After another night of restless sleep, Dean couldn't wait to go to school. John had suggested he stay home, but Dean, desperately hoping it would keep his mind off his current situation, decided to go. He would end up wishing he had stayed home.
Everything was going great until Mr. Feldman's 5th period U.S history class. During a lecture about the Boston Tea Party Dean could feel himself nodding off. He pinched his arm as hard as could; hoping it would help him stay awake. It didn't work and he was asleep in seconds.
Suddenly Dean was back in that room. He felt like his whole body would explode from all the pain. He struggled against his Mom's hold.
"Please Mommy stop. Please Mommy!" screamed out Dean.
He woke with a start to feel Mr. Feldman shaking his shoulder. Dean pulled back his fist. Luckily, he realized where he was before he punched his teacher. He looked around the room and could see that everybody was staring at him. A few students, the ones sitting closest to Dean, were sniggering. They had heard Dean mumbling Mommy in his sleep.
Concerned about Dean, Mr. Feldman sent him to the nurse's office. Dean told her he didn't feel well, so she called John to come pick him up.
oooooOOOOooooo
John was extremely worried when he got the call to pick Dean up. He raced over to the school.
Are you okay, son?" asked a concerned John.
"Dad, I fell asleep in history class and nearly punched my teacher, in the face, when he tried to wake me," said Dean.
"Maybe you should stay home from school until we can figure this thing out," said John.
"Okay," replied Dean.
oooooOOOOooooo
The phone was ringing when they entered the house. It was Caleb calling with information Dean. John picked it up in the study, while Dean headed to the kitchen for a snack.
"Hey Caleb, what's up? Did you find out anything?" asked John.
"Yeah. John I think you're dealing with a memory demon," said Caleb.
"A memory demon? What's that?" asked John not familiar with it.
"It's a lower level demon. They distort people's memories…" Caleb trailed off unsure how to tell John the rest.
"Caleb, spill it. What ever it is, I need to know so I can help Dean," said John.
"Okay, John. The demon picks a victim and scans their mind looking for a memory to use to drive them insane. Then the demon drains their life force, killing them," said Caleb.
"What like a striga?" asked a stunned John.
"Sorta," said Caleb,
"So what we wait for this thing to come for Dean. No way I'm getting him out of here now," said John.
"You could do that John and Dean would live because this demon is not a good tracker. He wouldn't be able to find you, but Dean would not get better," Caleb said.
"What do you mean not get better? Caleb what aren't you telling me?" asked John.
Caleb paused for a moment. He liked Dean, thought he was a good kid. He didn't deserve what was happening to him and what was going to happen. Caleb didn't want to have to tell John the rest of what he found out, but knew he had to.
"It's going to get worse for Dean. You said the nightmare happens whenever Dean's asleep. It will start happening when he's awake, until it takes over his mind completely and it's all he can see. In order for the hold the demon has over Dean to be released, the demon has to be killed. If it's not killed, Dean's mind will stay trapped in that nightmare forever. It's no guarantee when it's killed that Dean will get better. I could only find one person who survived being targeted by a memory demon. I'm sorry to have to tell you this. That guy ended up in a mental institution," said Caleb.
"No! No, that's not going to be my son. I am going to kill that bastard and Dean's going to get better," said John with steel determination in his voice.
"Okay, John. I want to help you kill this thing. I'm going to drive down tonight. When I get there we'll go over how to kill it," said Caleb.
"Thanks Caleb and please hurry," said John before he hung up the phone.
This can't be happening. Dean could die or up going completely crazy thought the worried father. That's not going to happen. I won't let it happen thought John as tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He quickly wiped them away. He didn't want Dean see him crying.
Just then Dean walked into the study. He hoped that was Caleb calling with good news for them.
"Was that Caleb on the phone? Did he find out anything?" asked Dean hopefully.
John saw the look of hope on Dean's face and he couldn't bring himself dash it. He knew it was wrong, but he decided not to tell Dean everything he had just learned from Caleb.
"Yeah that was Caleb. He says we're dealing with a memory demon," said John.
"A memory demon, what's that?" asked Dean.
"A lower level demon that distorts memories. Caleb's headed down here to help us kill it," said John.
"Dad will the nightmares stop once it's dead?" asked Dean.
John was afraid Dean would ask him that. He was trying to figure out what he was going to say when the front door opened. Sam was home.
"Dad, Dean I'm home," yelled out Sam.
"We're in the study," called out John grateful for the distraction.
Sam walked in to join them. Looking at Dean and John's faces he could tell something was going on.
"What's up?" asked Sam.
John told Sam what he had told Dean about the memory demon and Caleb. Sam was upset about Dean being targeted by a demon.
"Dean why don't you go into the kitchen and fix a snack for you and Sam. You boys should start on your homework," said John.
oooooOOOOooooo
In the kitchen Dean told Sam what had happened at school and how he was going to be staying home until the nightmares were over.
"Do you think Dad would let me stay home with you?" asked Sam.
"Sam you love school. Why would you want to stay home?" said Dean.
"My teacher told us what we're doing for our mothers day projects. We're making scrapbooks. Everybody has to bring in pictures of themselves with their mom. I don't have any pictures," said Sam sadly.
Man, with all that was going on Dean had forgotten that Mother's Day was coming up. Why do they have to have a holiday to remind them that they didn't have a mom anymore he thought?
"Sammy, I'll talk to Dad for you," said Dean.
"Thanks," said a grateful Sam.
oooooOOOOooooo
Dean was going to talk to his Dad after dinner, but it seemed someone had other plans for him. He could barley keep his eyes open during dinner. How was he going to make it through the night he wondered? Coffee must have lots of coffee thought Dean. He got up and started a pot brewing. Dean fell asleep, standing up, while waiting for the coffee to finish. It was happening again. The nightmare, the room, his mother and all that pain.
Sam walked into the kitchen to see Dean lying on the floor. He was struggling in his sleep with a person who wasn't there. Sam flew to his side. He grabbed Dean's shoulders and tried to hold him still.
"Dean wake up. Come on Dean," cried Sam.
Sam was scared. He couldn't get Dean to wake up. He screamed for his Dad. John came running in the room.
"Dean!" shouted John as he ran to his son's side.
More to Come