Sam was feeling very relaxed. His body felt heavy and weak, like when you first wake up in the morning and can't be bothered to move yet. His mind was quieter than it had ever been. No thoughts buzzing about, no concerns about the apocalypse. Nothing. Just listening to Dean talk like his voice was the only thing that existed.
"As you continue to relax," Dean was saying, "you might notice that it feels good to agree with me."
Yeah, that sounded good.
"That when you agree with me, it helps you to relax further."
Relax further.
"Makes it harder to think."
Harder to think.
"Makes you feel good."
Feel good.
"And brings you deeper into trance."
Deeper into trance.
"You've noticed this, haven't you, Sammy?"
"Mmmyeah," Sam mumbled again. Of course it felt good to agree with Dean. Dean always knew what he was talking about. And he had such a soothing voice.
"Very good," Dean told him. "You might also notice, as you continue to relax, that it feels good when I praise you."
Yeah, that made sense.
"That when I praise you, it helps you to relax further."
Relax further.
"Makes it harder to think."
Harder to think.
"Makes you feel good."
Feel good.
"And brings you deeper into trance."
Deeper into trance.
"You've noticed this, haven't you, Sam?"
"Mmhmm," Sam managed. He was too relaxed to bother with actual words, but it still felt good to agree with Dean.
"Great," Dean answered.
Sam drifted a bit deeper into trance.
"You're very good at this, you know," Dean told him.
Sam drifted deeper.
"You find it so easy to relax."
Easy to relax.
"You find it so easy to let go."
Easy to let go.
"You're so good at just letting your mind go blank."
Blank.
"It's a nice skill to have, isn't it?"
"Mmm," Sam answered. It felt good to be able to relax so completely for a change. To stop worrying about all the mayhem that went on his life. To just listen to Dean talk and let his mind go blank. And Dean had such a soothing voice. Sam could listen to him talk forever.
"Wonderful," came Dean's reply.
Sam let his brother's voice take him deeper into trance.
"Now, Sam," Dean was saying, "I'd like to give you a trigger to bring you back into trance more quickly and easily in the future. Would that be alright?"
"Mmm," Sam answered again. Anything Dean wanted to do would be fine.
"Great," Dean said. "Your trigger will be 'hellboy.' When we're alone and safe and I say 'hellboy' it will bring you back quickly and easily to this state of deep trance. 'Hellboy' melts the tension from your muscles. 'Hellboy' melts the thoughts from your mind. 'Hellboy' makes your body feel weak and heavy. 'Hellboy' makes your mind feel open and empty. 'Hellboy' lets your mind and body relax completely, bringing you back to this state of deep trance. Do you understand?"
"Mmm," Sam replied.
"Excellent. Now, Sam, I want to emphasize that this only works when I say it, only when we're alone, and only when we're safe. If anybody else says it, or if anybody else is present, or if we're in immediate danger, your trigger has no effect on you. Is that clear?"
"Mmm," Sam replied again.
"Great," Dean answered. "Now, Sam, I'm going to bring you out of trance. I'm going to count down from six. When I finish, you will be fully awake, feeling alert and refreshed. You got that?"
"Mmhmm."
"Wonderful.
"Six. You can feel yourself beginning to wake up.
"Five. You can feel the strength returning to your muscles.
"Four. You're becoming more aware of the world around you.
"Three. Drifting back up out of trance.
"Two. Almost there.
"One. Fully awake, feeling alert and refreshed.
"How are you feeling, Sammy?"
Sam rubbed his eyes and sat up. "I'm good," he said. "Relaxed. And good."
"Good," Dean smiled. "Tell me, Sam, how much do you remember?"
"Umm," Sam hesitated, "I remember breathing, and focusing on my breathing, and then something about a rhythm. It gets hazy after that. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, that's fine. That book you gave me said that it varies, and that people are less likely to remember details for deeper trances."
Sam smiled. "Not bad, considering you weren't even sure this would work," he teased. "So, am I cured now?"
"Not yet," Dean explained. "I did some reading online and they said that when doing something big like that, it's better to do it over a series of smaller trances. And I wanted this first trance to just test how well things worked. I gave you a trigger to go back into trance more easily next time."
"A trigger?" Sam raised his eyebrows. "Is that safe, considering how many enemies we have?"
"Really, Sammy, you don't think I'd take some precautions?" Dean rolled his eyes. "The trigger only works when I say it, only when we're alone, and only when we're safe. If any of those conditions aren't met, you're not going into trance."
Sam relaxed a bit. "Sorry," he said. "You're right. I should have known you'd look after me."
Dean smiled. "Alright, Sammy, go brush your teeth. We can pick this up again tomorrow night."
Sam started to protest, then caught a glimpse of the clock. He hadn't realized how much time had passed while he'd been in trance. He stood up and got ready for bed. He slept well that night.