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

Home Sweet House

Chapter 6 – In Costume

Sam waited impatiently outside of the library for Dean. It had taken some digging, but Sam had found an old newspaper article. In the article, Marie Whitfield was depicted as a Satan worshipper. She had exhibited strange powers in the presence of members of the town which led the city council to hire Drake Edwards, a cleric, to expel the demon that was said to reside within the troubled young woman. The article ended by stating that Drake Edwards after several months of trying to cure the woman, had done battle with the demon on All Hallows Eve. Unfortunately the young woman was taken by Satan…leaving no trace of Marie. As reward, the town gave the woman's wealth and property to Drake Edwards.

Sam shook his head, he knew in his gut that whatever was going on at the house had something to do with either Marie or Drake. Sam's research on Drake Edwards showed that for many years, he was a pillar of the community…each year he held a charity ball on All Hallows Eve. It was said that he did this to honor the memory of the poor possessed girl that had been taken by Satan. By holding the charity balls, Drake was trying to undo the horrendous evil that had transpired in the house.

In the end, Drake had disappeared mysteriously one day. A search was made, but his body was never found. Sam had followed up on the other owners and found that they too eventually disappeared without a trace. After the last owner disappeared, the house had remained empty, except it appeared on Halloween. Strangely each owner continued the tradition of holding a Halloween Ball for charity. The house was now owned by the town that apparently had decided to continue the tradition and used it to hold the annual Halloween Ball.

Sam smiled as he heard the familiar roar of the Impala's engine heading in his direction. Climbing into the passenger seat, Sam told Dean what he had found at the library. Dean then brought Sam up to speed on what he had found at the house. Dean shook his head, trying to fit the pieces together.

"It doesn't make much sense Sammy…I mean why would the town continue to hold this annual ball if the house is haunted…I mean that woman at the house has to be blind not to recognize the signs of a haunting!"

"Dean, you know that some people just can't accept the supernatural…it doesn't have a place in their version of how the world works…"

"Yeah, but pretending it doesn't exist…doesn't make it go away. I say it again, I just don'tget people!"

Dean pulled up in front of a small shop in the middle of downtown. Sam looked quizzically at his brother…"Why are you stopping here?" Dean grinned as he got out of the car and waited for Sam to join him. Sam looked in the store window "Dude, no freakin' way…you've gotta be kidding me!" The sign in the window advertised Halloween Costumes.

"Sammy…you're the one whose always telling me we need to buy outfits to blend in…remember the suits you forced me to buy...and what about that alarm company jump suit. The woman at the house said that you can't attend the ball unless you are in costume…I guess if we want to find out what's going on…we need to attend!" Dean watched the look of horror on his brother's face.

"Dean…you know I don't do Halloween…it's stupid…people dressing up to look like the things we hunt…I mean get real!"

Dean grabbed Sam's arm and pulled him into the small shop. A pretty young woman came over and directed them over to the adult costume section.

"Hey Sam, how about this one!" Dean grinned as he held up an adult size Superman costume, complete with spandex tights and cape. Sam groaned and started to go through the racks hoping he would find something that wouldn't make him feel like a total idiot.

"Sammy…here's one that's utterly you!" Dean laughed again as he held up a cow costume, complete with utters. "Seriously Dude, you need to find something, and try to find something that will allow you to bring in some of our special artillery."

Dean noticed a Gladiator costume in the corner, complete with all the battle implements. Pulling Sam over to the dressing room, he ordered him inside and handed him the costume. Sam groaned as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Dean, I'm going to freeze to death in this costume…Jeez, how did these guys fight in this thing…there's no protection at all!"

"Can it Sam, look, you can actually replace the weapons with the real deal and no one will be the wiser…besides, you'll have half the female population swooning in that outfit…good thing you keep yourself in great shape…otherwise, it could be really disgusting!" Dean laughed as Sam got dressed and brought the costume up to the counter to pay for it.

Dean stopped at a fast food place on the way back to the hotel to grab some lunch. "Well, at least tonight the meal will be free!"

"That's my Dean, always thinking with his stomach!" Sam smiled as he got out of the car and headed into the hotel room. "Hey Dean…you never told me. What costume did you come up with?"

Dean smiled "What else little brother…I'm going as a Ghost Buster!"

The smile froze on Sam's face as he grabbed for his head and fell onto the bed.

Sam found himself in the same dark room as before. He watched as Nick slowly raised himself to a seated position on the small cot.

Nick groaned and grabbed at his ribs, every breath reminding him that some of them were broken. His head was killing him and he felt the fever raging in his body…probably from the lack of food and damp conditions he had been enduring. Nick looked towards the wall "It's ok my friend…I don't think she'll be back for a while." A small orb of light came to rest in front of Nick.

"I am fighting my friend, but she wants to use my powers…I believe she wants to use me to control all of you, but for what purpose I couldn't tell…I only hope that I can last a little longer…if I can just resist until after tonight…she won't be able to control you."

Once again the cell door swung open to admit the figure who had been tormenting the young man. "Still here I see…we have work to do before the festivities tonight...you will help me or you will die…the choice is up to you!"

"Death doesn't frighten me…you should know that…you have read my mind, tried to influence it…but I won't let you!"

"Not even if you could join your Mother and Father again…I know that is your secret wish…I could make it happen…just give me what I want!"

"Liar…that power is not in your control or mine…I won't help you!"

The figure advanced on the stubborn young man. "You will help me…I can feel you weakening…too bad, you could have done this the easy way…but hard works for me too!"

Nick immediately fell back onto the cot, screaming in agony as the figure once again began her torture. "You will help me or you will die…either way I win!"

Sam groaned as he felt Dean's strong arms holding him…guiding him back from the nightmare.

"Sammy, come on…you can do it…just breathe slowly…that's it" Dean reached for the garbage can he had grabbed when he first saw Sam grab his head. He didn't like the paleness of Sam's skin or the feel of fever on his skin. Dean knew that the more often and intense the visions were, the more it took out of his brother. He grimaced as Sam emptied his breakfast into the can.

"Dean…we have to…" But Sam couldn't finish as he once again began retching into the bucket. He felt the cool rag on his forehead as Dean helped hold him steady until the heaving stopped.

"Oh God, Dean, It hurts!" Sam closed his eyes, trying to will the pain away, but this time it wouldn't work. If anything, the pain intensified, causing him to groan and fall weakly back onto the bed.

"Sammy…just relax…I told you to rest after the last one…hold on while I get one of the pain pills from our supply" Sam heard Dean rummaging in his bag and returning with the water and pills. "Dean…no…there is no time!" Sam hated the whining sound coming from his lips.

"Yes there is…you need to take the pills and try to get some rest…I'll wake you in plenty of time to prepare…Sammy?" Sam's body had finally given out from the pain and lack of sleep. Dean placed the water and pills on the bedside table as he quietly made Sam more comfortable on the bed. Sam groaned, but his eyes didn't open as Dean used the cool rag to wipe the sweat from his brother's face.

Dean was afraid of Sam's abilities, but for a different reason than what Sam thought. Every time Sam used one or more of his 'powers', he experienced excruciating pain followed by exhaustion. It was almost as if the use of his abilities drained his brother, leaving him too weak to defend himself. What would happen if Dean wasn't there to protect him? Dean shuddered at the thought. He was afraid of Sam's abilities, because Dean couldn't do anything to protect his brother from the affects of using them.

"Sweet Dreams Sammy" Dean said as he went to lie down on his own bed. He reached over to set the alarm on the clock, figuring that he would also try to get some sleep. He had a feeling that they were both going to need it when they went to find Nick tonight.

TBC

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Raven524: A final moment of peace before our boys meet the baddie in this one. Hope you like it so far…let me know either way…keep the reviews coming!