Title: Snap out of it Sam.
Chapter 1-5/6 (Complete except for the final chapter).
Author: Zenamydog
Rating: PG 13?
Fandom Supernatural
Pairing/Characters: Sam/Dean/John
Warnings Spoilers for Salvation and Devils trap. (Pre-Slash)
Beta:"wenchpixie"
Feedback Makes it all worth while!
Disclaimer As if? Well? If I owned them, they wouldn't be plastered across the internet.
SUMMARY: Set somewhere between Salvation and Devil's Trap. John knows about Sam's visions. What happens when he sees one for the first time?
Dean kicked into protective mode, in one fluid movement Dean broke his father's grip on Sam and shoved him hard, harder than intended, away from his brother.
"You're hurting him!" Dean snarled.
AN: This is the first fic. I ever wrote. Warts and all. Wow! I look back and see the huge learning curve. It's been posted out there somewhere, but I lost track of it unfortunately.
So I have decided I should probably finish this. (A year in production at least)
The final Chapter (6) will be a spoiler for Episode One Series Two. (Coming Soon)
I'm re-posting now cuz the wonderful "Wenchpixie" has beta'd it and no one will remember it from way back when. So…...I hope you enjoy!
Chapters One to five
Stepped out of the shower and dried himself quickly. God it's cold he thought. He put on his boxers on quickly, struggled to pull his jeans over the second leg and glanced at the mirror.
"Could use a shave" he muttered, paying closer scrutiny to the hair under his chin; grabbing his overnight bag he started to fumble for his shaver.
"Ahhhhhh NO!"
Dean heard the scream coming from the other room but it was the following sound, like someone hitting the floor - hard, that made the pit of his stomach tighten and his jaw set.
That painful scream was Sam's.
A split second later he had retrieved a small hand gun, flung open the bathroom door, and stood poised, ready and willing to shoot. Nothing in the small lounge room made him lower his weapon.
Eyes wide with concern, he ran down the hallway towards the kitchen.
"Sam...Sammy?"
When Dean reached the doorway he realized the potential threat was not one that required a gun. Clicking the safety on, he put the weapon on the table.
He took the couple of strides that allowed him to drop to his knees beside his brother. Dean recognized it immediately. Sam was having a vision. Christ. Dean thought. What the hell is Dad doing?
"It's okay Sammy!" he reassured, trying to take control, trying to get his father's attention as John continued to shake Sammy. "Dad! Dad! Stop! He's having a VISION!"
Dean tried again. "Please Dad!"… John didn't seem to register that his son was there, let alone hear him. He just cried "Sam! Sam! Snap out of it!" He was obviously trying to help things along with some physical force.
Sam's head flew back and forth and the glazed look in his eyes told Dean that Sam was powerless to do anything about it.
Struggling to breathe; Sam drew in a painful gasp. That intake of air was all that was needed for Dean's protective instincts to kick in. Sammy was being hurt. Nothing hurt Sam, not even his Dad.
In one fluid movement, Dean broke his Father's grip on Sam and shoved him hard, harder than intended, away from his brother. "You're hurting him!" Dean snarled.
John stumbled back from his crouched position and landed heavily. He gave Dean a look, somewhere between shock and anger. John noticed the flicker of fear in Dean's eyes, as Dean suddenly comprehended he had just raised his hand to his father.
It faded quickly; Dean's only concern right now was Sammy.
Sam grabbed at his temples with the tips of his fingers. His breathing was shallow and labored.
"Ahhhh God!" He panted. Wished the vision would just come, just be over with. He so wanted the pain to stop.
"Dean?" Sam choked out softly, and Dean instantly drew his brother closer, wanting, almost needing, to support his brother's weight.
"Yeah Sammy, it's okay, just relax." he soothed, unconsciously bringing his breathing into rhythm with Sam's.
"The vision should have come by now! ... It's...it's still only the pain. It's worse somehow!" Sam was almost pleading and Dean felt helplessness engulf him.
Sam controlled the pain enough to become aware of his father's questioning eyes. What did he see there? Fear? Anger? Sam couldn't decide. But he felt, for some reason, he was letting his Father down.
Noticing their exchange Dean interrupted. "What happened? How long has he been like this?"
John glanced at his watch. "He collapsed about 10 minutes ago, but he was obviously in pain for at least 15 before that." He stated flatly. "Kept trying to hide it." John said, almost as an afterthought.
Dean was grateful that his Father em Got it. /em This was a simple exchange of information. It was in Sam's best interest. Looking and searching his Dad's face, he hoped. Maybe he could work with this man. Maybe his Dad would understand.
He and Sam were finely tuned. He knew Sammy best and that was that. Maybe John would let Dean call the shots on this one. He was the one who knew how to take care of his baby brother.
"Okay Sammy, do ya think you can get to the bedroom?" Dean saw the answer when Sam eyes spoke volumes.
Dean sighed. "Okay then. Dad?" He gestured to his Father. The two oldest Winchesters picked Sam's weakened body up. It still amazed Dean how he and John still knew. They both knew how to do this kind of thing in sync; least amount of stress on Sam.
As soon as Sam was laid on his side, he curled his knees up to his stomach. It was a futile attempt to ease the pain.
Dean sat down facing him on the bed. "Okay, what's going on Sammy? How can we help?" Dean needed to sound like he could handle this.
"God Dean!" There was a strained look on Sam's face as he spoke. "This has been too long! It should have come by now. I don't know how long I can do this!"
Suddenly, Sam arched back painfully and grabbed Dean's hand.
"Sammy?" Dean got out, as he watched both their hands turn knuckle white. Dean feared that Sam's grip reflected the intensity of what he was feeling. The pain. That frightened Dean beyond words.
Moving to the other side of the bed; John demanded "What's happening Dean? Is he having the actual vision now?" His concern was growing by the minute.
"Yeah….. I think so." Dean answered, not taking his eyes off of Sam.
"He should come out of it in the next few minutes. He usually does... but... But this, I don't know", Dean shook his head. "Sam's right, it's taking a lot longer this time." Fear shuttering his voice. "Shit Sam!" Dean sighed. Pushing away any thoughts that this might not play out as normal.
Chapter two
The next few moments felt like torture to Dean. Sam had let go of his hand, and Dean found himself feeling the loss of connection. His brother lay quiet and still, his only movement was his eyes darting around the room.
"Sam?" John's voice showed concern as he sat down on the bed. "What's happening Sam?" He asked again.
When Sam's only response was a low cry, Dean held up his hand. "Just give him a minute Dad. Just…..just let him get back to us."
Both men eyed each other. John impatiently wanting this to be over, and Dean resigned to just letting it run its course.
Sam's breath began to shallow into a more rapid pant. "Dean." Sam said out loud. And Dean took the opportunity to reconnect. Taking his brother's hand again, he answered. "Yeah Sammy, I'm here, just take it easy." When Sam's eyes kept darting around the room, and the glazed look didn't dissipate, Dean knew that Sam was not actually speaking to him.
So whatever Sam was em seeing /em included him.
Sam knew that this was a vision. Sam knew that he wasn't actually there. Sam knew he was lying on a bed in some cheap motel room, with his brother and his father watching over him. Sam knew he could change things, but the fear he wouldn't be able to gripped at his heart. em What the hell was Dean doing/em
Dean stood near the edge of the cliff and looked down. "God" he thought, "It's so beautiful. Almost like falling to heaven." And then, as an after thought, he added. "Only, I know I am going to hell."
"What? What's going on?" Sam's confused mind struggled. "I can hear his thoughts."
"One more step and it will be all over. One more step and there will be no more pain". Dean laughed quietly. "It's not worth it anymore." Dean's throat hitched. "You hear me!" Dean suddenly shouted out loud. Looking up to the sky, with his hands outstretched, Dean continued. "You win! You win you son of a bitch! I can't do this anymore! I can do this without……" Dean's voice trailed off, sounding defeated "It's over." He said, lowering his head. /em
"Huh? No! What's he talking about," Sam thought. "He's not talking about….. no, no way. Not Dean. Dean commit suicide? Not possible. This can't be right, I'm missing something here, I must be!" Sam started to panic. And then as if answering his question, he heard Dean yell again.
I'm coming to get you, you mother fucker!" Dean's eyes looked skyward again. Then Dean turned, and Sam could have sworn he was looking directly into his eyes. Softly, with tears in his voice, he said, "I love you Sammy! I always have!" The moment those words left his mouth, Dean took that step, that step, to no more pain.
"Nooooooo!" Sam screamed arching his back. "Dean!" He called out again. Then with a sudden feeling of thud he realized he was back in the apartment room. Sam could feel his brother's hand on his, and he grabbed it.
"Here we go." Dean said quietly, responding to Sam's tightening grip. "You with us little brother?" Dean questioned softly.
Sam's eyes tried to focus, as he caught a glimpse of the fear in Dean's face. "Ahh? I….I think so." He offered shakily.
"Okay Sam." He heard his Father say. "What did you see? Was it the Demon? Do you know where it is?"
Sam watched Dean frown. "Woah! Dad, slow down, let the kid recover a bit first."
"He's not a kid Dean!" John raised his voice slightly, moving closer into Sam's space. "What did you see Sam?" He asked again. This time with more of an edge in the words.
Sam sat himself up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Umm? I'm not sure. It's vague."
"What do you mean, vague, Sam? Was it about the Demon or not?" John pressed.
Sam looked up at his Father, and then to Dean, eyes very wide. He….he really couldn't quite remember.
So in tune with his brother, Dean understood exactly what Sam's look had meant. Please Dad. I…I just can't do this right now.
"Just give me a minute." Sam said listlessly instead.
"Dad?" Dean wanted to advocate for Sam.
"Dean!" John's tone sounded frustrated. Placing his fingers around Sam's arm, he continued. "We need to know if it's the Demon!"
Dean stood up quickly when he saw Sam flinch at his Father's grasp.
"Okay, ya know what?" Dean could hear the resolve in his own voice. "Sam needs to rest! So stop with the twenty questions already, and let him do it!"
His face clearly read. Don't fuck with me about Sam!
John seemed taken aback by his son's grim face. He sighed heavily. "Look" he started. And Dean cut in. "I mean it Dad! Not now!"
John rose to his feet, determination set in his features. His son did not give the orders.
Sam stared at them. He found it fitting that his brother and father stood either side of the bed, with him in the middle. em "Oh my God" /em he thought. em "Dean is standing up to Dad. And…. And he is doing it for me."
Chapter: three
John and Dean stood, trying to stare each other down. You could cut the air with a knife. Sam looked groggily from one man to the other.
em This isn't good /em Sam thought. em Dad will rip Dean to shreds. /em
"It's…it's okay Dean, I'm okay." Sam said, trying to defuse the situation. Dean broke his father's gaze briefly to look at Sam.
Thinking it might just be easier to let his Father question Sam, he quickly assessed his brother's condition.
"Are you sure?" Dean went back to staring at his father. "Cause you don't look so crash hot, this 'vision' or whatever, it took a lot more out of you this time."
"I'm okay…. really." Sam said as he swung his legs over the side of the bed; the sudden movement upwards making Sam feel dizzy and faint. "Ummm, ahh, okay,… maybe not." Sam lowered himself back down.
John looked at Sam, and this time he em really /em looked at him. Dean had already moved back to his brother's side, saying "Hey, its okay, just rest."
Dean looked again at his Father, his face almost daring him to contradict. "Yeah Sam, rest for a while." His Dad reluctantly agreed.
The next two hours dragged slowly as Sam slept. Dean had busied himself cleaning weapons, sharpening knives and cleaning out the Impala. He needed space. Space from his father's disappointed eyes.
"Sam's well-being comes first, right?" He told himself. But still, he couldn't help but feel guilty. He had challenged his father's authority. And worse than that, he had used physical force.
He felt worse with the knowledge that he would do it again if he had to.
After cleaning out the last of the food wrappings and polystyrene cups from the car, Dean sighed heavily. He needed to face his father; he genuinely wanted him to understand. He and Sam, Sam and him. There was this inexplicable bond.
Walking pposite him, and then back down to his Journal.
"He'll be better after he's slept." Dean said cautiously. "He'll remember more." He added, by way of a peace offering.
John looked up again and his eyes softened a little. Sighing, he asked. "So how often does he get these 'visions'? Do they always come true?" John frowned.
Dean thought about the questions for a moment, and said "Well, not that often, and yeah, well, when they're the real deal, they come true."
"Real deal?" His father queried.
"Yeah, like when he's awake." Dean responded casually. The ones he has in his dreams are harder to tell" Dean explained, adding "But mostly we get enough warning to change the outcome."
"Hmmm" John looked thoughtful. "Okay, so we can use……" John started, interrupted by the sound of Sam stirring. Both men stood together, and made their way to the bedroom.
Dean brushed past his Dad and moved quickly to sit by Sam. "Hey sleepy head, how ya feeling?" He quipped.
Sam looked at Dean, and then at his father, standing just inside the doorway. "Better" he replied simply.
"Good." Dean said, feeling relieved.
John moved to the other side of the bed, and Sam realized he had been here before. em God. Did Dean really defend me to Dad? Maybe….. maybe I had just dreamt it /em . Sitting himself up with his elbows, Sam leaned slightly forward, trying to ward off the pounding in his head.
Dean wanted to be the one to steer Sam into this conversation. He knew he'd have to ease Sam into it. Experience had shown him that a bombarded Sam was a confused Sam.
"So?" Dean ventured gently. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Was it about the Demon?" His father added, with more urgency than he needed to. Dean shot John a em give him time /em look, and Sam realized that he had indeed, NOT been dreaming.
"No" Sam stated dryly. "No it wasn't about the Demon." It hurt when Sam noticed a flinch in his father's eyes. What was that on his father's face? Was that disappointment?
"Then what was it about?" John interrupted Sam's train of thought.
Sam turned and looked directly into his Dad's eyes, starting to feel the onset of panic. Christ! What was he going to say?
"Aww Gee Dad, sorry, but I think your oldest son is going to 'top' himself, by jumping off a cliff, sometime in the near future." Didn't seem like it would go down well.
Sam pushed past Dean and stood up. "Ahh?" was all that came out of his mouth.
John had not seen it, not recognized it, but Dean had. He knew, could tell, Sam was about to hide something. "Like I said before Dad, it's vague." Sam tried to sound convincing.
"Well, what do you remember?" John asked, taking a couple of steps towards his son.
Dean clenched his fist. He wanted to make sure his Father didn't push too hard. He instinctively just wanted to step between them. He had been doing it all his life. Why should now be any different? It took all his self control not to.
"How about we finish this over a cup of coffee." Dean said flippantly instead. He needed to take focus off Sam.
He forced himself to move from the bed. "I could use some coffee, what about you Sammy? Coffee?" Heading towards the hallway, he saw the silent 'thank you' in Sam's eyes, as he followed his brother to the kitchen.
Dean began to make the coffee, and Sam sat down at the kitchen table. Both men couldn't believe that the ploy had worked. They knew that inevitably it wouldn't, but for now they had breathing space.
Handing Sam his coffee, Dean sat down and took a sip of his own. Their Father had not followed them into the kitchen and both men looked towards the door expectedly.
"You want one dad?" Dean called from where he was seated. Almost immediately John appeared in the doorway. "No" came the gruff answer. "I've just had a call from a contact, I'm going out for a while, could be late." And just like that, he left.
Sam sighed heavily, fiddling nervously with his coffee cup.
"Sam?"
"Here it comes." Sam thought. He looked up to meet his brother's questioning eyes. Sam's mind was reeling. "How do I explain this to you Dean?"
Chapter four
Dean saw the hesitation in Sam's eyes and lowered his own back to the coffee cup. "It's something big isn't it?" he asked without looking up.
"Yeah" Sam replied softly. Dean had already figured out that it involved him, and from Sam's anguished "Dean!" while he was under, he knew it probably involved him dying, or at the very least being seriously hurt.
Looking into his brother's pained face, he could see how badly Sam was struggling to find the words. He felt the need to soften whatever blow, Sam might be feeling.
After draining the last of his coffee, he said. "So? I get hurt or die or something… right?"
"Huh" Sam gasped. "How…how….?"
"You called my name." Dean explained matter a factly. "But we know now so...we can prevent it, we can stop it.. Right?" Dean continued with a forced smile.
Sam gazed deeply into his brother's eyes, and Dean could feel the intensity. "Is it just me?" Dean broke eye contact and got up to pour another coffee. With his back to his brother, he added. "Or….or are you and Dad in the vision too?" The mere thought scaring him more than he could admit.
"No….just you." Sam answered, feeling the heat of a tear starting to well up.
"Good" Dean sounded relieved, and returned to the table with a fresh cup of his favorite brew.
"Okay Sammy, out with it. What gets me? A demon?" Leaning forward slightly. "The demon?" He attempted a smirk. "A ghost, a Wendigo,…what?" he gestured with his hands.
Sam turned his head side on, hoping Dean wouldn't notice the single tear that had escaped.
Dean of course, did notice. em Geez Sam, you're crying. I really can't cope with this chick flick moment right now. /em
"Just tell me what the hell it is already! Sheesh, it can't be that bad….Can it? Well?" Dean finally said out loud; frustration building.
When Sam couldn't look at him and when all he got was silence, Dean realized what Sam was thinking. Shit, he thinks that, what…whatever this is, it can't be prevented, or changed.
"Come on man! The sooner you tell me, the sooner we can hunt the thing down and kill it. You know?" Dean tried to sound light hearted.
"Get the bitch before it gets me, kinda thing. If it's not….." Dean continued his ranting.
"YOU!" Sam didn't mean to yell as loud as he did. Dean blinked back, startled. "The em thing's /em you." Sam said more quietly.
"Me?" Dean's face was clearly confused. "What do you mean ME?"
To this point, Sam had not looked back at Dean. He knew that once their eyes met, Dean would understand what his words were failing to tell him. Somehow, Dean always understood.
Slowly Sam lifted his head to meet his brother's puzzled gaze. Sam swallowed hard. "I mean…..I saw you on the edge of a cliff. You were… I dunno…" He shrugged. "upset I guess."
Almost like a train hitting him, Dean realized what Sam was about to say. "Woah, woah!" Dean stood up, hands making a stop sign.
"Jesus Sam! What the…..? God! And here I am thinking this was something serious!" He almost screamed; his face a mixture of relief and anger.
"It is serious Dean!" Came Sam's hot reply.
"Huh!" Dean started to pace. "You got to be kidding me! That's.. that's" he was trying to get his head around it, "well, that's absurd!"
"I know what I saw Dean." Sam sounded a little offended.
Dean picked up on that and sat back down at the table. Leaning forward he looked at Sam almost pleadingly. "I don't doubt it Sam. But, dude….honestly, do you really think I'm capable of doing something like that?"
Sam stared at him closely for a moment. Dean's eyes were wide and unguarded. Sam shrugged. "I dunno." He said because he couldn't think of anything else. He was sure of what he saw.
Dean felt a stab of disappointment. "Well I thought you knew me better than that Sammy!" Dean's voice was flat.. "I couldn't leave you unguarded. Not now, hopefully, not ever. Someone's got to look after that cute ass of yours" Dean smiled.
Sam's mouth softened. Dean's last words went straight to his heart. Cute? Sam thought briefly.
"Look man" Sam tried to explain as gently as he could. He knew he needed his brother to understand. "It wasn't a dream, it wasn't a nightmare. I was awake in the middle of the day, for Christ sake! It WAS a vision!
"Well, it's a God dammed wrong one then!" Dean countered angrily, leaning back.
Sam sighed, obviously not convinced. "I don't know what to tell you man, I just know what I saw and heard."
Dean couldn't believe it. He couldn't even fathom how Sam could believe such a thing. "Okay." He said slowly. "So you saw me near a cliff. I sounded upset. That doesn't mean I……"
"You told me you loved me, and then you jumped." Sam interrupted. Knowing Dean was going into the denial stage.
"Well there ya go." Dean said. "See… it has to be wrong. It's just not possible."
"What?" Sam half smiled. "That you jumped off a cliff, or that you love me?"
Dean flashed a look at Sam, and all his anger drained away. "Both" Dean joked. But his eyes clearly conveyed the truth of it.
They both fell into silence.
Dean could see that Sam was convinced this was a 'real' vision. He could tell that his brother was really worried. So he broke the silence.
"Sam….look….all I can tell you is that there is nothing in this world that could make me do that. Hell Sam, why would I wanna give up all this? He gestured with his hands, a smirk on his lips.
Sam couldn't help but turn his own lips upwards. "Nothing?" Sam inquired, still smiling.
"Nothing." Dean answered firmly.
Sam looked thoughtful for a moment. "Okay" he finally conceded. "But I really think we will need to talk about this at some stage."
"Some stage" Dean nodded slightly showing his reluctant agreement.
Dean sat on the couch in the lounge room. Sam had gone to take a shower, and Dean was flicking through the TV channels.
em "Nothing" /em he mused. He was a Winchester. em "A Winchester would never take the 'cowards' way out." /em He thought.
"But Sammy was so sure it was a vision." Dean sighed.
em Even if it was, nothing could reduce me to want to take my own life. I have a job to do. Look after Sammy, find the demon, and make my Dad proud. /em
It didn't occur to him that he had put the list in order of importance.
Dean tried to ignore how uneasy he felt. "Nope, nothing!" He told himself again confidently. But he couldn't escape the fact that he now had an unexplainable concern for his brother and his Dad.
John fumbled with the Apartment room key. "Damn" he thought. "Motel room keys were larger." Opening the front door, he entered the lounge room.
Dean stood to greet his father. "Hey Dad" he said. "Was the contact helpful?"
"Where's your brother?" John didn't answer the question.
"Here." Sam answered for himself, as he walked out of the bathroom, towel drying his hair.
"Good" The oldest Winchester said, as he motioned for the three of them to sit down. Sam and Dean glanced at each other. They could tell that this was important.
"I didn't say anything before" John began. "Because I wasn't quite sure. But now I have a handle on it.
"A handle on what?" Dean asked frowning.
"The Demon" His father almost beamed. "There's a pattern. It leaves a pattern." Leaning closer, his eyes widened. "That's why we're here in Salvation."
Chapter five
"Well that's it, that's everything I know." Their father confessed. He had taken out all the paraphernalia he had. Weather maps, newspaper clippings, old mythology books and more.
He explained to them that a week before the Demon attacked, there would be cattle deaths, temperature fluctuations and electrical storms, and now that pattern had begun, there in Salvation, Iowa.
When Sam had heard that the Demon went after 6 month-old babies, his heart pounded. "The same way it came after me?" He had asked, and Dean knew instantly Sam was going to turn it inward.
When Dean saw the pain in Sam's face, knowing he blamed himself for their mother's and Jessica's death. Anger rather than compassion rose in him.
Sam confirmed his brother's thoughts when he spoke. "So mom's death, Jessica, it's all 'cause of me?"
"We don't know that Sam" Dean tried to nip Sam's self recrimination in the bud.
"Oh really!" Sam countered. "Cause I'd say we were pretty damn sure Dean!"
Dean cut in angrily. "For the last time, what happened to them was not your fault!"
"Yeah you're right, its not my fault, but its my problem!" Sam almost yelled, standing to his full height.
Again Dean countered. "No, it's not your problem! It's our problem!"
"Okay!" Their father had said rising from behind the desk. "That's enough!" Cutting short any chance that this bickering would go any further.
Formulating a plan to check birth records for any child who would be 6 months old in the next few days, the Winchesters split up.
Sam sat at the Registry desk and went over the records again. There were literally dozens of children turning 6 months old in the next week. And that was only what he had discovered. Dean and Dad probably would have found more.
Taking a copy of the records, Sam took quickest root to the apartment. Eager to see what his Dad and Dean had found.
"How are we going to know which one?" Was all he could think about. "Jesus. Not again. We can't let this happen again."
He had hardly walked out of the door when the headache started. Grabbing his temple he knew that it was only the beginning.
It had been as if God himself had sent Sam the message. The answer to his questions had appeared before him. He even got to meet the mother and the child that would be involved. For once Sam was grateful for his visions.
Trying to get back proved harder that he expected. The pain and aftermath of the vision taking its toll.
Sitting on the bench seat in the park, he flipped open his phone.
Dean looked at the caller ID before answering. "Yeah Sam" he said casually.
"Dean." Sam choked out. And Dean instantly became alarmed. "Come get me." Sam continued.
Having grabbed the keys to the impala, Dean was already climbing into the driver's seat.
"Where….where are you man? I'm on my way. You just tell me where."
Dean hadn't even bothered to ask what was wrong. He either knew or didn't care. His brother needed him and all that mattered was to get to him as quick as possible.
Pulling the car to a screeching halt. Dean had spotted Sam on the bench seat immediately. Hunched over, his face in his hands.
Running full pelt to his brother, Dean dropped to his knees in front of him. Taking hold of both wrists, Dean moved Sam's hands away from his face. "It's okay bro, I'm here."
"I know" Sam tried to get out. "I know when it's coming."
"The demon?" Dean knew, but just wanted to make sure.
"Yeah." Came the breathy reply.
Sam was pale and his breathing was shallow. "Come on" Dean said, wrapping his arms around his little brother. "Let's get you back to the apartment. You can fill me in then."
They had not spoken on the way back to the apartment. Dean wanted to let his brother recover a little first, before he had to recount what he had seen. He knew his father would be waiting.
True enough, their father stood and gestured to help, when he saw Dean half drag Sam through the door.
Dean almost flinched when his father reached out. "I got him Dad." He said as he sat Sam down on the bed. He had no idea why the thought of someone else touching Sam, made him so uneasy.
"Another vision?" John asked, but seemed to know the answer. Dean just nodded and sat beside his brother.
"He said it was about the Demon." Dean looked at his father, trying to give Sam as much time as possible.
"What about the Demon?" John took on a less concerned tone. Again Dean answered. "He knows when it's coming."
John looked at Dean in frustration. Turning to Sam he spoke; "Sam. What happened? What did you see?"
"He's coming tonight." Sam almost whispered. "I saw her…..I" He tried to continue.
"Who? Who did you see?" Their Dad now had an edge to his voice.
"Just take your time Sammy." Dean said, glancing quickly at his father. He wanted to put the questions into one word answers, knowing Sam would cope better.
"So it's coming tonight. Right?" Dean asked.
"Yes" Sam confirmed. Trying hard to get his eyes to focus.
"Do you know who it's coming for?" Dean asked gently. This time, Sam just nodded.
"Who?" John started to demand.
Dean looked at his Dad, and felt like he had played this scene before.
"Who?" John asked again. "Who is it coming for? Do you know where it is now?" His voice now sounding impatient.
em "If you dare tell him to snap out of it." /em Dean started to think. em "I swear…." /em
But Dean's thoughts were cut short when their father sat down close to Sam.
Dean's stomach dropped. He had no idea what he would do if his father put his hand on Sam.
Sam seemed to sense Dean's tension. Shifting his leg, he moved it to rest next to Dean's. Drawing strength from the slight contact, he gave his brother the weakest of smiles.
He raised his head to meet his father's questioning eyes. "Her name is Monica Holt and the baby's name is Rosie. She's six months old today. It's coming for her tonight."
em Yes! /em John thought. em At last we know where you going to be. /em A feeling of triumph washed over him as he stood and started to pace. em "You're dead you bastard. Dead!" /em
Sam's phone rang, and both men watched Sam as he found the strength to answer it.
They listened to the one sided conversation. John hovered close, knowing that something was wrong.
Dean's eyes narrowed. He had not prepared himself, when he heard Sam say; "Meg?"
The next few hours had taken more than their toll on Sam and Dean's frayed nerves.
John had headed to Lawrence to hand the 'fake' gun to Meg after she had killed Pastor Murphy and Caleb, threatening to kill more of their friends if he did not hand over the weapon.
They had managed to Save Monica and Rosie, but Dean had to physically stop Sam from running back into the burning house to try and kill the demon.
Sam was obviously pissed with Dean for stopping him, and the ride back to the apartment was an icy one.
Pulling the impala to a stop, Dean started to get their stuff, before grabbing the keys from the ignition and opening the door. em "Fuck him." /em Dean thought, as he climbed out. em "Save his life, and what thanks do I get? Selfish bastard." /em
Dean threw the keys and his phone next to the bed and flopped down. The strain was getting to him. Not only was he worried sick about his father, but now Sam was treating him like he had done something wrong.
Closing his eyes, he waited and listened for Sam to enter. "Probably sulking in the car." He thought, when even after a few moments, sam didn't come in.
Stubbornness kept him lying there, eyes closed. But after 10 minutes, curiosity, if not concern, made him get up and check on his brother.
"Fuck!" Dean's heart sank when he saw Sam still in the car, slouched over, grabbing at his head.
Dean ran over and opened the passenger side door and Sam toppled into his arms. "Shit Sammy." Dean said, as he helped Sam out of the car and into the small apartment lounge room.
"Not again?" Dean said, more of a statement than a question. Sam looked up briefly and just nodded.
"Man!" Dean sounded exasperated. "Stupid fucking pride!" Dean wanted to kick himself. Sam had been out there for over 10 minutes, while he lay on the bed, thinking of insults.
em At least Dad's not here to badger you. /em Dean found some comfort in that.
"Demon?" Dean asked, trying hard to stay calm.
Sam kept his hands to his face, when he shook his head in the negative.
"No?" Dean sounded genuinely surprised. "Dad?" Alarm in his voice this time.
Sam raised his head to look at his brother, who was sitting on the couch next to him. "No…..not Dad."
"Then what?" Dean was acutely aware he sounded like their father.
When their eyes met and Sam said nothing, Dean's face was all questions, but then it turned to anger.
Standing, he moved away from his brother. "Me again?" Dean asked venomously.
Again Sam didn't answer, but the fear and confusion in his eyes did.
Damn it Dean thought. We have better things to think about than this shit.
Dean was sorry Sam was in pain. God, he would do anything to prevent that. But this was pointless, and far less important than finding their Dad right now. Disappointment showed in his face.
"Dean?" Sam started to say.
"Okay" Dean cut him off. "If I can't get Dad on the phone, then I think we should head to Lawrence." Dean needed to change the subject.
Pulling out his phone, he speed dialed his Dads number. Sam got up and moved to the table. Sitting down, he allowed his mind to retrace the nights events.
"So close. We were so close." Sam thought and anger, for Dean having stopped him, started to rise again. The adrenaline helping to stave off the headache.
"Something's wrong" Dean said as he let the phone ring out for the second time. Sam didn't even look up, so Dean added. "Ya hear me, something's wrong. Something's happened."
"If you had just let me go in there. I coulda ended all this." Sam said, deep and low and Dean looked at him in surprise, frustration starting to build.
"Sam, the only thing you would have ended was your life." Dean almost snarled. Not quite believing that Sam could be that stupid.
"You don't know that!" Sam finally looked at his brother.
Dean turned and faced Sam. "So, what, you're just willing to sacrifice yourself? Is that it?"
"Yeah, yeah you're Damn right I am." Sam said and stood up.
And Dean felt his heart crushing under the pressure of that thought.
"Yeah well, that's not gunna happen, not while I'm around." Came Dean's automatic response.
"What the hell are you talking about Dean? We been searching for this demon our whole lives. It's the only thing we've ever really cared about."
Dean turned and faced Sam, looking at him intensely.
"Sam, I wanna waste it. Okay? I do. But it's not worth dying over." Dean retorted.
"What?" Sam couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I mean it!" Dean tried hard to maintain control. "If hunting this demon means you getting yourself killed. Then I hope we never find the damned thing."
And there it was. Dean had finally said it out loud. He would choose his brother's life over revenge any day.
Then a realization made his heart sink.
em He will do it to. em Dean's mind struggled with the mere thought. em He'll get careless and he will end up dead. /em
"That thing killed Jess, that thing killed mom." Sam said. All Dean could think about though, was trying to make his brother understand. Nothing was worth his brother's life.
Dean's eyes softened when he spoke again. "You said yourself once. That no matter what we do, they're gone." Dean's voice broke slightly. "And there never coming back."
Fuck you Dean! Sam's mind saw red. "Don't you say that!" Sam yelled as he grabbed his brother by the denim jacket, and slammed him hard up against the wall. "Not after all this. Don't you say that!"
Dean knew he had only two options open to him. He could either break his brother's hold, and end up in a fight. Or he could tell Sam how broken he felt.
The pain and torment in his brother's eyes made him choose the later.
"Sam, look….. The three of us, that's all we have." Dean felt the truth of the next statement wash over him. "It's all I have."
Sam's anger quickly dissipated as he looked into Dean's unguarded eyes. Sobs starting to hitch in his throat.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm barely holding it together man." Dean continued. "Without you and Dad….."
Without you. The thought made him want to vomit.
Then the pain of Dean being this vulnerable hit Sam, and he released his hold.
"Dad." Sam said as grabbed the bridge of his nose. His head still throbbing from the earlier vision. "He should of called by now. Try him again."
Dean took a second to clear his thoughts, and rang the number.
Sam was trying to get himself together. The look of anguish on his brother's face just a moment ago, still fresh in his mind.
Sam only turned to look at Dean when he heard him speak deep and hateful into the phone.
"Where is he?"
Making eye contact with Dean. Sam knew. Sam knew that Meg had their Father.
TBC (Last chapter up 27/9/06)
A/N: Ok guys, hope you enjoyed this story so far. As always, I can't do this without honest feed back, (Remember it was my very first.) so………R&R Pretty please
