A/N: As mentioned in the summary, this fiction takes place after 10x10 in Supernatural and follows the story line of the tenth season. Although this is a SPN/TVD crossover, you don't have to have watched The Vampire Diaries to understand this fiction. I'm not a fan anymore myself, so I won't be following the show's timeline. This in mainly a SPN fiction, and I'll just be borrowing Caroline Forbes from her world and put her in our Winchester boys universe for my own sadistic joy. I hope you're not so confused by me right now! =D

Summary: Takes place after 10.10 - The Hunter Games. While solving a case, Sam and Dean run into a girl named Caroline Forbes, and it turns out that she and Dean have unfinished business from the time Dean was a demon. Dean/Caroline. SPN Canon & TVD AU.

Dedication: Alex, although it's late, and the fact that you'll actually have to stick with me through this ride, I hope you'll eventually like how it turns out in the end. Happy Birthday, my sweet friend! *hearts*

Warning:Unbeta'd and rated T for language.

Spoilers: Up to 10x10 in Supernatural and season 1 in The Vampire Diaries.

Now, to the story. ;)


It Never Ends

- Epilogue -

''This is stupid.''

''Yeah, Dean. I got that from the first time you said it.''

''No, Sam, this is really stupid. Hell, I don't even know why I agreed to this in the first place.''

''We're already here, Dean, so you just might as well quit whining and try to enjoy.''

''Yeah, right.''

Sam chuckled, shaking his head at his brother fondly, although the knot in the pit of his stomach wouldn't unclench no matter how hard he tried for easiness or playfulness while talking to his brother these days. They were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the dark night and the clear sky with damp grass underneath their bent legs, and a cooler-box stocked with their favorite type of beer within easy reach.

Dean sat with his back resting against one of the front tiers of the Impala while Sam sat across from him, cooking hot dogs on the campfire he had managed to build after a couple of unsuccessful tries, and snarky remarks from his brother, few of minutes ago. He knew Dean hated camping, and if he was being honest with himself, Sam would think that this was one of his most stupid ideas by far.

Dean's world was falling apart at the seams and there they were, camping and cooking hot dogs instead of hitting each and every lore book they could find to figure out a way to get rid of the mark. But then again, this wasn't exactly camping, and after what happened with Metatron, they could really use a day off. They needed a day off.

The night Dean had literally slipped away and out of his reach was still rewinding itself over and over again in his exhausted mind. He still couldn't shake off the vacant look he saw in his brother's eyes that night, the tremors that rippled through Dean's body under Sam's touch, his brother's labored breath like he wasn't getting enough air into his lungs before his trampling knees betrayed him and he collapsed into Sam's arms, unable to move, unable to speak or even breathe. Unresponsive. While Sam was completely and utterly helpless.

It was more than Sam could handle. The whole situation was getting more and more out of control, forcing him to hardly let his brother out of his sight, keeping him holding on too tightly for the fear that if he let go he would lose his brother to his darkness for good this time.

The younger Winchester swallowed hard and tried to shrug off his fear—for now. He was still not sure how he was able to convince Dean to get out of the bunker to get some air and do something different instead of their daily pattern of barely sleeping and researching all day long. He suspected that there might have been something that gave him away, something that might have stood out on his face and screamed his worry and fear. But he wouldn't dowel into it that much. Sam was just glad that his plan was being put into motion.

''Careful now or you're gonna burn the only food we've got. And I'm telling you, Sammy, I ain't gonna eat whatever fruits you find out there.'' Dean said, nodding towards the stretched field in front of them. His words were probably aimed to sooth Sam's worries and bring him back from the dark place he was heading to in his mind land, but Sam could still hear the annoyance and weariness in his brother's tone.

It wasn't like Dean would start eating willingly these days, anyway.

''Shut up, I'm an expert cook.'' Sam threw back at him, finding comfort in their easy banter, even if it was just a façade which floods of fear of what was to come hid behind.

''Says the guy who used salmon in a birthday cake's ingredient.'' Dean chuckled.

''I was five, Dean!'' Sam scowled, alternating his attention between the flames that hungrily licked at the hot dogs at the end of his metal stick, and his brother's bloodshot eyes that reflected the dancing fire.

''Whatever, dude. You used salmon!'' Dean insisted and reached inside the cooler for a beer. Sam nodded his thanks as Dean handed him a bottle and watched him take a long sip from his own.

A comfortable silence, which the ticking campfire interrupted constantly, settled between them and Sam focused on proving his cook skills and not burning the food. He was just stuffing the finally cooked hot dogs into sandwiches when he caught a movement out of the corner of his eyes. Lifting his head up, he watched silently as Dean got up and opened the driver's seat door to his baby and turned the radio on.

All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land
Trying to find, trying to find where I've been.

Sam didn't fail to notice Dean's newest habit. Dean had always had to have music playing in the background whenever he was trying to either shut the world off, or keep his unwanted thoughts inside. But lately, the music was constant; it was the new type of noise that followed his newly-quiet brother through the bunker, on the road, everywhere.

Dean used to be the noise, Sam blinked at the thought. He couldn't remember the last time his brother was alive enough to make noises like he used to. Now all there was was the unnerving quietness, the worrisome empty stares, and the fearful flares of anger that accompanied the mark.

Letting his gaze fall down to the task in hand, Sam neatly put the food together and handed his brother a plate. Aside from the playing music in the background, they ate quietly, not trading any words except Dean's praise for Sam's cooking even though he took only one bite before putting his plate down. Sam sighed, finishing his own sandwich and kept watching his brother.

''You know staring is creepy, right?'' Dean said without taking his eyes off the beer bottle label that his fingers were picking at.

''Sorry,'' Sam huffed, embarrassed. He didn't even know he was doing it.

''What the scariest thing you can think of, Sam?'' The question caught Sam off guard and he turned he gaze back to stare at his brother, who had a serious look on his face and was still not looking at him.

It took him a while to process the question and the meaning behind it, but it didn't matter why Dean was asking him this. His brother was unintentionally initiating a chick-fleck moment, and Sam would definitely bite.

''Losing you,'' He said without hesitation, putting everything he was feeling, but not able to verbalize, in those two words. ''Again.''

Dean just nodded slowly, either humoring Sam or having already known what he would say before even asking, and Sam liked to assume it was the latter. The still blaring music from the Impala's radio was the only reply he received.

But your thoughts will soon be wandering the way they always do
When you're riding sixteen hours and there's nothing much to do
You don't feel much like ridin', you just wish the trip was through

''Why?'' The younger man asked after he was sure that his brother wasn't about to add anything further.

Dean shrugged, still not looking at him, which was starting to get on Sam's nerves. ''Nothing. I'd just be a lot easier, y'know.''

''What'd be easier?'' Sam whispered, feeling as if a grip of iron was being wrapped around his heart and squeezing, hard.

''If we just … give in.'' Dean finally looked at him then and Sam wished he didn't.

No.

The despair and hopelessness he saw in his brother's eyes could swallow him whole. He wanted to turn his face, look away, but he couldn't. Not now.

Sam didn't miss the 'we' that Dean intentionally chose to throw in instead of 'I', because he knew, he knew, that Sam wouldn't stop at anything this time to save him. And he's asking Sam to just, what? Let him go? The fucking son of a bitch!

''No!'' Sam roared, getting up and around the fire before he got down on his knees once again next to his brother and couldn't help but notice how small Dean looked at that moment. How broken he was.

''No, Dean.'' He said again, a little softer, trying to reach out to his brother the only way he knew. ''You don't get to quit. We don't get to quit, Dean. We're the only thing we have, man!'' Sam was outright pleading now, never breaking eye contact with Dean, unconsciously echoing his own words from the time he cured his brother.

He watched Dean swallow visibly, and turn his head away from Sam's piercing gaze, and it only made the grip around his heart squeeze harder until his chest was going to explode.

''We've reached this far. I believe in you, Dean. You can do this.'' Sam said with conviction. ''We can do this.'' Dean just looked at him.

''Promise me you won't give up, man. Please.'' Sam held his breath, waiting for the answer he needed to hear. The answer he wanted Dean to believe in.

It seemed to take ages to Sam, but he finally heard the words being spoken softly.

''I promise, Sammy.''

Out there in the spotlight, you're a million miles away
Every ounce of energy, you try to give away
And the sweat pours out your body, like the music that you play
Later in the evening, as you lie awake in bed
With the echoes of the amplifiers, ringin' in your head

- TBC.


Playlist;

Kashmir by Led Zeppelin

Turn the Page by Metallica


Thank you for reading!

Aya S.