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 25 – Family Sqabble

Missouri smiled as she watched the two boys finish eating. She noticed that Sam had only managed a small amount of the soup. Contrary to the light moments that she and Bobby had witnessed earlier, Missouri knew that Sam was far from healed. She could still sense his inner turmoil. The constant attacks by the demon were not allowing Sam's psychic abilities to heal and she was afraid if they didn't intervene soon, Sam would not be able to survive.

Missouri fingered the gem stone in her pocket as she let the memories of her own psychic journey return. She remembered the pain of betrayal when her parents had placed her in the psychiatric ward, believing she was insane. Even now, the memories of that place and the torture her mind endured could take her breath away. For someone who was not able to shield thoughts, the psychiatric ward was its own version of hell on earth. The emotions and thoughts of the poor souls in that place had almost driven Missouri insane.

If it weren't for Leandra Mason, Missouri probably wouldn't be standing here today. She had been the psychic who had heard Missouri's cry for help and had answered. Missouri realized that just as Leandra had known it was time to begin her training…she now realized that it was now time for Sam to understand and accept the gifts he had been given. She wished Sam could meet Leandra, she would have been much better at helping the boy. But Leandra had died a couple of years back, leaving a hole that would never be filled in Missouri's life.

Missouri knew she had to help Sam, at least with the abilities she understood. But part of her was afraid that she wouldn't be up to the task. She had hoped that Sam's natural ability to shield unwanted thoughts and emotions from entering or leaving his mind would protect him. The boy had shown such strength in the past, she had felt interfering would cause more harm than good. Leandra had told her that each psychic had to eventually find their own way and that interfering could make it more difficult for the person.

Missouri was startled from her musings when she felt a hand on her arm. She looked up and saw Dean looking at her with concerned eyes. "Missouri, are you sure you're ok…I mean, you've had a rough couple of days as well. Why don't you go and lay down for awhile. Bobby and I can keep watch."

Missouri smiled at Dean. The boy didn't understand that he also had a power of his own. The simple touch of his hand on her arm had conveyed a sense of calm, a sense of safety that no one else had ever been able to do for her. She was surprised that he had never realized why Sam always was calmer around him. Well, she'd have to set him straight as well before this was through. "I'm fine Dean. I may look a little worn around the edges, but I'll be just fine."

"OK, but if you need to rest, you…"

"Boy, don't you go telling me what to do now…I ain't made of spun glass. Now do you want to keep pushing my buttons or would you rather we work on the immediate problem?"

Sam looked away with a small sigh. Once again, he was the problem to be solved; the broken member of the team that needed to be fixed before he would be useful again. He wouldn't blame them all for walking away and leaving him. He deserved it…he knew that Dean would disagree, but Sam couldn't help but feel that he was a freak, a monster that would be locked away by any other sane person.

"Samuel Winchester…you stop that right this moment. Boy, you are sorely trying my patience!" Missouri scowled at Sam as he averted his gaze.

Dean was shocked, he had never heard Missouri talk to his brother this way before. She normally reserved her caustic side for him. "What's going on Missouri?"

"Your brother is starting to work himself up that's all!" Missouri took a deep breath to calm herself. "Sam, you are not broken and you are not a problem to be solved, you have been injured and simply need time to heal. Are you going to leave Dean behind because he's not 100 percent?"

Sam's head snapped up. "Of course, not Missouri…but I would really appreciate it if you would stop reading my thoughts. I thought you wouldn't do a reading unless someone asks for it…well I'm not asking for it. I just want to be left alone…I just want…" Sam's eyes filled with tears, he felt ashamed but he was also angry. He felt violated; he was tired of people walking through his mind uninvited. He felt out of control and didn't like it.

Missouri stared at Sam for a moment and then turned and left the room. She had to leave before the emotions that were flowing off Sam overwhelmed her recently restored control. Besides, she didn't want him to see the hurt his words had caused her. She never used her abilities to invade a person's mind without their permission…she understood Sam's fear, but it still hurt and she needed a few moments to lick her wounds.

Dean looked at Sam as if he had grown two heads. "Where the hell did that come from?"

Sam still refused to look at anyone in the room as he shrugged. "I'm tired of people jumping in and out of my thoughts Dean…how would you like it if everything you thought or felt was known by others…I feel like I always have to be on guard, I can't do this anymore Dean…I just can't!"

Dean took a step towards his brother, his temper warring with his need to comfort. "Look Sam, we all know you are hurting…I get it ok…but that doesn't give you free license to strike out at those who only want to help you. Did it ever dawn on you that Missouri couldn't help hearing your thoughts? She is the one who warned us that you were broadcasting to the whole supernatural world…"

Sam's head snapped up as he looked at Dean, sudden comprehension hitting him. "You mean that I'm an open book to anything that wants to listen in? But that would mean…I brought the demon here…he sensed that I'm weak and came running. Oh God, this mess is all my fault…me and my freaky powers are going to get us all killed!" Before Dean could stop Sam, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up…unfortunately, his body had other ideas. The room spun and Sam's knees began to give way. He would have fallen if Bobby hadn't grabbed him and gently pushed him back onto the bed.

"Well, if you all are through beating each other up, maybe we should try to get back to solving our current problem. Of course, I'm sure the demon would love to help you all destroy each other…if that's what you all want. Me, I prefer to kill the son of a bitch!" Bobby stood back and watched as Dean and Sam struggled to get their tempers under control. He loved the Winchesters, but sometimes they really needed a swift kick. It was times like this that he could see John's wonderful temperament shining through his two sons.

Dean sighed and moved to sit on the other bed. "I'm sorry Bobby; it's just been a rough couple of days for all of us…I better go check on Missouri. Sammy, why don't you try to relax and get a little more sleep…things will look better when you wake up. By then we should be able to put our heads together to come up with a solution. Are you going to be ok for a few moments?" Dean was worried; Sam looked like he was beginning to spike a temperature again. His cheeks were flushed and there was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead.

Sam looked sadly at his brother. "I'm sorry Dean…really, I didn't mean to hurt Missouri…I just can't seem to stop hurting people…you and Bobby go on ahead and do what you need to do. I…I think I'll just try to get some sleep." Sam turned away from both men and closed his eyes. He really just wanted to be alone for a little while.

Dean stepped over towards Sam and reached to touch his forehead, trying to check for temperature. Sam swatted his hand away. "I'm fine Dean…go find Missouri and tell her…tell her I'm sorry ok?"

"You can do that yourself when you wake up little brother…but don't worry, she'll be fine. We all will…just try to get some sleep." Dean didn't want to leave Sam, but he needed to talk to Missouri and Bobby about ways to help his brother. He could feel Sam slipping away from him and he didn't know how to pull him back.

"Come on Bobby, let's go find Missouri."

As Dean and Bobby left the room, Sam began to feel panic set in. His breathing started to hitch in his throat and his heart began to pound. The words of the demon in his nightmare came back to haunt him. "They will all leave you Sam; your evil will drive them away from you!"

Sam hugged the pillow, trying to calm himself. He knew they hadn't left him, why was he panicking? He really didn't want to go back to sleep. Sleep meant dreams and dreams meant giving the demon another shot at tormenting him. His body ached and he felt like he was beginning to burn up once again. Sam knew that all he had to do was call and Dean would come back…Sam almost gave in to the temptation, but he was tired of being the weak member of the team.

Sam sat up on the bed and put his feet on the floor. He slowly stood, waiting for the dizziness to pass before he started to walk towards the door. His fevered mind taking over; all Sam could think about was the danger he was placing everyone in. He had already called a demon to him because of his inability to control his power. He had to draw the demon and anything else that was answering his psychic beacon away from his brother and friends.

Taking a deep breath, Sam quietly walked down the hallway. He had to use the walls to hold himself up, but he was determined to do this...Sam reached the front door and opening it, walked outside to face his demon.

TBC