would do whatever you had to, if the situation was reversed...I'm sorry Sam, but I don't see any other way." Dean looked at Missouri "Do it!"

Missouri pulled a chair over by Sam's bed. She couldn't resist pushing the stubborn bangs from Sam's forehead. "Ok honey, just you leave all the hard work up to Missouri." She gently took Sam's good hand in her own and cleared here mind ready to begin.

Dean watched as Missouri went into a kind of trance…her breathing seemed to match Sam's rhythm perfectly. Missouri groaned as she continued to scan Sam's memories, the reading only took a few moments, but to Dean it seemed a life time. He anxiously watched Sam's face, trying to decide if he had done the right thing.

Suddenly Missouri gasped. She would have fallen if Dean had not quickly grabbed her and steadied her on the chair. "My word, that child has had one heck of a jumbled mess in there!"

"Well, were you able to get what we need…did you get to see the last nightmare?" Dean asked as he helped Missouri onto the other bed.

"Remember when I said I wasn't a miracle worker…well, I may have to rephrase that…it's a miracle that your brother is still with us…those dreams…most people would have gone on…but your brother…he's been fighting with everything he's got…even though I don't think he knows it."

"That's my boy!" Dean smiled as he sat in the chair that Missouri had just vacated. He picked up the washcloth and gently washed the sweat from his brother's face. "Just keep fighting little brother…we'll make this right, I promise."

Sam leaned into the washcloth as if he sensed his brother was there. His eyes opened briefly, but promptly closed again. The poor kid thought Dean, he must be running on pure guts at this point. Dean turned to look at Missouri. "Don' you worry none, Dean…I'm fine. It just took a little more out of me than I thought it would."

"So what did you find out…what was with the last dream he had?" Dean asked softly, not sure that he really wanted to know. Missouri looked at Dean and paused, then coming to a decision, she began to relate what she had seen in Sam's mind.

"Son of a bitch…I'm going to kill that bastard!" Dean yelled as he jumped up from the chair.

"Watch your mouth boy, or I'll watch it for you…now calm down because time is running out…I think we can beat this demon, but it's going to take all of us to do it!"

TBC