Dreamscapes, Landscapes and Hellscapes.
Disclaimer: Honestly, I don't have them held prisoner in my spare bedroom, honestly truly I – I didn't do it!! Hehehe usual stuff not mine never has been and never will be.
Author's Note: As many of you know, I am not an American and in fact, I have never been outside Australia. I pulled the name of my focus town, Pearson out of the ether and popped it into Nevada, if there is such a town and you live in it, then please accept my most heartfelt apologies and I hope I do it justice.
CHAPTER THREE
Ring a ring of Roses, and a pocketful of posies, Sammy falls down.
11 am Sunday June 24th 2007
Pearson Children's Hospital
Pearson Nevada USA
Dean woke with a start, barely remembering where he was and what was happening, casting a bleary eye over the room he finally let his gaze fall on his brother. Sam looked even paler if that was humanly possible. 'Sammy?' he whispered scrubbing at his eyes he yawned and attempted to sit up. His head felt thick and heavy and the room span around him dizzily, then Dean's memory caught up and he remembered arguing with the doctor and being jabbed. Grumbling under his breath Dean pushed through the dizziness and sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and on wobbling legs lurched to the chair he sat in yesterday next to Sam. 'Hey kiddo, how's it going this morning? Gonna wake up and talk to me?' He asked as he settled himself in the chair and once again held Sam's hand needing the physical contact.
Sam stirred and his fingers clutched at Dean's hand a look of confusion formed on his face, curious Dean let go and sat back watching Sam's reaction intently. As soon as Dean let go of Sam's fingers he saw the change in Sam's facial expression, he looked like a lost little boy whose favourite toy went missing. Swallowing deeply Dean reached up and cupped his hand around Sam's cheek, wiping the pad of his thumb along the high cheekbone. 'Hey Sammy what's going on in that head of yours?' He asked sighing heavily he went to pull back when he felt Sam turn his face slightly and press harder into Dean's hand.
'Good morning Dean, how are we doing this morning?' Doctor Shepherd asked breezing in looking fresh and awake.
'Doc watch this.' Dean said without turning around he waited until he saw the doctor in his peripheral vision, 'watch Sam's face.' Slowly Dean withdrew his hand and took it away breaking the physical contact with Sam, the effect was immediate Sam's face formed a scowl and he moved his head back in the direction of where Dean's hand had been. When Dean replaced his hand, the scowl left his face and Sam settled down again pressing his cheek into Dean's palm.
'That's very interesting.' Doctor Shepherd exclaimed, 'does he show any signs of waking?'
'No, just awareness of my touch.' Dean sighed, 'Doc what did you glom me with last night I feel like I've been a professional boxer's punching bag.'
'Sorry but it was the only way.' Shepherd grinned 'by the way you look a lot better.'
'Gee thanks.' Dean grumbled stifling a yawn, 'damn it Doc.'
'The effects will wear off; I'm going to go and try the same contact with the children and see what responses I get.' Shepherd turned to go before looking back at Dean when there was no smart answer. Dean's head rested on Sam's bed lying on his free hand sleeping soundly. His other hand still cupping Sam's cheek. Picking a blanket up he draped it over Dean's shoulders and gently shut the door behind him.
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Sam sat up and stared around in shock, unable to comprehend where he was and why he hurt so much. He was sure he could feel Dean's hand holding his hand and then touching his face but then he was gone and Sam mourned his loss instantly.
Joey and Penny huddled close, one on either side of him, white faced and trembling glancing around Sam realised that they were in a deep pit, frowning he tried to put the fragments of his thoughts together, fitting them like a jigsaw puzzle.
'Morpheus!' he spat the name out, he remembered his childhood enemy, the creature who dominated his dreams, or rather nightmares. The thing that had him waking up screaming and terrified, the only constant for Sam was Dean's presence, holding him tight and making sure that Morpheus stayed in the dream realms.
'Dean.' Sam whispered brokenly as he thought of the sensations he felt once again, he was positive that Dean had touched him.
'Sam you okay?' Penny asked sniffling she stared up at the young man, 'your hurt.'
'I'm okay Penny, how about you guys?' Sam blinked back the tears and inspected the two children for any injuries. Joey looked paler and weaker than he had before, worried Sam pulled the little boy onto his lap and cradled him close. 'Hey Joey it's okay, I'm going to look after you.'
'Tired Sam, I want my mommy.' Joey whispered pressing hard against Sam he settled slightly when he could hear the steady beat of Sam's heart.
'We're going to get out of here guys I promise.' Sam said tightening his grip on both children. From the darkness he could hear crying, a child's cry. Awkwardly he pulled himself up easily lifting Joey with him but as soon as he put weight on his injured ankle he bit back the pain and waited until everything stopped spinning before lurching forward, holding Penny's hand tightly to keep contact with the little girl.
'Hello is someone there?' Sam called out softly, 'it's okay I can help you.'
'I want my daddy.' A little boy's voice wailed his high-pitched cries set Sam's teeth on edge but he kept stumbling forward. 'I don't wanna be here.'
'Hey my name's Sam.' Sam said when he saw the young boy crouched against the dirt wall, 'I can help you, what's your name?'
'Peter.' The little boy sniffed and stared up at Sam standing in front of him with two other children, 'hey Penny, Joey where are we?'
'Pete it's okay Sam can help you.' Penny said holding her hand out.
'So you guys all know each other?' Sam asked looking at the three children in turn.
'Uhhuh, we all goes to the same school.' Penny announced nodding her head solemnly.
'Are you all the same age?'
'Think so.'
'Okay we need to stay together.' Sam said limping back to the lighter side of the pit he sank down against the wall and cradled Joey against his chest, Penny and Peter took up positions leaning into his sides. He could feel the tremors coursing through the children.
'Sam I ... feel strange.' Joey whispered 'so cold.'
'Hey Joey you gotta do something for me and stay awake okay?' Sam cried out giving the child a gentle shake, 'how about I tell you a story?'
'Story please!' All three chorused.
Sam smiled and settled them a little more, 'okay this is about a brave, brave man called Dean who vanquished monsters for a living. Dean the monster slayer people called him.'
The three children all watched Sam with wide eyes and looks of excitement on their small faces forgetting about where they were while Sam told them stories of Dean's exploits, toning them down and making them suitable for children to listen to.
'Now Dean had a young brother who he raised from when he was only a baby. He looked after his brother and made sure that no one or nothing hurt him.' Sam's voice broke slightly but he kept talking, 'when his brother was twelve Dean was protecting him while they were hunting a nasty creature, he got hurt but that wouldn't stop him from protecting his baby brother. So, when he could Dean put himself in between his brother and the monster and killed the monster dead. He saved both of their lives that day.'
'Wow, Dean's a good brother.' Pete breathes, 'I don't have a brother or a sister it's just me.'
'Aw how sweet, what a nauseating story by the way.' Morpheus appeared directly in front of Sam, 'give me the boy Samuel.'
'Go fu...get lost Morpheus you're not having any of them.' Sam declared gently laying Joey on the ground, he stood up and blocked Morpheus' view of the children.
'Sam this is not a smart move.' Morpheus warned him, 'give me the child and I will not hurt you or the other two for now.'
'You are not going to touch any of them.' Sam ground out as the ground under them shook.
'You shouldn't have said that.' Morpheus said as he waved his hands and the ground gave way plummeting Sam and the children into the darkness.
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Dean mumbled and sat up sniffing a sneeze back, he had lost his contact with Sam during his nap and immediately felt guilty. Sam's soft voice filled his ears and he looked up quickly his eyes filled with hope but there was no change. Sam spoke but Dean wasn't the one he was speaking too.
Listening intently Dean smiled as Sam told the children a story about Dean the monster slayer. As the story evolved and Sam described how Dean saved his life when he was twelve and Dean was sixteen.
Then Sam's demeanour changed, he looked as though he acted out putting one of the kids down and started to protecting them. He listened in horror as he heard Sam's side of the argument with Morpheus. 'Son of a bitch!' Dean exclaimed, momentarily letting go of Sam and breaking contact, Morpheus was a name he hadn't heard for a long time. A lifetime ago for both of the Winchester brothers.
Suddenly Sam's body arched up and then fell hard against the bed, as though he had fallen from the floor above him. blood seeped out onto his pillows and dribbled from his left ear and nose. 'Dammit Sammy what is happening to you?' Dean cried out as he pressed the call button frantic when he saw the amount of blood staining the pristine white of the pillowslip.
'What's wrong Dean?' Maggie asked running into the observation room.
'Get the Doctor Maggie please.' Dean said keeping his gaze fixed on Sam's face, 'something's wrong.'
Maggie nodded and left for a moment before returning with a triage trolley, quickly she rolled Sam over onto his side facing Dean so she could see where the bleeding came from. 'He has a small cut on the base of his skull, jagged like from a rock or something.' She said gently wiping the area with sterile wipes and then checked Sam's vitals while she waited for the doctor to come in.
'Where is he?' Dean asked hoarsely when the doctor didn't immediately come in, 'Maggie what's wrong?'
'He ah will be here in a moment, there's a problem with Joey.' Maggie said softly glancing at Dean. 'Keep contact with your brother; talk to him anything you can think of.'
'Hey Sammy, come on dude you're starting to panic the nice nurses.' Dean said stroking Sam's hair, 'I need you back with me Sam.'
'I'm sorry I took so long.' Shepherd announced as he ran into the room, pale and shaking the doctor had a look of utter devastation on his face.
'What happened Doc?' Dean asked as the man went around to the other side of Sam's bed to examine the cut carefully.
'We lost Joey.' Came the succinct reply. 'Okay Maggie Sam's going to need stitches how's his blood pressure and temperature?'
'His blood pressure is 170/100 and temperature is 101.2˚ (38.4 C), his pulse is thready.' Maggie reported moving robotically helping the doctor to dress Sam's wounds. The news of another child's death broke her heart a little more.
Dean tuned out the doctor and Maggie and concentrated on Sam, he stroked his brother's hair absently keeping the fragile contact with his brother.
'Joey no!' Sam cried out startling the people in his room, 'no please no.'
'Sam?' Dean cried out taking one of Sam's hands in his he squeezed and tightened his grip on the long fingers.
'I'm going to kill you Morpheus.' Sam screamed tears running down his face, he started to rock himself making it hard for the doctor to finish up the dressings.
'Dean can you hold his shoulder and try to keep him as still as possible?' Shepherd asked, 'I'm nearly done.'
'What have you done?' Sam cried out as his struggling intensified. 'Leave the kids alone, it's me you want let them go.'
'No Sammy.' Dean cried out his fingers digging into Sam's shoulder, as suddenly as Sam started struggling he stopped and a soft mewling came from deep within him as he leant against Dean's firm hand. 'Dean?'
'All done,' Shepherd announced yanking the surgical gloves off and tossing them on the used disposable equipment. Easing Sam back onto his back he gave him a cursory examination, silent tears fell down Sam's cheeks and he kept the soft mewling sound going.
'Doctor what's going on?'
'Joey's heart gave out, it was like something or someone was sucking his life right out of him.'
Dean's head shot up and stared at the doctor intently, 'what did you say?'
'I Said that Joey's heart gave out, and it was like something or someone was sucking his life right out of him.'
'Morpheus.' Dean snarled angrily.
'Who?' Shepherd asked curiously.
'Morpheus he's like a dream demon.' Dean muttered more to himself than the shell-shocked Doctor. 'He used to attack Sam in his nightmares when he was a kid. Legend has it that he feeds off children in their dreams every ten years. He never took them like this before usually he only made contact with the children when they dreamt but now, now he can put them in a permanent dream state.' The impact of his own words made his stomach roil.
'I – I don't understand what you are talking about Dean.' Shepherd looked as though he was about to commit Dean to the psych ward.
'Morpheus, not the ancient Greek God, this is a dream demon they feed off fear and pain while their victim is in a dream state.'
'What can be done?'
'Break the dream cycle.' Dean announced looking up at the doctor for the first time in days he had hope reflecting in his moss-green eyes.
Dean leant back to Sam's face and started to stroke his hair, 'I'm gonna get you back Sammy, don't worry I am going to get you back.'
'Dean?' Sam mumbled visibly relaxing.
'I'll be back Dean I want to go and check the other children.' Shepherd said leaving the brothers alone; he had to put all of this in perspective.
Dean yawned and felt the tug of sleep this time he kept a tighter grip on Sam's hand resting his own cheek on it. Minutes later he fell into a deep sleep, the cold hit him immediately and he shivered uncontrollably.
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Sam blinked and stared down to where Joey had been lying, the child was gone and he felt his loss keenly, he failed to keep the little boy safe. Penny and Peter stared at him with wide expectant eyes, and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep.
A flicker of light caught his attention and he tried to focus on it, the children automatically moved to Sam's shoulders ready to huddle behind him if needed.
The static in the air was palpable as the flickers came more frequently trying to solidify into a form. 'Dean?'
'Sammy?' Dean's shape came into view and started to coalesce into a solid form.
'Dean where are you?'
'Asleep I think, Sammy what's going on? You have to wake up, the kids have to wake up.' Dean called out, 'damn it.'
'Dean where ... what's happening?'
Dean crackled into view again he crouched down in front of Sam and cupped his hand over the side of Sam's face, 'Sam you have to wake up, the kid they have to wake up.'
'What is going on here?' Morpheus roared, Dean turned and stood up standing protectively over Sam and the other children. 'Intruder you're not wanted here.'
'Yeah well get used to it, I didn't let you get Sam before and I'll die before you get him again.'
'Brave words little man.' Morpheus chuckled flicking his fingers at Dean, whose image disappeared for a second, before he shimmered before Sam once again.
'I'll be back Sam, but you have to wake up.' Dean gasped his handsome face twisted in pain as he disappeared leaving Sam and the children alone with Morpheus once again.
'No! Dean!'
TBC