Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

If it’s this virus or whatever that’s causing these episodes, that’s bad enough, because you know he’s liable to push himself too hard and make it worse. If it’s something else…”
Dean cocked his head sideways, reminding Sam of a curious puppy. “Like what?”
“I don’t know,” Sam admitted after a moment’s consideration. “I really don’t know what’s making me feel like it’s anything more sinister. I just do. I can’t help it.”
“Okay, let’s look at this logically.” Dean shoved a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. The wind blew them right back across his face as soon as he let go. “You say Bo’s been acting strange for the last couple of days, right?”
“Oh yeah. Very right.”
“And that’s pretty much coincided with him having those spells, as you call them.”
“Right.”
“Hm.” Dean scratched at a mosquito bite on his knee. “Describe the spells to me again.”
“He basically just blanks out for a while. The first one was literally just a split second, but the others have lasted longer. He says when it happens, he feels like he’s in a different place, where it’s dark and cold and he has trouble breathing.”
“What about last night, when he passed out? Was that an episode like those other times, or was it different?”
“It was different. At least I think it was. He’s never passed out like that, for one thing. And he didn’t say anything about having the sense of being someplace else with that one. At the time, I thought he was lying and that he really did have another spell, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe I’m seeing things in this situation that aren’t really there.” Sam turned sideways and leaned an elbow on the back of the bench. “It does seem likely that it’s all related to him being sick, doesn’t it?”
Dean was silent, staring thoughtfully into space. Sam frowned. “Dean?”
Blinking, Dean turned toward him. “Hm? What?”
“What were you thinking just now?”
“I was just wondering if…”
“If what?”
Dean shook his head. “Never mind, it’s crazy. About what you were saying before, yeah, even a mild fever can make people feel pretty strange sometimes. Especially if they’ve been out in the heat all day and are dehydrated like Bo was last night.”
Sam rubbed the stubble on his chin. It made sense. It could explain everything that had happened to Bo in the past two days, even the nightmares.
He should’ve been relieved. But he wasn’t. Something was wrong. Something beyond a simple illness. Sam knew it. His bones ached with the dread of it.
“I felt something last night,” he said, his voice nearly drowned out by the rising wind. “Right before Bo passed out.”
Dean’s gaze bored into him, needle sharp. “What was it?”
“I think it was a portal, Dean. I think I almost opened an interdimensional portal at the fort.”
All the color drained from Dean’s face. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.”
“Why? How?”
“Bo and I were fighting. I was angry. Furious, in fact.” Sam laughed, the sound harsh and brittle. “Bo can get under my fucking skin like nobody else.”
Dean arched an eyebrow. “I can believe that. But why would that—?” His eyes went wide. “Oh, shit. It’s because of your psychokinesis. Uncontrolled negative emotions set it off, and if you’re in a place with the potential for a portal to form…”
“Exactly.” Sam dug a foot deep into the loose sand. “Ever since Bo and I went to the fort for the first time, I’ve felt like he was in danger there, and I didn’t know why. I thought it must have something to do with those episodes he’s had, but maybe it’s not that at all. Maybe I’m the one putting him in danger, just by being there.”
Dean leaned toward Sam, one hand on his knee. “Listen, Sam. We don’t know that anyone’s in danger at all. But even if you’re right, y’all are both safe here at the house, right?” Sam nodded his assent, and Dean flashed a wide smile. “Well there you go. All you have to do is stay here. Bo’s already said he wouldn’t come to the fort tonight.”
It was a seductive thought. Sam licked his lips. “What about the rest of you?”
“If you’re right about your emotional reaction triggering a portal, then we should all be perfectly safe if you’re here at the house.”
“And if I’m wrong?”
Dean didn’t answer right away. He held Sam’s gaze, searching his face. “We’ll talk to Andre and Cecile,” he said finally.