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 27 – Exorcising

Dean watched his brother tossing on the bed, sweat and tears rolling down his face. He had just finished placing a salt ring around the bed. He wasn't sure it would be necessary to hold the demon, but he had to do something useful to help his brother. Sam's face twisted in pain as a scream was ripped from his lips. "Sammy, you hold on. I know you're hurting and your scared, but you just hold on…please don't leave me." Dean finished on a whisper; his eyes filled with unshed tears.

Dean sat on the edge of the bed, gently running his hand through Sam's sweat soaked hair. He needed the contact, even though he knew it might be dangerous for him. He just needed to know that Sam was still here and alive. As Sam's body arched off the bed once again, Dean placed a calming hand on his brother's shoulder. "That's it little brother…you keep fighting. This will all be over soon, I promise! I will be here when you wake up…you just need to hold on for me little brother." Dean closed his eyes wishing he could do more to help his brother.

Bobby had finished the symbol to trap the demon and they had moved Sam's bed into the center of the protective symbol. Missouri and Bobby were trying to find the best exorcism rite to use and then they would begin. Thanks to Bobby's quick thinking, the demon was trapped; unfortunately so was his brother.

The demon raged within Sam's mind. He had miscalculated the strength of the brother. Even now he could feel Sam drawing strength from his sibling. He needed to end this now before the others could complete their preparations. The demon began pushing to get further into Sam's mind, ripping away the protections the young hunter had in place to protect that which was part of his essence. He could feel the young man running from him, if he could drive him far enough away, then his death would not be in vain. If his father could not have the prize, the prize would have to be destroyed.

Sam had never felt so alone in his whole life. He knew that his brother and friends were probably working to exorcise the demon and on some level he also knew that his powers were not strong enough this time to hold the demon in check. He was afraid, not for himself, but for the ones who were trying to help him. He could feel the Demon working on him, destroying his confidence and reminding him of his failures.

Sam continued to retreat further and further into his mind. Since he couldn't fight the demon, his only alternative now was to hide. Yet, he could feel something calling to him, begging him to fight. He looked around in the dark and could have sworn he saw…no it couldn't be! "Dean, is that you?" The figure of his brother calmly approached Sam and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Fight him!" was all the figure said as it calmly turned to face the demon with Sam.

Sam didn't want to think too hard on how or why Dean was appearing in his mind. He accepted his brother's presence, basking in the glow of light that seemed to flow from Dean and encompass him. Suddenly the dark wasn't as dark anymore, he felt his confidence building, barriers were being reinforced and for the first time in days, Sam felt like he could beat the demon within.

Missouri and Bobby walked back into the room and saw Dean sitting on the bed next to Sam, his eyes closed and his hand resting lightly on Sam's shoulder. Sam looked almost peaceful lying next to his brother. Bobby looked at Missouri who just shook her head.

Missouri knew what was happening, she could sense the two minds being connected and the strength flowing from Dean to his brother. She realized that Dean probably was unaware of what was happening, but she could see that Sam knew he was there and was responding. Missouri walked over and placed her hand lightly on Dean's shoulder. "Dean honey, you need to move back so we can begin…you've done your part, now we need to do ours."

Dean jumped as he felt Missouri's hand touch him. "Sorry, I guess I was more tired than I thought…let's get this over with, I don't know how much more Sammy can take."

Missouri took a quick reading of Sam and smiled, Dean had done it. She could feel Sam beginning to fight back, some of his barriers were now back in place…it would still be a tough battle, but she finally felt like they might have a chance to get rid of the demon and save Sam.

"What do you want me to do Missouri?" Bobby asked as he sat on the other bed in the room. He had a bottle of holy water in his hands and a shot gun.

"You just be ready in case the bastard breaks free of the protective circle. We shore don't need anyone else being infected with this thing. Dean honey, you need to stay outside the protected circle…just talk to Sam, keep letting him know you are nearby. Believe me, it will be important as we move forward. You need to make Sam believe he can do this…if he retreats any further into his mind, we will lose him."

Dean nodded and stepped carefully outside the circle. He had been through this before and knew what to expect. It didn't make it any easier, but at least he was prepared. Missouri nodded to Bobby who quickly sprinkled the holy water on Sam's body. Sam's body arched as the liquid burned him. Missouri began the incantation to release the demon from Sam's body.

Sam had been pushing back at the demon, determined to do what his brother had asked him to do. Dean's image was no longer there, but Sam could still feel the calmness, strength and sense of safety that always was there when Dean was nearby. He smiled as the demon screamed, even though he also felt the pain of the holy water. He knew that the ceremony had begun.

"You have lost, just like all the ones before you. When will your father learn that I am not interested in helping him? I will fight anything he sends my way and kill as many of you as I can before I let him use me or my powers."

"Brave words Sam, from one who is moments from being destroyed." The demon spat as it advanced once more towards Sam. "I may not be able to control you, but I can destroy you."

Sam felt himself pulled up into the air, he was powerless to stop the demon from attacking. "You will not be killed easily, but in the time I have left you will suffer!" Sam screamed as the demon raked down his chest with his claws leaving a bloody trail behind. Sam struggled against the invisible grip, reaching for something to fight the demon with.

"You pitiful humans are all alike; you think you can beat us. My father has plans that will make all of you our slaves…of course; you won't be around to see it. But then, you will die knowing that your brother will eventually serve my father!"

Sam screamed again as the Demon once more ran his claws down his chest. The pain was unbearable and yet something in Sam was coming to life. He could feel it blossoming as the demon began to close its hand on Sam's throat.

Dean watched in horror as Sam's T-Shirt turned bright red as his brother screamed. Sam's face was a mask of pain unlike anything Dean had seen. As he watched the blood seeping from his brother's chest…he reached for his own, remembering the cabin and his defeat at the hands of the demon. "Oh God, Missouri…it's killing him…it's killing Sammy!"

Dean started towards his brother but was held back by the strong arms of Bobby. "Son, you can't go inside the circle. Remember, the demon can leap from Sam into you!"

"I don't care! I have to help Sammy before it's too late!" Dean struggled against Bobby, trying desperately to reach Sam.

"Use your head boy, you know how this works! If you let the demon possess you both of you will die along with a whole lot of others. Now settle down before I hog tie you!"

Dean jumped as a soft hand landed on his arm. "Dean honey, you can help your brother…if you follow what I say, you can help your brother fight this demon."

Dean and Bobby both looked at Missouri as she put the book down that she was reading from. She quietly reached into her pocket and pulled out a crystal. From the looks of the crystal, it had been worn smooth from years of handling. Missouri looked at the crystal with a sad smile on her face before she placed it in Dean's open hand.

"Dean this crystal was given to me by my mentor to help me channel my psychic energy. The crystal has the ability to help you transform or focus your energy. You need to use this now to channel your psychic energy to help your brother."

Dean looked at the crystal in his hand. "Missouri, I'm not the one with psychic powers…you should be giving this to Sammy!"

"No Dean, Sammy doesn't need the crystal to focus his energy. His powers have developed beyond the need for this. Sam just needs to learn to accept his abilities and make them his own. I sense that you have already accepted your abilities Dean, they are just more subtle than Sam's."

"What are you talking about Missouri…we don't have time for this right now…Sam doesn't have time…"

"Dean Winchester, you asked for my help and now I'm giving it to you…just like your brother you can either walk where I lead or not, the final choice is up to you!" Missouri walked back over to pick up the book. She paused waiting to hear Dean's answer…knowing already what it would be, but wanting Dean to say it.

"Ok Missouri, what do you want me to do?"

TBC

Raven524: Yep, that's right. Dean gets to join the psychic wonder club…albeit in a limited fashion. I've always thought that Dean should have a special power of his own. After all he is a Winchester through and through. Hope this isn't too big a leap for the hard core SN fans, but then who knows, maybe as the show develops, Dean will find out he has powers too. Let me know what you think!