Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!
Bait
Chapter 23 – Calm before the Storm
Dean sat by the fire place in the living room, sipping a cold beer. Luckily there was a small convenience store just up the road. After Sam had fallen asleep, Dean made a quick trip to the store to stock up with supplies. For the first time in a long time, Dean allowed himself to relax…somehow he had missed how tired he was getting. For the past few years, he had just gone from one job to the next…he couldn't remember the last time he had just relaxed.
Turning on the TV, he flipped through the channels…there still wasn't much on daytime TV. He let his mind wander as he closed his eyes. He was worried about Sam. So far, he had let Sam direct the conversations, but he had seen the lost look in his brother's eyes when he thought Dean wasn't looking. He knew that Sam hadn't dealt with the abuse he had received at the hand of the vampires and he certainly hadn't dealt with what happened with Sheila. Then of course there were those freaky powers of his. He just hoped that the visions would leave him alone for a while.
At some point, Dean had fallen asleep. He woke suddenly as he heard the sounds from the bedroom…Damn, the nightmares were beginning. Stopping to turn on the lights, Dean walked into the bedroom. Sam had tossed the pillows off the bed and was tangled in the sheets. Dean could see the sweat on Sam's face. Reaching over, Dean gently shook Sam's shoulder. "Come on Sam, wake up…you're having a nightmare bro'…you're safe, just open your eyes!"
Sam jerked up screaming "NOOOO….Stop it! I won't let you…damn it, let me go!" Sam's eyes were not seeing the room before him. In his mind he was back in the barn…being held down by the vampires. He jerked as he felt another hand touch him.
"Sam…it's me…come on, wake up!" Dean tried to keep Sam from hurting himself. He figured that Sam was reliving what had happened…he just needed to get him to focus. "Sam…look at me, I'm right here in front of you!"
Sam heard a voice, a voice he knew he could trust…closing his eyes, he followed the voice, opening his eyes once more he sighed as he saw Dean. "I'm sorry Dean…did I wake you?" Sam looked and saw it was dark outside. He shivered, remembering what the dark could bring. Closing his eyes once more, he tried to get his breathing under control.
"So, you want to talk about it?" Dean asked casually as he picked up the pillows and helped Sam untangle himself from the sheets. He helped Sam sit up on the edge of the bed, waiting for a reply.
"No…not really…could you help me to the bathroom Dean…please?" Sam couldn't meet Dean's gaze. He felt dirty and just wanted to get into the bathroom to wash it away. Dean decided to let it drop for now, helping Sam to the bathroom telling him to yell when he was ready to come out.
Dean straightened out the bed and went back into the kitchen to start dinner. He heard the faucet running in the bathroom and heard Sam's groans. Walking back to the bathroom, he knocked on the door. "Do you need help Sam?" There was no response. Dean cracked opened the door and saw his brother sitting on the edge of the tub, his head in his hands. Dean could see the sling sitting on the sink along with a wet wash cloth. Sizing up the situation, he knelt down beside Sam. "Hey little brother, let me help you get that shirt off…will you let me help you? Dean asked softly.
Sam looked up at Dean, the lost look back in his eyes. "Dean…I just can't…I don't know how.."
"Sammy…lets just take it one step at a time ok…help me get your shirt off…good, see that wasn't too bad…do you want to wash your chest or do you want me to do it?" Dean rinsed the washcloth in the sink and began to wash the sweat from Sam's back. He tried not to notice the tremors that ran through Sam's body each time he touched him. "It will take some time Sam, but I promise…it will get better."
Later that evening, Sam sat once again on the sofa, staring into the flames. He had eaten the dinner that Dean had prepared, but this time he couldn't stop the images as they flowed through him. He knew that Dean wanted him to talk about it…but he couldn't. Even though he knew that Dean had seen what had happened to him…he couldn't bring himself to discuss it.
Dean watched the emotions on Sam's face and sighed. He knew the signs, his brother wasn't ready to talk about it…until he did, Dean knew that the nightmares would continue. "Sam, are you ready to go back to bed yet?" Sam nodded and allowed Dean to help him back into bed. He didn't argue when Dean gave him his pills…Sam was getting used to the numb feeling…he almost liked it…the numbness didn't allow him to feel the pain that was lying just beneath the surface.
Dean walked out into the living room and picked up his cell phone. Dialing the number he waited for Missouri to answer the phone. He might not be able to help Sam with the nightmares, but he could see if there was any way that he could help him deal with his powers. The phone was answered after the third ring…"Well Dean, I've been expecting your call…how is Sam doing?"
Dean shook his head…it amazed him how the woman seemed to know so much. "Not too well actually…do you have a few moments?" Dean smiled as Missouri gave him an earful…after Missouri finished, Dean quickly filled her in on what had been happening for the past few days. He realized she probably knew most of it already, but he appreciated that she let him tell it. In a way, it allowed him to vent his own feelings. "So Missouri…any idea on how I can help Sam with his spoon bending powers? They really seem to have him freaked out…more so than any of his other abilities."
"Unfortunately, I don't know much about telekinetic abilities…but I can give you a few web sites and an email address of a friend of mine who might be able to help Sam deal with it. Dean hon…you gotta be prepared…Sam's emotions are being holed up inside him…sooner or later, the dam has gotta break and you need to be there to keep him from falling apart."
"I know Missouri…but I'm not sure that I'll be able to help him…God, I can't imagine what he's been through…how he has stayed sane so far is beyond me."
"You just be there for him…like always…let your heart guide you Dean…that's all you need and you both will be jus' fine."
Dean smiled as he hung up the phone. Missouri could get on his nerves sometimes, but no one could make him feel better. Dean turned off the lights and headed into the bedroom. He paused to pull the blanket up on Sam, glad to see that his brother seemed to be getting some much needed sleep. He just hoped that the nightmares would stay away for a little while. Shrugging out of his clothes, he got into bed. As he closed his eyes, he thought about what Missouri had said…he would be there for Sam…he just hoped it would be enough.
The days passed pretty much the same way for the next couple of weeks. Sam slept most of the time, but his wounds were almost healed. Dean had kept himself busy working on repairing the Impala. He had borrowed materials from a local garage and worked on hammering out the dent that Sam had put into his baby. He also tinkered with the engine, giving her some much needed attention. By the time he finished, she was purring like a new born kitten.
Dean wiped his hands on a rag and looked up to see Sam dozing in a lawn chair on the front porch. Sam had finally put on some much needed weight and his face wasn't looking so pale these days…but he also didn't talk much. Dean knew that a quiet Sam meant trouble some where down the road. He had tried to get Sam to talk about the nightmares that plagued him each night, but Sam refused. Dean had mentioned the web sites and the contact that Missouri had given him, but Sam just shrugged and walked away. It was almost like Sam had placed himself on auto pilot.
Shaking his head, Dean decided it was time to give Sam a little push. He was getting bored with the same scenery each day…tonight he decided that he and Sam would be going out for dinner and then maybe stop off at the local night spot. He figured he'd have a battle on his hands, but he also knew that Sam needed to start getting back to normal…they couldn't hide here forever.
"Hey sleepy head, it's getting late in the afternoon…how about we get cleaned up and head over to the local diner for some dinner?" Dean watched as Sam's eyes slowly opened, he hated the blank stare that seemed to always be present in his brother's eyes.
"Can't we just grab something here Dean?" Sam yawned and stretched his body. Most of the pain was gone, the only part of him that still hurt was his shoulder, and even that was getting better each day. He saw the frown forming on his brother's face.
"Sam…I need to get out of here…I've been cooking and cleaning for two weeks now and I gotta tell you…it's time for a change when I start thinking about what sauce goes best with the chicken…now unless you want to live with a male Martha Stewart…we need to get out…just for a little while…ok?" Dean hoped he put enough pleading into his tone to get to his brother.
"Martha Stewart….huh…I could live with that!" Sam smiled as he saw the look of horror cover his brother's face. He ducked as Dean reached over and slapped the back of his head.
"Come on…get a move on…there's a steak with my name on it waiting for me!" Dean headed into the cottage to get ready.
Sam stood slowly and looked out over the lake in the distance. He really would have rather stayed here…he felt safe here…sighing, he went to get ready. As he entered the bedroom, a small smile formed on his lips…walking quietly, he opened the bathroom door…he heard the strains of AC/DC's TNT falling from Dean's lips…grinning, he quickly reached for the lever on the toilet and flushed…running from the room as he heard Dean yelling "Argh...Sammmmmy!"
TBC
Raven524: Ending this one on a little lighter note…since those who have sent reviews have asked for more…I've kept it going…next chaper on its way soon!
