Room 328, Early Tuesday Morning

[likethegun]

In the wee hours of the morning, Sam woke up gasping, fresh from a nightmare.

Grace's crib had been on fire, and Zoe was pinned to the ceiling.

It was exactly the kind of nightmare that Sam expected to have. Grace's six month birthday was less than a week away, the kind of anniversary that didn't need to be verbally acknowledged among the Winchesters for them to all be aware that it was coming. The idea that the demon might return had been on Sam's mind for weeks now, so it made sense for the fear to enter his dreams as well.

But as Sam stared at his own ceiling, he thought about how clear the images had been, and about the sick feeling coursing through him that only came with his visions. He was going to have to talk to Dean, and it was going to have to be soon.

[Establishy unless the girlfriend wants in.]

Comments

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn was jolted awake when Sam sat up, and blinked at him, trying to focus. "Sam? You okay?"

[likethegun]

Dawn's voice broke Sam out of his thoughts, and he scrambled for a reassuring response. "Yeah," he said, laying back down. "I'm okay."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Bad dream?" She wasn't sure whether to soothe him or leave him alone. "Want some water?"

[likethegun]

Sam nodded, and then shook his head. "I...yeah, it was a bad dream. But I'm okay." He curled up a little and moved closer to her, taking comfort that way.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She wrapped her arms around him, still not sure what else to do. "Do you want to talk about it?"

[likethegun]

"Not really," Sam said with a soft, bitter laugh. Dawn was warm against him, and when he closed his eyes, he was almost able to focus on that, and not the images from his nightmare. "I think the demon might be coming for Grace. The one that killed my mom."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Not going to happen," she said, hugging him tightly. God, wouldn't they ever have it easy? "He can't have her."

[likethegun]

"He can't," Sam said, gladly sinking into the hug. "He can't have her or Zoe and...tell me everything will be okay?"

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Everything will be okay," she promised, maybe a little rashly. "If he's really coming, you have warning. Plus, you and Dean are adults and can help protect them, instead of being in diapers and four. And I can help, too. I mean, who doesn't fight demons?"

[likethegun]

"I don't want you to get hurt," Sam said. He knew he couldn't stop her if she wanted to help, but that didn't mean he couldn't point out the obvious.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn had no problems getting hurt--well, okay, she had problems getting hurt, but they weren't worth leaving Zoe and Grace unprotected if she couldn't avoid it. "I'll be fine, Sam. I've had my long stay in the clinic this year already, remember?"

[likethegun]

"I do remember," Sam replied quietly. "I don't want it to happen again."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

That obviously called for more hugging. Almost into the realm of snuggling now, really. "My job too, remember?"

[likethegun]

Sam was perfectly happy with snuggling, all things considered. "I know," he admitted. "And I'm grateful for that."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn was extremely relieved that she wasn't going to have to fight Sam in order to help. "Do you have any idea whether it was just a dream, or a vision?"

[likethegun]

"It felt like a vision," Sam admitted, burying his face against Dawn. "It was too clear to be just a dream."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Okay. "Okay," she said, stroking her hand up and down Sam's back. "So, we'll be ready. Dumb demon, forgetting about your early warning system."

[likethegun]

That got a snicker out of Sam. "Yeah, maybe he'll be surprised that we're ready for him."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"And maybe you're just on the fritz and this'll turn out to be nothing," she added hopefully, even as she knew neither of their lives worked that way, "except for you having to go to the clinic."

[likethegun]

"Yeah, maybe," Sam said, willing to go along with that line of thinking if it meant calming himself down enough to fall back asleep.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She kissed him on the temple. "Any better?"

[likethegun]

Sam smiled softly, and nodded. "Yeah. You're good at that, thank you."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Welcome," she laid her head on his shoulder. "They'll be okay, Sam. You, me, Dean, your dad. Plus, it's not like Principal Washburn's gonna just let some dumb demon do something to her and Grace."

[likethegun]

"She is kind of a scary badass when she wants to be," Sam said. "And Dad won't let anything happen to her either. I don't know what he'd do if he lost someone else."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She really, really didn't want to think about that, since it would probably end in badness and both Sam and Dean having to leave school and go back on the road. "It's not a surprise. We can plan an attack and defense."

[likethegun]

"This doesn't have to be a 'we' situation," Sam pointed out again. "But if you want to help, I'll gladly accept it."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Don't be stupid," she poked him. "It's a you situation, so it's a me situation. End of story."

[likethegun]

Sam smiled and leaned in to give her a kiss. "Love you," he murmured. "Awesomest girlfriend ever."

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Love you too," she said, kissing him back. "Even if you are kind of a dope about me and this stuff."

[likethegun]

"I just want to keep you safe, whatever that takes," Sam explained.

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

She sighed and closed her eyes, really not wanting to argue about this. "I'm calling this an acceptable risk, so you're outvoted. It's not like I love the idea of you getting hurt either, you know."