Sam relaxed his body as if he hadn't noticed the looming form. Sam knew the Sandman was watching him-watching his brother. The same great patience that he had shown Dean earlier held on to his body language, when really all he could feel was contempt and the need to fight. The next sizzle of lightning flashed through the motel window projecting the sinister silhouette framed in the window panes. Cracking his back again as if he was warding off another fit of fatigue, Sam stood and forced his face to display concern and restlessness. He had already formulated his plan of attack. Hoping his ruse of the unsuspecting victim and hapless concerned brother were providing some element of surprise. Surprise against an enemy that can become intangible at the slightest whim would be the only advantage Sam had in this battle. He found himself longing for the easy partnership and reciprocal hunting responsibility that he shared with Dean. He didn't fear going into battle alone, but fighting without him seemed unnatural.
His brother's body lurched as a simpering groan drew from the depths of Dean. The Sandman was calling. Clenched shutters spasmed through Dean as if his entire body was pleading for an end to pain. Crossing over to his bed in the false attempt to assess and comfort Dean, Sam covered his scheme for battle under the guise of caring for his ailing brother. Sam gripped his weapon duffel as he pulled the blanket from his bed. His hands slid into the arsenal and palmed the two items with pickpocket slickness. Covering his intentions, Sam wrapped his brother the blanket from his bed.
Dean's closed eyes were already fluttering with signs of unrest. Anguish breaths sunk into his chest and panic already starting to pull him. Dean's status had progressed from the ease of sleep to a forlorn agony. Sam grimaced at his brother's pain "It's okay, Dean on the take care of this and take care of it now."
Utilizing the years of training his father had instilled, Sam observed without being noticed. Rubbing his face as if his natural frustration were staring to simmer, Sam scrutinized the overconfidence relish and delight upon the demented villain's face. It spurned into Sam's bone. The bastard's full focus clawing away into his brother's mind, the overconfidence of a battle already won painted upon the depraved deranged psychopath's face as he chiseling away Dean's soul.
"No….more!" squeezed from Dean's lips. Sam noted the words were not a plea, but an order. For Sam, it might as well have been a whimpering moan asking for his help. A plea he intended to fulfill.
Sprinting with light speed reflexes, Sam launched his plan to action. He gripped a silver box in his palm before his hand turned the door knob and the other grasped at the only source of fire he had available. Taking a play from the Dean Winchester playbook, Sam pointed the aerosol can before the door had fully swung open. He has also flicked the lighter before the Sandman had time to blink. Sparking the spray to a fountain of blaze flames towards his unaware target, Sam's attack had several moments to burn away at the Sandman flesh. Sam didn't question having the upper hand. The Sandman's eyes were locked in focus as if he was unconnected to his body and the damage Sam had righteously provided to it.
Finally howling in pain, the Sandman broke contact with Dean. It didn't take long for the Sandman to feel the attack of the youngest and determined Winchester. As if his full attention had returned in a blink, the brute whirled around to focus on Sam. "You'll pay for this!" The melted monstrosity screeched like a howler monkey. Sam's cascading flames pour steadily from the aerosol can. Just when Sam thought he might win, the creature before him turned intangible. Sam whirled around in a giant arc, waiting for the tormentor to crystallize. Feeling the weight of the can become lighter, Sam fretted that his only source of firepower was near the end and blindly wasting it on an unseen target was getting nowhere. He released the feed to his weapon and waited for his opponent to formalize. "Come on, you son of a bitch!" He whirled around ever alert that his guard could not falter. He wouldn't allow himself to fail Dean.
Aphotic eyes crystallized and watched as the youngest Winchester stood defense for the eldest. Forming on the landing of a billboard overlooking the highway and the small motel, the Sandman cursed the young man. A merging of flesh and embedded cloth from the heat of Sam's attack left a lasting and reminding mark upon the Sandman's side. Yards away from Sam's location, the Sandman could watch unseen and return to his own intentions. Sam's interference was something he hadn't planned to face. The strength of the brothers combined was a far more of a formidable partnership than he had expected. Strange how two mere mortals could contain such strength. "So close little one." The Sandman's lips curled in nefarious indignation. Sam's transgression would not soon be forgotten as fair play was alien to the Sandman. "I've had enough of you moppet."
Scrutinizing the still stalking Sam, the Sandman savored in returning pain to Sam. The anticipated attack, however, was closer and the Sandman tactics were far more sinister than Sam could ever fathom.
-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x
Muscles tightened upon the rest bed of Dean. His body lurched him into his ballistic involuntary hallucinogenic world. Standing alone in the motel room that Sam and he had called home for days, his face turned from scorn and reproach for being pulled back into his living nightmare.
"You think tying one on will save you!" The blithe spirit gloating sounded within the empty room.
"Show yourself! If you want me so bad come get me. No more! " Dean had grown weary beyond words. He was ready to stop this never-ending spiral cycle if it meant the end of him.
"It's sad really. You have been my best opponent. You fought so hard, only to fail time and again. The pain and guilt you hide has been more fulfilling and satisfying than any other in my thousands of years."
Discovery sunk in his Dean as he realized this wasn't just a sick satisfying game, but the Sandman fed upon the misery of his victims. "You feed upon our misery, you bastard ..."
"Feed upon your life force until your very soul is mind." The Sandman's image materialized and stood rank-and-file with Dean. "I'm a part of you…until your soul gives into me and your soul has so much more power to give me!"
"If you wanted that tarnished thing you should have just asked."
"You aren't prepared to face me, Dean. You can't face yourself."
"I'm always ready to dance with a little bitch.!"
Circling around Dean, the Sandman jutted his face within inches of Dean's. The evil laughed a hot wet breath upon Dean's flesh. Dean's stood unmoving in an attempt to keep control of the part of him that was still within.
Lashing out with his massive hands, the Sandman ripped into Dean's injured shoulder. The javelin talon fingers plunged deeply and grazed against the bones in Dean's arm. A vision or not, that thing hurt.
Pushing Dean down to his knees, the creature loomed over him. His grip was unchanging and an endless agony.
"I'm not pla..playing.. AHHH! I won…I won't….uggghh."
The finger blades sank deeper in his skin. If they plummeted any further, Dean's bones would crack from the pressure. Dean groaned through a face constructed with pain. Clenching his teeth and racking in a spasm, Dean's face was pallid from strain. Finally, he was unable to stand the throbbing anymore, and he balled his fist in vehemence. Connecting with the beast's face, the creature's grip loosened.
Breaking free, Dean's arm hung limply at his side. Blood poured from his injury. Hallucination on not, his arm ached like a mother. He lunged towards the Sandman, but the beast threw him back as if he were dust in the wind. Regaining his footing, he swung his good arm madly to fend off the next attack. The blows were meaningless, as the Sandman pinned Dean to the motel floor. The evil hot breath steamed Dean's face. Gathering all the strength he could muster, Dean used both legs to push the creature back. The image landed harshly upon the motel door.
Dean stood ready for another attack, but the villain had recovered quickly. Bounty from the floor, the Sandman was already approaching before Dean's mind to think of his next offense. Anger pulsated through him at all the skills of the tactician in his folly straining fell to the wayside, unthinking and in an uncontrolled environment, Dean didn't wait to charge towards the door.
"No Dean! Dean!" Sam had just tuned in the motel door, when Dean bolted towards him. The charge was too fast and soon. Dean had pinned Sam arm's under his legs. Dean was quite please he had achieved the upper hand in attacking the Sandman.
Dean, with rapid gusto, used his good arm to slam a barrage of punches into Sam's confused face.
Sam struggled to free an arm-or anything- otherwise Dean would beat him to death in a short time. Sam wiggled slightly and his hand moved infinitesimally.
Dean continued his onslaught upon the pseudo Sandman-his brother's broken and bloody face. Anger pushed Dean's tired body to unthinkable aggression.
Still trying to shift himself to a defensible position, Sam begged, "Dean, please,"