Thanx to everyone who has bothered to read and review so far. Sorry this one has been a long time coming, but I've had some problems with the old computer. J.
"LAWRENCE 3"
The words picked up in the Impala's headlights sent a surge of adrenalin through Dean's veins so strong, it bordered on hysteria. Swiping a shaking hand across his face, he wondered just when the hell had he become so stressed out?
Was it back in Bershaw, the moment he realised Sam wasn't breathing? Or when Sam went to make a swan dive off the bridge by the diner? Or maybe back in Kiowa County, and the completely freaky moment Sam did his impersonation of a bug on the windshield? Either way, Dean wasn't sure. What he was certain about was that he'd never been so damn glad to see a road sign in his life.
He reached out and took his cell phone from the dash and quickly punched in a number. A few seconds later the connection was made and after only one ring, Dean heard Missouri's familiar voice.
"Dean, honey. Is that you?"
"Hi, Missouri, yeah it's me. We're a couple miles out of Lawrence. Should be with you in about ten minutes."
"That's good. How's your brother? Was your journey okay?"
Dean glanced across at his brother and grimaced.
"Let's just say the journey was a little interesting."
"What does that mean? Is Sam okay, Dean?" Missouri asked, clearly concerned.
Dean shook his head and scrubbed at his forehead, trying to erase a headache he hadn't even been aware he had.
Finally he sighed. "No, he's not okay, Missouri. Something happened back in Kiowa. I'm not sure what because Sam hasn't been coherent enough to give me a big enough picture yet. He woke up a while ago and as much as I got was that it had something to do with a car and an old man."
Missouri sighed softly, knowing that for Dean, the next ten minutes would feel like ten hours.
"Okay, you're doing just fine, honey, you're almost home. All you have to do is concentrate for a little while longer. Okay?"
Dean nodded unconsciously. "Yeah. I'm okay. I'll see in a while."
"Okay." Missouri said softly. "The lights are on for you. I'll see you soon."
Dean turned off the cell and glanced at Sam again. In the glow of the instrument panel, the bruises stood out starkly against his brother's pale face, forcing Dean's concern up another notch. He reached out and gave Sam a gentle shake.
"Sammy?"
A second shake was rewarded with a low groan and a flicker of eyelids
"Sam, come on, you have to wake up now. We're almost there, dude."
Sam managed to prise his eyes half-mast. "Dean?"
"Yeah, Sammy. You think you can stay awake for while? We're only a couple of minutes away now."
"Okay."
The reply was so small; Dean knew without looking that Sam was already asleep again. A voice in his head was telling him everything would be okay; that with Missouri's help, they would fix this. What surprised him was how small and vulnerable that voice sounded. Seconds later it was replaced by a wave of relief as the Impala's headlights picked out the first of the town's houses.
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Missouri Mosely stood on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself in an effort to stave off the night chill. She made a mental stock of the range of spells, amulets and layers of salt she had put up around the house since she found out that the boys were headed her way. Suddenly she heard the low growl of the Impala as it made its way up the road toward her house. As the yard flooded with harsh lights, Missouri sucked in a long breath.
"Okay, heads up girl. Here comes trouble." She muttered, making her way down the porch steps.
Dean was out of the car before the sound of the engine died in Missouri's ears. He nodded his head briefly in acknowledgement before making his way around to the passenger side. Missouri could see Sam slumped against the window, apparently asleep. Dean carefully opened the door, quick to support his brother's weight. He put a hand on Sam's shoulder and gently shook it.
"Sam? Come on, Sammy, time to wake up."
Sam roused slowly, fighting to open his eyes. "Msou's?"
Dean smiled, looking up at the psychic. "Yeah, dude, that's right. We're at Missouri's place."
Missouri stepped in beside Dean and placed a gentle hand on Sam's face, wincing at the bruising she saw there. After a moment, Sam's eyelids fluttered and finally he managed open them. As Missouri's face swam into focus, a ghost of a smile crossed his lips.
"Hey." He rasped.
Missouri smiled back and rubbed a gentle thumb across his cheek. "Hey yourself, Honey. I'm real happy to see you. Are you ready to come inside where it's warm?"
She felt Sam's head nod slightly in her hand.
"That's good." She said, then aiming her words at Dean too. "Come on in and let Missouri take care of you boys"
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With careful handling, Dean managed to get his brother into the house and to the bedroom Missouri had made up for him. Now Missouri watched Dean as he sat Sam on the edge of the bed and began to take his shoes off. As concerned as she was for Sam, she was also worried about Dean. She could only imagine what the older boy had witnessed in the past day and a half, but it was obvious to her that he was wired and living off his nerves.
She went off to the bathroom, returning few moments later with a bowl of warm, soapy water, a washcloth and a towel. She placed them on the cabinet by the bed before briefly out and touching Dean's head.
"Dean, honey. I'm going to make up something for Sam's bruises and bring him something for the pain. Will you be okay to get him undressed and into bed on your own?"
Dean looked up and nodded. "Been doing it all my life. We'll be fine."
Missouri swallowed. She knew Dean had meant that literally. She could understand John's dedication to avenge Mary's death, but failed to understand why he couldn't put the needs of his boys before his own. She knew that while John was out chasing his demons, a very young Dean had been left to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his brother. It irked her that Dean had completely missed out on his childhood. Instead of making friends, climbing trees, and going to the movies, he had made sure Sammy was fed, watered and taken care of. Dean had been too young to be a parent then, yet ironically, now that he WAS old enough to have a son of his own, his dedication to his father's cause would probably prevent it from ever happening. It wasn't fair; Missouri fumed, as she closed the door and went off to the kitchen.
Dean carried on with his ministrations, taking care not to jar Sam too much. He gently lifted his brother's tee shirt and couldn't stop a gasp escaping when he saw the ugly bruising that was spread across Sam's ribs.
"Jesus, Sammy!" he hissed, as he prised the tee shirt over his brother's head.
"Mm?"
"Nothing, bro. It's okay, nothing we can't take care of." Dean said, discarding the shirt. "You need to lie down, can you do that?"
Sam didn't answer, but obeyed his brother, grunting with pain as he relaxed into the mattress.
"It's okay, Sammy. Nearly done, then you can sleep, okay?"
"K."
Dean quickly removed Sam's jeans before pulling the blanket across his battered torso. He then carefully set about cleaning Sam's face.
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When Missouri returned a few minutes later with a bowl and dressings, she found Sam safely tucked up in bed looking so much better, minus the blood and dirt. She eyed Dean, who was sitting in the chair by the bed, staring at his brother and seemingly oblivious. She reached into a draw and removed a fleece blanket. As she placed it across his shoulders, Dean jumped slightly, looking up at her in surprise, while his hands went to the blanket.
"You leave that where it is." Missouri warned. "Seems to me Sam's not the only one who's had a shock to his system."
"I wasn't the one half strangled, then slammed off a windshield." Dean said, his voice betraying how weary he was. "I'm fine."
"You will be, honey." She contradicted, and squeezed Dean's shoulder.
Missouri grimaced as she pulled back the blanket to look at the damage to Sam's ribs. She carefully kneaded the area, looking for any signs of softness, and was relieved to find none. She then scooped a big dollop of brown, sweet smelling, mud-like substance from the bowl and smeared it across the bruise and covered it with a dressing. Satisfied with her handiwork, she went into the bathroom and washed her hands. As Dean watched, Missouri took out a jar containing a yellowy liquid and poured some into a glass. She placed a hand on Sam's forehead and spoke softly.
"Sam? I need you to wake up just for a minute, honey."
Sam's eyelids fluttered as he fought to do as Missouri asked.
"That's it." She said, lifting the boy's head and putting the glass to his lips. "Drink it all down. It'll make you feel better in no time."
"What is it?" Dean asked.
Missouri glanced over at the elder Winchester, noting how his hands gripped at the blanket around his shoulders.
"Just a little something to help with the pain," she said, putting down the glass and easing an already sleeping Sam back onto the pillow.
She pulled the blanket back over Sam and carded a hand through his hair, before turning to Dean and smiling. "Now. Why don't you come on down to the kitchen and I'll make you something to eat? You must be starved?"
Dean shook his head, never taking his eyes off Sam. "I'm fine. I'm not hungry," he said, groaning inwardly as his stomach made a liar out of him by choosing that time to rumble loudly.
Missouri grinned. "Doesn't sound that way to me."
"I'm not leaving Sam." The statement came a little sharper than he intended.
"Honey, you don't have to watch over him every minute, you need to rest too."
"How can you say that?" Dean snapped. "I was with him every single time he was attacked. There were no warnings, Missouri. If I leave him alone now, who's to stop him stepping out of the feakin window?"
Missouri sat down on the edge of the bed and met Dean's eye. "Baby, listen to me. Sam's sleeping, and I just gave him something that will keep him that way for while. I KNOW you saw all the amulets and salt around the house when you arrived. Nothing is going to get into this house tonight that will hurt Sam. He's safe right now, honey, and so are you, but you have to let go - just for a little while."
Dean rubbed a shaky hand over his face before running it roughly through his hair. "How can I do it, Missouri? How can I keep him safe when I can't see what's coming?"
Missouri leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. "Hey, come on, Honey. You're doing just fine."
"No I'm not." Dean's voice cracked. "I should never have dragged him away from Stanford."
tbc