When Will and I arrived at the salvage yard the following day, Bobby and Sam were sitting on the porch reading and drinking coffee and Dean was taking the opportunity to give his baby a good once over. We walked up to porch and greeted everyone whilst Bobby offered us a drink Sam went and checked with Dean if he wanted a drink, Dean told him a coffee would be great and that he it would be another hour before he was finished working on the car. Sam said that would be okay as Will and Bobby were going to catch up, and that he and I would be sitting down talking about family stuff and ways to manage his visions.
As the weather was so good, we all decided that we would take the opportunity to sit outside in the sunshine. Whilst Sam and I sat on one side of the porch, Will and Bobby made themselves comfortable on the other side. Bobby and Will were taking a trip down memory lane and discussing old hunts and looking through some of Bobby's texts.
Sam and I sat in an awkward silence for a couple of minutes trying to work out how to approach what we both knew would be a difficult subject. Sam started to fidget in his seat so I reached over put my hands on top of his and said as soothingly as I could manage "it's going to be alright, I know that this is scary but we will get through this together the way family does, and we are family". Sam looked at me and replied "I know, it's just that it's only in the last two years that anyone has known about my visions and I thought that they were demonic and so as far as they are concerned I have not wanted to look any deeper."
I looked him straight in the eyes and told him "It's going to be alright, our powers are not based in good or evil, it's what you do with them that make them that way and from what I know about your father and therefore you and your brother you would only use these powers for good. You have been hunting evil and from what I heard about Cold Oak, you chose not to kill Jake and lost your life instead. That's definitely coming down on the side of good."
Sam responded "I know, but the demon showed me something in Cold Oak and I am not totally sure what's true anymore." As Sam said this Dean stepped onto the porch, and said "what are you talking about Sam, when we spoke in Cold Oak you never said anything to me about any of this." Sam looked sheepishly at his brother and said "I didn't know how to tell you what he had shown me and then what he told me. After what Dad told you and the events in Minnesota I didn't want to add to your stress and we already had other issues to deal with." Dean said "this isn't over but you need to talk to Toni and I need to wash up. Do either of you want anything whilst I'm in the house." I had a tea, Sam went for a coffee and Dean went to check with Bobby and Will and disappeared into the house to clean up and get the drinks.
I looked at Sam and said "are you ready to start or do you want to clear this up with Dean first." Sam replied "No it's ok we should continue. I can speak to Dean later when you've gone." "Ok, let's get started then" We started talking about the family history and how I had been told about the Winchester gift by my father. That we came from a long line of powerful and exceptional people and that I could show him how to manage the pain that the visions bring and how I was able to tap into my visions on demand and how with some help he might be able to do the same thing. That ultimately the powers that we had were not good or evil only what we decided to do with them. How that at any one time across the world a percentage of the population possessed
some kind of psychic ability. That the Winchesters seemed to have this focused in their bloodline but that this was not necessarily a bad thing.
I explained to Sam that as I came into my gifts I had been scared, and my Dad sent me to spend time with my Uncle Samson who also had the gift and that he could help me as my powers emerged. Uncle Samson or Son as he was referred to by the family told me how he had learnt to control his powers that his Uncle had taught him the same way he was teaching me and that I would be responsible for teaching John's youngest child. I told Son about my dream and John's reaction and how he had now disappeared. Son told me that "Don't worry Toni, I'm sure he and the boys are fine and will be fine for many years to come." Son and I started the lessons, they started with learning how to control the pain, and this was to not fight the visions when they hit but to go with it. Son didn't have visions himself but he had learnt the same lessons for his telekinesis and to stop the pain associated with moving things. I learnt that if I allowed a vision to open up and didn't fight it there was no pain and I was actually able to delve deeper into the vision and keep the vision open for longer. This meant that I could find out more information which would steer me in the direction where I would be able to help people.
I turned to Sam and said "are you sure that you are ready to learn what Son taught me, or do you want to take a break and go clear things up with Dean?" Sam said "No, I'm ready. Anything that will mean that I'm not in pain when a vision hits, I haven't told Dean but the pain is getting unbearable and it is taking longer and longer to get over." Right easy start, what do you feel when a vision is coming? He told me It's like a really bad headache, the pain builds behind my right eye and slowly rolls backwards and across my head, could be compared to the start of a migraine. I said okay, do you have this pain at any other time or just when a vision is starting. "No" Sam said only when a vision is coming, "Great I said" and Sam looked at me with bewilderment, "That's not quite how I meant it, but if this is unique identifier then we can set up ways of working with the trigger. When you feel a vision starting sit down breathe slowly in and out and clear your mind of any other thoughts, I know that's easier said than done but it really works. As we were sitting there talking I could tell from the change in Sam's demeanor that something was starting. I looked him squarely in the eyes and said remember what I told "Breathe". Sam started breathing slowly and I held his hand and said "Clear your mind and let the vision come, don't fight it", close your eyes empty your mind, remember don't fight what you are seeing.
As this was happening Dean came back with the drinks and as he approached Sam he could tell what was happening, he started to rush towards his brother. I got up and got between the boys, took hold of Dean and told him calmly everything is alright, he needs to breathe and clear his mind of all thoughts, if he hears you it will bring him back to the present and thoughts will rush in and the pain will start. Dean looked at me, not totally convinced and "I told him, this has been working for me for the past 20 years" he relented a little didn't leave Sam's side but didn't open his mouth. Slowly Sam came out of his latest vision and looked between Dean and I, I asked him how he was feeling and he said "Ok", Dean turned to him and said "Tell me the truth, how are you really feeling, no lying, no hiding information from me because you think I can't handle it or you think it will stress me out". Sam turned back to him and said "I'm really ok, the information that Toni gave me totally helped, my head isn't pounding as it usually does and I am
much clearer on what I could see." Both boys looked at me and smiled, Sam got up from where he was sitting and came and gave me a huge hug whilst Dean put down the mugs of drink and came up and took my hand in his and said "Thanks for that".
Sam called Bobby and Will over and told everyone that we needed to go inside and he would tell us what he saw.
