Disclaimer: I don't own them I only play with them on occasion then they make me give them back.

Authors note. When I first wrote this I really hadn't planned on writing more chapters. Since we really don't know how the season will end it's a little hard to imagine how the 2nd season will begin and truthfully I didn't think that far ahead. The more I thought about my original continuations of this story the more I didn't like them. After struggling a bit this is what I came up with instead. I hope you still like it.

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Of course John knew Sam was right the minute he heard the words come out of his mouth. The hunter part of him knew their dreams could simply be Dean's ghost trying to contact them. The father part of him clung desperately to the belief his son really was alive. After hearing Sam's version of his dream and comparing it to his own, he knew what they had to do. They need to head back, even if it was only to prove themselves wrong. John knew they could not go on without finding out once and for all if that was Dean they left behind in the morgue or if he was somewhere else desperately waiting for them to come and find him.

Half way back Sam woke up inside the truck and was surprised so see they were back in Kansas. Looking over at his father he knew immediately where they were heading, back to Missouri's, back to Lawrence, back to the beginning. If ever there was someone who could help, Sam knew, it would be Missouri. An hour later they pulled up in front of her house. She stood in the doorway like she had been waiting there for hours.

"How does she do that Dad?" Sam said amazed when he saw her standing there.

"That's one of the mysteries that is Missouri son." He looked past Sam and smiled when he saw her as well. She watched them slowly get out of the truck and walk up the sidewalk towards her. Instantly she could feel the pain emanating from both of them. She dismissed it immediately instead greeting them as she usually would.

"It's about time you two got here." She held out her arms and folded Sam in a warm embrace. The minute he felt her arms around him he suddenly felt a wave of emotion come over him and he began to cry on her shoulder. He started to stop, feeling like an idiot, but instead felt Missouri hug him tighter letting him know it was alright to continue.

"There, there child, go right ahead, Missouri doesn't mind those tears. Let it out son." She said as she held Sam close. She felt him release the rest of his pain and soon the shuddering stopped. He wiped the remaining tears from his face.

"I'm sorry Missouri." Sam whispered a quick apology. He hadn't seen the woman in months and the first thing he does when he sees her is break down. Sam moved away from her and headed inside. She looked over at John still standing near the door way. His eyes showed the guilt and pain he was feeling as well. When she reached for him he only moved past her into her house.

"John Winchester…..." She started to reprimand him but he shot her a warning glare.

"Not now Missouri. Not now."

They immediately moved upstairs to their separate rooms. Each unpacked slowly not willing to go back down stairs and face her yet. Missouri sensed this and let them each have their time alone. She headed to the kitchen and started to cook. A good meal would help but she knew there was so much more that needed to be done.

"It's a start." She said putting in a roast. An hour and a half later, Sam was the first to come down the stairs. She looked up from the stove as he entered the kitchen and smiled at him.

"Smells great." He said as he opened the oven and looked inside sniffing at the roast and the baked potatoes. "I can't remember the last time we ate so well." He stopped and looked up at her eyes wide. The last time he ate that decent of a meal was one Jessica had made for him oh so many months ago. Since her death it had only been diners and fast food…..with Dean.

She put her hand on his arm as soon as she felt his pain and nodded her understanding. They stood for a moment lost in memory. Missouri had never met Jessica but she knew how the girl's death had greatly affected the young man in front of her.

Dean's loss was even more painful for Sam. He and John had lost their center and if she didn't act quickly their world would spin them apart forever. Somehow she had to find out more from John and Sam about what happened after they finally killed the demon. The trouble was how she would get them to talk. With their emotions so close to the surface she would have to go slowly.

"Sam honey, why don't you set the table? The dishes are right over there up in the cupboard." She spoke tending to a pot on the stove.

"Yes ma'am." Sam replied softly. He reached up in the cupboard and pulled out four plates before he realized his mistake. Quietly he put back the fourth plate and placed the other three and the silverware around the table in the dining room. Missouri didn't need to turn around to know what he had done unconsciously.

"He'll be with us shortly child." She thought to herself. That much she knew for sure because she could still feel Dean's strong presence in the universe. She was about to call John downstairs when she heard his footsteps approaching the kitchen. They shared a quick quiet glance. His eyes told her 'thank you'. She smiled and nodded in response.

Dinner went by quietly. The conversation revolved around the meal and how good it was. Both men knew not to tempt fate with Missouri so they cleaned their plates and helped themselves to seconds. When they were through she got up to cleared their plates. Sam jumped up and offered to help.

"Hush child that is my job." She said scolding him mildly. "Sit tight, I'm gonna make us some coffee." She left them alone in the dining room and the two men sat quietly until she returned with the coffee.

"This is no good." She thought disapprovingly when she saw them just sitting there. She decided to play devils advocate.

"If you two are going to refuse to talk to each other I don't know how we are ever going to find Dean." She spoke as she poured them each a cup and set it down in front of them. Both men were startled by her abruptness.

"And don't tell me this isn't the time John Winchester because if it isn't when will it be a good time, when you have already lost any chance of finding your son? Time is a wasting. You need to stop feeling sorry for yourselves and get going, Dean needs you. I want you to start at the beginning and don't leave anything out. Now would either of you like some sugar or cream?" She sat down and started to sip her coffee avoiding both their stares.

It wasn't easy but John was the first to speak. He described how they got separated in the warehouse. John and Sam went one way, Dean the other after Meg. He didn't worry because he knew Dean could take care of himself. There was such a struggle to subdue and destroy the demon that John and Sam didn't give Dean another thought until it was over and they heard him cry out. That was when they raced outside and saw him being pushed inside the Impala by Meg.

"And you are sure it was Dean?" Missouri pushed and John shot a glare at her.

"Of course I'm sure it was Dean. Do you think I wouldn't know my own son?" John barely checked the anger in his voice. Missouri knew his anger wasn't directed at her, but out of frustration and fear. Sam sat stone faced afraid to speak up while they stared at each other. He looked over at his father and then over at Missouri. He knew they were having some sort of silent conversation and was grateful they decided not to include him.

"John the two of you were in a battle for your lives. You both were physically and emotionally exhausted. You know demons will play tricks on a weaken mind." She once again tread softly as she spoke.

"What are you saying? That our 'weaken minds' only thought we saw Meg pushing Dean into the Impala? What kind of crap is that?" John stopped and reined in his anger knowing she wasn't accusing him of anything.

"John, I'm merely saying that while the demon you destroyed was a major player there are still plenty of others out there, some even more powerful. I think they used you to instigate some sort of power struggle within the demon underworld. You were simply pawns to them. Demons are cruel John, they take great pleasure in pain, and now that they know your weaknesses they will exploit them. For you it's your boys. For your boys, it's you. Take one and the rest will do what ever it takes to get him back. That's why I know Dean is still alive." She calmly explained her theory to him.

"You think they assume we will hunt Dean down, try to rescue him and then they will get all three of us at once. If that was true why didn't they just take us all out when they had the chance back at the warehouse?" John questioned her theory. Part of it made sense to him but the reasoning behind it eluded him until Missouri spoke again.

"You had to accomplish their goal first, John. Now that that has been done you are all expendable. They won't make it easy John; you know how Demons like to play games." She looked John straight in the eyes as she spoke. She saw the realization and then the anger as he accepted what she was saying. Suddenly Sam spoke up, his face anguished.

"So all of this…all of this…Moms death and Jess's, this is just some elaborate power play for us to off this demon so something else could take control, something worse? Why couldn't they do it for themselves? Instead they put us through hell for 22 yrs so we could do their dirty work for them?" Sam had never felt more used. Like his whole life had been one big giant manipulation.

"Son of a bitch!" John slammed his hands on the table startling Missouri and Sam. "Not his time Missouri. Not this time. I won't let them have my sons, not if it's that last thing I do." He looked over at Sam, his eyes confident and fierce. Sam's eyes matched his fathers.

"Then we have to get to work John. You know we won't be able to do this alone. We'll need the help of every hunter out there so we have to spread the word and spread it quickly." Missouri spoke with a determined voice.

"But what about Dean, Missouri, we still have to get him back." Sam spoke suddenly afraid again for his brother. Was he even still alive? What kind of hell was he in now and what was he thinking? Did he think that John and Sam had abandoned him? Was he in pain? So many horrible thoughts went through Sam's mind.

"We're gonna get him back son, and this time we walk away together." John spoke with such conviction that Sam instantly believed him. Missouri looked at both of them and troubled thoughts crossed her mind.

"You are both so strong, but will you be strong enough for this coming battle? Are you willing to accept the outcome?" She thought to herself knowing that in this battle there would be many, many casualties. How could she tell them she dreamt of only two of them walking away?

"Oh John how can you know the greatest sacrifice is still ahead."

She chose not to tell John about her dreams. He had to keep hope in his heart if they were ever going to stand a chance at all against this new adversary. Still a small part of her was already starting to grieve for her friends. She pushed her sorrow back inside her mind and spoke with a renewed determination.

"So gentlemen, lets figure how to get Dean back."

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Meanwhile…

Pain exploded in his head and radiated down his body in massive waves. His whole body shook as he fought in vain to control his body. Tears ran unchecked down his face from the agony. Finally as fast as it started it gratefully ceased. Dean laid there gasping for breath.

"Dadddd..." Thoughts of his father and brother raced through his mind as the pain ebbed away leaving him spent and disoriented. "Sammyyy..."

His eyes closed, he sensed the two men when they entered the room and felt their hands as they unbuckled him, lifted him up and placed him on a gurney. They strapped him down once more, leaving him unable to move his harms and legs again, before they started down the hall. He could hear their voices as they stopped suddenly, but he could not understand what they were saying. Shaking his head, he tried to clear his mind, but moving it only caused a blinding headache.

A woman's voice came closer and without warning he felt a needle prick his arm. Soon Dean's mind was spinning even more. The gurney started to move again further down the hallway until it halted at the end of the ward. He was lifted up once more and rough hands put something around him tightly. He tried to open his eyes but the ensuing dizziness made him shut them again. He was dead weight by the time they dragged him into the dimmed room and left him on the floor. He had one final thought before he let the darkness claimed him.

"That voice. That voice. Why does it sound so familiar? Oh my god Dad…Sammy that was Meg…"

Tbc

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Authors note: Ummmmmm. Should I just leave you hanging or should I write more.Well maybe I'll write a little bit more. Read and review please.