Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun filling in the time until September!

Double Trouble

Chapter 20 – Eye of the Storm

Dean took a step back as he looked at Missouri. "Ok, ok…no problem, we can handle this. I mean how many baddies can there be in the area?"

Missouri shook her head. "Dean boy, you weren't listening to me, Sam's abilities are stronger than my own…who knows how far he is projecting. We need to keep him calm; the more emotional Sam is, the more he will project."

"So, why hasn't he 'projected' before now?" Dean asked as he tried to get his head around the problem. "You mean he can enter other minds as well as read them now?"

"Dean honey, he always had these abilities, I always sensed in Sam that he somehow had a natural ability to block out what he didn't want to receive or send. It was almost as if his mind knew how to protect him. But what the shape shifter did to Sam both physically and mentally has weakened his ability to block."

"But Missouri, Sam's been in much worse shape than this…I mean, he's been through a lot and yet this has never happened before. Why now?"

"Dean, I know you think that I should have all the answers, but I don't. All I know is right now that poor boy is an emotional mess inside and a physical mess on the outside. We need to get him healthy in both mind and spirit and then I believe his natural ability to block and protect himself will resurface."

Any further questions Dean had were put on hold as he saw his brother bolt upright on the sofa. "Dean…don't leave me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt her…I couldn't help myself…oh God, how could I have done it! What kind of monster am I?" Sam fell back sobbing.

Dean quickly entered the room and knelt down beside Sam once more. "Hey easy there Sam, I'm here. You need to calm down for me ok…let's take a look at those wounds and see what we can do to get your fever down. Are you thirsty?"

Sam just blinked, as soon as Dean entered the room, he began to feel calmer. "Sorry Dean, don't know what's wrong with me." Sam whispered, ashamed of his weakness.

Dean reached over and grabbed Sam's face, turning it so that he could see into his brother's eyes. "Look Sam, you are hurt, tired and injured. Most people in your condition would be in the intensive care unit at the hospital. So no more of this apologizing…let's just take this one step at a time ok? Can you help me get your shirt off, I need to take care of your shoulder and side."

Dean didn't wait for Sam to agree, he simply helped Sam sit up and began to pull the shirt over his brother's head. He started to clean the wound on the shoulder first. "Well, actually this one doesn't look too bad. The bullet seems to have gone straight through…you'll be a little sore, but I think it should heal up just fine. Now hold still while I clean it out and bandage it for you.:

Dean continued to treat Sam's wounds, including the deep cuts on his wrists and ankles from the wire the shape shifter had used to bind Sam. Dean's anger at what the shape shifter had done started to build as he cleaned the wounds and carefully bandaged them.

Suddenly, Sam grabbed his head and fell back onto the sofa crying. "Dean please, so much anger…it hurts!"

"Shit, I'm sorry Sam…I forgot. Just calm down for me, that's it…breath in and out slowly. Good boy!" Dean once gain took a deep breath and calmed his own emotions, he had to be more careful until Sam healed.

"Dean, so hot…what's wrong with me?" Sam asked, as he once again tried to focus.

"You're running a fever Sam, but the good news is most of the injuries weren't too bad. You were lucky this time bro'…a few inches either way and we'd be in the emergency room"

"Define lucky Dean…that thing wasn't trying to kill me at first, just weaken me. I'd say he did a pretty good job of it." Sam shuddered as he remembered what happened.

"Bitch, Bitch, Bitch…what do you want Sam, you have a few boo boo's. It could have been worse you know. Now stop complaining and take these pills for me." Dean dropped the pills in Sam's hand and helped him with the water. He was hoping that by making light of Sam's injuries, he wouldn't get more worked up about them.

Sam looked at Dean and sighed. "What Sammy…does something else hurt?" Dean asked trying to see what the problem was.

"No Dean, its just…I was suppose to be taking care of you and once again, here you are rescuing my sorry ass and taking care of me. Don't you ever get tired of it?" Sam looked away, not wanting to see the answer in Dean's eyes.

Once again, Dean forced Sam to look at him. "Sammy, I will never get tired of taking care of you…do you understand me? You are my brother and I love you…that's all I need. Now if we are finished with the chick flick moments...how about you try to get some rest while I see if I can rustle us up some food."

Sam wasn't sure how, but he could feel the sincerity in Dean's words and they healed a small part of his broken soul. "Thanks Dean" Sam whispered as he fell asleep.

Dean sat there for a while, looking at his brother's bruised face. He had meant what he said, he would never get tired of taking care of his little brother. His fear was that some day he wouldn't be there in time. But that day wasn't here and Dean was content with the way things had worked out so far.

Leaving the room, he went into the kitchen and found Missouri filling a plate with food for him. He smiled as he sat down, knowing better than to make any comments, he dug into the food and ate in silence.

"I've been thinking about your brother's problem Dean. After you finish eating, there are a few more symbols and charms we can use to protect your brother. Plus, we are going to have to extend the protected area further into the house…at least as far as the bedroom and bathroom downstairs. We can't keep him locked in that room forever."

Dean looked up thoughtfully at Missouri. "Why not protect the whole house Missouri…I mean wouldn't it be better for you as well?"

"Shore Dean, but that will take a lot of work…I know you think you're indestructible, but you're not. You are still recovering as well and you need your rest. "

"Hmmm, well there is another option. How do you feel about more company?" Dean had been worried about protecting Sam from any unwanted guests. With his broken ribs and arm, he wouldn't be much good in a real fight.

"Now you're using your head boy…who are you thinking of calling?" Missouri smiled softly to herself. She had been thinking the same thing just a few moments before and was wondering how to bring it up without getting Dean's dander up.

"Well, Dad would probably come, but I'm not sure how far away he is at the moment. Besides, if you want to keep people with volatile emotions away from Sam…well, let's face it, before we know it those two will be at each other again."

Missouri snorted "You'd be right there Dean, that father of yours is too good at putting his foot in his mouth when he's around you boys. So, who do you want to call?"

"Bobby isn't too far away from here and he knows a lot about handling demons. With our luck, if Sammy's broadcasting, one of them is more likely to show up."

"Sounds like a good idea Dean. Now why don't you try to get your brother to eat some of this soup…" Missouri stopped at the look Dean gave her.

"No offense Missouri, but I think it will be a while before Sam will eat any of your soup or drink any of your tea." Dean held his hand up as Missouri rose from her chair. "Look, the shape shifter used the soup and tea to make Sam real sick. I just don't think we should remind him that's all."

Missouri scowled but returned to the refrigerator and pulled out the eggs. "Fine, I wish now I had hurt that useless piece of flesh. I'll make him some scrambled eggs and juice instead."

Dean smiled as he left the kitchen to make his call to Bobby. A few moments later, Missouri came towards him with the tray for Sam. "So when is he coming?"

"Bobby says he'll be here some time tomorrow. So, for tonight, we just have to keep Sam in the parlor…I just hope he doesn't need a trip to the bathroom, or it could get real interesting." Dean felt a sharp slap on his rear end.

"Dean Winchester, there is nothing funny about what's going on here. Besides, I do have a bed pan here for just such an emergency, and before you say anything else…I don't do windows and I don't do bedpans!"

Dean headed into the parlor, the smile on his lips falling away as he saw his brother's face. There were tears mixed with sweat as his brother tossed on the sofa. "Damn it…I shouldn't have left you Sammy!"

Dean set the tray down and got ready for a long night.

TBC

Raven524: Here's a bonus chapter since I couldn't update yesterday…you get two!