I want to thank my wonderful beta Jude (& thanks for the incredible summary as well)! She is an amazing person & is the reason I have the courage to post this (my first story).
All feedback and reviews (comments, criticism, anything) are welcomed and appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from this story that appeared in an episode of Supernatural.
This story takes places after the events in Jus In Bello. My thoughts were that an explosion at a Sheriff's department would be big news and so the media would mention it and therefore would be reporting the deaths of Dean and Sam all over, all the time. So this story is the reaction of the series characters who they met along the way.
They Saved Me
The only things the media "loves"/thrives on more than celebrities, death of innocents, and ruined politicians are brutal murders and crimes.
"Along with Nancy Fitzgerald, Special Agent Victor Henrickson, Special Agent Carl Reidy, Deputy Director Steven Groves, Deputy Phil Amici, and Sheriff Melvin Dodd, it's been confirmed that the two suspects who died in the explosion at Monument, Colorado Sheriff Department were Dean and Sam Winchester," the petite blonde newswoman reported. Seated behind a large wooden desk, dressed in a slimming dark blue suit she continued...
"Ben, turn the TV off, it's time for dinner," Haley called to her younger brother as she rests a bowl of garlic rolls on the dinner table. Tommy, the third member of the Collins family limped into the kitchen and slipped behind his sister to grab a carrot and dunk it into the ranch dip before Haley could slap his hand. "Tommy..." she mock-scolded him as she caught him sneaking food.
"Haley! Tommy! Come and see this!" shouted Ben from the adjacent living room. Sensing the urgency in his voice Haley and Tommy raced to the living room finding Ben staring at the TV."
"What's going on? Why'd you call -" Haley's words dropped off as she spied Dean and Sam Winchester's pictures onscreen in the national newscast. She seized the remote off the arm of the couch and firmly pressed down on the volume button. As the report continued, Haley lowered herself to the couch finding her knees too weak to support herself.
"No," she whispered, her hand covering her mouth as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. There was no mistaking the cocky smirk and mischievous eyes of the older brother and the haunted face of the younger. Her gaze raced to her older brother, knowing that every moment she's spent with him in the last two years is courtesy of the two brave brothers. He was healthy and alive and she knew she had only those two to thank for that.
She remembered how terrified she and Ben were while searching for their brother and how gentle the brothers had responded. They kept everyone calm in the face of danger and were diligent about helping them rescue Tommy. When she and Dean were caught by the Wendigo, he had reassured her everything would be okay and that Sam would find them. His absolute confidence in his brother never wavered, giving her some peace. He'd distracted her from their peril with stories about things the brothers had previously hunted, but all the while the wheels were turning in his hunter's mind as he observed and analyzed the area they were trapped in.
Vividly she remembered Sam's courage as he stood in front of them without regard for his own safety, facing off with the Wendigo. The Winchesters put their own lives in jeopardy to help innocents, some of whom will, unfortunately, never know that it was the brothers' heroism that kept them safe. Silently tears streaked down her cheeks as her own brothers' arms wrapped around her shoulders and together the Collins mourned the men who had saved their family.
...
Andrea Barr pressed stop on the DVD player, not needing to watch the credits scroll. As Scott, her boyfriend of one year, walked into the room she switched the TV from video to regular TV.
"Here, I don't care what we watch, you can find something," she declared, handing the remote to Scott, leaning in for a small kiss. He proceeded to flip through stations, not finding much worth watching at this late hour.
"They were wanted by the FBI related to several charges, including murder across several states. " Replacing the screen with the newswoman's face are the faces of Dean and Sam Winchester from their mug shots from the bank robbery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
"Wait, go back," Andrea exclaimed, instructing Scott to go back three stations, landing on the national news.
"What is it?" Scott patiently queried, not understanding the fascination of the story on the screen. Too shocked by the horrible things being credited to the two men who saved her life and the life of her only child, Lucas, she was unable to respond. Sensing Scott studying her from the side, she shook her head and squeaked out beyond the lump formed in her throat,
"Nothing, thought it was something else, my mistake." Standing up she looked at the man she'd come to adore and who loved her and her son. She slipped him a small smile and felt her heart swell as he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips, laying a gentle kiss upon it and looked up at her and with sincerity in his voice and eyes said "Love you."
Taking her hand and lightly cupping his cheek, she murmured, "I know, I love you too. I'm going to make sure Lucas is tucked in." With that she treaded softly up the stairs and crept into her son's room, now plastered with Led Zeppelin wall posters. She stood in the doorway and stared at her sleeping son. He was now such a boisterous child, so full of life. She choked on tears as she realized that the men responsible for the positive changes in her son were dead. They didn't deserve the ending they received. They were heroes who deserved a heroes' mourning. No one would ever know all the wonderful deeds they had done or all the lives they had saved. It was unfair the things the news said they were responsible for when it couldn't be further from the truth, and she would be eternally grateful to them.
Andrea walked up to her son's bed and laid a kiss on his forehead, tucking the blanket around his shoulders. Andrea knew the world would have a skewed view of the brothers and would soon forget them when a bigger story overshadowed their "crimes" and death. Her heart swelled a little, making room for her feelings and memories of the two men who mended and saved her family.
...
"Other charges include theft, ID theft, impersonating law enforcement, and grave desecration."
"They were cute, too bad they were psychos and are now dead" said Ginger, watching the TV as she packed her suitcase.
"What are you blabbering about in there?" called out Amanda from the bathroom as she packed her toiletries. Her roommate, a fellow stewardess, and she were going on a much needed weeklong trip, using free flier miles they'd earned from their airline.
"Just some news report about two luscious looking men who died in an explosion. It's really too bad...they were fine specimens" purred Ginger.
Amanda recalled two luscious men she came across once and found herself reminiscing about their gorgeous features and gentle natures. To this day, she thought of them every time she stepped on a plane and said a prayer of thanks they had touched her life.
"Turn that off, we need to get going" Amanda stated throwing her toiletry bag on top of her clothes and zipping up her suitcase. As she turned off the lights of her apartment and locked the door she caught herself thinking of the two men again, wondering what they were up to. She knew this trip, her whole life, could be attributed to the courage of the two men who'd saved her and the lives of all the other passengers that night.
...
"Dean was wanted for torturing and murdering several women in St. Louis with his brother, Sam, as an accomplice, though it is not known to what extent. They then faked Dean's death to evade law enforcement."
Charlie was seated in a computer cubicle at the library during her study hall period. She was looking for three interesting current event stories that she could write a one page summary on. She considered this weekly exercise to be boring and trivial but went to the national news website to find any story that she could write on. The lead story involved an explosion at a Sheriff's station in Colorado. She clicked on it and skimmed the page deciding it was long enough to write a summary for. First she got the details for the works cited page then sat back in the chair to read the whole story. Her world came to a crashing halt as she quit breathing for a few seconds when she came face to face with the images of the two men who changed her life.
Since their encounter, she had lost her best friend, Donna. They were unable to mend their friendship after the events involving Bloody Mary. It became too strained between them and they could never get past it and get a fresh start. Due to the boys putting their mark on her life however, Charlie had still found peace. For the first time since her ex-boyfriend had killed himself she had been able to sleep and release the guilt that had consumed her. She took to heart the words Sam had left her with. It had taken work, but she had started to visit with the school counselor and it was helping her come to terms with the deaths of her ex-boyfriend and her friend Jill.
On occasion she still had trouble looking in the mirror, afraid to spot Bloody Mary lurking in the background. She clearly remembered the patience and compassion the boys had displayed as they listened to her and if she tried really hard, she could feel Dean's firm grasp on her hand as he reassured her the nightmare was over.
Charlie excused herself from classes for the rest of the day, claiming 'female related illness' finding it too hard to focus. As she climbed into her car she closed her eyes, silently grieving for the two brothers, hoping that in death, they would find a much-deserved peace such as the peace their encounter had given her. Turning on the car, the radio was blaring Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young." She let loose a laugh that swiftly turned into a sob. Never had a song been meant for someone as much as this one for the two boys who had saved her life.
...
"The St. Louis murders are still an ongoing investigation even though Dean was captured in Baltimore."
"Becky, are you by a TV?" Zach voiced to his sister over his cell phone.
"Yeah, why?" she questioned, strolling to the TV in her apartment.
"Turn it to channel 27."
"No, no, no, no..." Rebecca uttered, "No...it...no" Becky paused her TiVo and stared at the face of her friend from Stanford. She hadn't seen or heard from Sam since St. Louis but she thought of him often. She emailed him a couple times after the incident with the Shapeshifter but he never replied. She knew it was too difficult for him to keep in contact with his old friends when he couldn't be a part of that life anymore. She couldn't remove her gaze from the screen and couldn't stop the tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto her hand, still gripping the remote. That's exactly how Zach found her when he rushed into her apartment a half hour later.
"...Becky...hey, sis..."
"Sam..." she croaked out, still zoning out and unaware of her brother's presence.
"It's not fair...why Sam?"
Zach, not usually prone to tears, couldn't help himself as his sister's debilitating grief broke the damn holding back his own tears. He walked around the couch and dropped down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"He doesn't deserve this...he...he..." she broke into sobs at the thought of her friend's warm eyes and infectious smile. He and his brother fought evil that no one knew existed, they were unrecognized heroes.
"I know...I know" Zach whispered to his sister, knowing his words weren't penetrating her fog-riddled mind, but needing something to do. He was aware that his freedom was solely due to Sam and his brother. Becky still hadn't told him all the details but she did tell him Sam and his brother, Dean, were the reason that he was cleared of murder.
"Why?" Becky struggled to find understanding in the situation, knowing she would never get the answers she needed. Before Zach could attempt to respond, his sister's sobs escalated and he squeezed her to his side and held her tightly as she turned her face against his chest and soaked his shirt with her tears. They stayed that way until Becky's grief wore her out and she collapsed into him, mumbling softly "They should have been saved...after all, they saved me...they saved us..."
...
"He was arrested for the murder of two locals but he and his brother again escaped capture during transfer to St. Louis to be formally charged for the crimes he committed there."
Lori Sorenson got online and logged into her email to send her father a message. She promised to send him an email at least every three days to keep him updated on her life in the Peace Corps. As soon as she got onto her email, she noticed she had a message from her father waiting for her. She opened it up, eager to see what he had to say, what she got made her wish she had never opened the email. Itl contained a link to a website with the words 'Thought you would want to know about this. I had the congregation say a prayer for all the people who don't have anyone to pray for them. Always thinking about you. Love, Dad.'
Lori was curious what the sentiment was about and clicked on the link. It took her to a two-day old newspaper article. Immediately the gentle eyes and kind face of Sam Winchester leaped from the page. She clearly remembered his soft voice and even softer hands as he held her face and he kissed her. She felt honored that such an incredible man felt he could have feelings for her when he was still getting over the loss of someone he had loved deeply. She never got the details, but his haunted, pain-filled eyes reflected the recent loss. She had wanted him to stay but understood why he couldn't. He needed to be in the world destroying monsters like the one that nearly had destroyed her and her father.
Since the Hookman, she had patched things up with her father. They had had some nice long talks and gotten everything out in the open. They even went to counseling to work things out because she knew it was unhealthy to keep things bottled up and he only wanted the best for her. He was the only parent she had left and she wasn't going to lose him.
She had joined the Peace Corps and believed she was doing her part to bring peace, hope and understanding to individuals in need. She felt like she was contributing to society. She just wished society could have been better to the two brothers who saved her life.
...
"They were later spotted in Milwaukee where in a bizarre twist they were victims turned perpetrators in a hostage situation."
"Dad, remember those two guys who saved us at the house in Oasis Plaines?"
"Of course, Matt, what about them?"
"They died in an explosion at a police station. They were suspects in multiple murders; it's all over the news."
"That's ridiculous, those boys weren't criminals, the opposite in fact. Are you sure it's them?"
"Yeah dad, they showed their photographs, there's no doubt."
"That's awful" Larry stated.
"Yeah, they were pretty cool, it's a shame."
"It really is. Well, we need to get ready. Do you have everything for your science fair project ready?"
"Yeah, Dad, we can leave in a few minutes" Matt climbed the stairs to his bedroom to retrieve his project.
As Larry Pike watched his son he thought back on the painful distance that had once invaded his and his son's relationship. Since their first acquaintance with Dean and Sam, Larry and his son, Matt, had gotten much closer and built a deeper kinship. He'd even taken an active role with his son and his interests. He helps and supports him and made a real effort to fix the relationship they previously had. He'd reached out and worked things out with his son. He owed his relationship with his son and his family's lives to those two brave boys who had saved them.
...
"They managed to foil the law again after they knocked out and tied up two swat team members and stole their uniforms, slipping out in between the hectic actions of members of law enforcement."
"Mommy...mommy, I'm thirsty."
Jenny lumbered off the couch and grabbed a cup from the kitchen cabinet, filling it with water from the kitchen sink faucet. She carefully handed it to her daughter, Sairie, and stood over her until the water was finished.
Sarah smacked her lips and wiped her mouth with the back of her pajama sleeve. She gave her mother the cup and Jenny reached down and kissed her daughter as her daughter hugged her tight.
"Now go to bed sweetheart."
"Good night mommy," Sairie yelled as she clomped up the stairs.
Jenny lightly smiled as she was struck by the innocence of her child. She draped herself onto the couch, exhausted. This was her first opportunity of the day to catch up on the events taking place in the world outside. She sighed, and leaned back, letting the couch cushions envelope her. She clutched the remote and pressed the power button. She switched to her favorite news channel, hoping to not have to be subjected to any nonsense story about another trashy celebrity. The thought of it made her seriously fret about her daughter's approaching teenage years.
The lead story was much harsher than she imagined. The television flashed the pictures of the two boys who gave her back her home, her family, and her life. It dared to accuse them of horrible deeds that they could in no way be responsible for.
She stared at the television in shock, her whole body suddenly gone numb, not feeling the tears gliding down her cheeks. Those boys were heroes, not degenerates, she became angry that the media would plaster their faces on the TV and credit them for several inhuman acts, when they were just trying to survive and save people.
When they first appeared on her doorstep she could sense the barely contained pain and sorrow emanating off them in waves. The mother in her wanted to hold them and comfort them and wash it away, but she knew it wasn't her place. Since she had met them she'd gone back to teaching and had grown as an individual, becoming stronger. Her children were sleeping through the night and they remained a tight-knit family and she felt truly blessed. Those two boys stepped into her life and left a huge impression.
Every night as she tucks her daughter into her bed, she is plunged back to that terrifying night. She is aware the consequences would have been extremely severe had those boys not been there. She nearly collapsed at the mere thought of the gravity of the house haunting and their courageous presence that night.
After turning off the TV, she slowly dragged herself up the stairs and slipped into her pajamas. She went to bed with a heavy heart and was haunted with the thoughts of the two boys who changed the outcome of her life and saved her and her family.
...
"They managed another daring and bold escape after they were caught robbing an anthropology department, stealing Indian artifacts in Little Rock, Arkansas"
"Kat! Wait up!" Kat slowed her steps allowing her friend, Rose, to catch up. "Hey girlie? What's the rush?"
"Ugh, I just have a load of homework to do. Mr. Brylington gave us a ton of homework because Steven and his friends didn't have last week's assignments and refused to listen during class so he punished us all. It's not fair! I want to get it all done before I go hunting with my dad this weekend."
"Ewww, how can you stand hunting, it's so barbaric."
"Its fun, plus you never know when those skills will come handy," she answered with a small smile.
"Whatever, you are one weird chick, but that's why I love ya! Well, I'll see you Monday - have fun hunting and stay safe!" Rose cried as they parted company and went to their respective vehicles.
Kat clambered into her car and turned on the radio. She flipped through the stations to find something that would get her mind off the load of homework she needed to start when she got home. The name 'Winchester' caught her attention so she went back to that station and listened to the rest of the report, gathering as many details as she could get.
She reached for her purse lying on the passenger seat and removed her cell phone. She scrolled to her contacts until she got to the one she was looking for. "Gavin, hey, quick question."
"Yeah..." Gavin replied cautiously.
"Those guys at the Asylum, what were their names?"
"Woah, where is this coming from?" Gavin questioned the reason this question was being thrown at him from left field. They hadn't discussed the events of that night for a long time. They stopped dating after their visit to the Asylum but had remained close friends. With the experience they shared, they knew they were bonded for life.
"Just answer the question," Kat sternly said, hoping she was wrong and wanting the knot in her stomach to untie itself.
"Uh...um...Sam and Dean, I can't remember the last name, you know I'm no good with names."
"Winchester" Kat stated not obtaining the relief she so badly had craved.
"Yeah, Winchester, that was it. Why?"
"I just heard on the radio they died."
"Wh-what? How? When?" Gavin shot out.
"I didn't get the whole story" and she filled him in on the information she was able to acquire from the report. "Isn't that awful?! There's no way they did any of those things! They helped people, didn't hurt them."
"I know that and you know that, but to the outside world, that wasn't the case. It's horrible their reputation is being ruined though."
"I know, I just wish there was something we could do" she softly declared to her friend.
"Me too."
They both exchanged goodbyes and hung up, each lost in their own thoughts. They both reflected on the events at the Asylum and shivered at the thought of how different things could have been. They owed their sanity and their lives to the Winchester brothers who saved them that night.
...
"They were sent to Green River County Detention Center before being extradited to St. Louis. They were held there for a week until they assaulted a guard and broke out."
Emily walked into the break room at the office where she worked as an administrative assistant. It was a long way from her old life in Burkitsville, Indiana and she enjoyed it. She was her own person and only responsible for herself. She had struggled at first, but eventually flourished in the environment and was currently being recruited by a few executives to move to oversee their activities.
She grabbed her lunch bag from the middle shelf of the fridge and took a seat at the table occupied by some of her co-workers.
"Hey, Emily, did you hear about the explosion at the police department in Colorado?" Neva shared, always eager to discuss gossip.
"No, what about it?" Emily asked removing her ham and cheese sandwich from the plastic baggie and taking a deliberate bite.
"Well, I heard a gang of criminals were behind the whole thing and that they plotted a mass murder and did kill a bunch of people and the president was their next target but they didn't get to finish the plan. It could have been so much worse."
"Neva, that's not what happened. Tell the story right or don't tell it at all," Stephanie crisply said, irritated by Neva's constant tendency to exaggerate.
Emily giggled, used to the bickering between the two due to their conflicting personalities.
"Two men, who had been arrested and were already at the station, were also killed in the blast, there is no proof either were involved, just speculation."
"Mmm" Neva moaned, "they were so, so, so cute too. I wouldn't have minded being in the middle of that Winchester sandwich."
"What did you say their name was?"
"Winchester, here, it's in the paper," Stephanie reached behind her, balancing on two chair legs and stole the paper from the counter. She rifled through the sections until she found the article. She plopped it in front of Emily who tentatively picked it up, fearing it would confirm the dread settling into her gut.
"See, this one," Neva said, pointing her manicured nails to Sam's picture, "has adorable dimples that make you melt. I could just swim in his eyes too. And the other one looks dangerous and cocky, definitely not the kind you take home to meet mom, but would probably rock your world," she finished by wiggling her eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"Seriously, Neva, get some class and how desperate are you?"
As those two continued to quarrel, Emily zoned them out, getting lost in the faces slaring at her from the paper, for different reasons than Neva.
She had always hoped to see them again; she just never thought it would be like this. She remembers them so clearly. They were so gentle hearted.
They left such as impact because they were there when her life fell apart. She remembered Dean as he tried to keep her and himself calm pending their "sacrifice." He was brave and his lack of showing fear or frustration helped subdue her frazzled nerves and terror. The relief when he'd spotted Sam radiated from his face and body language and she knew instantly this newest addition was a person she could whole-heartedly trust.
The hunters had cashed out two credit cards under the names 'Angus and Malcolm Young' and gave her the cash so she could start a new life away from that atrocious town. They took it upon themselves to help her not only in the orchard but also to have a future. They really went above and beyond to guarantee she would survive once she left.
Emily rose from her chair slowly, as if under water and thinks she replied automatically about going to the restroom to the questions being thrown at her by her co-workers. She was still in shock but found herself holed up in a stall erasing her tears with toilet paper. She felt physically ill at the thought of what the media was saying about the incredible guys who made a new life for her possible and saved her.
...
"The FBI was unable to catch up to them again until they received an anonymous tip leading to a hotel room where the brothers were with their guns drawn."
Layla knew the rumor of their deaths was just that - a rumor. If they were really dead, she would know. They were good people who sometimes had to do bad things on occasion to get results. She knew from her own experience with them that they felt bad, guilty, and even berated themselves if anyone got caught in the Supernatural crossfire. They just wanted to protect each other, which was natural instinct, but they also had important work to do, families to mend and people to save. They were the noblest of all men because their brave deeds weren't done for attention or fame, they were done out of a sense of duty and obligation to a society who had betrayed and slandered them by parading their picture beside a list of horrendous and disgusting crimes that were in reality misunderstandings due to the world they lived and worked in.
She remembers Dean's struggle with the situation and his obvious pain and distress that he couldn't have done more. He did enough when he offered to pray for her, he restored her faith in man and helped sustain her faith in God. If they were truly dead she would know because they would have the most comfortable and fluffiest clouds in Heaven with her. Those men deserved the royal treatment in Heaven when it's their time and she'll be one of the first to greet them and thank them for saving her faith and trying to save her life.
...
"They went peacefully but the belief is that it was due to a potential backup plan in the works. It's still unclear the order of the events. "
"Cassie! I need you to get all the information you can on this explosion in Monument, Colorado in the Sheriff's department and get the stories of the victims for a human interest story. I need a first draft on my desk by lunch."
"But, sir, by lunch? I don't have enough time to research the story and write a draft by that time."
"Well you better find the time because that's your assignment and I want to have it in tomorrow's issue," her boss proclaimed walking away effectively cutting off any further protests.
Cassie growled and was tempted to stomp her foot in frustration. Instead she took a deep, cleansing breath and strolled to her desk, taking a seat.
She had briefly heard about the explosion in passing but had been working on an investigative story involving a local business that was cheating its customers. She had been bogged down with research and interviews and organizing all her data and notes in some semblance of a comprehensive story. She had sent it to the editor yesterday and had no current projects on her calendar so she supposed this would be a nice distraction. Cassie gripped her desktop, easing her chair into place. She wiggled the mouse, waking her computer and typed in her password to get to the desktop.
She knew where she needed to begin. She had to get preliminary information on the situation and do some further digging. She created a list of data she would need, including obviously what happened, names and phone numbers of the victims' families and the local police and fire department for quotes.
She pulled up reliable news sites to obtain the basics. She scrolled through the article, reading and soaking in the information while writing the important tidbits on a pad of paper. Her mind and hand were operating too fast to fully comprehend the meaning until one word immediately paused her brain and hand.
'Dean Winchester.'
Her body reacted to the news as strongly as she did emotionally and mentally. Her heart stopped and her palms became sweaty in response to the shock, grief and flood of memories. The mere site of his name next to a date of death sprung tears to her eyes. She swiped them with the back of her hand and lost herself in the photograph of the one man who she truly loved.
She knew they could never have been together, but that doesn't mean she didn't fantasize about it...often. She dreamt of the day he would come back for her and they would build a life together. He could become an investigator and she would continue to work at the newspaper. They would get married in a small, private ceremony and have children...they would have had beautiful children. They would grow old together and die peacefully after a long, treasured life together filled with laughter, adventure and family. Now, that dream was shattered, the miniscule chance it could someday happen was crushed.
She sobbed because she never got the chance to hold him one more time, kiss him one more time, make passionate love to him one more time. Her cheeks flushed with the memory of Dean's embrace and muscular body and the feel of his warm tongue feverishly searching her mouth. The steamy memory made her weak in the knees and teary-eyed.
Dean and his doe-eyed, soft spoken, gentle brother deserved better than this trash and filth that was infiltrating the news. They deserved a dedication worthy of presidents and popes but she would have to tone it down and walk a fine line. She started typing frantically determined to put a new, positive spin for the public on the men who saved her.
...
"The speculation is that the Winchester brothers shot and killed at least one officer and then tried to escape in the helicopter and died in the helicopter explosion."
Alice Miller woke up from a drunken stupor on the couch. She passed out the night before with a bottle of vodka in her hand. She straightened up and extended her arms above her head, stretching her shoulders and back. She searched for the remote to turn off the TV when the news report exhibited a picture that was seared in her brain.
It was the image of the anguished, dimpled boy who was there during the worst period of her life, the beginning of her down spiral. Next flashed the picture of the other man who had been present, the strong and protective older boy.
The dimpled one was so good to Max and she could tell he really wanted to save him and could feel the despair rolling off him in waves when he 'failed.' The other boy was sweet, yet intimidating. The way he stood in front of that gun without no thought but of her safety; she still couldn't believe she had witnessed such complete bravery and selflessness.
Ever since her family had died she kept pretenses of togetherness and stability on the outside during the day, but things became difficult when the nights and weekends crept up and she didn't have to pretend anymore. It was during those moments that she would lose herself in a bottle of vodka and would spend time in a daze. She tried desperately to forget that time, the loss and the weirdness of it all but she could never forget those boys. She may be slowly killing herself now, physically, mentally and spiritually with all the alcohol, but those boys saved her life.
...
"It's unknown if they are at all responsible for the explosion that later took the lives of the others in the building."
Deputy Kathleen knew of the explosion at the sheriff's office in Colorado. It was the talk of all those in law enforcement. Those were their "law buddies" who died in that explosion, others sworn to protect the law and citizens of America. That wasn't what made Deputy Kathleen really upset over the situation. It was the loss of the brave boys who protected America against evils and did so without expectation or want of thanks and gratification from those they protected. Those boys were heroes and they would be left out of the memorial for her comrades who perished in that explosion even though they did the same work but didn't get any of the credit.
Dean was a strong character who had one soft spot, his younger "cousin"/brother. She instantly connected to him because she could tell how frazzled he was and how he was struggling to keep his need for control in check. He piqued her interest and kept her intrigued during their entire search for Sam and the Benders. When he bared his soul regarding Sam her heart constricted because the pain reflected in his eyes was the same pain she'd experienced regarding her missing brother. She felt an immediate connection to the troubled boy who was fighting so desperately for his family.
Sam didn't abandon her after he had escaped. She knew he was worried about his brother but he didn't even consider leaving her stranded in that dank cage. He didn't know her but he fought for her and put his life in danger. They were the most genuine people she's had had the pleasure of meeting. Letting them go was one of the best decisions she'd ever made and would never look back with regret. They had brought her peace regarding her brother's disappearance and they had saved her life.
...
"They died in the helicopter explosion making everyone in America breathe easier knowing these cruel and dangerous men are no longer out there to destroy lives."
"We are the greatest ghost hunting team. We have all the right equipment, the brains, and the personalities; we're bound to get picked up soon for a pilot."
"I know, I'm just frustrated."
"We'll just need to keep at it and keep pitching ourselves to all the networks; we're too awesome not to get picked up."
"Totally. Okay, let's focus, any other stories for the site?"
"Still researching, something maybe in Lake Worth, FL, still checking it out."
"Did you eat all the Pringles?" Harry Spangler asked his long time friend Ed Zeddmore.
"No, we've been out of them for awhile now, I told my mom to pick up some more but she keeps forgetting."
"Man, I so have the munchies for Pringles."
"Man, Florida is too far, my dad won't let me borrow the car for that long, we need to find something around here."
"Too bad those two douche bags burned down the Mordechai house, we could have sponged off that for a long time, and everybody loved that story" Spangler added.
"I know man. They just came in and tried to take over our case."
"Major tools" Spangler said with Zeddmore nodding in agreement, "we are so way better ghost hunters then them."
"No doubt" Zeddmore followed with a scoff.
"Soon we'll be famous and they'll still be handling piddly little cases."
"Yeah" they stated simultaneously, trying to convince themselves that they were indeed better ghost hunters than the men, who they hated to admit (and never did out loud) saved them.
...
"After the incident in Milwaukee Dean was placed on the FBI's most wanted list and Sam was placed on the list after they escaped from Green River County Detention Center"
"Michael, honey, will you get your brother? Just put in one of his videos and then you can go back to your homework."
"Okay, Mom," he replied getting up from the small table with his homework spread out on the wood surface. "Come on Davy, let's watch Shrek."
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!" Davy shouted while jumping enthusiastically with his arms raised above his head.
Michael helped his brother get seated in front of the TV and turned it on. He shuffled through the stack of DVDs looking for the desired video that would keep his little brother occupied for hours. He grabbed the remote from his brother's small, dirty hands.
Before Michael could change the input on the TV to allow for video the TV displayed a picture of two men whose images were seared into his brain. He didn't listen to the rest of the story because he'd gotten the highlights and his younger brother was beginning to get fussy.
"There Davy, now sit quietly and watch your movie."
Davy nodded with a big grin plastered on his crumb-smudged face.
Michael shuffled back over to his makeshift desk and knelt before it. He picked up his pencil but found that he couldn't concentrate on his math fractions. He instead decided to work on his short story for his writing class.
He told the story of two brave men who arrived in town on a beautiful black dragon that had a powerful roar. The men stayed at the Queen and Prince's castle. The Prince was grateful for the men because he soon learned that they were knights who fought monsters and kept villagers safe.
The Prince had soon discovered that there was a monster preying on the villagers, a monster that sucked out people's souls and left their bodies to slowly die. The Prince's younger brother unfortunately became a victim to this monster. The knights set up a trap, using the Prince as a decoy and they slayed the evil monster with their swords and defeated the monster with the Prince's help - of course. All the villagers who had been injured were saved and returned to their usual selves, including the Prince's pesky, but lovable brother. The Prince now knew of the dangers that existed outside his castle and was scared for quite some time but eventually felt special because he was trusted by the knights with keeping a huge secret.
The Prince remembered how proud he felt because he came face to face with the monster and he was terrified but he stood up to it - for his brother. The knights climbed onto their dragon and with a fierce roar, rode off, never to be seen by the Prince again. The Prince vowed to be the best big brother in honor of the two knights who saved him and his brother.
...
"A lot of man power went into bringing the Winchesters down and they were finally been caught in their own web of lies, deception, cheating and crime."
Sarah Blake kicked off her shoes and rubbed her tired and sore feet. Blake Industries had held a charity auction today and she had been responsible for smoozing and charming all the business people. It was for a good cause so she was willing to do it. It took a lot of cajoling and begging on her part to convince her father to throw this charity event and even more effort to get him to agree to donate half the proceeds to charity. fHer father wasn't against helping charity and actually donated often, but like most people he loved money more.
It was a successful night and Sarah couldn't help but smile and feel satisfied knowing that she was making a difference. She changed into her pajamas and washed her face. Feeling relaxed and refreshed she crawled into bed and pulled the covers up. She decided to unwind while watching the local news story on her charity event. She wanted to see her interview, praying she didn't sound stupid.
Pleased with the story and how she sounded and looked Sarah nestled more deeply into the mattress, keeping the television on because she always found it easier to fall asleep with the television glowing and talking softly in the background.
Closing her eyes and trying to answer the call of sleep she was drifting into a peaceful sleep when the television bombarded her subconscious and wrenched her away from the clutches of sleep with two simple yet meaningful words.
"...Sam Winchester..."
Sarah shot up and snatched the remote from the nightstand next to her bed and pressed on the volume button, turning it up to hear the full story clearly. After the news had switched to a new topic Sarah turned down the volume mechanically, as if in slow motion. Shock had invaded her senses, vision blurred, and her hearing was clogged. She attempted to weakly shake her head to clear up the fogginess but the only thing she managed to clear was the barrier holding back her tears. Once the gate was opened there was no closing it and deep sobs racked her body and soul.
Sam was such an incredibly sweet, gentle, funny and handsome guy and she related so easily to him. They had a real connection, it was deeper than their mutual losses, and it was real, white hot, non-manufactured chemistry. She thought of Sam often especially since she had recently started dating more. Whenever she was with a guy she felt let down when he didn't give a small, innocent smile framed by dimples and turn his head away in shyness. Or when he didn't have big, bright, expressive eyes that let you know you were his only focus. Or when he didn't make you feel special and cared for just by voicing your name with sincere concern.
Sarah knew Sam had an extreme capacity for love. The way he talked about his girlfriend whom he'd lost and the look on his face when he spoke of her. Also the interaction between him and his brother Dean clearly displayed the depth of this love. Those two said a lot without words and they were so easy and comfortable around each other. She still dreams of the passionate kiss she and Sam had shared. It was raw and fevered, yet tender and emotional. His tongue caressed hers and the way he held onto her face with both his hands said that in that moment he only wanted her and could stay in that moment forever. The kiss was a mind-blowing first kiss and tragically a goodbye kiss. Admittedly in some dreams, the events went beyond the kiss, but what girl would not go there if they were in her place.
Sarah always meant to thank Dean for pushing/coercing Sam to take action. She could tell he only wanted what was best for his little brother and for him to be happy.
That was one of the most frightening, disturbing, eye-opening times of her life. It was memorable partially due to the extremely bizarre events and sights she had witnessed but it was mostly due to Sam and Dean. They were two of the most incredible, good-natured, honest and brave men and they had saved her.
...
The news reporter turned to her tanned co-anchor and said to him "With family like that, who needs enemies, right?" He nodded his agreement and took over to continue with the next story.
"Rosie, what are you doing?" Rosie's mom, Monica, asked her daughter in a playful tone. Her only response back was a giggle and swinging of arms wildly in an up and down motion. Monica slinked next to her daughter and tickled her ribs, reinforcing the giggling fit. "What you got there sweetheart?" she asked. "Are you reading the paper?" Monica asked because her daughter was surrounded by the previous day's newspaper. Rosie waived her right arm and rocked side to side in childlike joy.
"Mama play!" Rosie proclaimed waiving the paper in her mom's face, finding amusement in the simple act of watching her mom make funny faces at her.
"What important story are we reading Einstein?" She picked Rosie up and placed Rosie in her lap and wrapped her arms around her young daughter and laid a soft kiss atop her black curly head. Monica lifted Rosie's arm so she could see the crumpled paper clutched in Rosie's hand. Her heart leapt out of her chest at the sight that greeted her from the paper.
Rosie no longer seemed to possess the power to read people's minds and see their inner thoughts but she still had a rare and uncanny ability to read a situation, she was so vigilant and watchful for an eighteen month old. Rosie had gone stone still, which was unusual for such an active child and stared at her mom with wide eyes. Monica had to admit it was odd that out of all the sections and pages of the paper her daughter chose this one to play with. The one page contained the pictures of the two mysterious men who had rescued her and her daughter from their burning house.
She never even got to ask their names because they had disappeared in the chaos that arrived with the fire trucks and ambulances. She'd never forgotten their faces, after all, they're the reason her little daughter was still alive and growing she thought, rubbing her protruding belly.
"Mommy?" Rosie questioned, pulling Monica from her reverie.
"Rosie," Monica said while folding the paper, isolating the pictures of the two men and held it in front of her daughter. "Say thank you to these men, they saved your mommy and you."
Rosie reached for the paper and placed one small hand on each photo and said, "Tank you."
Monica whispered a soft thank you to the men who saved her family.
- The End -